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Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Meal ideas for extremely tired and lazy days!

Today I was so tired by the evening, that I had almost convinced myself to just get take-out. I mean, one time couldn't hurt anything, right? Shouldn't EVERYONE take a break sometimes?! The only problem was, I only have $80 left to spend until January 15. I'm definitely going to have to buy some gas and groceries before then! Fortunately, after I wandered around in a daze for a while, I happened to remember some Eggo waffles I had bought from Sams Club about 5 months ago! Ten minutes later, those Eggos were toasted, slathered with peanut butter and homemade mango preserves, and being happily devoured by my three hungry kids! I ate my share, too.:P Afterwards, I started trying to think of other easy, lazy day meals. This is what I came up with!

COLD CEREAL WITH BANANAS AND DATES
I like to use corn flakes, or grape nuts, with bananas and dates sliced into the bowl. We eat our cereal with soymilk. It's a complete meal! The cereal provides whole grain, the bananas provide potassium, the dates provide iron, and the soymilk provides calcium and protein!

COTTAGE CHEESE WITH FRUIT
I just scoop out some cottage cheese onto a plate and add some canned pineapple, some salted grape tomatoes, and some canned oranges, or fresh grapes. My kids love this meal, and I love the lack of clean up. No pots and pans!

COLD OATMEAL
This is a lazy breakfast idea, although sometimes I start it in the early afternoon and serve it for dinner.:P Just take 2C rolled oats and 2C milk and stir them together in a large bowl. Add about 6 chopped dates, and a small handful of raisins, or craisins. Cover and let sit in the fridge for at least 3-4 hours, or overnight. Enjoy!

These four meals (including the waffles!) are for when I'm feeling REALLY tired and lazy. I can't even count the number of times one of these three meals has saved me from getting take-out. The ironic part is, I think my kids like to eat these meals more than the ones I actually cook!

4 comments:

Cate said...

Breakfast for dinner is always a good idea when you don't feel like cooking. Even things that technically require SOME effort are really easy: scrambled eggs, oatmeal, breakfast sandwiches...even pancakes and French toast.

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WilliamB said...

Eggs are a go-to in my house, and they use up leftovers as well. I have two "recipes." Both take less than 15 min.

One is for a western-style omelet of eggs and additives (typciall cooked veggies, cooked meat and/or cheese). The trick here is to have the additives already cooked and cold. Cold additives don't make the omelet runny/weepy. What I do is use leftovers, or cook veggies that look like they're going to go bad which gives the veggies another few days of life. Scramble the eggs in a bowl, pour in pan, add additives, cover pan, cook over low heat till set on top.

The other is for Japanese omelet called donburi. This is a soupy dish that ideally is served over rice. For four eggs: mix 1/2 c chicken stock, 1/4 c soy sauce, 1/4 c mirin (a sort of japanese cooking wine) or rice vinegar. Put the liquids in a pan with sliced onion and whatever else you're adding (other veg or meat). Simmer till the onions are translucent and tender. Add the 4 beaten eggs, simmer on low till the eggs are cooked - you'll probably have to taste because these look really funny to western eyes: brown and runny and soupy. But it's also zesty and savory and gets stretched even further by being served over rice.

Mary said...

My favorite meals are breakfast foods. I love pancakes and eggs, and I'm always happy with cereal--cold or hot.