Quick dinner w/ left-overs for lunch?!
Answers: Ok, so I love cooking and I cook a lot. I am now pregnant and I am working full time about an hour away from home in Los Angeles traffic so I am REALLY tired when I get home. Most of the things I cook are really time consuming. I go to different stores to get the best ingredients and I cook a big meal that is really great. I just really need some ideas for healthy meals that will give left overs so my hubby and I can take them to work for luch the next day! mmm... getting hungry already! (I do plan on giving 10points!!!) Oh, and I really like everything! All meat, fish, chicken, whatever! As long as its not lunch meat, hot dogs, canned or frozen...
Congrats on you pregnancy.
I have two suggestions for easy prep meals that serve as lunch, dinner following days. A little FYI...I am a self admitted food snob. I love food and will only eat well prepared food. It doesn't have to be expensive...just good. No canned soup. Sorry folks. I haven't tasted any recipe with a can that I have enjoyed.
Pulled Pork
I made this in the crockpot this morning before work...
Put the crock on either the low or medium setting and place it on a baking dish (in case of boil over). Throw in 1 onion sliced, 6 T brown sugar, 1/2 C vinegar, S and P and your favorite 15, 16 oz. BBQ sauce. Stir it up. Add either a pork butt or a pork shoulder. Submerge meat in sauce. and cover. Do not take the cover off until it's time to serve. It needs a good 7-9 hours. When it's done, shred with two forks and put back in sauce. Serve with either egg noodles or rolls.
ALSO: This freezes really well. Once cooled, I throw it in a zip lock bag and lay flat in the freezer.
TIP: prep everything the night before and throw it in the crock pot. Pull crock out in the morning and stick it in the heating unit (the part of the crock that plugs in). Save that precious time in the morning. PLUS, you don't want to be smelling onions at 6am.
Dinner two: Salmon Filet
This is the best salmon I have ever had anywhere. Its super easy. Grab any seafood spice mix that you enjoy and add brown sugar to taste. Put a thick layer of spice on the salmon leaving skin on the one side intact. Heat up a frying pan and throw in about 2T canola or veg oil. Add the fish, skin side up. Cover (timing depends on the thickness). Use two spatulas and gently flip. In a small microwave safe bowl, add 6T orange marmalade (I use sugar free for dieting needs) and 3 T orange juice. Use microwave to heat up. When the salmon has about 3 minutes left pour the marmalade over the fish. Slap it on a plate and serve with rice and some green beans. AMAZING!
I make extra and save it for lunch the next day (or two). I put in on top of a salad with either balsamic dressing or red raspberry dressing. Sooooo good.
Good Luck!
The spiciness mixed with the brown sugar is amazing!
Some baked chicken with rice, etc., or German food. I make homemade German food a lot.
Maybe you can try to cook a meal in a slow cooker. You just throw stuff in there in the morning before going to work and everything will be ready by the time you get home! It tastes homemade too.
You could make extras of whatever you're cooking, depending on what it is, and put it in the freezer for a couple weeks later. It's very handy for a busy day! Or you could make a big beef roast one evening and use the leftovers to make something like beef stew, BBQ beef sandwiches, or stir-fry with peppers and onions for fajitas. You can cook chicken in the oven on time bake so it's ready when you get home to use in a casserole, or whatever...hope you can use some of these ideas!
Im busy like you. Last week i cooked a 7 pound chicken and made two chicken meals (veggies and potatoes and chicken) then a chicken pot pie, chicken sandwiches, and soup(which is like 3 meals for us). That is something that goes far and gives lots of leftovers.
Also we make a big pot of chili and it will last a few days, and on the weekends I make a large pot of speghetti sauce and divide it into servings in the freezer do for a quick healthy meal I just defrost and cook noodles!!
hope that answers your question...
You need to eat expecially healthy now that you have a baby on the way!
I recommend grilling up a few pounds of boneless, skinless chicken breasts on Sunday evening, when you have more time. My yummy, go-to marinade is just olive oil, fresh lemon or lime juice, garlic power, lots of dried Italian seasonings, sea salt and fresh ground pepper. Have some fresh grilled chicken breasts for dinner that night with fresh veggies and baked potatoes or something.
The next day, you can take a cut up cold chicken breast and have it on a salon for lunch (you could also cut it up and make a yummy wrap, maybe fresh spinach, roasted red peppers and honey mustard, or have it on a sandwich.)
Some simple suppers that you can make with the left over chicken during the week:
Chicken pot pie:
Cut it up a few beasts in bite sized chunks. Mix with a can of reduced fat cream of chicken condenced soup and a can of chicken broth, water or milk. Add a bag of frozen veggies or fresh cooked or leftover veggies. Dump the mixture in a casserole dish, top with a can of refrigerated biscuits and bake at 350 until bubble and the biscuits are brown, about 10-12 minutes.
BBQ chicken sandwiches:
Cut a few breasts up in thin strips. Saute in a little olive oil with some crushed garlic and minced red onion. Add enough of your favorite bbq sauce to cover and a few tablespoons or water. Heat through and let thicken slightly. Serve on toasted rolls with a salad.
