Recipe: How do you decide what to make for dinner?

Really, how do you decide? Do you scroll through websites that promise 30 minute meals followed by a grocery trip? Perhaps you search a specific ingredient that may be approaching its “best if used by” date? Or maybe you stand in front of your pantry or refrigerator imagining what sounds good, seems quick, and has some sort of nutrients for the babes like I do?

Well tonight was one like most where I spent 20 minutes looking through my on-hand ingredients and staples but I couldn’t decide on any thing. Sure there’s always pasta and chicken with some veg and a sauce. Or the go to quick shrimp with rice. But I really wanted a low-maintenance yet satisfying…something. Off to the store we go. Piled the kiddos into their carseats and headed to the grocery store down the road.

As soon as we walk-in, the store is perfumed with all the berries and sweet peppers that have just come in— intoxicating let me tell you! But we are here for dinner inspirations. Ok, maybe grab one more thing of berries and a watermelon before we go “get inspired” hehe. Our grocery is setup with the meats and deli lined along the produce so it ultimately can be a quick shopping trip if I don’t get distracted again 😛

Did you know: Most grocery stores are setup to help ease healthier shopping and eating. May not seem that way at first but if you look at how they’re mapped out and what we are “supposed” to eat, produce first, followed by a small amount of bread, then deli meats and the butcher area. Skirt over to the yogurt, cheese and eggs, followed by milk and then the nuts only right before, and often in the same aisle as the bad stuff like chips and candies. The stores are laid out to aid in cleaner eating and not processed foods like what you’ll find in the middle aisles. Neat-huh? SO shop along the edges of the store and you could possibly find yourself feeling better, standing taller and maybe even losing a few pounds.

As I was looking through the butchery the baker had come through with her cart filled with freshly baked, still hot to touch, French Baguettes. The smell – overwhelming and completely irresistible. It was then that I decided something with bread is what’s for dinner. That is when French Dips came to mind. Grabbed some roast beef, provolone cheese and an onion —we’re off!

You will need:

Dipping Sauce –

2 c Beef Stock
1 tsp Worcester sauce
1 tsp Garlic, chopped
1 tsp Italian Seasoning
Cracked pepper to taste

Sandwiches –

1 lb Roast Beef, sliced for sandwiches
1/2 lb Provolone Cheese, sliced
1 medium onion, sliced and caramelized
1 tbsp Worcester sauce
Bread – your choice on flavor, we chose French Baguettes

Combine all ingredients for the dipping sauce into a small pot and bring to a simmer. Place the provolone cheese on your bread, if you chose the baguette as I had, slice the baguette in half length wise to give you more surface area for cheese. Place bread under the broiler to melt cheese.

While the cheese is doing it’s thing, caramelize the onions and add the second portion of Worcester sauce to the cooked onions.

Once the cheese has melted, add 1-2 tbsp onions on top of the cheese and spread around to ensure each bite gets a nibble. Now comes the fun….dunk your roast beef into your dipping sauce to heat through, should take about 45-60 seconds tops. Place meat over the onions and cheese. Pour the dipping sauce into a portioned dish for yourself…that is if you have to share what you’ve just created 😀 DIP! Dip the sandwich as much as you’d like. Its delicious…my son even drank his at one point.

Between the soft crumbly baguette, oozy melted cheese, sweet caramelized onions, the robust beef and of course the dipping sauce that’s running down your palm after every bite, ugh! What’s not to love! So thankful for that baker to come through tonight. Definitely making this again soon!