I really love days like today when I have a mile long list but a list that is doable! 2-3 big things and 10 small things. The small things give me so much satisfaction of accomplishment that I am motivated to do the big things! I finishing an article for Breathe (I have two in the Nov-Dec issue!) and my recipe for Jefferson Vineyards. Plus tons of small things related to the bakery, the blog and our move. Less than 2 weeks to go and I haven’t packed a single thing!
I wrapped up work just before dinnertime. Love that!
Matt had a great day at the bakery and came home just when I was putting the finishing touches on dinner.
I have a mental list of quick dinners that I turn to when I have no plan. Pretty much every meal we make at home is a wing-in meal! Although I usually have a small plan that starts cranking in my head after breakfast, but sometimes that changes at the last minute.
Here are things that are easy to keep on hand for quick dinners in order of importance
Vegetables = limitless, obviously. Try to have something green for every night of the week. Frozen veggies work well!
Proteins = beans, legumes, frozen fish (requires a day of advance planning), tinned fish, bacon, eggs, tofu <—many of these are easy to keep on hand verses buying “fresh” meat/fish
Grains = easy to keep in dry storage, and of course, bread!
Garnishes = cheese, nuts, sun-dried tomatoes, eggs, capers, pesto, sauces, and more. They give the meal flava!
Quick Dinner Staples
- Bean burgers made from canned beans, veg on side
- Salads with protein on top like eggs or fish, bread on side
- Omelets or frittatas
- Warm lentil salad
- Pizza (dough needs some prep in advance)
- Mexican bowl with beans + grain or chips, cheese yogurt
- Savory pancakes
- Anything sardines/tuna from a can
- Soups with leftovers/beans/grains/veggies mixed in
- PASTA
So tonight we had pasta with zucchini, sun-dried tomatoes, sun-dried tomato pesto and feta cheese. Matt gave it rave reviews and dinner was ready in about 15 minutes!
It was quite delicious if I do say so myself! Thanks to the delicious Whole Foods herbs de province sun-dried tomatoes and that feta cheese!
We ate inside – mosquitoes are still a problem…evidently bees too. Pee-pie!
Cheddar garlic toast Matt prepared on the side. And you see that beer ^^ I had a few sips of that too. Pasta and water just don’t taste good together!! 99% of the time the reason I want alcohol with dinner isn’t the buzz, it’s the wonderful way it goes with food. I need to come up with better things to drink during dinner!
Tomorrow’s my long day at the bakery, but at least I know I’m starting the day with an awesome bowl of overnight oats!
{ 86 comments… read them below or add one }
I want to learn all the beuty you made
Wow, what a gorgeous pasta dinner! I think pasta and strong cheeses go amazing together
Have a fun, long day at the bakery tomorrow!
Thanks for the ideas. I’ve been so stuck in a food rut lately and I hate it.
Love that the pasta matches the veggies
Love the one bowl dinners.
I really like the way beer goes with food. I’m not a wine drinker, but find that you can find similar pairings with most beers. I could for one now!
That’s such a great and handy list of staples! Keeping things on hand for an easy dinner is definitely something I need to work on. I know what you mean about drinking with food, I like to have either diluted juice on ice or iced tea with my dinner! And every once in a while some wine of course.
I was craving beer like no other tonight! Then the boy comes to dinner and spills about all the new additional beers to his upcoming beer fest. Oh the torture!!
Mosquitos are no fun and neither are bees — is there a nest in your mailbox?
Love the easy pasta dish — and you are so right about booze + food
Although I prefer wine over beer when it comes to pasta.
A: that looks sooo good and I am sooo hungry right now!!
B: I need some of those bowls, soooo great!
Oooh, you may have just convinced me to throw together some overnight oats for tomorrow! Good call on that
Our “quick” dinners are very similar! I too have that same mental list – a lot of veggie burgers, beans, pre-cooked sausages, always veggies and pizzas!
What a great list!
I get stuck in ruts though. Typically loads of veggies, some type of meat/fish and then quinoa/rice or beans or squash. Covered in marinara sauce – and cheese.
I wish I’d take the time to do more creative things, but always get tired at the end of the day.
Kath – when you do your articles – do you allot the time you spend on them according to pay in return? i.e = if your not being paid much, do you still spend a lot of time on them? Even if it only worked out to a few bucks/”hour”??! Curious as to my own situations at times…thanks.
I woud say always give your best and put substantial time and energy into EVERYTHING that you are paid to write, regardless of how much the payday is! Thta’s how you build integrity and credibility as a professional writer!
Thank you for answering! Lovely response. Yes, I guess you have walk through the rain before you find the rainbow…right?
Finishing up before dinner is tht ebest, so you can just let go & relax!
Enjoy Kath…
What about drinking seltzer with a squeeze of lemon and a mint leaf? It’s very refreshing. I also like seltzer with a maraschino cherry. It tastes decadent without adding too much sugar or calories.
This post might not have been about office supplies, but it sure was a virtual “easy button” when it comes to thinking about preparing meals!
Bravo, Kath!!!
HA!
Great dinner ideas! I seem to have a hard time working protein into my meals!
