Hit me with your easy but not beige dinners

[Oncewassmith]

Sorry if this isn't a true AIBU but I've been diagnosed with breast cancer and I'm facing a double mastectomy (plus reconstruction) - so I need some go to super quick dinner ideas for the family (me and DH, DS6 and DD4).... so what do you go for when you need a quick, low fuss dinner?

Pre bagged stir fry. Bung it in the wok, with some thin noodles. Soy sauce or whatever you prefer (lots of sashes of sauces to try). Done in 10mins.
Could add meat

Fajitas. Just Chuck a packet of fajita spice over chopped onions, peppers and chicken, cook and serve with wraps.

Bag of new potatoes on to boil, pan fry seasoned pork chops and chuck in a spoonful of apple sauce/apricot jam/sauce of choice at the end to glaze. Chuck a few bits of broccoli with the spuds 5 mins before the end.

Good luck with your treatment OP X

Sorry for your diagnosis. Could you ask your husband to batch cook lasagne, slow cooker stuff etc?

Fresh pasta, tortellini etc takes 3 mins, add a pre made salad.

I would go to my partner and kids if I was you! Can he / they batch cook for you at weekends for a few weeks, making the weekdays easier for everyone as stuff will just need heating and serving?

Jacket potatoes + fillings (I always have batches of this Ella chilli in the freezer, defrosts v easily)
Beans, egg on toast
Roasted veg (in olive oil) + anything (houmous, feta, grilled halloumi, bread, other dip things)
Pizza and loads of salads (to balance out the beige)
Lentil soup, or similar very thick / filling soup, in the slow cooker with bread
Fish finger sandwiches and salad or mushy peas
Macaroni cheese using either homemade & frozen cheese sauce, or supermarket cheese sauce, with veg or salad
Lasagne made using: dried lasagne sheets; ready-made fresh cheese sauce (both Waitrose and Sainsburys is fine, not tried any others); frozen med veg (in a packet) with some tinned tomatoes and herbs; grated cheese from a packet on top. Really nice, no effort.

The Green Roasting Tin cookbook always gets recommended on here and I've heard rave reviews in real life (it's on my to-buy list).

On days when there really isn't any time to prep anything - Cook meals.

for you and plenty of

Grilled lamb chops with mint sauce on, grilled cherry tomatoes, packet cous cous and bought tzatziki. Takes about 15 mins and hardly any washing up. Also Jamie Olivers one pan fabulous fish, very quick and easy. Any stir fries are good.

I can't cook OP and came on looking for inspo but saw your story and just wanted to say good luck x

Could you make up some bags for the freezer, so you can defrost one and chuck it in the slow cooker. Casserole mix, pulled pork mix, bolognese or chilli mix etc.

Pesto pasta with peas and sweetcorn. 10 minute easy dinner and a winner with so many kids (and grown ups!). Add some cooked chicken, ham, or poached salmon if you want a bit of protein, and/or some grated cheese on top.

Sending you positive vibes for your treatment, OP

Cherry tomatoes cut in half, salt olive olive in the oven for half an hour. Cook some spaghetti and stir the tomatoes through with some cubed feta , basil and pepper.

And pesto pasta, with fresh tomatoes, or peas & sweetcorn, plenty of parmesan on top.

Baked potatoes! Get the McCain's ones that you cook from the freezer.

You are undergoing huge medical procedures and need to look after yourself. Your partner should be dealing with the cooking, not you!

Wishing you well OP Keep fighting and staying strong xxx

My children love creme fraiche pesto pasta - red or green pesto with some creme fraiche stirred through whatever pasta. I add green beans / frozen peas / broccoli to the pasta pan and sometimes add cooked chicken or ham as well.

Toad in the hole is quite beige and maybe takes a while but it's very easy.

Put a pack of sausages or chipolatas in at 200 to roast in a metal baking tin with an extra spoonful of vegetable oil. Whisk up the batter of 125g flour with 2 eggs and 175ml milk until it is smooth and has bubbles. When the sausages are cooked through but not burned, pour in the batter and put back in the oven for 25 minutes or so until risen and brown. Serve with peas and sweetcorn.

Tray bakes are great, loads of ideas online depending what flavours you like.

My favourite easiest dinner is spaghetti with fresh tomatoes. Boil spaghetti, cook some fresh tomatoes, I usually chop up some baby plum tomatoes, in olive oil and some of the spaghetti water and season with salt and black pepper. Once the spaghetti is done, drain it and toss it into the pan with the tomatoes. I add fresh basil at this point and serve with some parmesan shavings. Super easy and super tasty. If I don't have fresh basil I bung in some dried Italian herbs with the tomatoes.

Good luck ❤

Surely your husband can take this on at a time like this?

I wish you all the best.

Wishing you all the very best Op.

Not much to add other than chilli in the slow cooker - mince, onion, can of chopped tomatoes and can of kidney beans in chilli sauce.

Good luck OP

Fresh pasta with pesto/stir in sauce/philly with salmon, peas, broccoli.

Chopped tomatoes, garlic, chilli, olives, anchovies - cook for 5/10 mins then mix with gnocci or pasta.

Defrosted tuna steaks pan fried for 5 mins, serve with chopped mango, coriander, chilli, soy sauce.

The best thing to do is maybe meal plan at the start of the week so you can do double of some things like mince etc and then mix with bolognese sauce one night, and cook with mixed beans & chilli sauce another. And if you do a salad just do a big one so you can have it over a couple of nights.

Have lots of frozen sides in, like garlic bread, flatbread, chopped veg/onions. Make things easier for yourself, there are loads of decent ready meals now (Aldi is good for these actually, pretty good ingredients) and have a stock of potatoes for baked spuds.

Ask for help and accept it when anyone offers!

You need to have meals cooked for you. Please get your partner, extended family/friends to help with this.

Apart from anything else, I think you will find it difficult to lift pans/pots full of boiling water etc.

Hope all goes well.

Second one here for McCains baked potatoes here! They’re bloody delish.

I’m imagining as well as all the brilliant ideas here you’re thinking freezer/cupboard ‘handies’ if things get a bit hectic and you can’t shop?

One tip is whenever I’m making a bolognese, chilli or curryI buy double and make two. Maybe invest in a tall freezer or chest one and plenty freezer bags. Handy tinned and dried essential I always have are beans, microwaveable rice, primula cheese (for a light snack with crackers if you’re feeling queasy), wraps and naan breads. Pesto, gravy, etc as added extras