Spicy chicken and pasta
Brown up some of the cooked chicken in bite-sized strips or chunks in olive oil with some garlic. Add a sliced onion, a red and/or green pepper, cut in strips and bite sized brocolli florettes (you can use other veggies, to your taste, like mushrooms, carrots, squash, etc.) Saute until the veggies are crisp-tender. Add some crushed red pepper flakes, to your taste, and a jar of your favorite marinara sauce. Heat through and serve over hot, whole wheat pasta.
I always go to Dominicks and buy the "whole roasted chickens" that are already made & hot in the deli section ($6 ! - Jewel doesn't carry these). This is super quick, easy, healthy, and cheap because when I get home, I just tear off all the meat and put it in tupperware.
Then I always toss some of the meat into my omelettes, salads, soups, chili, you can make a sandwich out of them, or simply just snack on them :)
I tried this meal plan last week and loved it! I doubled it to feed me and my fiance, and still only spent about $60 at the grocery store!
It's a complete 5-day/2 meals a day meal plan, useing the previous day's dinner to make lunch the next day. The meals were delishous too!!
Check out this article it will tell you all the details:
a supermarket cooked chicken is good for dinner and easy to pick up on the way home. you can eat it as i, or pull it apart for the meat and turn it into things like stir fry etc. the leftovers can be turned into chicken salad a great lunch either on bread or crossant or alone if you are watching calories.
This time of year I like meatloaf (any recipe) which practically cooks itself and gives me some great sandwiches. Enjoy!
Annie's Spaghetti Bake
1 lb. ground beef
1 roll of Italian Sausage (not links)
1 can of spaghetti sauce
1/2 white onion, finely chopped
1 can of sliced mushrooms
1 zucchini, cubed
4 cups GRATED Parmesan
4 cups grated mozzarella
Garlic powder
*Enough Spaghetti noodles to cover the bottom
of a 3 inch deep, 12x9 dish.
Start noodles boiling. Break up the Italian sausage and hamburger and brown in pan with olive oil, garlic powder, and onion. When the meat is done, remove it from pan and throw in zucchini. Brown it just a little bit then set aside.
Spray the bottom of 12x9 dish with cooking spray. By this time your noodles should be done so strain them and put them in the bottom of the dish. Spread them out so they cover and you have a nice thick layer. Sprinkle 2 cups of each of your cheeses on. (The heat of the noodles will melt the cheese and make it stick together.) Put your zucchini and mushrooms on next. Take 1/2 of the cheese you have left and sprinkle over this.
Now, mix the spaghetti sauce with the hamburger and sausage. If it's a little dry, add water (Tomato puree works too.). Spoon over cheese covered zucchini. Take the rest of the cheese and sprinkle on top.
Bake for 15-20 minutes on 350, or until the cheese is melted and starts to brown.
Enjoy!!!
Pot pies-ready made crust fill with any meat and veggies add a pad of butter for moister and sauce. cook in oven for 30 minutes. Don't forget to vent the crust with fork.
How about meatloaf. It gets even better over night and makes a terrific sandwich that you can pair with a small salad.
Asian marinate meat and grill for your Sunday dinner, rice and veggies (tj's has a good frozen stirfry) make enough for extra portions. Sunday leftovers for monday lunch. Purchase a bag of fresh prepared stirfry veggies, cook some fresh soba noodles on Monday night and season broth. Slice your "sunday" meat really thin and stir in. When at work , toss in a handfull of fresh veggies and micro till hot. Can use dry ramen noodles if you prefer or if more convenient. Season with your favorites, seseame oil, chili, sliced green onion, rice vinegar. Another night, frozen gyoza (pot stickers) for dinner, Lunch broth, sliced veggies, a little asian style bq meat and gyoza. Pork roast on the weekend can become a quick burrito bowl for lunch , soft tacos for dinner. Make the additional meat into soup. Keep your fridge on the cold side and the leftovers will stay fresh. Cheap , easy and fresh.
Day 1: rice with lycium fruit and chopped spare rib
Fry the spare rib to medium done. Cook rice, when almost done, put in spare rib until all are done. Put lycium on top and cook until they soften.
Day 2: angle hair noodle with minced beef and assorted vegetables
Boil the noodle for 2 mins and add meat and vegetables in soup. Stir well and serve noodle with soup, meat and vegetables.
Drain the noodle and meat with veggie for next lunch.
Day 3: middle of the week, so quick dinner: turkey and chicken hamburgers with cheese. Exchange your course with his for next lunch.
Day 4: fish congee. Boil the rice and water (2 scoups with 80% full of water of medium large saucepan) with oil and salt. When almost done, (grains turned flowery), add fish slices into the congee.
What for lunch the next day?
The congee can be reheated in microwave.
Day 5: no work on Saturdays. Why not Dad cook?
Mom has to eat double for herself and the baby. Lycium is extraordinary antioxidant food, rice and congee (cooked from rice) are carbohydrates, sufficient lean meat (beef, spare rib, fish, chicken, turkey) will provide protein. Supplement veggie with fruits. Hope you eat healthy and deliver a healthy baby! And don't forget drink sufficient milk!
I have a stove top grill/griddle and I use it to make a few chicken breast at a time. I have grilled chicken one night, make pasta another night with grilled chicken, make chicken salad and wraps. I also like ground beef. I make mini meatloaves in muffin tins with part, taco meat for another night, and bake some meatballs for pasta. I like to do all of this on one night and sometimes I have a friend join me and we split everything. I find making a menu keeps me on track and leaves me free from dinner decisions. Good luck.