Cooking for the week ahead?

[binny]

Can anyone give me some tips? I am trying to get some meals done today for the coming week. Its going to be a really hectic one and I would like to get some stuff done today before it gets too crazy.

So what are your best make ahead meals?

Thanks!

 

[Mom2Nick]

Grilled chicken. Great over a salad later on in the week.

In the winter I will cook up 6 lbs of ground beef. I take about 1.5 lbs out and make taco meat out of it.

The rest I put in a big stock pot with sauteed onions and garlic then I add several large cans of crushed tomatoes. I basically make a meat sauce without the italian seasoning.

On the day I want to use that I will take half of that, heat it in a pot and add basil, thyme, some cayenne(I like some heat) and will serve over pasta.

The second half of that concoction I turn into Chili another night by adding cumin, chili powder, cayenne, diced red peppers and kidney beans. We have this with hot dogs.

 

[bas71873]

Lasagna, chicken enchiladas. I am also a HUGE fan of my crock pot and have a few "meals" that take 30 seconds to toss in and let 'em cook all day.

 

[Ohiodislover]

I always brown ground beef and turkey, and divide into containers. Then I can pull it out and have sloppy joes, tacos, spag sauce, etc. very quickly.

Grilled chicken also--easy to freeze and pull out as needed. or just keep in fridge for sandwiches, salad toppings.

 

[binny]

Thanks great ideas!

I had a little over a pound of hamburger so I made the tacos, well I browned it at least and then put it in the fridge when we heat it up it will be easy to throw in some seasonsing and it will be easy.

I made cinnamon rolls today so I pulled out some of the dough and made pizza dough with it. I wrapped that up and we can just use it tomorrow to make homemade pizza

I took some chicken out of the freezer and will make chicken alfredo on Wed. That is just browning and adding the sauce and pouring over noodles.

Then we will have "brinner" on Thursday. Breakfast for dinner. French toast, bacon and has browns with fresh fruit.

SO. That is what I have so far.


Will go shopping today to find some meat for Friday, I would like to use my crock pot at least one night this week.


Thanks for the ideas. I hope to this more often now so lets keep this going! I would love to hear more thoughts!

 

[bigbabyblues]

You could make a meatloaf up and freeze it.

 

[etoiles]

Dh makes meatballs and I make veggie meatballs (I am vegetarian, he is not) and we eat them in several different dishes throughout the week - with sweet and sour sauce on rice, with spaghetti and tomato sauce, plain or with a gravy type sauce and veggies or baked potato.

I also saw a great idea in the Sept. Everyday Food magazine in which they made oven roasted tomatoes on Sunday and had them as a side dish with fish/veggie one day, chopped up and put in pasta a second day, in a frittata the next day, and as a topping for pizza. I am definitely going to do that next week!

 

[bicker]

So what are your best make ahead meals?

We made a black bean, corn and rice salad, this afternoon, which will serve as lunch a couple of days this week. Yum!

Yesterday, we prepared an eggplant lasagna, layers of baked eggplant slices, a zucchini and yellow squash tomato sauce (with garlic and basil, of course), ricotta cheese, and mozzarella cheese (topped with Parmesan cheese). That'll be dinner tomorrow night.

 

[powellrj]

While I haven't gotten back in the swing yet, when school starts back I like to cook for the week on sunday.

I like to do a pork roast in the crock pot and have pulled pork, pork hash, pork with gravy.

I will make a pot roast in the crock pot and then use it during the week to make beef stew, roast beef sandwiches or beef and noodles.

I will put chicken in the crock pot and use it during the week for lots of different recipes that call for cooked chicken. Things like mexican chicken casserole, chicken and rice, chicken and noodles. There are hundreds for recipes that call for already cooked chicken, so its easy to use.


I will freeze chicken breast with marinade and then take them out to thaw and cook on the grill.

