Two Qs about feeding people

[sugarbear1]

ExH did all the dinner cooking and told me for years that I just wasn't good at it. This message stuck but I'm working my way out of it.

I'm struggling to find a way to keep track of recipes I like. I subscribe to NYT Cooking and really like it, but I get overwhelmed with remembering what my kids liked and what they didn't (or what's simple, what uses 2 pans or 5, etc.).

So my first question is, how do you keep track of recipes?

Second Q, please share a recipe (or 5) that are repeats in your family. My kids aren't particularly picky but I'm having a hard time finding things they will both always (or even often) eat.

[keh2oblue]

I still use Pinterest and save recipes there.

Every week my kids get some version of tacos one day and pasta another. These are easy to customize and I buy the protein pasta.

[noodleoo]

I’m old school. I have a binder full of plastic page protector sleeves and I print recipes and put them in there. When I make a recipe I pull it out and have it on the counter while I cook. I started using sleeve protectors because they kept getting wet and I’d have to reprint them LOL.

YMMV but my kids love this salmon recipe. I make it every other week and DD2 takes it to school for lunch. It’s super easy and pretty fast too.

www.eatingwell.com/recipe/249244/honey-soy-broiled-salmon/

[countthestars]

I don't have a great way to keep track of the recipes I like, but happy to share a few things we love.

Honey mustard chicken tenders - love these in the air fryer. Definitely save honey mustard to dip in!
www.lifesambrosia.com/honey-mustard-chicken-tenders-recipe/

Turkey stuffed peppers (we usually just do the filling and not even cook peppers): dice onion, brown with ground turkey. When browned/cooked, add a bag of rice (we use the Mr. Ben's 90sec brown rice after microwaving it), a jar or Raos and a few slices of American cheese. Cook until cheese is melted and sauce is hot.

[Vespasia]

I use Paprika as a recipe and grocery app. I'll rate the recipes after I make them for the first time and you can also add them to general or customized categories. I'll also add comments to the notes if I want to tweak the ingredients next time.

You can import recipes from any website into the app. It's not free but I think it's a pretty reasonable one time cost. The only thing that is annoying is that the desktop and phone versions are a separate fee but until recently I just used it on my phone. 


Recipes:
cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1020747-sheet-pan-sausages-and-brussels-sprouts-with-honey-mustard

iowagirleats.com/skillet-chili-mac-cheese/

www.chelseasmessyapron.com/garlic-beef-and-veggie-ramen/

damndelicious.net/2013/07/07/korean-beef-bowl/

[eb777888]

FYI- the NYT has a notes section that you can keep track of what your kids like/don't like.  I use it heavily. I often change things up a bit, so like know what worked/didn't work last time.

Here are some of my NYT favorites:

cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1023437-pad-krapow-gai-thai-basil-chicken?action=click&module=RecipeBox&pgType=recipebox-page®ion=all&rank=28

cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1012996-chicken-with-garlic-chili-ginger-sauce?action=click&module=RecipeBox&pgType=recipebox-page®ion=all&rank=27

cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1019815-thai-style-coconut-curry-chicken-tacos?action=click&module=RecipeBox&pgType=recipebox-page®ion=all&rank=19

cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1022068-skillet-chicken-with-mushrooms-and-caramelized-onions?action=click&module=RecipeBox&pgType=recipebox-page®ion=all&rank=3

Also, Damned Delicious has a lot of great recipes. We make these tacos all the time, but sub corn tortillas-

damndelicious.net/2019/08/06/easy-chicken-tacos/

[nicolewi]

First, how dare he say that??

Second, Would you like to see my plastic bin full of random sheets of paper, and my two separate binders with only some recipes randomly stored in each?

Organizing recipes is one of those tasks I say I will do “someday”. I do try to move some of the repeat successes from the bin into the binder. With mixed success.

Things my kids like:
-Variations on “fast and friendly meatballs” from all recipes.com
-Slow cooker chicken stroganoff from all recipes.com (sounds awful, but the kids all love it and it’s really good. We serve it with pasta and broccoli and Parmesan)
-The boneless/skinless chicken breasts in the crockpot with salsa and taco seasoning
-Midwest living magazine slow cooker Italian beef sandwiches
-The recipe where you literally plop a rump roast or a chuck roast in the crockpot with a can of cream of mushroom soup and a package of Lipton onion soup mix and cook it for a really long time, like all day, like 10 hours
-Damn Delicious sheet pan fajitas
-Damn Delicious Korean beef, which I love, but my kids won’t all eat

[sofamonkey]

I bookmark recipes on my phone. I also email them to myself to print out, and have a Betty Crocker book that I keep them in. Lol

As for faves, check out the weekly meal planning threads. They’re really helpful, and people give good feedback about how something did or didn’t work, tweaks they made, etc.

