quick simple grub you cook

CanonDjango

CanonDjango

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Its a new year and we are always eating the same meals in our house. I want to cook a few new ones, but that are easy and dont take more than an hour to prepare and cook

so hit me with your meals, what are they and how do you cook them?
 
Definitely watching this thread, i think we all end up getting the same things week in week out..

Maybe you could tell us your usual foods so we don't give you the same and some of us might even get to find something they like too..

One of our quick and easy go to's is paprika pasta

just fry up bacon or bacon and chicken strips in oil and garlic/paprika ( i had chilli and cumin mix to mine but to hot for kids)

you need a fair bit of oil but i try and top up more with water so it doesn't become too oily

Add any thing you like.. mushroom/onion/pepper/ baby toms etc ... oh and cook pasta!

combine together place in a large oven dish with plenty of cheese and bake:D
 
that sounds good. isn't it quite a dry pasta dish though?

typical things we have week in and out

curry
sausage casserole
spag bol
cottage pie
sausage and tomato pasta
pie and mash
roast dinner
salmon and mackeral with jacket potato

i love chilli con carne - it is my favourite food but nobody else in our house likes it
 
It doesn't have a huge amount of sauce like if you was to use a jar, but i top the frying pan up with a fair bit of water, you do need quite bit of paprika and herbs to taste and probably a bit more oil... but it goes in the oven with cheese and that creates oil and more of a coating

you could use some stock come to think of it or natural yoghurt and adapt it whichever way

i love chilli too but my kids wouldn't touch it same for the curry, before the kids i used to always make it.. maybe i should make one and freeze it in portions for when the children want something i don't like/want
 
To me an hour is not quick and simple. I'm looking for 20 minutes tops.
To that end, look away now gourmets, schwartz packet mixes of tuna napolitana or carbonara are easy.
Both pasta dishes, mix the packet with milk, then make the said dish, tin of tuna chunks for the tuna one, bacon and mushrooms for the other one. Add more or less tuna/bacon depending how many you are feeding.

Longer than 20 minutes but fairly easy is toad-in-the-hole if you have a whizzer to make the batter. Serve it up with green veg and a half decent onion gravy.
 
DorsetDude said:
Longer than 20 minutes but fairly easy is toad-in-the-hole if you have a whizzer to make the batter. Serve it up with green veg and a half decent onion gravy.
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i loved toad in the whole as a child. is it just pancake batter? so eggs, milk and flour?
 
DorsetDude said:
To me an hour is not quick and simple. I'm looking for 20 minutes tops.
To that end, look away now gourmets, schwartz packet mixes of tuna napolitana or carbonara are easy.
Both pasta dishes, mix the packet with milk, then make the said dish, tin of tuna chunks for the tuna one, bacon and mushrooms for the other one. Add more or less tuna/bacon depending how many you are feeding.

Longer than 20 minutes but fairly easy is toad-in-the-hole if you have a whizzer to make the batter. Serve it up with green veg and a half decent onion gravy.
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We have toad in the hole here sometimes, quick and very filling
 
CanonDjango said:
i loved toad in the whole as a child. is it just pancake batter? so eggs, milk and flour?
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Yep. bit of salt & pepper and go mad by chucking in some dried sage if you fancy it. A good whizz in a food processor or with a hand blender gets some air into it to help it "fluff up" during baking.

Cg_Girl said:
We have toad in the hole here sometimes, quick and very filling
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Nice winter comfort grub.
 
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Two of our favourites. Chop an onion finely and soften in a frying pan. Add diced chicken till coloured then a tin of chopped tomato's tomato puree garlic, basil,balsamic vinegar and water. Cook till it thickens up and add salt to taste. Serve it with tagliatelle. Or this one takes a little more time to cook but is simple. Cook some stewing steak in a slow cooker with water and a n oxo cube or two, when its done put the pan on the stove top and bring to the boil, add chestnut mushrooms and boil for 10 or 15 minutes. Them add dried egg noodles, cook till they are soft, turn the heat off and mix loads and loads of gravy granules into the water till its really thick. The trick is to not have too much or too little water left when you add the granules.
 
