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mary theresa
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| Posted: May 16 2007 at 4:09pm | IP Logged
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Okay, I would love to get some ideas on really quick and easy recipes for dinner that you all like and use in your families.
I am 7.5 wks pregnant and by 4 o'clock I am EXHAUSTED these days. I can't stand to be around and smelling and looking at food for too long. And my poor husband just can't make dinner every night, since he has so much work to do once he gets home, often late.
So, aside from boxed dinners (which we try not to eat often because of the wheat in them) or hamburgers and hot dogs (which are getting overused), what can I make that will take me the minimum amount of time in the kitchen?
Oh, and not too much pasta. My dh isn't really into pasta. 
I'll go first and share my one easiest staple dinner:
OVEN FRIED CHICKEN
1/2 c. flour
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
Shake together in a plastic bag
Melt a whole stick of butter in a 9 x 13 pan in the oven at 425.
Throw skin-on and bone-in chicken pieces (about 8-10 thighs and/or wings and/or drumsticks) into bag of flour etc. Shake around till coated.
Place skin side down in melted butter. bake 425 for 30 min. Turn chicken over. Bake another 30 min.
The skin is really good and crispy and the chicken turns out so moist. (I know, totally NOT low-fat or anything.  )
Thanks for any ideas! i just avoid the thought of dinner all day long because I know I'll be too tired and gaggy to start anything. Short quick ideas will so help -- at least with the tired part!
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Mary Theresa
mother to 3 little girls --March '06, Dec '07 and Jan '10
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stefoodie
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| Posted: May 16 2007 at 5:07pm | IP Logged
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Okay, another chicken recipe:
chicken breasts, pounded thin, or sliced into thin strips
dijon mustard
flour or bread crumbs
oil for pan frying.
dip the chicken breasts in the mustard, then the flour/bread crumbs and pan fry.
you can also bake this -- spray the pan and chicken well with cooking spray. and bake at 400 degrees for 10 mins or just until cooked through.
this also works with thin pork chops (boneless) or thin slices of pork tenderloin.
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stef
mom to five
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Paula in MN
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| Posted: May 16 2007 at 5:18pm | IP Logged
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This is really easy...
Tater Tot Hotdish
1 lb ground beef (can also use turkey or venison)
1 lb bag frozen tater tots (or hashbrowns)
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can evaporated milk
Brown the meat and place in 9x13 pan. Cover with tater tots. Mix soups and milk together and pour over top.
Bake at 350 for 1 hour.
One of our favorites!
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 Paula
A Catholic Harvest
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aussieannie
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| Posted: May 16 2007 at 5:20pm | IP Logged
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These are my two staples that I throw together very easily: One Chicken and one Lamb dish
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Under Her Starry Mantle
Spiritual Motherhood for Priests
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organiclilac
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| Posted: May 16 2007 at 5:21pm | IP Logged
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We have started eating Mexican casserole a lot. I make a quick chili from ground beef or pork, a can of black beans, and taco seasoning. (Could also add tomatoes - fresh or canned - or other beans, chilis, corn, hominy, etc.) Then I layer slices of polenta (comes in a tube, like sausage) in the bottom of a 2.5 qt casserole, add the chili, and then grate cheese over the whole thing. Bake on 350 for 10-15 minutes until the cheese is melty. Serve with avocado slices, salsa, and sour cream.
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Tracy, wife to Shawn, mama to Samuel (4/01) and Joseph (11/11), and Thomas (2/15)
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Dawn
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| Posted: May 16 2007 at 5:48pm | IP Logged
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Very easy kielbasa-potato bake:
Cut small red potatoes into quarters and some bell pepper into rings. Toss with olive oil and some garlic salt to taste. Pour into sprayed 9x13 pan. Cut up a kielbasa and place chunks over top of vegetables. Bake at 375 for 30-40 minutes (test potatoes for tenderness).
We've never tried it, but I've thought of tossing the potatoes in a honey-dijon dressing instead of the oil and garlic.
Add crusty bread and you're done!
Congratulations on the pregnancy! 
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Dawn, mum to 3 boys
By Sun and Candlelight
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JodieLyn
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| Posted: May 16 2007 at 6:07pm | IP Logged
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Well anything will work if you pop it into a crockpot. Then you can do all the prep while you're feeling good and just serve it when it's cooked that night.
