Family Cooking...

[fatewineroses]

Okay. I'm always struggling to come up with different things to cook. I get bored cooking the same thing every week. And here I am, perusing the web and my cookbooks, trying to come up with something new that is..healthy, fast, easy, and tastes great! Do you know how hard it is to do? To wade through the pages and pages of websites, let alone pages and pages of recipes.

Then a thought came to me...

You have tons of ATTA members who are parents too...what do THEY cook for dinner? Maybe they can give you some ideas!

So that's the idea for this thread. If you have something that you make every week, that's healthy, fast, and a hit with the kids...POST IT!

And maybe, just maybe..if we get enough great recipes, we'll put together an ATTA cookbook. Neat!

[Domino Loopenmarble]

I love this idea!!

Let this brain of mine think of some good ones and I will post them. I DO love to cook so give me some time and you wil have some recipes!

[jolynda]

Here is my healthy, fast, "kids actually eat it" contribution:

stir fried anything with yoshida sauce, served with brown rice.
It's the yoshida sauce that's the key! My kids have declared that anything with yoshida's is good!

Here is what I typically do:
1. In rice cooker (or saucepan), prepare brown rice per package directions. It takes longer than white rice, so I start it first.
2. Sauté strips of chicken breast, garlic, green peppers, or whatever is handy, using a little olive oil.
3. While cooking that, I steam the rest of the veggies (whatever we have - typically, I use frozen broccoli & cauliflower, some carrots, and some zucchini) in the microwave. I could stir fry the veggies in the frying pan too (you just add a little water to get a good steam going), but I'm lazy.
4. When veggies are crisp done, I toss the veggies and the chicken stuff together in the frypan with some yoshida's sauce (look in the marinade section of the supermarket - it's kinda like teriaki sauce).
5. When the rice is done, dinner is on.

It's easy, it takes less than 1/2 hour to make, my kids LOVE it, and they don't mind eating all strange veggies I throw in there because of the yoshida's sauce.

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Another super fast, healthy idea

Try the Foster Farms Frozen Italian Turkey Meatballs. No recipe here - just a suggestion. Everyone I have served them to, LOVES them. They are a good healthy source of protein, they are easy, and they are versatile.

We have served them with BBQ sauce or yoshida's sauce and rice, with brown gravy and potatos, with spaghetti sauce and pasta, and with a bit of cream of something soup with a few sprinkles of nutmeg for easy "Swedish meatballs" on noodles. We have also skewered them on bambook skewers with pineapple and other things and made interesting meatball kabobs. I always keep a bag of these in my freezer for quick meals when I can't think of anything to make.

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Another quick meal idea:

spray baking pan with pam, then put in seasoned pieces of chicken - I like to season with paprika, garlic powder, salt & pepper). Cover pan with aluminum and bake chicken until juices run clear when poked - should only take 20-30 minutes. Open a can of fat free cream of chicken soup and dump on top of chicken - do NOT add water. Spread it around. If it's not enough, open a second can and use it too. Mix the soup with the juices in the pan, then put the pan back in the oven for 20 minutes.
You end up with wonderfully flavorful, tender chicken, and the soup has turned into the most wonderful sauce/gravy for the chicken and any side you want to include - great on mashed potatoes, pasta, and rice. Serve with salad as desired.

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Another of my "super easy staples":

Brown chicken in frying pan (you can season as desired). When chicken is browned, add in 1/2 cup of barbeque sauce and a 1/2 cup of salsa - how spicy is up to you. Cover and simmer on very low heat until chicken is cooked through - stir occasionally so sauce doesn't congeal and burn. Serve with your choice of sides. I like it with brown rice, corn on the cob, and salad.

[MamaJ]

hmmm, my hubby does most of the cooking. Ill get his recipes from "the old country" chicken papricash and kapusta and post them tomorrow.

But for today they sell these yummy veggie treats at trader joes called vegetable birdsnests. My kids love them, and they hate veggies. They also sell frozen gyozas, which are really good fried. Higher in calories but oh so yummy. They also sell fresh made pizza dough so you can make your own pizzas.

[mildew102]

I second the frozen gyozas. Other stores also sell them called "potstickers". We usually get veg and pork. In a hot frying pan with a little oil, put in the frozen dumplings and brown on the flat side (2-3 minutes), turn over to another side (2-3 mintues), turn the heat down, add 1/2 cup or so of water and cover to finish cooking. We serve with boxed oriental noodle mixes or rice.

One of my kids favorites are a bumpy pasta (wagon wheels or fusilli or shells), topped with a cheese sauce (I use the packets from Knorr's), then add peas and poached chicken breasts (or cut up chicken left over from another meal).

[Fireball Mcmonkey]

We do something called "Mexican Monday". Can be anything from tacos, quesadillas, burritos, fajitas, enchiladas...you name it! Kids can pick what they want & help you make it. My kids are 10 & 7 now so helping in the kitchen is still fun.