I have never had much luck with with cooking ground meat ahead unless I make something like a spaghetti sauce or chili. I think it has an off taste to it, so I always make something with the ground meat and try to use it first.

 

[tabby1881]

Lasagna, chicken enchiladas. I am also a HUGE fan of my crock pot and have a few "meals" that take 30 seconds to toss in and let 'em cook all day.

Sounds good! How do you make chicken enchiladas?
What are your 30 second crockpot meals? I am always looking for new ideas!
Thanks

 

[bas71873]

Sounds good! How do you make chicken enchiladas?
What are your 30 second crockpot meals? I am always looking for new ideas!
Thanks

Enchiladas are easy
1 package of frozen tyson chicken strips
8oz cream cheese
small can of diced green chilies
shredded cheese
2 cans green enchilada sauce
flour tortillas

cook the chicken (and then I break the strips into smaller bites while cooking)
stir in cream cheese & chilies
fill the tortillas and line a greased glass baking pan
pour green sauce over & top with cheese
if you back right away, it takes no time for the cheese to melt at 350

BUT,this freezes well and I just put in fridge to thaw all day and then bake at 350 for 30 - 45 mintues

this recipe also works well with beef, but I make taco meat, throw in green chilies (no cream cheese) and top with red sauce instead of green


Now, my crock pot meals (just FYI, I have found that putting my meat in frozen makes the meat juicier after cooking all day. doesn't dry out like it does with the meat is already thawed)

Pork chops & rice
sliced onion
boneless chops
(put in crock in that order)
mix 1 can golden mushroom soup w/ 1/2 cup water and a pack of dry onion soup mix & pour over
cook on low all day and serve with rice

chicken fajitas
sliced green pepper (other colors too if you want)
sliced onion
frozen chicken breasts
(put in crock in that order)
pour a jar of salsa over
cook on low all day

BBQ chix
sliced onion, frozen chicken & jar of bbq sauce


I really just throw whatever in a crock and see what happens

Pot Roast
sliced onion, carrots & red potoates (all on the bottom)
salt & pepper the roast
pour a can of beef broth over and cook on low all day


Enjoy!

 

[emma'smom]

Tell us what these "meals" are.......never mind...you just did! =)

Lasagna, chicken enchiladas. I am also a HUGE fan of my crock pot and have a few "meals" that take 30 seconds to toss in and let 'em cook all day.

 

[tabby1881]

Enchiladas are easy
1 package of frozen tyson chicken strips
8oz cream cheese
small can of diced green chilies
shredded cheese
2 cans green enchilada sauce
flour tortillas

cook the chicken (and then I break the strips into smaller bites while cooking)
stir in cream cheese & chilies
fill the tortillas and line a greased glass baking pan
pour green sauce over & top with cheese
if you back right away, it takes no time for the cheese to melt at 350

BUT,this freezes well and I just put in fridge to thaw all day and then bake at 350 for 30 - 45 mintues

this recipe also works well with beef, but I make taco meat, throw in green chilies (no cream cheese) and top with red sauce instead of green


Now, my crock pot meals (just FYI, I have found that putting my meat in frozen makes the meat juicier after cooking all day. doesn't dry out like it does with the meat is already thawed)

Pork chops & rice
sliced onion
boneless chops
(put in crock in that order)
mix 1 can golden mushroom soup w/ 1/2 cup water and a pack of dry onion soup mix & pour over
cook on low all day and serve with rice

chicken fajitas
sliced green pepper (other colors too if you want)
sliced onion
frozen chicken breasts
(put in crock in that order)
pour a jar of salsa over
cook on low all day

BBQ chix
sliced onion, frozen chicken & jar of bbq sauce


I really just throw whatever in a crock and see what happens

Pot Roast
sliced onion, carrots & red potoates (all on the bottom)
salt & pepper the roast
pour a can of beef broth over and cook on low all day


Enjoy!

