Dinner: The Quick and Easy Way

By: Kristen Mummert

Many people these days are so busy, tired around dinner time, or just don’t have enough time that making dinner is the last thing on their minds. When it comes time for dinner, the go to answer is take-out, pizza, or some kind of frozen TV dinner. These types of dinners can add unwanted calories to dinner time as well.  What some people may not know is that dinner can be made quickly and easily if you just have the right knowledge about how to prepare dinner. Making dinner can be quick and easy if you are prepared in the kitchen and use the right cooking “techniques”.

Prepared chopped vegetables in containers from Thekitchn.com

First, by learning tips on how to be prepared in the kitchen, dinner can be quick and easy.  In Debbie Madson’s article “Time Saving Tips for Dinner Time” she states that an organized kitchen will help make a successful meal. When all of the same items are together and organized in a neat way, meals will get done quicker. For example, placing all the mixing spoons and spatulas in a jar on the counter will help to reduce searching for items when it comes time to prepare the meal. Another good tip Madson encourages is to do preparation work for the week ahead after going to the grocery store. By chopping up celery, carrots, onions, broccoli, and other vegetables after bringing them home, one can reduce time by having these items ready for dinner time. Madson suggests putting carrots and celery in a little bit of water in a sealable container. Also, after buying produce such as leafy greens, one can wash and re-bag these items so they are ready to be used. Just add a damp paper towel to the ends to keep the produce fresh. Preparation work can take a lot of time out of making dinner and if done properly can be used for a variety of dishes. Another tip from the article “Recipe Tips and Timesavers” is to stock up your pantry with canned items. Canned items last longer and are pre-cooked.  It is easier to open up a can of pre-cooked beans then to wait all day for dry beans to cook. Now that the preparation part is done, it is time to start learning how to cook what you have prepared.

Now, we come to actually making dinner. By learning right “techniques” cooking can be easy and a great dinner will be the outcome. Instead of picking a meal or recipe that takes 2-3 hours to make, find a recipe that can be whipped up in 30 minutes or less.  For example, spaghetti can be made quickly and is usually enjoyed by many. A great tip from Madson says to do is “plan for making extra.” There are a couple of things you can do with the leftovers. First, leftovers can be frozen and used for another meal during the week or as lunch. Madson says to find a recipe that will hold up well in the freezer and double the recipe to use again on another busy night. Second, leftovers are also great to use the next night in a new dinner idea. For example, “Recipe Tips and Timesavers” recommends using leftover vegetables in a pureed vegetable soup. The veggies can be warmed up in a pot of vegetable, chicken, or beef broth and then pureed. Noodles can also be added to give the soup texture.   Leftover meats can be used in wraps, casseroles, or fajitas. A leftover rotisserie chicken can be turned into chicken fajitas the next night for dinner. All of these ideas are quick and easy and will help clean out the refrigerator.  A great invention is the crock pot, it “can be a great help when in a hurry,” states Madson. The prep for your dinner can be done in the morning of or the night before. The crock pot cooks low all day and can be great if you are too busy to watch over something. At the end of the day is a delicious meal that will be ready when you are. Also available are crock pot liners so clean up is easy afterwards.

Making dinner does not have to be a chore or a long process. Instead of choosing to eat out or going through the drive through, try out some tips that will make dinner quick and easy and give you time to sit around the table with family, even with a busy schedule. By being prepared in the kitchen and learning some proper cooking methods or “techniques” one can create a quick and easy dinner the family will enjoy.

Vegetarian Mexican Lasagna in the Crock Pot (Meat can be added if desired)

By: Tina Rupp, From: FamilyCircle.com

Vegetarian Mexican Lasagna from FamilyCircle.com

Prep Time: 15 minutes  Slow Cook: 3 hours HIGH- 6 hours LOW

Ingredients:

1 head cauliflower, cored

3 plum tomatoes, chopped

1can (15.5 ounces) black beans, rinsed and drained  

1 cup frozen corn

1/3 cup chopped cilantro

2 tsp chili powder

2 tsp ground cumin

3 ½ cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese

1 jar (16 ounces) tomatillo salsa

6 fajita-size flour tortillas

Sour cream (optional)

Directions:

Cut cauliflower into florets and slice them into ½ inch thick slices. Place cauliflower, tomatoes, beans, corn, and cilantro in a large bowl. Sprinkle with chili powder and cumin and stir to combine.

Coat inside of slow cooker bowl with nonstick cooking spray. Spread 3 cups of mixture over bottom of slow cooker, then sprinkle with 1 cup of cheese and ½ cup salsa. Place 2 tortillas on top. Repeat layering two more times, setting aside last 2 tortillas. Cut tortillas into 2-inch pieces and scatter over top.

Cover and cook on High for 3 hours or Low for 5 ½ hours or until cauliflower is tender. Top with remaining ½ cup cheese. Cover and cook another 30 minutes or until cheese has melted. Let sit for 10 minutes, then serve with sour cream, if desired.

Works Cited

Madson, Debbie. "Time Saving Tips for Dinner Time." Ezine Articles. Web. 12 Apr. 2011. <http://ezinearticles.com/?Time-Savings-Tips-For-Dinner-Time&id=445543>.

"Recipe Tips and Timesavers." Mealtime.org. Web. 14 Apr. 2011. <http://www.mealtime.org/content.aspx?id=114>.

Tina, Rupp. "Vegetarian Mexican Lasagna." Family Circle. Web. 12 Apr. 2011. <http://www.familycircle.com/recipe/vegetables/vegetarian-mexican-lasagna/>.

Photograph. Web. <http://www.thekitchn.com/thekitchn/tips-techniques/weeknight-meal-tip-quicker-meal-prep-with-storage-containers-055409>.