Archive through November 15, 2002
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TV ClubHouse: Archives: What's for dinner (not a recipe thread): Archive through November 15, 2002

Whit4you

Thursday, November 14, 2002 - 10:53 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Ok here's the deal - when I first got married frankly I was clueless about cooking, my mom was one of those leave-it-to-beaver mom's you know?

So I had to figure out WHAT the heck to cook after a few months of hamburgar helper.

Anyhow so I spent hundreds of hours making myself a list of easy quick meals - my paper had about 60 meals to make. Realistic things to make not the 'magazine' recipies which required all sorts of spices and ingredients that I did not have, nor could I afford living on 80 bucks a week lol

When I went grocery shopping I'd go down my list and pick out 5 meals from my list and write down what I'd need for each.

Anyhow - I'd like some help from ya'all for real - realistic meals so I can recompile the list and send to my son. (He eats top ramen 5 nights a week)

This list will help others too you know - sooo anyone care to give some suggestions?

Ok here's how my list used to look:

Spaghetti & Meatballs
Cream corn
Corn Bread
---------------
French Toast
Link Sausage
Eggs
---------------
Taco's
Refried Beens
---------------
Meatloaf
Mashed Potatoes
Peas
---------------
Chief Salad
Soup
--------------
Fried Chicken
Biscuits/Gravy
---------------
Omletes
Toast
--------------
Toasted Cheese Sandwich
Tomato Soup
------------------
Pork Chops / Gravy
Baked Potato
Beans
--------------
Chili Dogs
Corn on cob
--------------
Tuna Cassorole

(This is how my list looked - see just simple basic meals - I can recompile most of my list from memory but I working more than full time, trying to get rental ready, watching grandbaby and so on... so was hoping for some help so I could have this done by Thanksgiving)

I'd really love some help - I'll send a finished spiffy copy to anyone who'd like one when this is done.

Twinkie

Thursday, November 14, 2002 - 11:05 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Can your son cook fried chicken??? And gravy???
I'm from the south and a very good southern cook and neither one of those things are easy. Or are we talking canned gravy and ready-made fried chicken?

Wargod

Thursday, November 14, 2002 - 11:12 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
If he doesn't want to cook spaghetti sauce theres a nifty new sauce out that has the meat already in it. All it requires is heating it up. Comes in handy when I need something quick for the kids.

Whit4you

Thursday, November 14, 2002 - 11:14 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
OMG you want to hear a funny story???? LOL!

When my son and his GF first started living together - he came up to me and said .. Mom? Is this chicken done?? I was like omg Matt no it's still totally raw! I went in and asked his GF how long she'd cooked it and she said 5 minutes lol. She's not the type to take critism well but geez I wasn't going to let them eat RAW chicken! I explained them that it isn't even BROWNED yet on the outside in 5 minutes lol.

The last time my poor son tried to cook fried chicken he started a house fire - poor thing - he ran upstairs totally freaking out, he left the fire burning and the burner was on HIGH lol. I explained to him that it HELPS to turn the burner OFF when your trying to put out a fire.

Honestly he won't know how to cook some of the things on the list but neither did *I* when I was first married, I had to call my mom a few times a month to ask questions... he will probably have to too LOL.

I tought him too cook gravy when he was 6 .... :)

Twinkie

Thursday, November 14, 2002 - 11:27 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
That's a great achievement, Whit, to teach a child how to make gravy! I'm married to a "yankee" and now living up north but boy do he and his friends and family love my southern cooking! Chicken and dumplings, pecan pie, sweet potato pie, cornbread, REAL stuffing, etc, etc.

Whit4you

Thursday, November 14, 2002 - 11:29 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Hehe I tought him how to make bisquits too - I still have the picture - the entire table - most of the floor and all of him - were covered in flour by the time he was done lol :) Long as we were having fun or learning - I never cared about 'messes' but that day was too funny so I had to get a picture LOL.

