Last Sunday’s San Francisco Chronicle Food and Wine section had a big feature article on “Good, fast meals for busy parents.”
Once I’d done grumbling (“Parents aren’t the only people who are busy,” and “Oh great, another mainstream publication excluding the childless and childfree”) I actually looked at the article.
A couple of the recipes were things I might actually try, but I must say, I don’t know too many kids who are going to willingly eat Pan-Seared Tofu & Kale Salad, or Sole with Cara Cara Orange, Avocado and Red Onion Salsa!
I was recently caught in the cross-fire of a couple of mom’s exchanging recipes to feed their little ones. I chimed in with my lemon chicken recipe. It’s quick, it’s healthy, and it’s really delicious.
So it got me thinking…we are all busy women and we all need to eat, and sometimes cook for someone else. So what do you like to cook? What’s your go-to recipe for fast, healthy, tasty, and edible?
I can’t now find my Lemon Chicken recipe, but it’s so easy it goes like this:
1. Take your chicken breasts, pound them, and cut into the size of tenders and soak them in lemon juice for an hour in the fridge.
2. Mix breadcrumbs (I like panko) with salt, pepper, and dried herbs, parsley and/or basil.
3. Dip your chicken into melted butter or olive oil, then into the breadcrumbs, and put them on a baking sheet.
4. Bake at 450 for about 20-25 mins.
Really easy, quick, and delish. J
My go-to supper dish is:
Roasted Mediterranean Vegetables
1) chop, as roughly or finely as you like, peppers, red onion, courgette (zucchini), aubergine (eggplant), garlic and tomatoes
2) drizzle some olive oil over them and toss so evenly covered
3) sling them into a pre-heated roasting dish and into a high oven for roughly 40-50 minutes (depending on the size of the chunks)
4) meanwhile make up some cous-cous and chop up some feta cheese.
5) when the vegetables are done, toss the whole lot together in a large bowl, add some balsamic vinegar, the juice of half a lemon and some olives
6) serve plus or minus some warmed pitta bread
Mmmm, yum!
Dh & I like to make pasta with broccoli once a week or so. Cook five cups of pasta (we use penne) & add a couple 2-3 cups of chopped broccoli florets for the last 2-3 minutes. Meanwhile, saute a couple of cloves of garlic, chopped, in a bit of olive oil, Drain the pasta & broccoli, throw back into the pot & drizzle with the garlic & olive oil. Toss with a half cup of parmesan cheese. There’s always lots left over for another meal a few days later (throw onto a plate & warm up in the microwave).
I’m stealing this one this week!
Good idea!
My favourite quick meals:
1) A lamb burger, made simply by tossing lamb pieces (fillet, or even backflaps) in oil and dukkah (store bought- can’t be bothered making my own) or oil and seeded mustard and rosemary, then grilling or frying them, toast some Turkish bread, roast capsicums/eggplant/zucchini if there’s time, or just throw in whatever salad ingredients and mayo etc you want. Mmmmm.
2) Chicken thighs (I prefer boneless and skinless because they cook more quickly) – brown in a tiny bit of olive oil and remove – then add some chopped onion, soften, replace chicken thighs (or if you’re lazy like me do it all in the same pan), add orange juice and a tablespoon of cumin, and some green olives. Simmer till chicken is cooked, and sauce is thickened. Add extra juice if you want. Serve with couscous or rice, and steamed green veges or salad.
Thanks for all the great recipes!!!! Actually one of the things that kind of bugs me about listing “quick for the family” is why as a writer turn away so many people with your title? Why not just say “quick for busy people” and then everyone relates….families, empty nesters, single, and childless….
I sprinkle a little Williams Sonoma potlatch seasoning on salmon ot steelhead trout, lay it skin side down on foil and bake for 10-15 minutes depending on thickness, in the oven. While it’s cooking, I sauté asparagus with a squeeze of lemon in olive oil and throw together a salad. Dinner in 30 minutes or less, and the clean up is easy – the skin sticks to the foil so it can easily be scrunched up and tossed in the bin.
Ok, now I’m hungry and also inspired to try all these!! Keep them coming; I eat every day! 🙂
Crap………not only would I not fit in to the “good fast meals for busy parents” because of the childlessness, but my “cooking” (using that term lightly) literally consists of only two dishes – neither which are healthy or quick. They are however hubbies favorites – my meatloaf and oven fried chicken.
Now if you want to talk baking recipes – I do make a killer apple cake if I say so myself.