Family meals in 30 minutes?

[NumptyMum]

I'm looking for inspiration - I work 4 days a week, and after picking up kids from nursery (where child never wants to leave ) and after-school, we get home around 6pm. We like to eat around 6.30 so that there's time for homework/reading/relaxing before bed.

I love doing noodles, and also pre-cook and freeze, but does anyone have any fab family-type recipes that are quick and which kids love? We eat meat, but DH is veggie so something that meat can be added/done separately makes life easier. DC are 3 and 6yrs.

Thanks!

Kebabs..... Marinade cubes of meat and/or suitable vegetables (peppers, courgettes, mushrooms), thread onto skewers and then grill until cooked through and tender. Our favourite marinade is a tikka spice mix added to plain yoghurt. Serve with rice, salads etc.

Ready prepared block of polenta, crumbled into a roasting tin, then tossed in garlic, olive oil and parmesan cheese (or cheddar if that's what you have in). Place chicken breasts on top, throw in some cherry tomatoes and some herbs (rosemary is especially nice).

Put it in the over and do something else for 25/30 mins until it is cooked.

If you still find is a bit slow, chop the chicken into smaller pieces before you add it to the polenta and it will cook faster.

Don't know whether your DH is the type of veggie who eats fish but jack monroe's fish tagine is just great and I'm surprised how much my 3yr old loves it. If you type 'Jack monroe fish tagine' you should see a link to the guardian website. I serve it with cous cous and add some peas.

Mmm, thanks very much, good ideas to get me started. DH doesn't eat fish, but I could always give him leftovers of a previous meal (if I'm organised...).

Any other suggestions? Ideally, to be 30 mins from start to finish.

Thanks!

Frittata. Lots of possible variations. We like Spinach and Potato Frittata. Dice a few large cooked (or microwaved) potatoes in their skins, chop a few spring onions & tomatoes and then wilt down plenty of spinach in a large frying pan. Beat 6 - 8 eggs with plenty of seasoning and then stir in all of the above. Tip into the frying pan, cook until setting and then add some grated cheese to the top and grill until risen and golden. Serve in wedges with salad or peas. Sub 10 minutes the lot.

Aghh - missed the fact that your DH is veggie. Sorry.
The polenta dish would work well with peppers, onions etc. instead of the chicken. Sort of roasted veg with the polenta mopping up the tasty juices.

roasted veg, puy lentils and pasta
roast veg (toms/courgette/garlic/red onion/peppers/mushrooms etc) in olive oil for about 30 mins
cook pasta
get the pack of 1 minute puy lentils
I blend the veg for DC and make a pasta sauce
DH and I eat put lentils with pasta and veg on top. Add balsamic vinegar if you like it

Carbonara, you could always add the Han/bacon at the end. Takes 10 minutes

Quesadillas, roasted veg with cous cous, pasta pesto, homemade pizzas with pre made bases, twice baked potatoes, homemade chicken nuggets (veggie nuggets for DH), courgette and sweetcorn fritters

You probably do these but couscous is so quick! Add chopped peppers, spring onion, raisins and whatever seasoning you want

Also gnocchi is just as quick. I buy mine in aldi. I add a mince sauce but I suppose quorn or a red lentil and tomato sauce would be lovely.

Pitta breads with filling

Soup and potatoes

French bread cut in half to make quick pizzas

spring veg risotto with a poached egg on top

veggie burritos

Another sort of kebab:
chicken thigh fillets chopped, covered in paprika and seasoned and baked in a hot oven (takes 15-20 mins). Eat them in warm pitta breads with shredded lettuce, plain yoghurt, onion rings and as much hot pepper sauce as you can handle. Cook mushrooms for the vegetarian option.

Or cook frozen spinach with a splash of water and knob of butter while you microwave smoked haddock fillets and fry eggs. Serve as a tower of spinach-fish-egg. No veg version though.

Cauli curry: blend 1 onion, 2 tbsp groundnut oil, 3 garlic cloves and 3cm knob of ginger together into a paste. Fry for 5 mins on medium heat, add curry powder, fennel seed and cardamon and cook 2 mins more. Add one chopped cauliflower and enough water to almost cover. Simmer for 15 mins or until cauli is soft. Serve with rice or roti. For the non-vegetarians, add prawns 4 mins before the end of the cooking time.

My DC are a bit funny about couscous, though I haven't tried it on them for a while (also other foods, eg DS doesn't like baked beans, DD loves them; DS doesn't like omelette or any kind of cooked egg other than pancake - grrr)... however I guess I could try couscous / fritatta (spinach & potato frittata sounds great) a couple of times to see if their tastes have changed. I remember my mum always saying 'but I thought you didn't like xxx' to me, so I think it's just payback/karma, not that I thought I was a fussy eater at the time!

Carbonara's a good one, not done that for a while (I use mushrooms for DH's 'ham'). Good idea re french bread pizzas: I'd bought the pre-made pizza bases before but last time they were really hard!

MrsCakes no probs re chicken, I'd already thought I could just do it in separate dishes, one for me/kids and one for DH. Or add quorn at last min.

sharond101 what's a twice baked potato?

Thanks again for all the suggestions

Twice baked potato. Bake the potato, scoop out the middle, mix the mash with cheese, bacon, other flavourings, re-fill the skins and back until toasted. They take longer than 30 mins though.

There's a dish I like to make -- cook Puy lentils in as little water as possible (or buy them tinned). Stir in a few spoonfuls of sundried tomato pesto, crumble in feta cheese to taste, and some fresh (or frozen!) parsley. It is pretty good, veggie, and takes seconds to prepare. You could serve with a starch to stretch I suppose. My little ones eat it.

Yes but you can do the first bake and refill the night before or weeks before even then freeze. Just do the second bake on the night of eating.

Thanks again for the replies and to sharond101 for explaining twice baked potatoes speed-style!

Omelettes

If I've got half an hour I do a lot of things like sausages and mash with peas and gravy or lamb / pork chops with new potatoes and veg. Admittedly that's just for dh and I as ds still eats much earlier. Also stir fries work well in that time frame.