Want to eat more veggies but don't have the time, patience or energy...

2

Replies

  • debtay123
    debtay123 Posts: 1,327 Member
    ITA frozen veggies are the way to go if time and money are both short- LOVE the "steamers"
  • Balaru
    Balaru Posts: 203 Member
    I find prepping on the weekends is what works for me. I get tired of the peeling and chopping too but if I am watching the Saints play football or a good movie it makes the chore less painful. I have n old party tray that I put radishes, carrots, broccoli and cauliflower n to snack on when I get home from work which keeps me from nibbling on chips while cooking.

    I also bring a small container of the same to work with ranch dressing.

    Also having a menu for the week helps stay on track.
  • PaytraB
    PaytraB Posts: 2,360 Member
    Find a vegetarian cookbook that features stews and casseroles, which can be made ahead of time and frozen. Spend an afternoon making up 2-3 double batches and freeze. That cuts your prep time down tremendously on busy work-days. Cook up some meat (chicken, chops) on the side for the family members who want meat.

  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    edited November 2016
    eque_price wrote: »
    I don't think I could go full vegan. I don't think I could go full vegetarian, but I am tired of eating meat. Once in a while is fine. My problem is the rest of my family don't have the same point of view. How do you manage cooking and time... My busy life style not to mention shift work leaves me feeling tired and worn out... Meal prep is a complete chore. I HATE making dinner let alone making everyone different meals... Not to mention my sweet tooth! I have always had a terrible sweet tooth... I would like tips and hints on how to go more vegetarian and keep the meals extremely easy and interesting. Is this even possible?

    I eat vegetarian 3-4 days per week and usually on meat days I only eat meat with my dinner. Vegetarian is more than just vegetables...I love my vegetables, but I eat about the same amount I used to eat when I was more of a meat eater. I eat a lot of oats, legumes, lentils, potatoes and sweet potatoes, rice, etc...these things tend to make up my main courses. I also eat eggs and dairy.

    To be honest, my vegetarian meals generally require more preparation than my meat entrees because if I want something delicious and satisfying I'm going to have to spend a little time in the kitchen whereas on meat days I can just throw something on the grill and quickly saute some veggies or something...I happen to enjoy cooking though...working in the kitchen is one of my stress outlets...

    The good news is that if you're making, say, a lentil dish...it's usually going to make 4-6 servings so if it's just you, you have a few meals prepared. Don't know what to tell you about getting your family on board...
  • trisH_7183
    trisH_7183 Posts: 1,486 Member
    Beans can be a life saver...on tortillas,in stew,on salad,as a side,soup & more soup. You can make meat for those who want it. Beans are super filling & good for you.A neigbor adds them to egg burritos,to lettuce & veggie wraps etc.
  • pebble4321
    pebble4321 Posts: 1,132 Member
    I'm amazed at how many people are suggesting frozen veggies - I get that they are convenient but you sacrifice so much in flavour and consistency compared to fresh. I see them as an absolute last resort compared to fresh. Frozen never have the texture of fresh, lightly cooked veggies, and I think that most people who "don't like vegetables" have probably only eaten frozen ones.

    I suggest you have a look at your supermarket or market to see what options they have for fresh veggies that are ready prepared (like ready to go stir fry veggies or salad ready chopped) or veggies that don't need much prep. Baby carrots or potatoes are ready to roast or microwave in seconds, broccoli only needs to be pulled apart before you steam in in the micro in a few minutes, some veggies can be eaten raw and as they are - cherry tomatoes, snow peas spring to mind. I can make a cauliflower/broccoli puree in minutes (big chunks of both veg microwaved and pureed with the stick blender with a bit of milk or cheese or just with salt).

    Prep can be very quick if you have good tools - I have a little mandolin slicer with a grater attachment and I can grate zucchini and carrot right into a bowl or pot to add to porridge, sauces, fritters, muffins etc. II'm not vegetarian (though I used to be) but I usually bump up the veggie content of just about everything I cook and it really doesn't take much longer with the right veggies and good tools.
  • lynn_glenmont
    lynn_glenmont Posts: 10,089 Member
    pebble4321 wrote: »
    I'm amazed at how many people are suggesting frozen veggies - I get that they are convenient but you sacrifice so much in flavour and consistency compared to fresh. I see them as an absolute last resort compared to fresh. Frozen never have the texture of fresh, lightly cooked veggies, and I think that most people who "don't like vegetables" have probably only eaten frozen ones.

