Mashed Potato Casserole

To minimize fuss on Christmas Day, you can make a potato casserole well ahead and freeze it, keeping in mind that freezing needs a richness to maintain the casserole's creamy texture. But if you're making it the day before or the same day, you can use the lightened-up variation.

Spicy Beef Lettuce Wraps

This travel-friendly meal tastes great cold, but the filling can easily be heated up in the microwave, if you prefer. The acid in the vinaigrette will continue to cook the steak, so don't stir it together until you're ready to eat. To keep the lettuce crisp, wrap it in damp paper towels and refrigerate it in a separate airtight container or plastic bag.

Classic Pea Soup with Ham

This flavourful, chunky yet smooth soup simmers away when you're relaxing around the house. If you cook a bone-in ham, save the bone for this soup instead of the smoked hock.

Lemon Pepper Salmon Cakes With Herbed Garlic Mayo

A zesty mayo adds zip to these moist, mouthwatering cakes. You can use canned tuna, shrimp, crab or 1-3/4 cups flaked cooked fish instead of the salmon.

Spicy Taiwanese-Style Noodles

The thick meat sauce on these noodles is a bit like an Asian-style Bolognese. The cooked noodles tend to stick together if they stand for a while, so mix the sauce into them and eat right away for the best texture. For a twist, serve the sauce over rice with a side of steamed bok choy.

Beef and Broccoli Fried Rice

Using ground beef instead of stir-fry beef keeps the cost down. Day-old rice works best, so if you can, cook it in advance. Cost: $3.25/serving

Basque-Style Chicken

Don't fret over using boneless, skinless chicken thighs - this perfectly-seasoned meal packs plenty of flavour from a savoury sauce of whole tomatoes, red wine, paprika, garlic, peppers and onion.

Chicken and Vegetable Fajitas

An average serving of fajitas can pack as many as 900 calories and 40 grams of fat. This good-for-you version from our bigger, bolder, brighter October 2004 issue's "Family Favourites Get Healthy" story increases the vegetables and reduces the saturated fats without sacrificing flavour. Add some salsa when rolling up the fajitas, if you like.

Pizza Meat Loaf

This is a fantastic way to incorporate other vegetables into a classic meat-and-potatoes dish. Kids will never notice them disguised as delicious pizza toppings. Serve with Golden Roast Potatoes or Creamy Mashed Potatoes.

Beef & Farro Bowls