Meals with absolutely minimal prep that can go in the oven on a timer

[drspouse]

Ok, so when we want to all eat together (DS, DH and I) the last 20 minutes before DH comes in are mainly full of DS throwing a tantrum or doing a wee on the floor, DD screaming for a bottle, or both. So I have given up on preparing anything that "only takes 15 minutes" because I don't have those particular 15 minutes (it's Ok if we're eating after DS goes to bed, either one of us can prepare at leisure).

I have a window when they are both napping in the afternoon, if I'm lucky, but it can be only half an hour some days, though DD isn't too bad about sitting in the bouncy chair looking at Washing Machine TV and DS still naps for a decent length of time.

But so far all I can think of to prepare in this time is chicken tray bake with veggies, or sausages/breaded fish/fish cakes and oven chips/potato wedges, with frozen veg at the last minute, to put in the oven on a timer. Or a nice ready meal (but the only ones we actually like are the Cook! ones that are v pricey). I have a bit of a brain shutoff on this topic unfortunately.

Any other thoughts? Unfortunately DS is allergic to tomatoes.

Lazy Coq au vin improves with neglect! Chicken, bacon, mushrooms and wine/stock to cover. Put it in oven/ slow cooker turn on and ignore! Jacket potato with it saves potato prep although I prefer mashed.

Oh - I have a recipe for Teriyaki burgers too that you do in the oven. Can send it to you if you want. Basically just mix up meat, onion, breadcrumbs, egg, make your burgers and put them in a hot oven for 15 mins. You can make the teriyaki sauce and serve them with that and rice and veg, or just as easily forget all that and just serve them as burgers in a bun. Super easy, no standing at the frying pan.

Oh I also forget that you can do risotto in the oven! Mmmm hungry now....

Green do you then put that chicken sauce in the oven? Or just leave it in the fridge till you are ready to eat?

I cook it and eat straight away, but you could leave it in the fridge and reheat. Tonight we are having toad in the hole, usual recipe but with a bit if mustard powder and thyme.

Make a batter with a mixer, or similar. Or use a whisk. Put in fridge.

When needed put a tray with a bit of oil and the sausages in the oven, cook for 15 at 180 and add the batter. Then cook for 30 minutes or just over.

Or fish soup?

Eg this recipe?

www.taste.com.au/recipes/29595/sopa+de+mariscos+spanish+seafood+soup

Any fish, you don't need what's in the recipe. Eg cod or alternative and a few prawns. I chuck in a cheap frozen tuna steak from Aldi too, as I'm feeding several.

Serve with bread or rolls ( I keep frozen bread rolls etc and defeat as needed).

You could prep the veg and put it on, and reheat it when you need it. Heat the rolls in the oven or microwave if desperate!

It's a slow cooker thing but will share it anyway allrecipes.co.uk/recipe/24399/slow-cooker-mexican-pork-carnitas.aspx
so easy to do and you can get at least 2 meals from it - bung what you don't eat in freezer. Once the meat is cooked, shred with a couple of forks. Meanwhile stick some tortillas in the microwave. You can serve with salad - we have chopped tomatoes & onion or tomatoes & cucumber with it but not vital Bought salsa would work too. Meat itself isn't spicy so would be fine for your ds. Another one - pork again - marinate pork fillet in a combination of soy sauce, hoisin sauce, crushed garlic and grated ginger (you can get frozen chopped ginger & garlic and they'd work too and would save prep time). Cook in oven for about 30 - 40 mins and serve sliced with grilled pita bread and salad. We actually have the meat & pita bread and salad combination a lot - works with leftover Sunday roast chicken as well.

Good call on baked risotto. Also, chicken tray bakes as said above, vary flavourings/veg, sometimes with chorizo, sometimes lemon and thyme etc. Curries in oven or slowcooker - indian or thai based. Pasta bakes. Enchiladas can be prepped ahead as could pizza dough (no real need for tomato sauce, have it blanco). Could prep homemade chicken fingers, add some parmesan and lemon zest to breadcrumbs, dip sliced chicken in melted butter with garlic then breadcrumbs then fridge until into oven. Whole baked camembert with crudites and bread for a friday night treat - cut crudités during nap time. Tandoori chicken, marinade on during naps then bang in oven, serve with salad.

what kind of things do you like to eat?

