I work 70 hours a week, don't have much time to cook. Any suggestions for quick healthy meals for 2?!
We're trying to have a healthier diet, but tend to grab what we can before we go to work!. Looking for make-ahead meal ideas for me and my husband so we don't go for the junk food at work!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Answers:
Try to think about fresh, fiber, color and taste for foods!. Use whole grain breads, fresh romaine on a sandwich with turkey or chicken, hummus, sprouts!. Try checking out the Yahoo Food section!. I think they have quick menu ideas that are good!. also try: http://www!.recipesource!.com/
There are so many places to look for ideas
http://www!.calorieking!.com/
http://www!.nutritiondata!.com/
I hope you find some recipes and ideas that get you enjoying cooking & your husband giving you lots of complements! It is hard to eat right when you hardly have time to get enough sleep! Maybe your husband could try making a few "specialties" of his own!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
There are so many places to look for ideas
http://www!.calorieking!.com/
http://www!.nutritiondata!.com/
I hope you find some recipes and ideas that get you enjoying cooking & your husband giving you lots of complements! It is hard to eat right when you hardly have time to get enough sleep! Maybe your husband could try making a few "specialties" of his own!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Two words : Wraps (and), Batches!.
You can make a wrap really quick!. You can use lettuce, tortillas, pita,(okay thats more of a pocket) , Scandanavian Flatbread- whatever!.
Just wipe your favorite condiment on the bottom add lettuce , veggies ( if you need suggestions : carrot sticks, julliened cucumber, sliced tomatoes, sprouts, or green/yellowwax/burgundy halved beans sliced length-wise)!. your protien ( deli meat, tofu, tempeh, lentils etc) and wrap it up in plastic!.
Batches: You can save a lot of tme later by taking advantage of sales and buying food in bulk and cooking your favorite things in big atches and freezing them- utting them in individual portions for later!. You don't have t buy a bunch of little bags for each portion!.
I don't know what you like but if you do a bunch of rolls ahead of time (most cookbooks have directions for freezing but you can never go wrong with halfing the total rise time and freezing them on a cookie sheet so they retain their shape for a hour and them putting them all in one big freezer bag after they freeze through!.
I hope this was helpful!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
You can make a wrap really quick!. You can use lettuce, tortillas, pita,(okay thats more of a pocket) , Scandanavian Flatbread- whatever!.
Just wipe your favorite condiment on the bottom add lettuce , veggies ( if you need suggestions : carrot sticks, julliened cucumber, sliced tomatoes, sprouts, or green/yellowwax/burgundy halved beans sliced length-wise)!. your protien ( deli meat, tofu, tempeh, lentils etc) and wrap it up in plastic!.
Batches: You can save a lot of tme later by taking advantage of sales and buying food in bulk and cooking your favorite things in big atches and freezing them- utting them in individual portions for later!. You don't have t buy a bunch of little bags for each portion!.
I don't know what you like but if you do a bunch of rolls ahead of time (most cookbooks have directions for freezing but you can never go wrong with halfing the total rise time and freezing them on a cookie sheet so they retain their shape for a hour and them putting them all in one big freezer bag after they freeze through!.
I hope this was helpful!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
I know just what you mean, I have been doing that for over 6 months!. My solutions were mostly various mexican foods!.!.!.buying already shredded cheese,onions,black chopped olives tomatoes,lettuce in the bag and canned green peppers, canned chipotles (they have a sauce so when you add some to any meat-you're there!.) thin sliced beef and chicken in the freezer, canned beans and refried beans!. Frozen corn and flour tortillas
No recipes!.!.!.Just saute the meat of the day with onions maybe some peppers, sometimes do a fajita style stir fry or just zap some refries and chop up some stuff from the above and top a crispy corn totilla or fill a soft flour one for a burrito!.
You can make fajitas, or crispy tostadas or wrap meat in corn tortillas and pour a canned enchilada sauce over them and top with cheese and bake!.
This stuff could be made up within the 1/2 hour and not much clean-up!. Worked for me!. The same bunch of ingredients can be used in a lot of non-mexican foods, too!. Oh yeah and a pot of rice can be reheated and used differently throughout the week!.
!.!.!.!.!.you probably don't like mexican as much as I do but maybe the concept of buying a combination of fresh and canned ingredients might give you some ideas beyond the crock-pot!. The main thing is to find some quick but good food and don't succumb to the fast food urge!.!.!.too often!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
No recipes!.!.!.Just saute the meat of the day with onions maybe some peppers, sometimes do a fajita style stir fry or just zap some refries and chop up some stuff from the above and top a crispy corn totilla or fill a soft flour one for a burrito!.
