Back to School, Back to Busy: A Note from One Busy Mom to Another
Easy back-to-school dinner ideas and permission to take a night off
There is something about back-to-school season that makes life feel like it suddenly goes from 0 to 100!
New school supplies, new schedules, homework, after-school activities, sports, work, errands... and then there is that little question that comes around every afternoon:
"MOM! What are we having for dinner?"
As a working mom, I remember those days well. There were nights when I had everything planned: dinner was going to be homemade, the kitchen was going to be cleaned up, and everyone was going to sit down together.
And then real life happened.
Someone had practice. Someone needed a ride. Work ran late. Homework took longer than expected. And suddenly, it was dinner time.
Looking back, I realized something: I didn't have to make every dinner complicated to make it special.
An Easy Weeknight Dinner Idea: Chicken Quesadillas
One of the simple things I used to make when the kids were in school was chicken quesadillas with salad.
They were quick, everyone liked them, and I could use whatever I had on hand.
Easy Chicken Quesadillas
Ingredients
Corn tortillas
Cooked shredded chicken, or really whatever you have in the fridge
Shredded cheese: Monterey Jack, cheddar, or whatever you have
A little butter or oil
Salsa or pico de gallo
Optional: sautéed onions, bell peppers, jalapeños, or avocado
Directions
Heat a skillet over medium heat.
Lightly butter or oil one side of a tortilla and place it in the skillet, buttered side down.
Add cheese, shredded chicken, and any extras your family enjoys.
Top with another tortilla and cook until golden and crispy on both sides and the cheese is melted.
Cut into wedges and serve with salsa, guacamole, or pico de gallo.
Simple. Delicious. Done.
And sometimes, that's exactly what a busy mom needs (along with a glass of bubbly)!
But Let's Be Honest...
There are some days when even an easy recipe feels like too much.
And that's okay.
I think moms put a lot of pressure on themselves to do everything: work, take care of the kids, keep up with the house, make dinner, remember everyone's schedule, and somehow still have a little energy left at the end of the day.
But some days are simply busier than others.
On those days, ordering dinner is not giving up. It's giving yourself a break.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with saying, "Tonight, I'm not cooking."
Let Aldaco's Make Dinner Easy
This is one of the reasons I love our Family Packs at Aldaco's.
You can order a Family Pack, pick it up on your way home, and have something everyone can enjoy without spending your evening cooking and cleaning.
Our fajitas, enchiladas, crispy tacos, Pollo Aldaco's, and other family-style favorites make it easy to feed the family when your schedule is already packed.
And with online ordering, you can order ahead, pick it up when you're ready, and get back to your evening.
Both Count
Sometimes dinner is about sitting around the table together, and sometimes it’s about getting everyone fed between soccer practice, homework, and tomorrow’s school project.
So this back-to-school season, give yourself a little grace. Make the quesadillas when you have the time.
Order Aldaco's when you don't.
And remember that being a good mom isn't about making every night perfect.
Sometimes, it's simply about making sure everyone has dinner, and maybe enjoying a little of it yourself.
Here's to a happy, busy, delicious school year!
Blanca
Let Aldaco's Handle Dinner Tonight
Busy school night in San Antonio? Order Aldaco's family favorites online and pick them up on your way home from practice, work, or carpool. Prefer to sit down together? Reserve a table at Aldaco's in Stone Oak and let us do the dishes.
Back-to-School Dinner FAQs
-
Keep it simple with meals that use what you already have, like chicken quesadillas, tacos, or a sheet-pan dinner with a side salad. On the busiest nights, ordering dinner to-go is a perfectly good plan too.
-
Heat a lightly buttered or oiled tortilla in a skillet over medium heat, add shredded cheese and cooked chicken, top with a second tortilla, and cook until both sides are golden and the cheese is melted. Cut into wedges and serve with salsa, guacamole, or pico de gallo.
-
Sautéed onions, bell peppers, jalapeños, and avocado are all easy add-ins. Use whatever your family enjoys and whatever is already in the fridge.
-
Yes. Aldaco's offers online ordering for pickup, including Family Packs, so you can order ahead and pick up dinner when you're ready.
-
Aldaco's Family Packs are to-go meals made for feeding the whole family, including enchilada kits, fajita packs with queso dip, and The Crunch with flautas and cheese enchiladas. Most include rice and beans. Check the online ordering menu for current options.
-
Yes. Use the Order Online button on the Aldaco's website to place your order ahead of time and pick it up at the Stone Oak location.
-
Aldaco's Mexican Cuisine, at 20079 Stone Oak Parkway in San Antonio, serves authentic Mexican food for dine-in and to-go and has been part of the San Antonio dining scene since 1989.
