How To Get An Easy, Healthy Dinner On The Table Fast!
Cooking has always been one of my passions. It soon turned into a dreaded task after have four kids in 7 years while simultaneously starting a home based business. So I invested some time and energy into learning some new methods. Now I use a mix of freezer meals, weekend prep, and my trusty crock pot to put meals on the table in 15-30 minutes. Taking the stress out of cooking has allowed me to include my children (all boys!) in the process, too. Meals are now quick, healthy, and a great deal of fun!
Enjoy!
Maureen Kellis :-)
Contact me!COMING SOON! I am working on a new website/blog that will take take all your favorite comfort foods and make them healthier! Details and links, soon. :-)
Tips for Cooking Fast
- Use weekends for prepping ahead.Spending an hour on Saturday or Sunday while making your weekend meal can literally help you put meals on the table in 15 minutes during the week. For example, this weekend I prepped the veggies for a beef stew to go into the crock and for a homemade chicken soup. While I was at it, I made a good amount of fresh veggie sticks for everyone to munch on during the week.
- Make large batches and freeze. This can be done with anything. I'll frequently make large batches of pasta, coat with olive oil and freeze for future meals. The secret to keeping pasta (and all starches) from getting mushy in the freezer is to cook them only half way. I also grill more chicken breasts than I will use in a meal and freeze or save them for chicken ceasar salad, or a healthy lo-fat chicken alfredo primavera during the week. Roast 2 chickens at a time in the same roasting pan. Use the meat from the extra bird for other quick meals and make sure to skin the carcasses and use them to make a vat of homemade soup.
- Skip the 'browning meat' instructions in slow cooker recipes. I have found that my meal comes out just fine if I skip this step. I can literally (esp. if I prepped the veggies over the weekend) get the meal in the crock in less than five minutes.
- Keep your counters clear! Clutter in the kitchen adds to cooking time. Take a cue from Rachael Ray, get everything you need in one or two trips around the kitchen. I don't use a garbage bowl (more dishes to wash), but I have always cooked with one of those plastic grocery bags on the counter to toss the garbage as I go.
- Make your surroundings pleasant. It'll seem less like work if you enjoy your surroundings in you kitchen. Short of a $50,000 dream kitchen makeover, there are inexpensive and free things you can do:
1.) Clearing the clutter and painting your kitchen a light color will make it seem more spacious.
2.)Adding organic material such as wood, wicker baskets, and stone tile will add warmth- especially in a modern kitchen. Just don't overdue the decorations. You may want to consider adding these to the tops of your cabinets or on a shelf to keep the counters clear.
3.)Add a few personal touches as photos or Grandma's special plate.
4.)Don't forget to put a candle by your sink. Clean up doesn't seem nearly as bad by candle light.
Tell Us How You Cook!
Loading poll. Please Wait...
Grilling- A Quick and Healthy Dinner Year Round!
Quick and Healthy Grilling Tips
Grilling food is actually better for you than one would think. This is not dependent on the type of grill you have it is the grilling process. Here are some ways to make your next grilling adventure a healthy one for the family.
- Choose the Right Cut of Meat - Cut off the excess fat when working with chicken. If you aren't the type who likes to mess with chicken parts, buy them already skinned and boneless. Usually all traces of fat have been removed in the store before packaging.
Steaks are a bit different. Outer fat on the steaks should be cut away but it is okay to have the marbled effect within the meat. - Choose the Right Cut of Meat - Cut off the excess fat when working with chicken. If you aren't the type who likes to mess with chicken parts, buy them already skinned and boneless. Usually all traces of fat have been removed in the store before packaging.
Steaks are a bit different. Outer fat on the steaks should be cut away but it is okay to have the marbled effect within the meat. - Steam your vegetables on the grill. You are cooking the meat on there, why not the rest of the meal? Spray a piece of aluminum foil with non-stick cooking spray and then wrap your sliced vegetables in it. The heat from the grill will create convection current inside the foil. Make sure that you tent the foil so that the air can move among the vegetables. Or, if you do not want to use
- Steam your vegetables on the grill. You are cooking the meat on there, why not the rest of the meal? Spray a piece of aluminum foil with non-stick cooking spray and then wrap your sliced vegetables in it. The heat from the grill will create convection current inside the foil. Make sure that you tent the foil so that the air can move among the vegetables. Or, if you do not want to use
- The Fish Alernative- Fillets of fish crumble up easy so put them in foil just like the vegetables to keep them together during grilling. Fish steaks are better for direct grill cooking than fillets. They are thick but will cook quicker than other meats so don't turn your back on them.
- The Fish Alernative- Fillets of fish crumble up easy so put them in foil just like the vegetables to keep them together during grilling. Fish steaks are better for direct grill cooking than fillets. They are thick but will cook quicker than other meats so don't turn your back on them.
Quick and Easy Meal Sites I Like!
- The Family Table
- Simple and quick tips for creating a special time with your family at the dinner table. Includes cooking with kids resources.
- FREE Report- Save Time and Money By Planning Your Meals the Easy Way!
- Menu Planning Central is offering this FREE Report and other free goodies. Get it while it's still free.
Grilled Cornish Hens with Herbs
What You Need:4 (1 1/2 lb each) Cornish hens
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
2 TBSP olive or canola oil
1 TBSP oftened butter
1 TBSP tarragon
1 TBSP rosemary
How to Make It:
Cut the hens along both sides of the backbone.
Remove the bone and discard.
Lay the hen flat and secure it with two wooden skewers placed in the sides straight through the hen.