There is a book called Parents Need to Eat Too www.amazon.com/gp/product/0062005944/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wordstoeatby-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=0062005944 which does a lot of dividing recipes into stages of 5 mins here, 10 mins there. It is quite good, a couple of recipes have entered our staple dishes.

You're all stars! We're having loaded cauli cheese tomorrow, and I have the ingredients for risotto in already, and put the pork and tortillas in our Sainsbury's delivery basket.

Any thoughts on a non-tomato substitute for salsa, I could just add mixed salad instead, he is the weirdest toddler ever and actually asks for lettuce.

I like to put chicken thighs, potatoes and root veg on to roast.

Or thick soup, crusty bread, cheese and ham.

thatrecipe.com/blog/2014/04/29/10-tomato-free-salsa-recipes/

Microwave veg curry, can add chopped up chicken if you like.

Mixed frozen veg, rice, curry spoonful of curry paste, water or stock, cover and microwave for 20 mins stirring halfway through. Could also be cooked in the oven

Adora Afraid I think mixed frozen veg is yukky but I'm intrigued - if you put uncooked rice with other food/liquid in the microwave, for 20 minutes, and stir once, will it be cooked? I've never tried it but it would be handy if so!

Green great selection of recipes but the blogger clearly hasn't read them... as at least one contains tomato... however I'm going to go for guacamole I think (another DOH of course moment).

Salmon is my go-to quick oven dinner.

If you havent got time for marinating, just use a mixture of all purpose seasoning and garlic granules (just mix in a bowl and coat the salmon), olive oil whizzed up with mixed herbs and crushed garlic (again just pour over the salmon and mix around so its coated) or good old sweet chilli sauce.

I bung sweet potatoes and veg in the oven 10-15 mins before, then add the salmon in and cook for 12-15 mins depending on how you like it done.

When mine were that age I did baked salmon wrapped in foil - with nice bread and salad if cooking anything on stove impossible due to children. We ate a lot of humous though! Oh and a chicken and pasta stew - brown chicken thighs then add water/stock to cover, simmer then chuck in lots of tiny pasta like orzo or mini macaroni. I used to chuck in some carrots or peas too. Roast veg is almost zero work and lovely with couscous. You mentioned tray bake chicken I know but you could try different marinades for it - soy sauce and honey with lime juice v popular with my two.

If you like rice and want an easy way to cook it.
This is fantastic, try adding two cups basmati/long grain to 3 cups boiling water small knob of butter or splash of oil. I use one of those lidded glass Pyrex casserole dishes. Microwave for 4 mins stand for three then microwave for another 4mins. (If I do 8mins all together it boils over) the rice is perfect.
Brown rice needs two lots of 6mins, but it works too.
I think I got this from MSE website.
Revolutionary for me.
HTH

Sorry, didn't see your question. Yes, it does cook, but that is for standard rice rather than basmati, which is mega expensive where I am so I no longer use it.

Practicalpet's method looks very good too.

Salsa can be done loads of ways. I don't have a recipe but of you look up green salsa you should finds quite a few variations without tomatoe.

Sausage roast- pre chopped winter veg onions herbs garlic serve with mash or bread.

Lamb chops or steaks chilli flakes, mint (both dried) lemon zest and juice with chopped up wedges of potatoes lots of olive oil roast for 45 mins can leave the chilli out for little ones. It's from Nigella kitchen.

Diana Henry cook simple is great for stuff that goes in the oven.

Hairy Bikers Spanish chicken bake

Oliver's Salmon and green beans

Both take practically no pre or attention during cooking (in the oven) are delicious, healthy and easy enough for fussy DS2 to pick out the bits he doesn't like.

Sorry, try the Jamie Oliver link again