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General Category => Discover Seattle! => Topic started by: greycat on Oct 26 06 03:28

Title: Cooking ideas?
Post by: greycat on Oct 26 06 03:28
Does anyone have some really easy but nutritious recipes for suppers? My husband and i work dumb hours and dont get around to shopping as much as we should, we eat stupid things for supper and i really want to make better meals! I need the ideas to be fairly easy, few ingredients, but healthy...any ideas welcomed!
Title: Re: Cooking ideas?
Post by: P.C. on Oct 26 06 03:36
Have you considered having a day of nothing but cooking.  Make a lasagne (veggie lasagne if that would suit you better)...maybe a chicken pot-pie and a huge pot of minestroni soup.  Divide them into meal size portions and freeze.  Pop a couple out of the freezer in the morn, heat when you get home and add a salad......dinner!
Title: Re: Cooking ideas?
Post by: purelife on Oct 26 06 03:38
I know what you mean greycat.  I'm in the same situation.

  Marinate your chicken drumsticks either overnight.

The next day, put it in the oven and bake uncovered.  In a pot, steam broccolli with slivered ginger.  Yup, put your steamer basket in the pot, drop in some brocolli florets and add some ginger on top.  You could even drink the juice from the brocolli and ginger.  And that, is the best.  Oh, and sprinkle some salt in the water as well.

  That is one of my easiest meals and healthy.

  I also like to make soups as well.

  So, take chicken drumsticks, chopped celery, carrots, red lentils, green lentils, green peas, brocolli, mushrooms and onions and put them in a large pot.  Let it cook and simmer for about 2 hours.  That's chicken soup for ya.  
Title: Re: Cooking ideas?
Post by: Sportsdude on Oct 26 06 03:45
wow purelife that sounds awesome.
Title: Re: Cooking ideas?
Post by: purelife on Oct 26 06 03:53
Thanks SD.

  Your quesadillas sounded quick and easy.

  Oh, greycat, you could also make wraps, sandwiches, salads, depending on whether you feel like something cold or hot.

  With salads, I like to put roasted pine nuts and slivered almonds.  It adds that crunchiness.  For dressing, I just stick with balsamic vinegar, olive oil and sesame oil.  

  Spaghetti sauce is quick and easy to make as well.  Take a jar of sauce, mix with ground beef, peas, chopped celery, zuchinni, onions, garlic, mushrooms and voila, your sauce is ready.  Oh, and add whatever spices you like.  Then, boil the spaghetti and you're done.
Title: Re: Cooking ideas?
Post by: Sportsdude on Oct 26 06 04:00
Yeah those are super simple. just need a skillet pan, tortilla chese some pre cooked or packaged chicken and shredded cheese. And some salsa if you like or some olives or jalopenos and bam you've got something to eat.
Title: Re: Cooking ideas?
Post by: Lise on Oct 26 06 04:43
I've got a very simple recipe. Salmon with salsa.

  1) fillet of salmon

2) juice of 1/2 lemon

3) dried oregano

4) pinch of garlic

5) salt & pepper to taste

6) olive oil

7) foil

  Place fish in foil, add all the ingredients on fillet then wrapped the fillet with the foil. Poke some holes in the foil. Pop in oven and let it cook till fish is tender.

  Salsa recipe:

  1) 2 firm ripe tomatoes

2) cilantro

3) 1/2 small red onion

4) dash of lemon

5) dash of pepper

6) 1/2 jalapeno pepper (optional - don't put if you don't like it spicy)

  Mix all together. Serve on fillet once the fish is cooked. You can also add avacadoes or mango to the salsa if you like.

  Throw in boiled potatoes or rice on the side.
Title: Re: Cooking ideas?
Post by: Lise on Oct 26 06 04:52
Simple Greek salad recipe. Really easy to make and is a definite crowd pleaser.

  a) 1 red capsicum

b) 1 green capsicum

c) 1 small cucumber

d) 1 small red onion

e) crumpled feta cheese

f) olive (optional)

e) small dash of olive oil

g) 1/2 lemon

h) dried oregano

  Mix all together and viola... instant Greek salad. Dead easy.
Title: Re: Cooking ideas?
Post by: kingy on Oct 26 06 08:48
lise, when am i coming over for dinner?
Title: Re: Cooking ideas?
Post by: greycat on Oct 26 06 09:31
Thanks, those are some great ideas. I like the idea of a cooking day and freezing stuff! Any other easy soup ideas would be great too...does anyone use a slow cooker?
Title: Re: Cooking ideas?
Post by: Sportsdude on Oct 26 06 09:35
crock pots rule. Yeah my grandma cooks and freezes now she's too old doesn't have the energy to cook anymore [FONT size=1](damn piece of shit stalin and his gulags, I want to spit on his grave)[/FONT]  
Title: Re: Cooking ideas?
Post by: Russ on Oct 26 06 10:28
ya I love using the crock pot. Its a new toy I like playing with. You can make spagball sauce, leg of lambs, and wicked chili's/
Title: Re: Cooking ideas?
Post by: P.C. on Oct 27 06 06:45
If you go to Costco, greycat, right now they have a 'slow-cook recipe book.  It's awesome.  SO updated from the old, 'throw a pot roast in' recipes.  

