I have no clue people. But I do know that ready-to-eat and almost-ready-to-eat foods are super expensive. So how about some super, super fast and easy things to prepare? Maybe not the once a month stuff though. At least not here. How about some Hamberger Helper type things.

Best I can do is drain a can of chili beans and mix it with a can of chili.

Would it work to fry a flat can's worth of cooked chicken in some olive oil and seasonings, then add a bag of mixed frozen vegetables and simmer to make something like those expensive bags of pasta, vegetables and chicken gristle that the grocery stores sell? Gerbil

-- Gerbil (ima_gerbil@hotmail.com), September 21, 2000

Answers

It surely does work. There are endless variations too, depending on how you season things, and what meat you use. If you like the more exotic stuff, a .99 cent can of coconut milk and a .50 cent can of curry paste will dress things up in a hurry. Start with smaller amounts if spicy stuff gets to you, this stuff is potent! Depending on which flavor you pick, you can do this with chicken, pork, beef, fish, shrimp, or even tofu, adding veggies to compliment. With some oriental noodles, or pre cooked rice from the freezer, you can usually get it to the table in about 15 minutes. I even start with the meat raw, just partly thaw it (easier to cut it when semi frozen) and cut it into bite sized pieces to get it to cook faster. You can do a fast stroganoff this way, or use ground beef instead of cubed.
Another quick favorite is lentils & sausage. They cook in a hurry, especially the orange ones, and with the right herbs and a bit of cheese added to your bowl, they are great. You can also dice ham, and toss in with macaroni. Add a can of whole tomatos, and whatever else sounds good, like your favorite veggies, a can of olives, grated cheese, and such. Another time saver is to cook your rice in large batches, and pack meal sized bags for the freezer. It thaws quickly, and can be stir fried into a fast meal, adding soy sauce, beaten eggs, the meat of your choice and veggies.
For breakfast in a hurry, I use steel cut oats in a crockpot. Start the night before, load in the dry oats, a bit of butter, pinch of salt, maple syrup to taste, and at least twice the necessary milk. (maybe more, depending on how hot your crockpot gets) You can also add a touch of cinnamon, or a handful of dried fruit bits. Cover tightly, and turn on low. Breakfast will be waiting when you get up. I'm going to be trying this one on the woodstove this winter.

-- Connie (Connie@lunehaven.com), September 21, 2000.

I am partial to the bags of frozen mixed vegetables (oriental usually) to which you add your own meat. I figure they are less expensive than buying individual veges and cooking them yourself. One bag and some meat can easily feed a family of four, more if side dishes are also offered.

When I need to buy bacon I buy it in the largest package available, which saves a bit. I cook it up all at once and then freeze the strips in a zip-lock baggie. I figure one large batch is more energy efficient than multiple small batches. When I want bacon for breakfast I just pull off some stripes and reheat it at the same time the eggs cook. Haven't had a breakfast guest complain about it yet.

-- Ken S. in WC TN (scharabo@aol.com), September 21, 2000.

Those 33 cent boxes of macaroni and cheese can be sprused up with hamburg or a 99 cent can of tuna. Add frozen peas to the water when you cook the macaroni and viola! I also get the big economy sized bags of elbows so I can make a quick 'goulash'(elbows, sauce, and hamburger) or tuna salad in large enough amounts to last for a couple days. My family loves this stuff. Tuna casarole is quick and easy as well: noodles, tuna, cream of mushroom soup, a little milk, any canned veggies you have, maybe some cheese melted on top, and coated with Durkee onions, bread crumbs, or even stuffing. The man devours that! He'll eat it three meals a day until it's gone.

-- Epona (staceyb@myway.com), September 21, 2000.

I hate to stop building, fixing, or sewing to cook (notice I didn't mention cleaning). Stir fry is the easiest- almost anything but canned tuna will stir-fry with whatever veggies are on hand. Also cut potatoes in chunks, put in microwaveable dish, add sprinkle of salt, dollop of butter, cover, micro on high for about 6 minutes. Super easy and GOOD. Crockpot cooking is great when you want something hot. "Set it and forget it" to borrow a phrase. Then there's soup and sandwiches; big salads with ham, chicken, and hard boiled eggs; and omelets with everything but the kitchen sink in them.

-- Peg (NW WI) (wildwoodfarms@hushmail.com), September 21, 2000.

OK ... take a chicken , stick it in a pot, add veggies (whatever you have lying around ...potatos, carrots, celery, onions,etc...), fill the pot with water , add salt to taste .... boil the heck out of it ....chicken soup!!! you could also strain it and with the liquid add some noodles and you've got a lovely chicken noodle soup (light and simple).... and tommorrow you can use all the chunky bits (chicken , veggies, etc and eat it plain or mix in some white sauce (easier than you think to make!!). Quick and easy pasta sauces : 1. raw tomatos, garlic, a drizzle of olive oil, and salt .... chop it all up in your blender or food processor and it is ready!!! Just mix it in with your favorite noodles. 2. frozen spinach (heat it up with a dab of butter ) when it is hot add cream, salt , and black pepper if you like .... blend that stuff up and you've got a great pasta sauce.

