Cookbook ideas

MsDYJ

Hi everyone!

I'm a 25 y.o. female...I work alot and I commute so when I get home in the evenings, I don't have time to cook really extravagant meals. I've been looking online at some healthy recipes but I have not had luck finding any "normal" ones. What I'd like are recipes that are quick, easy, and tasty. Can anyone recommend a good cookbook or site that they use? Thanks!

RillSoji

Some of my regular visits when I need meal ideas:
skinnytaste.com
hungry-girl.com
eatingwell.com
vegetariantimes.com
smittenkitchen.com
health-actually.com
brokeandhealthy.com


My own if you're interested:
afkdinner.blogspot.com
breeslunchbox.com
rillsmenu.blogspot.com

havingitall

Clean Eating and Clean Eating 2...the most amazing recipes, all healthy and clean and all very easy and quick !

BethTaylor93

I put almost everything in the crockpot. I prepare it the night before, then when I get home, a hot, healthy dinner is ready. Just add a salad and I am good to go.

alecta337

I second skinnytaste. It is my new obsession.

Lots of her meals can be frozen or keep in the fridge for a while. I am cooking for just myself ( I have to cook separate meals for my bf because he likes meat in all his meals and I am almost vegetarian).

I tend to make huge recipes on the days I have a light class load and put them into individually sized containers and stick them in the fridge or freezer. Way healthier than store bought frozen food.

krislaforest

Look up the Hungry girl website just type in Hungry Girl....She has recipes on line and she also has recipe books.
She is not a nutritionist she is just Hungry...lol

cramernh

"normal".... what do you consider "normal", I wonder?

If you have time to sit at your computer, you have time to look up recipes , like the ones previously posted. Only you can determine what is "normal", and I personally think everything is normal no matter what...... its up to the person how much effort your willing to put forth into meal making/prepping....

Also - you can make the time to do food-prep on the days you go grocery shopping... perhaps get into doing some bulk cooking and freeze individual meals for later grabbing... I work two full time jobs and always make sure that every meal made is healthy, good, and my husband always comes along with me to do the grocery shopping and help in the kitchen so Im not doing all of it.

Mise en place: its a beautiful thing!

mandasimba

I like Rachel Ray - yummy and most of her meals whip up extremly quickly. My fave is probably Look and Cook http://www.rachaelray.com/lookandcook/ because I like to know what the food will look like so I know if I screw it up.

My all time fave, however, is my crock pot cookbook - and perfect for a busy person!

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1412729718/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=1412793084&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1S16VB2WGVY1C56QJ4YH

It has vegi, meat, chicken, seafood, starters, desserts, breads, drinks, one pot meals, fancy meals, 5 ingrediants or less... pure awesomeness. I wish everybody who had a crock pot had this book

beccala18

I second the batch cooking idea. I often make lasagna (with lots of veggies and oven ready noodles) when I have time and then separate it into individual portions and freeze. Same for my crockpot.

Or when you have time one evening/weekend, just roast a whole chicken and eat on it for a week (for salads, sandwiches, with rice, etc). You can also do the same with chicken breasts (or any other part) - cook a bunch and then freeze. Put in the fridge in the morning and by the evening, you have a ready to eat piece of meat. This will at least get you part of the way there.

DANCERPURPLE

BUMP

cramernh

I second the batch cooking idea. I often make lasagna (with lots of veggies and oven ready noodles) when I have time and then separate it into individual portions and freeze. Same for my crockpot.

Or when you have time one evening/weekend, just roast a whole chicken and eat on it for a week (for salads, sandwiches, with rice, etc). You can also do the same with chicken breasts (or any other part) - cook a bunch and then freeze. Put in the fridge in the morning and by the evening, you have a ready to eat piece of meat. This will at least get you part of the way there.

Thank goodness Im not alone....

vingogly

My favorite "healthy" cookbooks are: "Healthy Homestyle Cooking", and "More Healthy Homestyle Cooking" by Evelyn Tribole. Comfort food and family favorites slimmed down.

dida0721

i agree with the crock pot idea. I also love Jenny-o frozen furkey burger patties. Another fav is eggs and turkey sausage. If I don't have time for these I make a sandwich with a bunch of veggies.

And I know what you mean by normal...Something that anyone can cook and doesn't involve dozens of ingredients. I'm the same way.

cramernh

i agree with the crock pot idea. I also love Jenny-o frozen furkey burger patties. Another fav is eggs and turkey sausage. If I don't have time for these I make a sandwich with a bunch of veggies.

And I know what you mean by normal...Something that anyone can cook and doesn't involve dozens of ingredients. I'm the same way.

Thats a shame that a few ingredients is what is considered normal... there is a whole culinary world out there to experience how complex ingredients can make meals so much better. Too many years as a chef creating dishes... and to me that is normal... and my husband eats like a king! LOL!

vingogly

Thats a shame that a few ingredients is what is considered normal... there is a whole culinary world out there to experience how complex ingredients can make meals so much better. Too many years as a chef creating dishes... and to me that is normal... and my husband eats like a king! LOL!

But you can also eat like a king/queen without complex or exotic ingredients. My all-time favorite beef stew recipe is from Marcella Hazan's "Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking" ... small white onions, carrots, celery, petite peas, salt and pepper, cubed stew beef browned in olive oil. No stock, no herbs or other seasonings, no real complexity there. The key is high-quality fresh ingredients and loving care in the preparation ... you can't simply throw everything in a crock pot and walk away.