ISO 2 weeks worth of easy lunch and dinner recipes

Executive Member Joined: Oct 13 2010 Posts: 275

DH comes home for both lunch and dinner and I'm finding it impossible to come up with filling and healthy quick and easy recipes for so many meals. Right now I'm a SAHM with a very demanding baby, so I don't have time to spend in the kitchen sauteeing this and steaming that etc. and we're getting very tired of eggs and grilled cheese (I know...not very healthy). I find that I usually can make dinner, but with my baby it takes me all day (he usually doesn't nap for very long). And then I also don't have time to make lunch.
My goal for this coming week is to make a list of two weeks' worth of healthy and easy lunch and dinner recipes that I can use on a rotating basis. As it is, when I do have time to cook, I usually make double so that there's either leftovers or else I can freeze half for another meal. I also make extra for Shabbos so that I can get two extra meals out of it for Sunday/Monday. We love chicken and meat but it gets expensive, and we don't eat fish, so I'm looking for alternatives as well.
I really need ideas, as well as time-saving tips. (If it's possible, I'd appreciate it if you posted the recipes as well.)
TIA!! Very Happy

okeedokee.... I will /bli neder post my menu soon, I just need to get my organizer... it's all in there. everything. Embarassed

I'm not promising to fill all of your requirements, but maybe some of it will be helpful for you...

meatsauce with rice (you can use fake meat as well)
pasta, tomato and vegetable sauce, with cheese (you can freeze the sauce)

does he need a cooked lunch or is a sandwhich or salad ok?

Platinum Member Joined: Jan 01 2006 Posts: 48155

I don't cook breakfast or lunch as a rule BUT most of my recipes here are pretty easy; and you can use the leftovers for lunch.

tortilla wraps with either stir fried chicken, beef, refried beans or fake meat.

add rice, avocado, grilled veggies and salad.

Active Poster Joined: Nov 29 2011 Posts: 74

wraps are great & easy to make, tuna, egg, avocado, anything goes.

Senior Member Joined: Feb 06 2008 Posts: 184

deli sandwiches

sweet and sour tofu over rice (the tofu part takes 5 minutes, rice takes a little longer but maybe its worth it for you to get a rice cooker)
Sautee onions and garlic . Then add 1/4 C ketchup with 1/4 C brown sugar, 1 tbsp soy sauce to saucepan and let simmer for a couple of minutes.
Then pour it over the tofu (cut into chicken strip-like thickness- make sure you use firm tofu)
Bake at 180 C for 30 minutes, or until it looks nice and brown and bubble

big soup at beginning of week

salad with craisins, cheese, and whatever else so its nutritious (you can also add tuna on top)

tuna patties

VERY easy sidedish- wash a sweet potato, poke with holes and wrap in aluminum foil and put in oven for long time(I make one for each me and hubby and they are sooo naturally yummy and flavorful)

ok, sorry I'm back... (with my organizer)
Here's my supper list (which I refer to each week when making my menu) let me know if u'd like any recipes
lo mein
grilled chicken salad
shnitzel
crispy chicken fingers
sesame chicken
zesty herbed chicken
hamburgers
meatballs
duck sauce chicken
chicken wings
hotdogs
one pot suppers:
sloppy joes
jewish shepherd's pie*
italian chicken

side dishes include:
orzo
spaghetti
mashed potatoes
potato wedges
rice
couscous

vegetables sides:
string beans
sweet potato fries
grilled zucchini
israeli salad
ceasar salad

Lunch, unfortunately is not too exciting, it's basically a rotation of tuna salad or sandwiches, macaroni, french toast, scrambled eggs or omlettes, pancakes (rarely), pita and spreads (chumus, matbucha, avacodo), grilled cheese, and sometimes pb sandwiches (in a pinch).
now, abt the suppers:
Firstly, when it comes to chopped meat, I usually use chicken or even turkey which is alot cheaper

secondly, there was a thread awhile ago where some women wrote their tips. (cant remember where when or who...) but if you dont want to sautee onions with every soup lets say, you can sautee a whole bunch at a time and put away and take out already sauteed onions when needed.

Thirdly, with sesame chicken I just flour the chicken pieces and then pour sauce on top and bake. (no double coating and then frying...) it comes out terrific, just without the crispyness...

Lastly, and this is the most major point of all: Once you make a menu, suppers become so much easier for so many reasons. For real. I dare you to try it.