Quick, easy, healthy meal ideas?

J&K10910

You guys gave me such awesome lunch ideas that maybe you can help me with dinner too.  I've been seriously cooking lazy lately. We're trying to work in more after work workouts too--which leaves me even less time to cook us healthy meals.

So...quick, easy, and healthy meals (or slow cooker ones). In the past I've done a lot of cooking ahead and freezing, but until we get a chest freezer, we have not enough freezer space for that.  So for now, almost everything needs to be cooked at the time, or just a day or two ahead.  I do like to cook, shred, and freeze chicken, so recipes to use that would be good. And bonus points for anything that's leftovers would be good cold.

J&K10910

I should add I'm a Skinny Taste fanatic, so I don't need any Skinny Taste recipes

willywally5

This sounds weird but is really good. Kind of a Thai vibe going on with the flavor.

Spicy Peanut Butter Chicken

Put a quartered chicken (or whatever pieces you like) in the crock pot. Cover with a big jar of picante sauce (I use Pace or homemade) and 1 cup of peanut butter. Cook about an hour on high and then four hours on low. Serve over brown rice or wheat pasta of your choice. 

(Timing is probably different for different crockpots.)

dawnp917

I did this using light ranch dressing to make it healthier http://pedersenfood.blogspot.com/2011/05/chicken-ranch-tacos.html A favorite of mine is seafood stew I take a bag of frozen mixed shellfish Jar of vodka sauce Can of chicken broth Hot pepper Mushrooms Onions Red peppers Garlic Chop and sautée all vegetables until cooked . Add shellfish cook a few minutes. Add vodka sauce and chicken stock. Bring to a boil. Simmer about 15 minutes. I serve with crusty bread.

J&K10910

Interesting.  I'd be willing to try that!

This is a stupid question, but is picante sauce different from salsa?  If yes, have you a recipe for yours?

J&K10910

Gah, I should have put a "I don't eat shellfish" disclaimer.  But I bet that recipe would be good with chicken too!

zizibet

This blog
101cookbooks.com is a great source for them. No crockpot recipes either.

ArynBaker

See my blog clicky by my sig, on the recipes page there is a section for 30 minutes or less dinners. The lentil sloppy joes are probably my favorite. I'm making them this week  

angelsong21

I don't have any specific recipes pulled up right now, but have you browsed Cooking Light's website?  I've found some really great recipes on there that are really simply and tasty.  I'll go pull just the few I printed off today and come back with some links if you haven't perused much over there.

willywally5

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_quick-easy-healthy-meal-ideas?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:9a27f3f6-20bd-4ac8-8b0e-f6514357452aPost:13978ab7-7a89-4aaf-a1a3-80249789b114">Re: Quick, easy, healthy meal ideas?</a>:
[QUOTE]Interesting.  I'd be willing to try that! This is a stupid question, <strong>but is picante sauce different from salsa? </strong> If yes, have you a recipe for yours?
Posted by J&K10910[/QUOTE]

<div>Honestly, I don't really know the difference. I use Pace picante when we are out of our homemade salsa, which is almost never because we can a jillion jars of it. I have a basic recipe but it always ends up a little different, depending on what we have from the garden the day we make it. I can get you the recipe if you want. It makes a TON.</div><div>
</div><div>ETA: I agree that the shellfish would be great with chicken. I'll try anything with vodka sauce!</div>

J&K10910

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_quick-easy-healthy-meal-ideas?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:9a27f3f6-20bd-4ac8-8b0e-f6514357452aPost:be4ae8f9-0354-45ac-b2a5-8319511665c5">Re: Quick, easy, healthy meal ideas?</a>:
[QUOTE]I don't have any specific recipes pulled up right now, but have you browsed Cooking Light's website?  I've found some really great recipes on there that are really simply and tasty.  I'll go pull just the few I printed off today and come back with some links if you haven't perused much over there.
Posted by angelsong21[/QUOTE]

Oh, no, I love Cooking Light, and I get the magazine too!  It seems like a lot of their stuff lately (at least in the magazine) has been more complicated...which has been fine in the past, but I just don't have the time or motivation right now.  I'll have to go looking on the website again--I think they have a section for 30 minute meals, and I know they have a 5 ingredient meal section.

Willy, nah, I have a family recipe for salsa that I'm not interested in branching out from, I was just curious about picante vs salsa more.  Thanks though!

willywally5

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_quick-easy-healthy-meal-ideas?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:9a27f3f6-20bd-4ac8-8b0e-f6514357452aPost:57b25c0c-1c90-4742-8930-0e8a49e52559">Re: Quick, easy, healthy meal ideas?</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Quick, easy, healthy meal ideas? : Oh, no, I love Cooking Light, and I get the magazine too!  It seems like a lot of their stuff lately (at least in the magazine) has been more complicated...which has been fine in the past, but I just don't have the time or motivation right now.  I'll have to go looking on the website again--I think they have a section for 30 minute meals, and I know they have a 5 ingredient meal section. <strong>Willy, nah, I have a family recipe for salsa that I'm not interested in branching out from, I was just curious about picante vs salsa more.  Thanks though!</strong>
Posted by J&K10910[/QUOTE]

