quick prep recipes

[Ksandra]

yay another food thread.


Looking for some new recipes that don't have a lot of prepping time (having it in the oven/sitting for awhile is ok).

I usually cook while my husband is on the way home from work, but as far as the baby is concerned the most horrible thing you can do to her is to put her down and walk away. So, a lot of recipes that require a lot of prep work have to get put away for awhile until she's a little older.

I do have a slow cooker btw, and already make a fabulous pot roast with it. Not much else though.

Go, BG ,go!

[zoobernut]

My son is 5 months old now (almost 6 months) and it has always been the same thing with him. Early on we mostly resorted to pre-made frozen foods from Trader Joes. Those worked really well. These days we alternate cooking dinner while the other person holds our son.

[Drafted]

I don't know what I'd call this but I made this last night off the top of my head.

Lets call it chicken pasta!

Ingredients:
Two boneless chicken breast thawed
Cajun seasoning
Garlic Seasoning
Salt
Pepper
Green onions (sliced/dice)
Mushrooms (sliced/diced)
Red pepper (sliced/dice)
Bell pepper (sliced/dice)
Butter
Cream (I used heavy cream)

Cut breasts into thin strips, toss into bowl and season with cajun seasoning. Sautee in skillet with butter until it's cooked. While that's cooking chop up your shit and put the noodles on (any kind really, I used the bow tie noodles in the cabinet we had). Once your chicken is done add in the heavy cream for your "sauce" and then toss in the rest of the stuff you chopped up and add some more seasoning to it. Put a lid on it and let it simmer for a bit until the sauce is thick then add it to the noodles you cooked.

Was really good. I love the way cajun seasoning makes sauteed chicken taste.

Took about 25minutes to do. Probably less if you're actually preparing for it. I was just hungry and decided to make something for gf and I.

[Cream Soda]

If you're doing breakfast, throw a little fried garlic(while cooking) and soy sauce(after cooking) on your eggs, turns it into a whole new meal all together.

[Dantrag]

Is 20min total too much?

[Seraph]

Chicken Patty Parmesan! An old college favorite, and it's as simple as it sounds. If you have 20 minutes, can boil water, heat sauce, and turn on an oven to 375F, its almost already done. The family won't even be able to tell that you don't give a shit anymore!

[Ksandra]

Is 20min total too much?

20 min I think is pushing it. was hoping for things that take about ten minutes of focus tops lol @.@;

[Drafted]

Ah sorry. Thought 30minutes was fast. Guess it depends on the household ^^

[Ksandra]

ya she starts crying at about 5 minutes more often than not lmao. ;_;

May have to get used to tv dinners ;;;;;;;;;;;;

[Eurell]

Stick the kid in this and cook for as long as you want. My son would go in that thing anytime I had to do some house stuff that took more than 5 minutes, but he loved being close and watching everything go on. You really can't restrict yourself to less than 10 minutes for stuff, because kids will only take up more and more of your time during the day till you ship them off to school.

[Seraph]

You can't place the kid into a playpen within sight of the kitchen so she can see you and allow you to half-ass cook for 20 minutes? That's pretty damn needy. >_>

With that said, most oven recipes only require maybe 2-3 minutes of focus at a time (putting in, taking out) assuming there is little to no prep time. Stove top recipes often require more attention because of overcooking, boiling over, fires, etc.

Also, TV dinners are terribad. At least make something like oven bake pizzas or something. Those literally take a total of 2 minutes of your focus (and an eggtimer) from freezer to plate.

[Ksandra]

she's only three months lol, (can't sit up yet)

[Eurell]

she's only three months lol, (can't sit up yet)

Thats who the chair is made for. Its Buppo or Bumbo or something like that. Target age is like 2-5 months.

[Seraph]

Get the kid a 'jolly jumper' so she can watch but not be totally restrained? I know that's what my grandmother used until I was old enough to crawl. It was naturally a little flimsy out of the box, so they literally bolted the damn thing to the door frame, so safety not guaranteed. That thing lasted decades though countless grandkids, so totally worth the price.

[Ksandra]

Thats who the chair is made for. Its Buppo or Bumbo or something like that. Target age is like 2-5 months.

eh I don't feel like dropping 50$ for this as she'll be able to sit in a real high chair in a few months. No offense. Plus, it really doesn't solve the "don't put me down issue"

[Seraph]

eh I don't feel like dropping 50$ for this as she'll be able to sit in a real high chair in a few months. No offense. Plus, it really doesn't solve the "don't put me down issue"

I'm telling you, kids love sitting in a jolly jumper. All of them. Ever. It's like baby crack because for some reason they all love jumping up and down in the damn thing while making stupid yet cute baby noises. The kid might actually start crying when you take her out of it. I do remember that happening frequently with a few of my cousins. >_>

[Ksandra]

I'm telling you, kids love sitting in a jolly jumper. All of them. Ever. It's like baby crack because for some reason they all love jumping up and down in the damn thing while making stupid yet cute baby noises. The kid might actually start crying when you take her out of it. I do remember that happening frequently with a few of my cousins. >_>

I don't think she's ready for one of those @.@; idk I gotta look it up. Being a new mom sucks lol.

[Seraph]

If she can move her legs in any capacity, and her head isn't a total ragdoll situation, she is ready. You obviously don't leave the kid unattended (and the first few times you put her in it you are with her anyways), but the idea is you can eventually maintain line of sight with the kid, have both hands free, and the kid isn't totally upset that it isn't being held.

I don't have a really good link since my family hasn't bought one in over twenty years, but they generally look like a secure swing that attaches to the top of a doorframe. They sit in the harness, hanging from the top of the doorway, and their legs just barely touch the floor. This allows them to kinda jump and bounce up and down since the supports aren't stiff chains, they have a little give and bounce to them. I have never seen a kid who has figured out how it works not love it. Usually to start, you just stand there with them and very gently bounce them up and down. They eventually figure out they can do it themselves, and that's when you get a nice 'babysitter tool' that isn't a television or getting paid $10+ a hour. I'd also argue it helps build up some baby leg muscles which helps them with crawling and walking later on.

EDIT: Looks like they make them now that don't even need a door frame:

http://www.betterbabydeals.com.au/im...mper-stand.jpg

[Manako]

There are lots of quick-prep meals, especially if you don't have a time constraint on cooktime. Buying a ricecooker if you don't have one will simplify things, and if you can prep veggies while baby is sleeping (or whenever) that will help too.

Last night we had chicken: 1) brush on olive oil, season. preheat oven to ~400, place cast iron pan in oven til hot, add chicken skin side down, cook 20, flip, cook 20.
with cauliflower, roast in different pan with more olive oil.

can make curries, stir fries very easily without having to spend a lot of time watching it. Can put whole chickens in a crock pot to cook them, I put carrots on the bottom so it doesn't stick. We always keep pasta and sauce on hand so that is always available. Another idea would be to make larger meals on the weekend for leftovers during the week.

There is also http://www.mealtrain.com if there are people in your area who would help you with food, but may be shy or don't know what you eat. There was a coworker with a sick kid we did this for a while back, was really nice.

[Azull]

Some rice cookers can also double as steamers for veggies which is nice.