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Just returned to work, best evening meal ideas when you're completely exhausted

25 replies

PareyMortas · 24/06/2013 18:05

Having been a SAHM from some years I started a new job last week and am shattered. I know I'll get used to it soon, but so far my poor dc's have had hot dogs, takeaway pizza and shop bought cottage pie.

I can't keep feeding them this stuff, so what meals can I give them that are healthy, but quick?

DH and I are low carbing, so we eat later and have very reduced appetitites so I'm thinking about the DC's rather than us.

OP posts:
mrspaddy · 24/06/2013 18:09

I would batch cook at the weekend and then you will have a stash ready for nights you are tired.
Gnocci is one I love for a really quick dinner - add sauce
Pasta and pesto
Salmon and new potatoes
Omelette
Stir fry
Pitta breads with toppings (healthier than pizza)

Bluecarrot · 24/06/2013 18:10

Stirfry, or Pesto and pasta with a side salad ate our go-to for quick meals. Or tummy tickler ( basically a toastie made with tortillas) with ham/cheese or tuna and served with side salad.

A few ready meals while you find your feet won't kill them.

Graceparkhill · 24/06/2013 18:14

Could they have main meal mid day at school and lighter meal in the evening?

flowery · 24/06/2013 18:18

What Grace said. School dinners, so you can just give them something lighter/sandwiches at tea time.

CaptainSweatPants · 24/06/2013 18:19

Tuna pasta with sweet corn
Omelette
Toasted sarnies
Jacket potatoes

CaptainCalamari · 24/06/2013 18:26

When I have a bit of time at the weekend I match up batches of chilli, Bolognese and curry with tonnes of extra veg in - freeze in portions and then just need to reheat with a bag of microwave rice... dinner in 7 minutes Smile

Jimmybob · 24/06/2013 18:30

chicken noddle soup.... quick!

IHeartKingThistle · 24/06/2013 18:40

I am feeling rotten today but we're cuurently eating nigella's chicken sausage and potato traybake (from Nigellissima) which is lovely and took literally 5 minutes to put together. An hour in oven, cook some broccoli, done Smile

TempusFuckit · 24/06/2013 18:53

Slow cooker
Flash-fry cuts of meat/fish, cous cous and green veg/salad
Noodly stir fry (make it Singapore-ish by adding curry powder and soy sauce)
Frittata

Vibbe · 24/06/2013 19:18

During the weekend, I make meals that I freeze in batches - lasagne, bolognese, pizza swirls, soups, pies, burger buns, other baking and so on. It's easy to thaw and reheat on those days where there's no time and/or energy to cook.

Salads are nice and quick too. I like Mexican style salads, sometimes served with refried beans (they take 5 mins to make).

Fried pork chops or ovened chicken, served with pasta with mascarpone and chopped parsley, and ovened courgettes with garlic (and maybe mozzarella) on the side.

Burgers - it's just to shape and fry the mince (I only add salt and pepper to the beef mince), chop lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber and so on, and toast buns.

Open sandwiches - as a kid, my mum would just arrange the cheeses/meats/vegetables and so on in bowls and on plates, and despite it being very simple, it was lovely.

Thai curries are nice too.
Spinach and lentil curry - I use red lentils, and sometimes add chicken.

Lentil dishes.

Couscous dishes - oven chicken legs/breasts, make a salad (I like simple tomato-based salads for this), and make a mint/lime/garlic/olive oil dressing for the couscous.

defineme · 24/06/2013 19:28

I never do anything that takes long!
We had stirfry tonight-ready cut bag veg/straight to wok noodles/ready cut chicken/sauce made from sherry/ginger/garlic/5spice/soy sauce

Having potato/courgette omlette tomorrow-microwave the potatoes so very quick and serve with bread

meatball (fresh shop ones) baked then made into grilled sub sandwiches with melted mozzarella and salsa. Serve with salad.

Pasta with pesto/green beans/cheese/pine nuts/peas

Traybake with chicken thighs/garlic/few cut up chipolatas/red onion/parsnip/potatoes

That's our meals for this week as far as I've planned-generally have soup/sandwiches/beans on toast on the night we have 2 after school things and Friday night is often take away!

