Inspire me - what meals do you cook

[Nottsangel2015]

Just looking for some inspiration as we seem to cook the same meals week in week out. Mainly lasagne, spag Bol, pasta bake, shepherds pie, fish pie or caserole. This is mainly because the kids will eat these and can be fussy but I really want to vary what we eat as I'm getting bored of the same old and it can all be quite calorific as they are mostly high carb meals.

Do you tend to cook for the whole family or those of you with younger children do you cook separate meals for them?

[MrsPnut]

Skinless boneless chicken thighs marinated in BBQ sauce and baked in the oven. Served with chips or wedges and salad or corn on the cob. DD often has hers in a wrap.

Chicken goujons in a wrap with sour cream, salsa and grated cheese.

meatballs in tomato sauce with spaghetti.

[SaggyNaggy]

Tonight I made vegetable risotto with a garlic mushroom sauce. Served with garlic bread and a leafy salad.

[SaggyNaggy]

We all have whatever i cook BTW. DD just has a small portion. Tomorrow is one of the simplest and yet one of our favourites. Chicken breast diced and lightly fried, Chinese style curry sauce poured over, rice and naans. Blooming gorgeous.

[frikadela01]

Chicken breast stuffed with roule cheese wrapped in bacon. Serve with salad.

Chicken thighs with chilli and garlic salt done in the oven. Served with salad and new potatoes.

Chicken diced and marinated in soy sauce, honey and chilli flakes. Fried an served with noodles and stir fried veg.

Chicken tikka with rice

We eat a lot of chicken if you hadn't guessed.

[LilCamper]

Tonight we had Greek salad (feta, cucumber, olives, red onion, tomato, olive oil, lemon juice, oregano and basil), toasted garlic pita strips, halloumi, tzatziki, hummus and remarry coated salami. Dead easy!

[Nottsangel2015]

Some great suggestions will be tying some out, can I just add that dp has a hearty appetite so just a salad wouldn't cut it even though I love a salad myself, lilcamper your salad sounds delicious may give that a whirl for lunch at the weekend!

Those of you who make wraps do you serve anything on the side with them like wedges etc?

[MrsPnut]

Wraps are served with wedges, chips or roasted new potatoes. It does depend on how hungry we are or how much I can be bothered.

We usually eat jacket potatoes at least once a week too on our busiest night. I offer beans and cheese, chilli and sour cream or tuna crunch salad.

[Thurlow]

Currently on our rotation are...

Dhal with veg and either rice or homemade naan bread (surprisingly easy to make if you have a mixer with a bread attachment)

Enchiladas

Homemade pizza

Roast chicken with roast new potatoes and salad

Toad in the hole

Pasta with pesto and feta, and salad

Indian chicken tray bake

[MumUndone]

Chicken risotto
Sausage casserole
Chicken korma
Beef stew
Chilli con Carne
Turkey & Peaches (nicer than it sounds!)
Spanish omelette

[Nottsangel2015]

Thanks guys, lots of you make spicier dishes like curries and chillies which I would love to make but don't think the kids wouldn't go near it, do you give to your children or is there a key to making it much less spicy? (Never made one except buying a jar of sauce which I don't think counts!)

I'm realising we must eat much bigger bulkier meals than most. Think we need to calm it down a little (my waist would prob thank me for that)

Like the idea of jacket spuds, already make the baby them with cheese and beans but never really thought of making them for us as well as a meal! May make tomorrow as could eat one now with a salad on the side!

[AtleastitsnotMonday]

Would you be able to tempt your dh to eat salads if they were more substantial? For example a nicoise with tuna steak, boiled egg, new potatoes, maybe dough sticks on the side?
Could add falafels and pita to Greek salad
The meals you least are mostly meat based, are you open to veggie dishes?
I often make a veggie frittata, quiche or puff pastry tart although you could always chuck in some bacon.
We quite like tray bake recipes like chicken with chorizio and Mediterranean veg.
How about fish? Fish cakes are easy, also often do fillets cod, salmon, whatever cooked in foil parcels with lemon juice and herbs.

[RaspberryBeret34]

I do curry for my DS, I just make it with curry powder or paste (a mild one) and don't add chilli then take a few pieces of meat and veg out at the end for him so it just has a bit of sauce on and mix with Greek yoghurt, a little lemon juice and a little mango chutney. Serve with rice/naan etc. It's his absolute favourite. I add some chilli sauce/flakes to spice up the rest for me.

