ChatterBank0 min ago
inspiration!
22 Answers
I need some inspiration for meal ideas.. I'm sick of cooking the same things on a 2 - 3 week rotation. So come on, tell me what your fav meal is and let's see if you can all help me out of this hole! ... please :oD
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I love the left over Sunday Veg whipped up for Bubble and Squeak, nice slices of 'ham on the bone' and fried egg.
I always make a large chilli con carne enough for 2 nights, first night with rice and naan breads which is nice, then the following night (and the chilli always tastes better the 2nd night) serve in loaded jacket spuds yummy.
i do the same for spag boll, 2nd night use the remainder sauce and turn it into pasta bake.
as you can tell i try and do 2 meals and then skip a prep night in between, i work fulltime, so this method really suits me well. Oh and i always do a midweek roast as for me this is the easiest meal and the tastiest!!!! damn i'm hungry now!!
I always make a large chilli con carne enough for 2 nights, first night with rice and naan breads which is nice, then the following night (and the chilli always tastes better the 2nd night) serve in loaded jacket spuds yummy.
i do the same for spag boll, 2nd night use the remainder sauce and turn it into pasta bake.
as you can tell i try and do 2 meals and then skip a prep night in between, i work fulltime, so this method really suits me well. Oh and i always do a midweek roast as for me this is the easiest meal and the tastiest!!!! damn i'm hungry now!!
Lore - do you have a slow cooker? If so, you can look back all the Food & Drink and Recipes sections on AB and find a ZILLION recipes - you could never cook them all!!!
I have several favorite meals - both very simple.
Steak, buttered rice, creamed spinach.
Broiled/baked salmon, a huge salad.
I always make a lot of extra salmon so I can have leftovers - I crumble it up, mix it with mayo, olive oil, chopped onion and/or garlic, dry Italian Seasoning (oregano, etc.) and pop it in the fridge - the next day after the flavors have had time to blend it is WONDERFUL in a wrap or on top of another salad.
I have several favorite meals - both very simple.
Steak, buttered rice, creamed spinach.
Broiled/baked salmon, a huge salad.
I always make a lot of extra salmon so I can have leftovers - I crumble it up, mix it with mayo, olive oil, chopped onion and/or garlic, dry Italian Seasoning (oregano, etc.) and pop it in the fridge - the next day after the flavors have had time to blend it is WONDERFUL in a wrap or on top of another salad.
Quick, dead easy, very tasty....
Stir-fry some diced chicken (say, 2 breasts worth) in a little olive oil, then add the juice and zest of 2 oranges, then add any typical stir-fry veg you like - I generally use any of either carrot, broccoli, spring onion, red onion, mushroom, pepper or green beans....oh, and de-seed and and finely chop 1 or 2 red chillies, depending on how hot you like your food you can keep the seeds in, but the missus found it a bit too hot last time (although I liked it). Stir it all together over a hot heat for 3/4 minutes or so, add some cashew nuts and finally add some cooked noodles of your choice and mix together..... there you have it - Stir fried chicken and vegetables with an orange and chilli dressing - beeeeaaaauuudddiful!!! From start of prep to finishing your food, no longer than 45 minutes.
Stir-fry some diced chicken (say, 2 breasts worth) in a little olive oil, then add the juice and zest of 2 oranges, then add any typical stir-fry veg you like - I generally use any of either carrot, broccoli, spring onion, red onion, mushroom, pepper or green beans....oh, and de-seed and and finely chop 1 or 2 red chillies, depending on how hot you like your food you can keep the seeds in, but the missus found it a bit too hot last time (although I liked it). Stir it all together over a hot heat for 3/4 minutes or so, add some cashew nuts and finally add some cooked noodles of your choice and mix together..... there you have it - Stir fried chicken and vegetables with an orange and chilli dressing - beeeeaaaauuudddiful!!! From start of prep to finishing your food, no longer than 45 minutes.