Burritos are easy.. just heat up beans and possibly brown some hamburger (seasoned or not) and have lettuce and salsa and such to add to it. Sauted veggies are also very good on burritos.. which will give you everything wrapped in a tortilla which is can be served on cheap paper plates too. 
Brown the hamburger in a large skillet.. then add the refried beans right into it to heat up.. then you only have one pan to clean.. piles of veggies (lettuce, tomato, onion, avacado, broccoli etc) also possible to put on paper plates, some shredded cheese, sour cream, salsa.. Heat up the tortillas.. either on a griddle or steamed in the oven or micro.
In the heat of summer also remember to plug in your slow cooker outside or in the garage or such and then you won't heat up the house with dinner either.
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Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott
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Betsy
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| Posted: May 16 2007 at 6:52pm | IP Logged
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+JMJ+
Eggs and Hash browns are a staple when I am scrambling for dinner.
Sloppy Joes are good too! Here
is a good home made recipe. I use tomato paste instead of sauce and I have never put in mushrooms (but I am sure it would be delicious).
Betsy
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Celeste
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| Posted: May 16 2007 at 7:08pm | IP Logged
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This one takes time, but very little labor. Really, put it in the oven and go lie down for half an hour. The house will smell great and your feet won't hurt!
Roast beef:
Crank the oven as high as it will go (usu. 550 F).
Place a roast on a rack in a pan. (Well, I don't use a rack, but you're supposed to.) Sprinkle seasoned salt on a roast. I use Lousiana brand cajun seasoning. (If you want you can poke holes in the roast and insert cloves of garlic.) Sirloin roast works well. Use a cut that isn't too tough.
Put the roast in that hot hot oven and immediately turn the heat down to 350. Cook about 18-20 min per pound for medium rare. Let stand a bit before carving.
You can bake potatoes on the oven rack at the same time. (Scrub 'em, poke 'em, throw 'em in the oven.) Serve with a salad or quick veggie of your choice, bread if you've got it.
Leftovers are great on sandwiches or on a green salad.
Celeste
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knowloveserve
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| Posted: May 16 2007 at 8:06pm | IP Logged
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very easy cop out? Cook rice and a can of chili. Mix together. Sprinkle on cheddar and serve with tortilla chips.
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Ellie
The Bleeding Pelican
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Carole N.
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| Posted: May 16 2007 at 8:42pm | IP Logged
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This is one of my favorites that I learned to make when we lived in St. Louis.
Mostacolli (not sure of the spelling)
Italian sausage 9about 1 lb.)
Penne pasta
Large can of crushed tomatoes
motzerella cheese, grated
tomato sauce
Cook the pasta. Brown the sausage. Mix together in a large bowl adding the crushed tomatoes and cheese. Add tomato sauce if the mixture is too dry. Place in a 350 oven and bake until cheese melts.
This is one of my favorite dishes to take to people. I also bake a bread, bring a salad, and either green beans or brocolli. It is always a hit.
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Carole ... in Wales
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lapazfarm
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Stir-fry's are pretty easy. Just put some oil or chicken broth in a skillet, toss in some boneless chicken strips, fry it up, add some veggies and fry a little longer, season as you like (soy, teriyaki, or just garlic and salt) serve over rice.
I agree crock pots are the easiest.Put in a whole chicken, season and forget about it. Serve with rice or noodles.
At Easter time I was surprised to find how easy leg of lamb is to cook-just rub with oil and garlic and roast away! I add a pan of new potatoes, peppers, and onions, oiled and salted, and roast them right along with the lamb. So yummy!
Tacos are pretty simple, too.
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Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
LaPaz Home Learning
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5athome
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| Posted: May 16 2007 at 9:30pm | IP Logged
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throw boneless skinless chicken breasts in crockpot and cover with bbq sauce. put on low for a few hours. then shred and serve on buns.
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Margaret
ds '93, dd '96, ds '99,
ds '01, dd '04, ds '06,
ds '08
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guitarnan
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| Posted: May 17 2007 at 6:45am | IP Logged
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One we just tried:
Chicken or turkey cutlets (.8 lb fed two hungry adults and we could have done with half the meat), pounded to about 1/4 inch thick
2 medium potatoes, peeled and sliced thinly
1 onion, same
2 cans diced tomatoes (or crushed if you prefer)
about 1/2 cup chicken broth or white wine
a little garlic if you like, and some basil
balsamic vinegar
Rub a little balsamic vinegar onto the chicken breasts, then sauté about 2 min. on each side in some olive oil. Remove from pan. Add a little more olive oil and the potatoes and onions. Cook about 15 min., turning occasionally, until they are browning and crisping. Add the wine or broth and cook for a moment. Then add the tomatoes, herbs and chicken breasts. Cover and simmer about 15 more minutes. Enjoy!
