To ask you what to make for dinner...

[crumpetswithjam]

Had a roast planned, have all the stuff for it: chicken, spuds, carrots, parsnips, greens.

But have had an exhausting a stressful day and just not enough spoons to orchestrate a full roast (I'm autistic also autoimmune conditions).

How can I simplify dinner without juggling loads of pans in a hot kitchen?

Just do roast chicken, mash and vegetables? Nice and easy

Can you portion the chicken and then do a tray bake. Just throw chicken potatoes carrots parsnips etc onto a large tray add a few herbs and a glug of olive oil and throw it in the oven.

Mash is a great call!

Ooooooooooh I could...

Oven roast everything but the greens, don't worry about parboiling, they cook fine without. It's actually easier than many other dishes. I put the chicken in, prep the potatoes and veg, with and hour to go potatoes, carrots, parsnips etc go in the same pan as the chicken, if I have broccoli that goes on top of the veg with 12 mins cooking time left, other veg I microwave, serve with bisto. Roast I fine simple (unfortunately dp requested curry when I asked for suggestions, just chopped onions for making a paste)

Yes I think I will stick all the veg in with the chicken, thank you so much for such a detailed answer - my autistic brain needs this level of detail or it goes 🤷🏻‍♀️

And do jacket potatoes instead of roasties or mash

I also have an autoimmune condition and I usually make things like instant rice/quinoa with vegetables steamed in the microwave and a baked, pan-fried, or premade protein (meat/fish/tofu/shop-bought rotisserie chicken).

Everything except leafy veg in a massive oven tray.

I do this most weeks, so easy after work and one tray, one saucepan to wash.

I often double up for the next night too.

Thank you, just working myself up to doing the veggies, honestly it's like wading through treacle this afternoon. Luckily the children have already had a hot meal today and are happily watching The Lion King and eating picky tea, so it's only me and DH eating tonight.

I've just bought a cooked chicken from Asda.

With it we are having, boiled and roughly mashed baby potatoes with real butter and mint sauce.

Butter beans with the butter and mint mixed into them also.

Christmas stuffing balls which I saw today in Asda. They are my fave.

Lazy roast update! I took the wings and legs off and have frozen them for another day. I slapped a load of butter on the crown with some thyme I found in the fridge and a bit of lemon zest.

I've peeled and chopped the root veggies (sitting down, which felt new to me and a bit revelatory) and they're going in with the chicken soon with a few cloves of garlic and a bit more of the thyme.

Will be fab op I'm jealous

I’ve got stovies in the pressure cooker. One pot wonder

What's a stovie

I couldn't be arsed to do a roast this week, so I'm doing Vietnamese coconut caramel chicken and coconut rice, which sounds impressive, but is literally throwing everything in one pot and just keeping a eye on the timings.

@PonyPatter44 you should share this recipe

Thought you might like to behold my triumph

That looks about right @crucrumpetswithjam 😁

Take what you need, foil over the top, whack it in the fridge for tomorrow. Sometimes on day 3, we have enough leftovers for a sort of fry up thingy with added frozen veg.

I'm no chef, but this is certainly my style of cooking😋

DH and I just hoovered it up in front of Top Boy and now I'm considering the crumble we have in the fridge...

Fab op

I'd just do roast chicken and chips. Alternatively, keep it all for tomorrow and get a take away tonight.

Pot noodle. Save the other stuff for tomorrow.