what is your favorite recipe that you can make in a hurry?

Stifler's - posted on 11/10/2010

I make apricot chicken, it takes 5 mins. You get 2 chicken thighs each for however many people, roll them in flour (or don't, it doesn't matter), chuck them in a baking dish and mix an 800 mL can of apricot nectar with a packet of cream of onion soup and pour it over and cook it for an hour while you do other things then put rice and water in the rice cooker 20 minutes before dinner. You could also make it in the crock pot but the oven is easier.

Allisa - posted on 11/10/2010

Chicken Enchiladas (which my 6 yr old loves)!!!

Buy a Rottiserie Chix
Enchilada Sauce
Cilantro, Onion Powder, Garlic Powder
Shredded Cheese
Flour Tortillas

Shred Chix, mix with 3/4 can of sauce with seasonings, fill tortillas w/ chix mixture, top with cheese, fold tortillas & arrange in 8x8 pan, top with remaining enchilada sauce & cheese, cover & bake @ 350* for 20-25 minutes

Kelly - posted on 11/10/2010

Pizza Soup:
I can Tomato Soup (makes 2 servings, use 2 cans for family of 4)
Italian seasoning/herbs to taste
Garlic powder to taste
Pepperoni or Sliced Mushrooms (or both)
Mozzarella Cheese

Pour Tomato Soup into a small saucepan over medium heat & add 1 can of water, seasoning and garlic powder. Cut the pepperoni into small pieces, I cut them crosswise twice to make 4 triangles. Use as many as you like. Add pepperoni and Mushrooms. Simmer until warm, pour into bowl and top with Mozzarella Cheese. Takes about 10 minutes start to finish.

Deidra - posted on 11/10/2010

I've got three kids too-a baby and thankfully my first 2 are older though-(2nd & 4th), but we are still on the go constantly with school, activities, sports etc. So how do we do dinner easy? Do you have a crock pot? Use mine 3x week & it is a lifesaver in my house! I don't have a lot of prep time. Throw everything in in the morning (or mid morning), set it & forget it! Dinner is ready when we are. It's been the only way to skip fast food & serve my kids homecooked meals since we don't get home from sports till 9 pm each night and it's been great.

Katie - posted on 11/10/2010

Meatloaf is a favorite of mine; not only does in take fairly little prep time, it's usually several meals worth of food.

You will need:
1 lb lean ground beef
1lb mild italian sausage
two stalks of celery
2 large carrots
half a large onion
3 cloves garlic
1 cup breadcrumbs
1 large egg
1 cup tomato sauce (your favorite brand is fine)
1 tablespoon soy sauce

Preheat oven to 375 degrees

In a large skillet over medium heat, heat a combo of olive oil and butter for saute of the onion and celery. Chop onion and celery fairly fine and then throw them in the skillet.

While they get transparent, and maybe even a little browned, grate the carrots and mince or press the garlic cloves. Then assemble beef, sausage, egg, breadcrumbs, both sauces and the grated carrot and garlic in a large mixing bowl. No need to begin mixing just yet.

Check your skillet. If those chopped veggies are cooked to your satisfaction, take them off the heat and let them cool just a bit, then throw them into the big bowl with the rest. Now is the time to get your hands dirty; blend it all together until everything is evenly incorporated. Place in a 4qt casserole, or divide and put in two bread loaf pans. Either way, bake for about an hour. If you're like me and like catsup on your meatloaf, remove your meatloaf at the 40 minute mark and top with castup, then bake for the last 20 minutes.

I like baked potatoes with this. I coat clean potatoes with a fine layer of olive oil, sprinkle with a liberal coating of sea salt or kosher salt, wrap in foil, and put them in at the same time as the meatloaf, and they are usually perfect when the meatloaf is done.

A side of veggies, imo, is optional; the meatloaf includes some vegetable nutrition right inside, by my reckoning. :)

Melissa - posted on 11/10/2010

One of my favorites is Rachel Rays fake bake pasta dish
1/2lb capocollo - it's a ham at the deli counter... I've even used black pepper turkey or ham... anything that I like that day
3Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
2 Tbsp butter
1 medium onion chopped
3 garlic cloves chopped
s&p
3 Tbsp flour
1 1/2c whole milk
1 10oz box frozen spinach- thawed
1c parm cheese
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper- omit if you don't like spicy food
1lb mozz cheese
1c bread crumbs
1lb cavatoppi pasta- or any ridged pasta- cooked

add olive oil, butter, onion and garlic to a large skillet let cook for 2-3 min until soft.. add the 3 Tbsp flour cook for another min or so then add milk let thicken, until gravey like, then add meat, spinach, 1/2 parm cheese, nutmeg, cayenne. Once all that is combined then add the diced mozz cheese and cooked pasta transfer to baking dish..
Combine breadcrumbs, 2 tbsp olive oil and 1/2c parm cheese... sprinkle over dish. Put under broiler until golden brown...
I've had to use different amounts to make it how I like it so you should definitely play with the recipe but this is how she tells to do it!

