What to make for dinner...that doesn't take too long?

Question

My hubby and I have a 1-month old little girl. She usually cries a lot because she has colic, but right now, she's beginning to "quiet down" a little bit. Usually around her feeding time. I feed her and she seems fine and falls asleep in her swing. Now that she falls asleep, I can make dinner for my hubby and I (he's helping). We don't want to make something that takes a long time to cook...just a quick, healthy, delicious meal.

Any ideas on what to cook that doesn't take up too much time? Keep in mind--I do not want to buy the microwaved meals right now...I will later but not right now. I'd like to have a home-cooked meal. All answers appreciated!

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker

You need good meals, just because they take a while to cook , doesn't mean you have to stand over them the whole time.So with a little time preparing, and a check on the cooking once in a while , you will have plenty to eat. These things can last several days and some can be frozen for another day for the following week. So kill two birds with one stone. Cook a big pot and take a day off the following week.



Make a chicken soup. Its easy and you can walk away for a while and not burn it. Just put a whole chicken in a soup pot with water. Add chopped leeks or onions, celery, carrots, a bay leaf, some theme, salt and pepper. Boil until tender. Remove the chicken when it is done. Place the chicken on a platter. The meat can be added to the soup and some can be kept for chicken salad sandwishes.Cook a pot of rice on the side, and when you find time to eat just add a scoop of rice to your bowl. You can squeeze a little lemon juice onto the soup or add some cur tons.
Another is baked chicken in a pan with potatoes. Just peel some potatoes , quarter them, place in bottom of the pan. Take one cut up chicken, place in a bowl, add salt , pepper, oregano, rub well into the chicken. Place chicken over potatoes. Make a tomato sauce , add one small can of tomato, garlic powder, a little olive oil, some more oregano, salt and pepper to the sauce and one cup of water. Mix, pour over chicken. Cover with foil, bake 30 minutes at 350 degrees. Then remove foil and bake until lightly brown on top. Easy and no hassle.
I like one pot meals. Soak beans over night, add onions, carrots, some fresh tomatoes chopped, celery, one chopped sweet red pepper, two cloves of garlic and boil until tender. Just watch the water level. Now you have been soup. A slow heat will work fine. Good fresh dried beans should only take about a hour to cook. These things can be left to cook without standing over it all day. Not a lot to clean up either.Just set alarm for every 20 minutes to take a look and see how things are coming. If you need another 20 minutes , its ok. For a change, add a little pasta during the last 15 minutes. Not a lot one cup of short fat noodles.
Check out for one pot meal recipes, that is what you need right now.

Asker's Rating:

Asker's Comment:

Thanks a bunch!!

Answer 2

Think this would all depends on what you have in your home. Next time you cook why not make extra and freeze it for days when you do not have the time to cook. For now just look in your cabinets and figure it out. Would be way easier for you than someone that has no idea what you have on hand or do not have,

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Answer 3

Chicken is always healthy and inexpensive. There are so many different ways to prepare it. Just be creative and use what you already have.

Answer 4

How about some grilled or baked chicken breast with steamed broccoli and a green salad and a roll.

Answer 5

Spaghetti and Meatballs and a tossed salad.

Answer 6

Mac and cheese is always good! If you don't want to use the boxed stuff, there are some good recipes online. (I would recommend homemade anyways.)

Answer 7

tacos are always yummy and quick! good way to get almost all the food groups in too!

Answer 8

Here's a really easy recipe. You have to hit the link for the seasoned ground beef recipe but you can make this meat mix and use it in lots of recipes on this website.

Cheeseburger Pie

Serves 4-6

INGREDIENTS

1 pound Seasoned Ground Beef Mix
1 ready made refrigerated pie crust
1/2 teaspoon oregano
1 teaspoon Worchester sauce
1/2 cup dry bread crumbs
1/2 cup tomato sauce
Cheese topping (see below)

Cheese Topping

INGREDIENTS

1 egg
1/4 cup milk
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon Worchester sauce
1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Spray pie pan with non stick spray and form pie crust on to the pie pan.

Prepare Seasoned Ground Beef Mix. (If preparing this meat mixture ahead of time, store in the fridge for up to two days or in the freezer for up to 2 months until ready to use. Warm the meat on low in either the microwave or stove top prior to using in this recipe)

Add the oregano, bread crumbs, Worchester sauce and tomato sauce and cook in a skillet over medium heat for approximately 10 minutes. Pour beef mixture in to the pie crust.

Mix all of the ingredients for the cheese topping and add to the top of the beef mix.

Bake for approximately 30 minutes.

* Seasoned Ground Beef Mix - http://www.easy-groundmeat-recipes.com/R…

Answer 9

This is what we call "Half *** Thanksgiving" in my house... You can rename it if you chose. lol This is what you do:

Prepare a box of Stove Top stuffing according to the directions.

Using sliced turkey from the deli lay each slice out flat, put a tablespoon of the stuffing in the turkey. Then roll it up.

I usually do about 10 depending on the size of the dish I'm using. You can also use more or less stuffing depending on the thickness of the turkey slices.