Speaking of Trader Joe's- Their "Mojito Salmon" in the frozen section is FANTASTIC!

Another favorite- Crescent Ring...Use 2 pkgs Crescent Rolls, Pillsbury or generic, lay them out in a circle formation, wide end in the middle, narrow end pointed out. Fill with chicken mixture, beef & broccoli, taco...there are many choices. Take narrow end of triangle & fold over mixture & tuck under in the middle. Bake at 375 F for about 35 minutes.

If it's made at home, it's home-made! Even if it comes out of the freezer, box, can or package!!

I also have taught my kids to heat up hot dogs wrapped in a paper towel for 30 seconds in the micro!

[Witchy Da Mom]

Please, include some vegetarian meals. I am not a very good cook, I am looking forward to learning new, easy recipes.

[Fireball Mcmonkey]

Originally Posted by Witchy Da Mom

Please, include some vegetarian meals. I am not a very good cook, I am looking forward to learning new, easy recipes.

Amy's brand in the freezer section is FABULOUS! A lot of her stuff is Vegan. I am not a vegan, but I gave up dairy (cow's milk, sour cream, cheese, cream cheese, butter, yogurt, eggs) & I have lost 12 lbs in 2 months!

Cheryl

[Junebug]

Wonderful Idea!!!

I will see what recipes I can dig up......

Cindy

[MiniMe]

Oooo, I like this thread... I'll browse through my recipes and post some soon.

[Gigglemush]

I have tons of recipes, albeit they are in no way healthy, and may not be kid friendly. THey are extremly hot and spicy for the most part. Let me dig some up as well.

[mildew102]

Three layers: tofu, gravy, mashed potatoes

1 cake tofu (frozen, thawed, shredded - or just broken into small pieces)
1 onion chopped
spices (thyme, corriander, pepper, etc.)
1/2 cup walnuts (optional)
green beans (steamed crisp)
1 tbsp lemon juice
1-2 tbsp soy sauce to taste

Saute onion in oil with spices, when done add other ingredients above. When heated through, set aside.

Gravy
1/2 lb mushrooms
3 tbsp soy sauce
1 1/2 c. hot potato water
2 tbsp cornstarch disolved in 1/2 c. water

Saute mushrooms in 2 tbsp oil and soy sauce. Add 1 1/2 c. of potato water and bring to boil. Add cornstarch mixture and continue cooking until gravy is clear and thick.

PUT IT TOGETHER:
Layer tofu, gravy then top with mashed potatoes. Dot the top with butter or margarine (optional). Bake at 400 for 15-20 min. until bubbling.

The first time I made this my husband didn't know it was tofu (no kidding!). My kids like it and they also don't know it is tofu. They think it is ground meat. The original recipe didn't call for the greenbeans, but we like itthis way. I have used peas in place of the greenbeans in a pinch.

[fatewineroses]

Originally Posted by Gigglemush

I have tons of recipes, albeit they are in no way healthy, and may not be kid friendly. THey are extremly hot and spicy for the most part. Let me dig some up as well.

Pull 'em out! I go up to my mom's every couple of weekends and usually the adults fix something separate from the kids...except mine. But she can find her own food! LoL

[Junebug]

Here is one I am sure some of you have heard of or already done. It sounds kind of strange but the combination of flavors is tasty and its very easy to prepare. I will usually have it with some biscuits and some sort of vegetable or side salad.

Tater Tot Casserole

1 Lb. ground beef
1/2 pound Velvetta
1 bag tater tots
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can of chicken noodle soup

Brown meat and drain. Cook cheese & soups until melted (either on stovetop or microwave). Place beef in 8x8 or 9x9 casserole dish; pour cheese mix over top. Place tots on top in rows (don't push down) Bake at 400 for 35-45 depending on how brown you like your tots.

Cindy

[Silly Rainbow Funnygoose]

crock pot cooking is great!

Throw in the food before your battle runs and it is cooked when you are done! Keeps you from looking like a slacker for playing, you can have a hot dinner on the table, when it is time. I like to use lots of veggies, especially onion, green and red pepper, garlic, and whatever veggies are handy from the store or frozen corn and peas, etc. If you want meat, I like to add ground turkey or chicken, low fat. I cook the meat before adding it of course. I season with a random hamberger helper mix, 2 boxes for a full crock pot. Or a jar of spagetti sauce works too. I throw in bay leaves also. Super simple, quick, and healthy...and my daughter loves it. If I let her prepare some of the veggies she likes it even better, being one of the cooks.

I think I will be looking for more recipies for crock pot cooking, it is great.
If I have leftovers I store in some quart size containers (I use leftover yogurt containers) and freeze it for later for microwave.

Also, no cook food is great too, like yogurt, cottage cheese, fresh raw veggies cut up with slad dressing on top (I love sesame ginger dressing), and I often have ice cream for breakfast...lol. If it makes you feel better, you can add cereal to ice cream, but I don't.