Tired of the same ol' things for dinner

[WebLady]

Since I have been cooking more lately, I am feeling in sort of a food rut. It seems like we have alot of the same things over and over.

Some of the dishes in the rotation as of late have been: Spaghetti, burgers, chicken and rice, chicken alfredo, chili, tacos (or other similar Mexican type dish). Don't get me wrong, I like all of these things as does DH, but I feel a little burned out on some of them.

So I guess I need to look around for some more recipe ideas. But I am pretty picky (DH is too, but not as much as I am) and pretty much only like beef or chicken (and shrimp every now and then) with the occasional venison. But even when we get venison I use it the same as I would beef.

I also don't really love to cook, so I don't like things that take much more than 30 mins. And I really hate to have to clean a whole bunch of dishes after one meal too.

So anyone with any quick and easy recipes to share?

[WhiskeyGirl]

Have you thought about doing a roast in a crock pot. (Aka Slow cooker?) I always thought cooking a roast was a pain and its not this way, but I just put it in there still frozen, put some onion soup mix over it (you can do gravy mix too but I haven't tried that. I guess my MIL does it.) and add some water, turn it on to low and cook. I think it usually takes about from 1 or 2 in the afternoon until 5 to be ready. (Depending on size and what not) You really don't have much to do except wait! :D THen when it comes to supper time, make some mashed potatoes (instant if you like) and some veggies, maybe some gravy and there ya go, complete meal. :D

[WebLady]

Have you thought about doing a roast in a crock pot. (Aka Slow cooker?) I always thought cooking a roast was a pain and its not this way, but I just put it in there still frozen, put some onion soup mix over it (you can do gravy mix too but I haven't tried that. I guess my MIL does it.) and add some water, turn it on to low and cook. I think it usually takes about from 1 or 2 in the afternoon until 5 to be ready. (Depending on size and what not) You really don't have much to do except wait! :D THen when it comes to supper time, make some mashed potatoes (instant if you like) and some veggies, maybe some gravy and there ya go, complete meal. :D
I had thought about that before, but DH didn't like the idea :worm: He said a roast was a waste of meat, that he'd rather have a steak or burger. He says the same about meatloaf. I can't say I love roast or meatloaf but I've had both.

[shawnsgirl]

Here's an easy to do recipe that I like to do:


Italian Chickn

Take Chicken breast cut up in to small strips
Take wish bone Italian dressing or any type of Italian brand name you prefer.

Fry chicken in the Italian dressing. Whala!

You can have this on top of salad, Rice, or veggies.

[woohoo2me]

if you have a slow cooker get on of those slow cooker liners. and then get a box of brownie mix and make that as the box sugestes and then put that liner in you slow cooker, and when your sitting down to eat put in brownie mix and mix some chocolate syrup in with hot water until you get a liquid topping and then pour that on top and then put on lid cook on high for 1 1/2 till 2 hours and then you have dessert :D and its easy clean up, just through the liner away :D

[BriansBride07]

Do you or DH like soup. You could always make up a veggie/hamburger soup. Quick and easy and only 1 pan to clean.

[WebLady]

Do you or DH like soup. You could always make up a veggie/hamburger soup. Quick and easy and only 1 pan to clean.
I don't mind soup every now and then, but DH doesn't like it. The closest thing he will eat is chili ;)

[BriansBride07]

I don't mind soup every now and then, but DH doesn't like it. The closest thing he will eat is chili ;)

Well then that won't work he-he... Ok I will just have to think of something else.

[WebLady]

Well then that won't work he-he... Ok I will just have to think of something else.
Yeah that is why it is hard ... we are both sort of picky :bbredface: ;)

[BriansBride07]

Yeah that is why it is hard ... we are both sort of picky :bbredface: ;)

I hear ya loud and clear. Me I am not picky my kids not so much but my FH on the other hand way over board picky. LOL so it's hard to make a meal for everyone including him. So lots of times I make 2 supper's, Just call me a restaurant. lol...

Oh how about chicken cordon bleu??

[WebLady]

Oh how about chicken cordon bleu??
I think that might work. Do you have a recipe for that?