    I suggest you have a look at your supermarket or market to see what options they have for fresh veggies that are ready prepared (like ready to go stir fry veggies or salad ready chopped) or veggies that don't need much prep. Baby carrots or potatoes are ready to roast or microwave in seconds, broccoli only needs to be pulled apart before you steam in in the micro in a few minutes, some veggies can be eaten raw and as they are - cherry tomatoes, snow peas spring to mind. I can make a cauliflower/broccoli puree in minutes (big chunks of both veg microwaved and pureed with the stick blender with a bit of milk or cheese or just with salt).

    Prep can be very quick if you have good tools - I have a little mandolin slicer with a grater attachment and I can grate zucchini and carrot right into a bowl or pot to add to porridge, sauces, fritters, muffins etc. II'm not vegetarian (though I used to be) but I usually bump up the veggie content of just about everything I cook and it really doesn't take much longer with the right veggies and good tools.

    I'm amazed that someone would recommend microwaving vegetables. I get that it's convenient, but you sacrifice so much in flavor and texture compared to cooking on a stove top or in a standard oven.

    I use fresh vegetables 90% of the time, because that's how I learned to cook, and because I feel like fresh veggies are so much more versatile than frozen -- I can saute, fry, steam, roast, boil, or eat them raw, whereas I'm not crazy about the results with frozen veggies using any other cooking methods than steaming and boiling--although I did once unintentionally roast some frozen broccoli and cauliflower by leaving it in the microwave too long, and it wasn't bad :smile:

    But prepping veggies and cooking them on the stove or in the oven does take more time than grabbing a bag of frozen veggies and tossing them in the microwave. And if people are happy doing that, there's no need to tell them they're doing it wrong.
  • PennWalker
    PennWalker Posts: 554 Member
    edited November 2016
    pebble4321 wrote: »
    I'm amazed at how many people are suggesting frozen veggies - I get that they are convenient but you sacrifice so much in flavour and consistency compared to fresh. I see them as an absolute last resort compared to fresh. Frozen never have the texture of fresh, lightly cooked veggies, and I think that most people who "don't like vegetables" have probably only eaten frozen ones.

    I agree. Fresh taste so much better. I go the easy route, just slice vegetables and simmer in broth or water or stir fry in a little olive oil. It doesn't take long. I also throw on a little spice.

    To the OP, get your family to help you with meals - tell them you need some hands to cut vegetables.

    FYI, people, baby carrots are not real baby carrots. They are marketed that way. They are peeled waste carrots that the manufacturer couldn't sell because they didn't look good. The maker peels them, treats with chemicals because otherwise they will rot quickly, and then sells as cute "baby carrots." Buy whole carrots and spend 60 seconds cutting them up. They taste better.
  • pebble4321
    pebble4321 Posts: 1,132 Member
    AnvilHead wrote: »
    pebble4321 wrote: »
    I'm amazed at how many people are suggesting frozen veggies - I get that they are convenient but you sacrifice so much in flavour and consistency compared to fresh. I see them as an absolute last resort compared to fresh. Frozen never have the texture of fresh, lightly cooked veggies, and I think that most people who "don't like vegetables" have probably only eaten frozen ones.

    You DO realize that you're supposed to thaw them before eating them, right?

    Hehehe. Yes, I did realise that! Even cooked as per packet instructions, I think there is a world of difference from fresh and my preference is for fresh. Having said that, frozen peas are pretty delicious straight from the freezer, so I can't say I dislike all frozen veg.

    @lynn_glenmont, I'm not saying people are wrong for liking them, just that it's surprising to me to see how many people say they eat them all the time. I'm also not saying other cooking methods are wrong, but the OP wants quick and easy solutions and, as you say, microwaving is quicker. That was my point, that fresh veg can be almost as convenient as frozen and (in my opinion) more delicious.

