Fast dinners

[chickadee77]

Lots of frozen veggies here, too. I just steam them.

I have some freezer crockpot meals that just require some defrosting.

Publix has pre-stuffed chicken breasts that are really good, and just ready to pop in the oven.

Also, Rice-a-roni. There are meal ideas on the back, or you can do your own thing. Our favorite is the cheesy rice and I add chicken breast and broccoli mixed in, so only one pan to clean!

[badtzmaru22]

justjen

For quesadillas, I use 8in ones. Get a little oil going in the pan, put in the tortilla, add cheese and whatever filling, fold in half, then flip. I've found this easier than trying to use two tortillas and flipping the whole big thing. I keep a separate pan going with sliced onions and peppers so they're cooked already.

I cook a lot of chicken and ground beef in advance, and freeze in meal size portions. Chicken breasts just get thrown in the crockpot all day, and then I portion 2-3 into smaller bags to freeze. Ground beef I brown up with onions and freeze. Then it's really quick to thaw in the microwave and add to a quesadilla, casserole, stir fry, fajitas, tacos etc.

[mrsGreeko]

Salsa chicken

Throw 2 frozen or thawed chicken breasts in the crock pot, throw a jar of salsa on top, throw a can of black beans (don't even have to drain) in, throw in some frozen corn. Cook on low all day. Come home, shred chicken (you just have to stick a fork in the pot and stir and it shreds) and serve as tacos, or nachos, or over rice. Bam done.

I always prep crock pot meals the night before and just stick the crock pot insert in the fridge all night.

[rosebud]

Mar 5, 2015 19:56:13 GMT -5 jeaniebueller said:

Mar 5, 2015 19:00:52 GMT -5 rosebud said:

I spend 3 to 4 hours Sunday afternoon cooking 3 to 4 meals with enough leftovers to get us through the week. It's awesome to walk in the door at 6 PM with an hour until bathtime and only have to nuke dinner

I would love to see examples of your Sunday afternoon recipes!

Better late than never...

  Saturday I made a batch of lasagna (tons of leftovers)
  Last night I made a meatloaf (at least 2 more meals left after the boys had that for dinner)
  3rd meal for the week

   1 Rotisserie Chicken
    1 onion
    16 ounce pk of Mushrooms (Baby Bellas)
    1 pk frozen peas and carrots
    1/2 & 1/2 plus milk for the sauce with a cornstarch slurry to thicken
    1 lb orechette pasta (whatever you like)
    French fried onions on top

    Brown the onion, add mushroom and brown, add peas and carrots until the ice is gone, milk, slurry...once thick, add chicken and cut the heat. When pasta is done combine all in a casserole dish and bake at 350 for 25 minutes or until it looks good.


I spent a fair amount of time during my first maternity leave watch Rachael Ray Week in a Day. I kind of figured out how she has so many various cassaroles and at this point I kind of "wing" most of my Sunday cooking. I try to mix up the meat I'm serving, but in general its whatever I picked up at the store on sale and/or is in the freezer.