Cooking for 1 and a half!!

Vicki - posted on 12/17/2010

it does. thank you. the babies are still too oung I think (I get anal about their food) for the liptons so guess I'l just use onions and spices. never sure how to get the water right and if meat goes in frst or last or whatever.
thnak you Lisa!
The problem is they don't love meat right now and are just transitioning 100% to finger food. made a gross lmb stew in crock pot with an organic applejuice that I thought was gross but they loved it as a pureed sauce over pasta. go figure.

Lisa - posted on 12/17/2010

Vicki: The easiest thing in the world to make has got to be roast beef in a crock pot, I like my meat tender and falling apart, and that is what you get with a crock pot.
Toss the beef in, usually frozen at my house, put a package of Liption onion soup mix on top, add a small amount of water, 1/2 to 3/4 of a cup to the bottom of the crock pot, turn on low and ignore for 8-10 hours. I often will throw some baby potatoes, and mini carrots in as well, and voila, dinner is ready!

To make this a bit less expensive, I use stewing beef instead at times, if it just going to be the kids and I. Tastes the same, just doesn't look as pretty!

I usually only cook meat in my crockpot, really very simple like roasting on low all day. Any meat you can roast can go in the crock pot. Most often I just add a salad, or raw veggies, and a side of cooked veggies.

Hope this helps!

Vicki - posted on 12/16/2010

sorry,,,typos!

Vicki - posted on 12/16/2010

same prob for e. but I suck at the crock pot. does anyone have any tie to post a few crockpot recipes?!

Jodee - posted on 08/24/2010

I was having that same problem at first when ever he left. I did not want to cook, but then I was getting sick, and tired of frozen food. I then decided I did not care anymore for frozen, so I just cooked what I made for my husband, and me, and I just had left over for a few days, and then make something new when ever I was done eating my leftovers.

Lisa - posted on 08/23/2010

I probably cook LESS when hubby is home than I do when he is away! My suggestion, mostly because I am not a big fan of leftovers, is made-over meals. For example, we will throw a roast in the crock pot, and then make beef quesidillas (OK, I know that is not spelled corrected, but how DO you spell it!) for lunch one day, beef and barley soup one day, and sandwiches another day. I have similar stratagies for ham, steak and chicken, and use tonnes of fresh veggies, cucumber/ carrots/pepper/ celery and cherry tomatoes round out lots of meals. I can't stand "kid" food, and have never really prepared it for my family, I think all the pre-packaged stuff really contributes to obesity, both in kids and adults. I will admit though that PB&J is one of my favorite things for breakfast, LOL! I would be happy to share if people have specific questions about how to prepare something.....

Renee - posted on 08/20/2010

There are great recipes that you make ahead and freeze, and you can portion them into the size just for you or for you and your kids. Don't Panic - Dinner's in the Freezer: Great-Tasting Meals You Can Make Ahead. This way you can have an adult frozen meal and stick it in the oven when you are making chicken nuggets. Recently I just made well over 50 servings of food for $100 or so, because chicken breast were on sale for $1.99/lb. And that was about 15+ recipes just in the chicken and appetizers section! I thought that was great, and now I am able to eat if the day is really busy while my husband is home; or when he goes away. Be prepared, it took me a bit of time to put all the meals together, but it was well worth the work. If I had been able to do them when my husband took our kid over to him mom's I probably would have been able to do it faster.

Sarah - posted on 05/07/2009

I have a fussy 2yr old - one day he eats anything the next he cries for chips and rubbish. I cook a normal meal - what I would cook for our family when DH is home. Then I freeze into portion sizes. If my DS refuses his dinner he goes without - sounds harsh but after 3 nights of this he has realised there isn't anything better and is now eating whats infront of him.
I find good old Spagetti Bolognaise is usually a winner with my DS and I can hide peas/corn and carrot into it. I also have a fab fetticini receipe that he eats no hassles.
Good luck

Sarah - posted on 05/05/2009

I have discovered a few helpful places for meals...
1. Kraft.com has a section called "1 bag, 5 dinners" recipes for 4 kid-friendly meals and one pizza night. Breaks up the monotony, easy recipes, inexpensive.
2. Supper Solutions or any place you can go and make small sized dinners with pre-cut, organized ingredients. A little pricey, but fun to do with girlfriends and freezable.
3. Grocery or market: get a rotisserie chicken and use it all week to make enchiladas, soup, alfredo, chicken salad, etc.

Tricia - posted on 11/10/2008

I try to make nice, big meals when he is home so he can enjoy homecooking and then you can eat off the leftover over the week or freeze them for another time.

Shauna - posted on 11/10/2008

This is so funny, I was coming online to post this exact question! I hate cooking for just me and the kids and I am really tired of frozen pizza. I have been trying to get healthier frozen options, like organic, veggie topped pizza, or the great selection of stuff they have at Trader Joe's. But it starts to get old fast. I do like that cook and freeze idea, though. Hard to get leftovers, though. My husband always takes them for his lunches when he is in town.

Mireille - posted on 11/08/2008

one thing i like to do that easy and stress free is use my slow cooker.... making roasts or stews and soups in it is the best. i can throw in meat, veggies, and pastas so me and the kids get all our nutitional needs met and it can all be frozen to eat at a later date if there are left over (which is always). or i send it with my husband for his lunches.. he's a trucker. other than that, when he's not home, its sandwiches for lunch, and quick things for supper... fish sticks, nuggets, frozen lasagna.. :)

Julie - posted on 11/08/2008

I usually make a meal last 2 days either by freezing or making a casserole with the leftovers the next day.

Jodi - posted on 11/05/2008

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I totally understand this! I fed my kids Ramon Noodles for dinner and ate leftovers just this evening! I TRY to at least broil a chicken breast and steam some vegetables when he's gone, but sometimes PB&J is so much easier!

Suzie - posted on 11/02/2008

I am not the cook in the family. Unfortunately my husband is, actually used to cook for his job before he got into computers. I have a VERY picky preschooler, a sometimes picky toddler, a 9 year old who would eat anything but a mom who can't really cook. I have a few things I make when he isn't home (eggs, pancakes, mac & cheese, pasta) and I usually take them out to dinner once if he's gone for a long trip, which is stressful in a whole other way. I would LOVE some recipes and ideas as well.