Wow! These sound great. I'm going food shopping now! Thanks for your help!
Maureen

 

[bas71873]

Wow! These sound great. I'm going food shopping now! Thanks for your help!
Maureen

Hope you enjoy

 

[live4christp1]

Thanks great ideas!

I had a little over a pound of hamburger so I made the tacos, well I browned it at least and then put it in the fridge when we heat it up it will be easy to throw in some seasonsing and it will be easy.

I made cinnamon rolls today so I pulled out some of the dough and made pizza dough with it. I wrapped that up and we can just use it tomorrow to make homemade pizza

I took some chicken out of the freezer and will make chicken alfredo on Wed. That is just browning and adding the sauce and pouring over noodles.

Then we will have "brinner" on Thursday. Breakfast for dinner. French toast, bacon and has browns with fresh fruit.

SO. That is what I have so far.


Will go shopping today to find some meat for Friday, I would like to use my crock pot at least one night this week.


Thanks for the ideas. I hope to this more often now so lets keep this going! I would love to hear more thoughts!

We love to do a roast in the crock pot or slow cooker. Beef roast......peel and slice potatos & carrots, a little onion and mix up a packet of brown gravy with the required water and pour over. I let it slow cook all day. Usually does two roast & veggies meals for us and then on day 3 I'll take the remaining roast and shred it up, heat up another packet of brown gravy and add the meat to it.........simmer until warm through and then pour of sliced bread, serve with mashed potatoes.........OKAY....now I definately want roast!!!!

 

[live4christp1]

Here's another one if you like mexican flavor. Not traditional enchiladas but that's what we call them.

Brown 1 lb ground beef, drain & add taco seasoning as directed. Add 1 can refried beans, 1 can of campbells cheese soup. Mix & heat through. Microwave until warm one package of large burrito shells (we like Aztec). Spray the bottom of a 10x13 pan with cooking spray. spread a thin layer (just until bottom of pan is covered) of enchilada sauce. prepare burritos by filling with meat mixture and rolling (don't worry about sealing the ends) and line these up in the pan until all are done. pour remaining enchilada mix over burritos in pan and then cover with cheddar cheese. Cover with foil.

I usually assemble these the night before, next day I just need to pop in a 350 degree oven for about 30 minutes. Serve with all your favorite taco toppings and chips.

 

[MScott1851]

We'll get the grill out and get cooking on Sunday nights!

I usually cook:

salmon
4 hamburgers
4 hot dogs
4 chicken breasts
5-6 pork chops
2 steaks

I make sure I have enough stuff for salad fixings in the house, plenty bags of the assorted 'steamfresh' vegetables in freezer, go ahead and make a big thing of loaded mashed potatoes, and DH and I can pull whatever we want for lunch/dinner out of the fridge all week.

I love doing this... makes my week SO much easier!

 

[jessily]

Last night I made a cous cous salad that will probably be my lunch for the rest of the week. Would make a nice, light, summer dinner as well.

I cooked a box of cous cous and added whatever I had on hand: diced chicken, olives, sundried tomatoes, spinach and goat cheese. I like to prep this meal ahead and eat it cold.

 

[live4christp1]

Also have a nice loaded potato soup recipe that reheats really well or you can just bake the potatos the night before, then assemble the soup the next day....only has to simmer about 30 minutes and it's done. Just have to add a little more water to it. Very good with some fresh french bread or rolls.

Great meal for fall when the weather starts getting a little cooler. I usually double the recipe and it will do us for 3-4 nights depending on who all I'm feeding. Usually try to take my dad meals since my mom passed away.

However, I don't have the recipe with me and am afraid to try to list it from memory. I'll post it tomorrow.

 

[live4christp1]

Here's a great website if anyone is interested in doing meals they can freeze and just pull out when needed.

http://www.dinnersinthefreezer.com/

There is also a great cook book by the same name....maybe check it out at your local library. I haven't been able to get in the bulk cooking mode though and that's more of what the cookbook is aimed at.