Got a wake-up call about our meals

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP,

Take a look at the 5 dinners in 1 hour website. It is a subscription service that sends you 5 meals, a shopping list, prep instructions and cooking instructions. You prepare 5 meals in an hour and then each night you cook the meal in 20-25 mins or less. I substitute bagged salad for the sides. I have several friends who are using this and it has been a huge help to all of us who have tried it. And, there are at least 2 single moms in my crew who have tried it and rave about it.

I NEVER take an hour to cook dinner during the week. Not clear who has time for that. I do 5-10 minute meals all the time. Grilled cheese, scrambled eggs, stirfry something, frozen meatballs or fish sticks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP,

Take a look at the 5 dinners in 1 hour website. It is a subscription service that sends you 5 meals, a shopping list, prep instructions and cooking instructions. You prepare 5 meals in an hour and then each night you cook the meal in 20-25 mins or less. I substitute bagged salad for the sides. I have several friends who are using this and it has been a huge help to all of us who have tried it. And, there are at least 2 single moms in my crew who have tried it and rave about it.

I NEVER take an hour to cook dinner during the week. Not clear who has time for that. I do 5-10 minute meals all the time. Grilled cheese, scrambled eggs, stirfry something, frozen meatballs or fish sticks.

I think that the PP's point is that you spend an hour on Sunday afternoon prepping 5 meals and then cook each one in less than 1/2hr each day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We don't have fast food very close to us, so it really isn't an option for weeknights. And I don't order takeout very often.

Frozen veggies make life a lot easier. You don't have to worry about them going bad before the end of the week, you don't have to wash and cut, etc. And they free up your hands to do the main dish. DD does homework or takes a bath while I cook and set the table.

I love my programmable crock pot and my programmable rice cooker. I don't worry about leaving them on all day. Lots of things are plugged in all day. I am careful to make sure I don't put them close to a stack of papers or anything though.

What does work for us (90 minutes from the time I walk in the front door to lights out for DD):

* crock pot meals - these also make a lot, so I get lunch and another dinner out of them
* soup - either home made in the crock pot, or from the refrigerated case at the grocery store
* grilled meat + microwaved veggie
* eggs for dinner - so quick, cheap and a great protein source
* grilled cheese plus fruit or salad
* sauteed chicken and veggies - this only works if you slice and marinate the chicken and prep the veggies the night before though (frozen veggies are easy for this; can do lots of variations with different seasonings)
* quiche

Prepping in the morning or the night before is a hassle, but it does have rewards.

Only disagreement is on the need to prepare chicken and veggies the night before. If I have chicken breasts, take 4 minutes to slice up. You can just add season and not marinate. And veggies don't take long to chop???

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why are people afraid to leave the crockpot on all day? Isn't that what a crockpot is made for?

My father was a fireman in a major city for 25 years before he retired.

He has seen PLENTY of fires started by people who left a crockpot unattended.

Same goes for folks who let their real Christmas trees get overly dry and have the tree near electrical outlets or use Christmas lights, but I digress.

But that was years ago. The crockpots nowadays have all sorts of safety measures built in.

[Anonymous]

http://www.nfpa.org/assets/files/MbrSecurePDF/cookingfull.pdf

"• Slow cooking. Slow cooking was not identified in the CPSC range study and represents a small share of the estimated home fires involving all types of portable cooking or warming equipment. Heat levels are typically low enough that other provisions for safety, including close attendance, are not necessary. If the cookware is placed where an unlikely minor overflow will not contact other combustibles, there will be added safety. If a crock pot or similar device is used, any ignition of food will also be contained, provided nothing has interfered with the equipment itself."

Other safety suggestions I've seen are to be sure to use an approved crockpot (by whatever agency certifies these electrical devices), do NOT use an extension cord, and make sure it is the only thing plugged into the outlet. Get a new model.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:almost never eat fast food. if we're late, i usually feed my son frozen meatballs with a veggie and applesauce or something. or noodles with something. or stirfry tofu. or scrambled eggs. truthfully i think it's easier to cook something quick than to stop at any kind of restaurant. i keep frozen sweet potatoe fries in the freezer too. i try to keep the freezer filled for just such occasions.

