tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post3514627944536647808..comments2024-03-19T18:01:27.505+10:00Comments on down to earth: Best, fast, from-scratch mealsUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger72125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-75030273782930361572009-11-18T20:26:25.312+10:002009-11-18T20:26:25.312+10:00Great all those lazy ideas, thank you all!!
In ou...Great all those lazy ideas, thank you all!!<br /><br />In our family, we also like pasta a lot, and every time I make macaroni, or penne, I tend ti make a lot, and freeze the whole thing (pasta and all, it freezes well!). A favorite one is, macaroni, with shawarma meat, macaroni herbs ,add some oignons and other veggies. I freeze the whole thing, and when I'm tired, get it out of the freezer, put it in the microwave and top it with cheese, once on my plate. Yummie!!shandoranoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-62229012679331908412008-12-20T04:07:00.000+10:002008-12-20T04:07:00.000+10:00Pasta Puttanescaput pasta on to boil. then, in pa...Pasta Puttanesca<BR/>put pasta on to boil. then, in pan chilli oil, chopped garlic, fry 3 mins. add tin of chopped tomatoes. Add tin of tuna, olives and capers. Pour over cooked pasta. add parmesan. <BR/><BR/>good store cupboard food!HowtoBEaCOOLoldLadyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08761358782754350104noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-2659338566871352312008-12-19T10:06:00.000+10:002008-12-19T10:06:00.000+10:00Recently I made the decision to involve my childre...Recently I made the decision to involve my children in the making dinner process, they are more than old enough at 16 and 13. Last night I was busy so got them into the kitchen to prepare dinner. My daughter cooked steak and package macaroni/cheese while my son prepared and cooked the vegies. I was able to concentrate on cutting out quilt squares and still be available to answer questions. In the new year we will concentrate more on cooking from scratch meals, I am a beginner at that as well. But with the advice I get from you, Rhonda I am sure we will do it and both my children will have the experience for when they are out on their own. <BR/><BR/>Late last night (early this morning more like it) had the urge to make your lemon cordial recipe. I now have a bottle of delicious cordial in the fridge and am sipping it right now. I am so glad to be drinking something I know is healthy - no vitamins were boiled away in making and there is nothing I can't pronounce in the ingredient list. Nice.Cheryl@Gingerbread Craftshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12189189331024564663noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-53805542204402273682008-12-19T05:34:00.000+10:002008-12-19T05:34:00.000+10:00Just this morning my partner commented on my abili...Just this morning my partner commented on my ability to turn simple, humble food into yummy meals, when he had a bite of my breakfast, which was stewed apples made with a pat of butter, cinnamon and maple syrup, with just a splash of water to keep it from sticking to the pot. I left it on the stove to simmer while I got ready for work. I added toasted sunflower and pumpkin seeds on top. With a slice of toast, it made for a quick and easy, warm and yummy breakfast on a cold snowy morning! Simple and nourishing. (When I have such things on hand, I will also add raisins, yogurt, buckwheat...)Amberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14504083012497351241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-48293008216825925552008-12-19T05:19:00.000+10:002008-12-19T05:19:00.000+10:00I have 2 good standbys.....baked beans, stir in a ...I have 2 good standbys.....baked beans, stir in a good spoonful of tahine (extra protein)serve on homemade bread toat, sprinkle a handful of toasted seeds on top....pumpkin,sesame, sunflower, tossed in a little temari. I always have some of these in the fridge to add to salads.<BR/><BR/>Second is stir fried bokchoy...plenty in garden...garlic, ginger, temari, served on top of soba noodles....these cook in a bowl with some boiling water poured over while bokchoy cooks. Add a sprinkle of toasted seeds.<BR/><BR/>I'm vegetarian, so the addition of seeds ensures some protein.<BR/><BR/>Don't forget to save the noodle cooking water for the garden or potplants.<BR/><BR/>NanetteNanettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14473143331781472223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-59786346707807965602008-12-19T04:49:00.000+10:002008-12-19T04:49:00.000+10:00Ok, my best made from scratch, quick comfort meal ...Ok, my best made from scratch, quick comfort meal is:<BR/><BR/>Rice and stir fried veggies.