supper/dinner

Ok, this is my problem, the group I ride with most goes out at 6 pm when the lbs closes. We have alwasy eaten late but when I ride with the group I don't get home til 7:30 - 8pm and hubby hasn't been too happy. I know I have spoiled him for 25 years so things won't change quickly.... I need some ideas for easy suppers. I have made pasta dishes with salads, he can handle warming that up in the microwave but...I can't feed him pasta every night. So I am looking for ideas of things I can maybe make ahead and he only has to reheat so I can ride in peace without worrying that Hubby hasn't eatten. Thanks

gee, what CAN'T he warm up?

Stews, cuts of meat or fish with a veggie and potatoes and rice on the side.
Just put it on a plate, cover and let him microwave it.

Yup. Them things. And more. My grandma showed me a really simple dish for when I moved into my first little bedsit flat with a single hot plate: rice in a pot (he does know how to boil water, right?), one dish bottom down on top, fish filet on the dish, pat of butter, dash of lemon, maybe some herbs, and a simple veggie such as canned asparagus, 'nother dinner plate on top. When the rice is done, so is the fish with veggie and sauce all on a hot dinner plate -- or actually two, in case you get home in time to share.

Can't he eat leftovers from the night before?

I have a real problem with men who are helpless in the kitchen. Sorry I don't have more sympathy for the chap.

Karen

Or he could do like my dh does. When I'm away he makes something he can never have when I'm home because I can't stand it ... lutefisk with mushy peas, bacon, and potatoes. The lutefisk and peas can, I gather, be heated in a microwave (though I can't swear to it since I'm never in the kitchen that day or for several days following).

As a corollary, when he's away I make things we never have when he's home because he can't stand them ... like liver with onions and lemon juice.

I'm glad my husband is a good cook!!!
I'm usually asking for him to save ME leftovers!

Soups over rice are always easy to reheat. Cook any variety of roasts and cook some veggies to go with it. Those are easy to reheat. And then there is always the old standby that anyone can master in the kitchen, the peanut butter and jelly sandwich. It requires no reheating, is quick, simple, nutritious, delicious, and satisfying.

I guess your hubby didn't take home economics in high school, eh? :)

It is my fault...spoiled him all these years and then I decide I love to ride my bicycle :) We very rarely have left overs, but I am working on that. Before we married 25 years ago, he could cook hamburgers and a can of corn! I have actually asked my daughter to come and visit and bring him dinner. You guys have some good ideas though. Thanks

Maybe you could sign up the two of you for a fancy cooking course (less likely to make him defensive than if you sign up just him). Once he learns, he can surprise you with a gourmet dinner when you get home. :)

Won't debate kitchen equality and stuff. Every relationship's different and what's important is the happiness of both people involved. <-- I learned to say that after a very long talk with my gramma about men.

crock pot meals can be great. Chickens, pork or beef roasts large chunks of nonconfusing meat for him, and you can pop vegetables in and know he's not just eating a slab of protein ;) Same thing with hearty stews, bean soups.. You can make alot of yummie stuff in the crockpot that's easy for him to dish up already preheated. And they'll still be warm and yummie as left overs when you get back.

Give him a lesson in Oven PreHeating 101 and you can premake casseroles and he can master the art of putting them in the oven. enchiladas come to mind to... premaking lasagnas that can just be popped in the oven. I like to make a full batch of lasagna but arrange them into smaller disposable trays and then keep one in the fridge and store the rest in the freezer til needed.. but that goes back to pasta. I do the same thing with enchiladas though. Back to enchiladas I guess. Oops. If he'll pop things in the oven you can just make a smaller portion to freeze for when needed later and not have alot of extra hassle.

If he won't even try that then yeah.. like mimitabby said.. Most things can be nuked. I wouldn't do a yummie cut of steak, and fish in the microwave isn't appetizing to me.. but most things can heat at least okayish in the microwave..

He's got a credit card, right? Takeout night!!!!

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Originally Posted by JoyfulGirl

fish in the microwave isn't appetizing to me..

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Hmm. OK. In general I find nuked food to be less appetizing than other ways of cooking. But I have found fish to be one of the things that comes out pretty well "nuked". For instance, cod fillets on a bed of veggies with some herbs and lemon slices on top. Or flounder filets rolled up with spreadable cheese. Either one, I put them in a covered glass dish and after a few minutes (just enough time to cook pasta) they're done to the flaky-but-still-juicy stage, whereas in the oven I find they tend to go dry.

After 25 years, maybe it's time he learned to cook a bit? :)

Sorry, don't mean to sound harsh! But men are perfectly capable of fending for themselves. Let him fix his own dinner once or twice a week. Anyone can benefit by knowing how to take care of themselves! You are his wife, not his mother. :rolleyes: Ease into it and let him gradually become accustomed to a bit of cooking. He may find he likes to cook! And you could come home to deliciously prepared meals.