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Another of my all time favourites, what i used to have when i lived at home..

Belly pork but can be chops if belly is too fatty.. cook as you would then make up

2 teaspoons dried mustard powder
5 teaspoons brown sugar
vinegar to make a think paste

(can be altered to taste) i don't measure to be honest and use wet mustard if that is all i have, but you don't need as much, unless you want it very hot ;)

spread over chops and grill until it's bubbly and sticky

it makes a hot and sweet sauce...
 
Have you considered a slow cooker, throw everything in, leave it on for the day, then serve when ready! Plenty of choices of packet mixes for adding in. Max prep time probably 15/20 mins (depending on how complex you want to get!!)
 
Another one I just remembered. Pour a pint of milk in a pan with a couple of fresh tomato's cut into quarters, add salt and ground white pepper. Bring it to the boil then take it off the heat and add cheese, I found a mixture of a crumbly cheese like cheshire and something strong and melty like double gloucester work best. You will need quite a bit probably about 4-500 grammes in total. Put the pan back on the heat until the milk separates and turns yellow, add more salt and pepper to taste then serve in a bowl with crusty bread.
 
SaintSLR said:
Have you considered a slow cooker, throw everything in, leave it on for the day, then serve when ready! Plenty of choices of packet mixes for adding in. Max prep time probably 15/20 mins (depending on how complex you want to get!!)
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I dont have a slow cooker but i would be interested. is it mainly casseroles though that you do in them?
 
Cauliflower cheese is another i like... and very simple to do

my kids won't eat their veg so they just have the cheese sauce over pasta and i have mixed veg
 
chris954 said:
Another one I just remembered. Pour a pint of milk in a pan with a couple of fresh tomato's cut into quarters, add salt and ground white pepper. Bring it to the boil then take it off the heat and add cheese, I found a mixture of a crumbly cheese like cheshire and something strong and melty like double gloucester work best. You will need quite a bit probably about 4-500 grammes in total. Put the pan back on the heat until the milk separates and turns yellow, add more salt and pepper to taste then serve in a bowl with crusty bread.
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what on earth is that? like a cheese soup or something?
 
fajitas, fajitas, fajitas it's the future and a taste sensation
 
CanonDjango said:
I dont have a slow cooker but i would be interested. is it mainly casseroles though that you do in them?
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Well I used to think you only used them for casseroles, but apparently they can be used for lots more, soups, cakes, puddings etc in them. Breakfast casseroles seem quite popular in them, although have yet to deviate from the standard casserole! I'll look out the 200 slow cooker recipe book I found the other day
 
Meals can be a little problematic in our house as the wife & I have very different dietry preferences......

I love meat, Rachael's practically a vegetarian. She eats chicken but really doesn't like meat (apparently it's the texture/fattiness?). Rachael loves cheese and all things cheese related..... I can't stand cheese :lol:

So, our weekly meals consist mainly of Stir fry, fajitasi, chicken with rice & veg, quorn bolognese/chill.

Now I love bolognese & chilli but it's just not the same with quorn and quorn seems to have strange effects on my "constitution" :lol:

Occasionally Rachael will get a Pizza in and I'll have steak.... food heaven and food hell!
 
Turkey Pizza...

Get a turkey breast, wrap it in clingfilm and beat the life out of it with a rolling pin until its about 5 or 6mm thick. This is your pizza base that you can then either grill or fry depending on your preference. Seperately, get a tin of chopped tomatoes, and make a simple sauce (I just add salt, pepper, garlic with oregano, thyme and basil). Once cooked, spoon the sauce on to the turkey pizza base, and top that with a few torn chunks of mozzarella. Place under the grill for a few minutes and youre done.

Serve with a nice salad with balsamic vinaigrette.
 