If you can unpack your house in 1 day, you can pack it in 1 day
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Hahah – good point!
That’s my kind of dinner! Goat cheese is now added to my grocery list
I’ve just read 3 posts all about pasta dinners and now I wish I had that tonight! Definitely making pantry pasta tomorrow
I always like making quick dinners too! Ya still feel like you’re cooking but without the long process. The sooner I get to eat the better!
That dinner combo sounds delish!! And it looks just amazing. I wish I had a Whole Foods close by
Thanks for posting that list of quick dinners! I’m so bookmarking this post –> law student with no time, so I cherish quick and nutritious meals!
Mosquitoes are awful! I was outside for 20 minutes and got at leassttt a bug bite a minute!
Beauutiful dinner – and love the go-to stuff…it’s so true, it’s easier to eat healthfully and wholly when you are stocked to make good choices
That is the whitest feta I have ever seen! It looks go pretty! (if cheese can look pretty I guess?!?)
YUM! Dinner looks delish!! Have you tried iced tea perhaps? Or less healthy and more delicious- 1 part Fanta orange soda and 1 part red wine, over ice– like the Spanish do!
PS, what does ‘Pee-pie’ mean? Is it a southern thing? haha or is it something really obvious and I’m just obtuse for not getting it….
Oh gosh I don’t think I could drink Fanta – I hate their commercials!!
I pee-pie is kinda like “i see you peeking out”
I was gonna ask what pee-pie meant too! Heheh
I think it’s like” peek-a-boo.” I’ve seen my southern friends saying it to their babies.
Thanks for showing how you think with regards to meals. I’m pretty much the same way as you! Veggie? Check. Grain? Depends what I had earlier. Protein? Check!
Hi Kath,
just thought i would pass along a recent post from carrie vitt over at deliciouslyorganic…it is a quick whole wheat crust pizza in a skillet, has beer in the crust, and is quick and yum!:) …for those days when you want something quick, but don’t have time for the dough to take its time to rise.
http://deliciouslyorganic.net/quick-skillet-whole-wheat-pizza/
Cool! Love it!
Thank you for this! I was so frustrated in the grocery store tonight because I feel like I am constantly needing to cook new things every week. I blame it on the fact I have a slight cook book obsession and have about 100 of them. This reminded me that I need to re-visit some of the staple meals we used to enjoy on a weekly basis! xo
I’m the same but opposite…I have a million cookbooks – but don’t hardly use them and just resort to routine staples!
pizza + beer always a must..
I love quick-to-table dinners. Most nights I am not home until well past the “normal” dinner hour, so having dinner from stove to table in 20 minutes or less is high on my list of priorities! Your list of staples is excellent – I love mix and match lists like that one, and it will be very helpful.
Ooooh, I’ll take a hunk of that feta!!! The pasta veggie dish looks perfect!
It always makes me happy when I complete a lengthy to do list. It is one of the best feelings!
Oh, I also tried a Dough Boy Smoothie the other day and loved it!
pretty pics!
I probably missed this post but where and why are y’all moving?!
You missed this!
http://www.katheats.com/house-hunted
What great suggestions! Where did you get your pasta? Looks amazing!
It’s from WF – spinach flavor?
A meal without a complimentary beer or glass of wine? Things that make me go “hmmmm?”
Great quick dinner suggestions, thanks. And your dinner looks gorgeous!
for some reason i only put feta on my salads. i bet they’re great in pasta!
Amen to feta and goat cheese as staples!
Pasta for dinner= always a win!
Love that you have a rough mental list but that you’re willing to improvise and wing-it, as needed, with meals.
I was just commenting on another blog that most days are versions on a theme for us here but that I always!! have a well-stocked supply of fresh produce b/c without that, I am nothing. Cannot get anything going it seems!
Then I just start adding beans, tofu, edamame, dressings, sauces, and pretty soon, something materializes
Yum they are great flavour combinations!
I do the same thing – I always have a bunch of tinned beans on hand for a quick veggie burger, as well as salad fixin’s, eggs and milk. And tons and tons of pastas and grains
My easy go to dinner when Im short on time is usually a salad or eggs! Thanks for the list- definately gives me some good ideas.
Your pasta dinner looks amazing! Especially with that feta! YUM!
I recently discovered sweet potatoes as my go to quick dinner. I just pop it in the microwave for 5 minutes on each side and serve with whatever veggie leftovers I can find in the fridge. Sprinkled with some feta and I have some yummy eats in less than 15 minutes
congrats on getting through your to do list, kath! i can relate: my dad and i are masters of creating outlines of tasks to accomplish all in one day – the list gets so long, it’s seemingly impossible to get everything done. our family even calls that “pulling an erv day” (my dad’s name). it’s so satisfying at the end of the day to see all you’ve done!
I love pasta, veggies & feta for a quick evening meal that I know my husband will eat too!
I have such similar go-to dinners I keep on hand. I also think Egg Sammies fit well into that category. In fact, that is exactly what I have on the menu for tonight.
Totally agree with all of your staples. We definitely use pizza as a staple as well as stir fry and tacos. I’ve just started using Spaghetti Squash – and have used it in a meal two times in aless then a week. I see it being a part of the regular rotation.
