What are some really basic dinners to make?

Question

My wife and I are trying to teach her 13 year old son to prepare dinner for us once a week. His experiance with this is remedial, at best. As an example, this last week we made grilled cheese sandwiches... We just would like him to take a little more effort in him feeding himself for later in life.

Now my question is... what are some good (easy) recipe's that he can make?

Answer 1

I just looked over the list that follows. I love to cook but don't bother with fancy stuff when it's just for me - I eat like a kid!! Everything listed below is tasty, really easy, takes very little time and uses minimal dishes, my priorities when I'm cooking for just me!

Eggaritos (my own invention) all the kids in my family started making them at about 10. They all ask for these when they spend the night.
Grate a little cheese, put it on a tortilla and melt it on either on a skillet on med low (put a little salt on the skillet to keep it from sticking) or in the oven at 350.
While the cheese is melting, scramble some eggs in another pan. Put the eggs on the cheesy tortilla, top with lettuce, tomato and salsa and enjoy! You can also add avocado, olives or a dab of sour cream.

Baked chicken or fish - put 2 Tb olive oil, a little salt and pepper in a covered casserole dish. Add boneless/skinless chicken breast or any type of fish fillet or steak, turn to coat with oil and bake at 350 til done (for chicken about 45 minutes, fish 25-45 minutes depending on type and thickness) Serve with steamed veges and microwaved baked potato. You can also add herbs of choice and/or a little white wine or lemon juice to the chicken or fish.

Simple cheesy pasta - cook noodles of choice, drain, rinse, return to pan with pasta sauce of choice & heat til hot again, add cheese of choice cut into 1/2 inch cubes, continue to heat just til cheese starts to melt but is still in little discreet chunks, serve with small green salad.

Doctored soup - lots of canned or packaged soups are really great with the addition of a little cheese. Serve with plain toast. I also love to take Tomatoe/roasted red pepper soup, heat it til it's just bubbling and add a little basalmic vinegar and poach eggs right in the soup. Serve with croutons or crackers. Sometimes I'll use a little hot sauce instead of the basalmic and serve with tortilla chips.

Nachos - spread corn chips out on a pie plate, add whole pinto beans and grated cheese, heat til cheese is bubbly, top with salsa, tomatoes, avocado, olives or any combination of nachoy type condiments.

Open face hot tuna sandwiches, make canned tuna salad (or use canned chicken or salmon) put it on toast, add some grated or thinly sliced cheese, heat in the broiler or toaster oven til the cheese is melted and the whole thing is hot.

If you have a Trader Joes near you, check them out for easy meals in minutes!

Answer 2

I have quite a few ideas for you actually. I have taught quite a few of my kitchen phobic friends how to cook. Okay, we will stay away from sphagetti, pizza and burgers. Chili: Just brown some ground beef with some onions and green peppers, add a can of chili bean mix (brooks is good and already has the seasonings in it) also add a can of stewed tomatoes. Heat this up well for about 30 minutes and add some more water if it is too thick for you. Salt and pepper to taste. This is some of the best chili you can eat Hamburger helper has some great ideas. I love the cheeseburger mac, the best Creamy baked chicken. I love this one. Buy some chicken parts such as legs, thighs or skinless boneless breasts and put into a baking dish. Place two cans of cream of mushroom or cream of celery soup over the top and one can of water. Bake in 350 oven for about an hour. Serve with some instant mashed potatoes and a can of vegetables and you have dinner sloppy joes. Just brown some hamburger again with some onions and green peppers. Add some ketchup to make it saucy and also some brown sugar and a squirt or two of yellow mustard. Heat and serve. Delicious!!!! Tuna helper is also good if you like tunafish I can give you more if you e-mail me and tell me what sort of foods do you like

Answer 3

Frittata:
6 eggs
Salt and pepper
1 cup freshly grated Parmesan or Swiss cheese
2 tbsp. butter
1. Preheat the oven broiler. Break the eggs into a mixing bowl and beat them just until they are well blended. Mix in the cheese and whatever else you choose (such as 1 1/2 cups of prepared vegetables or pasta).

2. Melt the butter in a 10-inch, ovenproof skillet set over medium heat. Swirl the butter evenly over the bottom of the pan and pour in the beaten egg. Immediately turn the heat to Low. When the eggs seem to have set but are still a bit runny on the top, remove the skillet to the broiler and leave it there just until the top is set (not browned). Flip the frittata onto a plate, cut into wedges and serve. You can also pour the egg mixture into the skillet with the melted butter, and bake the frittata in a 350-degree oven for 15 minutes or until the top is dry.
http://familyfun.go.com/recipes/

http://www.cookingwithkids.com/

Answer 4

This will take about 30 minutes. Takes about two minutes to prepare though. Buy some boneless chicken breasts and then some italian spices or any flavor chicken you want. Throw spices on chicken. Put cooking spray in pan. Let cook at 400 degree for 15 minutes, flip and cook another 15 minutes.
He could then make stuffing with stove top stuffing by following directions on the box. He can make this while chicken is cooking. It is just a matter of boiling water with butter and then adding the mix. Instant mashed potatoes only take a few minutes also.

Answer 5

Macaroni and cheese, Hamburgers and french fries, hot dogs and beans. You may also try something like Hamburger helper or Tuna helper. It's not from scratch, but you have to read and follow directions. I could cook almost anything by the time I was 15. I'm talking a full Thanksgiving dinner, etc. not just box stuff. One of the cook shows on t.v. has a segment called cooking with(or for) kids. Think it's on food network. Check out their website"
foodnetwork.com

Answer 6

Pasta is the easiest, especially if you teach him how to make raw sauces or you use bottled sauce. For example, he could make pasta with a pesto sauce in just about 10 minutes. Boil the pasta, and while that's boiling mix together in a food processor (if you don't have one, just chop really really finely) basil, parmesan cheese, pine nuts (or walnuts, which I prefer) and some olive oil. Garlic is good too. Toss the sauce with the pasta when it's cooked. Really simple and fast.

Answer 7

Give him a subscription to "Taste of Home" magazine, or one of it's sister publications. They have no ads, just great recipes sent in by people all over the country!
Check it out at reimanpublications.com.

He will love choosing the recipes, and he'll start to build a great and varied recipe box!
The recipes are all fairly simple, too.
Good luck & have fun!

Almost forgot--it IS available where magazines are sold, too. Maybe try one issue, and see how it goes.

Answer 8

Chicken Noodle Soup with Fresh Tarragon:

1/3 pound uncooked vermicelli, broken into 2-inch pieces
8 cups Brown Chicken Stock
1 1/4 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
3 cups shredded cooked chicken (about 1 pound)
2 tablespoons fresh whole tarragon leaves

Cook pasta according to package directions, omitting salt and fat.

Place the stock, salt, and pepper in a large stockpot; bring to a simmer. Add chicken and tarragon; cook 2 minutes or until thoroughly heated. Add the pasta.

Yield: 4 servings (serving size: 2 cups)

Answer 9

Anything in the George Foreman grill is pretty darn easy. (chicken, Fish, Steak, burger.
Add a side of frozen veggie in the micro. Presto DInner.

Answer 10

mac-n-cheese. help him but up skin less chicken breast into small pieces and stick then into a greased frying pan instant home made chicken nuggets. there are actually some really good cookbooks for children. my mother bought me a handful when i was Little and i still use then cause i like the recipes and there quick.