Mushroom pappardelle put the past on fry off some mushrooms with a little garlic while pasta cooks.. i had a couple of spoons of low fat cream chesse when pasta is done tip it into the mushroom mix and top with parmesan.

We also batch cook and freeze in meal portions for the times we need a quick meal.. pulled pork is great for that may take time at the beginning but works great.
 
The ultimate quick and easy meals have to be either omelettes or mixed garlic mushrooms on lightly grilled ciabatta.

Very slightly more effort intensive, but still very quick to prepare when you get in from work.

Beef kebabs. Cubed steak on metal skewers. make garlic butter - butter, crushed garlic, fresh chopped parsley mixed well. Smear liberally over kebabs. 20 mins in the oven and done. Lovely served with some savoury rice and rocket salad.

Lemon chicken. Chicken cut into cubes placed in oven tray. Squeeze over the juice of a whole lemon. Salt, pepper and bung into oven for 20 minutes. I don't find any need for oil with this one as the lemon juice keeps it moist. Nice with salad in the summer, but also works well with roast potatoes (if you have time to make them) or potato wedges and veg for a heartier meal.

Mediterranean chicken. Chicken cut into cubes placed in oven try. Add some chunkily cut red onions and red peppers. Drizzle over with olive oil and toss the mixture together. Salt, pepper - sometimes some crushed garlic or herbs from the garden (depending on how the mood takes me). Again just bung in the oven for about 20 minutes.
 
Nikon_Nick said:
Turkey Pizza...

Get a turkey breast, wrap it in clingfilm and beat the life out of it with a rolling pin until its about 5 or 6mm thick. This is your pizza base that you can then either grill or fry depending on your preference. Seperately, get a tin of chopped tomatoes, and make a simple sauce (I just add salt, pepper, garlic with oregano, thyme and basil). Once cooked, spoon the sauce on to the turkey pizza base, and top that with a few torn chunks of mozzarella. Place under the grill for a few minutes and youre done.

Serve with a nice salad with balsamic vinaigrette.
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thats so random! but i would like to eat that.
 
SarahLee said:
The ultimate quick and easy meals have to be either omelettes or mixed garlic mushrooms on lightly grilled ciabatta.

Very slightly more effort intensive, but still very quick to prepare when you get in from work.

Beef kebabs. Cubed steak on metal skewers. make garlic butter - butter, crushed garlic, fresh chopped parsley mixed well. Smear liberally over kebabs. 20 mins in the oven and done. Lovely served with some savoury rice and rocket salad.

Lemon chicken. Chicken cut into cubes placed in oven tray. Squeeze over the juice of a whole lemon. Salt, pepper and bung into oven for 20 minutes. I don't find any need for oil with this one as the lemon juice keeps it moist. Nice with salad in the summer, but also works well with roast potatoes (if you have time to make them) or potato wedges and veg for a heartier meal.

Mediterranean chicken. Chicken cut into cubes placed in oven try. Add some chunkily cut red onions and red peppers. Drizzle over with olive oil and toss the mixture together. Salt, pepper - sometimes some crushed garlic or herbs from the garden (depending on how the mood takes me). Again just bung in the oven for about 20 minutes.
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these are great!
 
Put some pasta on to cook. Any pasta is fine but the longer ones seem to work well.

Mix lemon juice and really good olive oil. Vary the proportions to get it to your taste.

This is the basic mix, you can add other things if you like, eg crushed garlic, finely chopped basil, chilli flakes.


Slice a few (for two people I'd suggest two or three) courgettes lengthwise into VERY thin slices. One of those potato peelers that cuts very thinly works well.

Add the sliced courgette to the lemon juice and oil mixture and leave while the pasta is cooking.


When the pasta is ready, drain and add the courgette/lemon and oil, serve with some Parmesan for grating, if you like.

It takes as long as it takes for the pasta to cook.

