With so many offices returning to work, you and your family probably have to return to your previous schedules, which means you reach home tired and still need to make dinner, either for yourself or for your family.
Instead of resorting to frozen dinners or take out every night, you can make a delicious and nutritious dinner quickly. How quickly? Every recipe in this article takes just 15 minutes to cook and that’s including prep time.
Most of the recipe suggestions provide such an easily prepared meal that your teen can handle the cooking duties at least one night per week. Our choices also include minimal ingredients that don’t ruin your food budget, plus they’re bursting with taste and nutrition. Read on to learn the top choices for quick and easy meals.
Steak and Asparagus Stir-fry
Combine the asparagus and sliced red bell pepper with strips of Aleph Farms steak. Stir-fried in soy sauce and served with jasmine rice, this takes just minutes to prepare. Pick up jasmine rice in a pouch, so you can microwave the rice while you stir-fry the entrée.
Steak, Watercress, and Pear Salad
The Thai people know that beef belongs in salads, too. This beef salad takes a French twist on the Thai traditional salad. Slice pears, tear watercress and slice pre-cooked steak. Toss together and top with a light vinaigrette. Serve it with crusty bread, such as a loaf of sourdough or French bread.
Chinese Steak, Vegetables, and Rice Noodles
In a pinch, you can substitute ramen for rice noodles. They cost less and you can easily microwave them as you cook the rest of the meal. Combine the stewed tomatoes and onions with the seared steak to top the noodles. Use traditional Chinese five-spice to flavor the meat.
Steak and Potatoes
Pan fry your choice of steak cuts. Pair the steaks with potatoes one of two ways – frozen mashed potatoes or baked potatoes. The trick is to prepare the potatoes in the microwave to reduce the cooking time. They finish by the time you have fried the steaks. Top the potatoes with mushroom gravy. The entire meal takes just 15 minutes to cook.
Grilled Flank Steak with Broccoli in Horseradish Butter
Maybe you’re already drooling over this one. Steam your broccoli in the microwave while you grill your steaks. You blend horseradish with butter or margarine in a saucepan or in a container in the microwave.
Planning the Week’s Meals
You don’t have to eat the same thing every day to save money on your grocery bill. You can buy tasty meats and vegetables in bulk. Divide them into smaller packages when you reach home, so you can easily defrost only what you need for each meal.
You save money when you buy in bulk and with menu planning, you extend your menu choices. For an item like steak, for example, you can prepare numerous ways. You can serve it as filets, cubed, sliced, ground, etc. By choosing a recipe from a different culture for each night of the week, you provide yourself with a versatile menu that lets you eat well every night without taking up much cooking time.