Lancecrossfire

Thursday, November 14, 2002 - 11:38 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Whit, do you think he could use a crock pot--where he throws a lit of fod items in, a measured amount of water and come back in a certain number of hours?

If so, lots of possibilities if he had ingredient list to go by?

Whit4you

Thursday, November 14, 2002 - 11:48 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Lance - hmm you know that's hard to judge - see I've owned a few crockpots myself with every intention of using them for the hundreds of great meals they'd make but then I 'never got around' to using it. No idea if that would rub off on him or not - I'll buy him a crockpot which usually comes with a recipe book and find a basic recipe book to go with it.

I think that people once they start using them use em all the time - maybe he would, or maybe he'd be like me and never end up using it. They are cheap enough though that it can't hurt to try - besides all I have to do I imagine is put a message at work saying "Anyone have an extra crockpot laying around - if so I'll take it off your hands" (cause um you know how most people end up with 2 or 3 LOL)

Lance your a single guy right? List off a half dozen of your favorite 'easy' meals for me please :)

Twinkie

Friday, November 15, 2002 - 12:05 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Here's an easy one for you Whit. Flour a pot roast on both sides. Put a little bit of oil in a large pot. Get it hot. Put the roast in and brown both sides. After its browned throw in a can of french onion soup(or the dry package with the recommended amount of water). Use just enough water to cover the roast. Cover and let slow cook for about 3 hours. Then add potatoes, carrots, and whatever else you like and cover and slow cook for another 2 hours. Meat will be falling apart cause its so tender. Take out meat and veggies and add Wondra flour to remaining broth in pot. Stir well til it thickens and put meat and veggies back in. Wonderful meal and really easier than it sounds. And all done in 1 pot. Just don't use too much water. The veggies you add don't have to be covered by water. They will steam cook.

Lancecrossfire

Friday, November 15, 2002 - 12:07 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Actually when I cook, I don't go for the quick and easy things. For myself, I don't usualy cook--I like cooking for others. But some thoughts that might work.

Chili dogs--a can of chili, a package of dog and a package of buns. (I like to make my own chili, but that may not be what you are looking for--LOL)

Rice and veggies (I don't know if he has a timer so he would know when to take the rice off the heat.

tuna sandwiches--either cold, toasted bread or grilled. A bit of mayo, pickles cut up finely (or celery or onion--depensd on what he would like) Goes great with a little salad (many varieties of salad are now sold in bags)

BLT's. easy to make any way to match a person's tastes. only thing to cook is bacon

simple nachos--a bag of chips, some grated cheese, refried beans (meat optional) onions, tomatoes. bake or microwave

ham/cheese sandwich (grilled or cold or toasted bread) potato salad or a pasta salad from the store.

english muffin pizzas--muffins opened up, canned pizza sauce, grated cheese, a package of pepperoni or salami. If he likes, chopped olives, or onions or tomato slice after cooking. Heat in oven till cheese is completely melted.

rice with gravy too--good food on a cold night.

Whit4you

Friday, November 15, 2002 - 12:11 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Listing off some more that I remember - having a hard time remembering what 'side dishes' were you know? That I took alot of time on to make sure we had more than just the main course - except for casseroles but I'm not including any cassoroles cause he won't cook them I don't think LOL.

Sweet & Sour Chicken
Rolls
____________________

Chicken Chow Mein
____________________


Spanish Rice
Corn Bread
___________________

Fish Sticks
Fries
___________________

Sloppy Joes
_________________

Egg Salad Sandwiches
Soup
_________________

Beef Stew
Rolls
_________________

Beef Kabobs
Potato Salad
_________________


Waffles
Eggs / sausage

________________

Chili
________________

BBQ Ribs
Mashed Potatoes

_______________

Clam Chowder

Whit4you

Friday, November 15, 2002 - 12:27 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Ya I think he won't know how to make some of these things but maybe after I get the list done I can write a quick how to on some. Some like chow mein and clam chowder etc he'll have to buy premade. But it'll still help to have an idea of what 'meals' to buy you know?