If you want something a bit bulkier try some to the prepared Tortellini from the supermarket instead of plain pasta.


Dave

If you feel like it, chill a bottle of good white too.
 
actually courgettes i cant stand! maybe i could do it with chicken though?
 
Cg_Girl said:
Definitely watching this thread, i think we all end up getting the same things week in week out..

Maybe you could tell us your usual foods so we don't give you the same and some of us might even get to find something they like too..

One of our quick and easy go to's is paprika pasta

just fry up bacon or bacon and chicken strips in oil and garlic/paprika ( i had chilli and cumin mix to mine but to hot for kids)

you need a fair bit of oil but i try and top up more with water so it doesn't become too oily

Add any thing you like.. mushroom/onion/pepper/ baby toms etc ... oh and cook pasta!

combine together place in a large oven dish with plenty of cheese and bake:D
Click to expand...

I do one SOOOO similar, it's rather spooky.
Only difference is I do add a good dollop of Tomato Puree, and an equally good dollop of Philiadelphi cheese to make a bit of a sauce.
And loads of sliced mushrooms!
 
You can't go wrong with stir fry...

Yesterday I did a 'use stuff out of the fridge' one -

Boil egg noodles for 5 mins. Meanwhile...
Stir fried garlic, ginger, green beans and carrot ribbons I cut with a veg peeler for 1-2 mins
Pullled chicken from Sunday's roast, added this and cooked for another 2 mins
Once egg noodles are done, added them and cooked for another 2 mins
Added soy sauce and 1 beaten egg, cook for another 1-2 mins
Turned out and served with more soy sauce, peanuts, spring onions and coriander

Ala, one bodged pad thai in about 10-15 mins.
 
Pasta, pesto, cheese and peas....Lovely quick ten minute meal for when I really can't be ars*d to cook for long.

All you do is cook the pasta then mix it all together in one bowl. I'd quite happily munch on it for the rest of my life lol.
 
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stumeech said:
You can't go wrong with stir fry...

Yesterday I did a 'use stuff out of the fridge' one -

Boil egg noodles for 5 mins. Meanwhile...
Stir fried garlic, ginger, green beans and carrot ribbons I cut with a veg peeler for 1-2 mins
Pullled chicken from Sunday's roast, added this and cooked for another 2 mins
Once egg noodles are done, added them and cooked for another 2 mins
Added soy sauce and 1 beaten egg, cook for another 1-2 mins
Turned out and served with more soy sauce, peanuts, spring onions and coriander

Ala, one bodged pad thai in about 10-15 mins.
Click to expand...

Lose the peanuts and coriander and that sounds delicious. :-)
 
viv1969 said:
I do one SOOOO similar, it's rather spooky.
Only difference is I do add a good dollop of Tomato Puree, and an equally good dollop of Philiadelphi cheese to make a bit of a sauce.
And loads of sliced mushrooms!
Click to expand...


Very spooky! :D neither the kids or myself like anything overly tomato (y) .. but that sounds quite nice as the philly would take the tomato sharpness away

Edit... damn i forget the thumbs smiley was a y in brackets, it was meant to say tomatoey
 
Cg_Girl said:
Very spooky! :D neither the kids or myself like anything overly tomato (y) .. but that sounds quite nice as the philly would take the tomato sharpness away

Edit... damn i forget the thumbs smiley was a y in brackets, it was meant to say tomatoey
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Eeeeexactly! :lol:
 
Risotto every time. Use leeks instead of onions .Adding smoked salmon pieces for the last 5 minutes of cooking gives a lovely salty smokiness that penetrates right through. All in all should take an hour to do
 
boyfalldown said:
Risotto every time. Use leeks instead of onions .Adding smoked salmon pieces for the last 5 minutes of cooking gives a lovely salty smokiness that penetrates right through. All in all should take an hour to do
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Don't you have to stand there stirring all the time(Sounds like @Cobra in OOF!) with risotto? Not "easy" in my world.
 
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