[2dogs-DD-DH-and-...]

Hi everyone,

I am going back to work two full days per week which means that I will not get home until approx 6pm.

Dinner in this house has been between 6.15 - 6.30pm while I've been off work, and I would prefer to keep dinner time to the same time as much as possible.

This will be happening on two consecutive nights - so I need hints and tips on how to manage this most efficiently.

I have thought of making bolognaise sauce on the day before I start work so all I have to do is nuke the sauce and cook some pasta when I get home (straight away!) but what else can I do?

We don't want to eat the same thing week in week out or two nights in a row, iygwim?

Thanks

[Shelly-B]

Cook some pasta, fry up some chopped bacon and mix with philadelphia cream for cooking...you can also add mushrooms, basil, whatever the family enjoys.

Very quick and very yummy!

[GoneWithTheWhing...]

Slow cooker, then all you need to do is serve or if you want extra veggies steam a few or cook some rice/pasta/potatoes if you want an extra carb.

eta - pressed post too soon

in slow cooker we generally make casseroles, curry, pasta sauce, baked potatoes (not crisp like in the oven though), joints of meat (beef, lamb, chicken, corned beef), lamb shanks, lasagne. A lot of the time I cook extra and freeze so all it'd need doing is microwaving.

Maybe as an alternative some nights you could do a 'proper' pudding in a slow cooker (stewed fruit, baked apples, sponge type thing) then just have toasted sandwiches for dinner.

In warmer weather go for picnic style with cold meats, bread, cheese etc and help yourselves to whatever is on the table!

This post has been edited by GoneWithTheWhinge: 01/05/2012, 01:15 PM

[paddyboo]

tacos?

[2dogs-DD-DH-and-...]

As it's only two days in advance I am ok with preparing things and freezing them or keeping them in the fridge.

Does anyone know if you can store cut up vegies in the fridge without them losing nutritional value?

Am thinking pasta night on mondays (so sauce prepared and put in fridge Sunday for reheating Monday) and then Tuesdays I am thinking I can have things like carrot, potato, pumpkin cut up and cook a steak in that time frame but I am unsure if the potato, pumpkin, carrots would lose any nutritional value doing that? I'd pair those vegies with frozen peas & corn?

[~mimo~]

Make double portions of some other meals then freeze them? Take out the night before and put in the fridge to defrost.

[PrincessPeach]

I can have a stir-fry on the table within 20 minutes - however i have pre-cut my vegies the day before.

You can grill some steak & have vegies or salad done within 20 minutes. vegies take 10 minutes in the microwave to steam.

[cameo]

On Thursdays when DS has footy training till 6ish, I often make a shepherds pie during the day (or you could make night before) and all you have to do is reheat it.

[2dogs-DD-DH-and-...]

Oh I have a slow cooker too, so I am happy to utilize that but I will be reliant on DH putting it on before he leaves home of a morning as he will have kiddy drop off to do.

ETA - I will be leaving home at 6.30 am and getting home at 6pm. DH will have kiddy wake up, breakfast and drop off routine (leaving the house around 9) I have kiddy pick up, dinner & kiddy bath routine to fit into a Monday night as well as prepping dinner for Tuesday hence I am trying to find out what I can do two days in advance for Tuesday dinner.

[niggles]

Maybe come up with a list of 10 recipes for meals that can be prepared in very little time. If you know you have the ingredients ready and waiting you can hit the ground running and get it done in time.

I'll get you started if you like.

Zucchini soup.
Dice onion, zucchini and celery.
Fry with salt, pepper and olive oil till it colours (Lots of pepper).
Add a tin of evaporated milk and simmer till reduced (10 minutes is usually ample to get a really nice flavour).
Blend if your kids are fussy about slimy zucchini pieces or don't if they are not.

Serve with bread and parmasen cheese.

You could also invest in a slow cooker and put dinner on before you leave in the morning.

I used to get in at 6.30 and so we would usually eat leftovers from the previous night the first night (I'd cook double on Mondays). The next night we would just make something really simple like the soup above or omelette, or DD would often eat early with DH, having eggs and baked beans while I'd have a salad when I got in.