Adding before I forget -

Chicken and Dumplings

I'll have to give him instructions but this is too good a meal to leave off lol.

Well what I can do is list off the things like that with a * (call mom if you need instructions lol)

FYI I probably wouldn't be taking the time - and asking for help to do this except - I just spent days packing up his apartment and he saved everything I'd written him.. hints ... notes... 'how to's' etc and some were well worn so I think if I write this up for him - he will use it.

I also think it'd come in handy for some others too - I used the list I made constantly the first few years I was married.

Twinkie

Friday, November 15, 2002 - 12:56 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Real southern chicken and dumplings:

Mix a very dry dough with just self rising flour and a little water. Cover countertop or table with wax paper. Roll dough out onto wax paper making it very thin. Cover with paper bags or a clean sheet. Let sit overnight or at least 12 hours. Dough should be very dry and brittle on the edges. While that is waiting to dry out boil whole chicken until done. Take chicken out of water and de-bone. Put chicken back in broth/water. Once dough is dryed out turn chicken and broth to just below boiling. Cut strips of dough about 2x4 inches and slowly drop into pot. Once all of the dough is cut up and dropped into pot with chicken and broth turn down to low, cover pot, and stir occasionally and slow cook for about 2 hours. Add salt and pepper to taste. Dumplings will get like LARGE noodles and chicken will be shredded. The main ingredient after all of that is a couple of drops of yellow food coloring. Looks like its loaded with butter but there is none in it at all. Best comfort food in the world! Geez, I'm giving out all of my secrets!

Sage

Friday, November 15, 2002 - 01:45 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Whit, I always have a bag of those frozen, boneless, skinless chicken breasts handy, either the tenderloins or the full breast. Just put a bit of olive or other kind of oil in a fry pan and put the breasts in, frozen. The extra water from the frozen meat boils down while the chicken gets fully cooked, then there's nothing left but the chicken and oil. Let the peices brown on each side, add salt and pepper, or Mrs. Dash, and serve with BBQ sauce. Very easy and yummy.

Or, cook up some hamburger patties, and put them on a bun, for your own, homecooked burgers. Eat with baked beans, or corn, or Salad, or warm up some frozen fries in the oven, or have all of it with your burgers if you are that hungry.

Canned chicken is good for making sandwiches. Just mix it up like you would tuna.

Wargod

Friday, November 15, 2002 - 01:51 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Sage, those frozen chicken breast are awesome. You may open my freezer and find nothing in there, but you can be sure I got a bag of those. They're quick and easy to cook, you can use them for almost anything, and they're not bad! I'm a costco shopper, and they've almost always got something frozen that is conveinent. Chicken rice bowls, boxes of taquitos or frozen lasagna. There's plenty of times that I run in the house at the last minute looking for something quick, easy, and good to cook.

Car54

Friday, November 15, 2002 - 04:25 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Twinkie, thanks for the C&D recipe. My mom used to make it just like that. It might be a little ambitious for my cooking skills, but it sure brought back a memory!

Halfunit

Friday, November 15, 2002 - 05:05 am EditMoveDeleteIP
I just wanted to add my favorite simple side dish: Minute Rice!

It's fast, simple, and can be made many ways. Put beef or chicken flavoring in the water, or my favorite - lay slices of Velveeta over the top while it sits for it's five minutes.

Jagger

Friday, November 15, 2002 - 05:29 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Several very easy things to cook

chicken breats or pork chops with rice.

put either meats in baking pan, put a cup of minute rice over them and mix in can of cream of mushroom or cream of chicken soup and 1/2 cup of milk. Mix all together, cover with aluminum foil bake in oven for 45 to 60 minutes, taking alumium foil off the last 10 - 15 minutes.

Also have him buy a box of Bisquick, there are some really easy good tasting recipies on it.

I agree with the above comment about the frozen chicken breasts, I always have them on hand.