Once you have your stuffed turkey slices rolled up in a casserole dish open a can of Campbells Turkey Gravy and pour over the top. (You can also use 2 cans if you like lots of gravy).

Then just cook at 350 for about 30 minutes until the turkey is hot.

It's a simple combination that reminds us of Thanksgiving dinner. I hope I explained it okay. Give it a shot though - it's quick, hearty and yummy. And it can easily be altered to taste!

There you have it. Super simple. Stuffing stuffed turkey slices with gravy. Mmmm.
I do recomend having the deli slice the turkey a little thicker then normal so it keeps the stuffing inside nicely. And use just Oven Roasted Turkey. The Smoked Turkey or Honey turkey sometimes tastes funny with the gravy and stuffing.

Answer 10

EASY TACO PIE

1 pound lean ground beef
1 medium onion, chopped (1/2 cup)
1 envelope (1.25 ounces) taco seasoning mix
1 can (4.5 ounces) chopped green chiles, drained
1 cup milk
2 eggs
1/2 cup Original Bisquick® mix
3/4 cup shredded Monterey Jack or Cheddar cheese (3 ounces) salsa (any variety)
Sour cream, if desired

1. Heat oven to 400ºF. Grease 9-inch pie plate. Cook ground beef and onion in 10-inch skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until beef is brown; drain. Stir in seasoning mix (dry). Spoon into pie plate; top with chilies.
2. Stir milk, eggs and Bisquick mix until blended. Pour into pie plate.
3. Bake about 25 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean. Sprinkle with cheese. Bake 8 to 10 minutes longer. Cool 5 minutes. Serve with salsa and sour cream.

One Pot Beef and Rice Skillet

1 lb. extra lean ground beef
1/4 cup KRAFT GOLDEN Italian Dressing
1/2 tsp. dried oregano leaves
3 cups chopped broccoli
1-1/2 cups instant white rice, uncooked
1/2 cup KRAFT Double Cheddar Shredded Cheese
BROWN meat in large skillet; drain.
ADD 1-1/2 cups water, dressing and oregano. Bring to boil.
STIR in broccoli and rice; cover. Reduce heat to low; simmer 5 min. or until rice is tender. Sprinkle with cheese.
Substitute:
For a different flavour base, substitute Kraft Signature Greek with Feta and Oregano Dressing for the Italian dressing and Kraft Feta with Oregano, Sun Dried Tomatoes and Cracked Peppercorns for the Cheddar cheese.

Quick-Fix Beef and Rice

1 lb. lean ground beef
2 cups frozen peas
1/2 can (10 fl oz/284 mL) condensed cream of celery soup
1/4 cup milk
1 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. dried thyme leaves
2-2/3 cups hot cooked instant white rice
1 cup KRAFT Mozza-Cheddar Shredded Cheese
PREHEAT oven at 350°F. Brown meat in skillet; drain. Stir in peas, soup, milk, garlic powder and thyme. Bring just to boil.
SPREAD meat mixture on bottom of 8-inch square baking dish. Top with rice; sprinkle with cheese.
BAKE 10 min. or until cheese is melted.

One-Pot Salsa Beef Skillet

1 lb. (450 g) lean ground beef
2 cups water
1 cup salsa
1 pkg. (200 g) KRAFT DINNER Extra Creamy Macaroni and Cheese
2 cups frozen corn
1/2 cup KRAFT Tex Mex Shredded Cheese
1 green onion, chopped
BROWN meat in large skillet on medium-high heat; drain. Return to skillet.
ADD water, salsa and Macaroni; stir. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to low; cover. Simmer 10 min. or until macaroni is tender, stirring occasionally. Add corn and Cheese Sauce Mix; stir. Cook 2 min. or until heated through.
TOP with cheese and onions.

One Pot Beef and Rice Skillet

1 lb. extra lean ground beef
1/4 cup KRAFT GOLDEN Italian Dressing
1/2 tsp. dried oregano leaves
3 cups chopped broccoli
1-1/2 cups instant white rice, uncooked
1/2 cup KRAFT Double Cheddar Shredded Cheese
BROWN meat in large skillet; drain.
ADD 1-1/2 cups water, dressing and oregano. Bring to boil.
STIR in broccoli and rice; cover. Reduce heat to low; simmer 5 min. or until rice is tender. Sprinkle with cheese.
For a different flavour base, substitute Kraft Signature Greek with Feta and Oregano Dressing for the Italian dressing and Kraft Feta with Oregano, Sun Dried Tomatoes and Cracked Peppercorns for the Cheddar cheese.

Quick-Fix Beef and Rice

1 lb. lean ground beef
2 cups frozen peas
1/2 can (10 fl oz/284 mL) condensed cream of celery soup
1/4 cup milk
1 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. dried thyme leaves
2-2/3 cups hot cooked instant white rice
1 cup KRAFT Mozza-Cheddar Shredded Cheese
PREHEAT oven at 350°F. Brown meat in skillet; drain. Stir in peas, soup, milk, garlic powder and thyme. Bring just to boil.
SPREAD meat mixture on bottom of 8-inch square baking dish. Top with rice; sprinkle with cheese.
BAKE 10 min. or until cheese is melted.