    But that doesn't make other people wrong, just different.
  • Misssynth
    Misssynth Posts: 179 Member
    You can also buy loads of vegetarian meat replacement things that you just pop in the oven (at least you can here in the UK), such as southern style bean burgers, vegetable tarts, meat alternative sausages etc if its more the eating meat you want to cut back on rather than adding more veg? Swap meat mince for soya mince in a lasagne and they'll never know
  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    lynn_glenmont wrote: »
    pebble4321 wrote: »
    I'm amazed at how many people are suggesting frozen veggies - I get that they are convenient but you sacrifice so much in flavour and consistency compared to fresh. I see them as an absolute last resort compared to fresh. Frozen never have the texture of fresh, lightly cooked veggies, and I think that most people who "don't like vegetables" have probably only eaten frozen ones.

    I suggest you have a look at your supermarket or market to see what options they have for fresh veggies that are ready prepared (like ready to go stir fry veggies or salad ready chopped) or veggies that don't need much prep. Baby carrots or potatoes are ready to roast or microwave in seconds, broccoli only needs to be pulled apart before you steam in in the micro in a few minutes, some veggies can be eaten raw and as they are - cherry tomatoes, snow peas spring to mind. I can make a cauliflower/broccoli puree in minutes (big chunks of both veg microwaved and pureed with the stick blender with a bit of milk or cheese or just with salt).

    Prep can be very quick if you have good tools - I have a little mandolin slicer with a grater attachment and I can grate zucchini and carrot right into a bowl or pot to add to porridge, sauces, fritters, muffins etc. II'm not vegetarian (though I used to be) but I usually bump up the veggie content of just about everything I cook and it really doesn't take much longer with the right veggies and good tools.

    I'm amazed that someone would recommend microwaving vegetables. I get that it's convenient, but you sacrifice so much in flavor and texture compared to cooking on a stove top or in a standard oven.

    I use fresh vegetables 90% of the time, because that's how I learned to cook, and because I feel like fresh veggies are so much more versatile than frozen -- I can saute, fry, steam, roast, boil, or eat them raw, whereas I'm not crazy about the results with frozen veggies using any other cooking methods than steaming and boiling--although I did once unintentionally roast some frozen broccoli and cauliflower by leaving it in the microwave too long, and it wasn't bad :smile:

    This is how I am, and so I buy "fresh" even in winter even though I know frozen is likely more nutritious and cheaper (and I've never microwaved them -- doesn't sound appealing although it's entirely possible it's fine, I just don't use the microwave much). For me the added cost is worth it for the ease of cooking and the fact I like the way I can cook them more.

    But even so it certainly doesn't require special tools and much time, and I'd not recommend buying pre-cut veg (as the prior poster did), as they are not going to be good as long and tend to be way over-priced. Sauteeing, roasting, doing a stir fry, etc. tends to take such little time and simple chopping is sufficient. I can say that the time of the vegetables is never what slows down a meal I make, and I always include lots of vegetables.
    But prepping veggies and cooking them on the stove or in the oven does take more time than grabbing a bag of frozen veggies and tossing them in the microwave. And if people are happy doing that, there's no need to tell them they're doing it wrong.

    Strongly agree with this, especially since two issues people often mention are cost and fear of vegetables going bad before they use them (not a problem once you are in the habit, but I can see it being so before getting there).
  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    edited November 2016
    PennWalker wrote: »
    pebble4321 wrote: »
    I'm amazed at how many people are suggesting frozen veggies - I get that they are convenient but you sacrifice so much in flavour and consistency compared to fresh. I see them as an absolute last resort compared to fresh. Frozen never have the texture of fresh, lightly cooked veggies, and I think that most people who "don't like vegetables" have probably only eaten frozen ones.

    I agree. Fresh taste so much better. I go the easy route, just slice vegetables and simmer in broth or water or stir fry in a little olive oil. It doesn't take long. I also throw on a little spice.

    To the OP, get your family to help you with meals - tell them you need some hands to cut vegetables.

    FYI, people, baby carrots are not real baby carrots. They are marketed that way. They are peeled waste carrots that the manufacturer couldn't sell because they didn't look good. The maker peels them, treats with chemicals because otherwise they will rot quickly, and then sells as cute "baby carrots." Buy whole carrots and spend 60 seconds cutting them up. They taste better.