(And laugh...only one pan to wash!)
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Nancy in MD. Mom of ds (24) & dd (18); 31-year Navy wife, move coordinator and keeper of home fires. Writer and dance mom.
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mary
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| Posted: May 17 2007 at 7:01am | IP Logged
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all of my kids love cabbage and chicken/apple sausage. melt some butter, add sliced sausage to a large wok type pan. top with shredded cabbage (we use one head red and one green.) cover with al foil and cook on stove (med/low.) turn occasionally. we serve this with whatever bread i can find - usually some alexia garlic rolls from the freezer.
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MichelleW
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| Posted: May 17 2007 at 9:50am | IP Logged
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This is what we had last night after a long day:
In the morning I put some chicken breasts in the crockpot with 3 T lemon juice, 2 T white vinegar, 1 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp pepper, 1 tsp tarragon, 1 tsp thyme and 1 T rosemary. I cooked this on high until dinner (mostly because I use the term "morning" loosely, it was more like noon by the time I got this started).
When we got home the house smelled great! I opened and drained two cans of green beans, one can of black olives and dumped into a large bowl. I chopped and added two celery stalks and then poured a little lemon juice over all. Serve at room temperature.
In another bowl I made a salad. Greens were from a bag and the chopped veggies were leftover from lunch (carrots and bell peppers this time).
That's it. Seriously, it took me less than 10 minutes to put this on the table after we got home (and that includes telling everyone to wash up and set the table). Dh said, "Wow! What a great dinner!" and I just grinned...
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Michelle
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hylabrook1
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We eat lots of meatless meals. The quick fix around here is this:
brown (already chopped, from a jar) garlic in olive oil (not giving exact amounts because how much garlic anyone uses is strictly to personal taste )
add 2 16-oz cans of diced tomatoes
add 2 16-oz cans of black beans, drained and rinsed
add one 16-oz can of corn, drained.
Cook until it is heated through and serve over rice (we use brown rice, but you can use white if that's what your family prefers).
Serve with a salad.
Good thinking to look for simple recipes to see you through the yuckies!
Peace,
Nancy
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marihalojen
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I invented an easy meal last night though I don't know if it'd work for you, you mentioned avoiding wheat?
Top a precooked pizza crust (Boboli style) with
fresh salsa
shrimp scampi
red bell peppers
black olives
shredded cheese
Warm on grill or in oven till melty.
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~Jennifer
Mother to Mariannna, age 13
The Mari Hal-O-Jen
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lapazfarm
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| Posted: May 18 2007 at 9:59am | IP Logged
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marihalojen wrote:
I invented an easy meal last night though I don't know if it'd work for you, you mentioned avoiding wheat?
Top a precooked pizza crust (Boboli style) with
fresh salsa
shrimp scampi
red bell peppers
black olives
shredded cheese
Warm on grill or in oven till melty. |
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Mmmm. That sounds so yummy! Jennifer, I just love all your recipes! They are always so creative! I guess necessity really IS the mother of invention!LOL!
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Theresa
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Lorri
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I've got this one going today:
Italian Roast Sandwiches
Put a roast (size appropriate to your family) in the crockpot. Sprinkle a packet of Italian Dressing mix on top. Add several pepperoncinis (I add half the jar) on and around the roast. Pour some juice from the pepperoncinis on top. Cover and cook "all day." If I remember early enough, I cook on low until we're almost ready to eat. After lunch, I'd cook it on high. Remove the roast and the chilis. Add a packet of brown gravy to the juices in the pot. Shred the meat and return it to the pot, mix well. Serve on hoagie buns and sprinkle with cheese.
My dc love this, but if they don't eat it as a sandwich, it is too spicy for them. The bigger the roast you make, the more left-overs you get! You could even freeze half of it for another time.
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Lorri
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The Mac and Cheese Chronicles
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4Real Forums : Tea and Conversation
Topic: Your easiest dinner recipes
