cooking for yourself

[Anonymous]

if you were cooking for yourself tonight, what would you cook?

i am pregnant, tired, and out of ideas.

please help

[Anonymous]

A quick fried rice with egg, grilled chicken Caesar salad, a quesadilla, Japanese udon noodle soup, a big baked potato stuffed with whatever you've got in the fridge, a grilled cheese sandwich, English muffin or bagel pizzas - these are just some of the "I'm hungry, I'm tired, and I don't want to get fast food" things that I like to make.

[Anonymous]

I'm a big fan of Trader Joe's frozen rice and bean burritos. High in protein and fiber, low in fat. I usually dump some extra salsa on top while microwaving to give it extra moisture and flavor.

Also a fan of hearty vegetable soup for dinner. Sometimes add extra beans if I have a can in the pantry.

If all else fails, mac and cheese! You can always add in frozen veggies or tuna.

[Anonymous]

What DH calls "shrimp diablo". I make pasta (which I've been craving constantly since being pregnant) with either homemade sauce or Rao's sauce and I add store bought frozen shrimp or precooked from the fish section.


If I can find Rao's Arrabiata sauce I use that (it's the spicy one), or I use regular Rao's marinara and add lots of crushed red pepper and some cayanne pepper.

If I make my own sauce:

Heat a good amount of extra virgin olive oil (a few table spoons) in a saucepan.

I halve a bunch of grape tomatoes and add them to the pan.

Then I add a bunch of roasted garlic from a jar as well as some fresh crushed garlic. You can even add some garlic powder.

If you like it spicy, I add crushed red pepper. You can also add cayanne, oregano, black pepper, salt....whatever you want.

Once the tomatoes have softened, I add fresh basil leaves.

At the very end, add the shrimp.

Then toss the pasta in the pan with the sauce and serve.

This whole process takes about 15 minutes max. The sauce takes about as long as the pasta to cook.

If you like saucier sauce, you can add 1/4-1/2 cup or so of any jar sauce to the tomato and olive oil sauce.

[Anonymous]

Omelettes are quick and easy, and a good way to use up vegetables lurking about the crisper drawer.

Tuna salad with crackers, or on whole wheat toast, or with lettuce and veggies.

[Anonymous]

Are you just cooking for one?

[Anonymous]

take out.

[Anonymous]

Handful of peanuts and cookies. That's what I cooked for lunch, anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Handful of peanuts and cookies. That's what I cooked for lunch, anyway.

That sounds delectable! I should try it, as a break from my signature meal of goldfish crackers and gatorade!

[Anonymous]

Well here are a few relatively easy meals I made lately:

Fake chikn fajitas with bell peppers and portobello mushrooms, served with tortillas, cheese, tomatoes and sour cream

Chili and spaghetti - just simmer a few cans of kidney beans, crushed tomatoes, ketchup, liberal amounts of chili powder etc and then serve over spaghetti

Chili-coconut marinaded fried tofu with a stir fry composed of rice and sesame-ginger marinaded veggies including carrots, mushrooms, onions, bell peppers etc.

[Anonymous]

I love sweet potatoes for this very type of night when you are tired and hungry.

Rinse it off, poke some holes, pop in the microwave for 6-8 minutes depending on size, I put a tiny bit of butter and cinammon on mine - it's fairly filling, and very nutritious - full of fiber and vitamins. Also warm and comforting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I love sweet potatoes for this very type of night when you are tired and hungry.

Rinse it off, poke some holes, pop in the microwave for 6-8 minutes depending on size, I put a tiny bit of butter and cinammon on mine - it's fairly filling, and very nutritious - full of fiber and vitamins. Also warm and comforting.

Oooh that sound yummy. Not OP, but I'm also preggers and cooking for one tonight. How do you know how long to cook it in the microwave for? Should I check it after 6 minutes? Do you wrap it in a paper towel or anything?

[Anonymous]

Toast and peanut butter- it always seems to work.

[Anonymous]

I'd lay out some good cheese, crusty bread and a salad with baby spinach, walnuts and dried cranberries.

Then I'd pick at the salad, eat all the bread and most of the cheese, and spend the evening watching deliciously bad TV.

[Anonymous]

Pasta and would sprinkle a generous amount of olive oil, parmesan / pecorino cheese, and a bit of fresh ground paper.