This dish takes about 30 mins once you get the hang of it. It's very simple and quick.. my husband and LO love it!

Stacey - posted on 11/09/2010

we do make your own pizzas...quick and easy and the kids think they are having something fun when it can still be very healthy....

we either by premade small pizza bases or make the dough ourselves and freeze for later use...we make sauce for the base using tomato base, basil, garlic and a little tomato or bbq sauce...then put out a heap of different toppings and let the kids make their own pizzas...(we use ham, mushrooms, capsicum, onion, chicken, tomato...but you can use whatever you love)..top with a bit of cheese and throw in the oven for 10 minutes....might take longer if you use a large pizza base

Erin - posted on 11/08/2010

I have a few.
1.Pork, Rice and Veggies. Litterally you just cook your ground pork, chicken or beef, cook your rice and heat up some mixed frozen veggies. serve up and use some soya sauce for a quick easy version of fried rice.
2. Soup and salad or sandwiches. easy and quick
3. Spaghetti (mush)
Cook up some ground beef in a skillet. Add 1 can of tomato and 1 can of mushroom soup. mixed. Season with salt and pepper. cook up noodles and you're done.
4.Stir fry! the only part that takes the most time is the preparation. But you can always do that ahead of time.
My best peice of advice is to make a week long meal plan. Just knowing what you are having when you wake up makes it easier to plan you day for your meals rather than scrambling and missing ingredients at 6pm. Also check out www.5dollarmeals.com
Some may not be quick, but usually there are left overs. And where there are leftovers, there is and extra 30min to 1 hr added back onto your night of activities! good luck everyeone!

Jennie - posted on 11/08/2010

I just learned a new one. A pack of chicken breast, 1can of cream of mushroom soup, make in sauce pan then Cook some stove top stuffing and put it on a plate and top it off with the chicken. So good.I get a lot of quick easy recipes on Kraft foods.com. It's not like the recipes that call for things that you can never find. My son loves all the foods and there are a couple things you can make with the kids that's fun and quick.

Lady Heather - posted on 11/07/2010

I like this one for a fast dinner - takes about 20 minutes to do the whole thing. I make rice and steam some broccoli to go with it (or you could use whatever frozen veg you want so it's low-prep).

Chicken Stroganoff

1 tbsp cooking oil
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut into strips
1/3 cup chopped onion
1 cup sliced mushrooms
2 tsp all-purpose flour
¼ tsp salt
pinch of pepper
pinch of thyme
⅛ tsp paprika
½ cup water
½ cup sour cream
2-3 tsp sherry (optional)

Heat oil in pan. Add chicken and onion. Stir fry about 5 minutes to brown and cook. Add mushrooms and stir fry about 2 minutes more.

Mix in flour, salt, pepper, thyme and paprika. Stir in water and sour cream until mixture boils and thickens slightly. Stir in sherry if using. Serves 2. (Or one hungry person, one not-so-hungry and one toddler).

Jennifer - posted on 11/06/2010

I threw this together on a "Let's see what's in the freezer" night...
Note: These are better thawed before layering. Microwave thawing works just fine.

You need:
Chicken nuggets
Jar of Turkey gravy
Package of mixed veggies (don't have to be thawed)
Tater tots
Cheddar cheese

Double layer the chicken in a glass baking pan
Mix gravy and veggies and layer
Cover completely with tater tots
Cover with cheddar
Bake at 350* for about 20-30 minutes - enough for everything to get hot and the cheese to just start forming a crust.

It became a favorite around our house!

Leslie - posted on 11/06/2010

Wow = this a great idea. and some great recipes! and I'm suddenly starving. LOL. For myself, I find the crock pot is very handy!! I can put chicken breast/leg/wings, pork chops, meat balls, a roast....whatever in it and then just dump a sauce or water and let it cook all day! Kid friendly ones tend to be chicken breast and then use Cheddar Cheese, or Cream of Mushroom or broccoli soup. Or with wings or ribs use a mild bbq sauce. You can add some frozen or fresh veggies at the end. then just make some instant rice, baked potato, pasta as your side.

