My kids start football season next week, and I'm going to have 4 days of evening practices. What meals can I make during the day that all I have to do is heat on the stove or toss in the oven quickly when I get home?
Alexandra from Armed Forces, Europe
I just made a meal that was awesome and quick. You need Panko bread crumbs (regular will do, but you don't get the CRUNCH that panko gives you)
Plate #1 Flour, salt and Pepper and any added seasonings (you can season the bread crumbs too, but this gives a good taste right on the meat)
Plate #2 Egg or two (depending on how much meat, just enough to get wet, can add a little milk, buttermilk, cream to smooth it out, can also use Better Than Eggs, I did!)
Plate #3 The panko crumbs
Dredge each breast in flour, then egg, then crumbs and add to a pan that is medium high with oil (stainless works better than nonstick, cast iron is even better), get a nice brown crust on each side (only try to turn a couple times) then turn down to low/medium to cook thoroughly.
You can have these cooking while chatting about the day, putting dishes away, getting other dishes ready etc. I threw some olive oil in a pan and sauted some fresh green beans with garlic powder, kosher salt and pepper right before I served the chicken, aweseome!!
So here were our ideas after the meal was made, smaller pieces could be "chicken nuggets", can throw the full breasts into a pan with some sauce and cheese and under the broiler for Parmesan, etc. If you use a stainless steel or iron skillet, after you take the chicken out mix the drippings in the pan with some chicken broth, maybe some wine? or even water, thicken with some of the leftover flour, make sure to add some extra salt if you use water (you'll cook it so the raw chicken that it was dredged in will not hurt you) makes an awesome gravy!
Hope that helps. I know it's a lot of words, but it really is quick, tender (make sure to get the brown, then turn down) and so yummy! (08/22/2007)
By Michawn
Chili is one of my favourites for this, just reheat while you cook the rice. Also you can make a really big portion and freeze half of it so you have it ready for the following week.
Have a home-made soup ready so they can tuck into this while something else is cooking. (08/23/2007)
By mum
My grandkids love my quick and easy fajitas. i buy a 2lb bag of chicken tenders cut in bite size pieces, cook until almost done in large pan. Cut onions and green peppers add to the chicken, Buy a bag of fajita mix in spice aisle. Mix it to directions simmer and it will be ready when you are. I roll up in a soft taco shell and wrap. I put cheddar cheese on it and microwave about 1 minute. top with tomato, lettuce and sour cream. Yum the family loves them. (08/23/2007)
By bonnie
Crockpot, crockpot, crockpot! Lots of recipes on the internet (08/23/2007)
By beckie
By Sarah
I make McBeef, it's what I call it.
It really only takes about 10 minutes and is great warmed up and for left-overs. (08/23/2007)
By Sandra
My kids always liked my Hot Macaroni Tomato Casserole. Elbow macaroni, tomato sauce, seasonings of your choice, shredded cheese
Cook the pasta, drain and pour back into pan. Add some butter to coat pasta, add the seasonings and sauce. Heat. As you dish it up, sprinkle hot dish with cheese. (I have also added the cheese with the sauce and then used Parmesan on top)
This can also be baked if you like too.Even the picky neighbor kids loved this one...lol. (08/23/2007)
By Chris
Crock pot recipe:
By Barb
I know what you are saying about being a busy mom! I often make meals to heat quickly on the stove for my husband as well as my 2 boys. One that I like to make is Rizzoto. It is very easy to re-heat. You just fry meat and vegetables like mushrooms, green onions, grated carrot, minced celery, red/green/yellow peppers, basically whatever you like. Then you add it all to cooked rice and add seasonings such as garlic, onion powder etc. and soy sauce. It is really good, really easy to make and the boys seem to love it! All that you have to do to re-heat is just put it in a pot and warm it for a few minutes. (08/24/2007)
By Mel
I would also use a crockpot as you are only fixing the meal one time instead of fixing and reheating. Go to about.com, recipezaar.com or allrecipes.com and type in slow cooker recipes...you should be able find something you like.
(08/25/2007)
By
Spaghetti: Cook your sauce during the day. Cook your spaghetti and make your salad. When you get home just heat your sauce and spaghetti, toss your salad and make your garlic bread. Shouldn't take more than 15 minutes. Enjoy the evening with your family. (08/25/2007)
By Danialle
cottage pie, spaghetti bolognaise, chili con carne, spaghetti carbonara, any kind of pie - chicken, fish beef etc any casserole , any meat cooked in a sauce eg chicken chasseur, home made meatballs can be served with jacket potato (10 minutes in the microwave) filled with grated cheese, vegetables can be par boiled in advance and served with chops or steaks
You can even cook pot roasts with braised vegetables in advance which improves the tenderness of the meat (08/25/2007)
By carol
During nice weather, when we grill out, we do several meats at one time: steaks, hamburgers, sausage, chicken, hotdogs, and grill several veggies too. We may eat the steak the first night, hamburgers the second, the chicken the next, sausage on the fourth night, etc. It is so much easier to have the meat cooked and only have to heat it up with a veggie and make a salad when we're rushed. (08/27/2007)
By susan
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