We ended up with lots of leftovers and an exhausted, miserable cook. Dropping the side dishes in favor of a simple green salad was one of the best ideas we'd ever had. All of a sudden, dinner was plenty, but not too much. Everyone, including the cook, felt relaxed and satisfied. Lettuce blends we'd never manage to make in the middle of the week are available with the zip of a bag.
Some brands even come with the dressing and croutons in the same package.
If you want to add cherry or grape tomatoes, give them a quick rinse and you're ready to go. But even plain romaine lettuce with balsamic vinaigrette is plenty satisfying. Adopt our Desperation Dinners Menu, and stop torturing yourself. 1lb. extra-lean ground beef, fresh or frozen 1tsp. If beef is frozen, run it under hot water so you can remove any packaging.