The other one my kids love is a macaroni casserole. You just cook the noodles and put them in a casserole dish, mix in some stewed tomato and a small can of tomato paste. Mix some bread crumbs with melted butter for topping. Bake. All your doing is just getting it hot, so it doesn't take too long. This recipe is great because you do as little or as much as you like with it; depending on how much time you have. Add cheese. Add ground beef. add veggies. It is very versatile, and for some reason a comfy food. Kind of like grown up KD. ha

Jacqueline - posted on 11/06/2010

My Fav and everyone that likes veggies is my Mushroom pot pie. All u need is two 29oz cans of homesytle veg-all, lg can of cream of mushroom soup, and a frozen pie crust. Mix all together in large bowl, except pie crust. Pour into a casserole dish and top with the crust. Bake at 375 til crust is golden brown. With this recipe you can make ahead of time and right before putting in the oven put on the thawed crust. You can just about add anything you like and chicken or turkey is great too. Substitute the cream of mushroom with cream of chicken or whatever you like more. Quick and easy to please. Good luck!

Vanessa - posted on 11/06/2010

Mine isn't a in a hurry recipie - however soooo easy and creates leftovers for days!
Thanks to Jamie Oliver! I buy roast pork shoulders (when discounted when they're about to expire and put in the freezer) put the roast on a oven tray and season with salt and pepper. Cover tightly with foil and put in the oven on low (150degrees) for 6hours. Yes you can go out and leave the oven on! About 30mins before the end, take the roast out, cut the crackle/skin off and put on a separate roasting tray and sprinkle with salt. Crank the oven until it's nice and crispy. Meanwhile the roast is resting and it's sooo tender it falls off the bone. Tender for the kids and so moist! Leftovers are great for lunches, friend rice, curry etc. Serve with instant or fresh mash and some frozen veg. So tender and flavorsome you don't even need gravy!

Iysha - posted on 11/06/2010

Tomato soup and grilled cheese is a favorite for my 1 1/2 year old....can of tomato soup and water with corn(optional) and shredded cheese(optional) and cooked ground beef (optional). I just put it all in a pot and heat up....done. grilled cheese is fast and easy too. or have salad on the side with some french bread.

Iysha - posted on 11/06/2010

I use instant rice most of the time (it's fast and i cant mess up on it) and on busy nights I brown 1lb ground beef with chopped onions and warschershire(sp) sauce and add a can of cream of mushroom with a can of water and bring to a biol. then just pour it over the rice. I also do the same thing but put a can of corn/peas/green beans in the mix. If theres some of the cream of mushroom /beef/veggie mixture left over, I pour it on sandwich bread and put it in the microwave for a minute for a fast lunch too. The dinner takes no more than 15 min from start to finish and the lunch takes just the time to heat it up.

Aurora H. - posted on 11/06/2010

I like Macaroni And Cheese(homemade)
1 pkg swirly noodles (cooked)
Could make your own cheese sauce or use premade cheese sauce, 1 Tbs butter 1 cup milk and about 1-1/2 pkg shredded cheese, in a saucepan mix the butter, milk and slowly add cheese until the cheese is how you like it(i like mine where when i pull it up with a spoon it makes a thread like). mix in noodles pour in greased baking dish and top with fried onions (French's Fried Onion) or bread topping stick in oven until the Fried onions are golden brown. 350 Degrees about 10-15 mins

Renee - posted on 11/06/2010

This is my quickest, easiest, and most filling meal:



1lb of ground beef cooked (season as desired), drained, then add 1 can of pinto or kidney beans drained or you can use chili seasoned beans.

Then either mix with cooked rice (white or brown) or serve over the rice.

Grace - posted on 11/06/2010

Well I can share a simple Chinese recipe with you, if you have sesame oil, soya sauce, ginger and preferably Chinese or Shiitake mushrooms. It's a one pot dish.
-Dried shiitake mushrooms must be soaked in warm water to soften them. Cut out stems. Chop up mushroom heads. Use as many as you like (15-20 since you feed so many people)
- Cut 1 or 2 slices of ginger, 1 or 2 pieces of garlic (I love garlic so I use 2), 1 shalott or half an onion, slices of half a carrot (for nutrition and color), and slice the soaked mushrooms. (dried ones can be bought from Asian shops or organic shops)
- use any type of chicken with bones. The bones give it flavor. I use either drumsticks or chicken wings.
- In a big pot, fry shallot or onion with garlic and ginger with sunflower or vegetable oil (or corn oil), then fry the veg i.e. carrots and mushrooms, then add the chicken and brown them. This is all done at medium-high heat.
- When the chicken is browned (still bleeding), add washed rice (use long grain or jasmine rice) and mix it up. The rice must be coated with the oil. Add soya sauce (1 teaspoon), sesame oil (1 teaspoon), some chicken stock (half a stock cube) and water to cover the rice and chicken. The water should rise above the rice by about an inch.
- Let it boil then lower it to low. Let it steam for about 10 mins, check if the chicken is done, and that's it. But don't check all the time otherwise the steam will evaporate. Only check towards the end of cooking.
- Add salt and pepper to taste.