Very low effort meals needed

[IsaBisaBuildsaBoat]

I have ME/CFS and have just realised I need to be more strategic about time spent in the kitchen. I need to reduce effort as much as possible, basically. Shame, as I enjoy cooking (sometimes) and have resisted making this change for too long. I use a perching stool so I can sit while I chop but still, the lower effort the better.

I need to change my shopping habits to include more preprepared frozen veg, frozen steam rice, more family size ready meals, and incorporate more dishes that are like 'dump the jar on the chicken beasts and walk away for forty minutes'.

So, please share your low effort tips. I would really really appreciate it.

One thing I always find easy is a microwave veg curry, you could add chopped chicken/meat too.

If using chicken etc add it to chopped onion with a little oil and microwave for a couple of minutes, then add rice, frozen veg of choice, curry powder/paste/spices, water and stir to combine. Then cover and microwave for 10 mins, stir and repeat. I use 1 part rice to 2 parts water. If you don't like curry you could use something like Italian seasoning or individual herbs to your liking and call it a risotto.

Spag Cabonara. Boil pasta, while boiling fry off an onion, garlic and bacon. When cooked, drain pasta then off the heat add 2 eggs, some creme fraice and all the bacon onion and garlic. Season well and stir in cheese. Should be parmesan but tbh i use chedder!

Noodles, veg and 'chargrilled' meat or chicken.
(Marinate meat - this is crucial and turns any old boring meat into something absolutely amazing).
Earlier in the day cut your chicken breast or meat into strips. Place in a plastic bag with an onion chopped in large pieces, couple of cloves of garlic - just halved. You only use onion and garlic to flavour. Also, half teaspoon Colman's mustard (or mustard powder), salt pepper and a squeeze of honey and a tablespoon of vegetable or olive oil, pinch of thyme or somesuch. Seal bag and shake around, place in fridge. If you remember to turn the bag during the day great. This also works half an hour before if you forget.
Also buy Sharwoods thin or medium dried egg noodles, veg of your choice. Frozen sweetcorn and green beans, peas if your ungrateful family will eat them.
To make the meal:
Sear the strips of chicken or meat on a hot pan/chargrill pan to make them a nice colour. Throw them onto an oven tray and into the oven for 10 mins to cook through (180 fan). You don't want to keep frying it as the honey might burn and meat will get too tough.
Throw the noodles into a pan of boiling water for 5 mins. Drain. You need to do the noodles close to serving as they go claggy if made to wait. Steam the frozen veg for 3 mins. Chuck it all on the table - nicely. Serve with a bottle of soy sauce.

Super fast - Curryish Chicken in a Very Simple Cream Sauce with Rice

Basically just: Knorr Chicken Stock pot, 1 teaspoon mild curry powder, some cream + water. Poach your chicken breast (chopped) gently in it till cooked through. Thicken with some flour and water paste towards the end. Switch off as soon as chicken is cooked as overcooking makes the chicken really tough and dry.

Serve with cooked rice and some veg.

I also have ME/cfs. Posting so I can read up later for ideas!

OP - I see you started a while ago, any recipes you've used or things youve done to make it easier? How is it going?

Has anyone suggested the body coach yet? His Facebook and Instagram are good, 15 second meal videos which is about my boredom threshold for cooking. I did his Thai chicken curry which was lovely

Link to the curry I made
https://www.facebook.com/JoeWicksTheBodyCoach/videos/893342634073007/

I don't eat it myself (allergic to fish/seafood) but DH does pasta tossed in a cream sauce with king prawns, leeks and spinach.
Sauté leeks in butter, salt and pepper until softened, then add the prawns. Cook until they're opaque, then add hot cooked pasta, spinach and cream (and a squeeze of lemon plus more s&p) and toss. The spinach should wilt. I've done this with cut up chicken or veggie with peas in addition.

Bumping as so useful and I keep coming back to it so others may like it too :)

This is a great thread, I was hunting for it the other day

Love this thread! Place marking, I'll be back with my recipes!