You can make fajitas, or crispy tostadas or wrap meat in corn tortillas and pour a canned enchilada sauce over them and top with cheese and bake!.
This stuff could be made up within the 1/2 hour and not much clean-up!. Worked for me!. The same bunch of ingredients can be used in a lot of non-mexican foods, too!. Oh yeah and a pot of rice can be reheated and used differently throughout the week!.
!.!.!.!.!.you probably don't like mexican as much as I do but maybe the concept of buying a combination of fresh and canned ingredients might give you some ideas beyond the crock-pot!. The main thing is to find some quick but good food and don't succumb to the fast food urge!.!.!.too often!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Does your area have one of those "Dinner's Ready" type places!? You go in on your day off and you put together meals that can be frozen or refrigerated!. You could also hire someone to come to your home and make healthy meals!. I am going to start offering that service!. I have lots of recipes that can be made ahead to go in the freeze and can be either baked or put in the microwave!.
Always keep fresh fruit that can be easily eaten on the go, like apples, bananas, plums, etc!. Pop 1-2 pieces of whole grain bread in the toaster and put peanut butter on it and you have a healthy start!. Homemade smoothies are great too!. Low-fat yogurt frozen, unsweetened fruit (Less hassle that buying and trimming fresh fruit, and fat-free/1% milk or fat-free 1/2 & 1/2!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Always keep fresh fruit that can be easily eaten on the go, like apples, bananas, plums, etc!. Pop 1-2 pieces of whole grain bread in the toaster and put peanut butter on it and you have a healthy start!. Homemade smoothies are great too!. Low-fat yogurt frozen, unsweetened fruit (Less hassle that buying and trimming fresh fruit, and fat-free/1% milk or fat-free 1/2 & 1/2!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
healthy cereal is always good!.
you can try nuts (in moderation) and health food bars!. veggies such as carrots and celery are great too!. fruit such as strawberries and blueberries taste great!.
avoid junk food/fast food, coffee with tons of caffeine, and foods filled with carbs such as bagels!.
for dinner, stir fry kale or squash and make some pasta, which is pretty quick food!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
you can try nuts (in moderation) and health food bars!. veggies such as carrots and celery are great too!. fruit such as strawberries and blueberries taste great!.
avoid junk food/fast food, coffee with tons of caffeine, and foods filled with carbs such as bagels!.
for dinner, stir fry kale or squash and make some pasta, which is pretty quick food!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
I have two suggestions: 1) Cook dinner over the weekend, freeze it and then defrost it in the microwave at dinnertime or 2) Buy a slow cooker,it may be your best friend!. Throw a whole bunch of stuff in the slow cooker at 7:00 AM and when you come home at 5:00PM , dinner is done!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Stay away from processed foods!.
WHOLE FOODS IS THE WAY TO GOO!.
If you live near a whole-foods store, check it out!.
I'm sure there's loadsss of healthy on the go meals!.
Otherwise!.!. Eat fruit! Fruit salaaddd
its right there! its so good! and it doesnt require cooking!Www@FoodAQ@Com
WHOLE FOODS IS THE WAY TO GOO!.
If you live near a whole-foods store, check it out!.
I'm sure there's loadsss of healthy on the go meals!.
Otherwise!.!. Eat fruit! Fruit salaaddd
its right there! its so good! and it doesnt require cooking!Www@FoodAQ@Com
plastic box!. snap lid!. breakfast burritos!. easy to make a few!. nutricious and tasty!. easy to eat on the go!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Creamy Chicken & Rice Casserole
2 celery ribs, chopped
1 small onion, chopped
1 Tbsp!. butter or margarine
1 cup mayonnaise
1 (10!.75 oz) can condensed cream of chicken soup, undiluted
1 cup frozen peas
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon salt
3 cups cubed cooked chicken
2 cups cooked rice
1 cup crushed potato chips or crushed Ritz crackers
In a small skillet, saute celery and onion in butter until crisp-tender!. Place in a bowl; add the mayonnaise, soup, peas, lemon juice and salt!. Stir in chicken and rice!. Transfer to a greased 11-in!. x 7-in!. x 2-in!. baking dish!. Sprinkle with potato chips!. Bake, uncovered, at 350oF for 25-30 minutes or until heated through!.
---------------------------------
Beef With Red Wine Sauce
3 pounds boneless beef chuck roast, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 medium onion, sliced
1 pound fresh mushrooms, sliced
1 (1!.61-ounce) package brown gravy mix
1 (10 1/2-ounce) can beef broth
1 cup red wine
2 Tbsp!. tomato paste
1 bay leaf
Hot cooked egg noodles or rice
Garnish: chopped fresh parsley
Place first 3 ingredients in a 6-quart slow cooker!.