<div>Totally understand. Once you find one that works, stick with it. Seriously, ours never comes out exactly the same. I looked up the difference between salsa and picante and found conflicting opinions. I think I don't care enough to read further. </div>

dawnp917

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_quick-easy-healthy-meal-ideas?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:9a27f3f6-20bd-4ac8-8b0e-f6514357452aPost:eefcc67f-cad5-4b1e-92b8-7ffcd22e68ed">Re: Quick, easy, healthy meal ideas?</a>:
[QUOTE]Gah, I should have put a "I don't eat shellfish" disclaimer.  But I bet that recipe would be good with chicken too!
Posted by J&K10910[/QUOTE]




Yes chicken works good in this too. You can also leave out the chicken stock and use this as a pasta sauce.

melb2013

Tuna and white bean salad: http://www.delish.com/recipefinder/tuna-white-bean-salad-rbk

Crab salad in avocados: http://www.fortheloveofcooking.net/2010/11/cilantro-and-lime-crab-salad-in-avocado.html

Cilantro lim shrimp: http://www.lanascooking.com/2011/06/07/cilantro-lime-shrimp/

Poached eggs in tomato sauce with chickpeas: http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Poached-Eggs-in-Tomato-Sauce-with-Chickpeas-and-Feta-368963

Those are some of my favorite healthy (relatively) very quick recipes

Edited: just saw the shellfish disclaimer!  Wups!

angelsong21

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_quick-easy-healthy-meal-ideas?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:9a27f3f6-20bd-4ac8-8b0e-f6514357452aPost:57b25c0c-1c90-4742-8930-0e8a49e52559">Re: Quick, easy, healthy meal ideas?</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Quick, easy, healthy meal ideas? : <strong>Oh, no, I love Cooking Light, and I get the magazine too!  It seems like a lot of their stuff lately (at least in the magazine) has been more complicated...which has been fine in the past, but I just don't have the time or motivation right now.</strong>  I'll have to go looking on the website again--I think they have a section for 30 minute meals, and I know they have a 5 ingredient meal section. Willy, nah, I have a family recipe for salsa that I'm not interested in branching out from, I was just curious about picante vs salsa more.  Thanks though!
Posted by J&K10910[/QUOTE]<div>
</div><div>ITA.  They had a section online for quick dishes for summer and I pulled a couple interesting ones from there.  I know they have a "30 minutes or less" section as well.  There's a REALLY good Thai spicy beef stir fry recipe on there that is super quick -- we do a lot of stir fry during the week because neither of us is motivated to do much in terms of cooking after work.

</div>

J&K10910

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_quick-easy-healthy-meal-ideas?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:9a27f3f6-20bd-4ac8-8b0e-f6514357452aPost:3c5e2109-0003-46d4-8cd0-6428ea76743c">Re: Quick, easy, healthy meal ideas?</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Quick, easy, healthy meal ideas? : ITA.  They had a section online for quick dishes for summer and I pulled a couple interesting ones from there.  I know they have a "30 minutes or less" section as well.  <strong>There's a REALLY good Thai spicy beef stir fry recipe on there that is super quick</strong> -- we do a lot of stir fry during the week because neither of us is motivated to do much in terms of cooking after work.
Posted by angelsong21[/QUOTE]

Ooh, that sounds delicious.  I'll have to look for it. 

Thanks everyone! 

angelsong21

Here are a few links:

Flank Steak with Hot Peanut Sauce (this was the recipe I was talking about!  Sometimes we just use stew meat instead of flank steak because its cheaper and already cut into small pieces.)

Grilled Pork Tenderloin Sandwiches

Grilled Pork Chops with Balsamic Syrup (we don't make the syrup but instead just add some balsamic vinegar to the marinade in the bag, but I bet the syrup is tasty if you have the time)

Thai Noodle Salad with Vegetables and Spicy Peanut Sauce (delicious and makes a lot of food.  Great to take leftovers for lunch!)

Wasabi and Panko Crusted Pork (a little more time intensive but not too bad.  Good weekend dinner)

Philly Firecracker Roll-ups

Jerk Chicken

HTH!

SB1512

I have a really good turkey chili recipe.  FI loves it and usually requests it quite often. 

Ground Turkey (I uusally get 1.3-1.5 pounds)
Minced garlic (1-2 cloves)
Diced onion (FI hates onions so they get left out)
1 diced red pepper
1 diced green pepper
Corn (I usually do frozen it's quick and easy)
2 cans diced tomatoes with zesty green chilis, drained
Beans, rinsed (I usually do 1 can black, 1 can small white and 1 can pinto or small red bean or pink bean)
Chili powder (as much or as little as you want, I usually do 3 tablespoons)
1/4 teaspoon of red pepper flakes
*If you like things extra spicy can also throw in cayenne pepper spice

Brown meat and drain excess fat
Add in garlic and onions cook for 3 minutes of until onion softened
Add in green and red peppers and cook for 2-3 minutes
Add in remaining ingredients and mix well.
Reduce heat to somewhere between low and medium and cover for 25-30 minutes.  *I usally don't put the cover on fully, I tilt it so some heat can escape.  I'm not sure why, but this is how my mom does it too so I just follow suit, haha

I'm sure you could also throw all this stuff in the slowcooker as well and it would taste just as good. 

J&K10910

Dude, Angel, those almost all look amazing,  Thank you!

SB, that looks tasty too.  It looks pretty similar to my chili recipe, but different enough that I bet it would taste noticeably different.  I think I"Ll try it.  Thanks!

angelsong21

You're welcome, J&K!  All of those have turned out really well for us, so I hope some of them work out for you.  

I forgot to include this one:  Tostadas

Delicious and really easy to make.  I think I'm going to have to put it on the menu for this week!