[thiswayplease]

Chilli (I give DC extra sour cream or dilute with a bit of milk)

Stir fries, prawns, pork and chicken

Grilled fish and couscous

Shepherds pie with root veg mash

Paella

[MERLYPUSSEDOFF]

I find the easiest way is to work around the carb element.

spuds = fish pie, shepherds pie, something and mash/chips/new pots etc, fishcakes, jackets
rice = curry (Chinese, Thai or Indian), rice and bits(sweet & sour), risotto, paella, kedgeree or stroganoff style stuff
pasta = basically any type of sauce on top like bolognaise, carbonara, pesto, red ratatouille stuff, tuna, cheese, lasagne, mac and cheese with bacon
bread = soup, fajitas, pizza, Greek salad.

Hope this helps

[OldBeanbagz]

I've always cooked for the family as a whole and now that the DC are a bit older (14 & 11) they can stand a lot spicier food. I started them out quite mild and have gradually brought food up to the heat we like. Only once has DS noticed a significant jump!

Some of our family meals are...

Chicken curry & naan
Veggie chilli & rice or wedges
Dhal & rice
Salmon or prawn risotto
Pasta with vegetables

Ds doesn't like potatos at all much so we generally go for rice or pasta unless he's out.

[wobblywonderwoman]

I often cook salmon with green veg abd new potatoes. Sometimes I add Cajun spice to the salmon or BBQ marinade and its lovely.

Pork chops with apple sauce and mash

Fajitas

Steak burger and pepper sauce

Chicken skewers (again Cajun or BBQ)

Stir fry (five spice)

Thai curry

Roast chicken and roasted veg (love this) sometimes the old BBQ spice could come out for this aswell

Shepard's pie

[Nottsangel2015]

Wow realising we are so unadventurous!!! Dp is quite particular with dinners I'm not sure what he would do if I served him something without meat or fish, and his outlook on fish is it doesn't fill you up unless it's part of a pasta or rice dish.

Love the idea of paella but think it's a bit out of my cooking range, never tried to make some of the dishes suggested, when I have made a curry before I've made it using a jar of sauce think I need to expand my cooking skills and get brave!

Raspberry think I will have a go at a curry and use yoghurt to take off some of the spice. Monday the chicken and chorizo meal sounds delicious I actually have some chorizo in the fridge so think I will have a go at that!

My stirfrys always come out soggy, not sure where I go wrong? Think I may overcook?

What is dhal and kedgeree? Heard of them but no idea what's in them, will have to google.

I should definitely have a go at fajitas, when I've made them in the past I've used the old El Paso kits but fancy making my own as trying to get more into home cooking rather than packet sauces and jars.

Thank you for your suggestions, will pop some on the menu for next week and hope they all like them!

[That1950sMum]

My kids love stews, baked gammon, salmon, Moussaka (I swap the aubergines for sliced potatoes, home made fishcakes.

[poshme]

OP try the goodfood website for "easiest ever paella" . It's not traditional but a good start point, and if you read the comments below the recipe there are lots of additions and ideas for improving it too.

[thiswayplease]

If your stir fry is soggy then it's over cooked. Noodles and veg need 5 minutes max. I always do meat first then add everything else

[MrsPnut]

My take on a paella is

fry some diced onion (I buy frozen) in a little olive oil and then when softened add a diced pepper ( the colour depends on what we have in). The add some sliced chorizo and fry until the oil is released from the sausage.
Add a teaspoon of paprika and a pinch maybe of sweet smoked paprika. If you don't like it spicy then make sure you don't buy the hot smoked paprika.

When that is combined, add some paella rice (buy it from tescos, sainsburys or waitrose) and stir to coat the rice. Add boiling water to cover the rice and bring to the boil. Simmer for 5 minutes and then add frozen mixed veg to the pan, stir and bring back to the simmer.
When all the liquid has been absorbed, make sure that the rice is cooked and then add some chopped cooked chicken (I use the leftovers from a roast) to the pan and stir to heat through along with some lemon juice and chopped parsley (again I use frozen).

Check for seasoning and serve.

It isn't in any way authentic but my family love this and I can add and subtract things depending on what we have in the house. I often add prawns as well if I have some.

[Nottsangel2015]

Thank you poshme I will give that a look and thank you MrsPnut that looks very simple even for my standard lol

Mrs they all sound amazing! Have never made fish cakes but keep meaning to have a go as my 1 year old loves the nice thick ones from the supermaket !