January 9, 2015

Favorite Easy Dinners + a birthday giveaway

I was talking to a friend last week and she mentioned that her friend doesn't cook.  The friend is married with small children and just doesn't cook.  I asked what she did.  My friend was like They just eat out.  How is that possible?  Why is that possible?  It made me so sad.  I seriously can't stop thinking about it.  How can you just not cook?

Side note: As I'm writing this, I see that Masterchef is on t.v. and there are children cooking.  Pasta from scratch with homemade sauce.  If a 10 year old can do that, I would think that a 30 year old can cook dinner.

Maybe I'm being judgmental here…we all like eating out, right?  I just can't wrap my head around "I don't cook".  Aside from the obvious health-problem potential, think of the money.  I couldn't spend $40+ a day on food.  That is absolutely pointless in so many ways.  Alright, I'm being judgmental. I'll stop now. (You can tell me if I'm being judgmental.)

I absolutely had to teach myself to cook. You don't just become good at the process of it in an instant.  If you don't put effort into shopping, planning, and organizing you won't be good at it.  It's not even having some kind of magic touch or cooking gene; it's being willing to try.  Persevere, you know?  We've been in 4 different houses, in 3 different states, dealt with a complete kitchen overhaul while both working full-time, and I STILL found ways to cook.

The day we had no stove or no oven.

It's obviously very difficult to stockpile nonperishable food, have a supply of frozen soups/meats/stews/chilis for busy nights, and stick to a meal plan when you're unsettled.  At the 7 month mark of living in this house, I'm just now starting to get the hang of it again.  I never settled into that routine in Missouri, but I had it mastered in Alaska (if I could be so bold to use such a word).

I was looking through my Recipe Index and these are the recipes I would make if I needed an easy dinner.  They're not overly complicated, but they're all homemade.

Veggie Burritos/Enchiladas.  I just made these on Monday.  I didn't add sauce to the top, so they were more like burritos, but they are still incredibly tasty, healthy, and the leftovers are perfect for lunches.

Chicken Pot Pie.  This was the first dish I taught myself to make back in 2010.  I tried it at a friend's house and immediately started hunting down a recipe.  I can't even count how many times I've made chicken pot pie.  It was once a week for awhile there because I didn't know how to make other things.

Beef Lo Mein or Mongolian Beef.  This Mongolian beef is one of the best things I've ever eaten.  I've taken it to pot lucks.  It's definitely not my recipe, but I keep it bookmarked in case I need a meal to impress with.

Beef Stroganoff.  This is also one of those first things I learned how to cook.  It doesn't take too long and would even impress guests.

Pineapple Chicken (and a confession about how I do secretly love those one-bag-meals in the freezer section).  We ate this one a lot in Alaska.

Spaghetti Squash Stir-fry.  Scott loves this.  I've always been so-so about spaghetti squash but if I'm going to make it, this is the route I go.  Paleo-friendly!

Stove-top Mac and Cheese.  I like the boxed stuff too (Annie's, not Kraft), but this homemade version won't take more than 30 minutes.

These are just a few of the dinners I'd recommend if I could get in the kitchen of this person who doesn't cook…seriously, I'd love that.

Oh, and the giveaway.  Since tomorrow is my birthday, as is tradition here, I'll be giving away some Starbucks.  I have big plans for an ice cream cake, but I can't exactly invite you over for that. Lattes are the next best thing.  Good luck!




a Rafflecopter giveaway

33 comments:

  1. I don't understand it either. Like, I didn't know how to cook MUCH, but I could make enough meals to make it through. And then I started following recipes, which in most cases aren't that hard, and gained confidence. Now I can cook well and varied meals. I like eating out as much as the next person, but like anyone who has had to spend 2 months living in a hotel, eating out gets old, FAST.

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  3. Happy, happy early birthday!

    I totally agree that eating out can get tiresome. And SO expensive. I've been pretty sick over the last few weeks and we ended up eating out a lot. Our discretionary money basically all went to food. I should have used my crockpot more.

    And I also agree that there are plenty of easy, easy recipes. My favorite is probably pulled pork tacos. Pork shoulder, some cumin, some Rotel, and some salsa in the crock pot on low for six hours. All you need are tortillas and taco fixings.

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  4. Easy to me means using the slow cooker! I blogged about this teriyaki pineapple chicken that was easy!http://mylifeasawife.intercen.com/?p=2851

    I'm going to try the pineapple chicken you posted! Oh, and happy birthday!

