Ok ladies and gentlemen. Being that I am a newly single, in essence, man with 50% custody of his great and wondrous little boys ages 5 and 9. I thought that this forum should represent things that will help us in all parts of our life. Now my wife is a great cook and has almost exclusively cooked for us. I cooked maybe about once a week, and while no slouch, my meals were the big Sunday dinner, not the everyday evening meals. So I thought that I would start of with regular recipes for quick evening meals for the masses. Add whatever tips/recipes that you have found are helpful. I can absolutely cook, but need some more realistic meals that can be cooked after I get home from work and have them done before bedtime at 8:30. hehe, here goes my first installment.

Housin Chicken stir fry with white rice.

- 2-3 skinless chicken breasts

- Couple handfuls of stirfry vegetable mix.

- "Dynasty" Hoisin sauce. Very good and spicy. Buy it in the oriental food section of the local grocery store. It is also the only Brand that I have found. I am sure others would be good, but I don't know about any of them.

- 2 or 3 cups white rice.

- "Wok oil" any oil that can get hot, such as canola or peanut will work. I just buy the "wok oil" because it can get hot and has a bit of spices already added.

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First thing is the rice since it by far takes the longest to cook. Put an appropriate amount of rice in a covered "Corning ware" type bowl and cover with twice the volume of water. Put in microwave for approximately 20 minutes depending on amount. However, regardless of the amount, it generally takes about this long give or take a couple minutes for rice to cook. You can also cook it on the stovetop, but I just don't like that because it takes too long for me. After you hit go, start on the real part of the cooking. After the microwave is finished, take off the lid and let it sit for about 5 minutes. after which time take a fork and "fluff" the rice and allow to sit for another 5 minutes or so until all the water is absorbed. One hint, if your bowl is more than about halfway full with water and rice, I would recommend placing it on a large plate, because your rice will almost invariabley "boil over". That way it will end up in the plate, not in the bottem of your microwave.

Depending on your family size, heat some oil, I use a brand called appropriately "Wok oil". It has some flavorings like garlic already added and makes the house smell great. Quickly sear a couple/few skinless chicken breasts in a wok or large skillet. After both sides are seared, remove and cut the chicken into smaller pieces, about two bites each and return to wok. (By the way, I bought the $14 wok at Target and I highly recommend getting one, they really make this sort of thing much easier to handle.) Then add the stir fry vegetables. Now I just buy the large bag of prechopped stirfry mixed vegetables at Sam's club because I can just take out the bag and pull out a couple handfuls to match however much I need for the meal, but if you are really into cooking and have the time. Fresh chopped taste better.

Quickly stirfry the vegetables. If they are like mine and frozen, you have about 3 or 4 minutes to cook them, if they are fresh then you have only about 2 or 3 minutes. DON'T OVERCOOK THEM, THEY SHOULD BE TENDERCRISP. Really watch the time and check them often. Keep the heat very hot. Now add the Hoisin sauce right to the chicken and vegetables and stir until everything is coated and the sauce is hot. That will take about a minute total. Yep, just dump it in the wok right out of the bottle. I used a whole bottle of "Dynasty" Hoisin sauce last time and my boys thought it was too spicy, but they loved it and drank alot of water with supper. So think about your tastes and add accordingly. Remember, you can always add more, but it is hard to remove it afterward.

Plate up some of the cooked white rice and put the chicken/vegetable mixture right on top. Have a great meal. I always try to put some oriental music on the stereo when we have this. In fact, I have come to enjoy a bit of "appropriately significant" background music with about every evening meal. Nothing to really listen to. Nothing loud. The conversation should always be very easy. But there is nothing like a bit of flamenco guitar and trumpets with tacos and enchiladas.

The whole thing takes about 20 or 30 minutes. The rice is the longest part, and if you use Minute rice, then you could be done even sooner.

Come on folks. Lets hear your secrets.

I am going to the gym, and I will be hungry when I get back so don't disappoint me. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Cool]" src="images/icons/cool.gif" />

<small>[ August 23, 2002, 05:56 PM: Message edited by: Formerly Confused ]</small>

Hi! This sounds yummy, can't wait to try it! I'm heading to the gym too...I'll think about food as I'm working out...hmmmm!

DJ

great recipe! for me its one ill try on my days off. other than that working shift work leaves me with little time to cook but here is a recipe my stbxh left me. its really simple and very good comfort food.
1lb elbow noodles
2 or 3 different kinds of cheeses you like
bread crumbs
can of whole tomatoes
preheat your oven 350
make the noodles
shredd your cheeses
in a oven safe dish start layering
noodles, cheese, crush tomatoes and use a little bit of the juices, and bread crumbs
keep doing that until you reach the top. i usually top it off with bread crumbs. pop it in the oven and bake until its bubbling and top is crispy.
hope you enjoy

<small>[ August 25, 2002, 09:11 PM: Message edited by: lizi ]</small>

The kids like it when I make chicken and rice casserole (recipe on label of Campbell's Cream of Chicken soup can).

Home made pancakes are always fun (they like to help make the batter with their favorite fruit).