I tend to do things on a 2 week rotation too!
i do:
Chicken and veg stir fry with noodles and a stirfry sauce
Chilli con carne
Chicken stuffed with cheese wrapped in bacon (oven roasted) with veg and baked potato
Pasta with chicken and veg, and wine and cream sauce
Chicken curry with rice and veg
Gammon, pineapple and boiled potatoes
Sausages, bacon, potato bread and egg
Warm Chicken salad
Steak with mushrooms onions and baked potatoes
i do:
Chicken and veg stir fry with noodles and a stirfry sauce
Chilli con carne
Chicken stuffed with cheese wrapped in bacon (oven roasted) with veg and baked potato
Pasta with chicken and veg, and wine and cream sauce
Chicken curry with rice and veg
Gammon, pineapple and boiled potatoes
Sausages, bacon, potato bread and egg
Warm Chicken salad
Steak with mushrooms onions and baked potatoes
A nice bit of lamb with some mash (pop some wholegrain mustard in to zoosh it up a bit), green veg and gravy with some red wine stirred in.
Leftover lamb is lovely with some chunky chips and mustard and maybe a nice egg.
You could also make leftover lamb into a curry and freeze it for later use to prevent lamb overload.
You could also use for chicken with some white wine in the gravy, different potatoes such as saffron roasties and use leftovers for other things. Other meats too. Pork chops are one of my faves at the moment.
Baked trout or grilled salmon with veggies and boiled potatoes.
Gammon steaks with sauteed potatoes and mushrooms.
You could buy a load of mince and make some bolognaise, chilli etc... then freeze and store to use when needed.
How about stuffed roasted peppers with mince or rice or couscous and bits of mushroom, courgette etc... and finish with some melted cheese on top. All kinds of things you can put in them and serve with.
Leftover lamb is lovely with some chunky chips and mustard and maybe a nice egg.
You could also make leftover lamb into a curry and freeze it for later use to prevent lamb overload.
You could also use for chicken with some white wine in the gravy, different potatoes such as saffron roasties and use leftovers for other things. Other meats too. Pork chops are one of my faves at the moment.
Baked trout or grilled salmon with veggies and boiled potatoes.
Gammon steaks with sauteed potatoes and mushrooms.
You could buy a load of mince and make some bolognaise, chilli etc... then freeze and store to use when needed.
How about stuffed roasted peppers with mince or rice or couscous and bits of mushroom, courgette etc... and finish with some melted cheese on top. All kinds of things you can put in them and serve with.
I work full-time as well so less time spent cooking of an evening the better. Here are some of my mid-week meals.
I cook a whole chicken or a joint in the slow cooker at the weekend. That makes at least 3 meals. For instance:
Roast, with usual veg etc
Cold with mash/peas/pickles
Cold with jacket spud/baked beans
Other meals:
Salmon fillet/new potatoes/mixed salad
Chicken & mushroom casserole (slow cooker again) with either veggie rice or carrots and potatoes.
Cheese & onion quiche/salad
Egg/chips/beans
ham/egg/chips
cottage pie/veg or baked beans
spag bol
lasagne
sausage/mash/peas
cauliflower cheese
cook penne pasta, stir on a cheese sauce, sprinkle with grated cheddar or parmesan and pop under grill to brown and bubble.
Just a few ideas.
I cook a whole chicken or a joint in the slow cooker at the weekend. That makes at least 3 meals. For instance:
Roast, with usual veg etc
Cold with mash/peas/pickles
Cold with jacket spud/baked beans
Other meals:
Salmon fillet/new potatoes/mixed salad
Chicken & mushroom casserole (slow cooker again) with either veggie rice or carrots and potatoes.
Cheese & onion quiche/salad
Egg/chips/beans
ham/egg/chips
cottage pie/veg or baked beans
spag bol
lasagne
sausage/mash/peas
cauliflower cheese
cook penne pasta, stir on a cheese sauce, sprinkle with grated cheddar or parmesan and pop under grill to brown and bubble.
Just a few ideas.
We buy thick cut (2 inches or so) center cut boneless pork chops from our meat market. These are then stuffed with any stuffing recipe you'd like. We use just an ordinary boxed stuffing mix. Slice a pocket into the center of the chops with a sharp knife and fill with stuffing. A little grey salt and frwsh pepper on the outside and bake for about an hour at 350 degrees F. A meat thermometer should read at least 165 degrees F for thorough doneness. Along with this, I place two or three medium, thickly slided potatoes, 2 medium sliced sweet onions and one chopped green pepper into a double layer of aluminum foil with a pat or two of butter, salt and pepper and it goes into the same oven for the same time. It all comes out ready for the table... A nice salad and a simple dessert, et voila!...
