help us stop cooking crap for dinner

[themarquis]

GF and I have a tendency to cook "crap" for dinner -- stuff that is bad for us. For example, we cook a lot of hamburger helper (GF is a vegetarian, so we substitute soy "meat" in it -- I call it "shamburger helper" -- but it is still horrifically bad for you!). GF also enjoys cooking a lot of high fat and delicious Italian entrees (last night, eggplant parmesan with a two inch layer of cheese/grease!).

So, disboarders, here's a challenge for you: do you have any recipes to share that are healthy, include veggies, vegetarian (or easy to convert to vegetarian), and easy to prepare? Help us!

 

[golfgal]

I made a really good chicken yesterday thanks to someone here but that doesn't help the vegetarian issue. I'll tell you anyway-easy. I basically slow cooked a whole chicken. I seasoned the skin with McCormick's Steakhouse seasoning in the individual grinder things they have now and put it in the oven for 6 hours at 250°. It was SOOOO good. I should have made two of them. I wonder if you can cook turkey this way????

We make a lot of meatless spaghetti-prego sauce which might offend your GF but we like it. Just warm the sauce and cook the noodles, takes about 10 minutes total to boil the water and cook the noodles.

 

[Crankyshank]

Risotto. It's filling, healthy, and there's lots of different ways to make it.

Here's one basic recipe but you can experient with different ingredients:
Vegetarian Risotto with Zucchini

about 3 cups vegetable stock
2 teaspoons olive oil
1/3 cup diced onions
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 cup Arborio rice
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
salt to taste
freshly ground black pepper
2 small zucchini, cut into 1/2" disks



1. Heat the stock in a saucepan and keep hot over low heat.
2. Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a separate medium-sized pot. Add the onion and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, until it turns translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the zucchini and cook until it becomes golden brown, about 10 minutes.

3. Add the rice to the onion mixture, stir and turn the heat to low. Add about 1 cup of the hot stock to the rice mixture, and stir slowly until the stock is absorbed.

4. Continue to add the stock 1 cup at a time, stirring slowly, letting the rice absorb the stock before adding more.

5. The risotto is cooked when it is creamy on the outside and slightly firm (al dente) in the center, about 20 to 25 minutes in all. Stir in half of the Parmesan cheese. Season with salt and pepper to taste. If the risotto is too thick, add a little more stock until it becomes creamy.

6. Divide the risotto into serving dishes and sprinkle with the remaining cheese.


Also Eggplant Parm, stuffed peppers, stufffed eggplant, stuffed zucchini

 

[Hedy]

vegrecipies.com
veganlunchbox.com

Convience meats-veggie burgers/fake chicken breasts/etc.

Quinoa-it's an instant grain, and its a complete protein.

 

[bucky1023]

If you like pasta you can always grill some veggies mix with sauce and put over pasta. It is quick and easy.

Does your GF eat fish? Fish is also an easy meal and quick to do.

 

[cherylp3]

There are 2 books you could buy, one by Mary Gwynn and one by Rachel Ray.
Try googling 30 minute vegetarian recipes or quick low fat vegetarian recipes

 

[Mady/Sophiemom]

I love this recipe, because there is little prep time. Not a lot of stuff to chop, and prepare

Cheese ravioli soup

1 clove chopped garlic, 1 chopped onion, in about 3 Tablespoons Olive Oil. Heat on low, for about 2 minutes, or until onions clear.

Add:
8-10 cups of Veg. Broth,
1 can Petite diced tomatoes,
1 sm. tomato sauce,
1 tsp.chopped basil,
1/2 tspchopped red pepper,
salt, and pepper to taste

Let simmer about 20-30 minutes

Add 1 sm. package frozen spinach, bring back to almost boiling.

once bubbling, add 10 oz package of frozen ravioli, or tortelini. Con't to heat until pasta done.


Also- One thing that helped me to quit cooking quick crappy meals, was to get a crock pot. I never thought I wanted one, but my mom gave me it for Christmas 2 years ago, and I constantly use it. There are all types of sites, w/ crockpot recipes.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I hear ya'...

 

[TurboKitty]

I like making a stir-fry with ramen noodles. (Boil the noodles)

I like carrots, snow peas, broccoli, cabbage, scallions and tofu, in a hot skillet with a drizzle of grapeseed oil with a dash of sesame oil and soy sauce. At the end, I toss in the cooked noodles to get them brown with soy sauce and serve. If you like lo mein, you can also add a couple pinches of sugar, which are delicious in this as well.

 

[Jenn Lynn]

I get lots of recipes from Cooking Light and Eating Well magazines.

 

[Soccermom-Cheri]

those are good ones, but the picky kidlets wouldn't eat them (almost a go with the risotto though).

Any recipes for kids? I'd love to "healthy-up" dinners.