Quick/fast/healthy starch/carb options for dinner?

[Anonymous]

Oohhh! OP here. Thanks for the suggestions everyone!

Quick questions:

Where does one get the polenta in a tube? (Is this is a refridgerated section? frozen foods?) What brand do you like?
The freak in me gets freaky about cooking things in plastic bags, but the frozen brown rice sounds worth a try. Is that only available at WF or TJs? Any brand suggestions?

I forgot about the couscous... but that really is easy. I used to do it a lot but have gotten away from it.

I will look for a potato button on my microwave.

[Anonymous]

Polenta is weird- it can be in different places. In TJs it's on the shelf near the dried pasta, in Giant, I've seen in the refrigerated section near some "specialty" items.

Another thing I just found is TJs risotto- it's in a box and does take about 20 min in the microwave but was tasty. I also love my rice cooker -- the rice can be going while I'm making the stirfry, curry, whatever to put over the rice.

[Anonymous]

I make whole grains like brown rice and quinoa in large batches on the weekends then freeze them in freezer bags in 2-cup servings. You can microwave them, then mix in spices, olive oil, and veggies. Or use under a stirfry.

BTW: Quinoa is one of those newer whole grains, but it's super healthy--tons of protein and fiber. Just take 1 cup of quinoa, rinse in a fine-mesh strainer (or else it can be bitter), then add to a pot with 2 cups of water or broth. Bring to a boil. Then turn down to simmer, and cover for 15 minutes. Much faster than brown rice!

[Anonymous]

I know you think pasta takes a long time, but if you start boiling the water as soon as you start cooking--keeping the lid on the pot and adding salt to the water make the water boil faster--your pasta should be ready by the time your main dish is ready. You could also get a head start by boiling the water in an electric kettle and then pouring it into a pot.

You should also look for pasta that cooks quickly--orzo quicks in less than 6 minutes, angel hair as well. Look on the box for cooking times--generally, smaller and thinner pastas cook fastest.

Fresh pasta cooks in 2-3 minutes--my son could eat fresh spinach linguine with butter and parm every night if I let him.

[Anonymous]

Sometimes we skip the starch altogether and just allow the kids to have apple jacks, go lean crunch, or some sugary cereal for desert. It saves on the calories (have cereal instead of starch, not both), it saves time, and allows kids to feel like they are getting a treat. My husband has cereal before bed almost every night, so this is a way to give him fewer carb calories too!

[Anonymous]

On the Campbells Kitchen site they have a recipe for pork chops with orange juice rice that is quick and easy and one skillet. I use boneless skinless chicken breast instead and heat a can of Bush's Black Beans in seasoned sauce for a side and it is a favorite and so easy. Be sure to slice a tomato to go with it. DH likes a piece of Texas Garlic Toast but does not always get it.

[Anonymous]

Two words: rice cooker. It will CHANGE YOUR LIFE.
Mine cost under $20 on Amazon a few years ago and I use it a couple of times a week. We make couscous, rice pilaf, rice, taboulleh, quinoa, and even risotto mix in it. It is so easy and it really frees you up to do whatever else you need to be doing when you get home - change clothes, sort the mail, give kids a bath, walk the dog, watch tv, etc.

[Anonymous]

Potato button tip-- on my microwave, anyway, one push of the button cooks one potato, but you can also push it twice or three times for cooking more than one. I was terribly pleased with myself when I figured that out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some of our standbys:

- Microwave rice in a bag from Trader Joe's or Whole Foods. Trader Joe's has brown and jasmine. WF has white and brown. A lifesaver. Done in 3 minutes and delicious. I don't make regular rice anymore.
- Couscous. Boil water, add couscous and turn off. Ready in about 5 minutes.
- Prepared Polenta in a tube. Slice and saute a few minutes on each side.
- Alexia fries - probably not the healthiest option, but quick and yummy.
- Baked potatoes - take 45 minutes but you can pop them in the oven and forget about them. No harm in overcooking them really. Also, if they're ready before the rest of dinner, they'll stay warm for a remarkable amount of time. I think they only take 10-15 minutes in the microwave, but I don't usually make them that way.
- Garlic naan from TJ's or WF.

Yeah, TJ's microwave brown rice brought rice back to our table We also do the naan, sweet potato fries, cous cous and Lundberg risotto are staples at our house.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oohhh! OP here. Thanks for the suggestions everyone!

Quick questions:

Where does one get the polenta in a tube? (Is this is a refridgerated section? frozen foods?) What brand do you like?
The freak in me gets freaky about cooking things in plastic bags, but the frozen brown rice sounds worth a try. Is that only available at WF or TJs? Any brand suggestions?

I forgot about the couscous... but that really is easy. I used to do it a lot but have gotten away from it.

I will look for a potato button on my microwave.

You can actually cook rice and freeze it yourself so you're not heating it in plastic and also saving money (from the other thread). I make jasmine rice on the stove, it takes 15-20 minutes.

[Anonymous]

Have you tried quinoa? Giant sells it by the bag in the health food aisle. Takes 12 minutes to boil, and you can cook up a batch to reheat in the microwave. It's a slightly crunchy, fine-textured whole grain. I love rice and couscous, too, but quinoa is packed with fiber and protein.

You can serve it hot, like rice, or make a salad with whatever vegetables you like and maybe a little low-fat feta, olive oil and lemon. It's delicious!