great dinner recipes!

[Miranda]

OK, I don't if I would call this a "great" recipe, but it's a simple idea, and a huge hit at my house. It kinda fits the bill of not having to buy an extra exoctic spices as you posted...

Do any of you gals still own or use a slow cooker, or croc pot? I really like my ancient slow cooker that's a metal type oblong pan on a basin with more heat settings (1 = low, 5= high).

Do a nice sized beef roast, or round steak in it with a few veggies. Or as my DS asks, "mommy, will you make me some pig?"... a leaner pork roast.

You can throw it all together the night before, or morning quickly before leaving the house. Let it cook all day until the meat is falling apart tender and flavored full of broth. Pick up a bag of romaine salad, and my DH likes a certain type of store deli roll, and viola. You have hot dinner for all shifts if your kids are in activities after school, or you would like to ride and eat later.

For the beef meat, sometimes I will roll in it flour, salt, pepper, then put it in the pot about half filled with water. Add beef bullion granuales per amount of water (directions on jar). One medium sized onion sliced. A small bag of baby pre-peeled carrots. A few potatoes peeled and cubed. You can omit the flour rolling if you like.

For pork, seems like I just add a bay leaf, salt, and pepper. Maybe chicken granuales for broth (again, follow jar directions for amount).

With the 1-5 heat settings, I usually turn in on high 5 while everyone is getting ready in the morning, and then to 3 medium before leaving the house. End of day turn to low 1 until the last person has eaten.

Leftover meat makes a great sandwich as my DH says, or you can freeze it for a soup or casserole for pre-cooked meat.

It's so easy and the meat flavor and tenderness is fantastic. Hope that helped some!

Miranda

[wildhawk]

Thanks for the reminder - I keep forgetting about my trusty old crockpot! We do not eat beef, but that sounds like it will work well with chicken so I will load up the old crockpot tonight! I do not have a lot of time during the week either, so that will make us several meals - yay!

[tulip]

My kitchen is being renovated for the next few months (total and complete renovation involving knocking out of walls and such).

I've been at a bit of a loss about eating without a kichen, as I love to cook and don't have much experience with convenience foods and don't have a freezer anyways. I have a microwave and a dorm fridge, so my options are a bit limited.

So today I bought a slow cooker (I already have a rice cooker) and a panini press! I'm pretty sure I'll be okay for the duration of the renovation!

[Blueberry]

I have a fuzzy logic rice cooker and LOVE it! It steams veggies, makes soup, makes pilaf, and makes (mostly veggie) risotto (butternut squash & leek is the most recent variety!). Best appliance in my kitchen!

CA

[jesvetmed]

I have a fuzzy logic rice cooker and LOVE it! It steams veggies, makes soup, makes pilaf, and makes (mostly veggie) risotto (butternut squash & leek is the most recent variety!). Best appliance in my kitchen!

CA

Does it do dishes? I WANT IT!

[jesvetmed]

One of our favorite meals is so easy. We grill year round.

I'll put chicken breasts in a plastic bag to marinate in a combo of:
Ginger, soy sauce, sesame oil, water a bit of sweet chili sauce and bit of lemon juice, salt and pepper to taste. (Easiest to place all this in the blender and then pour into the bag, then add the chicken).
If you have some extra time, dice the chickent and put onto skewers.

Heat the grill.

Rinse and cut Baby Bok Choy in half lengthwise.
Sprinkle with soy sauce.

Cook the chicken.
When you turn it, place the bok choy directly on the grill.

Cook until the bok choy has a touch of dark / black on the grill lines.
Serve with brown rice or couscous if you like.
Mmmm MMmmm and EASY!

[3for3]

I got this recipe from one of my best friends who is a vegetarian. The first time she told me about it, I thought it sounded disgusting! She was so excited to make it for me, though, that I thought I would politely choke it down. Turns out I LOVED it! Now it's a family staple and one of my favorite comfort foods. It's super fast and easy to throw together:

4 cups Special K
2 cups lowfat cottage cheese
4 eggs
1/2 stick butter or margarine (melted)
2 tsp chicken bullion flavoring
1/2 c chopped pecans or walnuts
1 cup chopped onion.

Mix altogether. Spread into a 8 by 11 pan and cook at 350 for 1 hour. Serve with slices of canned cranberry on top. (trust me, it's yummy!!)

This recipe is also fun because you can change it up if you want and add whatever makes you happy, garlic, parmesan cheese, herbs etc. whatever you have on hand.

Enjoy!