There are recipes for foccasia (sp?), rice dishes.....some REALLY good stuff.  I could open a library with the amount of books I have, and porobably 1/4 of them are cook books.  I said "NO MORE"....but I had to get that one....lol

  I love my crockpot.  I would like a new one, but haven't found what I'm looking for yet.  Mine is very small.....perfect for two.  All the new ones are family size.
Title: Re: Cooking ideas?
Post by: TehBorken on Oct 27 06 10:01
  greycat wrote:
Does anyone have some really easy but nutritious recipes for suppers?

Welll...if you don't mind me pimping a site I have a vested interest in, you can always go [a href="vny!://royalrecipes.com"]here[/a]. (//forums/richedit/smileys/Happy/14.gif)  

Try the [a href="vny!://royalrecipes.com/reverse.php"]Reverse Recipe Search[/a] thingamajig while you're there. It let's you plug in whatever stuff you have onhand and then finds recipes that you can make with those ingredients. Also has a [a href="vny!://royalrecipes.com/dictionary.php"]Cook's Dictionary[/a] and [a href="vny!://royalrecipes.com/recipe_4531.htm"]linked ingredient lists[/a].
 
Title: Re: Cooking ideas?
Post by: Lise on Oct 27 06 10:27
kingy wrote:
lise, when am i coming over for dinner?[/DIV]
 Anytime, hon. Just bring your sheep.
Title: Re: Cooking ideas?
Post by: purelife on Oct 27 06 10:32
You have room for sheep, Lise?  [insert shocked face here]  
Title: Re: Cooking ideas?
Post by: Lise on Oct 27 06 10:34
Definitely. And you too, my dear.
Title: Re: Cooking ideas?
Post by: Sportsdude on Oct 27 06 11:15
I tend to eat a lot. (according to my cousins)
Title: Re: Cooking ideas?
Post by: greycat on Oct 27 06 01:13
Thanks again, i will see if i can get to CostCo., i really could use a good crockpot cookbook. I will also check out that site on the prev. page. I am just so sick of falling back on pasta whenever we run out of ideas...so boring.
Title: Re: Cooking ideas?
Post by: Lise on Oct 27 06 03:13
Here's what I usually do when I'm tight for time. Whenever I buy meat, I come home and divide the pieces into zipper bags. Add in your favorite sauces or marinade (teriyaki is my fav) immediately, then zipped them up, toss into the freezer and forget about it.

  Then when you need to do something, just thaw them out in the fridge in the night before so by dinner time the following you're ready eat. Pop onto the grill or bake in the oven until cook. Add veggies, potatoes or whatever you want as a side dish.

  Easy, no?
Title: Re: Cooking ideas?
Post by: P.C. on Oct 27 06 03:21
Another book I've relied on for years, is a book called 'Make a Mix'.  I don't use it so much these days, but it was sure valuable when my kids were little and my 9 to 5 years.

The recipes are all 'master mixes', with numerous recipes with which to use them.  Breads, muffins, pancakes (a few things made from one 'master mix').  Drink mixes, soup mixes, seasoning mixes for all kinds of things.

Many of the recipes from the mixes are less than 5 minutes prep time

  The only thing I still use out of that book is the granola recipe.  BEST granola, bar NONE.  4 or 5 bucks for a teeny box.....I don't think so.

  I invested in some great, really large glass containers for the mixes.  
Title: Re: Cooking ideas?
Post by: Sportsdude on Oct 27 06 03:25
I rely on the 1978 edition of the Woman's Guild of Valporaiso University cook book, or was it 1980? Can't remember now.
Title: Re: Cooking ideas?
Post by: purelife on Oct 27 06 03:25
That's a great idea, PC about adding in the sauce in with the chicken and throwing it in the freezer.  I would've never thought of that.  I'll do that next time for sure!  Thanks! :)

  Bless ya!  
Title: Re: Cooking ideas?
Post by: P.C. on Oct 27 06 03:28
Oh Oh.....you blessed me for Lise's post.  

  (I do the same thing too......do I get to keep my blessing???  rofl)
Title: Re: Cooking ideas?
Post by: purelife on Oct 27 06 03:30
Oooops, I thought it was you.  Sorry Lise, I'll bless you twice now for my boo boo....

  THANKS LISE!
Title: Re: Cooking ideas?
Post by: Lise on Oct 27 06 03:38
LOL. No probs there, purelife.
Title: Re: Cooking ideas?
Post by: P.C. on Oct 27 06 04:01
There's been a whole lot of blessing going on.....and purelife, I can't stand seeing you hanging there at 199.

  Allow me.
Title: Re: Cooking ideas?
Post by: purelife on Oct 27 06 04:06
Sweet.  thanks PC!  *kisses*
Title: Re: Cooking ideas?
Post by: 49er on Oct 27 06 09:46
I survived my college years with this.......as dinner and the leftover as breakfast the next morning......

  boil chopped potatoes and an onion or two in plenty of water till cooked;

empty in a can of corned beef;

simmer/stir till corned beef falls apart;

serve with sour dough bread
Title: Re: Cooking ideas?
Post by: Lise on Oct 27 06 10:59
So 49er, what do you call your meal? The 49er Special of the Day? (//vny!://discoverseattle.net/forums/richedit/smileys/Happy/12.gif)

  You know what taste really good? Leftovers for some reason. I don't know why.