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Working Moms
Hamburger Helper
We eat it at least once a week for dinner. I hate that I can't cook a more healthy meal for my DH and I. If you prepare more homemade meals, how do you do it? Do you prepare on Sundays? I'm excited about tonight b/c my parents are coming over and making crabcakes. YUM. Eating something other than Hamburger Helper, Macaroni and Cheese & Hot Dogs, Leftover Spaghetti, and Frozen Burritos makes me excited!!!
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Re: Hamburger Helper
I would put my crockpot to good use but DH complains about how much chicken we eat and tires of it.
I even suggested we eat hamburger helper last night but we had no ground beef.
The sad thing is...I do get Rachel Ray. I feel I'll spend too much $$ on preparing one meal of hers.
Crabcakes...my fav. Enjoy
My mom actually got me one of the Rachael Ray cookbooks and its really useful for cooking quick meals. The key to quick cooking for me is to keep my fridge and pantry stocked. I use the microwave to unthaw meats and usually make frozen or canned veggies. They're much quicker. My family loves frozen brocolli with lemon pepper seasoning. Also loves frozen corn on the cob. If I'm feeling ambitious, I will crock pot something the night before like a roast beef, chix or whole ham. I have a phobia of leaving my crockpot on all day when no one is home.
Don't worry about cooking the same things over and over. Keep those other things you mentioned in the mix too, your family loves them because they're use to them now. Don't deviate too much. Just throw in something different every now and then.
I once had a cookbook, it was something like Take Five (I think) and it was full of recipies that had 5 or less ingredients. it was good. now that I have 2 little ones eating, I try to avoid stuff like sloppy joes too often. just get frozen veggies and make bbq chicken, or season chicken with italian dressing or pork chops with the dry ranch dressing with olive oil. you can do simple and just do salads or mix veggies to make fun sides. a friend once put salsa on chicken baked then topped with cheese in the last few minutes. side of spanish rice and beans... yum! try taste of home mags too. usually find them in the check out aisle ... they have many easy "home cookin'" type foods.
If we want something for dinner that takes more than 10 minutes to prep, we usually do it the night before. For example, we made this veggie turkey meatloaf the other night. We cut the veggies, mixed the meatloaf and stuck it in the fridge. Then when we got home it just had to be put in the oven. We also cook a few big meals on the weekend and eat then throughout the week.
Do you have something like Super Suppers or Dream Dinners in your area? They have sales where you can go in and stock your freezer at a discount. That might be another option for when you don't have time to cook.
There's a show on the Food Network, 5 ingredient fix. Love it! Super easy and yummy. Meal planning makes it a lot easier on me, and I prep everything when I get home (cut, chop, whatever) to save time during the week. Good luck!!
PS I make H&H with ground turkey, toss in some veggies with the mix, and make a salad. I don't think it's too bad. :P
Don't feel bad! At least you cook! Most nights I don't even do that. We have eggs at least 3x a week for lack of anything better.
Other nights I do the crock pot (which is always chicken), pasta/salad, salads wiht grilled chicken, boboli pizzas, and salmon. We also takeout at 2x a week.
THe other night DH got home really late from work and I had crackers with baby bell cheese and frozen yogurt for dinner! I'm embarrassed to even admit that.
Sometimes that, with a glass or bottle of wine, is the best dinner.
Cooking Light also has a lot of quick recipes. We try to prep on Sunday or the night before.
(My reply is long, but hopefully it will help.) I agree with the ladies who suggested using your crockpot more. Once you try a few recipes and figure out what you like, it will become easier. Some crockpot ideas:
--Whole chicken with some baby carrots, leeks, potatoes chicken broth. Serve with bagged salad & French bread on side.
--Pulled pork/pork shoulder--add water, simmer all day; when you get home drain, shred, add BBQ sauce serve over buns with bagged salad on the side.
--Beef roast, mix up a packet of beef stew/pot roast seasonings with water, pour over sliced portabellas, carrots, onion, and roast. Serve over whole grain, wide noodles.
What helps us (me) is meal planning on Sat/Sun before the workweek starts. I find that when I don't do that we eat more crap. Get out the weekly ad for your grocery store and plan around it (you can synch coupons with sales too if you are so inclined).
General meals ideas:
--Frozen ravioli with doctored up (saute some onions, zucchini, mushrooms & add to sauce). Make a big batch of sauce on a Sunday and freeze portions for the weeks ahead.
--Stir fry--Pick up a few staples to keep in your fridge/pantry. House of Tsang stir fry sauce is awesome, and adding hot chile sauce will kick it up! (Serve strifry with frozen steamed brown rice)
--Tacos with microwaved frozen rice (Steamfresh products are my friends
)
--Make a huge batch of homemade mac cheese or chicken enchiladas one Sat/Sun and freeze.
--Alexa makes great frozen sweet potato fries you can throw in the oven as a side.
Good luck!
I cook a lot on the weekends and freeze them. I also try to make dishes that has leftover. I havent had hamburger helper since I was living at home--my dad loves them!
I guess I'm one of the few that really likes Hamburger Helper!? We have the Wholesome Helper - Stroganoff kind every 2-3 weeks. DH and DS both love it!!! I also really like the Tuna Melt and Tomato Basil ones. I just add a veggie and viola!
Besides HH, I cook almost every night. I sit out whatever meat I'll be using in the morning, so it's defrosted by the time we get home. Last night I made spaghetti casserole (which is basically spaghetti with meat sauce and add velvetta chunks on top - bake for 10 min. until cheese is melted). It's sooo good and makes a TON! I froze half of it that we will eat in a few weeks. We had leftovers that I brought for lunch today too.
Other easy meals include: chicken or beef tacos, frozen pizza, frozen filled pasta (cheese ravioli or tortellini), sloppy joes with tator tots, chicken stir-fry, burgers on the grill, quesadillas, anything grilled with veggies...
Last week I made shish-kabobs (sp?) - with teriyaki marinated chicken, pineapple chunks, mushroom caps, zucchini, and potatoes. The were sooo good!