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Farm Kitchen:  Easy family meals that don't involve canned soup ?  |
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clothedinscarlet
True Blue Farmgirl
1333 Posts
Siobhan
Battle Creek
MI
USA
1333 Posts |
 Posted - Jan 20 2010 : 12:28:55 PM
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Hey Sisters, I need some help in the kitchen. I absolutely LOVE to cook! My husband jokes that he's never eaten the same thing twice, that's how adventurous I am. And I used to cook almost all of our meals from scratch. Well, I'm coming to the point in my life where I just can't seem to cook the same way I used to. We have a busy evening schedule during the week most of the time and by the time hubby gets home from work I have less than an hour to make dinner and eat before someone has to be out the door for something, it seems.
So, I'm looking for quick and tasty meals that don't involve the good old fashioned can of cream of mushroom soup (hubby and I can't stand the typical 1950's style casserole) that can be ready before he gets home. I really want to make MJ's pot pie out of the last magazine. That is on my list as something that can be whipped up earlier on in the day and be cooked and ready when hubby comes home. I guess I am moving away from the "Rachel Ray's 30 minute meals" time of life and into the "slowcooker and lasagna" phase LOL! Does this make sense? Help me out!
Siobhan, wife to my best friend, Trent, and mommy to Camden (11/28/05) and Bennett (7/11/07). and Truman (7/28/09) |
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FebruaryViolet
True Blue Farmgirl
4810 Posts
Jonni
Elsmere
Kentucky
USA
4810 Posts |
Posted - Jan 20 2010 : 12:39:36 PM
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Gosh, it's actually endless! I love to cook, too, and rarely make the same thing twice (there are favorites that dh requests, that I take into consideration...) I've never used a can of soup for dinner...broth, yes, canned soup, no :)
Things that can be made ahead:
enchiladas (then you can quick fix spiced beans or something like that to go with
homemade lasagna (one to freeze, one to eat now)
Cottage Pie (basically shepherds pie but beef)
Garlic stuffed beef roast with fresh rosemary, burgundy wine, fresh potatoes, carrots, turnips, or whatever you like. I put it in the fridge the night before or that a.m, literally just tossing the ingredients in, pouring some wine in, s & p, some other herbs besides the rosemary, and it's ready to go in when I get home. Put it in a large pot with lid that goes into the oven and slow roast.
And ENDLESS stews: guiness Irish stew, any kind of soups that can be cooked all day in the crockpot. 15 bean, stuff like that. Red Beans and Rice, Hoppin John...
I work full time, have an almost 11 month old and still manage a meal like this at least 4 nights a week. We usually order pizza or go out for Thai or Indian a couple nights. I like to eat at home...I make things better 
Musings from our family in the Bluegrass http://sweetvioletmae.blogspot.com/ |
Edited by - FebruaryViolet on Jan 20 2010 12:40:24 PM |
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clothedinscarlet
True Blue Farmgirl
1333 Posts
Siobhan
Battle Creek
MI
USA
1333 Posts |
Posted - Jan 20 2010 : 1:01:31 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by FebruaryViolet
Garlic stuffed beef roast with fresh rosemary, burgundy wine, fresh potatoes, carrots, turnips, or whatever you like. I put it in the fridge the night before or that a.m, literally just tossing the ingredients in, pouring some wine in, s & p, some other herbs besides the rosemary, and it's ready to go in when I get home. Put it in a large pot with lid that goes into the oven and slow roast.
Mmmm...this sounds yummy. Recipe? How do you stuff it? How much garlic?
Stews are exactly what I'm looking for. I've just never really done stews before. Maybe a few times, but nothing on a regular basis. I would appreciate any recipes/links that anyone has :)
Siobhan, wife to my best friend, Trent, and mommy to Camden (11/28/05) and Bennett (7/11/07). and Truman (7/28/09) |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Jan 20 2010 : 1:08:29 PM
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I would love your recipe for the cottage pie, please! That's another thing I have been wanting to try.
I also do not like to use the canned soups anymore. When I make pot pies I always make my own sauce from scratch. I have been making chicken and beef broths from my critters so I always have that on hand.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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MaryLD
True Blue Farmgirl
861 Posts
Mary
New Braunfels
TX
USA
861 Posts |
Posted - Jan 20 2010 : 1:21:59 PM
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A helpful cookbook is " Not your Mother's Slow Cooker Cookbook." Country magazine put out a " Best of Country Magazine " type crock pot cookbook that I also love. I forgot the exact title and mine is in storage. I make beef stew in the crock pot every week without a recipe, and vary the seasonings.
