What is your "give up" meal?
Tonight I am so tired and beyond burnt out, but instead of spending money on take-out I'm going to cook what I call my "give up" meal, that is food I cook when I want to make something for dinner but I'm too tired and I don't give a crap what it is.
Tonight I'm making frozen chicken cordon bleu, brown rice and roasted carrots and broccoli.
What are some of your "give up" meals?
Add a comment:
Previewing your comment:
HTML Hints
Some HTML is OK: <a href="URL">link</a>, <strong>strong</strong>, <em>em</em>
Comment Guidelines
Post whatever you want, just keep it seriously about eats, seriously. We reserve the right to delete off-topic or inflammatory comments. Learn more at our Comment Policy page.
If you see something not so nice, please, report an inappropriate comment.
Start Talking!
Need a question answered? Have advice to share? Start a Talk topic now!
Sign up to get your questions answered and share advice.
79 Comments:
I chop up whatever I have on hand for a pasta sauce, usually shallot, garlic, a tomato, parm, cream or wine, basil and a chipotle pepper. mix with vermecelli & serve it with a fried skinny steak seasoned with just salt & pepper. It's fast, yummy and comforting.
mrstkach at 3:15PM on 03/26/09
Beef stew and bisquick bicuits, and it will last alllllll week
Grilled veg salad with a side of black beans and rice,
Any kind of casserole (aha if im really lazy)
hungrychristel at 3:16PM on 03/26/09
Pasta and sauce out of a jar, or eggs and toast.
Embackus at 3:22PM on 03/26/09
Oh, this is easy. I could be any one of the following:
Cereal & Milk
Oatmeal
Hummus & Pita (the only "store bought" hummus I will buy is Sabra)
Reheated leftovers
And finally -
Boil spaghetti in salted water.
Crack 2 eggs into a steel bowl, beat the egg with a pinch of S&P.
Drain spaghetti and immediately dump it into the bowl, mixing furiously.
Add grated parmesan cheese and continue mixing furiously.
Eat out of the same bowl where it was mixed.
therealchiffonade at 3:22PM on 03/26/09
I usually have homemade things in the freezer, but the easiest is some form of pasta. I've always got some kind of dried noodle in the pantry and most of the time there's frozen ravioli, too, so I've got those choices, and there's usually spaghetti sauce in freezer. And there's always some frozen veg as well.
By the time I have the water boiling for noodles, I'm usually out of my funk enough to make a quick salad, because I love salad with pasta.
Or...I've usually got tamales. Quite often I have refried beans in the freezer, too.
It's a little easier in the summer, because then I've usually got fresh tomatoes and I can make a sauce in the time it takes the noodles to boil.
dbcurrie at 3:22PM on 03/26/09
i always keep a container of pesto in the freezer and make pasta. sometimes if its in season and i'm feeling alittle sporting, i add some squash from the garden... thats ALWAYS my "i give up" meal... its quick, easy, filling, and tasty!
i've also been known to eat some frozen pizza...............
hungrygrl7 at 3:45PM on 03/26/09
something frozen from trader joes -- or pasta pomodoro. onions and tomatoes simmered in olive oil, boil pasta at the same time, dump al dente pasta in the pan, stir, done.
megannesta at 3:47PM on 03/26/09
I always mean to stockpile dinners in the mea for such an occasion, but I never seem to get around to it. These are my go-to "give up" meals (and they're just as boring as you might expect):
Omelet and toast
Canned soup and toast
Pasta and jarred pasta sauce
Couscous with chopped salad on top (cucumber, tomato, red onion, dressing)
If I'm feeling extra exhausted, the "meal" might just be cheese and crackers and pepper jelly.
Junie at 3:51PM on 03/26/09
Bertolli Dinners in a bag -- 10 minutes from Freezer to Plate. I'm not just sucking up to one of SE's advertisers either. SERIOUSLY good, seriously fast.
TeriN at 3:52PM on 03/26/09
Oatmeal or cereal
Canned tuna/salmon with teriyaki sauce
Canned soup
Spaghetti with either jarred sauce or olive oil, garlic powder, pre-grated parmesan, and if I have them, pine nuts
This happens a lot to me actually...
cycorider at 3:55PM on 03/26/09
I usually have a good amount of food in the freezer, as I always cook more than I ever need. That said, for the times when even opening the freezer and unwrapping something demands more effor than I'm willing to expend, I generally go for whole grain toast w/peanut or cashew or almond butter. I can't count the number of times that was dinner.
chisai at 3:55PM on 03/26/09
mrstkatch - thats your give up meal? that sounds like nice cooking to me!