We’ve been eating outside a lot lately and have been struggling to deal with the mosquitoes too. Also flies haven’t been scarce which is gross. Not bad enough that we don’t still try on a daily basis but bad enough that sometimes we hurry a little. hehe
Great ideas! I can’t wait to try these all out
Enjoy the overnight oaties!
I’m getting better at the whole “throw things in a pan for dinner” now that summer is coming to an end and we’re back in the swing of things! Meal prep doesn’t have to be time consuming every night.. thanks for the great inspiration!
Hi Kath!
I have just re-discovered the joy of iced tea (de-caf) with dinner. It is far more fun than water, but no hangover the next morning!
Yes, tea would probably work well. But then I have to make it! (or buy it..)
And 3 sips of beer do not give me a hangover
Haha! I meant it is a good non-alcoholic option in general, not specifically for your three sips last night!
If you make sun tea it is SUPER easy–the sun does all of the work!
Do you have a link for sun tea?
I am doing a post on it tomorrow so stay tuned!
Dinner looks great! Paired with the Basil IPA…?…because it was super tasty! Looking forward to reading your atricles.
Hope all is well!
I love iced tea with dinner!
I’m so that way with alcohol too, I’m a “matcher” and somethings just go together (like wine w/pasta). Excellent comment about the sun tea. I had some sun tea this summer, it wasn’t brewed at full strength so it was very light tea and it hit the spot! Also, I’m going to revisit sun-dried tomato’s. You guys have had them lately, I just used to not like them at all, though I like tomato’s? So I’ll give it a shot if it is going to add some nice flavor to simple meals. Thanks!
Mosquitos will be gone soon!
However, my mom said that stinkbugs are still a problem where they live–something needs to be formulated to get rid of them! Per their name, they stink/smell horrible!
http://faithfulsolutions.blogspot.com/
I take the same approach to cooking dinner. I keep plenty of fresh produce and staples in the house and find its just as easy to throw those things together as it would be to pull out a frozen meal or go through the drive thru. We end up with a lot of mexican dishes because there is nothing easier than bean and rice bowls!
That looks like an amazing pasta bowl!
Great list of quick throw together meals. I will be needing those more and more now that school is in full swing.
I envy your skillz at coming up with meals on the fly. I usually just stick to recipes cause I get nervous about combining different ingredients. Thanks for the tips.
Tons of great tip! It’s ironic that I am reading this on my lunch break and eating the whole grain couscous with sardines and greens I dumped together because it was on hand and I was running late.
Having the right ingredients can even keep you from being late to work.
Oh thank you for this list. I’ll be bookmarking!
You can easily defrost frozen fish (or any meat, but fish is extra quick) under running cold water for about 15 minutes. I just set it to a trickle and place the fish in a bowl. Then use the water to water plants or something. Just thought I would share in case people didn’t know this trick.
That way never seems to work well with me – except for shrimp. I feel like fish is always too thick?!
I do the same thing! It works well for most fish fillets, and it’s ready in just a few minutes!
Loved this post, Kath. I’ve never thought of making savory pancakes! YUM.
Awesome dinner!! I love doing “throw together pasta dishes”. They tend to be my favorite! Feta on pasta is soooo great too. I think it’s the salt.
I’m actually having pasta for dinner right now! I love that it’s such a fast meal to prepare on busy days.
Hi Kath, what an amazing blog you write. Great article. I have been eating well and exercising for 6 mos now and have lost 50 lbs. Trying to not eat processed food as much as possible. That pasta looks way good. Question: Pasta from WF-Check, Sun-dried tomatoes from WF-Check. How about the pesto? Did you create that or buy that?…from WF, too? And, is this pasta hot or cold…I bet I could figure it all out. Only, this is how I eat these days and that looks amazing. I’m gonna have try it. Keep up the good work. It looks like you have a whole base of fans and me who appreciate all your efforts.-al
Thanks Alan! Congrats on your weight loss!!
The pesto was Karen’s homemade recipe. It’s sun-dried tomatoes, parm cheese, garlic and some oil whirred in a food processor (she doesn’t have an official recipe). It’s great!
We served the pasta warm, but cold would work too!
Aren’t you so nice for writing back. I made those strawberry n banana overnight oats…pretty good! I mean very good! I found your blog thru Carrots & Cake I love reading food blogs and learning something new everyday. My food blog into was through Kalyn’s Kitchen. I wanted a south beach diet blog and she was it. I have something like 900+ Facebook friends. I’ll do my best to promote your site by reposting some of your posts…giving you credit, of course. I really like what you do here. Healthy food blows away all the bad food any day of the week…It’s very good work you do here…I am inspired…ok ok, I’ll settle down.-al
Great dinner suggestions, thanks! And that pasta looks delish!
I too always have trouble finding a good drink besides a tasty beer or wine to have with dinner…if you come up with one let us know, in the meantime I’ll keep stealing sips from my hubby’s wine/beer too
Mmm, iced tea or ginger ale are some of my summer go-to drinks, so refreshing with a squirt of lemon!