I am not making two dinners ;)

[lize566]

Yeah, I wouldn't cook two dinners either. FMIL does b/c she eats healtier and FH doesn't, so she always fixes her dinner then him something and I told him that I was def. not doing that-he doesn't like what I fix he can take care of himself lol!! It might be different if I were going to be cooking for more then just the two of us.

About recipes-I think slow cookers are wonderful, but I don't have any recipes. Have you googled slow cooker recipes? They are usually pretty easy to put together and then you just have to one dish, unless you use a liner then you have nothing!! I have some good soup recipes, like cheesburger soup (kind of like potato) but he doesn't like soup...what doesn't he like about soup? I will try to think of some other recipes!

[ger]

We do a supper that has chicken breasts and salsa. You bake both of them together until the chicken is done. If you want to you can put it in the slow cooker and they can cook on low all afternoon, or put them in the oven and it only takes an hour or so. We usually serve that over rice with a veggie. It's way good.

Another is chicken breast with 1 cup ketchup and 1 cup diet cola (or diet 7-up for a different taste). It comes out like BarBQue chicken. Again, you can either put them in the slow cooker, or the oven, whichever you prefer.

Do you guys like pork?

I guess this shows we cook a lot at our house...and usually it has to be something quick after we both get home!! LOL

[KMS]

Just a thought. If you don't like to take much time to cook, you could buy one of Rachael Ray's 30 minute meals cookbooks, her magazine, or look at foodnetwork.com for her recipes. They're always quick and she has a large variety of types of recipes. Good luck!

[SaralovesMike]

Welcome to my world!
I am picky and Mike is pickier. I'm still trying to find stuff that we both would eat so as not to cook 2 dinners. We try to eat a salad as a meal once in a while to mix it up a little. You can always throw in some chicken.
We'll also do a taco salad with left over taco meat and doritos.

Someone gave me this recipe for chicken stuffed shells-something else to do with chicken and not as boring as cheese stuffed shells with spagetti sauce.
Mr Picky won't touch it but I think it's good esp on a horrible cold day like today. Comfort food!
See what you think.

Ingredients:
1 box stove top stuffing, chicken flavored (I don't normally like stuffing alone but in this mixture its pretty good.)
1 lg can chicken broth
1/2 c mozzarella cheese
boneless chicken breast
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can chicken flavored gravy
stuffing shells

Cook shells.
Cook chicken in broth until it falls apart easily. Cut into small pieces.
Cook stuffing according to directions on box, add cheese and chicken to stuffing. Mix together well. Stuff shells with stuffing mixture place in baking dish.
Combine cream of chicken soup and chicken gravy pour over shells (top with mozz cheese if you desire)
Bake for 30 minutes at 375 degrees.

[BriansBride07]

I think that might work. Do you have a recipe for that?

Chicken Cordon Bleu

2 whole skinless boneless chicken breast
1/2 -1 cup of bread crumbs (any kind)
2 slices of provolone, Munster, American (whatever cheese is your favorite)
1 tbs. real Bacon bits.
1 tbs. olive oil
2 thinly sliced Virgina baked ham (or whatever ham you like)

Place 1 chicken breast BTW. saran wrap and beat the hell out of it lol... I use a rolling pin.

Place one side of the chicken breast into the bread crumbs and rub into the chicken well. On un-breaded side of chicken, place 1 slice of cheese and a couple of slices of ham. Then sprinkle on your bacon bits. Fold chicken in half and place a toothpick to hold together.

Preheat a skillet with 1 tbs. of olive oil. Place chicken into frying pan and brown crumbs onto the chicken (a couple of min. on both sides) Remove and place on a cookie sheet. (you can line your cookie sheet with aluminum foil for a no mess clean up on the sheet) Place into a preheated oven at 350 degree's and bake for 20 min.- 25 min. Until cheese is bubbling out and chicken is no longer pink. Can be served with potatoes, pasta, rice, veggies. Your choice. My whole family loves this recipe. I got the idea from a food show on TV.

[lea m]

Oh so thats what cordon bleu is?? lol Thanks Christina, I always wondered!

[WebLady]

Chicken Cordon Bleu

2 whole skinless boneless chicken breast
1/2 -1 cup of bread crumbs (any kind)
2 slices of provolone, Munster, American (whatever cheese is your favorite)
1 tbs. real Bacon bits.
1 tbs. olive oil
2 thinly sliced Virgina baked ham (or whatever ham you like)

Place 1 chicken breast BTW. saran wrap and beat the hell out of it lol... I use a rolling pin.

