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Food for Non-Cookers!
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Anonymous
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Now that I'm on maternity leave, I'm realizing just how little I cook and how little food we really have in our house. I knwo this sounds ridiculous, but seriously, what staples do you keep in your house? We're good with the pbj, grilled cheese, pasta, grilled chicken and lean cuisines, but outside of that, what do you have in your house that is easy (really easy) and quick to make? I could eat cereal all day long (and pretty much did taht during pregnancy), but am finally starting to crave some "real" food again...
Oh, and I did some Let's Dish meals, which I found delicious, but the in-house prep took forever! I know the ingredients are fresher, but I'd be just as happy to nuke a frozen dinner than to go through all teh steps again ... esp on limited sleep! Thanks! |
Anonymous
| We always keep some Soylent Green on hand - a soy/lentil combo - it is super-easy - and super delish! |
Anonymous
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Staples we keep on hand in the house at all times:
rice (but we're a mixed race couple!) tofu flour sugar olive oil spaghetti sauce pasta (angel hair and rotini, usually) fruit potatoes onions garlic cream of --- soups cereals applesauce crackers cheese eggs milk ice cream (!) There's more, but that's what DH and I just brainstormed together right now. |
Anonymous
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PP here--more I thought of:
PB jelly butter/margarine ketchup/mustard/condiments pickles some type of lunchmeat double fibre wheat bread a couple of frozen pizzas dried red beans black beans chicken breasts -- stock up when on sale and freeze in one pound increments ground beef -- stock up when on sale and freeze in one pound increments |
Anonymous
Good one. |
Anonymous
| try some of the trader joe meals- easy (pre-made)- also- they have great sauces and combos so you don't have to cook too much to get a tasty meal- like a vodka pasta sauce (not as heavy in alcohol as it sounds)- just a great twist and all you do is heat and add to pasta.. things like that.. their newsletter gives cooking ideas too.. of course- if you can afford to do this often, whole foods has great food too.. |
Anonymous
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Frozen lasgna from the grocery store
Frozen garlic bread Bags of lettuce, cucumber and tomato |
Anonymous
| rotisserie chickens from the supermarket |
Anonymous
I assumed the Soylent Green line is a joke, but then I had to wonder if someone actually could market a product called Soylent Green? IT would make a fun gift - for the right kind of (warped) person. OP, go the Farmers' Market and get fresh veggies - lots of them - and eat them all summer long. It is incredibly easy to cook corn on the cob (boil or steam). We steam veggies in the microwave all the time with a little steamer from Pampered Chef, or you can do it in Pyrex with plastic wrap covering the container. Fresh sliced tomatoes are great - add fresh mozzarella, basil and vinaigrette for a caprese salad. Salads of all kinds are easy in the summer. Another favorite throw together supper is smoked salmon or salami with cheeses and bread or crackers. Easy - fast - tasty. |
Anonymous
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I second Trader Joes! They have great pre-cooked packaged chicken in a yellow tray (garlic + olive oil) or in a purple tray (balsamic vinegar). You just put it in the microwave for a few minutes to heat it up. We had it tonight over pasta -- crazy easy, tastes great, and healthy, too.
Also in our fridge from TJ's: oven-ready garlic/chili tilapia, chicken cordon bleu, and some sort of marinated chipotle chicken that's ready to go on the grill. (These three are not pre-cooked -- just pre-marinated.) TJs also carries great frozen burritos, pasta mixes, potstickers etc. Never gotten a dud there. Good luck and congrats on your new babe! 
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Anonymous
| We also love Trader Joe's - they have great Indian side dishes (palak paneer and Jaipur eggplant are our favorites) that you microwave. The frozen Naan is also great (heats in the oven in minutes). We've also liked their premarinated meats (the Korean beef is quite good as are the frozen marinated cuts of lamb). The curry sauces are also tasty and help transform chicken into dinner. |
Anonymous
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- buy a rotisserie chicken and shred, can be frozen for later -- mix with microwaved brown rice, a can of rinsed black beans, microwaved frozen corn and salsa, melt a little cheese on top for a quick Mexican rice bowl
- Trader Joes is awesome for quick meals, love the frozen meatballs, make spaghetti and jarred sauce, salad on the side or mix in some microwaved frozen broccoli - boboli pizza crusts, add sauce, cheese, add whatever else you like -- I make a quick Hawaiian pizza with cut up ham and canned pineapple - |