Conjuring meals out of the store cupboard

sonastin

I think I've found the way to inspire OH to do more of the cooking from this thread. He doesn't like pasta and he doesn't like fish - he'll eat either/both if pushed but he doesn't like them - and so many of the ideas you've given me involve pasta and/or fish! Well I guess he has a choice now... eat dinner at bedtime, suffer his way through more pasta than he knows what to do with or take some of the initiative in deciding what we're going to eat and making it himself :T

Sadly, I think he'll end up choosing door number 1

Need2bthrifty

sonastin wrote: »

I think I've found the way to inspire OH to do more of the cooking from this thread. He doesn't like pasta and he doesn't like fish - he'll eat either/both if pushed but he doesn't like them - and so many of the ideas you've given me involve pasta and/or fish! Well I guess he has a choice now... eat dinner at bedtime, suffer his way through more pasta than he knows what to do with or take some of the initiative in deciding what we're going to eat and making it himself :T

Sadly, I think he'll end up choosing door number 1

Doesn't like pasta eh!! what about rice, some of the suggestions could be served with rice instead of pasta.

Keep some tinned potatoes in the cupboard or if you have a microwave, baked potatoes or last resort (not very mse) microchips.

Not a good idea to eat a large meal at bedtime

maman

Funky_Bold_Ribena wrote: »

Spag bol a snack? Crikey.

I had the same issue tonight - home from work at 5:15.

Chopped onion and got that frying, added a chopped courgette or two.

Whilst that was cooking off, sliced some runner beans and put those in a pan of hot water with some pasta.

Added some tomatoes [home grown] to the onion and courgettes, and once the pasta and beans were done - they go in the onion pan. 2 mins cooking, add some cheese and seasoning and you are done.

I large plate each of pasta with seasonal veg in 20 mins. Onions, beans, courgette and tomatoes all home grown.

That sounds yummy and so healthy.:drool:

Just out of curiosity, what sort of time do people eat of an evening? Personally I'm used to getting in about 6.30/6.45 and trying to get the meal on the table within the hour. So to me 5.15 is heaps of time.

sonastin

I have to confess that I'm the one who doesn't like rice. I'll eat it, I just don't enjoy it. And while I'm the one doing the cooking...

I think I'm just beginning to work out why I've become so incapable of figuring out what to cook - and it wasn't because I had an unhealthy diet before after all. Old-style/cooking from scratch started as a way to save money when OH and I moved in together into a house that we can only just afford. So many of these suggestions are things I used to do for myself when I lived alone and was rarely home but they've slowly dropped off the radar because OH "doesn't like xxx".

If you ask him, he'll tell you that he isn't a fussy eater, he'll eat anything, I'm the fussy one in our house. However...
-beef doesn't agree with him unless it is an expensive cut and well-done
- he doesn't like pasta
- he doesn't "do" fish unless its tinned mackerel on toast and/or doesn't smell fishy
- jacket potatoes done in the microwave aren't right. you need to do jacket potatoes in the oven
- he doesn't like pesto
- he isn't a big fan of "tomato-ey" sauces
- chickpeas are completely banned (but houmous is OK!). Other pulses are fine as long as he doesn't notice them. If he does, its usually accompanied by a lecture about how you need to be a really good cook to know how to use them (implication being that I'm not!)
- he's never really been a fan of potatoes, would much prefer a plate full of other veg (but try to get him to believe he's been offered enough with out some sort of carb on his plate!)
-not a big fan of frozen peas (or frozen veg in general, but peas is the one i tend to keep in regardless)

Those are the sorts of statements that I get on an almost daily basis which is why I've been completely incapable of coming up with what to feed him when I'm in a rush! I realise that when needs must, he'll just have to put up with it. Next shopping trip I'll be stocking up on
-pasta
-pesto (my favourite pasta dressing)
-frozen stirfry veg
-some packet sauces
-some cook-from-frozen meat
-a set of ear plugs to block out his moaning!

I hadn't realised how much his "I don't really like xxx" had influenced my diet until I started this thread! Need2bethrifty's suggestion of the micro-jacket-spud was my lightbulb moment:T

sonastin

maman wrote: »

That sounds yummy and so healthy.:drool:

Just out of curiosity, what sort of time do people eat of an evening? Personally I'm used to getting in about 6.30/6.45 and trying to get the meal on the table within the hour. So to me 5.15 is heaps of time.