Biloxibelle

Friday, November 15, 2002 - 07:33 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Whit I have an easy suggestion for the meat. Get your son a George Foreman Grill. We got one for my dad after my mom passed away and he loved it. Could make it a Christmas Gift.

Fruitbat

Friday, November 15, 2002 - 07:48 am EditMoveDeleteIP
This is VERY easy and impressive for guests.

Slice a couple of pork tenderloins diagonally about an inch thick. Press lighly with palm of hand to flatten a little.

Dust with flour and sautee pieces slowly in butter.

Remove when done and deglaze the pan with either chicken stock or white wine. (a cup or less) Let that cook a tad and add a hit of heavy cream and pour over the pork.

Draheid

Friday, November 15, 2002 - 08:11 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Whit: I have a question about your son. What's his level of patience when preparing a meal? Does he want everything 'microwave-quick' or can he wait an hour for dinner to be ready?

Anyway, the Crockpot is a wonderful tool. For example, if you toss some stew meat, seasonings, vegetables, and beef broth in the pot in the morning, cover it, set it on low and head out for the day. When he gets home, he's got a big pot of homemade beef stew.

Another of my Crockpot favorites is a pasta sauce. If he prepares enough, he's got the base for several meals! Brown some ground beef & season with italian style seasonings. Put the meat into the Crockpot with diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, seasonings, a couple of bay leafs, etc. Cover and set on low then head out. When he returns, boil some spaghetti noodles and serve with French bread. Save the sauce for a lasagna (noodles, sauce, & mozarella cheese - layer and bake for 45 minutes). More sauce on egg noodles makes a kind of 'goulash' meal. etc.

Another easy meal suggestion is Meatloaf. Ground beef, an egg or two, bread crumbs, ketchup and seasonings mixed together then place on a cookie sheet in the form of a bundt cake and bake for 45 minutes. (The ring shape speeds up the cooking versus a loaf pan!) A few minutes before it's done, drizzle a little ketchup over the top and finish baking.

And last, probably the easiest thing I've discovered lately is the pop-n-fresh Pizza Dough. Spray a cookie sheet with non-stick cooking spray, spread the dough, slap on some pizza sauce (could use the pasta sauce from above), add any 'ingredients he wants like ham, mushrooms, etc. then sprinkle liberally with mozarella cheese. Bake for 14 minutes and you have a pizza! Note: Just cheese on this dough makes great cheese sticks to serve with spaghettie or lasagna!

Hope this helps.

Weinermr

Friday, November 15, 2002 - 08:57 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Breakfast food is good sometimes for dinner.

Scrambled eggs and toast are easy.

Pancakes can be easy - Use a boxed mix or Bisquick (just add water)

Twinkie

Friday, November 15, 2002 - 11:42 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Car, its really easy, just time consuming. But boy what great comfort food! I learned from my mom and she learned from her mom. So C&D brings back memories for me as well.

Sia

Friday, November 15, 2002 - 04:18 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Whit, don't forget the old standby Macaroni & Cheese!!

How about Pigs-in-Blankets? (roll a hot dot in a crescent roll or in a flattened refrigerator-biscuit and bake for 12 minutes or so at 350.)

Tuna noodle (or chicken) casserole: cook half a bag of noodles; mix in one can Campbell's cream of celery soup (or mushroom) and one can Campbell's cream of chicken; stir in one can of drained tuna (or chicken), some chopped onion, small can of peas, shake in some pepper and bake for one hour in a casserole dish. You can add other veggies (like sliced water chestnuts) if you like.

Sherbabe

Friday, November 15, 2002 - 05:34 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Here's my favorite fast meal and my very picky teenage son loves it.
Brown 1 lb. ground chuck. Could add minced onion. Drain.
Add 1 can cr of mushroom soup. Stir
Remove from heat.
Add 8 oz sour cream.

Serve over egg noodles.

I call it Poor Man's Stroganoff.