My giveup meal is usually frozen bagel bites, blintzes, pierogies or Chinese takeout.
Hillary
Chew on That at 3:56PM on 03/26/09
Scrambled eggs and frozen hashbrowns.
chardonnay at 4:07PM on 03/26/09
something starchy - baked potato, rice, pasta, tortilla
something green - steamed frozen broccoli or green beans, salad
some protein - grated cheese, scrambled eggs, canned beans, canned salmon or tuna
and a big glass of wine!
charlottey at 4:13PM on 03/26/09
pasta with brown butter, an egg fried in that brown butter, and some ham and/or frozen peas if i have it around. Throw in a bowl, top with parmesan and a splash of balsamic vinegar.
andshewas at 4:18PM on 03/26/09
or, a frozen pizza.
andshewas at 4:19PM on 03/26/09
rice (I keep individual portions of cooked rice in the freezer) + avocado + wasabi + soy sauce + nori + toasted sesame seeds.
hmw0029 at 4:37PM on 03/26/09
Wow, you are all super motivated.
I like to make brinner when I'm lazy - eggs and toast, pancakes, etc.
Or soup and grilled cheese sandwiches.
Or couscous with whatever veggie I have on hand and a can or two of chicken...
lo82070 at 4:44PM on 03/26/09
Frozen container of my pasta sause, box of Barilla. Salad du jour, frozen W loaf from Wegmans. So easy even a child could do it.
JerzeeTomato at 4:49PM on 03/26/09
I always keep a 1lb bag of cooked shrimp (21-25) in the freezer. It thaws quickly in cool water. I consider the cocktail sauce my vegetable and I'll have Jell-o rice pudding as my starch.
thegoch at 4:49PM on 03/26/09
Cheese, crackers and olives with a glass of wine--
scamble eggs and toast--
bagel with veggie cream cheese--
buttered egg noodles with chives and lots of salt and pepper--
Nuked veggies with a squeeze of lemon and garlic powder on whole wheat toast with melted cheese for a somewhat healthy open faced sandwich.
dhorst at 4:53PM on 03/26/09
eggs (usually poached, sometimes scrambled, occasionally fried) with either roasted veggies (usually broccoli and cauliflower, brussel sprouts if I have them) or sauteed greens. That was dinner last night! (Except I had a bit more motivation than that so did BOTH roasted sprouts and sauteed kale (couldnt decide) with a side of Bittman's soy-sauce-and-scallions savory oatmeal. Goes great with poached eggs.
Cebca at 5:00PM on 03/26/09
Grilled cheese or quesadillas, depending upon if we still have bread left. Sauteed frozen vegetables with garlic, S&P.
PestoGal at 5:03PM on 03/26/09
I have a few of these...
A mug of cereal and a slice of cheese
two toasts with egg-less mayo
a boiled/steamed potato mashed with olive oil and garlic salt
a sandwich of whatever cheese I have, lettuce and tomato
boxed risotto from Target - I add some extra cheeses to "wake-it up"
MadelynRodriguez at 5:14PM on 03/26/09
toast with melted cheese
frozen tortellini or pasta cooked in broth
tuna salad sammich
sadly, this post has made me realize that I give up fairly frequently.
sixsonnets at 5:16PM on 03/26/09
Gosh, you people are making me feel very lame: half of your so-called give-up meals are as or more ambitious than my regular ones. Really giving up, in my world, means, at best, eggs and toast; if I'm less lucky, just toast; and if it's been a really long day, a glass of wine and then bed.
annatr at 5:46PM on 03/26/09
My give up has always been a grilled cheese with tomato soup. It's comforting and familiar but I usually mix it up by getting a fire roasted tomato soup of some sort and using artisan bread and cheese. Adding a little pesto, some herbs, curry powder, red curry or what ever delicious flavorant I have on hand makes it more special.
canne at 6:36PM on 03/26/09
roasted broccoli with some spices.
rice or rice sticks with scallions and sriracha.
pasta with garlic and oil and chiles.
foodphilo at 6:42PM on 03/26/09
fried eggs or omelet and "casamiento" (thats what we call rice and beans: "wedding").
