New recipes for easy family meals as the school year starts

In the same way a change in season might prompt you to replace an old sweater or finally toss a favorite but threadbare pair of socks, the nightly family table is due for a refresh. You may decide a dish has to go because everyone’s just had enough of it or a key vegetable is no longer in season. Nothing radical here. Just a few new recipes in place of others while you see how it works. If you’re determined to leave the helter-skelter of summer behind when the school year begins and sit around the kitchen table more often, it’s time to have a good look at how you do things and streamline where you can.

When it comes to family meals, I’m a big believer in sensible shortcuts. This means making use of prepared and partially prepared foods and supermarket rotisserie chickens, takeout (though not as a steady diet), pizza night (of course), and whatever else gets you through the week sanely and keeps the troops happy. Beyond this, you need to have a couple of things you can prepare easily that you like to make and pass muster with the crowd around the table.

With that in mind, here are a handful of recipes you might decide are just right for you: a simple crunchy-top mac and cheese with frozen peas (every kid’s favorite veggie), an updated arroz con pollo simmered with brown rice, homemade pizza Margherita that begins with store-bought dough and perked-up canned tomatoes, chicken fingers browned in a skillet and accompanied by celery in ranch dressing, and rich cakey brownies for dessert, a bake sale, or neighborhood potluck.

Successful family cooks rely on their own personal cycle of proven, familiar dishes. As you set yours up for the season, weave in a few new things. Your crew might just give you some likes.

Sheryl Julian can be reached at [email protected].