Peanut butter and jelly pizza on homemade pizza dough (I add cinnamon (sp) to the dough).

im about to enter your land, and as a working mom (two jobs and mommy) i have several easy recipes that are good.
2 cans cambells beef veg soup
bring to a boil (don't forget to add the water)
put in a bag of noodles and cook about 7 minutes you have dinner if you add some bread and butter.

I also always buy more hamburger than i need. i brown it all at once. Put it in ziplocs in the freezer and (usually about 1 1/2 pounds cooked) that way you can make spagetti in about 20 minutes as well as tacos or nachos it really saves. time and money <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/smile.gif" /> I have a boy and a girl. They tend to be hungry right before bed (of course) a quick snack is ritz crackers and cheese in the micro for about 10 seconds, slap the top on and done. I make them at dinner time so they can do this themselves when i give the 30 minute warning. I have to get it together because 7:30 departure comes early. lots of luck and prayer.

Well, I AM the Domestic Goddess, the queen of the kitchen. Here's how I make salads:

Ingredients:

NO ICEBERG LETTUCE (it has little food value)
YES baby spinach leaves
YES Boston Lettuce
YES Romaine
Granny Smith apples (they're green) sliced small
chunks of mozarella cheese (it's low fat)
and/or chunks of cheddar
sliced cucumbers
grated carrots (put one of the kids to work with the grater, tell them to be careful of their fingers)
raisins
chickpeas (garbanzo beans) - drain the can of the liquid & pour them into the salad
ripe avocado
sliced radishes
broccoli
button mushrooms (brush them off; don't wash them)

If you don't have any of the above ingredients, SUBSTITUTE something. If I left anything out, and you think it would be good, add it in. Get creative.

Here's how I treat my greens:

Rinse them well, then if they are a little tired, give them an ice water soak for about 15 minutes. It perks them up.

Marie Calendar makes a wonderful corn bread mix. It's better than homemade. You just add water.

I'll post another recipe separately.

Boil your eggs, mark them with pencil so you can tell the boiled from the raw. Do a batch at a time and add them to green salads, potato salads, or just grab one for a snack.

Here's an egg salad and tofu recipe:

Caveat: I don't measure anything. I just approximate, and then I add things like more mayo if it looks too dry.

Open and drain a package of tofu (any kind; firm, soft, whatever) and chop it up.

Peel & chop a dozen boiled eggs
low fat mayonaise
small jar of green olives stuffed with pimientos, drained
salt & pepper
paprika
chopped scallions, celery
mix the chopped eggs & tofu
If it looks too pale, add some TURMERIC (an Indian seasoning; it turns food yellow/orange)

Serve as a side dish with bbq chicken or beef or just keep it in a bowl for quick sandwiches.

I have several that I can contribute. I like to prep things over the weekend or in the mornings so that I am not so rushed and overwhelmed when everybody comes in the door starving.

Don't know if you have a crock pot, but it is a lifesaver! Especially in the fall and winter - you can throw in a roast or beef stew or beef tips or soup or spaghetti sauce... in the morning and when you walk in the door - dinner's ready!

I like to put 2 pork tenderloins in the crockpot, pour in a bottle of barbeque sauce and turn it on low. Cook 8-10 hours, shred the meat and put it on buns - great bar-b-q sandwiches.

Another great recipe my kids love is taco soup (i know it sounds bad, but it is delish!) It is also known as 'can opener soup' because that is practically all you have to do.

Cook a pound of ground beef and drain.
Add 1 can of each of the following (don't drain):
corn
black beans
chili beans
rotel tomatoes (or chopped tomatoes)
1 package of dry ranch dressing mix
1 package of taco seasoning mix
1 cup water

Cook till heated through. Put fritos or nacho chips in a bowl, ladle soup over and top with shredded cheese and sour cream.

Pumpkin Pudding

Look on the can of pumpkin pie filling and follow the recipe for that particular brand.

To be healthy, use low fat evaporated milk, and use egg-beaters (1/4 cup = one egg)

Spray a glass baking dish with butter flavor Pam.

Pour the mixture and bake according to the directions on the can, as though it were a pie.

The good news: fast and easy and less fattening because no pie crust.

Thanks guys for your recipes. They look easy and delicious and my family will appreciate a change.

Corn Chowder

package of bacon
potatoes
large can of creamed corn
1/2 cup chopped onions (Trick: I buy the jars of dried onions and plump them up for 10 mins. in water. You may buy frozen chopped onions & thaw just before using.)
low fat evaporated milk
salt & pepper

Brown the bacon, remove it and drain on paper towels. (Do not discard the bacon grease. I have a trick for you to do with it.)

Clean the potatoes and dice them. If your family are pickey eaters, peel them before dicing.

Parboil the potatoes (15 minutes)

Drain most of the water from the potatoes. Add the onions and pour the can (or cans) of creamed corn. (DO NOT BUY THE STORE BRAND. IT'S HORRIBLE. GET A NAME BRAND.)

add the evaporated milk (or a quart of half and half if you don't care about calories)

bring to a boil, then simmer for 10 minutes. Crumple up the bacon and add to the soup, season and serve.

Goes good with garlic bread.