<BR/><BR/>I dump a couple of cups of rice in the rice cooker and then prepare myself some veggies. We actually had this last night in our house. <BR/><BR/>The veggie was bok choy which is so easy to cook. Simply, get a wok or non-stick pan very hot, add a little sesame oil then the bok choy. (Cut up as small as you would like it.) Then add 2 tbsp of sugar and salt to taste with a splash of soy sauce. (Cook for 4 mins.)<BR/><BR/>As a side dish, I cut up small seedless cucumbers, added soy<BR/>sauce, salt, hot peppers and garlic. You close that in a tupper ware and shake shake.<BR/>It's the Chinese version of pickles. <BR/><BR/>Was very humble and yummy!<BR/><BR/>-KitteeKitteehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13083272888778945176noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-9139360972238973912008-12-19T04:08:00.000+10:002008-12-19T04:08:00.000+10:00we do stir fry with rice and any vegetable, left o...we do stir fry with rice and any vegetable, left over or fresh we have. We also add cubed beef. I have a potato soup recipe this is pretty quick and it can simmer for a bit if you want to start it ahead of time.Cindihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01982755822117772814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-28540135086423490372008-12-19T03:47:00.000+10:002008-12-19T03:47:00.000+10:00One of the dishes that I fall back on is referred ...One of the dishes that I fall back on is referred to in my house as succutash(which it is not). Take a brick of frozen ground meat (beef) and start frying it in standard 8-10 frying pan with the lid. When it is ready to turn over shake about a tablespoon of worchestershire sauce over the cooked beef, put the lid back on. Open a can of tomatoes, chop coarsely, prepare some brocolli. When the second side of the beef is done, cut into little cubes with your turner throw the tomatoes over all and put the brocolli on top. Cover and simmer about 5 minutes. From start to finish about 40 minutes. We serve it over rice. The great thing about this recipe is that you can start with frozen or unfrozen beef, left over rice, canned tomatoes or fresh, frozen or fresh brocolli. It never stays around. Karen G.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-81602420263461275942008-12-19T03:24:00.000+10:002008-12-19T03:24:00.000+10:00Cutest kitchen ever. I feel like pulling up a cha...Cutest kitchen ever. I feel like pulling up a chair and staying a while.<BR/><BR/>This is such a busy time of year we've been eating a lot of meals like you suggest. I can't promise that there haven't been a meal out a bit more than usual but we're availaing ourselves of grilled cheese sandwiches and fruit and, you know what, it hits the spot. :)Green Beanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03133847111288382381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-70190538762823907052008-12-19T02:31:00.000+10:002008-12-19T02:31:00.000+10:00Since we usually have eggs and some kind of chees...Since we usually have eggs and some kind of cheese in the fridge, and bell peppers, onions, and tomatoes (either fresh, frozen or canned, as appropriate for the season) an omelet is one of my go-to meals, the other is a stir fry with veggies from the freezer and brown rice. <BR/>Another one is saute chicken and add salsa, serve with taco fixings, or wrap in a tortilla for a burrito or wrap in a tortilla and heat in the oven with salsa and cheese for an enchilada wannabe.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-38471433508377056832008-12-19T01:50:00.000+10:002008-12-19T01:50:00.000+10:00curry in a hurryboil up some red lentils and add c...curry in a hurry<BR/>boil up some red lentils and add chopped onion,garlic and potatoes,2 teaspoon garum masala spice and a teaspoon of chilli powder(adjust to taste),cook this down,about 10 mins then add a can of baked beans,we like it with toasted pitta bread.this is my favorite standby,and my hubbie and 3 children love it and like me to be a bit disorganised so i make it!!<BR/>alison youngalison younghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08311064378576017731noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-69766340463977000722008-12-19T00:58:00.000+10:002008-12-19T00:58:00.000+10:00I think we are going to have this for dinner tonig...I think we are going to have this for dinner tonight. I have a feeling (at 7am) that it is going to be one of those days. Eggs. The kids like theirs scrambled with a little cheese and a side of toast. I think I will have mine sunny side up, and my husband prefers to fix his own eggs. Easier for me!