    No, "baby-cut carrots" aren't real baby carrots (and I doubt most really want immature carrots, even though the little ones do taste good fresh from the garden). They want convenient ready to go carrots. I think it's a positive that they avoid the ridiculousness of wasting carrots that don't look perfect. I always have more than enough carrots from my farm share so rarely buy them, but that fact tends to make me want to buy them more, not less, despite my usual dislike of buying pre-cut veg.

    Reasonably fair discussion: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/baby-carrots-are-liars_us_570d98cce4b03d8b7b9ec7f4
  • crzycatlady1
    crzycatlady1 Posts: 1,930 Member
    ninerbuff wrote: »
    Frozen vegetables save me so much time. I buy "Steamers" by the cartload. 5 minutes in the microwave and ready to eat. And they aren't that expensive.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
    9285851.png

    This. 99% of the veggies I eat I buy frozen. So quick and easy to add to other things!
  • try2again
    try2again Posts: 3,562 Member
    I fix a lot of skillet meals with lean ground beef, turkey, leftover chopped chicken, or a low-calorie sausage (the amount, or even if you use it, can be variable), a couple of veggies, and 150 calorie high-fiber pasta (that tastes just like the regular version). I do a ground beef version with chopped kale & canned tomatoes (sometimes I use cottage cheese in that, which could take the place of the beef), a southwest variety with green peppers & salsa, a stroganoff with mushrooms & green peppers. When the kids were smaller & objected to a certain ingredient or their food being mixed, I might hold out certain ingredients until the end & serve them a plainer variety. But now they'll pretty much eat a bowl of anything (some shredded cheese often makes it more acceptable) and I just have to provide some fruit on the side. :)
  • Lounmoun
    Lounmoun Posts: 8,423 Member
    eque_price wrote: »
    I don't think I could go full vegan. I don't think I could go full vegetarian, but I am tired of eating meat. Once in a while is fine. My problem is the rest of my family don't have the same point of view. How do you manage cooking and time... My busy life style not to mention shift work leaves me feeling tired and worn out... Meal prep is a complete chore. I HATE making dinner let alone making everyone different meals... Not to mention my sweet tooth! I have always had a terrible sweet tooth... I would like tips and hints on how to go more vegetarian and keep the meals extremely easy and interesting. Is this even possible?

    If other people who are old enough and able don't want to help cook then they can eat what you make or make a sandwich/eat cereal.
    I eat meatless meals several days a week to save money. I made a list of all the meatless foods my family already enjoyed.
    Use frozen vegetables. Use canned beans. Have meat with hearty side dishes and skip the meat on your plate.
    Freeze leftovers in individual portions so you can have what you want quickly.
    Look up feeding your freezer, once a month cooking. Cook double and put half in the freezer for another day.
    Look at slow cooker recipes. Most you just dump stuff in and walk away for the day. Low fuss.

    Soups- tomato, minestrone, potato, lemon lentil, fassolatha... make a big pot once a week
    Pasta- cheese ravilioli/tortellini/stuffed shells/lasagna, spaghetti with marinara, macaroni and cheese, pasta salad
    Salads- add whatever you like to your own salad like hard boiled eggs, beans, tomato, carrot, broccoli, peas, roasted potato slices, nuts, berries, apples, etc
    Individual pizzas. A tortilla or pita bread can make a quick crust and just top and bake about 10 minutes. Top with whatever you like.
    Breakfast for dinner- Eggs, pancakes, french toast, oatmeal, hashbrowns
    Black bean potato nachos, bean and cheese burritos, quesadillas, Spanish rice, beans and rice, stuffed baked potato, stuffed zucchini, stuffed mushrooms, stuffed peppers
    Greek potatoes, broccoli cheese rice, grilled cheese sandwich, peanut noodles, Vegetable stir fry
    zucchini noodles (zoodles) cook in 2-3 minutes
    Cottage cheese, yogurt, fruit
    raw vegetables and hummus
  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
    I don't understand how you don't have the time- you still have to eat- and you still have to prep SOME sort of food.

    Buy 6 of the bags of steamables and take them to work- I eat one of those every day. Don't over think it.
  • freedomofnow
    freedomofnow Posts: 37 Member
    The big turnaround for me was that I realized I spent just as much energy and money on bad nutrition that didn't even make me satisfied in the end. My diet used to consist of semi-prepared meats and carbs and sauces, but once I saw the ridiculous amounts of calories that means. I'm not a vegetarian at all but I find with more veggies and healthy proteins I have cut down a lot of the carbs I would normally eat.