\

Geez...you're a mean mom. I mean, at least thaw the meatballs in the microwave before you make him eat them. Does he have problems with his teeth?

(just kidding...but it made me chuckle so I thought I'd pass it on)

[Anonymous]

I cook dinner in the mornings; while things are simmering, we eat breakfast, feed the 11 month old, pack lunches, make coffee, etc. I also try to cook a big batch of at least one meal on the weekends to then freeze portions for weeknight dinner. Buying a panini press is awesome, as is having a blender to make fresh smoothies with just fruit and yogurt. While I try to keep many of the ingredients fresh (not frozen or precut/packaged) I am practical and know I can't always bake my own bread or peel fresh tomatoes to make a good sauce. I also try to keep myself inspired and track good recipes (right now I do it via Pinterest) and keep shelf ingredients available for those (chickpea and potato curry is one; chicken fricasse; Cook's Illustrated high roasted chicken; lentil soup).

[Anonymous]

Quiche if your child will eat it is easy and freezes well, ditto for frittatas

Quesadillas can be microwaved, I never do them on the stove (lazy but quicker!)

hard boiled eggs are also great protein; egg salad sandwiches, tuna fish (not too often because of mercury)

leftover grilled meat is great cold - my DD likes it this way in her lunches even

love the idea PPs have had about having veggies around - I would suggest that you carry some to work stick in the fridge and then whip them out for you all to eat when you are walking the 2 blocks from transit and are starving. I would also do trail mix (nuts dried fruit that you mix up yourself)....

[Anonymous]

OP I think a little planning will solve your dilemma.

Seriously, I know it's the LAST thing you want to do over the weekend, but...it's all about the 'cook ahead and nuke when you get home' that will be the quickest solution. Make chili, a lasagna, a couple of quiches or frittatas, or pasta, and reheat when you walk in the door. Eat this 2-3 times a week.

The other days, enjoy yourselves. Don't rush home after you pick the kids up. Eat dinner near their school or pack a picnic (cheese and crackers, PB&J, etc.) in the morning to take with you. Or walk to a nearby grocery store and hit the salad/hot buffet and eat outside or in the store. Or call ahead when you leave work to pick up pizza at a place near where the kids' school is, and have a picnic on the playground or a nearby park when you get there.

Break yourself of the hurry-up-and-wait-in-traffic habit and the change in routine will be refreshing.

[Anonymous]

http://www.skinnytaste.com/2012/09/baked-pasta-with-sausage-and-spinach.html

saw this and thought of you. I like it b/c you can get squares out of it - easy to reheat. and you can change the basic ingredients up, too!

[Anonymous]

I do a massive amount of bulk cooking and freezer meals.

I'm obessive about providing home cooked, well rounded meals. Without bulk cooking, meal time would quickly disentegrate into a mess of unhealthy prepared foods, empty carbs, and unhealthy fats.

Sundays and Mondays are HARD. The rest of the week's evenings run very efficiently and smoothly.

[Anonymous]

Frozen bags of ravioli or perogues can be helpful. Gnocchi too or anything over Cous Cous like chickpeas. Also agree with fish being quick to cook.

[Anonymous]

I also thought of you tonight, OP! Last night I grilled chicken breasts on. GeOrge Forman grill as I cleaned up the kitchen. I popped them in the refrigerator (cooked and chopped). Then tonight DC and I walked in the door at 6:25 - I sent the kids upstairs to shower while I preheated the oven to 375 - while the oven preheated I pulled out of the fridge a package of flatbread, the chicken, barbecue sauce and shredded cheese - slapped all those on the flatbread (3 minutes) and put in the oven directly on the rack for 5 minutes. Put out with baby carrots.

[Anonymous]

Crock pot, steamer veggies, pre-cooking on weekends, breakfast for dinner, sandwich or frozen pizza night. Just some ideas.

[Anonymous]

Has anyone mentioned pressure cookers? I've been too lazy to find the best for us model, but a friend has cooked me a couple of meals in hers and they are so delicious. I think they still take some time - ten to twenty minutes for cooking, so you'd have to cut the veggies and whatnot up the night before - but it tastes like all day food! They're allegedly not explosive like they once were.