<BR/><BR/>Deb in the PNWAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-43268712433153967762008-12-18T23:32:00.000+10:002008-12-18T23:32:00.000+10:00Here's what we do when we don't have time or don't...Here's what we do when we don't have time or don't want to cook. The first is a recipe a young friend from Honduras gave me. It's a rice dish and it's so good that my husband who doesn't care for rice eats it right up. It does take a right big skillet.<BR/>Chop up one onion and lightly saute in a little butter or oil. Dump in your rice (I make 1 and 1/2 cups) and saute. Add double the amount of stock ( in this example I would add 3 cups) and cover and allow to simmer 20 minutes or so.( I make stock and keep a portion of my freezer to store it. It thaws well fast in the microwave.)Salt and pepper to taste.Also I like to throw in any herbs I have on the windowsill that go well with the flavor of my stock. About ten minutes before the rice is done add a couple handfuls of frozen mixed vegetables or you could add any cooked veggie you like. Enjoy<BR/>The next is a recipe my kids call "homemade hamburger helper". You put some salted water on to boil. When the water boils dump in some pasta I use elbow macaroni or whatever is on sale. In your skillet you again saute a finely chopped onion in a little butter until translucent. Add hamburger or ground turkey and brown. Drain off any fat and add a can of tomatoes, a half teaspoon of oregano, a half teaspoon of thyme ans a half teaspoon of basil. Reduce heat and simmer until pasta is done. I add the pasta to the meat with a slotted spoon. Mix well. I like to serve on a big platter with a bit of cheese grated over the top. My kids and their friends think this is fine dining. No leftovers ever.<BR/>Both of these dishes cook in thirty minutes or less. <BR/>I want to add i have learned a lot from your blog.I'm very grateful for the tools you give us. <BR/>Happy Holidays! Debbie M.debbiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09502995215668318993noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-27813371777812089572008-12-18T23:27:00.000+10:002008-12-18T23:27:00.000+10:00I always keep corn tortillas in the freezer and ca...I always keep corn tortillas in the freezer and cans of beans in the pantry. the beans are either pinto or black beans. With onions and some chili powder (not cayenne but the kind you use to make chili) and cumin, the beans get made into a filling that I then smash with a potato masher for our own nonfat version of refried beans. <BR/>We then make up the tacos by putting the beans on the tortilla and add cheese and broil for a few minutes until hot and melted. I make a diced salad on the side with salsa as dressing. Add to that some yellow rice (turmeric and rice cooked together sometimes with peas thrown in for color), we have a full Mexican meal that nobody realizes is made in a hurry.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-74116355305443358052008-12-18T23:20:00.000+10:002008-12-18T23:20:00.000+10:00My favourite is egg dishes. When I have more time ...My favourite is egg dishes. When I have more time and am more hungry, I add potatoes or mashed potatoes. My mother's (or someone else's from whom she received it) improvememnt on mashed potatoes: save the water from boiling (that is, if you have peeled them before boiling) and mash them at first with water, then add some milk. It's smoother and softer this way.<BR/><BR/>Another favourite of mine is a quick soup. You start with chopped or grinded vegetables (I use mostly root vegetables, leek, something like that - something solid and not very juicy) warmed up on a bit of butter. Then you add some flour so that you create a roux enriched by the vegetables. Add an egg, stirr and add a glass of cold water, stirr again. Then you just gradually add the water, until you have the desired amount, and keep stirring at least in the begining; boil for about ten minutes. You can add some spices according to your liking - it is very mild on its own, but I love the taste. It used to be one of my favourite soups when I was a child, and I used to hate most soups, so I suppose children would love it. Just make sure you have enough vegetables, so it's not only water... We used to have our own vegetables pre-chopped and freezed. Somehow we have dropped this practice by now, but I'd like to come back to it, it was very convenient.