Last minute dinner recipes... when you forgot to prepare :)

[lani90]

hi im new to this hope im in the right spot... anyway, i had my sons 1st birthday yesterday and by the time everyone left and cleaned up and i sorted thru toys etc it was late arvo and my partner asked whats for dinner and i thought crap i completely forgot, i also had my sister and a friend staying so since i didnt have anything thawed out or prepared i just got take out, to avoid that again whats your last minute meal recipes? are there certain foods or cupboard items you buy to just keep for when that kinda thing happens? thanks

[duonyte]

I have a few things that cook quickly and are mainly pantry dishes. Sometimes meat would need to be thawed in the microwave, but I'm willing to do that.

Instant Mashed Potato Pancakes
if you have leftover roast, Anglo-Indian Beef (Or Lamb) Stir-Fry
quesadillas - I nearly always have tortillas and cheese around and then add whatever else I have
Very Quick Butter Chickpeas (Vegetarian Butter Chicken!)
30-Minute Chili
Beginner's Curry
Julienne of Veal/Poultry/Pork (Microwave)
Free-Form Lasagna With Wild Mushrooms and Parmesan Cream fresh mushrooms are best but it could be made with canned in a pinch
Biggest Loser Creamy Tuna Lemon and Garlic Pasta
Tunisian Penne
Emeril's Penne With Italian Sausage
Penne with Tomato Herb Cream Sauce

I keep frozen meatballs, scallops and dumplings in the freezer and use them to make quick meals too. Scallops thaw really fast under cold running water.

[Dee514]

My "last minute go to" dinner is usually pasta or soup and a sandwich.

I make my Quick Marinara Sauce in the time it takes for the water to boil and the pasta to cook. Sometimes if I have some meatballs in the freezer, I will give them a quick defrost in the micro and add them to the sauce while it simmers and the pasta is cooking.

Soup is another quick favorite. I usually start out with 1 (32 oz) container of beef stock and 1 (32) oz container of chicken stock (Yes, I mix the two together in equal parts for better flavor). When it comes to a boil, I add about a cup of dry "soup pasta (tiny shells, ditalini, or your favorite small shape). When the pasta is half cooked, I add a large package of frozen mixed veggies (or veggies of your choice), and a can or two of Navy beans, or black beans (or 1 can of each) or your favorite beans. Make sure the beans are rinsed and drained. If the soup is getting too thick for your liking, add enough water to thin it to the consistency you prefer. Season to taste (ground garlic or garlic powder NOT garlic salt, dried onion flakes, a bit of dried basil, oregano, salt, pepper and a bit of crushed red pepper flakes - use what ever seasonings you prefer in the amounts you like).Cook until it is heated through and the pasta is done to your liking. A hearty vegetable bean soup in 30 min or less! Garlic bread or grilled cheese sandwiches round out the meal. Sometimes if I have leftover meat (cooked chicken, leftover meatloaf, pork chop, ham, etc) in the refrigerator I will cut it up or shred it and throw it into the soup pot.

[duonyte]

Soup is a great suggestion. We have it pretty much every day, so I'm always planning for it but a hearty soup can be instead of dinner. If you keep broth frozen in your freezer or have some low sodium broth around, heating that with some pasta, or quick-cook barley, or leftover rice (I freeze in small and larger quantities) and some frozen meatballs and some veggies makes a hearty main course soup. Frozen meatballs are great - meatball sandwiches, pasta with meatballs soups - always a good shortcut.

[lani90]

Oh thanks so much! all very helpful, thinking i might try one tonight

[PaulaG]

Coming in a little late but I also agree a good pot of stew or chili is a great filler. When time is short I also like a quick mac and cheese or pasta dish.

Quick Macaroni and Cheese
Cincinnati Turkey Chili (Cooking Light)
Chili-Ghetti
Award Winning Chili
Chili Pasta Bake
Chicken Macaroni Bake
Daddy's Tuna Casserole

[ellie_]

always pasta meals and I always have stuff to make mac n' cheese or spaghetti. Keep spaghetti sauce in the freezer or store jars of prepared sauce and a pkg of spagetti and you are done. Mac n' cheese - almost the same - American cheese and milk and a pkg of macaroni American chop suey (can of tomatoes, box of macaroni and pkg of hamburg)

I also always have cans of tuna and soup (tuna noodle casserole)

[lani90]

Thanks heaps guys, love all those recipes, saved in my favs now i shall never be caught unprepared again

[Amberngriffinco]

Chili - over baked pot's

hot dogs in scrambled eggs or in a corndog casserole

ramen

pasta and sauce