It is also helpful to google for pressure cooker beef stew recipes, and other pressure cooker dishes. www.missvickies.com has a lot of pressure cooker ideas. I make chicken and potatoes in mine in about 18 minutes from when it comes to pressure. I also make a 6 minute potato side dish. Brown rice takes 18 minutes once it comes to pressure. The pressure cooker is also good for corned beef, roasts, etc. Lentil soup is really fast.
I cook veggies in the oven when I am too busy to pay attention on the stove. You can heat the oven to 425, then use pyrex or whatever you have to toss in chopped veggies with sea salt and olive oil. I made broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, summer squash, etc, that way. Cabbage cooks faster, but most things take 12-20 minutes. For brussel sprouts, add some water and use a covered dish.
I often throw something in the crock pot w/ BBQ sauce and let is cook to supreme tenderness. Then you can eat it falling off the bone, or in sandwiches, etc. It just does not get easier than putting any cut of meat/poultry in the crock pot, and pouring sauce on top! Not THE most gourmet- but everyone likes it! I also made meatballs in mine- you could make 'em the night before, and put in fridge. In the am, pour sagetti sauce in the pot, then the raw meatballs, and cook on low until you get home. While boling pasta, throw some veggies in the oven and or make a salad, and you're there!
I used to make up crock pot recipes with chicken , basil, Thai seasoning, can of coconut milk, and veggies, that could cook all day. Then make the brown rice in the pressure cooker and there you have it- dinner!
I hope these ideas help.
~ Mary LD
Texas
Haflingers- You can't have just one!
( I'm just one short of a drill team!) |
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FebruaryViolet
True Blue Farmgirl
4810 Posts
Jonni
Elsmere
Kentucky
USA
4810 Posts |
Posted - Jan 20 2010 : 1:23:03 PM
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Siobhan and Kris...I will get some things together.
As for the beef roast, well, I usually use about 4-6 cloves of garlic (we love garlic, and do remember it gets sweeter when roasted, not nearly as pungent), peeled, smashed and cut slits into the roast. Lay the rosemary sprigs in the slits as well. Then I salt and pepper (cracked pepper) the roast well, and lay it in the center of the pan, adding my veges on both sides. Throw in the bouquet of herbs, wine, beef broth and more s & p and voila! Easy schmeezy. The longer you let it simmer, the more the flavors meld, and the veges pick up all the juices. YUM! If I hadn't had beef for like 10 days in a row, I think we'd have this tonight!!! You can also do virtually the same thing with stew beef, and put it over noodles.
Kris, the cottage pie is a favorite. It's a great use of leftover beef from roasts, as well. In the winter, I use a lot of root vegetables, turnips, celeriac, etc. but good ole potatoes, carrots and celery work just as wonderfully! Cottage pies are traditionally a way to use leftover meats and hearty, starchy veges. And making your own sauces is sooo beneficial. Since you have your own stock, you can control the sodiums.
I am always simmering a vege stock or chicken stock on the stove!
Musings from our family in the Bluegrass http://sweetvioletmae.blogspot.com/ |
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clothedinscarlet
True Blue Farmgirl
1333 Posts
Siobhan
Battle Creek
MI
USA
1333 Posts |
Posted - Jan 20 2010 : 1:55:38 PM
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Thanks everyone! Keep the ideas coming! Mary, I will have to check out those cook books.
Siobhan, wife to my best friend, Trent, and mommy to Camden (11/28/05) and Bennett (7/11/07). and Truman (7/28/09) |
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SheilaC
True Blue Farmgirl
1948 Posts
Sheila
Vermont
USA
1948 Posts |
Posted - Jan 20 2010 : 8:02:42 PM
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| easy, quick, and tasty--one of our favorites is to cube potatoes, chop up sausage or canned chicken, venison, beef, whatever is available, mix with italian salad dressing or just canola oil and some herbs, put in cake pan, cover with aluminum foil, and bake at like 375 or 400 for 45 min or so. |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
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clothedinscarlet
True Blue Farmgirl
1333 Posts
Siobhan
Battle Creek
MI
USA
1333 Posts |
Posted - Jan 21 2010 : 06:44:21 AM
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That's a great one Alee!
Siobhan, wife to my best friend, Trent, and mommy to Camden (11/28/05) and Bennett (7/11/07). and Truman (7/28/09) |
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willowtreecreek
True Blue Farmgirl
4813 Posts
Julie
Russell
AR
USA
4813 Posts |
Posted - Jan 21 2010 : 07:36:37 AM
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This isn't specifically "quick" or "easy" recipes but I have found a lot of recipes I REALLY like!
http://thepioneerwoman.com/tasty-kitchen/
There is an entire slow cooker section. click on Main Dishes in the left menu and then click on slow cooker!