[dochas]

Apr 21, 2023 12:16:59 GMT -5 noodleoo said:

I’m old school. I have a binder full of plastic page protector sleeves and I print recipes and put them in there. When I make a recipe I pull it out and have it on the counter while I cook. I started using sleeve protectors because they kept getting wet and I’d have to reprint them LOL.

I started doing this for the ones we love. It's easier for me and, morbid alert, if I die my son isn't going to be able to find random pins or saved recipes online. They only go in the binder once I know they're favorites and then I make notes on them too. I have different sections and the dividers have pockets so I put in recipes that I want to try. I have a separate binder for baking/desserts. 

[jinkies]

I also use pinterest. I have a "recipes I recommend" board where I try to save ones that we like. I also sometimes go old school and just print it out if we like it.

It's becoming harder and harder to accommodate everyone's food preferences, but everyone generally likes:

1. Firecracker meatballs: www.hellofresh.com/recipes/firecracker-meatballs-5ea70fe14c4efb3fb12140f1
2. Sheet pan chicken: www.skinnytaste.com/sheet-pan-balsamic-herb-chicken-and-vegetables/#more-32266
3. Bacon wrapped chicken: funnyisfamily.com/2016/07/bacon-wrapped-chicken-tenders.html
4. BLTs

For my own sanity, I'm trying to set a schedule where every week we have:
1. Mexican something (tacos, enchiladas, etc)
2. Breakfast for dinner
3. Easy sandwich meal (BLTs, burgers, etc)
4. Chicken
5. Kids choose

I was doing Hello Fresh for almost a year, but we are currently scattered most nights so I'm trying to plan meals that require minimal effort and reheat well for whoever is not available at dinner time.

Sadly, half of my family does not like pasta, or red sauce in general, so that rules out a lot of very easy recipes that I used to make when the kids were younger.

[dochas]

Do you use a crockpot? Honey sesame chicken, any kind of chicken with teriyaki or soy sauce are hits. My son doesn't like sauces ON things, but he loves the taste of the food cooked in the sauce. He also prefers raw vegetables so that's how we got him eating more foods. We started with him getting a lot of it as ingredients in what we were making. Now that he likes the things cooked in sauce we still give him the vegetables raw, and if there are noodles or rice we give him that without any sauce poured over.

How did you feel about your own cooking? I'm not going to get hung up on his comment because hey, there are people who are bad cooks, or just not good cooks. But that doesn't have to be the case FOREVER. If you can read, you can cook!

What kinds of things do you all like?

[nicolewi]

jinkies made me think of this. I also have one kid who won’t eat red sauce, which is super annoying, and none of my kids like ravioli! But if your kids will eat ravioli, that makes a super quick and easy dinner with a jar of sauce, salad and French bread.

[definitelyO]

old school here as well - 2 binders and then I make notes on what I subbed or would do different next time, etc.... if no one likes a new recipe I just throw the recipe away.

Frequent go to:

smitten kitchen - everyday meatballs - huge hits - smittenkitchen.com/2016/02/everyday-meatballs/
but I use jarred sauce (or homemade if I have any left from the summer garden)

burgers are heavy in the rotation

chicken fajitas - smoked/grilled - easy and build your own with refried or black beans, etc...

ground turkey - use it to make burritos, or I buy the indian curry in a jar and add other veggies, serve over rice (usually rice in a microwave bag)

we also love salmon - grilled or baked. honestly drizzle with EVOO, a lot of salt and pepper and some lemon and you're good. or use teriyaki sauce, or chopped herbs, etc.. - so many really easy variations.

[gottadobe]

My now adult son still loves this Sloppy Joe recipe.

I just email myself recipes I like.  Not a great system, so following... 

[eddy]

I use plantoeat.com

you can save recipes from the internet. You can also use it for planning and grocery shopping. 

it does cost money but for me very worth it. I have used it for four years now. 

[eddy]

I make this recipe at least once a month. www.gimmesomeoven.com/slow-cooker-crispy-chicken-carnitas/

[CurlyQ284]

I have recipes everywhere, mostly Pinterest or Allrecipes. I just joined eMeals, it's like a meal plan but they don't send you food (cause I think those are more money than I want to pay and I cook a lot so I have a lot of ingredients).