Grilled cheese and tomato sandwich
Soup and sandwich
chanita at 6:58PM on 03/26/09
mine is normally just pasta with jarred sauce and some parm or cheddar on it. Or Popcorn. Sometimes popcorn for dinner just hits the spot.
Alm25 at 7:07PM on 03/26/09
cheddar, avocado grilled in a tortilla with a splash of hot sauce.....
pooch at 8:53PM on 03/26/09
Grilled cheese and tomato soup
Frozen leftovers
Brinner (for all you non-Srubs-fans), that's breakfast for dinner
beth1 at 9:03PM on 03/26/09
Veggie burgers and SteamFresh broccoli
Salad with every veggie I can find, feta cheese and xv olive oil & balsamic vin
Brown sugar cinnamon oatmeal with a sliced banana
Can of soup
An Amy's frozen meal or Kashi vegetarian meal
And when I'm SO burnt out? Wine, my boyfriend and some cheese, grapes and crackers. Notice the order, LOL :)
sweethunibabi at 9:57PM on 03/26/09
a big plate of spaghetti with lots and lots of butter and parmesan.
or eggs and toast.
cybercita at 10:15PM on 03/26/09
Never give up. Never surrender.
Name that movie.
I don't know I usually just throw something together depending on my mood and what is in the house. I have to say, it's different everytime.
wookie at 11:06PM on 03/26/09
@wookie - Galaxy Quest!:-)
I also don't have a "regular" meal for when I'm tired (although when I was single, I'd just grab a slice of bread with whatever or have some cheese, fruit and wine). I always have plenty of homemade meals in the freezer, so I can always find something there. But normally, I'm a planner - I pretty much plan our meals for several days ahead, so I take into account "heavy work" days, too, and cook/plan accordingly.
Unless, of course, I fall ill and don't feel like cooking and eating altogether. Then my OH goes shopping in the freezer.
brooke29 at 12:49AM on 03/27/09
When my family is around it's sesame shrimp & rice. Thank heavens for frozen raw shrimp.
If it's just me I cook some pasta then drown it in Jade Peanut Sauce sold at Williams Sonoma. Then make it even more tongue-scalding by adding red pepper flakes....
When I've REALLY REALLY given up it's a bowl of cereal.
carhoff at 4:07AM on 03/27/09
normally pasta. its just so darn easy. two nights ago i got back into town after having flown to D.C. and back for a job interview all in the same day. i was exhausted but starving (airport food is a no-no imo) so i made fettuccine with a pesto cream sauce (i.e. pesto, heavy cream and a little parm all melted together). took me like 15 minutes tops and was just what i needed on a chilly, rainy night.
vanillapudding99 at 5:50AM on 03/27/09
@peony-Wow, for someone who is tired you sure make a feast. Would like to know what you make when you are energized. Anyways I usually make a sandwich, eat leftovers, heat up canned soups or make eggs and toast.
pjracz10 at 7:35AM on 03/27/09
If its just me I go with a protein shake with 1/2 a frozen bannana if SO is home I pull the sauce out of the freezer and cook some pasta along with the salad.
huneybumper at 7:43AM on 03/27/09
-Fried Egg on top of rice w. soy sauce (lately, the Trader Joe's sprouted brown rice with the seaweed seasoning packet)
-Cereal
-Pasta with butter, peccorino and black pepper
ceebee at 8:05AM on 03/27/09
My give up meal takes 5 minutes from water in the pan to eating.
Cook up some ramen noodles. Drain the water, add raw egg, flavor packet, crushed red pepper seeds, and Parmesan cheese.
joeqboo at 8:57AM on 03/27/09
put some bread under the grill toast, both sides.
Once toasted spread some grated cheese on top of one side of the bread.
Place bread with grated cheese carefully back under the grill
Once cheese is melted removed from the grill and serve with ketchup to taste
jameslester78 at 9:51AM on 03/27/09
one box of Thin Spaghetti
One block of cream of spinach
One giant can of chopped tomatoes with juice
Sriracha hot chili sauce
Italian seasoning
garlic powder
Cook spaghetti according to directions, put aside. nuke cream of spinach add to pot, add tomatoes with juice, squeeze some sriracha in (to taste, i like mine spicy) big ishakes of italian seasoning and garlic powder. Heat till boiling, add noodles stir and serve.