Farmgirl Sister #17
Blog
www.willowtreecreek.wordpress.com
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Edited by - willowtreecreek on Jan 21 2010 07:39:16 AM |
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Candy C.
True Blue Farmgirl
823 Posts
Candy
Mescal
AZ
USA
823 Posts |
Posted - Jan 21 2010 : 08:09:39 AM
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Have you thought about an omelette or a frittata? Those are always quick, easy and nutritous and the possiblities are endless! I make omeletts with leftover chicken, cooked broccoli and cheese. Add a salad and some bread and you are good to go! Instead of making individual omeletts, I usually make one big one and cut it into servings. I have recently started making frittatas too (the chickens are producing lots of eggs ). I even did a pizza frittata the other night with pepperoni, bell pepper, onion and basil and oregano for the seasoning. After coming out of the oven, I topped it with some pizza sauce. Sure was yummy!
Candy C.
Farmgirl Sister #977
Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. |
Edited by - Candy C. on Jan 21 2010 08:11:20 AM |
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FebruaryViolet
True Blue Farmgirl
4810 Posts
Jonni
Elsmere
Kentucky
USA
4810 Posts |
Posted - Jan 21 2010 : 08:33:44 AM
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Thanks for adding that about the slow cooker part on the Pioneer Woman blog. I have the cookbook, but whenever I get on her website, I just sort of "lose" my direction and go all over!
Musings from our family in the Bluegrass http://sweetvioletmae.blogspot.com/ |
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thecatspyjamas
Farmgirl in Training
21 Posts
Denise
Scottsboro
AL
USA
21 Posts |
Posted - Jan 21 2010 : 2:11:48 PM
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One of my favorite quick & easy meals is potato soup. You can cook it pretty quickly on the stove--cube potatoes and boil in water and chicken broth. (If you're really in a hurry, canned potatoes are good, but not as good as fresh.) Add sauteed onions, milk, flour, a little butter, salt, pepper and parsley at the end. You can put it all in the crock pot too.
Also, I found a recipe online for French onion soup in the crock pot that is delicious! Another favorite, I just throw some chicken, potoates and whatever veggies I want into the crock pot in the morning. I like it with no seasoning--can't get much easier than that!
Denise
artist, designer, cat rescuer, farm girl
www.thecatspyjamas.typepad.com |
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LakeOntarioFarmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
933 Posts
Brenda
North Rose
NY
USA
933 Posts |
Posted - Jan 21 2010 : 3:42:24 PM
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Ok... well how about a recipe that uses cream of....soup, but you make the cream soup yourself instead of out of a can??!!!
This is one of my comfort foods, it is not tuna casserole, but it does use tuna. However, it is easy as can be, and with a salad, it's a complete meal! :)
Tuna and Peas
Melt 2 TBL. butter, whisk in 2 TBL. flour and 1 cup milk. Cook and stir over low heat until thickened. Add in 1 cup or so of cream of celery soup(make my own, with minced celery and cream soup base mix), 1 cup cheddar cheese, grated, and 1 cup peas(frozen, canned or fresh), a little salt, and freshly grated black pepper. Pour all in a greased 1 quart casserole dish, bake for 15 minutes at 350. Serve on toast points.
Obviously, you have to be a fan of tuna to like this, but it is one of the few comfort foods that I remember from my childhood, and my kids always loved it! I just made it last night for my middle daughter and myself, yum!
Brenda
FarmGirl # 711
Nothing we achieve in this world is achieved alone. It is always achieved with others teaching us along the way. Lee J. Colan
http://theviewfromhere-brenda.blogspot.com/ |
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LakeOntarioFarmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
933 Posts
Brenda
North Rose
NY
USA
933 Posts |
Posted - Jan 21 2010 : 3:46:31 PM
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And, how about pesto? I hate to buy fresh herbs at the grocery store usually, but when I have a craving for this....
it's really easy too.
Boil your water for pasta. While it's heating, in a blender or food processor, chop up some fresh basil(usually easy to find at groceries nowadays), and a few garlic cloves. Add in about 3/4 cup pine nuts or walnuts. Slowly add in olive oil until a thick consistency forms, but still pourable. Stir in a good amount of freshly grated parmesan cheese(1/2-1 cup), and pour over hot pasta. Serve.
Believe it or not, all of my grandchildren- all under age 8, love Nana's "green spaghetti"!!! :)
Brenda
FarmGirl # 711
Nothing we achieve in this world is achieved alone. It is always achieved with others teaching us along the way. Lee J. Colan
http://theviewfromhere-brenda.blogspot.com/ |
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Farm Kitchen: Easy family meals that don't involve canned soup ? |
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Easy family meals that don't involve canned soup ?