Whisk together gravy mix and next 3 ingredients; pour evenly over beef and vegetables!. Add bay leaf!.
Cover and cook on HIGH 6 hours, or LOW for 9 hours!. Remove and discard bay leaf!. Serve over noodles!. Garnish, if desired!.
----------------------------
Swiss Steak
1 round or cube steak, (approximately 1?lbs), see note
1 teaspoon garlic powder
Salt and pepper
All-purpose flour, for dusting
1/3 cup vegetable oil
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 (14-1/2 oz) can diced tomatoes
1 medium onion, cut into strips
1 medium bell pepper, cut into strips
Cut steak into serving-size pieces!. Season, to taste, with garlic powder and salt and pepper!. Dust meat with flour!. In heavy skillet, brown both sides of meat in vegetable oil!. Transfer to Dutch oven!. Combine garlic, tomatoes, onion, bell pepper, and 1 tomato-can measure of water!. Pour over steak and simmer over low heat until meat is tender, about 1? hours adding water, if necessary to keep meat partially covered!. Season, to taste, with additional salt and pepper!.
Hint: Cook this in a slow-cooker on low for a most fabulous dinner!. Low heat on a slow cooker is about 200 degrees F and high heat on a slow cooker is about 300 oF!.
Note: to ensure tenderness, it is necessary to have the butcher run the round steak through a cuber
--------
Chili Sauced Pork Chops
1/4 cup apricot jam or preserves
1/4 cup chili sauce
1 tablespoon sweet-hot mustard or brown mustard
1 tablespoon water
4 boneless pork top loin chops, 1 inch thick (about 1-1/2 pounds total)
Directions
1!. For glaze, cut up any large pieces in apricot jam or preserves!. In a small saucepan combine jam or preserves, chili sauce, mustard, and water!. Cook and stir over medium-low heat until heated through and well blended!. Remove from heat!.
2!. Trim excess fat from pork chops!. Place chops on unheated rack of broiler pan!. Broil 4 to 5 inches from heat for 8 minutes!.
3!. Turn pork chops; brush generously with glaze!. Broil 8 to 12 minutes more or until juices run clear!. Spoon any remaining glaze over meat before serving!.
-------------
Creamy Ziti with Sausage
8 ounces dried pasta such as ziti, tagliati, rigatoni, or mostaccioli
12 ounces fresh Italian sausage links, sliced
1 2-1/2 cup portion Basic Italian Sauce, thawed or 1, 27- to 30-ounce jar meatless spaghetti sauce
1/3 cup whipping cream, half-and-half, or light cream
Shredded Parmesan cheese (optional)
Directions
1!. Cook pasta according to package directions!. Drain; keep warm!. Meanwhile, in a 2-quart saucepan cook sliced sausage over medium heat until cooked through, turning frequently!. Drain well!.
2!. Add thawed Basic Italian sauce to saucepan with sausage; bring to boiling!. Stir in cream; heat through!. Toss with hot pasta; sprinkle with Parmesan cheese, if desired
-------
Baked Macaroni & Cheese
1 lb!. macaroni, boiled al dente, according to pkg!. directions
2 cups white sauce** (recipe below)
2 c ups yellow cheddar
2 cups Muenster cheese
Add cheese to white sauce and stir!. (Save a bit of cheese for the topping!.) Stir sauce into macaroni and place in a buttered casserole dish!. Place in 350° oven until slightly brown and bubbly on top -- 25-30 minutes!.
**White Sauce:
1 cup heavy cream
1 cup milk
4 Tbsp butter
3 Tbsp flour
Heat the milk and cream together almost to a boil!. Melt butter in saucepan, then add all the flour stirring constantly!. Let cook for 4-5 minutes, continuing to stir!. Remove from heat and add warm milk and cream while whisking -- if sauce is too thick, add a touch more milk!.
-----
MONTEREY CHICKEN
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, pounded to 1/2 inch thickness
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/4 cup barbecue sauce
1/4 cup Hormel real bacon pieces
1/2 cup diced tomatoes
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
pepper
Season chicken breasts with pepper!. Heat the oil in a large non-stick pan over medium high heat!. Add the chicken and cook on both sides until done!. Place chicken on a baking sheet and top with barbecue sauce, bacon pieces, tomatoes and cheese!.
Place in oven and broil just long enough for cheese to melt!.