    So I started picking up frozen packets of veggies, and more often than not I'll just cut up a whole broccoli and steam it while potatoes or carbs or the like are cooking. Just put it on top of the same water and it'll be done in 5-7 minutes. Sprinkle a little salt over it and it is absolutely divine.
  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
    pebble4321 wrote: »
    I'm amazed at how many people are suggesting frozen veggies - I get that they are convenient but you sacrifice so much in flavour and consistency compared to fresh.

    some freeze better than others- but green beans, carrots, cauliflower and broccoli all flash freeze extremely well and preserve their flavor.

    They are a close second to fresh- as they are as close to "fresh" as you can get. Zucchini? doesnt' freeze well IMHO- so I don't even bother- but I eat frozen veggies every day- it makes my life easier- and it costs me less than fresh.

    So- win win.
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    TonyB0588 wrote: »
    ninerbuff wrote: »
    Frozen vegetables save me so much time. I buy "Steamers" by the cartload. 5 minutes in the microwave and ready to eat. And they aren't that expensive.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
    9285851.png

    Yes. Some well known brands are Dujardin, Emborg, Green Giant, Bird's Eye.

    Don't forget to look for store brands too.....

    I can get cauliflower steamers at Mejier & Target - I've never seen this in the Green Giant or Bird's Eye brands.
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    JoRocka wrote: »
    pebble4321 wrote: »
    I'm amazed at how many people are suggesting frozen veggies - I get that they are convenient but you sacrifice so much in flavour and consistency compared to fresh.

    some freeze better than others- but green beans, carrots, cauliflower and broccoli all flash freeze extremely well and preserve their flavor.

    They are a close second to fresh- as they are as close to "fresh" as you can get. Zucchini? doesnt' freeze well IMHO- so I don't even bother- but I eat frozen veggies every day- it makes my life easier- and it costs me less than fresh.

    So- win win.

    This^

    Some veggies freeze great......others not so much. You just need to figure out which is which. Also consider how the veggies will be used......in a pot a of soup, texture change isn't as noticeable.
  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
    TeaBea wrote: »
    JoRocka wrote: »
    pebble4321 wrote: »
    I'm amazed at how many people are suggesting frozen veggies - I get that they are convenient but you sacrifice so much in flavour and consistency compared to fresh.

    some freeze better than others- but green beans, carrots, cauliflower and broccoli all flash freeze extremely well and preserve their flavor.

    They are a close second to fresh- as they are as close to "fresh" as you can get. Zucchini? doesnt' freeze well IMHO- so I don't even bother- but I eat frozen veggies every day- it makes my life easier- and it costs me less than fresh.

    So- win win.

    This^

    Some veggies freeze great......others not so much. You just need to figure out which is which. Also consider how the veggies will be used......in a pot a of soup, texture change isn't as noticeable.

    yeppers- I tend to only use mine in one way (steam- butter + salt + pepper = eat) so I'm boring. But I'm okay wiht it. The mixed veggie one is great for soups!
  • stealthq
    stealthq Posts: 4,298 Member
    pebble4321 wrote: »
    AnvilHead wrote: »
    pebble4321 wrote: »
    I'm amazed at how many people are suggesting frozen veggies - I get that they are convenient but you sacrifice so much in flavour and consistency compared to fresh. I see them as an absolute last resort compared to fresh. Frozen never have the texture of fresh, lightly cooked veggies, and I think that most people who "don't like vegetables" have probably only eaten frozen ones.

    You DO realize that you're supposed to thaw them before eating them, right?

    Hehehe. Yes, I did realise that! Even cooked as per packet instructions, I think there is a world of difference from fresh and my preference is for fresh. Having said that, frozen peas are pretty delicious straight from the freezer, so I can't say I dislike all frozen veg.

    @lynn_glenmont, I'm not saying people are wrong for liking them, just that it's surprising to me to see how many people say they eat them all the time. I'm also not saying other cooking methods are wrong, but the OP wants quick and easy solutions and, as you say, microwaving is quicker. That was my point, that fresh veg can be almost as convenient as frozen and (in my opinion) more delicious.

    But that doesn't make other people wrong, just different.