CATERPILLARGIRL at 10:28AM on 03/27/09
umm...
leftovers?
veggieout at 10:40AM on 03/27/09
Scrambled eggs and toast, or pb&j on whole wheat :) Unless I have something yummy from Trader Joe's in the freezer, or any kind of leftovers in the fridge.
CookiePie at 11:54AM on 03/27/09
@TeriN - I agree! When we rent our condo at Folly Beach, S.C., we usually eat out and enjoy all the fresh seafood that is available and all the fantastic barbeque that is everywhere in the South. Sometimes, though, it is too HOT to move, so we make up a pitcher of Sangria and open up a bag of Bertolli and low and behold - a delicious meal, even in our lethargy! I have been looking in Canada for, "Bertolli," but I believe it must be sold under the name of "Knorr," if any Cannucks wish to try it. It is worth having a bag or two in the freezer for emergencies.
bareneed at 12:24PM on 03/27/09
Pasta, canned peeled tomatoes whizzed in the blender, and a few dabs of ricotta if I'm feelin' fancy.
Kerosena at 12:35PM on 03/27/09
Omelet with whatever I've got--cheese, bits of ham, chives--or plain. Can of V-8 for the veg serving.
FoodieSearching at 1:09PM on 03/27/09
My dad's "special" hamburger -- crumbled ground beef cooked with worcestershire sauce and melted cheese. Sometimes with a salad. Or precooked chicken sausages heated on the Foreman grill.
http://www.savour-fare.com
Savour at 1:52PM on 03/27/09
Black beans and rice with a fried egg on top. Sour cream and hot sauce if you want to get all fancy about it.
meglo91 at 2:33PM on 03/27/09
Oh man.. bareneed a condo on Folly Beach: now that sounds good right now. We're Sunset and Wrightsville NC peeps - give me some shrimp right off the boat and some boiling water and i'm set!
Sangria would be an AWESOME addition to that Bertolli bag!
Ok.. my "give up" meal when it requires assembly:
Brinner (LOVE THAT name) makes my husband happy and grilled cheese and tomato soup for me!
TeriN at 2:39PM on 03/27/09
Cereal, morning noon and night.
But if I am not so burned about making things, I make pasta i oglio (I might have written that wrong) which is just pasta in garlic oil. Boil up whatever noodles I have, sautee some garlic in olive oil, add some more garlic and salt and red pepper flakes and canned parsley and toss together.
inothernews at 3:40PM on 03/27/09
beans on toast! :)
Aclunney at 4:26PM on 03/27/09
Ramyun, definitely; with an egg if there is one.
bionicgrrrl at 6:23PM on 03/27/09
Omelettes/scrambled eggs with whatever I have in the fridge that can be put together flavour wise. If I'm making it, it's more like scrambled eggs. If I'm really lazy and con the husband into putting it together for me ;) it's all pretty and folded of an omelette.
JJLoa at 7:08PM on 03/27/09
oatmeal
Aynsl156 at 7:21PM on 03/27/09
i boil some water water, add broccoli, carrots & peppers (bought pre-cut from the supermarket), and add a packet of cup a soup, the eat it with bread.
Wait, that's not my give up meal, that's what I always eat. Can you tell I'm a student living alone?
nindi_18 at 9:18PM on 03/27/09
Frozen pork and veggie dumplings. Just dump them in boiling water, and eat.
Sweetie at 10:08PM on 03/27/09
Fried rice, cause I usually always have leftover rice on hand. I just dump whatever veggies I have on hand with a couple of beaten eggs.
jo_wang at 10:46PM on 03/27/09
old frozen burritos and dumplings I've made for tired times. Or lentils and rice and curry-ish spices, maybe with a fried egg (mmm!).
rabbitry at 11:51PM on 03/27/09
create -a-ramen soup... ramen noodles, half the spice packet, frozen veggies, and an egg.
blizcheetah at 12:29AM on 03/28/09
Biscuits and Gravy (frozen Mary B's biscuits and homemade beef sausage gravy) or else some other breakfast thing....eggs and turkey bacon or turkey bacon and pancakes....I don't know but I like to cook breakfast when I'm feeling lazy.
elderberry44 at 5:05PM on 03/28/09
New fave - toasted frozen ravioli. Just boil water, cook the ravs for a few minutes and then toss them in a bit of oil in a hot pan until crispy. Sometimes I finish it off with a splash of soy sauce for added salt.