Do you like fish?
If you do, put some spinach leaves in a flat bowl, then put some part-boiled leeks on top of that. Then put a fillet of fish on top - I think salmon is nicest here - then you put some salt, pepper and crushed garlic on top of the fish, drizzle of olive oil over it all, bung in the over on gas mark 6 for 20-25 mintues and you have a really nice healthy meal, as well as 2 of your 5 fruit and veg a day. :o) It's best to keep an eye on it when it's in the oven though cos the first time I made it I burnt the spinach - yes, I actually BURNT SPINACH!!!
Also, invest in a steamer as if you get a 3 layer one you can steam some fish/chicken/meat in one layer, some brown rice in another layer and some veg in the last layer. All you have to do it put everything in and steam away! They have timers on too so you don't even have to do anything! Just sit and watch the telly whilst your dinner is getting cooked!
If you do, put some spinach leaves in a flat bowl, then put some part-boiled leeks on top of that. Then put a fillet of fish on top - I think salmon is nicest here - then you put some salt, pepper and crushed garlic on top of the fish, drizzle of olive oil over it all, bung in the over on gas mark 6 for 20-25 mintues and you have a really nice healthy meal, as well as 2 of your 5 fruit and veg a day. :o) It's best to keep an eye on it when it's in the oven though cos the first time I made it I burnt the spinach - yes, I actually BURNT SPINACH!!!
Also, invest in a steamer as if you get a 3 layer one you can steam some fish/chicken/meat in one layer, some brown rice in another layer and some veg in the last layer. All you have to do it put everything in and steam away! They have timers on too so you don't even have to do anything! Just sit and watch the telly whilst your dinner is getting cooked!
Lamb chops, new potatoes and a nice veg.
Shepherds pie
Tacos (had them tonight)
Steak with caeser salad and a sliced avocado
Pork chop and jacket potato
Roast chicken
After the roast chicken - chicken and bacon risotto
Bangers and mash with onion sauce - slice an onion, fry in a little butter, add a small carton of soured cream and some mixed herbs then gently reheat but without boiling.
Shepherds pie
Tacos (had them tonight)
Steak with caeser salad and a sliced avocado
Pork chop and jacket potato
Roast chicken
After the roast chicken - chicken and bacon risotto
Bangers and mash with onion sauce - slice an onion, fry in a little butter, add a small carton of soured cream and some mixed herbs then gently reheat but without boiling.
Thank you all so much, there are some great ideas there.. I especially like the sound of the fish & spinach *princess* and don't worry about burning spinach I actually managed to burn a pan of pasta last night - I put it on ready for Mr Lore's lunch today and totally forgot about it until I heard the smoke alarm going off - which me being me and watching Jamie's Chef, thought it was the guy who had set his 'pub' on fire again.. then the smell came, now I know we're pretty up to date with technology in this house but I know for a fact we don't have smellivision ......................yet!
Once again, thank you all :o)
Once again, thank you all :o)
Don't know how long you have been cooking. But over the years I have put together a folder of recipes I fancy. When I am at a loss I just go through them until I come up with something; a) I fancy and; b) something I have the bits for.
It is a thick folder as I have been cooking for the family for over 20 years now. (I am male. Cooking is easy. If it wasn't, women wouldn't be able to do it) tic
It is a thick folder as I have been cooking for the family for over 20 years now. (I am male. Cooking is easy. If it wasn't, women wouldn't be able to do it) tic
try this I call it spicy mince cheesey pancakes,(dont sound very nice I know but is delicous and very filling)also you can varie the ingrediants to suit yourself but here is what I do.
You will need a packet or 2 of batter/pancake mix,some decent lamb or beef mince the amount depends on how many people mushrooms carrots a jar or 2 of hot and spicey rague sauce
First of all fry the mince to brown all over and get rid of a lot of the fat, then put the mince in a large saucepan with the sauce finley diced carrots and diced mushrooms and of course anything else you might wish to ad I usually put something else that hots and spices it up a bit and of course salt,pepper,and wine.
simmer with a lid on for around half hour then take lid of and boil rapidly until the sauce reduces to nearly dry(but not to dry)
In the meantime cook the pancakes and just put them on a plate to cool. Let the mince cool to cold To be continued as am probbably running out of space on here now.........