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-36904172449787113152008-12-18T22:59:00.000+10:002008-12-18T22:59:00.000+10:00Another vote for omelette here with whatever you h...Another vote for omelette here with whatever you have to hand in the fridge or freezer. Serve with salad and bread.<BR/><BR/>Scrambled eggs. Just before the egg sets stir in some smoked fish pieces(salmon or mackerel is good) or ham/bacon. Great with hot buttered toast.<BR/><BR/>Or Leftover Soup. If I don't have soup already made in the freezer I can make some quickly with my Leftovers Box. Every time I have some cooked pasta, rice or veg leftover at the end of a meal I put it in a 1 litre box I keep in the freezer.<BR/><BR/>When the box is full I use it to make soup. I add the contents to a litre of stock (from freezer or good stock powder). Since everything is already cooked it takes minutes to come to the boil. If it doesn't look very appetising I blitz it with a hand blender and add a bit of cream. It's never failed me yet :)<BR/><BR/>Some fab ideas above!allybeahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15547572200858227210noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-5766965449272336992008-12-18T21:56:00.000+10:002008-12-18T21:56:00.000+10:00Our kitchen is in upheaval, right now, what with r...Our kitchen is in upheaval, right now, what with renovations and such. So, tonight I threw some of everything...a small bit of leftover lamb roast (center cut, at the rarest point), half an onion, half a tomato, a quarter head of cauliflower, half a pepper, some leftover mashed pumpkin with brown sugar, and a bit of homemade chicken stock...all in together, microwave-steaming the vegetables first in the same dish, sprinkled bits of cumin, turmeric, and garam masala. Threw it in the oven for an hour, and tada! Curry casserole! I served it over couscous and it was easy as could be, taking maybe 10 minutes prep, using up many things before they spoiled, and letting me forget about it while doing other chores. Super tasty! The whole thing could be simmered on the stovetop, or in the microwave, for quicker prep, and also can be premade and reheated beautifully.Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12990668139949728866noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-24895281975313547422008-12-18T21:54:00.000+10:002008-12-18T21:54:00.000+10:00Hello secret lurker here! Hi.Toast. Had that the ...Hello secret lurker here! Hi.<BR/><BR/>Toast. Had that the last 2 nights where I couldnt be bothered with anything.<BR/><BR/>Other than that microwave a potato, 6 mins or so. depending on size. Whilst that is cooking, turn oven on, when cooked in micro, throw potato in oven and crisp for 10 minutes. Cant bare funny micro nuked potatoes. Kind of weird skin... top with heinz beans. My only product that must be brand make.<BR/><BR/>Also, bag of crisp thrown between 2 pieces of bread. Or even a brown sauce sandwich. with a cup of tea.<BR/><BR/>Love this post.Solhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00809314184012834659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-73259036221733490602008-12-18T21:15:00.000+10:002008-12-18T21:15:00.000+10:00When I just can't be bothered, it's usually pizza ...When I just can't be bothered, it's usually pizza that saves us. The bread maker does the hard work (45 minute cycle) and we put what ever we've got on top; that's the great thing about pizzas. We use BBQ sauce or tomato ketchup from the fridge nowadays (usually BBQ) often have mozzarella cheese in the house, the girls like Hawaiian so I chop bacon or ham for them and we keep a tin of pineapple in the fridge for these occasions. One small tin of pineapple pieces does two pizzas for us.<BR/><BR/>Along a similar vein, when I feel really lazy and start thinking about takeaway, or even seeking takeaway approval from DH, I've decided to go the baked beans on toast. As legumes and vegetables too if you're looking at the food pyramid, the right variety are super healthy and loaded with protein. Not so cooked-from-scratch, I admit, but they are the forced consequence of my verbalising a desire for takeaway LOL! And DH says "beans on toast" too which makes me cranky when I'm feeling like that, of course, but it was me who gave him the instruction to do just that LOL!!