NOW THE TRICK WITH THE BACON GREASE:

Take a mason jar or a tall coffee mug or an empty mayonaise jar and put a cone shaped coffee filter in the opening. If you don't have coffee filters, use a single thickness of paper towl, and secure it around the mouth of the container with a rubber band. Take the slightly cooled bacon grease and pour it out of the skillet into the coffee filter or paper towel. Let it drain through and don't pour to fast. You will be left with pieces of bacon in the skillet and in the filter. Get rid of them in an empty coffee can you keep under the sink until it is full. DON'T POUR IT DOWN YOUR DRAINS.

Now, every time you make bacon save the fat in the same jar. This can be used to make:

WIDOWMAKER FRIED POTATOES

Bake several potatoes during the week and refrigerate them. On the night you're going to cook Widowmakers, throw a salad together and maybe make burgers or some other fish, meat or chicken and then:

peel the potatoes, slice in rounds and half rounds about an inch thick.

Preheat a skillet and put in about 1/4 c solid crisco, and about 1 tablespoon of nice, clean bacon fat. If you have oil with chili flavoring, put about 1/4 teaspoon into the mix. When the oil is hot, put the potatoes into it and cook until brown on one side, then flip them.

Drain on paper towels. Serve with the salad and some Ketchup.

Don't eat if you have a heart condition.
<img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/smile.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/grin.gif" />

Hey Bellevue,

Maybe you have a recipe for "Widowermaker" potatoes???

Of course, they would have to work fast and I would still have to invite her over for dinner then, so I guess that I will have to settle for the divorce. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="images/icons/wink.gif" />

<small>[ August 28, 2002, 10:13 PM: Message edited by: Formerly Confused ]</small>

Here's a delicious and easy recipe that everyone likes, including kids:

WHITE CHILE
2T olive oil
1 pound cubed, boneless, skinless chicken breast
1 medium onion, chopped
3 garlic cloves, crushed
1 - 15 ounce can chicken broth
1 - 7 ounce can of diced green chiles
2 - 15 ounce cans of cannelini beans
2 teaspoons cumin
1 teaspoon oregano
1 teaspoon dried cilantro (you can use 1-2 tablespoons fresh cilantro instead)
1/4 teaspoon cayenne (red) pepper
1/2 cup diced roasted red peppers (from a jar)
white cheese

Heat the oil to medium high. Add the chicken, onion, and garlic. Cook 4-5 minutes. Stir in broth, chiles, and spices. Simmer 15 minutes. Stirin the beans and red peppers (if you're using fresh cilantro, add it here). Simmer. Serve topped with cheese.

Thanks so much for all your ideas a recipes. I have my boys this weekend so I will be trying a few. This is one I threw together the other night. My oldest son thought I was making some sort of mexican food whan I told him I was making Kielbasa. He said "nada".

Quick Kielbasa and potatoes

Chop a whole onion. I prefer reds, but I just love them in everything anyway so I am biased. Put a bit of olive oil in your skillet and heat for about 2 or 3 minutes.

Peel and slice enough potatoes for your family, and some for breakfast the next day. I love fried potatoes for breakfast. Put a bit more olive oil in. I suspect this would be where I would be adding the bacon grease if I had some. That sounds great, I will have to start saving it. I use olive oil for no particular reason, I guess I use it for about everything needing oil unless frying. I guess I could also use butter or margerine. Just something to slick up the potatoes. Make sure you salt and pepper the potatoes twice, once early and once late. The early salt takes a bit of the water out of the potatoes and the late salt helps with the flavor better.

I heat up the kielbasa in the microwave, I use about 2 long links for the three of us for dinner and breakfast the next day. You could start it in the skillet with it chopped up in half inch rounds and maybe have enough grease for the potatoes. I am not sure. Anyway, after it is heated, I add the rounds to the potatoes and onions. Add something green, either chopped green onions or parsley, whatever I have and heat through quickly.

My boys absolutely loved it and it took only about 20 minutes. I buy the large packs of kielbasa at Sam's Club and separate out enough for each meal and freeze in freezer paper. This really helps with cost and I can buy a bunch and not have to worry about running out of something. I can just grab a pack and get to work.

I have also learned that my presentation of the food really helps with how well it is received by my boys. They are actually great eaters and have always eaten a big variety, but they really get a kick out of garnishes and whatnot. I took three of the green onions and made a little teepee by leaning them against each other over the plate and putting a napkin around them. They talked about that for 2 days. According to them, I cook as good as mom now, hehe. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Cool]" src="images/icons/cool.gif" />

Formerly Confused:

"Maybe you have a recipe for "Widowermaker" potatoes???

Of course, they would have to work fast and I would still have to invite her over for dinner then, so I guess that I will have to settle for the divorce. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="images/icons/wink.gif" /> "

Hee hee! They don't work THAT fast! How about ground up glass in bread pudding?

I'd go for the divorce rather than the slow poisoning. At least there's no risk of life in prison.

Lets Try, this looks great! By the way, I never use dried cilantro. And I always put in WAY more than the recipe calls for.

Hint: The stems have the most flavor. Chop them up tiny. Maybe you could grow fresh cilantro in a pot year round?