Here are five satisfying main dishes to try, along with hassle-free ideas for completing each meal with seven ingredients or less.

Menu 1

• Corn and Sausage Chowder
• Antipasto salad: Toss tomato wedges, drained canned artichoke hearts, and black olives in roasted garlic Italian salad dressing.
• Corn bread muffins from a mix
• Pumpkin bars from the bakery

Corn and Sausage Chowder
With plenty of meat and potatoes, this delicious down-home soup makes a satisfying meal in a bowl.
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Menu 2

• Maple-Glazed Chicken and Vegetables
• Hot quick-cooking brown rice or wild rice mix
• Autumn tossed salad: Combine mixed greens, dried cranberries, and toasted pine nuts; drizzle with bottled raspberry vinaigrette
• Spice cookies from the bakery and pineapple sherbet

Maple-Glazed Chicken and Vegetables
Add a little butter to maple syrup and -- presto -- you've created a terrific glaze for your oven dinner.
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Menu 3

• Pan-Seared Scallops
• Pepper cheese biscuits: Add 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese and 1/2 teaspoon coarsely ground pepper to packaged biscuit mix
• Ginger pears: Cook cored pear wedges in butter and brown sugar; sprinkle with finely crushed gingersnap or oatmeal cookies

Pan-Seared Scallops
Sweet scallops are given a Cajun-flavored crust then tossed with balsamic vinegar-dressed spinach and crisp-cooked bacon. Serve with corn bread and cold beer and you have a meal that's both homey and elegant in no time flat.
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