What are your last-minute, "go to" meal options? Our kids love quesadillas - just heat a tortilla with a bit of cheese sprinkled on it and topped with another tortilla. I sometimes add black beans or chopped, cooked chicken to them, too. Also a great way to round out a meal of black bean soup:

2 cans black beans, undrained
1/3 c diced red onion
1 tsp sugar
1 Tb white wine vinegar
3 cloves garlic, minced
¼ tsp cayenne
½ tsp chili powder
¼ tsp cumin

Pour all ingredients into pan, and add water until you reach the desired consistency. Simmer for about an hour. Serve with sour cream and jalapeno slices if you want to dress it up.

Another option is Personal Pizzas, which I like to make with whole wheat pitas. Quick and actually pretty healthy (as long as you don't load it up with bunches of cheese). Also a good place to sneak in veggies if your kids aren't big on those.

Quick and easy pasta dishes (that are good budget stretchers, too)

1 pound spaghetti
10 oz pkg frozen chopped spinach, thawed
10 garlic cloves, sliced thinly (use less for milder flavor)
4 Tb olive oil

Get water boiling for pasta, and heat oil in a large pan. Saute garlic until translucent, then add spinach to the pan. After pasta has finished cooking, drain but reserve approx 1/4 c of the water. Stir noodles into garlic & spinach mixture along with the water. Season (salt and pepper, and a bit of basil or oregano if desired) and serve! Also good with leftover chicken; just add chopped, pre-cooked meat with spinach.

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1 jar tomato sauce (28 oz?)
1 jar alfredo sauce (16 oz? I like Ragu's light parmesan alfredo)
2 - 15 oz cans white and/or kidney beans, drained and rinsed
2 - 10 oz pkg frozen chopped spinach, thawed

Stir everything together and heat thoroughly. Stir in 16 oz cooked rigatoni (or other large pasta) just before serving. This makes a large batch, so is good for guests. You could also add 1 lb ground meat (browned) or Italian sausage to make it a bit heartier. Serve it up with garlic bread and a salad and you're all set!