So the Gf and I our on our own now, buying our own groceries and planning the meals. Its been 5 weeks and we are out of ideas for what we should have. Keep in mind that Im 24 and she is 23, so no Kobe steaks or anything like that. We do own a Crockpot, so anything that can be thrown in and cooked all day is good. So what kinds of things do you all have for dinner on a normal night?


Edit: Live in an apartment, aka no grill. Gf isnt a fan of steak.

 

my vote is always something on the grill, opens up a billion options as far a meats, rubs, marinades.....

 

All we eat with my wife is steak and chicken lol and I'm 23 and she's 24

 

Even a cheap steak can be made tender and tasty.

 

Guiness Beef Stew
Tuna Noodle Casserole
Chicken Pot Pie
Beer Butt Chicken
Chicken Corn Chowder
Shepard's Pie
Stir Fry of various varieties

Just a few things I can remember from the past week or so that weren't cooked on our grill.

My GF and I are 23.

Edit: Oh, spaghetti and meat *****. bonus: the leftover ***** can be used in a sandwich the next day

 

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That's about the age I got tired of eating out or ordering in every night. Started wtih getting a grill and cooking steaks and burgers all the time. I then bought some cookbooks but also hired a chef to come prepare a meal in my home once a week. He ended up coming for a couple years. I would watch and ask questions, sometimes he would have me help, then it ended up with him supervising me.

What's for dinner? Go to the store and buy what's either fresh/in-season or what's on sale. That way you're always getting something different. Want a steak? Ribeyes and NY strips are my favorite, but also expensive. Sometimes they'll have a skirt or flank on sale, probably cost 1/4 what a couple strips will. Or maybe a pork steak. Most anything can be delicious; it's usually in the preparation.

Learn how to make things instead of buy them pre made. Boil and mash your own potatoes. Instant is nasty. Home made mac n cheese is wonderful. Kraft is nasty. Most pasta sauces are easy, though tomato sauce is usually easier to deal with in a jar.

And rarely, you're going to make crap. So always have peanut butter and jelly on standby.

 

one of the most enlightening things to learn is that most "spice mixes" are just that. you can make the same thing with a few spices. there's no reason to buy packaged taco seasoning. some cumin, paprika, salt, and brown sugar is a good start.

 

If you can't grill outside, but do have a vent fan above stove...get a good Foreman Grill.

Seriously...we use the **** out of ours. Fish, steak, tonight ribs.

You'll never get tired of trying new stuff.

I'll cut up veggies and put veggies and shrimp on kabobs in there...beats starting a damn fire.

 

You need:
Brown sugar, catsup, yellow mustard, flour, corn starch, beef bullion, salt, black pepper, red pepper (crushed and powdered), cumin, paprika, garlic powder, onion flakes, italian seasoning, soy sauce, worsteshire sauce, lemon juice and cooking wine (white and red).

Add a good frying pan, dutch oven, roasting pot, sauce pan and stew pot (all with lids).

Then find the Better Homes & Gardens Cook Book (all the basics and "home cooking" standards) and a "Slow Cooker" (Crockpot) cook book.

Once you have gotten an idea of how the fundamentals work, start experimenting!

- L

 

Home made Chicken Noodle soup.

1 cooked chicken breast, shredded
1 large can Swanson chicken broth
1/5 box of any pasta you like (I use horns)
1-2 cups carrots
1-2 cups celery
season to taste (pinch of pepper, and a pinch of onion for me)

Chop carrots, and celery, pour chicken stalk into large pot and put in veggies. Bring to a boil, while stirring every so often. Once at a boil but in pasta, chicken, and spices. Boil for 8 minutes, or until past is tender, remove from heat, let it cool a little, Enjoy.

I also have a pretty easy quiche recipe, if you like quiches.

 

We got sick of going out to eat also, so we used the hell out of our oven and crockpot. This is going be uber ghey, but we ALWAYS do one new recipe a week...we get them from Good Housekeeping. Adds some variety to the mix.

Linky: Recipes and Entertaining - Goodhousekeeping.com

Did this one last week: http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/reci...-toasts-recipe

We closed on our new house on Friday, so first thing Saturday we purchased the Charbroil Infrared. Our next 100 meals will be grilled I'm sure

 

Tonight were eating cubed steak that has been marinating in red wine vinegar,oil,onion,garlic,oregano, salt and pepper since last evening. Bring it to a boil then let it simmer for at least an hour. Serve with white rice.
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they dont get nearly hot enough. learn to use the broiler man!

 

i love when my wife (22) cooks me, buffalo chicken, chili, meatloaf, pulled bbq chicken sandwiches, cheesy potato casseroles, tacos/burritos

 

Go to allrecipes.com and look at their highest rated / most popular recipes.

That should keep you busy and very satisfied for a long time...

 

"baby.. the other, other white meat" - Fat Bastard

 

my mom has a big one she took to cali for their aparment, it's the biggest george foreman grill i've ever seen. it's on a pedestal and measures around ~20" in diameter. still you're right though they don't get hot enough and don't get heat in the same way, carmelized, crispy outsides won't happen. I prefer charcoal, but either way with a real grill the ease of cleanup alone is worth it. her mega foreman was a pain in the *** to clean and the grease catcher pan wasn't big enough and would overflow....onto our kitchen floor or deck.

 

Congrats bro. Do yourself a favor and get the rotisserie kit for the grill. I make various roasts, whole chickens, all sorts of stuff on the rotisserie. dee-*******-liscious

 

I bought a $15 wood chip box for my grill. yum.