Remember, this is JMHO! Simply because something has worked for me does not mean it's right for everyone. :D

annie

Bikeless- It sounds like you're exploring advanced microwave cookery though. I'm not sure if I've ever used my microwave to actually -cook- something.<and not caused disaster> only to heat it up. I'm left with once beautiful and awe inspiring salmon steaks reheated to either mushiness or crunchiness. And I somehow magically rubberized the remains of beautiful halibut. Me and microwaves don't mix too well. My friend made amazing rich brownies in the microwave. My attempt to try it left me with burnt chocolate on the microwave's ceiling. If it needs more than a minute 30 in the microwave I'm not touching it because I'll likely start a fire.

Having been married for 25 years to someone whose idea of cooking a meal was to nuke instant rice and a can of beef stew and mix together, I have come to appreciate a man who can cook. Is there a way that your hubby could start some prelims (water for pasta boiling, salad made, etc.) so that the 2 or you can finish the meal prep when you get home... that way he's responsible for some of the meal, and you can eat together?

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Originally Posted by JoyfulGirl

Bikeless- It sounds like you're exploring advanced microwave cookery though. I'm not sure if I've ever used my microwave to actually -cook- something.<and not caused disaster> only to heat it up. I'm left with once beautiful and awe inspiring salmon steaks reheated to either mushiness or crunchiness. And I somehow magically rubberized the remains of beautiful halibut. Me and microwaves don't mix too well. My friend made amazing rich brownies in the microwave. My attempt to try it left me with burnt chocolate on the microwave's ceiling. If it needs more than a minute 30 in the microwave I'm not touching it because I'll likely start a fire.

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Yeah, I don't think salmon nukes well, though dh has tried that at times with edible results. Nor halibut, which needs either gentle poaching or just the right number of seconds on a grill. You need a fish that comes out pretty well even if boiled, since that's what nuking does. As for brownies, your friend may have used a microwave-specific packaged mix. We've tried those on occasion (time-squeezed occasions when goodies were nevertheless demanded by kids). They're quite good. But I don't think the old Baker's chocolate melt-in-a-pot-then-bake-40-minutes recipe would nuke well. That one would probably wind up all over the microwave walls.

Two words:

Slow cooker (or crock pot, it's the same thing).

This is my saviour on busy nights. Perapre the food the night before and stick in the fridge. Then before I leave for work in the morning, I just take it out of the fridge, plug it in, set it on low and when you (or your husband) comes home there's a homecooked meal ready to go! Plus, it's the best thing to come home to a house that smells like food, it always makes me think "Is my mom here?"

Emily

Ever since the cost of a hot meal at work went above $2.00 I have been eating leftovers for my lunch. When I cook i always make plenty so that I will have enough for my lunch the next day and maybe the day after.

I assure you that all of the above mentioned foods reheat just fine in the microwave.
If the husband does not know how to cook, he will probably NOT notice the
difference between halibut gently poached in white wine and reheated halibut.
I am a fussy eater, but I find my microwaved lunches are a lot better than
the frozen lunches you can buy premade AND the crap they serve us at the company cafeteria.

start buying and cooking bigger portions. Then there will be lots of things
hubby can eat while you're not around.
This will definitely teach him a little independence (not much) but it's a start.
good luck.

I must admit I have had the opposite problem. BF is perfectly capable of cooking (and used to do so before we moved in together), but now I've been spoiling him. Only I'm used to having dinner at 5 or 6 and he is rarely home from work before 8. I would get home at 6 and be starving for dinner, but had to wait for at least a couple of hours. But now that I've started cycling, problem is solved. I go for a bike ride after work and then put dinner on and he gets home in time to eat.

Supper is a problem at our house too because we both ride (so no one is staying home to cook the supper) and we have 3 children (who need to eat the supper on a regular basis...kids are funny that way).

I learned a long time ago that it makes my life easier to have 1 side dish ready to go in the fridged...say a pasta salad, a squash casserole, a big green salad...broccoli salad and broccoli slaw are two good ones, or just a lettuce based salad. I make a big batch so we have at least two day's worth of whatever it is. In winter, soup is also great.

Add to that a cold, simple side...fruit for instance. Right now melons are coming in, so cantelope, honey dew, watermelon, whatever...cut up and ready to go.

Now I just need to concentrate on what the main dish is. You haven't said what type of eater you are. If you eat meat, chicken can be your best friend. Roast a family pack of chicken breasts. This is easy because it takes about 10 minutes to prep, pop in oven, and clean up, then there is just the hour and half it takes for the oven to do all the work. Use this time to ride or carve out a little "me time". You can cook most any type of meat the night before you eat it and it will be good for supper the next day. When the chicken is done you have good stuff for the following: obviously roast chicken breast, a chicken wrap, chicken salad (this is 5 minutes of work with a food processor and whatever you like in your chicken salad) and if your husband is agressive, chicken pizza...premade pizza crust or tortilla, jarred spaghetti sauce, cheese, toppings, oven...good stuff! My 12 year old can do pizza. I use bone-in chicken with the skin. I wash, pat dry, rub with olive oil and season with lemon pepper, then cook in the oven on a broiling pan for 1 1/2 hours at 350 degrees on convection bake or convection roast, your choice. The chicken stays juicy, the skin cooks crispy...sort of like a turkey. Rosemary is also a good seasoning.

