Faff-free SW recipes? Do they exist?

[IcecreamBus]

I've done SW before, but pre-DD, so putting some effort into cooking wasn't so much of an issue. I just remember most of the recipes being a total faff.

Basically, can anyone reassure me that there are some quick, easy recipes that don't take loads of prep and farting about? I really want to do it but the thought of DD hanging off my leg and whinging (because 5 o'clock is the time it all inevitably goes pear-shaped) while I'm trying to chop, boil and then oven cook SW chips is making me dread it before I've even started.

I primarily eat rice and pasta dishes. I can do curry and spag bol in around 30 mins prepping everything from scratch. I use a food processor to chop most of the ingredients though. You can get frozen chopped onions etc so that cuts some prep time.

Frozen veg, tinned tomatoes, jacket spuds instead of chips, and basic meat stuffs like pork chops!

Their carbonara is good and takes 10 mins.
While water is boiling for pasta, beat some eggs into a pot of low fat or fat free quark. Add herbs, grated nutmeg, pinch of garlic powder and 30g of strong reduced fat cheddar. Stick back bacon under the grill or dry fry in a non stick pan while pasta is boiling. I usually steam some peas or broccoli over the pasta while it cooks. Drain pasta a minute before the recommended time on the packet and stir in the egg/quark mix, return it to the heat and cook for another 2 mins to ensure egg is cooked. Chop the bacon into it and serve with veg and salad. I use this recipe all the time now as DC love it and it is so much healthier than fatty versions.

Also, you don't have to boil those dry chips first. You can just slice the potatoes. Toss the whole lot in 5ml of oil. It's a tiny amount of oil but enough to coat them. Season them with salt, garlic powder and paprika or rosemary and black pepper, then bake for about 35 mins. They are really good and take just minutes to prepare.

Baked sweet potatoes take 10 mins in the microwave - no prep at all.

SW is no more faff than any cooking from scratch.

Iceland now do the SW meals which I've heard are good for a stand by.

I didn't find SW more of a faff than any other diet. It's just standard home cooking but with low fat versions and food combining.

A veggie chilli made with quorn mince on a baked potato is no more faff than cooking a normal chilli. Same with quorn shepherd's pie. No more difficult than the usual one.

Steak and salad is as easy as any dinner could be. Grill a steak and open a bag of salad. DC can have French bread with it.

I don't parboil chips either, chop em and cook em...can't be bothered parboiling, lol.

Things like Bolognese are no more faffy than making any Bolognese.

It's just cooking really, it's only complicated if you cook complicated stuff.

SW chips- leave skins on, slice them (we've got a chipper from Amazon, cost £10, so worth it!), toss in bowl with S+P and fry light, microwave for 5 mins then oven :)

BULK cook!

Current fave here is sticky chicken and rice- door to mouths in under 30 mins, we make MASSIVE amounts and eat all week:

-boil rice
-mix 3 tbs of honey and 3tbs of soy sauce in a bowl (SW recipe says add 3 of balsamic as well, but we don't like that)
-add to chopped chicken breasts/quorn pieces
-chop a broccoli into small bits and throw into rice pan

DONE.
For the adults we sprinkle on sesame seeds and chopped spring onions too. It's as good as, if not better, than a chinese/wagamamas!

I also do the honey and soy but I mix 1 tbsp honey with 2 tbsp soy sauce and 1 clove of finely chopped or crushed garlic, coat chicken breast, wrap in foil and leave to marinade over night then cook on my george foreman grill the next day. It mskes it so juicy and tender and the only syns are the honey.

I use my slow cooker a lot so I can prepare dinner while the kids are playing or first thing in morning rather than at 5pm melt down time. The Hairy Dieters recipes are good for SW and their curries, stews, goulash etc can all be done in the slow cooker. I don't parboil the chips either.

This is the easiest meal ever and so nice! www.theslimmingfoodie.com/amazing-5-ingredient-slow-cooker-salsa-chicken/

Thanks backinschool, will try it!