Meal Prep

[AmberOpalite]

So, I don't cook elaborate meals because I live alone and often times, recipes make way too much food for me. I also get constantly scared that I won't cook meat thoroughly enough (despite being obsessed with sushi).

However, I enjoy the process of going to the grocery store and planning what I'm eating during the week as well as using what I have. I don't know if anyone has noticed but chain restaurants and fast food places can get pretty expensive, over time.

What are your favorite simple meals?

 

[Judge]

What are your favorite simple meals?

-Tostadas.

Been making a lot of them lately.

Heat up a few spoonfuls of frijoles, chop up some lettuce, add diced tomatoes with green chiles, and some fiesta style grated cheese on a corn tortilla (Guerrero Norteñas Clasicas). Heat it all in the microwave, then cover it all with lettuce and add some hot sauce.

Norteñas Clásicas Tostadas - Guerrero Tortillas

 

[FayetheAspie]

Salad - various lettuces, spinach, and a dressing perhaps topped with something like alfalfa sprouts, olives, cheeses and/or sunflower seeds.

Alfredo sauce over various types of pasta (especially great served with spinach or olives and with a garlic bread or a cheese bread to the side)

Beans (various varieties various times) over buttered bread

I should note; however, that I am not the one who usually prepared food. These; however, are some of my favorite meals from what we eat.

 

[Gerald Wilgus]

What are your favorite simple meals?

One I can make in two pots. Beef Stroganoff with a cucumber salad (Sunomono), or if I'm feeling Germanic; Bratwurst with sauteed Bavarian Sauerkraut and a side of Creamed Spinach, Berghoff style. Today we both worked on fish tacos with chipotle salsa, shredded cabbage, and pickled onions (in Mi Rancho corn tortillas) . . . I took care of the salsa and toppings and she seasoned, grilled, and flaked the Chilean Sea Bass while I prepped the tortillas.

 

[Mary Terry]

-Tostadas.

Been making a lot of them lately.

Heat up a few spoonfuls of frijoles, chop up some lettuce, add diced tomatoes with green chiles, and some fiesta style grated cheese on a corn tortilla (Guerrero Nortenas Classicas). Heat it all in the microwave, then cover it all with lettuce and add some hot sauce.

I was going to suggest tacos. Same as a tostado but the tortilla is folded around the filling.

Brown one pound of ground beef or ground chicken with some chopped onion and chopped bell pepper in a skillet. Add some "taco seasoning" while it is browning. I make my own with some Mexican oregano, ground cumin, paprika, salt, and a little ground cayenne for heat but you can buy ready-made taco seasoning at the store.

Warm some corn or flour tortillas on a plate, covered with a damp paper towel to keep them moist, in the microwave. It takes only a few seconds to heat them.

You can add all kinds of other ingredients to the taco such as chopped tomatoes, corn, beans, lettuce, grated cheese, avocado or even pineapple. I like a squeeze of fresh lime or lemon juice and some Mexican-style hot sauce/salsa on top of the taco.

The extra, leftover ingredients can be refrigerated for the next meal.

You can even make breakfast tacos or tostados with scrambled eggs.

Now I'm hungry for Mexican food.

 

[Mary Terry]

Spaghetti. Cook the pasta of your choice in boiling, salted water and heat some store-bought jarred marinara or alfredo sauce (Rao's brand is my favorite) in a pan. When the pasta is ready, add it to the warmed sauce and stir it up. Add some shredded cheese like parmesan on top.

You can reheat the leftovers by adding a little water and slowly heating in a pan with a lid on it.

 

[Neonatal RRT]

The wife and I went through this challenge when the kids grew up and left the home. We were so used to making large portions and then NOT having leftovers. Then, within a few years, having to cut recipes in half and still not being able to eat it all. We have containers of food in our refrigerator quite frequently.

Things that keep well and can be warmed up again are often like hearty, thick stews, soups, chili's. Anything else seems to not keep well for more than a few days.

 

[Mary Terry]

The wife and I went through this challenge when the kids grew up and left the home. We were so used to making large portions and then NOT having leftovers. Then, within a few years, having to cut recipes in half and still not being able to eat it all. We have containers of food in our refrigerator quite frequently.

Things that keep well and can be warmed up again are often like hearty, thick stews, soups, chili's. Anything else seems to not keep well for more than a few days.

I still struggle with cooking too much food after our kids left home. I frequently freeze cooked foods so they won't spoil, and I won't get bored with eating the same thing for several days in a row. Thaw cooked food in the frig and slowly reheat in a covered pot.

 

[Judge]

Spaghetti. Cook the pasta of your choice in boiling, salted water and heat some store-bought jarred marinara or alfredo sauce (Rao's brand is my favorite) in a pan. When the pasta is ready, add it to the warmed sauce and stir it up. Add some shredded cheese like parmesan on top.

You can reheat the leftovers by adding a little water and slowly heating in a pan with a lid on it.

Good point. Pasta dishes of many kinds are relatively easy and inexpensive to make.

Another I make on occasion is to cook some ground beef, chop it up with green/red peppers and add it to parmesan angel hair pasta or Alfredo mixes from Rice-A-Roni or Knorr. Same with rice dishes as well.

So many such casseroles can be made with beef, chicken or strictly with vegetables.

