What's for Dinner?

For some time now, I have been watching The Food Network channel shows and especially the competition shows.  Let's take Chopped.  I try to take what they get in their mystery baskets and come up with recipes.  I do the same for Cutthroat Kitchen and any other show that I can just to be able to test my ability to come up with something nutritious.  Now...I may not be as "gourmet" as these people are on the shows, but I can come up with a good wholesome meal.  As an example, on the cooking show that is on right now about the "holiday bake off"... they were given a "ready made" pie crust from the refrigerated section and were told to make something with it but not a pie.  My thought was "empanadas" or some other "pastry".  However, I could think of so much that my brain was on fire.  I also thought,...this could be fried as well.  But then...it's a baking competition.  But for me, filling it with a savory filling and making a pocket with it was an option.  Let's pretend.  Cut out circles with a large cutter or free hand it.  Place cooked steak, caramelized onions, cooked bell peppers, mushrooms and shredded cheese.  Bake and you will come out with amazing "Philly Cheesesteak" rounds.  But for the sweet side, I would take some lemon curd and some blueberries and mix them together and bake them in the circles or in the empanada shape and top with the crystallized sugar and a small amount of meringue.  I think that would be a great "tart".  
So...because of a request from a dear relative/friend, I am asking---what's for dinner?  What do you have in your cabinets and freezer and yet still don't have a clue of what to do for dinner with?  Give me a list.  I'll figure something out.  Hopefully I will also get feedback on it and people to let me know how it turned out and how it was received by the family.  Please keep in mind that, no matter what the products are, I also try to be budget friendly.  This all started when I was a young college student and had maybe $20 for groceries per week.  I did things like have ramen noodles soup but adding in thin slices of ham or turkey with frozen veggies and maybe a sprinkling of parmesean cheese.  I sometimes added an egg to turn it into an "egg drop" feel to the much more filling soup.  I have also turned it into a thicker "stew" by adding a little flour or corn starch (depended on what meat was in it) to create a more savory dish that could be served over rice or potatoes.  Even macaroni and cheese can be made to be filling with the right additions.  Don't hesitate...send me what you've got.  I'll do my best.  After all, this is what fun is to me.