requesting favourite 3-5 ingredient recipies

[CathyE]

I am suggesting a sub-forum maybe "easy prep and cooking"
for people, like me who can't chop or stir a lot or stand long...
(in my case even sitting at a table chopping much does me in)

Or your favourite 3-5 (or6?) ingredient recipies.

Maybe even a substitution list for sensitivities and regular food items as a "sticky post".
For example I am salt & additives sensitive, so when a recipe calls for powdered onion soup mix, I either use a strainer to remove the powder (some adheres to the dried onions, but I can handle that amount) and add garlic powder,
or use frozen chopped onion(or fresh if I'm up to it) & microwave them if they don't have time to cook in the recipe.

What do you think?

I can't be the only one frustrated that cooking is too hard for me now most days. Or I do a lot or work & then can't eat it, let alone clean up because I'm too exhausted. (My husband just loves those days !)
And yes, he cooks sometimes, but I'm finding the usual meat & potatoes he likes are too heavy right now. I want soups & stews (again canned are too salty,etc) and casseroles or meat in sauce.(nice & soft).

I deleted my original post.
Cathy

[BEM]

Chicken soup has more ingredients than you ask for, but it requires little work and supplies several dinners as well as broth that can be used to make many other easy and delicious stews and soups.

Buy a large soup hen!
A roasting or frying chicken will work, but neither has the flavor or the volume of a good soup hen.
Wash chicken, wash innards, put into large soup pot and cover with water.
Add:
salt and pepper (optional and no specific amounts)
one onion, peeled and cut in half. add two if you like onions a lot.
5 - 6 or more carrots cut into any size or shape
a handful of parsley
2 cloves garlic with peel on
1 bay leaf
thyme dried or fresh
a leek or two or more(optional), slice the white or leave it whole, leave inner green whole so you can fish it out before serving.
Bring to boil, reduce heat and let simmer for 4 hours.
Add parsnips, peeled and cut into chunks. (optional) and simmer for 20 - 30 min.
You can add potatoes too, but if you freeze them in soup they get grainy.

Have husband fish out chicken. We like to eat the chicken with mustard and crunchy bread after the soup, but you can also put it in your bowl and pour soup over it.
Put the amount of soup you can eat the next two days in the refrig. Freeze the rest in quart containers, some with vegs. some just clear soup.
You will have lots of chicken left for sandwiches and gratins and pies.

And chicken soup cures colds.......

birte

[bewolf]

Diced stewing steak

Mixed diced stewing vegetables (bought frozen at supermarket will do)

Can of condensed oxtail soup

Some herbs (Bay leaf is good... so is garlic)

Water

Chuck in slow cooker making sure ingredients are covered with water.

Cook on slow for about 8 hours... 10 if cooking from frozen

season to taste.

---------------------------------

You can use diced chicken and condensed mushroom soup for a variation


The meat will look nicer if it is browned in a frying pan first... but not really needed

[bewolf]

8 chipolatas, (frankfurters, hotdogs or whatever)

2 large cans of mixed beans (Drained)

2 large cans of chopped tomatoes

1 teaspoon dried basil (sweet basil)
2 teaspoons dried oregarno (Pot Marjoram)
1 tablespoon of sugar.

Garlic if liked, or any other suitable herbs/ spice.

Season to taste


----------------

brown the sausages if you want

Chuck in slowcooker...for 6 - 8 hours.

Eat

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(Double or half quantities as needed.)

[Lavandula Canadensis]

hi cathy, i understand how you feel... i use to love cooking... but most of the time, i have no energy for it... here is an easy stew i have been making once in a while during this long long canadian winter... i can have a few meals out of this receipe... i can't buy anything at all that is already made because i have a LOT of food intolerances and allergies! i buy a lot organic too when i can afford it...

p.s. i use a lagostina 7 litres pressure cooker (cooking time 30 minutes after pressure started to build up, then let pressure come down by itself), but you could make this in a slowcooker or even simmer it in a regular pan

all measures are approximate and could be adjusted to taste :D
you can throw everything in the pan, no fat, no frying, no mess:


1 pound / 500 gr deboned chicken (brown or white meat)/ or red meat peace or cubes or even lamb or pork chops (needless to cut or trim because meat will become very tender when cooked this way)
2-pounds / 1 kg package of baby carrots
1 package of frozen peas
1 spanish onion cut in 4 or 8 pieces
1 tablespoon / 15 ml mix of dried 2-3 herbs and spices you like :D (savory, oregano, thyme, marjoram, tarragon, dill... ginger, celery seeds, ground pepper... vary everytime so you won't feel you're always eating the same thing)
3 tablespoons / 45 ml of tamari (natural soya sauce) (i use koyo organic wheat free)


for broth, I fill up to the line (if you like it a lot like i do) with either water, carrot juice, rice milk, green tea, ginger tea (could try also apple or pineapple juice if no problem with acidity)
vegetarian version: replace the meat by 1 cup / 250 gr of beans (any kind) soaked overnight or even canned ones (but rinse them well)

hope this easy receipe can be useful to you... bon appétit !