Place the oil, softened butter in a large mixing bowl.
Gently mix in the salt, pepper, tarragon and rosemary.
Loosen the skin around the breast and thighs of each hen.
Place 1 TBSP of the herb butter mixture underneath the skin.
Melt the remaining herb butter mixture.
Brush each hen with the remaining herb oil mixture reserving a little for basting during cooking.
Heat grill to medium high.
Grill hens covered for 25 minutes basting when needed.
The outside of the hens should be crispy and golden brown when done.
Placing a small amount of oil under the skin not only gives the actual meat flavor but will help to keep your Cornish hen moist all the way through.
Serve with grill steam veggies and basmati rice.
Awesome Healthy and Quick Meal Ideas
These are some of my favorite cookbooks. I have used them all.
Rachael Ray's 30-Minute Get Real Meals: Eat Healthy Without Going to Extremes
Amazon Price: $13.57 (as of 01/08/2009) 
Fix-It & Forget-It Lightly: Healthy Low-Fat Recipes for Your Slow Cooker
Amazon Price: $16.71 (as of 01/08/2009)
Prevention's Healthy One-Dish Meals in Minutes: 200 No-Fuss, Low-Fat Recipes for Busy People
Amazon Price: (as of 01/08/2009)
Quick Fix Meals: 200 Simple, Delicious Recipes to Make Mealtime Easy
Amazon Price: $12.89 (as of 01/08/2009)
Food Network Reviews- Rachael Ray, Quick Fix Meals with Robin Miller,
Rachael Ray - What can I say about my hometown girl! Over the years Rachael's meals have been getting healthier. Great innovation and excitement with this. I even did her Thanksgiving in 60 a few years back. My boys like watching this show, too.
Quick Fix Meals with Robin Miller. Ms. Miller is a food editor with a masters degree in nutrition. I find her recipes to be healthy without being extreme.
What I find most impressive is her technique. I have always done something similar, but not with the precision and certainly not to do this for most of the meals in a week.
Basically she takes one main ingredient cooks it once, along with some other meal prep and turns it into 3 completely different main dishes. This did seem rather different to me, as a I couldn't fathom having chicken three night a week. Did you ever have so much chicken you thought you'd start growing feathers? Well, I found that not to be the case with this technique. The three dishes from the main ingredient are so different, your taste buds do not get bored.
In addition the time savings are tremendous. One hour during the weekend to cook and prep ahead, and you can get your meals on the table in 15 minutes or less.
My routine now is to use Robin Miller's method for 50% of my cooking, and the freezer and crockpot methods, 40%. 10% eating out.
Nigella Express- You know I had to put Nigella in somewhere! Want fabulous fast food and short cuts? Well it's here, served up British style. I love the simple elegance Nigella injects into meals, even when entertaining. Amazing.
For more information and show times visit: Food Network
Quick Fix Meals with Robin Miller. Ms. Miller is a food editor with a masters degree in nutrition. I find her recipes to be healthy without being extreme.
What I find most impressive is her technique. I have always done something similar, but not with the precision and certainly not to do this for most of the meals in a week.
Basically she takes one main ingredient cooks it once, along with some other meal prep and turns it into 3 completely different main dishes. This did seem rather different to me, as a I couldn't fathom having chicken three night a week. Did you ever have so much chicken you thought you'd start growing feathers? Well, I found that not to be the case with this technique. The three dishes from the main ingredient are so different, your taste buds do not get bored.
In addition the time savings are tremendous. One hour during the weekend to cook and prep ahead, and you can get your meals on the table in 15 minutes or less.
My routine now is to use Robin Miller's method for 50% of my cooking, and the freezer and crockpot methods, 40%. 10% eating out.
Nigella Express- You know I had to put Nigella in somewhere! Want fabulous fast food and short cuts? Well it's here, served up British style. I love the simple elegance Nigella injects into meals, even when entertaining. Amazing.
For more information and show times visit: Food Network
Freezer/Once-a-Month Cooking Resources
Again, I have used all of the resources and highly recommend them.
Once-A-Month Cooking: A Proven System for Spending Less Time in the Kitchen and Enjoying Delicious, Homemade Meals Everyday
Amazon Price: (as of 01/08/2009)
The Freezer Cooking Manual from 30 Day Gourmet: A Month of Meals Made Easy
Amazon Price: (as of 01/08/2009)
Don't Panic - Dinner's in the Freezer: Great-Tasting Meals You Can Make Ahead
Amazon Price: $10.19 (as of 01/08/2009)
The Occasional Cook: Culinary Strategies for Over-Committed Families
Amazon Price: (as of 01/08/2009)
Got Any Quick and Healthy CookingTips or Recipes you'd like to contribute?
Share with us your tastiest healthy and quick recipes.
Lensmaster
machelle
Great Info! I am always looking for new ideas when it comes to feeding my big family. We all need resources and your have great information here. Check my site out for cheap and easy cooking and tips on recipe substitutions for healthier eating!
Machelle - www.cheapfamilymeals.info
Posted November 29, 2008
RickBasset wrote...
Being a "Mr. Mom" right now with 2 small boys, I am
sure I can use some of your great resources! Thanks!
Peace! :~)
Posted March 24, 2008
Amy_VanishMyMortgage wrote...
Great lens! As a mother of four children myself, I appreciate the wealth of great information that you have provided. All the best, Amy at VanishMyMortgage.com
Posted July 05, 2007
surfsusan wrote...
Fine and informative lens 5 stars. You may want to visit my lens about Menu Planning
Posted June 26, 2007