You will need a packet or 2 of batter/pancake mix,some decent lamb or beef mince the amount depends on how many people mushrooms carrots a jar or 2 of hot and spicey rague sauce
First of all fry the mince to brown all over and get rid of a lot of the fat, then put the mince in a large saucepan with the sauce finley diced carrots and diced mushrooms and of course anything else you might wish to ad I usually put something else that hots and spices it up a bit and of course salt,pepper,and wine.
simmer with a lid on for around half hour then take lid of and boil rapidly until the sauce reduces to nearly dry(but not to dry)
In the meantime cook the pancakes and just put them on a plate to cool. Let the mince cool to cold To be continued as am probbably running out of space on here now.........
Hi back again when the mice is cold get one pancake at a time and spoon some mince into it from edge to edge in the middle then roll the pancakes up to form like a tortilla and place in a greased oven dish (not a metal one) reapeat this until the dish is full but try to leave a little gap between each one.
After your dish is full make up the cheese sauce and put extra cheese in if you want then pour over the the pancakes and grate some extra cheese, nutmeg or anything else you want on top put in a 180 degree oven or I think gas mark 4 for around half hour then serve, and enjoy.
I never usually have anything else with this as I find 2 pancakes will well fill me up but I suppose you could serve it with rice and of course you can prepare this the night before and re heat it and I have frozen it and its still nice and the beutey (cant spell that) is you can put whatever you want into the sauce.
Right that has made me feel hungry now so going of to cook it................................
After your dish is full make up the cheese sauce and put extra cheese in if you want then pour over the the pancakes and grate some extra cheese, nutmeg or anything else you want on top put in a 180 degree oven or I think gas mark 4 for around half hour then serve, and enjoy.
I never usually have anything else with this as I find 2 pancakes will well fill me up but I suppose you could serve it with rice and of course you can prepare this the night before and re heat it and I have frozen it and its still nice and the beutey (cant spell that) is you can put whatever you want into the sauce.
Right that has made me feel hungry now so going of to cook it................................
Bellringer, I'm 34 - so I've been cooking for quite some time now, not too sure about the 'women cooking' comment tho! :oP
I always seem to go for the same things over and over again... a typical week being..
M- chicken, pesto, penne pasta with tomatoes and onion
T- fish, veggies
W- Chicken & mushroom served with rice & veggies
T- veggie lasagne
F- beef, green peppers & blackbean sauce with rice & veggies
S-stuffed tomatoes
S- Roast dinner
Then the following week I'll go for pasta's, wraps, chilli etc then start all over again - which can get boring.
Knobbynonuts ... That actually sounds nice, not sure if Tesco sell mice tho :oP
and shame on you for buying Ragu sauce and packet pancake mix!!
Think I'll give it a go tho just the same!
I always seem to go for the same things over and over again... a typical week being..
M- chicken, pesto, penne pasta with tomatoes and onion
T- fish, veggies
W- Chicken & mushroom served with rice & veggies
T- veggie lasagne
F- beef, green peppers & blackbean sauce with rice & veggies
S-stuffed tomatoes
S- Roast dinner
Then the following week I'll go for pasta's, wraps, chilli etc then start all over again - which can get boring.
Knobbynonuts ... That actually sounds nice, not sure if Tesco sell mice tho :oP
and shame on you for buying Ragu sauce and packet pancake mix!!
Think I'll give it a go tho just the same!
We have Amercian Meatloaf from a recipe from the US which is delicious - minced pork, and beef, red pepper, onion, make into loaf shape cover in foil and cook (let me know if u want full recipe - have with mash and green beans - we were told to use leftovers in sandwiches....2nd fav recipe you can use either Pork, Chicken or steak - fry and mix with white wine cream, chopped onion chopped mushrooms and Dijon mustard have with this with Rice 3rd fav Italian risotto.. minced beef tomatoes garlic peppers mix with rice. 4th fav home made Lasagne with salad.. 5th Fajitas (very easy) 6th Fish Pie 6th Salmon rice fresh salmon ginger sesame oil fish sauce etc mixed with rice (bit like a fishy risotto).. ..enjoy...