Place one side of the chicken breast into the bread crumbs and rub into the chicken well. On un-breaded side of chicken, place 1 slice of cheese and a couple of slices of ham. Then sprinkle on your bacon bits. Fold chicken in half and place a toothpick to hold together.

Preheat a skillet with 1 tbs. of olive oil. Place chicken into frying pan and brown crumbs onto the chicken (a couple of min. on both sides) Remove and place on a cookie sheet. (you can line your cookie sheet with aluminum foil for a no mess clean up on the sheet) Place into a preheated oven at 350 degree's and bake for 20 min.- 25 min. Until cheese is bubbling out and chicken is no longer pink. Can be served with potatoes, pasta, rice, veggies. Your choice. My whole family loves this recipe. I got the idea from a food show on TV.
Sounds great, thanks! :)

[KMS]

I've always made my chicken cordon bleu with the traditional Swiss cheese. I'll have to try it with Muenster now! I love that stuff. :bbsmile:

[nic1124]

I have 2 chicken recipies that everyone loves.

Tater Tot Chicken

Dip a couple chicken breasts in an egg and milk mixture to get them wet, then cover them in bread crumbs. Throw em on a cookie sheet. Cover them with a bag of frozen tater tots and bake till chickens done.

Hawaiian Chicken

Take some ham (I use good deli ham sliced super thin or shaved) make a few piles of it in a baking dish. Top the ham with chicken breasts. Then you put some pineapple rings on top. (Use a toothpick to hole em in place) And then you just pour some sweet and sour sauce on top of them all (I like La Choy brand) and bake till done. Obviously u can skip the pineapple if you don't like it.

Everyone I've made those things for loves them and they are super super easy.

[BriansBride07]

Your welcome Brandi,

Yummy Chicken Tater Tots sound's great for a quickie meal for the kids. thanks

[KMS]

You guys are making me hungry! I got a bunch of tofu on sale last night...that Hawaiian Chicken sounded good so maybe I'll try to make some Hawaiian tofu. This should be interesting.

[WebLady]

That Hawaiian Chicken sounds pretty good. I will add that one to the list of things to try!

So anyone have any ground beef recipes to share ... no meat loaf please ;)

[KMS]

Well, I never use ground beef, but we use ground turkey breast in place of anything that calls for ground beef. So, I guess you could go the other way around too huh!

Tortilla Pie

flour or whole wheat tortillas
cooked ground turkey (or beef!)
guacamole
Mexican blend shredded cheese
black beans or refried beans
salsa
sour cream

Place one tortilla in the bottom of a casserole dish. Put a layer of ground meat on top of the tortilla. Place a tortilla on top of that. Put a layer of guacamole. Continue alternating one tortilla with each of the ingredients. Ya get the picture. Make sure that the top and final layer is a cheese layer. Cover at bake at 350 for about 20 to 30 minutes. Remove cover and bake until cheese is melted and bubbly. Serve with sour cream and extra salsa or pico de gallo.

Sorry if it's a little confusing. I'm trying to recall it from memory. :D

We are always cooking fabulous meals for my FHs mom and dad. His dad never responds with much more than, "well that was nice". But he requests that we make this again and again whether me make everything from scratch or use everything from packages. It's an easily forgiveable recipe.

[BriansBride07]

Shepard's Pie??

[KMS]

Oops don't add a layer of sour cream. That's just for garnish!

[WebLady]

I don't know about Shepard's Pie ... sounds ok to me, but DH said 'eh' so I don't know if we will try that.

The Tortilla Pie sounds pretty good though :happy:

[WebLady]

We made the chicken cordon blue last night and it was pretty good :) I left out the bacon though and used swiss cheese. And I mashed up some garlic croutons for the bread crumbs :bbmrgreen:

[BriansBride07]

We made the chicken cordon blue last night and it was pretty good :) I left out the bacon though and used swiss cheese. And I mashed up some garlic croutons for the bread crumbs :bbmrgreen:

Good. Glad you liked it. Yummy I love swiss cheese.

[SaralovesMike]

I'm gonna have to try the Chicken Cordon Bleu, sounds really good!