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  5. Happy Early BIRTHDAY!! It also blows my mind someone with kids does not cook - pretend they had ALL the money, and I still wouldn't want to eat out all the time.

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  6. Honestly, that's insane to me. Especially since I have kids. I couldn't imagine feeding them that kind of food every day! And it'd be SO expensive! Like not even worth it expensive! Even on the rare nights that we do go out to eat, we usually get mad about the amount of money it cost vs how much it would've just got for me to make it! And the kids rarely finish their plates! I couldn't do it. I don't know how she does it.
    And I don't really think you were being judgmental, more like curious about it. Maybe I'm being judgmental too though. Who knows!
    Also, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!

    Also, my go to easy dinner -- baked spaghetti! So easy, SO good!

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  7. AH! Happy almost birthday friend!! I was not a natural born cook. My husband tells anyone who will listen that before we got married all I served was anything teriyaki with a side of velveta. I mean, I did what I had to do. He (jokingly) put a ban on teriyaki in our house when we first got married, so it pushed me out of my bubble. I was a truly awful cook. I mean AWFUL. But I WANTED to do it. I had the innate desire to provide meals for my family (not just my husband when we got married, but the big picture family I have in my mind somewhere). I just kept trying. Now when friends come over who just got married they can't believe I cook the way I do. It doesn't seem like a big deal to me anymore (I'm no gourmet chef, let's make this clear) but I see that for someone who DOESN'T cook it might seem like a big deal. On nights that I toss in a frozen lasagna or have tacos, I think "wow, I this was really easy" and can see how people don't really "cook." (My best friend doesn't and I'm still so curious how/what they eat on the regular). But to have small children...a whole FAMILY, and not cook? Sheesh. J and I used to eat out ALL THE TIME in Charlotte and it makes me cringe to think how much we spent per week on eating out. Also? Longest comment ever. Whatevs. haha

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  8. Happy Birthday!!! I agree with you completely - there is no reason not to cook. I'm married with two little girls, and while I do prefer to bake, I still manage to find a way to cook dinner pretty much every night of the week. We used to go out to eat every Mondays only due to a kids-eat-free deal at our favorite BBQ spot, but we haven't been there in two weeks or so. I will admit I need to get more creative with my meals, so thank you for these recipes!! I will definitely be trying them. Staples here include baked chicken w/ sweet potatoes, pasta with sauteed veggies, frozen pizza/lasagna (haha, I know...not super healthy...), BBQ chicken w/ roasted garlic red potatoes, ground turkey chili, etc. My goal this year is to put more time into the planning of the meals that way I'm not running to the store every few days!!

    -Sarah www.thefrugalmillionaireblog.com

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  9. Crock pot lemon chicken. I love having it ready for me when I get home!

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  10. Happy Birthday!! I don't understand how you just don't cook either. It's not that hard to whip something up. It's even easier to make a big batch of something on the weekend and freeze it in individual containers for lunch and dinner throughout the week. Crazy!! My easy go-to meals is chicken breasts individually wrapped in tin foil with some veggies, seasoning and olive oil. It's literally a meal in a package. You can stick potatoes in there, carrots, peppers...whatever. Then you just leave it till it's done.

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  11. I have never understood those that don't cook. It is really not that difficult and so much better for everyone.

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  12. Do not cook/eating out all the time = does not compute.

    I mean, I don't even care if you don't actually MAKE anything - buy the ingredients for a salad and eat it at home. The money spent alone on eating out kills me, and I do love to go out to eat. But not daily.

    Easiest meal ever is baked chicken with olive oil & spices, steamed broccoli, and roasted potatoes or rice.

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  13. I seriously don't get it either... I never really learned how to cook, but you can just follow recipes. You put the stuff together, you set a timer, and that's that! My favorite easy recipe is enchiladas... we probably eat some type of easy Mexican food at least once a week haha!

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  14. My go to recipe for dinner - Baked Spaghetti!! I love it, and its so easy to freeze....crazy thing though, I hate plain spaghetti...maybe its the cream cheese in the Baked spaghetti that makes me like it more.

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  15. i don't understand how you can't cook. growing up, i had friends that their mom didn't cook - she bought cooked sausages and 2 minute noodles (ramen? maybe?) and thats what she served her kids every.single.night. cereal for breakfast, vegemite or peanut butter sandwiches for lunch. she didn't cook and they didn't eat out! i don't understand! what a waste of money not to mention so unhealthy!
    i am not the worlds best cook, far from it - i'm learning though! i'm not a big meat eater and i have celiacs so no gluten - my husband is picky and likes meat, so it's hard to find meals we both like. but heck if i can feed us, she can feed her family.

