Recipes?

rycbar123 · December 2013

Hey all

So I thought I would come here and ask ya'll what your favorite things to make are? I love to cook for my FI when we have the time but he is such a picky eater it's difficult. He isn't the biggest fan of chicken or vegies and is very reluctant to try anything new. While it's not all him, I'm a picky eater as well (for example I cannot stand cheese), I would just like more choices to make him I suppose.

So any go-to recipes that your SO absolutely loves or you love to make? FI really loves spaghetti so I make that often though I usually have to split the pasta because he likes a red sauce and I just eat it with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Any kind of pasta you recommend, sauces or anything really? The only thing we both agree on liking is pesto so I end up making that way to much and we need something new!

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Blue & White · December 2013

You don't like cheese?!?!?!?! How is such a thing possible?!

I make football food when I'm running out of ideas lol: BBQ chicken, steak, chicken wings.

Also meatloaf and chicken parm. I feel like I eat too much chicken for this convo....

Also, relating to the previous breakup thread, one of the things I like more about fi than my ex is that he eats vegetables. I don't think I would be able to live with someone that didnt (not that either of you do - its just hard for me to plan around picky eaters apparently)

rycbar123 · December 2013

@blue&white - I love chicken so your suggestions there are fine for me. One of the big things with FI is that he doesn't like messy foods... So foods that don't require utensils are usually out. I haven't had a huge problem with cooking around his dislikes. He likes green beans, corn, and those "normal" veggies but when I go make brussel sprouts or something thats a no-go for him.

My previous BF would actually only eat chicken so it's a nice change. FI will eat chicken just not as much as I would.

Also, he loves meatloaf! I've only ever had his moms meatloaf and I didn't like it. Any great recipes you recommend for it?

Swazzle · December 2013

Hmm this is a tough one because most of my go-to recipes involve cheese and/or chicken and/or veggies. How are there even things to eat that doesn't incorporate one or all of these items?!

For pasta sauce, though, I love @lennonkdc's recipe. I can't remember it exactly so hopefully she can pop in but it's something like a large can of crushed tomatoes, a small can of tomato paste, a chopped onion (or shallots), all the garlic in the world, and then some spices (bay leaves?). You throw all of that in the slow cooker all day and BAM! Amazingly delicious pasta sauce. She made this for us at the g2g a few months back along with some frozen meatballs. It was divine.

I'd also recommend a chili. The two below involve ground turkey and with the slow cooker, the veggies hardly taste like veggies at the end of the day. My H is a big fan of the 2nd one.

Crockpot Kid-Friendly Turkey Chili

Crockpot 3 Bean Turkey Chili

Dignity100 · December 2013

This is actually what I'm making tonight - it's a little healthier and it's one of FI's favorites even though it's pretty simple:
Kielbasa w/penne

I'll also make meatloaf, chili, and then chicken. If I have time, I'll drag the crock pot out and make pot roast or a 5 bean chili.

[Deleted User] · December 2013

have you tried roasting veggies? my H didn't like a lot of veggies until we started roasting them.

also, since he is so picky, it might be worthwhile to get him involved in the cooking. from my experience, picky eaters that get involved in the cooking/prepping of food are more likely to try new things and be open to trying different things.

I guess I'm lucky. H eats whatever I put on the table. we rate each meal on a scale of 1 to 10, and if it doesn't rate a 7 or above then we don't have it again. we eat TONS AND TONS of veggies in our house!

Peaseblossom55 · December 2013

I love making soups. FI doesn't but it means more for me. I try to avoid cheese also. I make pasta for us. FI's makes a great chili that's vegetarian. I also suggest a taco night. I can't eat cheese so I just don't add it to my tacos, I usually add some extra veggies or some beans.

www,njvegetariangirl.wordpress.com is my blog with some pretty good recipes too.

rycbar123 · December 2013

The only thing I've roasted so far is brussel sprouts and he just did not like those but I've seen interesting ones for broccoli and zucchini so I may have to try those!

We do love taco night. We usually make "walking tacos" at least 2 or 3 times a month.

Swazzle · December 2013

I know it sounds like I'm totally obsessed with my crockpot (probably because I am) but another yummy and easy recipe is to throw a lb of chicken breast and a jar of salsa in and leave it on low for the day. I do that and then serve it as taco/burrito/fajita meat or over romaine if I'm trying to go easy on the carbs.

[Deleted User] · December 2013

I like to make pork carnitas in the crock pot (google Skinnytaste Pork Carnitas). I also like to make her Kalua Crockpot Pork. EASY. if we're in a hurry, I'll just serve it as a salad.

what about chili? I love Cooking Light's Frito Chili Pie recipe. I throw in a can of drained kidney beans for some extra veggie-ness.

roasted chicken roasted veggies (carrots, potatoes, onions, sweet potatoes)?

have you tried uncooked shredded brussels sprouts? we did it for a salad and it was AWESOME. H wasn't sure about it, but he loves it. just shred them (or buy shredded) and add pine nuts, sundried tomatoes, bacon, real parm cheese, and balsamic vinegar. totally different flavor than cooked brussels.

a raw brussels recipe:

LINK

also, maybe try sauteeing brussels in some real butter (not margarine, that stuff is just PLASTIC!) fats are good for your body and your brain so don't be scared to use healthy fats (avocados, natural oils, butter, coconut oil, coconut milk, etc.)

another veggie H hated but loves now is okra. he'd only had it fried, but we got some fresh okra from our neighbors. I tossed them (whole, not chopped) with EVOO and cajun seasoning and we threw them on the grill. OH MY YUM.

