Need Quick+easy Dinners

[amybeth]

This new bride needs some help.....quick and easy dinners (30 min?) that will not drain my wallet, please.

Before we were married my husband used to work nights, so I would fend for myself for dinner, but now he's working more and more days, which means suddenly I find myself needing to make "real" meals. instead of just grabbing an apple and yogurt.

Our schedules are SO hectic, we're always in a bit of a time crunch, so anything quick and filling would be great.

He is not gluten free, but I am. He'll eat the same things I do, but I know some of the more bland gluten-free foods do not satisfy him ( or me for that matter ).

I'm sure there are millions of posts here, but I was hoping to start a new "quick and easy" thread to preserve my sanity while we settle both of us and all of our stuff into his teensy tiny apartment.

Thanks so much.

[Lisa]

There are a ton of gluten free recipies on this site. Carriefaith, posted a zillion. Goggle and see what you can find.

Tonight:

Small baking whole chicken ($2.65)

Red potatoes, cut up in 1/4's

Carrotts, cut up in 1" slices.

Place all in one large roasting pan, with chicken in the middle

Baste with olive oil, garlic salt, pepper and crushed rosemary.

Bake until juice from the chicken runs clear when poked with a knife.

And veggies are soft.

So easy and a one dish meal.

[tarnalberry]

When you say "30 minutes" what are you looking for? Do you have 30 minutes at home before you rush out and you need to prepare, cook, eat, and wash up dinner in that time? Or do you have no more than 30 minutes you can spend in the kitchen, but those 30 minutes can be spread over a time period that is longer than 30 minutes? The latter opens you up to a number of other options, that are the type that I often make.

[Guest cassidy]

I recommend using the crock pot. You can put chicken in it in the morning and it will be ready when you get home. I like using bbq sauce the best. I also do chicken broth with potatoes, carrots, onions along with the chicken for a full meal.

Another option is pork or beef roasts cooked with veggies.

You could also cook a lot on the weekend and freeze things in meal-sized portions so you just have to microwave it when you get home. I do that a lot.

Simply potatoes make mashed potatoes and mashed sweet potatoes which are gluten-free. Those are great because you just put them in the microwave they are a great side dish.

Spaghetti (Tinkyada) and meatballs are another quick good option.

We have a place nearby that you can go and make 8 meals at a time. Each meal feeds 4 people so I divide everything up and we usually get 20 meals out of it. I do that every few months and I just have to put those in the oven when I get home. They have been very helpful about ingredients and substitutions and I feel comfortable doing it. If you have one of those nearby that would be very easy.

[CarlaB]

Buy hubby a grill for Christmas. Then all you have to worry about are side dishes!!!

[GFBetsy]

Check out the cookbook "Saving Dinner". The recipes are portioned for 6 people, but you can cut them down or have leftovers. And they are all really good.

Other easy dinners:

Breakfast (gluten-free pancakes, scrambled eggs, etc.)

Burgers broiled in the oven

tacos (use fried corn tortillas)

BBQ chicken (dice chicken, then sautee in gluten-free BBQ sauce until cooked)

Baked potato bar

Chicken fried rice

Stir fry

Twice baked potatoes (baking time is longer than 30 minutes, but you don't have to be in the kitchen that whole time)

Have fun!

[HawkFire]

My children love stuffed peppers.

They require chopped meat.

Rice

Tomatoe sauce

spices to your liking.

Line a baking dish with tinfoil to make clean-up easy.

Peppers can remain in the oven if your scheduals are not even.

A Kinik english muffin, sliced in half with olive oil and garlic salt, makes a wonderful piece of garlic toast to accompany the saucy pepper.

Meatloaf made with meat, diced peppers, onions and your usual salt, pepper minced garlic and tomatoe sauce.

I use no eggs and no breadcrumbs in my meatloaf. I always use turkey not beef.

Bake.

Serve with mashed potatoes and a veggie. Very satisfying.

I should add that leftover meatloaf makes an excellent lunch the following day. A meatloaf sandwich is very filling.

[dragonmom]

Tonight we had roasted vegetables and fried chicken.....Cut up your favorite root vegetables-carrots, parsnips(very tasty) onions sweet potatoes and potatoes, cut into bite size pieces lightly coat with olive oil salt and pepper. Roast in oven until tender. Fried Chicken.....In the breading section of the grocery store there are gluten free corn flake crumbs. Take two chicken breasts dip them in corn crumbs then in a whisked egg then back in the corn flake crumbs. In your skillet heat some oil then fry up your chicken. It is really good.

[Sweetfudge]

My favorite meals are mexican food! Never dull! And practically the same ingredients!

Nachos (we like roast beef on our nachos)

Tacos, burritos, enchiladas, taco salad, quesadillas (good snack/movie food), tostadas

Huevos rancheros (basically a tostada w/ an egg on top).

I do a lot w/ potatoes too.

I bake a bunch, we eat theem w/ chicken and ranch, I'll grate one or two and fry in butter for hashbrowns, I'll throw some in a roast, or chop them up small, and bake w/ seasonings, make fries, etc

sorry this is kinda smushed together, i've got a brain fog headache today...can't type clearly!!!

Good luck, and CONGRATS on being newlyy married!!!

Browse this site for more ideas, thtere's tons!!!

also, check out epicurious.com, and allrecipes.com for meal ideas! type in gluten free