I have 2 small children and I work full time. My fiance does not get off until 6:00 pm. Does anyone have dinner ideas for me?? I am cooking so late, we can;t afford to eat out all the time. I don't have the time or energy to flip through recipes in my books. What are some of the quick and easy (and cheap) things you eat during the week??
2007-01-21 13:25:57 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Food & Drink ➔ Cooking & Recipes
Hb helper in various disguises are a staple here-that and a canned veggy- Weekends are for real food!!!!
2007-01-21 13:34:38 · answer #1 · answered by boilerrat 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't get home until 6pm either so what I do is cook 3 or 4 meals on the weekends, usually in the crockpot. Either Saturday or Sunday and then freeze everything. Crock pot dishes: tacos, chicken anything, sloppy joes, spaghetti, beef & macaroni, chili, stew, etc., all basic recipes. Pick up a little crock pot recipe book or booklet, or go to the library for one, and decide what you want to make. Plus find good recipes online. I figure out the grocery list on Friday night and husband grocery shops on Saturday morning.
Let the meals cool and then freeze in either containers or freezer bags. Defrost in fridge night before or morning of and then when you get home from work just do the side dishes, like spaghetti noodles, baked potatoes in microwave, noodles, etc. Life is SO much easier this way and economical. No need to eat out so we rarely do. Hope this helps.
2007-01-21 13:38:08 · answer #2 · answered by maven 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am in the same situation. Hamburger or chicken helper is quick and easy and very filling stir-fry takes like 20 mins or less to make rice takes 2 minutes and is healthy since you have kids i'd suggest mac n cheese w/ hot dogs if you are really on the run I know mine love that! I also make meatball subs constantly, you can buy meatballs in the frozen food section and nuke them then put the regular stuff in the subs and add meatballs. We actually have thursday as sub night b-cuz thats our busy day. Or you could obtain a crock pot and start dinner when you leave for work in the morning and have it be done whe n you walk in the door they also have crock pot stuff in the frozen food aisle. Nuke baked potatoes in the mic and nuke some chilli put chilli and cheese and sour cream and bacon bits on top viola dinner is served. If you stabb the potatoes with a fork/ knife all over and then wrap the potatoes in handy wrap and nuke them for 12 mins they will be ready to eat. Oh and Spaghetti is quick and healthy also. Aslo casseroles are a life saver. If you prepare them the night before you can heat them up when you walk in the door for a fresh dinner in a hurry.
2007-01-21 13:37:20 · answer #3 · answered by thenoodle 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Invest in a slow cooker, you can purchase premade meals that need to simmer all day for the same price as buying the ingredients individually. Also, you could take one of your days off and plan a kitchen day, where you cook up casseroles and individual pieces for your favorite meals, just pull them out before you leave for work, then they just need to warm for a little while. You could do this while the kids play in the corner out of your way, or if they're old enough, have them help you by stirring a bowl of whatever. I usually buy hamburger helper or homestyle bakes when I'm real pinched for time, but other than that I cook. Good luck!
2007-01-21 13:36:49 · answer #4 · answered by heartlostangel 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have a few options for you.
First, break out a crock pot. If you dont' have one, you can get one for $20 at WM. This lets you toss frozen meat and ingredients in the pot in teh AM, turn on low, and have dinner ready when you get home. Just add a salad or maybe a side veggie to round out the meal.
Second, consider OAMC or Once A Month Cooking. This means you cook on weekends and freeze to use during the wweek, w/ the theory being you cook once a month. You can do it OAWeek, though. Make pans of entree or side casseroles, lasagna, meatloaf, meatballs in sauce, chiken in marinades or sauces and freeze. On Monday, pull out Tuesday's supper and let it thaw in the fridge. Tues when you get home, pop it in the oven (reg or Mw, alld epends on your prefernce) to cook. Being partially or all the way thawed will cut down on baking time. Again, add a fresh salad or side veggie.
Third, make something you can eat on for awhile. LIke roast a turkey that you can have as roasted turkey, then for sandwiches, then chop up to put in a casserole. This also works w/ a beef roast, a couple of whoel chikens, a pork loin, whateveer.
2007-01-21 13:35:29 · answer #5 · answered by Sugar Pie 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I buy a can of Campbell's cream of ___ soup and make the recipes on the inside of the can's label. You can take boneless chicken breasts and top with Campbell's cream of mushroom and a few spices they mention, and just put it in the oven. Thaw the chicken in the fridge before you leave for work so it will cook faster.
Then there's pizza, those family size frozen lasagna things, hamburger helper, and mac 'n' cheese with hot dog slices mixed in (every kid's favorite).
2007-01-21 13:36:24 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
my advice is to prep on weekends and eat it throught the week
cooked spaghetti will keep in the fridge several days then re heat with boiling water and add microwaved sauce.
most casseroles can be made up then refrigerated till baked. they would have cooked chicken cut up.... cream of anything soup... egg noodles... celery, onion, spices. look on allrecipes.com
rIce works many ways... beef and tomatoes... chicken and celery, carrot, onion.... be creative
2007-01-21 14:02:33 · answer #7 · answered by Christopher B 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is a great site. All the meals are 30 minutes or less
http://www.quickeatsplus.com/
2007-01-21 13:32:49 · answer #8 · answered by scrappykins 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Tv dinners...corn dogs....macaroni and cheese....ravioli...canned soup...pizza rolls..hamburgers..hotdogs...sandwiches...lol they are all fast and cheap
2007-01-21 13:35:26 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