Easy Recipes for Weeks Hubby Travels

Updated on February 02, 2011
K.N. asks from Alexandria, VA
6 answers

I know I am not the only one whose husband travels a lot, so I was hoping I could get some help from the rest of you!

We have a 3 year old and a 5 month old and dinner time is complete chaos! I am in desperate need of some quick, easy, healthy dinner ideas. I have a few things in the freezer, but we don't have much room in there. Also, I am off dairy, so that makes things even harder and eliminates a lot of the recipes I used to cook that I could freeze. I don't want to have to cook separate meals for myself and the 3 year old. Between cooking and clean up, nursing a fussy, reflux-y, slow to burp baby, and bedtime routine, it feels like I don't have a second to spare between 5:30 and 11.

I don't necessarily need recipes (although that would be great), just ideas! I am tired of chicken breast, rice, and zucchini every day! I try to limit red meat to once a week, and slip in a vegetarian dinner once a week, too. But I don't even care about that at this point! I just don't want plain boring food that leads to battles with the 3 year old once I start cooking more complex recipes again! I do have a slow cooker, but haven't found a chicken recipe I like for that.

Thanks!!

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S.H.

answers from Detroit on

We do breakfast for dinner a lot! either scrambled or hard boiled eggs and "fake" bacon or soy based sausage which takes a minute or two in the microwave (we are vegetarian and vegan family). I like Morningstar brand best! Pasta meals are generally quick and easy to reheat. Healthy cereal and/or oatmeal with some fruit. Keeping it simple is my motto! But these meals I just mentioned are always a hit for my picky eater... and I enjoy them too! Hang in there!

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M.M.

answers from Washington DC on

Shake and Bake Chicken Nuggets....you can make a chicken breast for yourself and cut up nuggets for your 3 yo. I serve it with instant mashed potatoes and corn....yum!

We also do taco Tuesdays and make pizza sometimes with a premade crust.

My husband isn't home for dinner Monday - Thursday and I have a 2 yo and a 3yo, so I feel your pain. I never make 2 meals....always the same for me and the kiddos. It means that I eat a lot of "kid" meals, but I try to make it good for all of us.

Good luck and thanks for posting this....I am always looking for new ideas too.

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E.N.

answers from Washington DC on

What about spaghetti & meatballs? I love the pre-made frozen turkey meatballs from Trader Joe's. Just thaw for 3 min in the microwave, serve over pasta and tomato sauce.

I also use a great pork and cranberry recipe that I found in Parents magazine. They have some great, easy, kid-friendly recipes on their website. Most take less than 30 min to make, including prep. This recipe uses an onion, pork loin, a can of whole cranberries, orange juice, salt and pepper, and is really easy to prepare. Serve over rice or couscous.

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R.B.

answers from Los Angeles on

We make pizza with Trader Joes Pizza Dough and Tortilla Pizzas (using soy shredded cheese). I try to lay out assemble your food meals, I find when they are involved in making it they tend to eat it. The other day we had Fish Taco Bar, I cooked up Trader Joes Tilapia with Chili Lime something, heated up tortilla's in the toaster oven, my son made guacamole, put the following into bowls: prewashed salad, shredded cheese, cherry tomatoes and opened a can of olives, ta-da instant dinner.

Trader Joes has a lot of fast, healthy family friendly food that makes dinners here much easier.

If your 3 year old is eating zucchini you are doing something right. Give yourself a lot of credit.

Also, I cook 1 or 2 nights a week, the rest is reheat and serve.

Good Luck!

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K.W.

answers from San Diego on

Potato Chip Chicken Nuggets (baked)

Preheat oven to 350
Dice chicken into cubes.
Dip in egg wash (egg plus 1 T water)
Roll into crushed potato chips
Place on greased baking sheet
Bake 15-20 minutes

Delish!!! Try some more easy recipes here http://www.captaincooksblog.com/free-recipes.com

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M.J.

answers from Dover on

How about some good soups in the crock pot?? I have 2 that I make on a fairly regular basis, both of which are nice & easy.

The first is an Italian Sausage & veggie soup. For that one I take 1 pound of Ital. sausage out of the casing & brown it while breaking it up with a chopped onion. I toss it in the crock pot & add a brick of frozen spinach that's been thawed in the microwave, several cans of tomatoes with whatever seasoning in them you like, or just plain tomatoes if you prefer, a can of white beans drained & rinsed, a can of kidney beans drained & rinsed & a box of chicken stock. Let it go all day & then when you're ready to eat cook some pasta like ditalini or whatever small pasta you like. Put some pasta in the bottom of a soup bowl & ladel the soup over.

The 2nd is a Mexican chicken soup. For this one I usually get a rotisserie chicken, but if you have leftovers or even canned chicken which I usually find vile would work in this recipe, too. Toss chicken chunks in the crock pot & add 2 cans any flavor Ro-Tel, a can cream of chicken soup to help thicken it, a can of corn, a couple cans of beans (any kind, I usually use chick peas & kidney beans), some fresh lime juice and chicken stock. Let it go all day, or even just until it's hot, then crush some tortilla chips in the bottom of a bowl, ladel soup over, add sour cream, or shredded cheese, or cilantro, or more lime juice, or whatever else makes you happy!

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