 

[Aspychata]

Just recently l made cold tuna pasta salad, which my partner liked. Used some protein lentil noodles from Aldi, and leftover small noodles in boxes, mayo, red onion, minced onion seasoning, garlic powder, they said it was refreshing.
Last nite, l air ftried protein, mixed in teriyaki, sircracha, soy, ketchup, garlic powder, more like a Hawaii type sauce to put on. I find l am always trying to make something new, to keep food interesting so his appetite stays on, since kidney dialysis patients can get tired and depressed, l am afraid.

 

[Mary Terry]

Just recently l made cold tuna pasta salad, which my partner liked. Used some protein lentil noodles from Aldi, and leftover small noodles in boxes, mayo, red onion, minced onion seasoning, garlic powder, they said it was refreshing.
Last nite, l air ftried protein, mixed in teriyaki, sircracha, soy, ketchup, garlic powder, more like a Hawaii type sauce to put on. I find l am always trying to make something new, to keep food interesting so his appetite stays on, since kidney dialysis patients can get tired and depressed, l am afraid.

I love pasta salads, too. I sometimes add tuna or diced ham to them for protein. Husband won't eat them but I like to have some in the fridge to eat for my lunch or as a side dish for dinner.

Keep experimenting to see what your partner will eat so he can keep up his strength. Sometimes just a plain baked Idaho potato is good for dinner. You can add grated cheese, crumbled bacon, scallions, sour cream, butter or whatever he might like.

 

[Aspychata]

Thanks Mary Terry, great idea.

 

[Gerald Wilgus]

I was going to suggest tacos. Same as a tostado but the tortilla is folded around the filling.

Brown one pound of ground beef or ground chicken with some chopped onion and chopped bell pepper in a skillet. Add some "taco seasoning" while it is browning. I make my own with some Mexican oregano, ground cumin, paprika, salt, and a little ground cayenne for heat but you can buy ready-made taco seasoning at the store.

Warm some corn or flour tortillas on a plate, covered with a damp paper towel to keep them moist, in the microwave. It takes only a few seconds to heat them.

You can add all kinds of other ingredients to the taco such as chopped tomatoes, corn, beans, lettuce, grated cheese, avocado or even pineapple. I like a squeeze of fresh lime or lemon juice and some Mexican-style hot sauce/salsa on top of the taco.

The extra, leftover ingredients can be refrigerated for the next meal.

You can even make breakfast tacos or tostados with scrambled eggs.

Now I'm hungry for Mexican food.

I avoid flour tortillas as they spike my blood sugar. The problem has been the grocery store corn tortillas are too fragile and I always had problems with them during preparation/cooking. I finally found Mi Rancho and order them online. A bit thicker than most grocery store tortillas, but they hold together well and are very aromatic. I just heat them up on a cast iron skillet before using them.

 

[Mary Terry]

I avoid flour tortillas as they spike my blood sugar. The problem has been the grocery store corn tortillas are too fragile and I always had problems with them during preparation/cooking. I finally found Mi Rancho and order them online. A bit thicker than most grocery store tortillas, but they hold together well and are very aromatic. I just heat them up on a cast iron skillet before using them.

Some people do have glucose problems, for sure. I have no problems with sugar and my pancreas is alive and functioning very well.

When I want to be fancy, I make corn tortillas with masa harina, use my tortilla press and cook them on a hot comal. A cast iron skillet works fine, too. We also have a great Mexican food store where I can buy fresh handmade corn tortillas, too.

Yum!

 

[Rodafina]

For me, anything more than super-duper-uber simple makes my nose and taste buds say, "No thank you!" So, simple is the norm.

- oatmeal with raisins
- frozen veg + beans + rice
- hearty bread + hummus
- grapenuts cereal + oatmilk
- banana + walnuts
- pureed soup (store bought broth + veg + beans + blender)
- peanut butter + honey sandwiches

 

[Judge]

Sometimes "simple" isn't as good as I may have thought. Especially while taking care of a little girl who often just wanted Fruit Loops for breakfast, Fruit Loops for lunch and Fruit Loops for dinner.

 

[Rodafina]

...a little girl who often just wanted Fruit Loops for breakfast, Fruit Loops for lunch and Fruit Loops for dinner.

A girl after my own heart.

Grownup me learned that was a good way to get vitamin deficiencies. Variety because of necessity only.

 

[Judge]

A girl after my own heart.

Grownup me learned that was a good way to get vitamin deficiencies. Variety because of necessity only.

I'm STILL struggling to eat what's good for me versus how picky I have become. Course my own mother was also one who loved breakfast cereals morning, noon and night.

 

[Lemon Zing]

I love to prepare salads.

 

[Mary Terry]

For me, anything more than super-duper-uber simple makes my nose and taste buds say, "No thank you!" So, simple is the norm.

- oatmeal with raisins
- frozen veg + beans + rice
- hearty bread + hummus
- grapenuts cereal + oatmilk
- banana + walnuts
- pureed soup (store bought broth + veg + beans + blender)
- peanut butter + honey sandwiches

I like your blender soup idea. Sometimes I oven roast vegetables drizzled with olive oil and then blend them with some kind of stock/broth or even milk and simmer the soup for a while so the flavors can meld together. It's tasty and an easy way to get the recommended daily servings of vegetables.