30 minute meal ideas...

I am in need of some new meal ideas. I have 3 children ages 6, 4, and 7 months...30 minutes is about all the time they allow me for cooking...hehe! Any ideas and recipes would be awesome!

P.S. We are not picky eaters but do prefer homemade over boxed...

Well, you could check a recipe web site:

http://search.allrecipes.com/recipe/time.asp?q1=chicken&time=30&siteid=19&srt=1&x=0&y=0

quote:

Originally posted by mammascookin

I am in need of some new meal ideas. I have 3 children ages 6, 4, and 7 months...30 minutes is about all the time they allow me for cooking...hehe! Any ideas and recipes would be awesome!

P.S. We are not picky eaters but do prefer homemade over boxed...

The answer to your wishes:

http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/show_tm/0,1976,FOOD_9997,00.html

Thanks a ton stevekoe and Michael...I miss having cable! I almost completely forgot about the food network!

Good Southern/Creole type dish that is really quick but might try your kids patience unless they really like veggies.....

1 bag frozen Okra
1 can (or small bag frozen) corn
1 can stewed or diced tomatoes
1/2 pound thinly sliced smoked sausage or kielbasa

Combine all in pan and simmer 15-20 minutes, serve over rice. Add hot sauce as needed.

OK - probably not the greatest thing in the world to kids, but it's good and fast!

Two meals I make that when I don't have the time or the inclination to do alot of cooking, and they are both kid friendly: "Manwiches" - just like the commercial says: "brown some ground beef and have a manwich night!" - and although they are not exactly as they tasted when I was a kid (not sure what changed, my taste buds or their recipe...) - it's not a bad quick fix.

Another very simple skillet meal - While boiling macaroni, brown and drain ground beef - then sautee chopped green and/or red peppers and onions - drain pasta and add everything to the skillet - some s & p and whatever other seasonings you prefer.

Unless it's a holiday or special celebration, I never spend much more that thirty minutes on dinner. Most mexican dishes cook up in thirty minutes. Do some stir fry too.
most casseroles you can whip together in ten minutes and throw in the oven.
I find if I have on hand the staples, i can get something to the table really quick. My staple list is pretty simple and includes pastas, tomato sauces, cheeses, ground beef or turkey, flour tortillas,bisquick, canned tuna, and lots of fresh and fresh frozen veggies.
Dont forget about getting some good bread and sandwich ingredients and having a cold supper. I like to hard boil eggs early in the day and refriderate them for dinner time. anitpasta can be a cold meal, meats, cheeses, cut up vegetables, tuna, hard cooked eggs, olives, all served with good bread and butter. especially now when it's hot out, you don't have to cook at all. I know a lot of people don't but we eat cold dinners a lot. Pasta and potato salad round out the meal, with some fresh fruit for dessert.
Sometimes I make a big batch of tuna or chicken salad and serve it with crackers and a green salad.

Thanks linus! Some really good chicken salad sounds good!

Here are a couple of quick/easies that my kids liked:
Soften about 2 tablespoons each onion & green pepper in a little butter. Stir in a can of chunk white meat chicken,a can of mushroom soup and a little chopped pimento. S&P to taste, heat through and serve over toast.(I always put a little Tabasco on mine)

Brown 1 lb ground beef and drain. Stir in a can of "Big John's Beans & Fixings". Serve on hamburger bun or just in a pile.

With both of these a jello & fruit salad is good. Or a good old '50's leaf of lettuce, canned peaches or pears, mayo & cheese.

Here are 2 quick meals I make that always go over well.

2 boxes mac and cheese or ones with creamy cheese
1 pound ground beef (may sub chicken or turkey)
1 onion chopped
1 can peas and carrots mixed drained

Brown meat and onions
Cook mac and cheese according to pkg.
Mix all together adding celery salt, garlic salt or powder and S&P until heated through.
Enjoy!

**********

2 pkgs. Lipton LoMein noodles any flavor cooked according to directions
Add cooked ground beef or cubed chicken or turkey.
Heat through.
May add frozen vegs if desired
Serve with salad or sliced tomatoes

*********

Can also make the same using boxed rice mixes

Done in 30 mins or less.

Any macNcheese casserole was always a hit with my youngins vary the hamburger with chopped hotdogs, lil smokie sausages or tunafish.. sketti pie, left over(or fresh)spagetti, meatsauce mix and place in casserole dish cover with mozzerella and bake till golden.. yankee chili, browned ground beef with pepperNonion, canned baked beans, warm through and serve over cheese toast

My 30-minute meal favorites are chicken, shrimp or veggie stir-fry over rice and taco salad. You can pick up frozen stir-fry veggies in a bag which makes it super simple.

For the Taco Salad... I brown one pound of ground beef or turkey, add taco seasoning and toss with lettuce, tomato, grated cheese, avocado, black beans, crushed tortilla chips and ranch dressing. My husband has to have it once every week. Hope this helps!

quote:

Originally posted by dreamzpainter

Any macNcheese casserole was always a hit with my youngins vary the hamburger with chopped hotdogs, lil smokie sausages or tunafish.. sketti pie, left over(or fresh)spagetti, meatsauce mix and place in casserole dish cover with mozzerella and bake till golden.. yankee chili, browned ground beef with pepperNonion, canned baked beans, warm through and serve over cheese toast

Your kids and this old fart enjoy the above concoctions also! About what I make when the budget gets thin and the hunger gets deep.. Filling meals without breaking the ever so thin walls of the bank..