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KateTheGreat's avatar

What is your favorite quick and easy meal?

Asked by KateTheGreat (13640points) June 20th, 2011

Lately, I’ve been so busy that I don’t want to go all out and cook a nice meal.

What are your favorite quick and easy meals? Whether it’s something homemade that you can whip up in an instant, or it’s a pretty delicious TV dinner, I want to hear about it. Ordering sushi every night is getting very old for me.

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33 Answers

MilkyWay's avatar

Spanish Omelette (not sure if it’s really Spanish, I kinda made it myself).
Containing: Onions, tomatoes, green peppers.pepsicums, green chilli.
I’ll eat this with some lightly toasted bread.

Coloma's avatar

Chinese chicken salad from the deli and, tonight, french bread and spinach dip with some sliced provelone cheese and thin sliced dry salami on the side and my favorite quickie summer salad, marinated cukes, cherry tomatoes and black olives in a red wine vinagarette.

And boatloads of watermelon and cantelope, cut up and ready to go.

YoBob's avatar

Veggie Burritos.

Slap a couple of tortillas on a plate. Put a bit of cheese on them, plop a blob of re-fried or black beans on them and add wherever left over (cooked) veggies you have lying around. Roll up and pop in the nuke until the cheese is melted and goozy. Top with a blob of sour cream and some good homemade salsa.

wundayatta's avatar

Cheese and fresh bread or crackers when I want to eat now! Maybe scrambled eggs if I can wait ten minutes. If I’m willing to wait half an hour, then the possibilities are limitless.

Coloma's avatar

@wundayatta

LOL, now there’s that good humor I love when it shows up! :-)

jrpowell's avatar

Spaghetti + Sauce in jar + Garlic bread

Start the water
Cut bread and spread butter and add garlic powder. Stack it and wrap in foil and toss in oven.
Cook noodles al dente and strain and put them back in the pot.
Pour some crap sauce on the noodles and let that warm while stirring on the residual heat from the burner.
Put noodles on plate and add a insane amount of Parmesan.
Get garlic bread and eat.

I can do it in under ten minutes and for less than a dollar. It got me through college.

crackerjacked's avatar

Pesto Chicken:
Simply butterfly the Chicken breast and sprinkle in a small amount of feta (goats cheese) close and put in a small roasting dish.
Cut up a red onion into large chunks and place around the chicken (an a bell pepper too if you like) then cover with a liberal amount of classic basil pesto and roast for 30 mins.
Meanwhile prepare some of your favourite pasta
Serve with a simple lettuce, cucumber and tomato salad (olive oil and balsamic optional)
Ta daa!

Coloma's avatar

@johnpowell

” add an insane amount of parmesan” Oooh, a man of my heart no doubt. ;-)

_zen_'s avatar

Quick and easy:

Breakfast – white oats.

Lunch – omelette

Supper – burger

Coloma's avatar

@zen

Why not just make an oat, egg and beef burger and save yourself the trouble.—;-)

muppetish's avatar

Mm.. spaghetti is usually my favourite. We usually substitute red sauce in favour of a buttery garlic sauce to make it a lighter and serve it with a fresh salad and some grilled chicken. Yum.

My favourite breakfast is a Spanish tortilla: eggs, potato, three kinds of cheese (we’re a cheesy bunch), onions, bacon, um… I forget what else my significant other’s mum throws in there, but it’s extremely delicious and filling.

For lunch, we usually make a sandwich that is frankensteined together with whatever leftovers are still in the fridge. My SO has made some very creative concoctions with the toaster oven.

Kardamom's avatar

I like to make quesadillas with a whole grain tortilla, cheese (which I’ll change the type depending on what else I’m adding, but I like sharp cheddar, pepper jack and mozzarella most often) and then I’ll add broccoli or cauliflower florets, or a little bit of marinara sauce. And either throw it in the microwave (for a soft quesadilla) or I’ll grill it in a pan for a crispy version. Then I might dip it into some non-fat plain yogurt or some salsa.

Or I’ll do breakfast for dinner: cold cereal with milk, dried cranberries and chopped walnluts, toast with butter (Smart Balance actually) and orange marmalade and a small cup of non-fat plain yogurt (I always keep a big tub in the fridge)

Or I’ll use a frozen cheese pizza (which I always keep in the freezer) and add differnt toppings such as: sundried tomatoes, mushrooms, broccoli, and kale.

Or I’ll take a frozen macaroni and cheese entree (like Amy’s or Stouffers or Lean Cuisine) and heat it almost through, then add a hand full of broccoli florets to steam for the last 40 seconds or so. I usually keep a bag of Trader Joe’s bagged baby greens in my fridge so I’ll throw some of those into a bowl with broccoli and cauliflower florets, chopped green onions, walnuts and dried cranberries for a side salad dressed in olive oil and balsamic vinegar.

Course, I also love soup, so if I haven’t made home made soup and frozen some (which I often do) I’ll choose Trader Joe’s Organic Tomato Bisque or Amy’s Black Bean Soup or Amy’s Minestrone Soup (to which I might throw in some cauliflower flowerettes and a pinch of cayenne pepper, because I like it spicy!) and then I’ll toast some whole wheat bread and put butter (Smart balance) and garlic powder and grated Parmesan cheese on that.

