I'm running out of things to cook!

We've only been living together since April and I feel like I make the same dinners over and over again.

It's hard for a number of reasons-
First of all, I'm not a very experienced cook. I have trouble following long, complicated recipes (and honestly dont have the time to bother)

DH and I are both picky eaters. He doesn't eat ANY type of potato and wont eat most vegetables. I don't eat alot of pork or beef. I'm a big chicken eater.

Also, we're both on WW so I have to calculate the points for everything!!

So does anyone have any very easy meals to make? I feel like we have so many restrictions we'll be stuck eating the same things for the rest of our lives!!

Re: I'm running out of things to cook!

www.dashingdish.com


Check out the mexican lasagna! It's fabulous and SO easy...i substitute fat free cheeses and low carb tortillas!

Re: I'm running out of things to cook!

theres a WW recipe thats AMAZING!! Aaaand not too hard. I no longer belong to WW so I don't know the recipe, but it's not hard at all!
sun-dried tomato stuffed chicken breast
another is a basalmic mustard chicken and it's only 3 pts per serving!!!

grilled chicken fajitas is always good and easy!

if you guys like ground turkey.. you can make tacos, meatloaf, chili, burgers.

chicken baked in oven marinated in helmans italian dressing. low fat if you'd like. (i like helmans best b/c its chunkier)

Re: I'm running out of things to cook!

I have a fast chicken recipe that make when I really don't feel like cooking: It's chicken with pasta and a garlic parmesan vinagrette (I know I spelled that wrong). The Vinaigrette is made by Giada and you could get it at Target. I usually buy a few at a time so I always have it.

I cut thin cut chicken breasts in small pieces and cook it in a frying pan with spray oil. While I'm doing that, I'm boiling the water for the pasta and cooking it. After the chicken is cooked and the pasta is drained, I combine the two. Next I add the vinaigrette and simmer it for a minute. It takes less than a half hour and really tastes great. You could add parmesan on the top but if you're trying to save calories, it is unnecessary. The only negative is that two tb is 14 grams of fat.

Re: I'm running out of things to cook!

Also along with my mexican theme, we eat a lot of taco salads...i know you said hubby doesnt like veggies, but does that include lettuce?

Its SO yummy...we use lean ground turkey, taco seasoning, black beans,fat free cheese, fat free catalina dressing and DH uses nacho cheese doritos crunched up in the salad...SO delicious!

Re: I'm running out of things to cook!

Some dishes you can make (you can alter them to make them healthier too):

-chicken chili of various kinds. I use rotisserie chicken and peel it apart and sometimes i use chopped chicken. very easy. you can make it in crushed tomatoes or in chicken broth or i do this buffalo chicken chili mac from rachael ray thats delicious.

-i like to make nacho meat from chopped turkey (you can also use chicken). i flavor it with seasonings used in mexican style cooking and sometimes add beans to it. i usually eat it with tostitos.

-you can make regular chopped turkey with seasonings like rosemary and thyme. that tastes good with mac and cheese but i know that side dish is not so healthy.

-you can make meatballs using chopped chicken or turkey instead of beef or pork.

-i make chicken cutlets and chicken parm

-you can make chicken stir-fry asian style with teriyaki or soy sauce

-i cook chicken breasts and put a relish on top like guacamole or a tomato-olive salsa...

Re: I'm running out of things to cook!

Chicken Shake N Bake is easy
Grilled chicken (marinated in Italian dressing is also easy)
Chili is very healthy (you can use turkey meat)..but I do cook it with a diced pepper, celery and beans

Here are some other suggestions I've tried and I think are pretty healthy:

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Curried-Honey-Mustard-Chicken/Detail.aspx

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Chicken-and-Peppers-with-Balsamic-Vinegar/Detail.aspx

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Feta-Chicken/Detail.aspx

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Teenas-Spicy-Pesto-Chicken-and-Pasta/Detail.aspx

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Grilled-Peanut-Chicken/Detail.aspx


http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Easy-Baked-Chicken-Cordon-Bleu/Detail.aspx

Re: I'm running out of things to cook!

i have learned to cook this past year, so i totally understand your frustration. trust me, just have fun with experimenting, and it gets really fun! some dishes that have been hits:

Rachael Ray's Lime-and-Honey Glazed Salmon
with Warm Black Bean and Corn Salad (Google that, it will come up--DH LOVES it!)

Ravioli/Zucchini 'Lasagna': This is really easy. Cook any type of Ravioli you'd like. Then, in a lasagna-type pan, layer ravioli, zucchini (sliced VERY thin), fresh basil, tomato, and low-fat mozzarella cheese. keep layering until you run out of ingredients. Bake at 350* for 10 minutes or until top cheese layer is melted. Some of our friends also use tomato sauce in between the layers, but we prefer it without it!

I make an AMAZING curried sweet potato soup (DH's favorite). That sounds like a no-go though . If you're interested though, check out joythebaker.com...she has it listed on there (but I don't put the goat cheese on top like she does...yuck to that!).

Homemade pizza on wheat crust...we use lowfat cheese, sauce, and i usually put on sauteed onions, garlic, red pepper flakes, and artichokes hearts.

Also, on the link Lauren posted (Dashing Dish), the Cheerio Chicken was REALLY good and stupidly simple to make!


Those are the top ones that come to mind. I know I cook more than that!

Re: I'm running out of things to cook!

Do you make chicken burgers? they are delish- I prefer them to beef hamburgers.

Re: I'm running out of things to cook!

Bookmarking this thread NOW!!!

I shop all the time at Target so I'm definatly gonna check out the marniade- looks so good.

Also, he LOVES Mexican food so Mexican Lasagna is definatly a good one. I always make tacos and fajitas so something new will be great!!

I have to go back and check out all those links.

THANK YOU GUYS!!! These really are easy ideas for me!