ok...sick of everything...?

Question

when i get home from work... cooking is a hassle...not to mention I'm sick of everything... what are some favorite quick ideas for dinner?... let's say prep 20 mins... cook time can be 1/2hr if its really good...

Answer 1

I have the same problem but in addition I hate to cook.

I started using the crockpot A LOT.

Try different meats with onions, cream of mushroom soup, mushrooms, whatever you like. Add minute rice when you get home for 10 minutes and serve.

I bought a crockpot cookbook. Look for one that says "easy" on the front so you don't have to look for weird ingredients or too many ingredients.

Answer 2

Try cube steak. You can buy them at an grocery store. Take a whole potato, wash and dry it. Then take a fork and stab the potato (great if you have a bad day). Then place in the microwave for 10 minutes. While the potato is cooking, place flour on a plate, enough to cover the bottom of the plate. Heat oil (vegetable or canola) about 2 tsp and 2 tbsp of butter in a pan. Take the cube steak and salt and pepper it. Then place in the flour. Make sure both sides of the cube steak are coated with the flour and shake off excess. Then fry in the pan. Do not turn a lot. Put it on one side and leave it alone. It will take 5-8 minutes each side. While the cube steak is cooking check the potato in the microwave and see if it is soft by squeezing gently. If not done, place back in the microwave for another 3-5 minutes. The cube steaks are done when they are browned on the outside. Put on a plate and enjoy with your "baked potato". Hope this helps.

Answer 3

I always keep things in my fridge that can be used for a multitude of things. Like pizza dough, I'll make different types of pizza's or even bread sticks. I always keep my pantry stocked with canned veggies, cream soups, rice and pastas. When I'm tired I like to throw together a quesadilla. Blister both sides of the tortilla over medium high heat fill half it with salsa, browned chicken and cheese flip the other half on top of it and you have a half moon quesadilla. (when filling, bring the temp down to medium low), that way the tortilla wont burn and the cheese will still melt. I always watch 30 minute meals with Rachel Ray. She has so many different ideas and she really gets you excited about cooking. Plus the food is so simple and really yummy. I get most of my recipes from her!

Answer 4

I second the Zatarains suggestion. The dirty rice is really good and can even be used as a tortilla filling.

Another shortcut is just a package of tortellini and a tub of pesto. Boil, toss with pesto, top with Parm.

Another one is to saute a package of baby bella mushrooms in some butter with garlic, then dump in a jar of Classico roasted garlic alfredo, when it's heated toss with some boiled pasta.

Here's another trick to getting dinner on fast. When you have time, set your pots, pans, cutting board, knife, whatever you need for the meal, out on the counter. Then when you get home you don't have to spend more time searching for everything first!

Answer 5

Tuna melt bagel sandwich.

Mix a can of tuna, some finely diced onions, the juice of 1/2 lemon/lime, and a little celery.

Lightly toast a split bagel.

Mound tuna salad on it. Top with a thick tomato slice, and a thick slice of cheddar cheese. Put under the broiler til cheese is melted and starts to bubble a little.

I also tend to fall back on a good old steak topped with salsa ; canned refried beans on the side, and a salad with fresh avocado.....The whole thing takes 15 minutes.

Answer 6

I like those veggies in a bag...put some in a dish with cover and little water and microwave. Also thin slices of salmon I put olive oil on the salmon and wrap in foil .. takes only less than 10 min to cook. That's what I had last night and i have one more for tonight.

Answer 7

Ramen noodles are really versatile, you don't just have to eat it plain. I believe there are even cookbooks available.

Here's one very simple and quick idea:
Add frozen vegetables to the water first, then the noodles and cook per instructions. You could add pre-cooked meats, even diced up lunch meat (I like roast beef). Don't add raw meat, it probably won't cook through. Add spices or seasonings that you like, such as parsley or garlic.

Then you can eat this as a soup, or drain the broth and it will be like a stir-fry.

Answer 8

I have a staple that I always keep in my fridge. It's a simple tomato sauce. Sautee up 2 - 3 cloves of garlic and 1/2 an onion with salt and pepper. Let them just get soft. Then add 2 cans of diced tomatoes. Let this simmer on low for about 20 minutes. You can just top angel hair with this with fresh ripped basil and parm cheese. Or you can quickly sautee, or bake a chicken breast top with the sauce and a little cheese. I like gorgonzla but mozz would be good to. Again you can serve this with pasta, or put on a bun for a great healthy sandwich. If you like really rich food, add a little bit of ricotta cheese to the sauce (you will have to add more salt and pepper) and toss with penne or ziti. One of my husband's favorites is to add fresh seafood to the sauce right after I add the tomatoes and it comes to a simmer. Generally I throw in a few clams, scallops and/or shrimp. Again, top with a little fresh basil.

Another thing I do is make chicken packets. I generally make a few on Sunday and use them through the week. Just season your chicken whatever way you like and use for salads, rice, pasta, etc. For example I might season 1 with Chinese 5 spice, one with taco seasoning, and one with Italian dry salad dressing mix. With this I might make fried rice, just add some some veggies (I generally use scallions, peas and carrots [frozen], and a little bit of cabbage), toss with soy sauce, the rice, eggs, etc. Whatever you like with the chinese flavored chicken. If you like salads mix up greens, mandarin oranges, almonds, sesame seeds and Asian salad dressing. The same theory applies for the mexican flavored chicken. Throw together a taco salad or a burrito. With the Italian chicken make a calzone or toss the chicken in the sauce mentioned earlier.

One thing to keep cooking quicker is to prep in advance. Keep a bowl of rice or pasta in the fridge for quick cooking. Also, when you make the chicken packs wrap them well in foil paper and let them cool before your put them in the fridge.

Answer 9

Try Bertolli bag dinners. Enough for two, cooks in 8 minutes and there are tons of varieties to choose from. Seafood, beef, chicken, and wonderful combos of veggies!

Answer 10

buy a box of Zatarains Jambalaya mix and a pound of smoked sausage and follow the directions on the back of the box....easy, simple, and good...all under 20 minutes....all your'e doing is simmering rice in a pan.