    Pro tip.

    If you like your vegetables with crunch, don't follow the package directions for things like broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts - they have you microwave until soft. Blech.

    Microwave for 1/2 the recommended time or on 1/2 recommended power (can be even less depending on the brand) and you'll get steamed veg indistinguishable from steamed fresh. Actually, if the veg is out of season, or your grocery stocks are older it'll be much better than steamed fresh. At my grocery, fresh broccoli in particular is a no-no. It's always tough and bitter.
  • eque_price
    eque_price Posts: 32 Member
    This is all amazing advice! Thank you so much!
  • Michael190lbs
    Michael190lbs Posts: 1,510 Member
    20 years No Veggies ..lol.. Very very little anyway
  • shaneshaneshaneshane
    shaneshaneshaneshane Posts: 10 Member
    edited December 2016
    I honestly like to be lazy and eat raw vegetables if at all possible. Carrots are a staple for me. I eat them every morning for breakfast. Try not to look at vegetables as boring things that you are obligated to take like your medicine. For example I like to look at carrots as a good source of fiber, vitamins, and also as a sort of pallet cleanser as well as helping to get gunk out of my teeth. I always save a few bites of carrot at the end of my meal, otherwise it feels like soft food is still in there mushed on and between my teeth. If you think of a vegetable beyond a vegetable, it's much more motivating and feels worth the effort. Believe it or not, a good carrot tastes very sweet and flavor is a bonus. Once I got off the heavy sugar, I can now appreciate the subtle sweetness in fruits and veggies almost as a dessert.

    There are many more vegetables that you can eat raw or cooked. Cabbage is another one that can go either way. A lot of people take the time to cook frozen peas, but I personally like to thaw them out with very hot faucet water - boiling water as opposed to cooking them. Peas are much sweeter that way and actually have flavor, as opposed to cooking the life out of them. I just run hot water over them in a bowl to thaw, then rinsing them well with cold water. It's so much faster than having to prepare and dirty up a pot, not to mention use a burner and waste energy. Bag out of freezer, pour into bowl, rinse, put bag back in freezer, boom done. Edamame is another favorite to simply rinse and eat more on the raw side. Lentils are a quick boil too, and usually you don't have to cook them nearly as long as the instructions say.
  • not_my_first_rodeo
    not_my_first_rodeo Posts: 311 Member
    I think it's easy to get into the mindset that prepping vegetables is hard or time consuming. We hear it over and over. Advertising has been telling us this for years now because they want you to believe you have to buy convenience options. It's been very effective.

    While there are some that are more challenging--cauliflower rice, I'm looking at you--most of these aren't that difficult. I have been mostly buying stuff fresh because it's cheaper than getting the prepared or frozen options, but seriously, you can buy a bag of frozen broccoli and make that in minutes. A lot of supermarkets now carry cleaned and chopped up or spiralized vegetables that take all that prep work out.

    What are you currently making for dinner?
  • Gisel2015
    Gisel2015 Posts: 4,185 Member
    katharmonic wrote: »
    Roasting veggies takes a bit of time but very little effort. I often buy pre-chopped, which saves time but not money of course, toss them on a baking sheet with olive oil, salt and pepper, and walk away and do something else for those 25 minutes or so.

    Here's what I do - come home, turn oven on to preheat. Do something for a few minutes (feed dog, change clothes, etc.). Throw together the veggies on a baking sheet. Toss it in. Go do something - walk the dog, take a shower, unload the dishwasher, workout, whatever. Get out some meat if I want it and cook that up. Also google sheet pan dinners - you can roast meat and veggies together on one pan.

    If you want to reduce cooking time put the veggies in the microwave for 2 or 4 minutes first and depending on the kind of vegetable and the amount that you want to cook, and then put them in the hot oven. They taste great and cook faster.
  • fidangul
    fidangul Posts: 673 Member
    Just as an idea- pickled veg. It doesn't always have to be salads, steamed, boiled, baked etc. I like to have all sorts of pickled vegetables/fruit as a side dish. We make our own and we by shop bought. It's convenient galore!!!

    My favourite pickled veg/fruit are; cucumber, tomato, cauliflower, green beans, green plums, carrots, chilli peppers, beetroot....
This discussion has been closed.

Categories