Help! I can't cook!?

Question

I need some ideas on what I can cook for dinner for my family, which is myself, my husband and my 18 month old daughter. My daughter is getting to be a picky eater and I myself don't eat much beef or red meat. My daughter is really on a schedule as far as when she has dinner, so I usually have less than an hour to have dinner done. I have never been good at cooking, but really want to learn some easy/quick recipes to start with. Any ideas?

Answer 1

A few sure to please hits (tried and true at my house):
meatloaf--you can buy ground turkey, pork, or chicken and a seasoning packet at the store. Serve with mashed potatoes and some carrots, beans, or whatever veggie you'd like.

pesto pasta--cook your favorite pasta in a pot, then in a skillet throw in some onions/peppers, saute for 2-3 min, add mushrooms, saute for another 2-3 minutes and add in some frozen peas and precooked chicken with some store bought pesto sauce and add in the cooked pasta. It's great!

homemade pizzas--buy premade crusts, make your own crust, cut up slices of French bread, or even English muffins, and buy some sauce and your favorite toppings and bake until the cheese is melted and golden (usually about 10 min in a 425 degree oven)

tacos- buy a kit at the store and check the back to get all the ingredients. I mix the seasoning packet with cooked refried beans instead of beef sometimes.

shake 'n bake chicken

stir fry--cook ramen noodles but don't mix in the seasoning. In a skillet, pour in some precooked chicken, canned baby corn and water chestnuts, mushrooms, sprouts, whatever you like, and stir fry sauce. heat until warm and add in the noodles!

Chicken pot pie--you can find a recipe online, but it's basically creamed soups, some spices, and a package of frozen veggies and some frozen hash brown cubes. Throw them all in the slow cooker on low in the morning. Get a refrigerated pie crust and unroll it. Cut it in triangles and bake according to the package and serve with the filling.

Loaded baked potatoes--bake or microwave potatoes, sautee your favorite topping options and stick them on the potato when it's finished!

mostaccoli--get some pasta sauce and mix in an italian seasoning blend and some italian cheeses, add in some cooked mostaccoli and pour into a 9 by 13 pan. Sprinkle with mozzarella and parmesan and bake until the cheese is bubbly. Serve with garlic bread and a salad.

Answer 2

My brother loves what he calls "redneck turkey". I have him get thick sliced turkey lunchmeat from the deli and in a glass dish I layer the turkey with stove top stuffing that has been cooked. I then microwave for about 5 minutes and then just add some veggies on the side. You can also add on the side some gravy that you can buy in a jar or make up with a packet and water and put over the turkey and stuffing when you serve. Anyway this meal is basically done in about 10 minutes.
Have you tried any of those frozen Banquet Crockpot dinners? They're like $5.00 and you just put it on in the morning, which all you do is add water, let it cook 8 hours on low (30 minutes before serving you add the side packet that comes with the meal which is something like potatoes or dumplings). We then just add a salad and dinner rolls. My family is all about being cheap costs, no fuss and tasty.

Answer 3

There are lots of things you can make in under an hour. A quick way of making a meal:

Cook your favorite pasta according to package directions (less than 20 minutes) drain & return to pan.

Add in your favorite cream soup (change it up a bit, cream of tomato, cream of chicken, mushroom, cream of celery, etc.)

Add in some of your favorite vegetables.

If you have some canned meat (chicken, tuna, etc.) drain and add to the rest.

Pour in a little milk (1/4 cup - 1/2 cup, depending on how thin/thick you like it)

Mix it all together and return to the stove. Heat all the way through. (should take less than 10 minutes)

Now serve it up with a little cheese on top.

Instant dinner.

Answer 4

One of my favorites is turkey meatloaf. 1 lb ground turkey, 1 cup oatmeal, 1 egg, 1/2 cup ketchup, a little garlic powder, a little pepper, and a few grated baby carrots. Mix it all up. To cook it fast (and it makes a nice presentation) rather than cook it in a big loaf cook it in muffin pans. 350 degree oven for 20-25 minutes.

I also love crock pot cooking. Put all the ingredients in the crock pot in the morning, turn it on, and its ready when you get home. Here's a favorite: 1 lb skinless boneless chicken breast, 2 cans of cream of mushroom soup, 1 small container of light sour cream, 2 tomatoes, pasta or rice. Put the chicken in crock pot and cover with soup. Let cook on low for 6-8 hours. About 5 minutes before serving add chopped tomato (deseeded) and sour cream. Serve over choice of pasta or steamed rice.

Answer 5

Here's a good place to start: http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/lf_quick_easy/

The easiest thing I make (which my kids LOVE) is breakfast for dinner. A simple omelet with mushrooms and sweet-peppers or my own egg recipe (below), toast with jam, and some sliced cantaloupe... YUM.

Easy stove-top eggs: In a large, deep skillet, saute 1/4 cup chopped onion in 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium-high head until lightly brown. Add 1 cup sliced fresh mushrooms and continue to cook until mushrooms are brown. Add 1 more tablespoon olive oil. Reduce heat to medium. Add 3 cups fresh raw spinach and stir over medium heat until limp. Beat 6 eggs with 1 tablespoon water and 2 tablespoons sour cream. Add eggs to skillet and cook over medium heat, stirring often until the eggs cease to be runny. Cover with shredded sharp cheddar cheese.

Answer 6

dont worry im not much of a cook either but i have found that the betty crocker homebakes which takes about 45 min, and crock pot meals are great, (you can leave them cooking for up to 10 hours). just to get started, then start experiementing with chicken, like shake and bake or fry it.

Answer 7

shepard's pie is a hit at my house too....that's a good suggestion. My son loves chicken or tuna salad too. I mix up a can of tuna with mayo, pickle relish, chopped pecans, sliced grapes, and chopped hard boiled eggs. You and hubby can put it in a peta pocket with some lettuce leaves for a nice meal and you can spoon it to your daughter. It's healthy and good. You could also make chicken salad with sliced almonds, mayo, and curry powder....very good.

Answer 8

My boys (Hubby and son) love shepherd's pie. It's not hard to make, and kids love it. If you don't like red meat, make it with ground turkey instead. I secretly make it with turkey all the time, and my guys don't know the difference.