BAKED FISH WITH PARMESAN-SOUR CREAM SAUCE
2 halibut or orange roughy fillets (any white fish)
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
salt
pepper
2 tablespoons Italian-seasoned breadcrumbs
1 tablespoon butter or margarine, melted
Place fillets in a lightly greased baking dish!.
Stir together sour cream, cheese and salt/pepper to taste; spread mixture evenly over fillets!. Sprinkle with breadcrumbs, and drizzle with butter!.
Bake at 350 degrees for 25 to 35 minutes or until fish flakes with a fork!.
Yield: 2 servings
----------
EASY SHEPHERD’S PIE
1 pound ground beef
2 cups hot mashed potatoes (you can use instant)
4 ounces cream cheese
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, divided
salt
pepper
4 cups frozen mixed vegetables, thawed and warmed
1 cup beef gravy (from a jar or can or mix)
Brown meat in large skillet!. Drain well!. Mix potatoes, cream cheese, 1/2 cup of the cheddar cheese, salt and pepper until well blended!. Stir vegetables and gravy into meat!. Spoon meat mixture into baking dish!. Cover with potato mixture!. Sprinkle the remaining cheddar cheese on top!.
Bake at 375 degrees for 20-30 minutes or until heated through!.
Yield: 6 servings
------
Old Fashion Chess Pie
1/2 cup butter
2 cups white sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 eggs
1 tablespoon cornmeal
1/4 cup evaporated milk
1 tablespoon distilled white vinegar
1 9" unbaked pie shell
Cream butter, sugar, vanilla together!.
Add eggs, cornmeal, evaporated milk, and stir together well!.
Add vinegar!.
Pour into pie shell!.
Bake at 425 degrees F for 10 minutes then reduce heat to 300 degrees F for 40 minutes!.
Let cool!.
Cut and top with whipped creamWww@FoodAQ@Com
2 celery ribs, chopped
1 small onion, chopped
1 Tbsp!. butter or margarine
1 cup mayonnaise
1 (10!.75 oz) can condensed cream of chicken soup, undiluted
1 cup frozen peas
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon salt
3 cups cubed cooked chicken
2 cups cooked rice
1 cup crushed potato chips or crushed Ritz crackers
In a small skillet, saute celery and onion in butter until crisp-tender!. Place in a bowl; add the mayonnaise, soup, peas, lemon juice and salt!. Stir in chicken and rice!. Transfer to a greased 11-in!. x 7-in!. x 2-in!. baking dish!. Sprinkle with potato chips!. Bake, uncovered, at 350oF for 25-30 minutes or until heated through!.
---------------------------------
Beef With Red Wine Sauce
3 pounds boneless beef chuck roast, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 medium onion, sliced
1 pound fresh mushrooms, sliced
1 (1!.61-ounce) package brown gravy mix
1 (10 1/2-ounce) can beef broth
1 cup red wine
2 Tbsp!. tomato paste
1 bay leaf
Hot cooked egg noodles or rice
Garnish: chopped fresh parsley
Place first 3 ingredients in a 6-quart slow cooker!.
Whisk together gravy mix and next 3 ingredients; pour evenly over beef and vegetables!. Add bay leaf!.
Cover and cook on HIGH 6 hours, or LOW for 9 hours!. Remove and discard bay leaf!. Serve over noodles!. Garnish, if desired!.
----------------------------
Swiss Steak
1 round or cube steak, (approximately 1?lbs), see note
1 teaspoon garlic powder
Salt and pepper
All-purpose flour, for dusting
1/3 cup vegetable oil
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 (14-1/2 oz) can diced tomatoes
1 medium onion, cut into strips
1 medium bell pepper, cut into strips
Cut steak into serving-size pieces!. Season, to taste, with garlic powder and salt and pepper!. Dust meat with flour!. In heavy skillet, brown both sides of meat in vegetable oil!. Transfer to Dutch oven!. Combine garlic, tomatoes, onion, bell pepper, and 1 tomato-can measure of water!. Pour over steak and simmer over low heat until meat is tender, about 1? hours adding water, if necessary to keep meat partially covered!. Season, to taste, with additional salt and pepper!.
Hint: Cook this in a slow-cooker on low for a most fabulous dinner!. Low heat on a slow cooker is about 200 degrees F and high heat on a slow cooker is about 300 oF!.
Note: to ensure tenderness, it is necessary to have the butcher run the round steak through a cuber
--------
Chili Sauced Pork Chops
1/4 cup apricot jam or preserves
1/4 cup chili sauce
1 tablespoon sweet-hot mustard or brown mustard
1 tablespoon water
4 boneless pork top loin chops, 1 inch thick (about 1-1/2 pounds total)
Directions
1!. For glaze, cut up any large pieces in apricot jam or preserves!. In a small saucepan combine jam or preserves, chili sauce, mustard, and water!. Cook and stir over medium-low heat until heated through and well blended!. Remove from heat!.