[lor]

here's a simple one ......... Picante Chicken

4 chicken breast
1 jar picante sauce (16 oz)
3 Tbsp brown sugar
1 tsp. prepared mustard

Mix the brown sugar, mustard & picante sauce. Pour it over the chicken. Bake 400* for 30-35 minutes

[Tootsie]

Cathy, I clicked on this forum, by mistake, and boy, can I relate to your salt sensitivity and need to limit the chop/stir/and fuss motions!
Here are some of my suggestions.

1. Take your favorite pieces of chicken, sprinkle with mixture of onion powder, paprika and a little celery salt. Bake at 400 for about 20 minutes...longer if they are thick pieces of chicken like a whole breast.

2. Take a whole chicken. Wash thoroughly, inside and out. Put pieces of potato, carrot, onion inside. Rub outside with oil or Crisco. Bake at 350 for at least an hour. Poke with a fork to see if vegetables are done.

3. Unwrap the ground round package...I buy from a butcher counter so have the right amount in the package. Put it in some kind of bake pan. Bake at 400 for about an hour. During the last 15 minutes, squirt some ketchup over the top. Call this meatloaf! This works well with baked potatoes in the oven at the same time.

4. A soup stock can be made from either a can, or bottle of V-8 juice, the low sodium variety. Add 4 cups of water and about 4 or more, low sodium beef boullion cubes. Add about a tablespoon of Italian seasoning/and/or garlic to taste, etc. Add any meat, if you want it. A package of frozen mixed vegetables and/or a handful of pasta. Call it minestrone.

5. In a crock pot, put 6 cups of water, 6 peppercorns, a ham hock, either an onion coarsely chopped or about a half cup of dehydrated onions, a bay leaf and a pound of split peas. You can substitute some ham if you don't have a ham hock. (Low sodium ham is available in most deli's.) It's easy to cut up if you do several layers at once and use a big knife. This cooks all day so you can do it in the morning. If you feel like it, you can add diced celery or carrots...I can buy these in some grocery stores, already cut up. Cheerio.

[CathyE]

Thanks, and keep them coming :D

Actually my husband retired this Jan. and I have become much less likely to try to cook :( as he is doing a pretty good job :D
I'm sometimes his "sous chef"! and idea person when I can think of anything!
Now, to smarten up and get back into action!

[howdydave]

Easy Pasta Cabonara

Spaghetti
Crisp bacon
Lots of parmisan cheese
Fresh chopped or dried parsley/basil leaf (I prefer basil myself)
Lots of ground pepper.

Cook the spaghetti,
Add a bit of bacon grease (or vegatable oil)*
Mix
Add cheese and pepper
Mix
Crumble the bacon in.
Mix
Add basil
Mix

*This makes the cheese stick to the spaghetti

[howdydave]

Easy Jumbolia

Cooked Rice
Dried shrimp
Imitation crab
Chopped onion
Chopped green pepper
Jar of Picante sauce or Salsa

Saute onion, peppers and dried shrimp
Add Salsa/Picante sauce to saute
mix
add to rice
mix

You can also add diced ham, spam or any sort of chopped up sausage links.

If it isn't hot enough, get a hotter Salsa/Picante sauce or add chili peppers (or hot sauce) to saute.

(I get my dried shrimp and imitation crab for cheap-cheap at the Chinese market.)

[howdydave]

WHOLE BEEF SHANK

1 Whole Beef Shank
Dry Onion Soup mix

Add the beef shank to a large crock pot / slow cooker.
Cook on low (total cook time on low is 6 to 8 hours)

After a couple of hours the shank will split up into 4 small roasts
After it has split and rounded, add the onion soup mix to the top of the roasts for seasoning.

Continue cooking for several hours until finished.

You have a small roast (for one or two) for today and 3 more roasts for later in the week!