Quick dinner ideas?

Discussion in 'General Discussions' started by Will, Aug 19, 2011.

  1. Will

    Will Level IV

    Joined:
    Mar 1, 2009
    Messages:
    1,067
    Likes Received:
    53
    So yeah, I'm an engineering student so I'm generally busy allllll the time :(

    And I have to cook dinner every second night, and it's hard to come up with ideas of things that are mildly healthy, quick and easy to make.

    I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions? I usually make a risotto, steak and chips, pasta bake, etc
     
  2. Angelika

    Angelika Moderator

    Joined:
    Dec 25, 2006
    Messages:
    2,905
    Likes Received:
    36
    Location:
    <(^_^)>
    Fish! It cooks quickly, and you'll never get bored since there are so many different types. Make a quick marinade or dry rub for the fish and broil it. Steam some veggies, and you're set. You could also cook a big batch of brown rice or wheat orzo if you need some carbs in your life.

    My fave marinade:
    equal parts water, gluten free soy sauce, and Splenda brown sugar
    2 tbsp evoo
    2-3 cloves of garlic, minced
    2-3 green onions, chopped
    lemon pepper, paprika, and garlic salt to taste

    It's awesome and super easy to tweak.
     
  3. Will

    Will Level IV

    Joined:
    Mar 1, 2009
    Messages:
    1,067
    Likes Received:
    53
    I have been thinking fish! Buuut my housemate isn't a big fish fan, so I really rarely cook it.


    I have a good marinade for lamb, chicken, or any meat or anything..... it's amaaaazing:

    - 1 tbsp soy sauce
    - 1 tbsp olive oil
    - 1 tsp minced garlic
    - 1 tsp sugar

    it's dericious after an hour of marinating
     
  4. Angelika

    Angelika Moderator

    Joined:
    Dec 25, 2006
    Messages:
    2,905
    Likes Received:
    36
    Location:
    <(^_^)>
    He doesn't like any fish??? I could understand salmon or mahi mahi, but what about milder fish? I bet he'd be okay with tilapia or basa since it tastes like whatever you put on it.
     
  5. Freja

    Freja Level IV

    Joined:
    Sep 20, 2008
    Messages:
    2,157
    Likes Received:
    117
    Location:
    Denmark
    Chicken fillets are my favorite food. You can make them in all sort of variations.

    Cut them in pieces in cook them until done. Add mushrooms, onion, vegetables (whatever you like) and end it with a tomato sauce or something. Put whatever in it you like :p Make rice/pasta with it.

    You can also make them whole, just cut them over (not all the way) and put feta and pesto in them. Cook them in the oven. Tastes awesome =D

    Fresh spinach pasta with ham is veryyy easy and quick. Add vegetables as you like.

    But I usually end up eating tomato with ryebread xD So I know what you mean by having no time D:
     
  6. Will

    Will Level IV

    Joined:
    Mar 1, 2009
    Messages:
    1,067
    Likes Received:
    53
    Ooooo Freja good idea :)

    I cooked tandoori chicken filets on the barbecue once. It's difficult though, and you really need to watch it. And they were different thicknesses so one of them ended up a bit on the pink side - very hard to cook them whole IMO :(

    No time is the worst! Most nights I get home at 5:30pm, and our fridge is rarely stocked because the supermarket is like 3 minutes away......... :(
     
  7. Freja

    Freja Level IV

    Joined:
    Sep 20, 2008
    Messages:
    2,157
    Likes Received:
    117
    Location:
    Denmark
    Well, surely you have an oven? They'll take care of themselves in there :p Very easy.
    But yeah, I rarely cook them whole either, mostly because it takes more time. But you can do so much with them and it's healthy without all the fat and skin, like the ones you buy on bones.

    Haha, yeah it's hard to keep your fridge stocked when the supermarket is so close. Plus, the one we have is open until 10pm, so I never stock up o.o
     
  8. 38Special

    38Special Level I

    Joined:
    Aug 11, 2011
    Messages:
    44
    Likes Received:
    0
    McDonald's


    lol
     
  9. und3ad

    und3ad Level IV

    Joined:
    Feb 12, 2009
    Messages:
    886
    Likes Received:
    7
    Location:
    Montréal
    Ugh I've been lazier and lazier with cooking...D: Not that Im any good anyway...xD I have no idea how to do all these marination stuff x)
     
  10. zetoast

    zetoast Level I

    Joined:
    Aug 13, 2011
    Messages:
    42
    Likes Received:
    1
    Since I've moved out with just me and my fiancee, we take turns cooking dinner, and both of us are lazy.


    Our favorite things to make
    :

    Chicken.
    Bake @ 350 deg. for 1hr.
    Marinate in anything you enjoy.

    Fiancee uses:
    - adobo all purpose meat seasoning
    - garlic salt
    - lemon or lime juice (soak chicken in it)

    I use:
    - adobo
    - garlic salt
    - sweet baby rays honey
    - onions.

    or if I get lazy:
    -sbr & onions.


    Meatloaf~
    - Lean ground meat/turkey
    - mix in with favorite seasonings (use the same stuff as my chicken)
    - add bread crumbs (I usually tear off small pieces of butts of bread loafs and use about 1/3 to 1/2 by rolling up teeennnyy miniscule crumbs into it)
    - mix

    -heat oven @ 350
    -cook 1 hr.

    Quicker meals

    Pasta sides (comes in packs for $1, 1 pack feeds 1-2 ppl), comes in a variety of flavors. Cooks in 8mins. follow directions.

    taco salad:
    - ground meat/turkey:
    season w/ various spices to your liking
    - put in pan w/ olive oil, cook until meat gets dark/looks done
    (aprox 15-25 mins on med-high heat)

    Cook refried beans until consistent bubbling
    (aprox 5mins on med-hi heat)

    - chop up onions
    - chop up tomatoes (you can buy both of these pre-chopped for quicker goodness)
    - shredded lettuce

    pile into a bowl (usually beans, meat, lettuce, tomato, onion) & eat with tortilla chips :3


    Sides
    - Rice (we use minute rice or rice sides) 4-10 mins
    - black beans (or other beans if you enjoy) 5 mins
    or
    - pasta 8-15mins
    - mac & cheese (fiancee hates) 15mins

    I also enjoy to pair things with mashed potatoes.

    Chop up medium red potatoes (dont peal)
    the smaller the pieces, the faster they cook.
    heat @ med-high temp w/ water to boil

    put in garlic salt, oregano, blk pepper
    tbsp of butter/margarine
    lightly mix in milk until you get the right consistency.


    Hope this helped :)
     
  11. tristen1230

    tristen1230 Level II

    Joined:
    Jul 29, 2010
    Messages:
    327
    Likes Received:
    14
    Location:
    Canada
    Fish and chips. Well not actually chips but French Fries. Very easy just stick it into the oven. There are a lot of fish at the store for cheap like tilapea then French fries are very easy to cook. Even with like tilapea if you cook it on a pan takes less then 5 minutes.