Shepperds Pie, that's a no here. Your hubby's eh was right on.

What about a pastie? That's just meat and potato. I found a really good recipe online if you want it.

[WebLady]

Shepperds Pie, that's a no here. Your hubby's eh was right on. hahaha :bblol:

What about a pastie? That's just meat and potato. I found a really good recipe online if you want it.
Sounds interesting, yes do share :)

[SaralovesMike]

My "meat and potatoes only" FFIL said this was the best pastie he ever had and picky-picky FH eats it as well.

You can buy a pie crust in the store or make it homemade. It's better homemade but to fold it is frustrating.

Pastry:
1 1/2 c flour
1/4 t salt
1/2 c shortening
1/4 c cold water
Filling:
3/4 lb boneless beef sirloin
1 medium onion sliced
2 medium potatoes, peeled and sliced
1 t parsley
s & p to taste
I also add some garlic powder
1/4 c water or as needed.

In medium bowl stir together flour and salt. Cut in shortening with fork until the mixture resembles bread crumbs. Stir in cold water until mixture is able to come together in a ball. Knead a couple times and divide pastry into 2 pieces.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F
Roll out each pastry into 10 in circle.
Place half of the potato slices in a line down the center of each circle leaving at least 1 inch at each end uncovered. Arrange onion over the potatoes, season with salt and pepper and some parsley. Place half the beef cubes over the onion layer then season again. Fold the edges over and tuck in the ends.

Transfer the 2 pasties to a greased cookie sheet, cut a few slits in the top of each for ventilation.

Bake for 45 minutes
Remove from oven and reduce heat to 350, spoon 1 tsp of water over each slit on the tops of the pasties, return to oven for another 15 minutes.

This is perfect for 2 people. You can always cut them in half as well. I sometimes double the pastry mixture so it's easier to fold. It's a pain in the butt! :)

[WebLady]

My "meat and potatoes only" FFIL said this was the best pastie he ever had and picky-picky FH eats it as well.

You can buy a pie crust in the store or make it homemade. It's better homemade but to fold it is frustrating.

Pastry:
1 1/2 c flour
1/4 t salt
1/2 c shortening
1/4 c cold water
Filling:
3/4 lb boneless beef sirloin
1 medium onion sliced
2 medium potatoes, peeled and sliced
1 t parsley
s & p to taste
I also add some garlic powder
1/4 c water or as needed.

In medium bowl stir together flour and salt. Cut in shortening with fork until the mixture resembles bread crumbs. Stir in cold water until mixture is able to come together in a ball. Knead a couple times and divide pastry into 2 pieces.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F
Roll out each pastry into 10 in circle.
Place half of the potato slices in a line down the center of each circle leaving at least 1 inch at each end uncovered. Arrange onion over the potatoes, season with salt and pepper and some parsley. Place half the beef cubes over the onion layer then season again. Fold the edges over and tuck in the ends.

Transfer the 2 pasties to a greased cookie sheet, cut a few slits in the top of each for ventilation.

Bake for 45 minutes
Remove from oven and reduce heat to 350, spoon 1 tsp of water over each slit on the tops of the pasties, return to oven for another 15 minutes.

This is perfect for 2 people. You can always cut them in half as well. I sometimes double the pastry mixture so it's easier to fold. It's a pain in the butt! :)

I will print this off and see what DH thinks ;)

Sounds sort of like a 'Pot Pie' though.

[ikkin510]

Sara, those pastries sound really good! I'm going to have to give them a try. Thanks for posting the reciepe.

[lea m]

Hey meat and potatoe pasties!!! :D
You know, they are a 'normal' food in Manchester, but you can't get them in other parts of England?? LOL My step sister in Birmingham had never hard of them! (sorry just sounds funy seeing them on a forum thousands of miles away, but they dont know what they are only 150 miles away!)

[BriansBride07]

We made the chicken cordon blue last night and it was pretty good :) I left out the bacon though and used swiss cheese. And I mashed up some garlic croutons for the bread crumbs :bbmrgreen:

I've done that when I ran out of bread crumbs to.

[SaralovesMike]

I will print this off and see what DH thinks ;)

Sounds sort of like a 'Pot Pie' though.

Not at all. That's what I thought at first too. Mike won't eat anything that resembles gravy and he likes these.