Here's a challenge for you

[emkana]

I like cooking from scratch, but I am very unadventureous when it comes to food, don't like anything too "exotic", and my dh is even worse than me. Also I am very bad at planning long-term in my shopping, mostly end up buying stuff for that night's meal at the local co-op and greengrocer's, where you don't get any "unusual" ingredients. So it's often things like spag bol, casserole, cottage pie, things like that in this house.

Would love some new ideas though for things to cook which fulfil my criteria mentioned above! Or is that an impossible feat and I should just stick with what I know? It would be great to get some ideas together! Thank you!

Bubble n Squeak!

fishcakes?
roast vegetables?

How do you make bubble and squeak?

mushroom risotto?

what about lasagne rather than a spag bol? and if you do one big enough can freeze some.

Beef stroganoff?
pies?

fish pie

Felafel, Mash a can of chickpeas, add some finely chopped onion and cumin/chilli. Bind it with a bit of flour (preferably chickpea) roll into balls and fry. Serve with salad and plain yoghurt.

Take sausage meat out of it's casing, fry in little chunks and make a pasta sauce out of it. I always use Boursin for thickening sauces rather than cream, lighter, cheaper and doesn't go off as quickly.

4 Minute noodles are very popular in our house. I cook them, put a little chilli sauce through them, pile them on plates surrounded by salad and put a few strips of grilled chicken or beef on top.

Alternativly I put the cooked noodles into big bowls, add cooked meat/sliced spring onions/mushrooms/tomatoes/spinach (or whatever's in the fridge and doesn't need cooking) then make a broth up with a stock cube, soy sauce, lime juice, chilli and lemongrass and pour it on top. Alternativly, if you can get hold of a jar of miso, it makes fabulous soup.(I'm told marmite is just as nice but I'm not really up for trying that one yet)

Risotto is surprisingly easy to make. Spanish omlette is great for using up bits and pieces. Do you make pies? they always go down well in the winter.