Let's face it: We all know that home-cooked meals are better for us, but we don't always have the time (or the inclination) to spend hours in front of the stove. Work It, Mom! members have been trading ideas in The Busy Chef group for some time now, and Chris over at Ordering Disorder has plenty of recipes for fast (and kid-friendly) fare, so we decided to sort through them and share a few with you.
Main Courses
In a discussion about inexpensive meals, CrazyMomof4 offered up a recipe for beef and bowtie pasta that uses just a handful of easy-to-find ingredients, while Sparkz explains how to turn thin-cut steaks and mushrooms into a wonderful mock Stroganoff.
Sdbab shared a recipe for salmon and whole-wheat pasta inspired by Food TV's Everyday Italian and showed us how easy it is to make.
Diane created an Indian-style vegetarian dish with ingredients from her cupboards (and it tasted great!).
The Busy Chef discussion about quick recipes generated some great ones, including Christine's Chinese peppered pork chops, Mamajama's steamed tofu and veggies, Nicu101's seasoned pork chops, KimmB's easy beef stew, and Shelleen pointed people toward her online cooking club, Chef Mama, for more inspiration.
Appetizers, Soups, and Sides
If you just need something to nibble -- or to bring to a party -- Heels has a fantastic recipe for a brie-and-puff-pastry appetizer, Kim Begnaud offered up her mom's secret to mini meatballs, and Kate shared how to make tasty tiny quiches.
Lylah whipped together a Tuscan sausage and white bean soup on the fly and found that it was quick and easy.
Another gem from Diane (with a nod to Moosewood): Garlic-Tomato Broth with Cheese Tortellini.
Tired of the same old side dishes? Try Nataly's stuffed peppers or Tara M's green beans with sage-walnut butter and Brussels sprouts with bacon and mustard.
Slow Cooker Ideas
You can make more than just soups and stews in a slow cooker, though we have plenty of recipes for those. Msmd310 made a rotisserie-style chicken that practically falls off the bone and Pammy pointed out that you can wrap individual portions of meat and stuffing and then cook them up easily in the crock pot. Other slow-cooker winners: Chris's Crock pot Chicken Salsa, which has become a mainstay of many member's kitchens, and her delicious Chicken Curry with Coconut Rice.
The discussion archive for The Busy Chef is here; start a new topic or add a recipe of your own!