STIR FRY. we have this all the time. whip up some rice (brown or white, doesn't matter). I have tons of stir fry sauce recipes. I can share them if you want. our favs are: orange shrimp, beef and broccoli, sesame chicken, basil chicken. you can do fresh broccoli, mushrooms, onion, bell pepper, carrots for veggies that most people like.

have you tried roasting or sauteeing/stir-frying fresh green beans? YUM!! we like to roast ours with salt, pepper, garlic powder. almost like french fries. or you can do bacon-wrapped green beans.

I'll make chili or crockpot meat and we'll eat it over baked potatoes. santa fe baked potatoes, pork carnitas baked potatoes, philly cheesesteak baked potatoes... if you don't go heavy on the butter/sour cream then potatoes aren't bad for you at all! even better if you can do sweet potatoes.

H likes skillet sweet potatoes, but not roasted. I cook them with paprika, salt, pepper, cayenne pepper, garlic powder in a skillet. throw them in there over high heat with some canola oil, turn the heat down and put the lid on. shake every 5-10 min so they don't stick (need a non-stick pan)... takes maybe 20 minutes?

whew! any of that helpful? I LOVE to cook!

rycbar123 · December 2013

@CocobellaF - thank you soo much for all these awesome suggestions! I love to cook as well its just hard when someone doesn't like onions or peppers ( my two favorite things). I've never had okra before so that's definitely something I will try!

I love brussel sprouts so I'm gonna try that recipe and see what he things about it. FI loves pork though so a big thanks for those pork recipes!!

tuarceatha · December 2013

I'm surprised by how many people don't like vegetables. I mean there are so. many. types. With so many ways to prepare them. I'm just surprised.

Some of my favorite recipes H makes:
http://www.budgetbytes.com/2012/09/hawaiian-ham-quesadillas/
http://www.budgetbytes.com/2011/04/peanut-soba-stir-fry/
http://budgetbytes.blogspot.com/2012/01/avocado-breakfast-pita-122-each.html
http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2013/04/pizza-pesto-ricotta-mozzarella-recipe.html
http://www.marthastewart.com/336525/beef-tortellini-with-arugula-and-sun-dri?czone=food/dinner-tonight-center/dinner-tonight-main-courses&gallery=275256&slide=336525&center=276948
http://www.thekitchn.com/african-peanut-stew-recipes-from-the-kitchn-175978

labro · December 2013

@tuarceatha Me too! Honestly, I end up adding more vegetables than the recipe calls for most of the time because I love them so much!

rycbar123 · December 2013

I love all kinds of veggies as well. I just have to work around FIs aversion to them.

buddysmom80 · December 2013

@tuarceatha I LOVE budget bytes! My favorite recipe ever is the sriacha chicken strips, I could eat them every day. A close second is her teriyaki turkey meatballs. Now I want that for dinner.

tuarceatha · December 2013

buddysmom80 said:

@tuarceatha I LOVE budget bytes! My favorite recipe ever is the sriacha chicken strips, I could eat them every day. A close second is her teriyaki turkey meatballs. Now I want that for dinner.

We haven't tried either of those. I'll suggest them to H!

tuarceatha · December 2013

jaydee4219 said:

I love all kinds of veggies as well. I just have to work around FIs aversion to them.

@jaydee4219 btw I am waaay picky when it comes to food and I do not like to cook. H has agreed to take care of dinners while I am the clean up crew. I tend to get bored of dishes easily, and I like what I like, and get annoyed when H wants to try new recipes allofthetime. I also haaate that H wants to use low-cal, low-fat ingredients. He drinks almond milk instead of cow's milk and I'm juuust starting to come around to that. I dunno what that has to do with anything, I just thought I should clarify that I am by no means someone that eats everything, or near everything.

[Deleted User] · December 2013

I will dice up apples and sweet potatoes, toss with cinnamon and roast until the sweet potatoes are soft. It may sound like an odd combo...but it's super tasty.

My latest addiction is this: Cucumbers, grape tomatoes, red onion and feta. I dice up the veggies and toss them in a bowl with the feta, salt, pepper and some EVOO. You could probably do this with farfale (sp?) pasta or orzo or something.

I love making shredded chicken in the crock pot. Just a package of chicken breasts and a jar of salsa in the crock pot all day. We use it for tacos, taco salads, enchiladas, quesadillas...endless possibilities. We also did shredded buffalo chicken sliders once: same method but instead of salsa I used Franks Red Hot. Made a slaw with shredded cabbage, carrots and blue cheese dressing. Yum!

These pork chops are amazing (clicky)

This stir-fry is delish and healthy (Clicky)

This Turkey Burger recipe is the bomb. (Clicky) I add a little water to the pan once both sides are seared and cover with a lid until they are cooked through. They come out moist and delish every time!

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