Hey girls!  I'm looking for inspiration!  I'm visiting FI this week and since he's working most of the week and I'll be just by my lonesome self at home, I thought I'd cook him dinner all week. <--I love how this sounds so "novel."  The thing is that he's the cooker in our house. ;)

We aren't picky with ingredients or food types, so anything goes!  A few criteria:

• not too many ingredients since I don't want to have to raid the entire supermarket
  
• not too elaborate. I don't mind if it needs to slow cook for a few hours or if it requires beating egg whites to soft peaks, but I don't want to knead my own bread, raise my own chicken until they give me eggs, etc.
  
• can be savory or sweet
• I humbly think of myself as a decent cook, so all levels of difficulty are welcome

TIA!

So sweet! I wish I had something to contribute, but probably nothing that compares to the lovely things I see on here :-) I'm a super boring cook! Can't wait to try out all of the recipes I've been accumulating over the last year!

I like to stir fry leafy greens like kale or chard in some garlic and olive oil, toss in some sun dried tomatoes and prosciutto, add freshly cooked pasta, chili flakes, salt and pepper, and voila! Dinner is served.

@Deb: Hee. I kind of do the same...accumulate recipes but then just go the tried-and-true route.  I think I'm too scared to make something that will taste awful. ;)

@Rae: Ooo. That sounds yum--yet not too complicated.  Thanks!

Both DH & I like things to be on the easy side. Here are our go-to meals:

Taco's- Really SO easy

Enchaladas (You can cook the meat for this the same night you look the taco meat)

Burritos

Yes, we really do enjoy Mexican food!

We also like to sautee mushrooms with garlic & add some noodles. Sometimes well add shrimp into the pasta or chicken on the side. Maybe a garden salad on the side.

Homemade pizza. We buy the crust already made (comes with sauce) & add our favorite things! Mushrooms & bacon is our fav right now. =]

One of our new favorites is a recipe I got from my coworker--it's called Lasagna Toss.

1 jar spaghetti sauce (we like Prego roasted garlic and herb), 1 lb ground beef, 1 box of "no boil" lasagna noodles (about 8 noodles), 1/4 cup italian salad dressing, 1 3/4 cup water, mozzarella cheese.

Brown the ground beef in a big skillet, drain. Break the lasagna noodles into small pieces (1" or so). Add sauce, italian dressing, water, and noodles to the ground beef and boil, then reduce to a simmer. Cover, cook until the water is all absorbed by the noodles and the noodles are tender. (You can use the standard "boiling required" lasagna noodles, just add 2 full cups of water--we've just found that the "no boil" ones come out more tender.) We usually get a 12oz block of mozzarella and shred it ourselves, and sprinkle some on top--you could do a pre-shredded but it melts so much better if you shred it yourself! The italian dressing adds a little tang to it that's super yummy.

Here's another that DH brought from his family:

Taco Ring

You need: 1 lb ground beef; 2 cans of refrigerated crescent rolls (8 rolls in each); 1 pouch taco seasoning; shredded cheese (we like a mexican cheese mix); any other taco toppings you like.

Brown the ground beef, drain, and add the taco seasoning according to the pouch directions (maybe a little less water--you don't want it too watery). Stir in cheese until it's melty and cheesy enough for your taste. :) We usually do it until it sticks together in spoonfulls. On a pizza pan or round baking stone, arrange the crescent rolls with the fat base in the middle and the points hanging off the edge of the pan--overlap them so you have a nice solid ring to put the meat on. We usually wind up with 2 extra crescent rolls that can't fit into the circle for whatever reason. Spoon the meat onto that ring (you could add other toppings at this point if you want them) and then fold the points of the crescent rolls back over the meat into the center of the ring... I found a picture to help illustrate:

Bake according to the instructions on the crescent rolls (until nice and golden brown.) Cut into sections and enjoy! :)

Another one that DH loves and requests often... I call them "Chicken Fajitas" although that might not be accurate. ;)

Here's the secret to my success:

Fiesta lime Mrs. Dash

I just cook little strips of chicken in a skillet with a tablespoon of olive oil and liberally sprinkle with this seasoning. You could totally throw in salsa or onions and peppers and other things... we just don't like those things. ;) I heat up a can of seasoned black beans (you can get "seasoned" and "unseasoned", for this I like the seasoning), a small can of sweet corn, cheese, you could add lettuce and chopped tomatoes or salsa too... wrap it all up in a tortilla. Om nom nom!

I really like Mrs. Dash... it's like "seasonings for dummies". I use some of the other mixes for roasts, chicken... endless possibilities.

This is my go-to recipe because we are always stocked with soy sauce, rice wine, corn starch and hoisin sauce (I substitute oyster sauce with hoisin sauce).  You can nix the bamboo shoots and water chestnuts make this with just chicken and broccoli.  I also double the sauce because I love saucy dishes.  Serve over rice.

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Moo-Goo-Gai-Pan/Detail.aspx

I also just grill chicken on a cast iron pan.  Preheat a cast iron pan to med high heat.  Rub the boneless chicken breast in olive oil, salt and pepper and grill on a cast iron pan.  (Make sure the chicken breasts are someone at room temperature, or at least not ice cold.)  Cook about 6-8 mins on each side, depending on the thickness.  Serve with steamed broccoli and the spaghetti recipe below.  Honestly, the whole meal takes me only 30 mins, 45 max.

http://smittenkitchen.com/2011/02/spaghetti-with-lemon-and-olive-oil-al-limone/

And if you want to try Filipino food, try this recipe.  It’s super easy, very few ingredients and just throw it all in one pot. 

http://burntlumpia.typepad.com/burnt_lumpia/2009/11/the-steamy-kitchen-cookbook-chicken-adobo.html

Holy yumminess!  Thanks for all of these ladies. :) 

poppy seed chicken is SO easy! make wild rice as a side dish... maybe some green beans. it is THE best comfort food meal there is :)

Precook chicken breasts in boiling water until thoroughly cooked. Remove breasts from water and let cool (save the broth for other things!)

Tear cooled breasts into bite sized pieces, and put in bottom of casserole dish.

Mix together sour cream, cream of chicken soup and cream of celery soup and spread on top of chicken. Cover with crushed snack crackers. Sprinkle poppy seed on top. Drizzle melted butter on top.

Place in preheated 350°F oven until warmed through, about 20-25 minutes.