Do you have a serious lack of cooking skills? Unfortunately, not everyone has the natural ability to put ingredients together to produce a flavorful masterpiece; however, I have a solution for those of us who lack culinary finesse! If you’re tired of Ramen and Stovetop Hot Pockets, then get ready to wow your stomach with these easy recipes!

homemade pizza

1 package of pizza dough
1 can of pizza sauce (tomato puree works too, and is cheaper!)
shredded cheddar cheese
toppings of your choice (pineapple, onion, sausage, pepperoni, mushrooms, etc.)
Italian seasoning, salt and pepper to taste

To Prepare: If the pizza dough comes in a package, prepare it according to the instructions (usually you just add water, then knead). If it comes in a tube (like cookies), just roll it out. To do this, just sprinkle a little flour on the (clean) countertop, roll out the dough with a rolling pin. If you don’t have a rolling pin, use a round cup or do your best with the palms of your hands. If you prefer a truly deep pizza, leave your crust about a half-inch thick. If you like it a little thinner, roll it out to about 1/4-inch thickness. Transfer the dough to a greased baking sheet. Preheat oven to the temperature of the pizza dough package.

Next is the sauce. Spread the sauce over the dough, as much or as little as you like! Sprinkle salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning on top, then some grated cheese. Add your ingredients (the ground beef and sausage should be browned in a skillet beforehand), then top with more cheese. Sprinkle on a little more Italian seasoning, then pop it in the oven. Use the cooking time of the pizza dough as a guide, but keep an eye on it. The pizza is ready when the dough has browned and the cheese has melted.

Chicken and Broccoli Alfredo

1 package Knorr “Pasta Sides” Alfredo (or you can just buy a cheap jar of Alfredo sauce and a package of noodles)
1 cup broccoli
1 cup grilled chicken breast strips (the frozen type works well as long as it’s fully cooked)
salt and pepper to taste

If you go for the jarred sauce and noodles: Boil some water in a pot, add the noodles, and cook for about 8-10 minutes. Heat the sauce in a saucepan over medium heat.

If you chose the packaged Alfredo, simply prepare it according to the package directions.

Fill a small saucepan halfway with water and bring it to a boil on the stove. Cut most of the stems off the broccoli (I like to leave about 1/2 inch of stem on mine), then toss them into the pot of boiling water.

When the noodles are ready, strain them. Drop a tablespoon of butter into the pot and return the noodles (this prevents them from sticking). Check the sauce, is it too hot? If so, add it to the noodles and mix well.

The broccoli should be done after about 8 to 10 minutes of boiling. Taste a piece to make sure the texture is to your liking, then strain the broccoli and add it to the noodles. In a microwave-safe bowl, microwave chicken until steaming, then add to noodles. Give everything a good mix and season with salt and pepper. Serve hot.

Tuna salad

1 can of tuna (drained)
3 cups wide egg noodles
1/2 cup mayonnaise (real mayo, not miracle whip)
1/4 cup ranch dressing
1/2 can of corn
4 tablespoons seasoning

Boil the noodles in a saucepan with water for about 10 minutes, or until fully cooked. Strain them and rinse with cold water to cool them. Throw the noodles into a large container (preferably one with a lid). Mix all the ingredients together, stirring well. Cover and refrigerator. (It goes a long way, but this lasts a few days in the fridge, so you can munch on it when you’re hungry.)