Dinner on the table in 30 minutes......

Hi

While we eat some meat, we don't eat it all the time - so here are some recipes that I use the most -

One of my favorites is a tex mex stuffed green pepper.
-prepare the pepper by cutting off the top and scooping any seeds, spray with oil spray, pop it into a 350 degree oven for 15 minutes.
-While that is in the oven, prepare the filling...you can use ground turkey with black beans, onion, whatever else you want. We usually just do beans with veggies. A packet (or less) of taco seasoning, or add your own (chili powder, cayenne, garlic powder, paprika) seasonings ...and cook in a pan until everything is heated through.
- once peppers are done, scoop your mixture into the peppers..add some cheese on top, and throw back into the oven for a few minutes to melt the cheese.
- You can eat as is, with rice or tortilla chips, or whatever you like. It is filling and good - you can have more than one, depending on what you throw in. I make these various ways, and have multiple versions in my recipe builder. I would say that one stuffed pepper would be anywhere from 225 to 275 calories.

Soups are also great to throw together, that are quick and easy - bunch a veggies, broth, beans or meat (preferably cooked already like a roasted chicken from the store), have some bread with it -

I make pizza - whole wheat pizza dough (from the store), fresh mozzarella balls, tomato sauce, olives, mushrooms - pre heat oven to 500, and for my oven, I have to have in for about 26 minutes - but mine is old. It is about 200 calories a slice - but we slice it into 9 slices because we have 3 of us.

Black bean burgers - 1 can of black beans, mashed, an onion, an egg, 1/4 cup salsa, 1/4 cup bread crumbs, 1 clove garlic, (you can add some other veggies - like mushrooms or broccoli slaw or whatever) - make into patties and cook on a pan. makes 4 patties and 204 calories (w/o added veggies) for the burger plus the calories for whatever buns you use.

Hope this helps!

My family has started doing simple dinners, (both for cost reasons and calorie reasons). Preportioned chicken breasts or fish fillets on the Foreman grill, a simple salad, frozen veggies and applesauce. Very quick and easy. We also have an abundance of salt free seasonings to change up the flavors.

Wraps are quick and easy.
Slice up the chicken/beef/pork whatever you want to use, onion, peppers, mushrooms, and a clove of garlic. Add the meat, garlic, mushrooms and onions to a pan with a little water and cook. Put in the peppers when almost done and sprinkle with black pepper, salt free mrs dash, lemon and lime juice, and a small splash of soy.
Transfer to tortilla and top with things like lettuce, tomato, cheese, or salsa.

babaontheway wrote: »

Hi!
So what is your favorite quick and easy dinner.....

I'm new here - been on MFP for 7 days and need some meal ideas to feed my husband and I on week-nights. Dinner is usually about 600 - 700 calories. We eat everything! No dietary requirements apart from taste!

All ideas welcome!

Rachel Ray has a show about this. Tinker with her+recipes to meet your cal goal+but watching her show+should+ help u get ideas on how to pre plan a weeks meals for fast dinners.

The key to quick food, breakfast, lunch and dinner is to prep food on the weekend, and have a loose plan. I prep all veggies, lettuce, celery, peppers, onions, cilantro, zucchini, and whatever else looked good. I wash, chop, spiralize..place them all in separate containers. I usually do this during football, or early am on Sunday.

So Monday is stir fry, I grab some shrimp and throw random veggies in a pan.

Tuesday, tacos...and on...
Dinner is quick, clean up minimal. Saturday, throw stuff away, or make chili, soup, or omelet. Start again on Sunday.

Balsamic Chicken & Mushrooms

Servings 4 calories per serving182

2.00 clove(s), Garlic - Raw
8.00 oz(s), Mushrooms - Raw
1.00 tsp(s), Spices - Thyme, dried
1.00 tbsp(s), Dijon Mustard
0.25 tsp, Sodium Free Granulated Chicken Bullion
2.00 tsp(s), Oil - Olive
16.00 oz, Boneless, Skinless, Per oz
3.00 tsp, Balsamic Vinegar of Modena

Either cut chicken into 4 - 4oz pieces, or cut into bite size pieces -- your choice.
Mix 1 tsp balsamic vinegar with mustard & chopped garlic in a shallow dish. Add chicken & marinate for 10 minutes. Heat 1 tsp oil in pan, add chicken & marinade, cook 3-5 minutes (will take a little longer for whole pieces). Remove to plate & cover to keep warm.
Heat remaining tsp oil to pan, then add sliced mushrooms. Saute 2-3 minutes, then add remaining balsamic vinegar & dried time. Cook 1 minute, then add chicken back in (if cut small) or pour mushrooms on top of chicken pieces to serve.

Nutrition Facts
Servings 4.0
Amount Per Serving
calories 182
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 4 g 7 %
Saturated Fat 1 g 4 %
Monounsaturated Fat 2 g
Polyunsaturated Fat 0 g
Trans Fat 0 g
Cholesterol 2 mg 1 %
Sodium 165 mg 7 %
Potassium 472 mg 13 %
Total Carbohydrate 5 g 2 %
Dietary Fiber 1 g 3 %
Sugars 5 g
Protein 28 g 56 %
Vitamin A 0 %
Vitamin C 6 %
Calcium 3 %
Iron 8 %

I serve this with couscous (5 minutes to boil the water, 5 minutes to set up in the pot) & a vegetable. You could serve with rice, pasta, potatoes, or just vegetables-- I just like couscous b/c I can do it while the chicken is cooking.