Teenagers quick meals for one on a budget?

[Ivykaty44]

Help my daughter is after quick cook meals to cook for herslef that are cheap and good for her.

She will not eat leeks and mushroom - everything else is eaten including every vegtable you care to mention

Stir fry is on the list as it is easy to make for one person - other ideas gratefully received

[Ivykaty44]

anyone got any ideas - please

[AMumInScotland]

Will she have access to an oven? Baked potatoes are very good and filling, with cheese, or beans, or whatever.

Grilled chicken breast, or a chop, go well with plain pasta and some veg.

Filled pasta is nice, either with a sauce or just tossed in butter and herbs.

Is she going away, or feeding herself in your absence? That makes a difference to what she's likely to have in a store cupboard

[titchy]

Pasta with tomato sauce? Can add lots of different bits to it depending on what's in the fridge, and bulk cook and freeze half.

Omelettes, scrambled eggs, cheesey beans on toast, casseroles, definately jacket potatoes. Pot Noodles?

[flamingtoaster]

When my DS was going off to uni we worked on some all-in-one-pot ideas - like all-in-one-rice (rice with peas, sundried tomatoes, spring onion - and any other vegetable she likes) or a vegetable stew - chop potatoes, carrots, parsnips, onion, etc. etc. and cook until soft. Add whatever herbs she likes to both. With some cold meat both these make a nice meal.

She might get more ideas here: www.studentcook.co.uk/

[Ivykaty44]

thanks - keep them coming.

dd loves scrambled egg for breakfast, I hadn't thought of omelettes. Of to look at the website

[OhBling]

Almost any pasta dish works for one person. Some of my favourites are:

Spaghetti with garlic, chilli, olive oil, lemon zest and parmesan (I warm the garlic, chilli, olive oil and lemon in the oil in a pan but not essential).

Spaghetti with lightly fried bacon and onion to which I've added a splash of white wine and/or milk. (can easily be jazzed up with garlic or chilli if you want).

Penne with fried bacon, wilted spinach, a teaspoon of capers and a tablespoon of creme fraiche.

Roasted tomatoes with pasta of choice.

Non pasta for one:

• Grilled lamb chop with steamed vegetables
• Quick strogonoff without mushrooms - fry onion, garlic then add meat (chicken or steak strips), tbl mustard, spoonful of creme fraiche and serve with rice
• Grilled chicken (baste it with a mixture of ketchup, olive oil, lemon juice and mixed herbs) and serve with salad
• Chicken salad - fry/grill a chicken breast with your favourite herbs then slice up and serve with whatever salad ingredients are handy and a yoghurt dressing
• Roast a small butternut and then mix through some rice/couscous, sweetcorn and cheese. Alternatively, mix it with ricotta, sage and a bit of parmesan

[BonsoirAnna]

Vegetable frittata - eg courgette, basil and a little parmesan.

[Ivykaty44]

dd loves/adores pasta so will share the spag and garlic etc - thanks

and begtable fritta

of to find a recipe for that - it is easier if I give her the recipe to follow as then she is more confident

[fruitshootsandheaves]

I read that as teenager quick meals for one BUDGIE!! was about to ring the RSPB!

[Mercy]

Pizza?

Yuo could buy ready made bases and she can add her own toppings.

My dd's current favourite is roasted med veg served with pasta.

[Ivykaty44]

mercy - please can I have the recipe for the pasta dish - ta?

[PavlovtheCat]

pasta and tomato sauce - she can make a large batch of it and freeze/defrost as required.

Fry onions, red peppers, add tin of tomatoes, and a pinch of basil/oregano, simmer for 10-15 mins, serve with pasta of choice and a sprinkle of cheese. I lived on this as a student. And I would live on it now if DH would let me. If she is feeling fivolous, has guests, wants to spruce it up if feeling flush, she can add a splash of worcester sauce, splash of wine, courgettes, or spinach, stir in a spoonful of pesto sauce, that kind of thing.

Great eaten on its own, or with crusty bread/salad.

or

chickpea and potato curry - fry an onion, add peppers if desired, and diced potato, stir in couple of spoonfuls of pataks curry paste, add either coconut milk, or tin of tomatoes, or even cook with milk (i often do this to add creamy texture), cook for 10 mins, add chickpeas, cook for further 10 mins or so. Serve with rice, can be american long grain if basmati is too costly. Again, can be livened up even more sometimes - add a handful of spinach, serve with naan bread.

[PavlovtheCat]

Oh and I currently LOVE pasta mixed with pesto and soft cheese!

[TheDevilWearsYFronts]

Quesedillas with Guacamole.

Roast pepper stuffed with cous cous

All manner of salads, bacon and avocado, chicken ceaser etc.

[BikeRunSki]

When my sister and I were teenagers, we invented this dish we called "Tomango", which was a tin of tuna chucks cooked up with a tin of toms, fried onion and herbs. Olives, cheese and other veg optional. We had this with rice or pasta when we had to cook for ourselves.

Fried egg sandwich.

[Mercy]

Of course!

Any combination of the following veg will do (the tomatoes are essential though)

Red pepper, yellow pepper, courgette, red onion, mushrooms, aubergine, cherry tomatoes.

Cut all the veg into bite size chunks but leave the tomatoes whole. Place in a roasting dish, mix with olive oil (approx 1 tablespoon for one serving or until all the veg has a good covering). Roast for 45 mins or so, turning the veg occasionally. When the veg has that slighty charred look and is soft (and the toms have burst!), it's ready to eat (pasta or rice)

I also do a kebab version on skewers but add cubed lamb or halloumi. The veg and halloumi can be brushed with an olive oil/lemon juice/ crushed garlic mix (I tend to leave the lamb in the same marinade for a while) Serve with rice, toasted pitta bread or Turkish bread)

[PavlovtheCat]

ahhh yes, sarnies. I still enjoy a toasted cheese, ham, tomato and onion toasted sarnie with chips for tea.

And - spanish omelette is good to make, with chips and salad/just salad.

[titchy]

ah yes toasted sandwiches. DH's mum sent him off to uni with a sandwich toaster so at least he would be able to make a hot meal