AndMiffyWentToSleep · 24/06/2013 19:34

Cream cheese - an instant pasta sauce (with a bit of pasta cooking water to loosen it). Add veg, meat if you like, a bit of pesto to ring the changes - it's become a regular for us!

Gingerandcocoa · 24/06/2013 19:39

Grilled fish with (ready made microwave) mash potatoes and broccoli!

Stir fry... (vegetables, prawns, noodles)

Lots of vegetables in the oven, cook for 40 minutes, then fry steaks.

hotbot · 24/06/2013 19:41

Boiled eggs and soldiers

JuliaScurr · 24/06/2013 19:53

www.nigella.com/search/results/recipes/11353538/0/express:1

you might like these - I haven't tried them all

Flibbertyjibbet · 24/06/2013 19:55

Beans on toast.

dinkystinky · 24/06/2013 19:58

Stir fry
Spanish omelette
Jacket potatoes
Pasta dishes
In the summer, lots of meals with salad on the side (so chicken breasts/fish with salad side)
Slow cooker meals - spaghetti bolognese (do the sauce in slow cooker while at work and then just do the pasta when you get in), chicken cacciatore, soups, joints, casseroles - they are brilliant and v versatile and you can do the prep work the evening before and just turn on as you leave the house.

PareyMortas · 24/06/2013 21:31

Ooh you angels, I'm so tired I can't think. Lots of great ideas here, thank you.

OP posts:
Pantah630 · 25/06/2013 11:39

quick biryani this is a staple after work, after Cubs one for us as its done in 15 mins. I substitute frozen spinach if I don't have fresh and put it in at the same time as the rice and stock. Also add a handful of sultanas and any other veg that needs using up. We've made this with lamb neck, chicken, turkey and beef, always delicious. We also up the volume and the Cubs make it as part of their banquet meal as well :)

johnJeffreys · 03/07/2013 13:20

Not instant but quickish and utterly delicious. My children adore it. serve with rice and steamed brocolli

mustard stuffed chicken

forevergreek · 03/07/2013 13:25

Get a lean mean grillin machine! Can cook meats and fish in there in less than 5 mins. Add veg/ salad/ microwave rice/ fresh pasta etc etc

becscertainstar · 03/07/2013 13:34

Microwave steam packs of frozen mixed veg were a lifesaver for me. With leftover roast chicken and cooked mash in the fridge I could give DS a roast dinner in under 5 minutes via the microwave. Also I'd microwave a steam pack of veg while boiling quick cook pasta - then stir some prawns, butter and a little lemon juice and black pepper through the pasta and veg. I always batch cook, and I often do a spag bol at the same time as doing a chilli con carne since you're chopping a lot of the same stuff, might as well buy a double sized pack of mince and do both at once. Then you can freeze the other one in portion sized freezer bags.

JiltedJohnsJulie · 03/07/2013 21:40

Carbonara. Cooks in the time it takes the spaghetti to boil and is yummy.

UptoapointLordCopper · 03/07/2013 21:53

Salmon - grill in the time it takes to cook pasta and broccoli, flake salmon, mix, eat. If you grill a bit more you can have it later too. Never cook one meal when you can cook two. Smile

Same again with cooked prawns.

Prawns omelette. Eat with rice or on its own. Yum. (That's what we had today.)

kelly14 · 05/07/2013 00:16

I am single mum, work full time. We leave 7.15 am for before school care and not back till gone 5.30pm.

I always make dinner the night before, last night cooked huge chick breast stuffed with stuffing wrapped in bacon, made broccoli and caul cheese and made cheesy garlic mash so all I had to do tonight was heat and make gravy and yorkshires.

So tonight I made the meat part of spag Bol so tommorrow will just have to boil spag and bung garlic bread in oven ( well will prob get a huge takeaway but wishful thinking lol)

I make a few portions ( minus spaghetti ) and freeze.

Always have some frozen thin pizza bases in freezer and then just bung on some Tom purée, ham, onions, mushrooms, pepperoni etc etch and takes minutes.

My dd loves sausage and bacon pasta.

Pie and chips

Chicken Caesar salad - dd (8) would eat this every night if allowed!

Homemade oven chips with steak ( great as dd loved it as rare as me so this is very quick meal)

Toad in the hole.

Beef and red wine casserole in the slow cooker whilst you at work all day! I do this all the time and my dd loves it!!! Serve with mash and veg.

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