My hubby likes anything he can dip a cracker into. If I have chicken salad, pimiento cheese, salsa (I add frozen corn and black eyed peas into ours for extra nutrition) marinated veggies...anything like that keeps him happy. And if push comes to shove, he knows how to make a mater samich.

If you haven't noticed, we are southern and that is the way we eat. These are examples from our kitchen, but the system would work regardless of what pleases your palate. A simple side already made up in the fridge, a side of fruit, and a main course cooked the night before or left cooking while you go ride...and the great thing is that you get a good meal when you come home.

What about the toaster oven?

I was just reminded last night that salmon in the toaster oven is terrific, and EASY! I splash it with teriyaki or soy sauce, a sprinkle of garlic and sometimes some sesame seeds. Put it on a piece of foil. Bake it for about 10 minutes at 400, so it gets nice and browned on the outside, juicy inside. Pretty foolproof, and you can do all the prep before you go, so the salmon is marinating until hubby cooks it. Nuke some cut up broccoli in a bowl for 5 minutes so it's tender and sweet, and dinner is done!

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Originally Posted by im4smiley

It is my fault...spoiled him all these years and then I decide I love to ride my bicycle :) We very rarely have left overs, but I am working on that. Before we married 25 years ago, he could cook hamburgers and a can of corn! I have actually asked my daughter to come and visit and bring him dinner. You guys have some good ideas though. Thanks

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You decide to have a life and then it's your fault! Puleeze!

The man is grown. If he can't cook, I'm sure he can order take-out. Open a can of soup. Or go hungry. His choice.

I mean, wouldn't it be nice if you came home from a great ride and there was dinner on the table for YOU?

Sorry, but no sympathy here AT ALL. I'm happily married for 16 years and have not run into this issue. We both like to cook.

In my house, I am the fussy eater. I don't want to eat the all fat, too much salt, who knows what that the BF will have lovingly waiting for me!!!! I set up the crock pot with stuff I like so it's ready when I am....oh yeah and he will eat it or make a sammie!!! I will not spoil, I will not spoil I will not spoil. Why? Becuase I'M THE PRINCESS IN NEED OF SPOILING, not him!

Three letters "B - B - Q"

I know that abbreviation drives some people nuts, but most men I've been around love fire and believe they're a natural at the grill. We have a Weber Wherever (or something like that -- it's the mini gas grill) and just keep some pieces of meat/meat substitutes, bread and baby carrots around and he's got a pretty well rounded meal.

As the non-cook in my family, it has really helped to have a few simple meals that I can deal with, such as rice with other stuff, eggs with other stuff, etc. When my SO has time-shifting hobby or work changes, I have to resort to getting out the pan that I've been allowed to use (talk about gear nuts - I'm not allowed to use the fancy Williams-Sonoma pans, which I find humorous.) I feel pretty good about being able to do this. Of course, cooking a larger quantity ahead of time with plenty of leftovers is a good solution, from my standpoint. We also have decent take-out in town.

Okay Bikeless - I have to ask - what is lutefisk? Sounds unique.

I'm lucky - I'm married to a Cajun. He's an awesome cook! When we know we're going to be busy, sometimes we'll make a casserole of something or other ahead of time. Leaves lots of leftovers, too. Try something like poppyseed chicken, chicken curry, lasagnes of different sorts, shepherd's pie. There's all sorts of choices. I like the crockpot/slow cooker option, too. Things cooked in a crockpot usually smell so yummy! We found a great recipe for Guiness beef stew. It is a beautiful thing!.

OK, that did it. I have to go check what's in the refrigerator.

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Originally Posted by fishdr

Okay Bikeless - I have to ask - what is lutefisk? Sounds unique.

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Tsk tsk. You'll be sorry you asked. :eek:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lutefisk

I stopped after "jelly like consistency". I've had an upset stomach for 2 days and that almost did me in. I can see why Bikeless doesn't want to be around when hubby makes that. Ick!

You all have some good ideas...I forgot about my crockpot.. I may have to drag it out. I have been trying to retrain hubby...but you know that is a slow process...he is great for cleaning the house :) and doing the dishes!! We are meat eaters and I try to serve chicken a couples times a week (I like it). I am not a fish eater though, but hubby is...I think he should learn to cook that...while I am out!! :D

Men seem to think the grill was made for them. It is great for cooking meats, chicken, fish and veggies. Marinade in baggies in the am, wrap in foil before you grill!! Veggies just wash, slice, add a little meat tenderizer, spices, drizzle olive oil wrap in foil and instant supper!! Don't forget the chilled wine and a candle!!!

Anyone can do it if they love someone enough!!