Sometimes I’ll make a Fake McMuffin, with a toasted English muffin, a fried egg, a slice of cheese and a piece of Morningstar Farms fake bacon.

Or I’ll heat up a few fake meatballs (usually Trader Joe’s own brand) in a sauce pan or the microwave, with some marinara sauce and put that into a sliced french roll and add some shredded mozzarella cheese.

Almost every week I will whip up some type of salad like tabouli, cabbage slaw, enligtened macaroni salad (with vegenaise and edamame instead of mayo and peas) potato salad with extra veggies, or a cold Asian noodle salad or a veggie and bean laden pasta salad. That way I can just make a quick peanut butter and jelly sandwich, a hummus wrap or a cheese, lettuce and tomato sandwich and scoop up a side order of salad to go with it.

KateTheGreat's avatar

@Kardamom I knew you were going to post in this :P

lucillelucillelucille's avatar

Oatmeal.Yes,that’s right. ;)

creative1's avatar

Our pizza place down the street makes a great eggplant lasagna and we have it once a week to give me a break from cooking. That and a salad make a wonderful meal for the night.

Kardamom's avatar

@KatetheGreat Like a moth to a flame!

incendiary_dan's avatar

Noodles. Specifically pad kee mao. They’re just spicy basil noodles with veggies, often meat, and some egg. Except I usually forget the egg.

rockfan's avatar

Mac and cheese hands down

Neizvestnaya's avatar

Omelet filled with whatever leftovers look tasty.

Berserker's avatar

I’m a big fan of TV dinners and pizza pops. Maybe not quite what you’re looking for…I also love eating raw veggies when I’m either really lazy or busy. I always got some in tupperwares that I bring to school or work. I guess none of these really are meals, but they do the trick for me.
I also love Kraft Dinner, and I add boiled hotdog pieces in it, then unceremoniously drown the whole thing in ketchup.

KateTheGreat's avatar

@Symbeline I was actually thinking more along the lines of TV dinners and such, but the others were welcomed as well. I need new things to try out! I’m sick of microwaving burritos.

Berserker's avatar

Hmm…you could try the Stouffer’s TV dinners. They’re a little pricey, but really good. My faves are the turkey and stuffing, and the meatloaf. Erm, I don’t know if they sell those outside of Canada and the United States. I’m guessing they must be found in some European countries, too.

KateTheGreat's avatar

@Symbeline Well, that shouldn’t be a problem. I’m back in the states now ;) They sound delicious though.

Berserker's avatar

You sure do travel a lot. And yeah try em out. They got other styles too.

KateTheGreat's avatar

I’m done with traveling for the year. I am soooooo tired.

Berserker's avatar

@Kardamom Damn woman, you psychotic. I’m gonna keep this question on hand for next time I need some new/quick meals. Stouffer’s has Manicotti? Hell yeah, I love those things. Plus the pot pie looks cool too.

KateTheGreat's avatar

@Symbeline Isn’t she? I swear, the woman knows everything about food. Anything she says about food, I bookmark for future reference.

@Kardamom I love you to death. I swear, you’re food advice has helped me many times.

Neizvestnaya's avatar

I didn’t know you wanted frozen food stuffs. It’s not exactly pre packaged but I buy hamburger patties that cook up quick under the broiler without being defrosted. I cut them in half and have instant taco meat in the shape of the shell but that doesn’t roll out the ends each time I bite. I also like to use a potato peeler to slice cheese, they turn out the right length for one on each side of the pattie piece in my taco and again, no shreds to fall out. I load the taco with a few spoons of rotel salsa and minced salad mix.

KateTheGreat's avatar

@Neizvestnaya Cheap, easy, or frozen foods. Nothing completely specific. But thank you very much. Great idea!

King_Pariah's avatar

Sashimi grade tuna or beef.

Kardamom's avatar

OMG! I can’t believe I forgot to tell you about Amy’s Pocket Sandwiches, I just happened to go to the store last night and I saw them, after I made my list.

They’ve got several flavors, but you just stick them in the microwave and voila! There’s Spinach and Feta and Broccoli and Cheese and Vegetable Pie

Trader Joe’s also has a ton of great stuff, but as I recall they don’t have them in your neck of the woods, right? If you can find one, they have excellent frozen chilies rellenos and fake corn dogs and cheese enchiladas in addition to having pre-packaged entrees in their refrigerated section like stuffed shells and enchiladas and a falafel, hummus and tabouli combo and a good Asian noodle salad. Their white bean hummus is also very good, when I don’t feel like making my own.

Whole Foods also has an excellent deli counter with amazing salads. I like to go in there and get 2 or 3 small containers and then munch on those, either by themselves or with a sandwich that I make at home. Some of my favorites are the lemon tofu with herbs and the sesame noodle salad and the root vegetable salad and eggless tofu salad. They aslo have some of the best macaroni and cheese I’ve ever tasted in their hot deli section. Their fresh pizza, which you can get by the slice, is just about the best pizza I’ve ever tasted Yum! A big slice of pizza and a salad makes an excellent quick meal. And their cold “take out” section, which is usually next to the cash registers has macaroni and cheese and stuffed shells and tabouli and mashed potatoes and butternut squash soup.

emeraldisles's avatar

Contessa stirfry. Yum.

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