Recipes, Food Tips, Healthy Eating & More

Well, I do like to cook, just not every day. I try to make meals that can be changed around a few times to look new. Or I make a big pot of soup or chili, freeze the extra in single meal portions. Hiding in my freezer right now are "ready" meals of chili, pea soup, cauliflower vegetable soup, and Cajun-style red beans & spicy sausage (will add rice when I thaw it.)
Cooking chicken and chopping veggies are not high on my list of favorites, but I love a good stir-fry. We get pre-made rotisserie chicken at the butcher (they make a "less salt" variety) & turn it into 3 meals. First day chicken with a baked potato and a salad.
Second day stir fry - I buy FROZEN pan-ready veggie blends and keep them on hand. Great for stir-frying with left over meats or scrambled eggs. I am also not a fan of making pasta, so I opt for rice noodles, which can go into a bowl of hot water for 2 minutes to soften, then right into the stir-fry. I like spicy Thai peanut sauce, and even throw in a handful of cashews or peanuts right at the end.
Third day soup - a quart of low-sodium broth, a bag of frozen veggies, a can of red or white beans (not a fan of black beans) some leftover chicken, simmer with some REAL Minnesota wild rice - season to taste & it's a healthy meal.

@jakedduck1 Yes I love to cook at times. .Yesterday I made a dish for one there is a website Cooking for one .com I made a great casserole all different veggies mix with o.EVOO put in small oven casserole dish top with buttered bread crumbs 400 for 25min so easy oh besides diff.vegies it had cheese treated in it .I think you could do this Then dessert dk.chocolate pie 🥧 yum yum

@sueinmn We have a Costco about 45 miles north of us. When we have to head to that city for a medical appointment, we usually will get a rotisserie chicken. I have stated making my own stock from the carcass, using that in soups, cooking up rice, etc. Add chopped veggies, chicken, onions, celery, salt-free seasoning, makes a hearty but simple main meal. Put makings in the breadmaker for fresh loaf of bread, and good to go!
Ginger

@imallears Great suggestion...thanks

@jakedduck1, Oh, Leonard, you poor, poor baby! It's like this: If you want to live and thrive, you need to put on your big guy britches and tackle the shop, chop and clean kitchen strategies....personally, I mostly think you can do it. The question is, will you????? lol

@gingerw, As another who likes to cook but doesn't enjoy the clean-up, I do much as others have written. Have to say that the crockpot has become my most favorite and weekly used kitchen aid. However, must add that I've warned all not to ever gift me with a breadmaker because I would over use it to the land of forever obesity! lol Have a few relative easy bread recipes that I make from time-to-time but have to apply hard-to-enforce restraints when it comes to my love of all things using dough in any form. Aren't true confessions supposed to be "good for soul"? Smiles to all.

@fiesty76
Oh my who doesn’t love bread, bread, bread. I truly love the crusty Italian loaf....take a good slice, toast it, rub it with fresh garlic and drizzle good olive oil over it. I have had that with cheese and either anchovies or sardines and sliced tomato on the side for dinner...with vino of course.....and chocolate for dessert. I like good crusty bread without butter. It’s the salt in the bread that makes it so tasty. I have tasted bread without salt.....tastes like styrofoam....if I knew what that tasted like.

Our Publix will cut a loaf in half for you. I prefer to slice my own on the rare occasions I eat it. I remember baking my own....good lord...it didn’t last the day. My daughter donated her bread maker years ago. Ah bread..it’s amazing.

FL Mary

@fiesty76
Sorry to disappoint you but my “big guy britches“ don't fit anymore, fortunately.
I will tackle cooking occasionally but a lady fills
in-between times. I do keep my house picked up but I wouldn't try eating off the floor which I need to mop today.
I'm thinking about tackling a tuna sandwich for lunch. I tried to get meals on wheels but didn't qualify. I quit going to fast food places and rarely eat in restaurants.
I use to have a feeding tube sometimes. I almost wish I had one now.
Take care,
Jake

Oh, double yum, @imallears! Forgive my slobbering all over the keyboard but it simply can't be helped!

I bought a loaf or two of Ezekiel bread; it tasted as close to styrofoam as I ever want to come!!! LOL

@jakedduck1, Sounds like it is a Good Thing in your life that your "big guy britches" no longer fit. None of my "big girl clothes" fit since I lost too much weight but hey! so far the belts are holding up the slacks so I can still do an occasional car errand.

Probably just a girly thing but I can't decide if I'm more looking forward to actually eating in a restaurant again or shopping for a new wardrobe...both rank pretty high on the wish list. Without question, my 1st "after pandemic" venture will be to a morning/day? spent in my favorite grocery...will have been a full yr since last in-store 3/11/2020...I may weep with joy!

Would imagine that feeding tubes wouldn't lend much flavor but otoh, how much easier the prep and after clean-up would be. Sounds like you have the best of all worlds with a lady cook to "fill in between times". Are you paying her in chocolates??? Smiles

Due to alerts of "planned" rolling black outs for my city, citizens are encouraged to restrict electricity uses and hot water including clothes washing and baths. I figure that means no floor mopping either, right???? Best to you and all!