battlemaiden Posted January 11, 2009 Share Posted January 11, 2009 Inspire me...us...okay, maybe just me. :D But I'm struggling with variety. If you just want to share 1 or 2, that would be fine too. Thanks. Jo Btw- I don't necessarily need the recipe- just the inspiration. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keptwoman Posted January 11, 2009 Share Posted January 11, 2009 Risotto...a million different ways of cooking it and great for using up whatever goes in the cupboard. I make it simple, I make it complex, I make it full of meat, I make it vegetarian. I make it a lot. Fritatta. Ditto. Soup. Tritto (wait is that a word) Summer Salads: Massive platter sized salads. A meal on one plate. Lots of different ingredients. Again it depends on what is in the fridge. For instance a few days ago I made a mango, caramelised onion and camembert salad. Sometimes it's smoked chicken, or thai beef...etc etc. Yummy. Winter Stews. Now here I'm simple and boring. Cheap steak cooked slowly in red wine with lots of herbs, onions and garlic. Occasionally I saute some bacon first and add that. Always I add mushrooms near the end. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unsinkable Posted January 11, 2009 Share Posted January 11, 2009 pasta with red sauce crockpot shredded beef sandwiches crockpot shredded chicken tacos frozen pizza Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
King Alfred Academy Posted January 11, 2009 Share Posted January 11, 2009 I try to include at least one soup/stew and one crock pot meal a week. Maybe try "theme" nights... Monday...pasta Tuesday...soup/stew Wednesday...crockpot Thursday...mexican Friday...pizza Saturday...casserole Sunday...out? Unfortunately this is an area I struggle in so I am not much of a source of inspiration...sorry. But, I am :bigear:! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joannqn Posted January 11, 2009 Share Posted January 11, 2009 (edited) I'm in my pregnancy mode where I have no ideas. If there was some sort of deal I could make with Taco Bell to provide all of my meals throughout pregnancy I would be happy. I crave their crunchy tacos supreme when I'm pregnant. Our typical easy meal at home that we have very frequently is any kind of burrito: refried beans and seasoned ground beef refried beans and seasoned chicken refried beans and shredded beef (usually leftover crockpot roast) black beans, Mexican rice, and seasoned chicken fried potatoes, eggs, and cheese The first four without or without lettuce, tomato, sour cream, cheese, and guacamole. The last with sour cream and sometimes left over refried beans. The black bean one is sometimes fried as chimichangas. Sometimes we'll swap soft taco size tortillas for the burrito size ones and add taco shells to make "double decker tacos" like Taco Bells. ETA: Sometimes we skip the tortillas and add tortilla chips and have Taco Salad instead. Edited January 11, 2009 by joannqn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitestavern Posted January 11, 2009 Share Posted January 11, 2009 Beans are my go-to ingredient for quick and easy meals, and luckily my family loves them every which way! Black bean or cannellini bean soup (a few ingredients and then blender) Black bean quesadillas (mix beans w/cumin, garlic, whatever) and then fry tortillas w/cheese and beans inside Veggie chili (beans, diced tomatoes, sauteed onions and peppers, spices) Bean lasagna (layer tortillas, beans, sauteed veggies, cheese, salsa; bake) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mom31257 Posted January 11, 2009 Share Posted January 11, 2009 When I know I need quick or easy, I rely on canned items or prepackaged items. I used to feel guilty, but I realize I am a working mom, too, and it's got to be better for you than eating out every night. Here's some of our favorites. Cheese quesadillas with pico de gallo, quacamole, etc. Fiesta Soup: mix salsa (we use Pace Picante), black beans, corn, cilantro, and ground cumin to taste Chicken Tacos:buy a rotisserie chicken, take off meat, add taco seasoning, black beans, corn, then serve as usual for tacos Chicken Pot Pie: refrigerated pie crust, canned chicken breast, cream of chicken soup, frozen mixed veggies Bistro Chicken Pizza: Store bought pizza crust,olive oil brushed on crust, pizza sauce, grilled chicken breast cut in bite size pieces, roma tomatoes thinly sliced, mozzarella cheese, feta cheese with tomato and basil flavor, chopped basil on top Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KrissiK Posted January 11, 2009 Share Posted January 11, 2009 Sunday nights are quesedilla and smoothie nights Friday nights are taco nights I make "Everyday Cassoulet" out of the Betty Crocker cookbook a lot. It's healthy, and quick and yummy. enchiladas marinated, broiled chicken breasts with brown rice roasted chicken and veggies, esp. with sweet potato fries (those are the best!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen in CO Posted January 11, 2009 Share Posted January 11, 2009 Tacos - I add onions and a can (or two) of beans to the meat. We have this almost every week. Its easy and makes great leftovers. Spaghetti - My ds taught my dd how to make a great red sauce. We also have a great, easy al Fredo that we make and we make a Carbonara (which I make with bacon or ham and eggs and cheese) All are yummy and easy. We have this once a week, when we get tired of one kind of sause, we make another the next week. Fritatta - an italian oven omlette. Many different ingredients possbile. Asparagus and garlic are a favorite here. If we get tired of this, I put it in a shell and make a quiche or add flour and make a crustless quiche. Rice - my hubby is Korean. We eat a lot of rice. We either have rice with sides of veggies and saute'd meat or fried rice once a week. Again, easy. Those are things we have every week just about 52 weeks a year. The other days I switch off seasonal things. Right now it is soups and stews and roasted vegetables. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nukeswife Posted January 11, 2009 Share Posted January 11, 2009 nacho chicken enchiladas-- very easy, take a few chicken breasts (boneless/skinless) put them in a crock pot and dump in a can or two of enchilada sauce (enough to cover them by about and inch) cook a few hours until it falls apart. Shred meat, place in flour tortilla with a little shredded cheese, roll up. Place in a baking dish when dish is full smother them with nacho cheese dip and bake for about 15 minutes at 350. When done top with lettuce, tomato, sour cream etc. If I feel lazy I don't bake them, I just place 2 on a plate smother with the nacho cheese and microwave for about a minute. Another that's easy is to brown some chicken and cut into cubes, then prepare a box of rice a roni (chicken flavor is what we use but you could use whatever flavor you like) when after pouring in the water, throw in the cubed chicken and cook per package directions. You can also throw in some broccoli or peas if you'd like. This is a very easy one pan dinner that my family just loves. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liz CA Posted January 11, 2009 Share Posted January 11, 2009 For instance a few days ago I made a mango, caramelised onion and camembert salad. Sometimes it's smoked chicken, or thai beef...etc etc. Yummy. Could we please have the recipe for mango, caramelized onion and camembert salad? Enjoy the summer in the southern half! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myfunnybunch Posted January 11, 2009 Share Posted January 11, 2009 One of my favorites is baked rigatoni. Boil and drain the rigatoni (or similar pasta). Sauce: If I have time I saute minced garlic, then melt some ricotta and grated jack or swiss cheese in the same skillet, season with salt & pepper. If I don't have time, I just use a tomato sauce. Mix the sauce with the pasta and any of the following (or choose additions your family enjoys): sundried tomatoes, fresh tomato slices, sliced or ground sausage, grated parmesan, broccoli (slightly steamed), diced chicken. The possibilities are endless. Pour pasta mixture into a casserole dish. Grate some fresh parmesan, sprinkle over the top and bake at 400 degrees for about 15 minutes. It's perfect served with a green salad. It usually takes 30-35 minutes from start to table. Other easy meals I like to make: Chicken soup, chicken salad (made with leftover chicken) served on a bed of lettuce with bread and a vegetable on the side, sandwich night, fried rice, tortilla quiche. Cat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CactusPair Posted January 11, 2009 Share Posted January 11, 2009 My dc's favorite dinner is pancakes! It's easy and it works. We make them from scratch with whole grain so they're pretty nutritious, too. Dc also eat eggs for dinner. My dh likes to make turky curry with rice. Turky meatloaf is easy and good, too, for non-vegetarians. Pasta of any kind is a given at our house. Dh is Italian. My speciality is bean and veggie soup. Goes very far, tastes great, and it's cheap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keptwoman Posted January 11, 2009 Share Posted January 11, 2009 Could we please have the recipe for mango, caramelized onion and camembert salad? Enjoy the summer in the southern half! Um blushingly I'm not so hot on recipies. We were camping and I just looked in the fridge to see what was there and would go together. But vaguely (DH moans that since I never write anything down we never have the same thing twice LOL) it was salad greens diced fresh mango onions sliced and cooked REAL slow with butter and a touch of brown sugar until they were gorgeously caramel brown a nice ripe camembert all tossed together. Crazy easy. A fave of mine is diced roast beets with feta cheese on greens...you can get posh and add other stuff but those are the basic ingredients. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alpidarkomama Posted January 11, 2009 Share Posted January 11, 2009 We have breakfast night every Thursday night. Pancakes, omelets, french toast, eggs... Easy!!!! My favorite crock pot recipe is frozen (or not) chicken pieces, 1 cup rice, 1-1/2 cups water, 1/4 cup lemon juice. Just let it go all day. It's delicious. The rice comes out really creamy. Or the same combination baked in the oven with defrosted chicken. Tacos. I make a gigantic batch of refried beans every few months and keep it in quart-sized bags in the freezer. roasted veggie quesadillas pizza (I make crusts and keep in the freezer; I also pre-grate and freeze the cheese; sauce is just tomato paste, hot water, spices, and garlic) chicken baked w/garlic salt and carrots/potatoes egg drop soup (chicken broth, eggs, green onions, soy sauce, sesame oil) taco salad (beans, lettuce, cheese, veggies, chips, dressing (equal parts sugar, ketchup, oil, vinegar) smoothies - we have them for breakfast most days, and occasionally for dinner that's what comes to mind...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arch at Home Posted January 11, 2009 Share Posted January 11, 2009 What kind of rice do you use? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LaxMom Posted January 11, 2009 Share Posted January 11, 2009 Ok, we have inventoried our freezers and come up with the following menus for the week: Sunday - Roast chicken, baked potatoes, something green Monday - spaghetti carbonara, salad Tuesday - fajitas, rice of some sort Wednesday - "mystery marinated chicken" fried rice (we can't remember what, exactly the marinade is) Thursday - Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, peas Friday - Corn chowder Saturday - Swedish meatballs, potato cakes, green beans Those will give us good leftovers to use for lunches and I'll either double things (like the rice and mashed potatoes) or set things aside (like the veggies) as they come up, for other meals. (my, don't we eat a lot of beef! Really, only this week. ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JFSinIL Posted January 11, 2009 Share Posted January 11, 2009 Roast chicken. In fact, I just now popped one in the oven - I will chill it when done and pull it out later tonight after I pick up hubby and dd from airport. My teens can start a pot of water for pasta to go with it (or peel taters to cook and mash). Roast anything. Popping lumps of meat in the oven is my fav. meal prep! Burritos with either hamburger cooked up OR leftover roasted meat. Pasta. Several times a week - either as a side or the main dish if I have thawed some sausage to cook. Kielbasa or a ham slice. A quick fry in a skillet and the meat is ready. Besides pasta we often have rice or couscous or taters as a side. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caroline Posted January 11, 2009 Share Posted January 11, 2009 I put a whole chicken in the crockpot in the morning with a little olive oil and some spices. It cooks on low for 10 hours. It is ready for dinner. A little green or fruit salad (or a caesar salad in a bag) and there is dinner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
battlemaiden Posted January 11, 2009 Author Share Posted January 11, 2009 You're all my heroes! I'm truly inspired. I am going to save this thread for *those* days. Thanks so much. Jo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TraceyS/FL Posted January 11, 2009 Share Posted January 11, 2009 pizza (I make crusts and keep in the freezer; I also pre-grate and freeze the cheese; sauce is just tomato paste, hot water, spices, and garlic) Could you share the recipe for the crust? or how you go about it? Pretty pretty please?! :tongue_smilie: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pretty in Pink Posted January 11, 2009 Share Posted January 11, 2009 Chicken Chili Chicken Tortilla Soup Taco Soup Meatless Lasagna Macaroni and Cheese (usually with frozen veggies stirred in and/or tuna) Bean, beef or chicken burritos Enchiladas Quiche Baked Potatoes Risotto Any pasta w/ red sauce (can add frozen veggies if you like) Any pasta tossed w/ olive oil, parmasean, fresh herbs and black olives (can add sliced chicken breast and/or steamed broccoli or frozen veggie) Thin spaghetti tossed w/ drained canned tomatoes, black olives, garlic, olive oil and ground beef or meatballs Quesadillas Salad w/ sliced chicken breast, some seeds or nuts, raisins, bacon...whatever you have on hand Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mommyof4ks Posted January 11, 2009 Share Posted January 11, 2009 I have learned so much from this thread! A new grocery list is started! My favorite easy meal is chicken pot pie. They are very easy to put together, and in 1 hour we eat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tammyla Posted January 11, 2009 Share Posted January 11, 2009 Pasta Night 2 times a week. One is a quick stove top and the other an easy oven bake. Any dish baked in the oven has the noodles going in raw with extra sauce for quick prep. Served with garlic bread and salad. Favorites are regular spaghetti with a veggie tomato sauce, spinach lasagna, baked ziti and penne pasta topped with garlic, butter and fresh Parmesan cheese. Rice Night. Egg rolls, fried rice or a stir fry. Mexican Night. Burritos, tacos, baked or a Tex Mex baked dish usually served with a rice dish and fresh veggies. Pizza Night Black Beans or Red Beans and Rice Fresh baked bread and Soup Baked potato, pick your own toppings night. Veggie chili goes with this and satisfies my guys. Hearty Chili served with cornbread and corn. (We are in the Midwest, corn goes with everything here.) Big, big homemade pot-pie served with fresh bread. Breakfast....when all else fails. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HappyGrace Posted January 11, 2009 Share Posted January 11, 2009 I thought it was a complicated Food Network type dish! What am I missing? Is there an easy recipe? One of my fave easy meals is this-put a pot roast in a roaster pan, dump a bottle of ketchup and a can of beer and a packet of onion soup mix over it, cover and bake 3 hours. You can even throw cut up potatoes, carrots and onions in with it. So easy and SO good! The sugar in the ketchup gets caramelized and the sauce is yummy! Crock pot pork roast-put saurkraut on the bottom of the crock, pork roast on top, cut an onion and throw it in, rub the top of the roast with garlic, S+P. Cook on high 5-6 hours. Bake some sweet potatoes to go with it, or cut a squash in half and throw it cut side down on a baking sheet in the oven-super easy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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