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-30297886429530596462008-12-18T20:23:00.000+10:002008-12-18T20:23:00.000+10:00For us it is pizza. Using flat bread or lebanese ...For us it is pizza. Using flat bread or lebanese bread as the base (I always have some in the freezer). Then tomatoe sauce (homemade) or pesto made from herbs in the garden ground in the mortar and pestle with almond or pine nuts and olive oil and parmesan cheese. I usually make two for our family. A simple cheese and meat one for the boys and another with veges or what ever left overs on it. When I have a little more time I make the pizza dough by hand or in the bread maker.Creative Wisheshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08132609794079131654noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-46099041340411326462008-12-18T19:41:00.000+10:002008-12-18T19:41:00.000+10:00For a quick and tasty meal I like to fry off a fin...For a quick and tasty meal I like to fry off a finely chopped onion in some butter, add three or four large tomatoes (deskinned and roughly chopped), a clove of garlic finely chopped, a good splodge of tomato puree, some basil and a pinch of sugar and salt. Cook until the tomatoes have turned to mush and spoon over plain penne pasta.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-4364656291207610612008-12-18T19:25:00.000+10:002008-12-18T19:25:00.000+10:00My It's-late-I'm-tired-&-cannot-be-bot...My <I>It's-late-I'm-tired-&-cannot-be-bothered meal</I> is usually poached eggs on toast.<BR/><BR/>Other options I choose from are: toasted sandwich, melted cheese on toast, baked beans on toast or toast spread with avocado and tomato slices or onion or both, salt & pepper. Yum!<BR/><BR/>Toast obviously features heavily and needs to be a nice sourdough!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-54616849098208191812008-12-18T19:21:00.000+10:002008-12-18T19:21:00.000+10:00We had it tonight - little egg tarlets: made in a ...We had it tonight - little egg tarlets: made in a muffin tray, pastry on the bottom topped with a mixture of eggs and whatever veges we have (tonght it was corn, tomato, beans, capsicum and peas) with a little parmesan on top. Kids and grownups alike love them. <BR/><BR/>So easy to make and delicious!goingferal(ish)https://www.blogger.com/profile/07634637410732527413noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-72603121450648501092008-12-18T19:07:00.000+10:002008-12-18T19:07:00.000+10:00I have several of these-1 cup of cous cous with tw...I have several of these-<BR/><BR/>1 cup of cous cous with two cups of water, a chopped carrot a chopped zuccini/courgette, peas if I have them and usually a few pine nuts and a little olive oil and a bit of salt all in one pot. I cook that according to the the cous cous directions and the veggies come out perfectly steamed (and only one thing to wash!) I'll usually have it with whatever cheese, yoghurt, nuts I have on hand for some fat/protein. Some find this bland, so you could add a stock cube or rosemary, oregano, tyme, basil or cumin can be added.<BR/><BR/>If I'm cooking for heavy meat eater I marinate some lamb in 2 parts soy sauce 1 part worchestershire (not sure if this counts as non-packaged!) sauce a handful of rosemary and 2-3 cloves of garlic and then bake that in the marinade till done. A fairly fatty cut comes out the most tender and the sauce is great for spooning over the cous cous and vegetables.<BR/><BR/>I also keep dry chinese egg noodles (soba) around, they only take 2 minutes to boil. (I'm often too lazy to boil pasta) I'll frequently take whatever veg I have on hand, stir fry that with olive oil, rice vinegar and soy sauce and add the noodles. I'll put in tofu or meat if I have it, or this a great peanut stir fry sauce:<BR/><BR/>1/4 cup olive oil<BR/>1/4 cup rice vinegar<BR/>1/8 cup soy sauce<BR/>3-4 cloves garlic, chopped<BR/>2-3 tsp. peanut butter <BR/>1 tsp fresh ginger or equivalent of powdered<BR/><BR/>This goes well with tofu, but not meat.<BR/><BR/>Eggs and pasta are also frequent visitors for my plates.The Gossiperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05106245536111802474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-72422952092030930052008-12-18T18:09:00.000+10:002008-12-18T18:09:00.000+10:00breakfast for dinner is our favorite.Omlettes are ...breakfast for dinner is our favorite.<BR/>Omlettes are quick and easy, with whatever fresh veggies and cheese I have around. <BR/><BR/>And sometimes I'll look for leftover baked potatoes in the fridge (I always make too many because they make lovely snacks) and slice them up for hashbrowns, sauteed in oil with some onions.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com