Lately I've been doing flank steak every Thursday with roasted potatoes. I rotate the marinade so it tastes different. Everyone looks forward to Thursdays.

Marinades:
www.allrecipes.com/recipe/218486/moms-beef-shish-kabobs/

www.allrecipes.com/recipe/150685/perfect-flat-iron-steak/

Store bought Goya Mojo Criollo marinade in the international aisle at the grocery store.

[cjcouple]

I just bookmark them.

I'd probably grab a dryerase, put meals o. there (I meal plan weekly) and maybe put a star with their initial if they like something. Snap a picture!

[dutchgirl678]

I use the Paprika 3 app on my phone. I can also use it to plan meals and create grocery lists, but I don't do it usually.

I try to keep things simple most of the time with a protein, a veg, and potatoes/rice.

For potatoes, I like to buy the small multi-colored ones in a big bag at Costco. Cut them up and throw them in a bowl with some olive oil, salt, and herbes de Provence. Pop them in the airfryer to 15 minutes at 400F, et voila!
For veg I will often buy frozen broccoli or stir-fry vegetable or a salad in a bag.
Our local grocery store has a great selection of meats. I often buy a spatchcocked chicken that you just need to bake in the oven or airfryer or pre-seasoned chicken legs.

[meanie]

Having a handful of go-to meals is helpful, eventually you will know what to always keep on hand. A binder with plastic inserts is an easy hands-on place to store recipes and meal plans, I also take pictures of a lot of stuff I want to keep digitally.

I like meals that start really basic and can be added to - like a baked mac and cheese that I know how to whip up in a pinch, but I can throw in some ground burger or add some roasted veggies that I like.

Below are meals my kids love, that are super easy.

Chicken/pasta casserole - you can swap for tuna too:

www.plainchicken.com/million-dollar-chicken-casserole/

Shrimp scampi - I start with a garlic butter sauce and cook the shrimp right in it, then toss in the pasta and add fresh parmesan - very few ingredients needed! I use campanelle pasta so the kids think it's fancy

Taco night

Breakfast for dinner

Someone also mentioned the Goya Mojo marinade and 1000% YES. It is a game changer, and zero effort.

[Roc A Bee]

I’m going to recommend a food service. You don’t have to use it forever. We use Hello Fresh. It has expanded my SK’s palette and my creativity. Bonus is I don’t have to think every week about what to cook or shop. We have done it for 6 months, but you could do it a week or two here and there to try new things.

My DH who is a good cook says he’s learned new things from following the recipes too, so you could increase your skills this way too.

[midwestmama]

A new meal we're eating every week is creamy parmesan chicken with pasta and broccoli. I can make it in around 30 minutes and it incorporates a protein and a veggie.

I use the Campbell's Creamy Parmesan Chicken skillet sauce (comes in a packet), which has some directions on it. Basically, you a cook a pound of chicken (usually I like to use over a pound, maybe 1.25 or 1.3 pounds), then add the sauce and simmer for a few minutes. While cooking the chicken, boil the noodles and make the broccoli. I prefer steaming fresh broccoli, but you could also get a steamer bag or boil frozen broccoli.

[InBetweenDays]

I use Pinterest still also.

Meals that are on repeat in our house:
Grilled salmon (with just olive oil, salt, and pepper), mashed potatoes, and these Brussels sprouts (SO good)
30-minute Spicy Miso Chicken Katsu Ramen (I don't eat meat so often sub shrimp for mine, and we don't add all the spice)
Pasta Puttanesca
Thai Turkey Lettuce Cups (I often sub Impossible meat)
Cheese Enchiladas (we sometimes add in roasted poblano, spinach, etc. We don't use the ancho chilis and just use cumin powder rather than roasting our own cumin seeds)

[ssmjlm]

Pinterest here too

If it's a fav, I will print it and add to a binder with sheet protectors, but not a ton of dinner recipes in there.

We grill a lot of meat with starch and steamed veggie. Evenings are so hectic I just can't make complex stuff and I don't have adventurous eaters.

[sdlaura]

Our crowd favorite is turkey tacos/burritos. I cook some ground turkey in a skillet following the instructions on the taco seasoning package. Same for some rice. Then I have shredded lettuce, hard and soft taco shells/tortillas, guacamole, salsa, cheese, sour cream, etc. Everyone can make their own with their preferred foods inside.

[VillainV]

I guess I’m more old-school. We use Home Chef for 3 meals a week, then I rotate some old favorites in for the rest.