I'm still at work at 5:15! On a normal day, get in around the same sort of time - 6:30-7pm ish - unless I have to stop off for groceries or visiting family on the way home. We usually have dinner sometime between 8 & 9pm. The thought horrifies my grandmothers who both eat sometime between 4:30 and 5:30 and can't believe I haven't eaten yet if I call on them on my way home from work

The nights that prompted this thread have been ones where I've arrived home after 8 and with a meal planned that would take an hours cooking (hairy bikers spanish chicken, takeaway secret doner kebabs - kebab done but pitta bread to be done, lasagne and a couple of others that I can't remember. Oh, and HM pizza where I was going to use the 45min programme on the BM to make the dough for the bases. I know I could have done it in less time by hand but it was already 8pm and I just didn't want to!)

Need2bthrifty

sonastin wrote: »

I have to confess that I'm the one who doesn't like rice. I'll eat it, I just don't enjoy it. And while I'm the one doing the cooking...

I think I'm just beginning to work out why I've become so incapable of figuring out what to cook - and it wasn't because I had an unhealthy diet before after all. Old-style/cooking from scratch started as a way to save money when OH and I moved in together into a house that we can only just afford. So many of these suggestions are things I used to do for myself when I lived alone and was rarely home but they've slowly dropped off the radar because OH "doesn't like xxx".

If you ask him, he'll tell you that he isn't a fussy eater, he'll eat anything, I'm the fussy one in our house. However...
-beef doesn't agree with him unless it is an expensive cut and well-done
- he doesn't like pasta
- he doesn't "do" fish unless its tinned mackerel on toast and/or doesn't smell fishy
- jacket potatoes done in the microwave aren't right. you need to do jacket potatoes in the oven
- he doesn't like pesto
- he isn't a big fan of "tomato-ey" sauces
- chickpeas are completely banned (but houmous is OK!). Other pulses are fine as long as he doesn't notice them. If he does, its usually accompanied by a lecture about how you need to be a really good cook to know how to use them (implication being that I'm not!)
- he's never really been a fan of potatoes, would much prefer a plate full of other veg (but try to get him to believe he's been offered enough with out some sort of carb on his plate!)
-not a big fan of frozen peas (or frozen veg in general, but peas is the one i tend to keep in regardless)

Those are the sorts of statements that I get on an almost daily basis which is why I've been completely incapable of coming up with what to feed him when I'm in a rush! I realise that when needs must, he'll just have to put up with it. Next shopping trip I'll be stocking up on
-pasta
-pesto (my favourite pasta dressing)
-frozen stirfry veg
-some packet sauces
-some cook-from-frozen meat
-a set of ear plugs to block out his moaning!

I hadn't realised how much his "I don't really like xxx" had influenced my diet until I started this thread! Need2bethrifty's suggestion of the micro-jacket-spud was my lightbulb moment:T

Oh my lord......think door number 3 would be my option, good luck with it - for your sanity I hope you don't have to work late too many days :rotfl:

maman

sonastin wrote: »

I'm still at work at 5:15! On a normal day, get in around the same sort of time - 6:30-7pm ish - unless I have to stop off for groceries or visiting family on the way home. We usually have dinner sometime between 8 & 9pm. The thought horrifies my grandmothers who both eat sometime between 4:30 and 5:30 and can't believe I haven't eaten yet if I call on them on my way home from work

I know exactly what you mean. My brother's like that and it's hell when he comes to stay.

Just wanted to say:Tfor taking a stand. If my DH made a remark like that about the pulses he's be wearing his supper not eating it!:rotfl:

littlegreenparrot

My fall back for those sorts of days would be some form of eggs, omelette with 3 eggs lots of veg, baked potato and salad.
Or something on toast.
Sometimes lots of toast and lots of things if the days been that busy
Sachets of dhal, and veg curry are handy to have in (can't remember the brand, had them from Mr A)

My OH has similar expectations regarding food.
It is now well established that there are 2 options:
1 = be quiet and eat it, 2 = cook!