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!

These tray bakes look lovely - no stirring or much chopping:
www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/one-pan-nachos-black-beans

www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/chicken-baguette-tomatoes-pesto

www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/greek-feta-traybake

Also this makes a lovely lunch. Rather than chopping an onion just snip 4 spring onions with scissors ;

www.taste.com.au/recipes/impossible-quiche-2/8244d479-b108-4b9c-9727-25e7041d8fd2

And here is a microwave risotto so no need to stand stirring on the hob.

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/quick-tomato-risotto/amp

My go to meal for days like that is filled pasta with a tomato sauce (both from the supermarket chiller cabinet) with bagged salad and / or garlic bread. Or oven baked salmon fillets (season, top with lemon slices if you have them, wrap in foil and bake for 15-20 minutes). You can serve with a pack of microwave veg, or a tray of pre chopped Mediterranean roast veg, and some baby potatoes (you can buy packs that have herb butter in ready done, and you just microwave the whole thing).

stir fry some chicken, a packet of ready-prepared veg, packet sauce, all in a wok.

Tray bake? Chicken or fish, veg, drizzled with olive oil and sprinkled with herbs.

How are you getting on @bicyclesaredeathtraps, I hope you're having some nice meals?

One tip from me is that if you buy a ready made pasta sauce, and get it bubbling gently in a saucepan on the stove, you can add fresh pasta to the same saucepan, and the pasta cooks in the sauce.
This is what the RANA one pot pasta meal kits are, but easy to create it for yourself, as long as you remember to use fresh pasta.

You might need to add a little more liquid to the saucepan, and let it bubble for about 8 to 10 minutes till the pasta is cooked.

Thanks Ada that's a really good idea with the pasta. I've had some more interesting meals recently which is good! I've also discovered ready made tortilla/ spanish ommelette which is very nice with salad, would recommend

Oh yes, those ready made Spanish omelettes are good, easy to just fry a wedge if you've got a large size!

If you don't mind tinned food, look out for Epicure Ratatouille. One thing I do with it is put half a tin into a bowl and stir in a helping of cous-cous, then leave it for a couple of hours.

It turns into a tomato and vegetable cous-cous that you can have cold with a salad, or warm in the microwave for a hot side dish say with oven baked sausages.

It can be very disheartening, I know, to struggle to cook, so I'm so glad things have brightened up for you food wise.

Will note that one down too, thanks!
Here's my meal plan for lunch and tea for the next few days, just in case anybody is interested ... very low prep, quick cook. I'm actually looking forward to eating in the first time in ages!
pasta, soft cheese, pesto, leaves
[] sandwich - soft cheese, leaves, pesto, cucumber
[] brocolli, chickpea, tikka masala sauce, rice
[] ready salad, bread roll
[] microwave veg + tikka sauce, rice
[] bread, chorizo, tomatoes
[] baked potato, soft cheese, pesto, brocolli
[] bread roll, chorizo,tomatoes
[] couscous sweetcorn boiled eggs
[] cheese on toast, tomatoes
[] pasta and sauce

You need cake in there too bicycles!

You're right ada ... I have a big bar of chocolate, will that do?

Tbh though I've had so much sugary/ salty beige stuff recently I just really want fresh stuff anyway

Looks as though you’ve got a lovely balance of food & flavours there, with plenty of fresh veg etc.
I had burrata & tomato for lunch today, and it was a fab summer taste on a grey wet day.

Mm that does sound good, I really like burrata

You can bake fresh pasta in pasta sauce too - top with grated cheese and breadcrumbs. Add enough sauce to cover and a bit of water. No need to boil the pasta first.

Just thought I would also share that for me, draining pasta is much easier to do by scooping it out with a big flattish slotted spoon rather than pouring it into a colander like I would usually. Maybe not so practical for larger quantities though!

I do that too bicycles! I use a Joseph Joseph Scoop Colander, which is really handy, as it has a sort of hook underneath that allows it balance across the pan, to let things like tortellini drip for a few moments.
They are expensive at about £10 from Amazon, but if you shop with Ocado they usually have them for £7.

Wrap pizza - get a wrap, put some pasta sauce on it, some ready grated cheese and some mushrooms/sweetcorn/onions/whatever veg you have lying around. Pop under a hot grill for 4-5 minutes.

@bicyclesaredeathtraps

Just thought I would also share that for me, draining pasta is much easier to do by scooping it out with a big flattish slotted spoon rather than pouring it into a colander like I would usually. Maybe not so practical for larger quantities though!

I have an Asian strainer that works much better than a slotted spoon. Like this: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Kitchen-Cookware-Colander-Stainless-Silver/dp/B07HNGKNFL/ref=mpssa114?dchild=1&keywords=Spider+Strainer&qid=1635529004&qsid=262-6399803-5245024&sr=8-4&sres=B07DH8CZWC%2CB07HNGKNFL%2CB07CHF7TY5%2CB08LCHJ547%2CB07R1Q4S9X%2CB075SGQ64M%2CB07XR7VMVP%2CB07X38Y6ZT%2CB01N9HNX6O%2CB089SSVM9B%2CB08MFNKLKY%2CB07WRR4TXG%2CB08F5G47PD%2CB01N12QZL2&srpt=FOOD_STRAINER

I should mention they come in lots of sizes. I have a smaller one that's brilliant for picking up onion bhajis and deep fried dumplings one at a time from the fryer.

I’m proper poorly now but have to cook for the child... just make a very quick n dirty chicken curry in the electric pressure cooker (chop, stir, add liquid and shove the lid on) and rescued a small rice makes from the back of the cupboard. He is happy as Larry!

This is a good strainer - amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B07DK92BNQ/ref=ppx_yo_mob_b_track_package_o1_img?ie=UTF8&psc=1]]

amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B07DK92BNQ/ref=ppx_yo_mob_b_track_package_o1_img?ie=UTF8&psc=1]]

Did that work?

Hi op I came here to look for easy meals as I'm getting over an illness...I make sausage casserole by dumping chopped onion (I'm sure you can buy this frozen); tin of baked beans, tin chopped toms, sausages and chopped potato in the slow cooker (or oven on low). A bit of chopped chorizo (Tesco do frozen) is an optional extra to jazz it up. To avoid peeling and chopping spuds you could eat it with ready cooked mash. Good luck in your recovery

@AdaColeman thanks for reminding me how good tinned rats is! I've only come across it in French supermarkets but I'll look out for the Epicure brand