Favorites:

- Tacos
- Fajitas
- Chili and cornbread
- Burgers (or Turkey burgers, black bean burgers) and fries or tater tots
- Soup and grilled cheese
- Breakfast for dinner
- Homemade pizza with salad
- Baked pasta with salad
- Spaghetti and meatballs

I don’t use recipes for any of these.

For tacos you can use any ground meat + packet of taco seasoning, or you can chicken breasts or cube steak, brown in a pan, then put in crockpot on low for 4-5 hours with a packet of taco seasoning, then shred.

For fajitas I slice up bell peppers and onions, toss in oil and a packet of fajita seasoning, then put in the oven on 425 for like 15 minutes. I cut up meat and brown on the stovetop, but you could do it as a sheet pan meal.

Chili is browned meat, sautéed onion, two cans diced tomatoes, one can beans in chili sauce, one can plain beans (rinses and drained), all dumped in the crockpot with a packet of chili seasoning.

For pizza you can use pre-made dough or pre-made crust (like bobboli), jarred sauce, etc.

Baked pasta is a box of penne, jar of sauce, and 2/3 jar water dumped into a 9x13 and stir to combine. Cover and bake on 425 for 35 minutes, remove foil and stir in 2 cups of shredded mozzarella, then return to oven for 10 minutes. I serve with garlic bread and bagged salad.

[momin2013]

The recipes I make most often I have written out on old school recipe cards and are kept in my old school recipe box.

FTR, most of those are baking recipes. For meal recipes, I mostly make stuff that doesn’t really need a recipe (or that’s really simple/I just know how to make). I’m talking things like meatloaf, steak on the grill, ribs on the grill, pan-fried chicken cutlets or fish, baked fish, tacos, beef stew, pulled pork in the slow cooker, roast beef in the slow cooker, sheet pan sausages with veggies…stuff like that.

Besides that, when I find a new recipe online that I really like, I write it onto a card and put it in my recipe box.

[Nonny]

I started off with a mix of print outs from websites, sticky notes in cook books, and handwritten recipes either in my book or on notecards in a box, moved to storing things with book marks either just in my browser or on Pinterest. But I got burned a couple of times with recipes disappearing when blogs went defunct.

So now any recipe I want to remake I copy/paste into OneNote, with a link back to where I found it (or a note about the cookbook I pulled it from), and any notes/changes I've made.

We decide meals based on the weather (no turning on the oven when it's 85 degrees in the summer when we don't have A/C, no grilling when it's snowing or pouring rain), and then have our own weird categorizing system, but in simpler terms it comes down to things like this:

 - ground meat meals (tacos, lasagnas, burgers, kebobs, skillet pastas, casseroles, meatballs, sauces) - we use ground beef, pork, and turkey depending on the recipe

- bowl meals (soups, stews, curries, grain bowls, entrée salads with grilled proteins, sushi bowls)

- sandwiches (cold, paninis, baked monte cristos, hoagies)

- baked/grilled/roasted meats (fish, roasts, chicken breasts, etc.)

A lot of these give us leftovers, or things we can freeze for meals later for days when we just don't want to cook (or because it's worth it to double a recipe to avoid the 2 hours it takes to make lasagna).

Someone already mentioned Damn Delicious, and I get a lot of recipes from her (the quinoa enchilada casserole is one of our favorites, but I use a whole can of black beans, and cotija cheese). I also really like BudgetBytes for their spicy noodles (we made several the variants) and sushi bowls - but don't use their sushi rice recipe, the vinegar to sugar ratio is all wrong. Use this one instead.

[cap]

Apr 21, 2023 12:16:59 GMT -5 noodleoo said:

I’m old school. I have a binder full of plastic page protector sleeves and I print recipes and put them in there. When I make a recipe I pull it out and have it on the counter while I cook. I started using sleeve protectors because they kept getting wet and I’d have to reprint them LOL.

YMMV but my kids love this salmon recipe. I make it every other week and DD2 takes it to school for lunch. It’s super easy and pretty fast too.

www.eatingwell.com/recipe/249244/honey-soy-broiled-salmon/

This is me exactly! (Well, not the salmon part. I like it but never eat it b/c it makes me burp badly.)

[macmars45]

I make a lot of stuff from damndelicious.net/

This honey garlic meatball recipe is SO good! Bonus, it's a crock pot meal. 3ish hours on low or 1.5 hours on high: lovetobeinthekitchen.com/2017/05/17/slow-cooker-honey-garlic-meatballs/