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Stuck in a dinner rut - what are your "go to" meals?

12 replies

sweetheart · 04/11/2014 15:50

Dh and I are feeling stuck in a bit of a dinner rut and could do with a bit of inspiration for quick easy meals. At the moment we currently eat the things below on a weekly / fortnightly rotation:-

pizza and salad
lasagne
chilli
spaghetti bolognaise
pasta bake
kiev and chips
chicken fajitas
steak / ribs and chips
curry

I am also trying and failing to be healthy if that helps with any suggestions. What do you have on rotation at your house?

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thestringcheesemassacre · 04/11/2014 15:54

fish with steamed vegetables
pork loin with roasted veg
grilled chicken breasts (a plethora of different marinades etc) with either rice or rice and veg
easy roast - so roast chicken but with salad
and then leftovers next day - so chicken pie or risotto or something
soup
fishcakes
lots of different pastas spicy sausage tomato sauce/broccoli and bacon/roasted peppers with chilli/vege sauce or some kind.

Use bbcgoodfood for motivation.

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mkmjimmy · 04/11/2014 15:56

pumpin and chickpea stew by Hugh FW.

Chard and chickpea stew by Yotam O.

Veg curry - aubergine and green bean.

Steak pie for a treat with chips and veg.

prawn and rocket pasta Jamie Oliver

Chicken thighs roasted with veg served with couscous/pitta/new pots

salmon in oven in foil with roasted veg and carb of some description.

Bottom of the fridge bean chilli with yogurt and rice or pots.

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LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett · 04/11/2014 15:59

The Nigella chicken/chorizo/orange zest traybake (with baby pots)

And a similar one with sausages: baby pots in oven tray with a good slug of oil for 20 mins, add pack of venison sausages (or indeed any other sausages but venison ones tend to have less fat), ten minutes later add some sliced peppers and onions. Season with whatever dried herbs you have. Cook for a further half hour (so it's in for an hour in total, pots for an hour, sausages for 40 mins, veg for 30 mins).

And another sausage one: sausages in an oven tray with a bit of oil and lots of cherry tomatoes. Maybe a slug of wine or stock if you have it (no prob if not). Cook for about 40 mins, then add a tin of drained cannelloni beans - if the tomatoes haven't made enough sauce then some water/stock, more oil drizzled on the top is good. Cook for another 15 mins or so.

Traybakes are amazing because they're easy and you can see my attitude to timings is slack to say the least Grin

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pregnantpause · 04/11/2014 18:12

Pasta carbonara

Pork or beef stroganoff with pasta

Steak noodle soup

Egg and veg fried rice

Chicken pie and peas

Pumpkin and chicken laksa

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agoodbook · 04/11/2014 18:14

homemade soup with bread followed cheese and biscuits
chickpea curry with rice
chicken breasts wrapped in parma ham with veg
homemade quiche, potato wedges and baked beans
jacket potatoes with cauliflower cheese
white fish with potatoes and veg
cottage pie
corned beef hash
sausage and borlotti bean casserole
couscous with tomato sauce and spinach
pasta with cream cheese / bacon and mushroom sauce

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TyneTeas · 04/11/2014 19:43
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SanityClause · 04/11/2014 19:56

Have a look online for some recipes that take your fancy. We're just coming into winter, so stews and currys are good, and nice and easy, although you may have to prepare in advance.

Paella and risotto are popular with my family, as are refried beans and falafels.

Cottage pie, fish pie and a potato topped chicken and leek or chicken and mushroom pie are all easy to make, and delicious.

Stuffed jacket potatoes, where you bake the potatoes, then scoop them out, and mix the mash with other stuff (fried bacon and mushrooms, cheddar and spring onions, for example), then refill the potatoes and bake again are easy and popular.

Other stuffed vegetables (tomatoes, aubergines, red peppers) are good.

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SanityClause · 04/11/2014 19:59

Why don't you try one new recipe each week, say on a Saturday, or when you have a bit more time, and if they are successful, add them to your repertoire. Even a monthly rotation is a bit more exciting than weekly or fortnightly.

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Dancingqueen17 · 05/11/2014 08:57

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

sweetheart · 05/11/2014 14:19

Thanks all. Tyne I like a couple of yours so will be giving them a try. We do have a few others that have been mentioned that we throw in occasionally. It's trying to balance what all 4 will eat too rather than having to cook separate meals.

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freshlysharpenedpencils · 05/11/2014 14:37

Chilli con carne with grilled tortillas
Ratatouille with garlic bread
Chick pea and spinach curry
Bean casserole
Tuna pasta bake
Moussaka
fajitas
just plain tomato pasta
gnocchi

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excitedforbaba · 05/11/2014 15:05

Our go to meals are always so simple and easy to cook as I have fussy eaters!

Chicken curry/korma/tikka masala with rice chips naan or garlic bread
Lasagne with salad/garlic bread
mince & potatoes with veg thrown in
Chicken casserole
Chicken chasseur
home made veg soup & chunky potatoes
spaghetti bolognese
fajitas
Sweet chilli stirfry

I'm making myself hungry reading all these suggestions

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