2!. Trim excess fat from pork chops!. Place chops on unheated rack of broiler pan!. Broil 4 to 5 inches from heat for 8 minutes!.
3!. Turn pork chops; brush generously with glaze!. Broil 8 to 12 minutes more or until juices run clear!. Spoon any remaining glaze over meat before serving!.
-------------
Creamy Ziti with Sausage
8 ounces dried pasta such as ziti, tagliati, rigatoni, or mostaccioli
12 ounces fresh Italian sausage links, sliced
1 2-1/2 cup portion Basic Italian Sauce, thawed or 1, 27- to 30-ounce jar meatless spaghetti sauce
1/3 cup whipping cream, half-and-half, or light cream
Shredded Parmesan cheese (optional)
Directions
1!. Cook pasta according to package directions!. Drain; keep warm!. Meanwhile, in a 2-quart saucepan cook sliced sausage over medium heat until cooked through, turning frequently!. Drain well!.
2!. Add thawed Basic Italian sauce to saucepan with sausage; bring to boiling!. Stir in cream; heat through!. Toss with hot pasta; sprinkle with Parmesan cheese, if desired
-------
Baked Macaroni & Cheese
1 lb!. macaroni, boiled al dente, according to pkg!. directions
2 cups white sauce** (recipe below)
2 c ups yellow cheddar
2 cups Muenster cheese
Add cheese to white sauce and stir!. (Save a bit of cheese for the topping!.) Stir sauce into macaroni and place in a buttered casserole dish!. Place in 350° oven until slightly brown and bubbly on top -- 25-30 minutes!.
**White Sauce:
1 cup heavy cream
1 cup milk
4 Tbsp butter
3 Tbsp flour
Heat the milk and cream together almost to a boil!. Melt butter in saucepan, then add all the flour stirring constantly!. Let cook for 4-5 minutes, continuing to stir!. Remove from heat and add warm milk and cream while whisking -- if sauce is too thick, add a touch more milk!.
-----
MONTEREY CHICKEN
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, pounded to 1/2 inch thickness
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/4 cup barbecue sauce
1/4 cup Hormel real bacon pieces
1/2 cup diced tomatoes
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
pepper
Season chicken breasts with pepper!. Heat the oil in a large non-stick pan over medium high heat!. Add the chicken and cook on both sides until done!. Place chicken on a baking sheet and top with barbecue sauce, bacon pieces, tomatoes and cheese!.
Place in oven and broil just long enough for cheese to melt!.
BAKED FISH WITH PARMESAN-SOUR CREAM SAUCE
2 halibut or orange roughy fillets (any white fish)
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
salt
pepper
2 tablespoons Italian-seasoned breadcrumbs
1 tablespoon butter or margarine, melted
Place fillets in a lightly greased baking dish!.
Stir together sour cream, cheese and salt/pepper to taste; spread mixture evenly over fillets!. Sprinkle with breadcrumbs, and drizzle with butter!.
Bake at 350 degrees for 25 to 35 minutes or until fish flakes with a fork!.
Yield: 2 servings
----------
EASY SHEPHERD’S PIE
1 pound ground beef
2 cups hot mashed potatoes (you can use instant)
4 ounces cream cheese
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, divided
salt
pepper
4 cups frozen mixed vegetables, thawed and warmed
1 cup beef gravy (from a jar or can or mix)
Brown meat in large skillet!. Drain well!. Mix potatoes, cream cheese, 1/2 cup of the cheddar cheese, salt and pepper until well blended!. Stir vegetables and gravy into meat!. Spoon meat mixture into baking dish!. Cover with potato mixture!. Sprinkle the remaining cheddar cheese on top!.
Bake at 375 degrees for 20-30 minutes or until heated through!.
Yield: 6 servings
------
Old Fashion Chess Pie
1/2 cup butter
2 cups white sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 eggs
1 tablespoon cornmeal
1/4 cup evaporated milk
1 tablespoon distilled white vinegar
1 9" unbaked pie shell
Cream butter, sugar, vanilla together!.
Add eggs, cornmeal, evaporated milk, and stir together well!.
Add vinegar!.
Pour into pie shell!.
Bake at 425 degrees F for 10 minutes then reduce heat to 300 degrees F for 40 minutes!.
Let cool!.
Cut and top with whipped creamWww@FoodAQ@Com