-- kelly (kellytree@hotmail.com), September 22, 2000.

Epona, on the Macaroni and Cheese box was a recipe for using it with tuna and peas, when I made this for my kids when they were little they said "Common Mom did you make this up?" It was hysterical and now when anybody doesn't like something "new" I come up with they will say this. I happened to like it :) Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), September 22, 2000.

My boys love this one. Fry a pound of hamburger with onion, salt and pepper. Add a can of corn, kidney beans, chilies, salsa and tomato soup. Do not drain the corn or kidney beans. Add crushed tortilla chips and melt cheese into it. All in one pan, uses up stale chips and dried slices of cheese and only takes about 15 minutes. Very filling.

-- Cheryl Cox (bramblecottage@hotmail.com), September 23, 2000.

This is super easy. Slice some kalbasi sausage up and quarter a head of cabbage. Put sausage in bottom of the old crock pot and put cabbage on top. Put on low. But evening you'll have some happy campers.

-- Judy (allsmile@ctnet.net), September 24, 2000.

Oh yeah...macaroni and cheese with tuna (and onion sometimes). I forgot all about that. I am on my way to the kitchen right now to make some!!! (I eat it like potato chips, though! Can't stop! I lost 3 pounds in the last week...not enough time to eat...guess I can put it all back on tonight with mac and cheese!!!)

I also keep cooked pasta in the fridge sometimes when I'm busy. Just reheat in microwave, add some sauteed vegetables, and some store bought salad dressing (pick a good one, though). Maybe some crumbled roquefort cheese or shredded parmesan on top, and fresh cracked pepper. Fast food at our house!

-- sheepish (rborgo@gte.net), September 24, 2000.

My Husband LOVES macaroni and cheese with tuna and peas...sometimes I think he hopes I'll be sick so he can make it!LOL I do something similar to the kielbasa/cabbage crockpot. I put sliced kielbasa, frozen hashbrowns, and a can of cream of mush.soup ( and 1/2 can milk) in the crockpot. Sometimes I add an onion. This is good and easy.Also my husband loves my hamburger gravy and mashed potatoes...I fry hamburger, add 1 can cream of mushroom soup, 1/2 can milk, and a little Braggs or dry beef broth.Serve over the mashed potatoes.Also, fry hamburger and frozen hashbrowns, scramble eggs, mix together with cheese and this is delicious! But IMO, nothing beats the OAMC, I've just tried this lately and it is so nice to have a casserole to take out and thaw.This cuts back on using soup cans too.

-- Tammy S. (heritage@mtaonline.net), September 26, 2000.

Tammy, I've been looking at OAMC lately. I've got nothing against it-in fact I've been collecting some recipes to try as soon as I get my kitchen back together. Why don't you post some of the recipes that have worked for you under another thread? On this thread my goal was walk in the door and fix something type recipes. So many people (including me) will eat out or use the really expensive conveniance foods because we need a meal NOW. And there have been some great ideas posted so far, thanks! Gerbil

-- Gerbil (ima_gerbil@hotmail.com), September 26, 2000.

Gerbil, want a meal now------then plan ahead!!!!!!! I raised kids/stepkids/ foster kids/ And when I cooked-- I cooked!!!!!! And I still do!!!(and there is just two of us now to eat it). When I have the time I make a double batch of what ever I'm cooking--then I freeze it into several small containers & we have a meal ready/ all we have to do is defrost & nuke it!! This week I made a big batch of mixed beans & rice soup/ with tomatoes. I soaked the beans over night then cooked them with the rice & added stewed tomatoes & chile powder.I use to work at least 6 days a week--so when I cooked I cooked several things that would feed us all week!! I planned what ever I cooked & what I could fix fast & easy with leftovers!!!! I never liked to come home tired from work & have chores to do & a huge family to feed--so I would look through my cook books & plan ahead with what I had on hand to cook ahead for "the herd"!!! Now it is just Dad & myself --but after cooking for "the herd", for so amny years I can't cook a small amount of anything!! So I cook & divide & freeze & label. Of coarse I always have bought in bulk!!! I was ready for y2k long before there was ever planning for such a thing! When cases of things were on sale I bought a case!!! I buy rice & such in 50 lb bags. Of caorse I'm a vegetarian so we have no meat in the house--but there are thousands of great things to eat & fix without meat of tofu!!!!!!!! Just plan ahead--do your cooking in advance--it has worked for us for many moons!!!!!!!!! Sonda in Ks.

-- Sonda (sgbruce@birch.net), September 27, 2000.