Really really easy meal ideas

[bicyclesaredeathtraps]

Hi,
I have recently become ill, been to hospital as an emergency, discharged, don't know what's going on, blah blah.
Anyway the upshot is that I am struggling to feed myself. I'm bored of ready meals, and the same combinations of rice/ veg/ lentils/ spices or couscous/ tinned fish/ veg etc.
I have all the basic cooking equipment but no adaptive equipment eg kitchen stool, I can't stand and stir a pot so stuff I can microwave or stick in the oven would be good. No freezer.
I don't mind a little bit of prep I can do sat at the table on good days, but the quicker the better as my appetite is random and by the time I've cooked I've lost the energy to eat.
Generally prefer veggie food, especially bc most of the ready meals I can get here have meat in so I'm already eating more than usual, but other than that not fussy.
Any suggestions would be much appreciated, thank you!

Should have said, it's only me to feed, no support network, but can order supermarket delivery

Chop up some peppers, red onions, courgettes and roast with some garlic granules and salt/pepper. Add cubes of halloumi half way through. Eat with hummus and wraps or flatbreads.

Good extra virgin olive oil and Balsamic will make all the difference to a mozzarella or burrata and tomato salad with fresh basil. Quick and delicious!
Use the oil and vinegar on basic platters of good cured meats and cheese with hunks of any bread you fancy.

Look up Madhur Jaffray green lentil curry, I always use spinach rather than kale. Honestly delicious.

Parboil new potatoes and then smash them a bit and wrap in foil with olive oil and seasoning, put in the oven. Can cook salmon or chicken alongside and serve together.

Make Thai curry by roasting some veg (cauliflower, peppers, baby corn) then stirring in a jar of curry paste and a can of coconut milk.

My really lazy meal is pasta with some boursin stirred through it, and any veg that I might happen to have hanging around - peas or broccoli usually. I sometimes put some chopped smoked salmon in as well. And a bit of black pepper.

And putting back in the oven a bit.
There is a set of cookbooks called 'the roasting tin' or something like that, might suit you. There is a veggy one in the series. It's all about putting everything in tray in the oven. Very easy.

Also - roast baby plum tomatoes with garlic and salt/pepper/bit of sugar. Then add gnocchi and roast some more. Can add grated cheese at the end. Serve with chunks of ciabatta.

Carbonara (the Italian version).
While pasta is cooking mix egg yolks with Parmesan.
If you want meat (I don't - I know, once again deviations from real carbonara!) then fry it with garlic.
Before draining pasta scoop out a cup of the water.
Drain pasta and mix with meat if you're using it or put back in pan and add the egg mixture. Stir and add some pasta water to make it desired consistency.

I add peas sometimes too and that works - also adds a nice colour.

Proper recipe is here, www.greatitalianchefs.com/recipes/carbonara-recipe

www.waterstones.com/books/reviews/isbn/9781529110067#review-121830

Thank you so much, these are all great ideas! Sorry I should have said my coordination is also very poor at the moment and knives are a bit dangerous due to muscle spasms, but scissors are okay and I can adapt some of these to pre-chopped veg (didn't mean to drip feed, it's just my brain isn't working very well...)

Jacket potatoes would be a good choice, ten minutes in the microwave, you can have a variety of toppings and some salad on the side. They aren't quite as good microwaved as baked in the oven but it's quicker. Beans and cheese is my favourite but anything you like would be good.

I start jacket spuds in the microwave and finish them in the oven. I make a few at a time and use them the next day . Just mash the inside and pop back in the oven the next day for 10 mins.

Omelette is quick and nutritious, add things like fried mushrooms, grated cheese, sliced tomato, cubes of cheese like Boursin or feta, left over vegetables.
Or make a frittata with sliced tinned or left over cooked potatoes, grated cheese, and any suitable vegetable such as peas.

Look up how to make oven baked risotto, no standing and stirring this version, just pop it in the oven.

Mushroom stroganoff is quick to make, I often have it with tagliatelle, but you could have it with microwave rice, which is quick and easy.

Fresh pasta cooks in just a few moments, much more quickly than dried, so use that when possible. Think about the stuffed fresh pasta you can get, serve it with some olive oil or butter & grated cheese for a simple meal.

Carbonara was my first thought.

Baked potatoes are lovely double baked. Fishing them out once they are cooked, mashing the potato with cheese or tuna, butter, salt and pepper, refilling and baking again until crispy and melted.

I'm trying the pasta dish that's going about on social media tomorrow

Cherry tomatoes in an oven dish with olive oil, salt and pepper, block of feta in the middle and bake, throw in some cooked pasta at the end and basil and mix it up

Chilled oven food and chilled or frozen veg in the microwave or salad from a bag.

Falafel (chilled and ready-made) in the oven with houmous, pitta and salad from a bag. Maybe some cous-cous or even oven chips too.

Baked beans or scrambled eggs in the microwave with toast. I think you can get omelette makers for the microwave too.

I had Cauldron sausage casserole tonight. Chilled sausages in the oven, softened ready mixed casserole veg in oil, then combined in the casserole with a can of chickpeas, a can of tomatoes and some dried herbs and put it in the oven on a low heat for 2 hours.

Gnocchi makes a nice change from pasta, only takes 2-3 minutes and goes well with pesto or a tomato sauce.

Sorry, ignore frozen veg; just noticed you don't have a freezer.

I too was going to suggest jacket potatoes. You can use pre-made or store bought coldslaw, cheese, beans. My favourite is pineapple, bacon and spring onions, but you could replace the bacon with vegetarian meat substitute.

Pasta bake is quick and easy. Dried pasta, jar of sauce and add in any veg you have- mushrooms, onions, peas, tomatoes etc and bake.

Roasted veg (bought ready prepped or not) is great to put in a wrap with feta or hummus and falafel or add it to pasta with some pesto
Omelettes?

Nothing useful to add to these already great ideas, except to say that I’m so impressed at how well you seem to be coping and cracking on with things despite all the adversity you’re suffering and a lack of nearby support! It sounds tough, I hope your days are much more good than bad. Hope you are doing ok and that your symptoms subside very soon. x

Sweet potato is nice with cheese and beetroot salad!

Pasta bake you could have the leftover for the following day.
Any pasta like spaghetti with pesto and any veg your choice.

Cheese and mushroom omelette.
Ham and mushroom omelette

Poached egg on toast

I'm looking to do some noodles with soy sauce and some veg as a lunch. I'll let you know what I think

And to finish.....I understand how you feel, as I have chronic illness including Ibs which makes meals difficult but I'm trying, to see what's easy to make and slowly getting there.I hope you feel better soon

Jambalaya - rice, stock, Cajun spices, a tin of tomatoes, whatever vegetables you like. Meat optional. Simmer in a big frying pan over low heat until all the stock/tomato juice is absorbed Only needs occasional stirring.

1. Hummus stirred into steamed frozen veg, add a squeeze of lemon juice. Eat.
2. Cheese toastie with prepacked salad leaves
3. Microwaved potato with microwaved baker beans, prepacked coleslaw/prepacked grated cheese/prepacked salad.
4. Microwaved porridge with yoghurt, walnuts, blueberries, banana.

Oh wow so many more ideas, this is great thank you! Baked potatoes, of course, why didn't I think of that? Today is a staying in bed day, so I'll make a list of stuff to buy for these meals.

Also thank you for the kind messages, it really helps.