Yummy, lowfat (I use an oil spray), and mildly nutritious...
TheCheapChick at 11:16PM on 03/28/09
mmm roasted carrots and broccoli.. yum.
my give up meal usually is an broccoli-egg scramble (eggs, garlic, broccoli, butter, salt) w/ toast or whatever bread i have. dump in a pan, scramble and while thats heating up pop something in the toaster. and wait. :]
fadedvariable at 3:22AM on 03/29/09
pasta with jarred sauce, frozen meatballs if I have them
DH won't let me make my mom's "give up" meal, which I consider the best of all time: hard boiled egg, popcorn, and chocolate ice cream. I ate this at least once a month growing up and I think I turned out OK!!!
cowprintrabbit at 4:07AM on 03/29/09
In my 20's, it was a bowl of Lucky Charms and a beer.
In my 40's, it's a bowl of Kashi and a Xanax.
I don't think I've come very far!
serious1 at 6:23AM on 03/29/09
Instant noodles ^_^
Zelnox at 9:30AM on 03/29/09
@thecheapchick: I tried the fried ravioli thing! So good, thanks!
nindi_18 at 1:57PM on 03/29/09
Cold cereal and milk--is there anything easier?
miminqueens at 3:51PM on 03/29/09
Nachos. Tortilla chips from the bag topped with decent salsa and shredded mozzarella and perhaps black beans, toasted.
On top of a salad if I want to make it healthy... and if there's avos in the house, that's great.
emilydev at 4:44PM on 03/29/09
I think my "give up" meals would be less complicated if I wasn't cooking for someone else. I'm fine with peanut butter spread on something, or a bowl of popcorn, but DH deserves a decent meal. Unless I've broken an important limb or I'm really sick, I'm going to cook him a meal and not expect him to eat a bowl of cereal. Leftovers, sure. Simple meals, sure. Something from the freezer, no problem. There's always something I can whip together in little time.
dbcurrie at 5:20PM on 03/29/09
That's an important distinction, dbcurrie: those who have to cook for others and those who don't.
miminqueens at 5:36PM on 03/29/09
Bread.
StarryRose at 1:30AM on 03/30/09
Chili Mac (one can chili w/ beans, one package mac & cheese, prepared according to package directions, combine, douse with hot sauce, I ate this ATE least once a week growing up) or if I don't even have the energy for that culinary masterpiece, sunny side up eggs and instant grits mixed in a bowl with salt and pepper.
Christian95 at 3:01AM on 03/30/09
There are lots of times when I would like to give up and eat cereal or popcorn, but I've got three other mouths to feed and two of them still need to learn about eating decent meals. But, wait: cereal and popcorn aren't all that different from my usual give-up meal -- spaghetti with grated cheese. Maybe the kids really need to learn about giving up in style.
Fiksu at 9:29AM on 03/30/09
Anything frozen or canned.
cochon at 3:03PM on 03/30/09
Boxed Linguine and Classico sauce, Pilsbury Pop n' Loaf and Pepperoncini & Gardineria...Pretty sure we're having it tonight!
sammie at 3:52PM on 03/30/09
Funny you should ask, because that's what's happening at our house tonight. My husband just whipped up a batch of his 3-bean salad, which features a balsamic/onion vinaigrette. Just open the right cans and there you are. Whoever doesn't want 3-bean salad is getting leftover moros y cristianos and broccoli/cauliflower with toasted sunflower seeds (also left over). Or eggs and hashbrowns/toast. Or a cheese sandwich.
Junie:
Yeah, I tried the "Cook for a month in one day" shtik when I went back into the workforce some years ago. What a pain – I was worn out after a week's dinners, and how often can you buy a month's groceries at once? I finally figured out that you could get out of cooking every other night if you do this:
For one week, cook nothing but family favorites and double all the main dish recipes. Freeze half and eat half. Continue thereafter – but only 3 or 4 nights a week. The other nights, eat freezer stash.
I could go for some frozen veg. with garlic and butter - that's a great idea.
gentlyferal at 11:04PM on 03/30/09