I like to think I’m good at throwing together random things and making a meal. I cook all day for work, so by the time I get home I don’t want to spend too much time making more food. I am lazy and poor but I like to eat well. For me it’s important to have a protein, a vegetable, and a carb. I like to use my cast iron pot for just about everything.
Tacos – brown some ground beef and half a diced onion, salt and pepper to taste. Fry the tortillas in a bit of oil, both sides, if you like them crispy. Serve with avocado, diced tomato, cilantro, sour cream, cheese, salsa. Heat up some canned refried beans on the side or Mexican rice if you want.
Fancy mac n cheese – make boxed Mac n cheese. Add extra cheese if you have it. I fry some sausage/hot dogs/ham/bacon with some broccoli/kale/whatever veg, add diced tomatoes, chopped pickled peppers. Stir it all in while hot and enjoy!
Quick chicken – rub chicken thighs with Cajun seasoning, garlic powder, pepper. Spritz of lemon juice if I have it. Either pan fry or chuck it in the oven on a sheet pan. You can add chopped onions, potatoes, carrots, asparagus to the sheet pan and cook it all together (rub with oil, salt and pepper first). Serve with steamed broccoli and rice, crusty bread, mashed potatoes, or pasta with a little olive oil and salt.
Soup noodles – I usually use leftover chicken from above for this, but you can use anything. Fish is great too. Wash and cut broccoli and carrots, and boil them for a few minutes until cooked through. Boil some noodles, strain and top with chicken and cooked vegetables, pour warmed canned chicken broth on top. I like to add soft boiled/fried egg, tofu and mushrooms as well.
Soboro-don – easy Japanese dish. Make some rice. Make some scrambled eggs (I like to add little bit of mirin cooking wine and sugar). Fry some ground turkey, chicken or beef with soy sauce, sugar, mirin, sake. When you first fry it the water will be released. If you fry it on high the liquid will evaporate, then you can turn the heat down and fry until crispy. If you don’t have mirin you can substitute sake and little more sugar. Top rice with egg and meat and fresh green onions. You can make an instant miso soup on the side and pan fry or steam some green vegetables (spinach is good).
Spaghetti – ground beef or can tuna, half an onion, browned. Add minced garlic, splash of whatever wine/balsamic vinegar you have on hand, jar pasta sauce, heat until boiled, simmer for 10 min. Meanwhile cook the pasta in salted water. I like to steam some broccoli and carrots on the side or do a quick salad.
Greek salad – thinly sliced red onion, feta cheese, cherry tomatoes, olives if you want, rinsed canned chickpeas (if I have time I toss them in cumin and salt and fry them first), chopped romaine lettuce. Mix some olive oil, salt, pepper, lemon juice, oregano for the dressing. You can add grilled chicken if you want.
Chourico Soup – brown diced Chourico (Portuguese chorizo) and onion and garlic in a pot. I like to use my cast iron pot for this. Add chicken stock and bring to a boil. Add 1 can of rinsed cannelini (white kidney beans), 2-3 diced potatoes, 1 bunch chopped kale, Bay leaf, pinch of chili powder, salt and pepper. Cover the pot and simmer 30 minutes. Goes great with crusty bread or rice.
Hope that’s helpful! 🙂
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