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  16. HAPPY EARLY BIRTHDAY!

    I don't really understand people who don't cook, either. First of all, EXPENSIVE. Second of all, cooking is really...not that difficult. Yeah, you have to have some patience to actually learn how, but overall, it's really not hard. And there are TONS of super easy, simple recipes out there tailored specifically for people who don't like to spend a lot of time in the kitchen. Heck, Rachael Ray basically built her empire over the idea of simple 20 minute meals (the fact that the stuff she makes can't literally be made in less than 20 minutes is besides the point).

    Anyway. I don't have Starbucks here but I'm gonna cheat and enter the giveaway anyway because I can. If nothing else my mom can always use a surprise pick me up gift card. ;)

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  17. Leslie:
    On busy evenings, I boil some pasta, top with a chopped tomato, jarred pesto,salt, and lots of fresh ground pepper. Mix it up with a bit of pasta water. Easy.
    leslieannstevenson@yahoo.com

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  18. I don't understand people who don't cook either..especially with kids? How can you afford it? There are plenty of days when I don't want to cook..but I get it done! I definitely don't think that is to judgy.

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  19. Meal prepping is the easiest! I usually only do it for my lunches, but if I'm lazy, I'll eat one of my prepped tupperwares for dinner. My favorites are usually ground turkey sauteed with taco seasoning or sriracha and soy sauce, roasted veggies (zucchini and brussels sprouts are my go-tos) and either brown rice or a quinoa salad. I heat it up in the microwave with some cheese and hot sauce, and the usually sprinkle some raw almonds on top.

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  20. I love making meat loaf :) it is super easy and yummy!

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  21. I have a version of chipotle's chicken salad, easy and yum!

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  22. Favorite easy and quick recipe:

    Tiliapa with lemon, garlic butter broiled in oven for 15 min and couscous ;)

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  23. I also enjoy eating out...but I have a pretty low tolerance for people who can't cook. My cousin is 18 and is living with my parents right now and she has no idea how to cook a dinner for the family--I find that pretty ridiculous because my (younger than her by far) sisters make dinner for the family every day. Doesn't have to be anything exotic-I like easy, tasty dinner. We eat a lot of rice and vegetable combinations here. I actually like my own home-made food better than just about any food in the world, so I'm really glad that we have a kitchen here. Some of the other teachers here don't have an actual kitchen, just an electric hot plate in their room--that would make me sad.

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  24. I can't imagine going out to eat that often. Yikes. Not only could I not afford it, but I would get so sick of it.

    My favorite easy dinner is this one-pan chicken dinner -- http://allrecipes.com/recipe/one-pan-chicken-dinner/

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  25. I can't even imagine!! I mean, eating out is great and awesome when you are too pooped to cook, but going out all the time?! Not only is it incredibly expensive and super wasteful with small children (they either don't like it or only eat half), but usually the portions are pretty darn big. Wouldn't you ALWAYS be full? It'd be hard to eat healthy all the time, too. There are only so many salads you can do ;)

    I'm not the best at cooking, but at least I can follow a recipe. I think everyone can.

    My favorite quick and easy meal is usually baked potatoes. Okay, they aren't quick, but if you stab them with a fork a dozen times, rub them in oil and sea salt, they come out super crispy and delicious. Plus, you don't have to do anything while they're cooking. And everything is good on top of a potato.

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  26. My favorite easy dinner recipe is spaghetti. Just take a can of sauce and pour it over some noodles. Easy an delicious!

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  27. I can't say that I understand how people "don't cook" either. I mean, it's not like basics like spaghetti, or burgers, or whatever are that hard. I mean, at the very least, Hamburger Helper was made for a reason. I'm not a master chef by any means, and I can truthfully say that I dont "like" to cook. But as an adult person living in my own place, who likes to eat, I kind of find that cooking is a necessity.

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  28. I'm with you 100%. I know a mom of two who is like that too - they eat out every night. I can't imagine. But thanks for sharing these recipes with us. I'm always looking for new and easy weeknight dinners.

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  29. Sweet corn chili..one pot & super easy

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  30. My favorite is Sheperd's s Pie! My family loves it!

    andysavi.mom@gmail.com

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  31. I love a good stir fry. Easy, quick, and I can pick the meat out and eat the veggies!

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  32. My favorite is broccoli noodle casserole. :)

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