I Need Easy Recipes

Updated on April 10, 2008
N.A. asks from Valley, AL
21 answers

Well...i am 21 years old and I lived at home with my parents until two weeks before I had my daughter. My mom done everything for cooked cleaned you name it she did it. Which i thought at the time was great but turns out it wasnt so great cause once i moved out i didnt know how to wash clothes or cook or anything. Well when i moved out with my boyfriend and the father of my daughter we moved in a small one bedroom apartment on my mothers property so basically we eat at her house alot the only time we really eat at home is if my boyfriend grills. We have just bought a house and its about 30 mins away from my mothers house so i cant keep depending on her to cook anymore. I need some good recipes that are easy to make I want to be able to cook good meals for my family but i have just never had to cook before and dont know but a few things to cook and i know my family gets tired of eatting the same thing over and over. If anyone knows any easy things i could fix i would really be greatful thanks in advance!

What can I do next?

  • Add yourAnswer own comment
  • Ask your own question Add Question
  • Join the Mamapedia community Mamapedia
  • as inappropriate
  • this with your friends

Featured Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.H.

answers from Montgomery on

I just found a great new website www.menu4moms.com they have an entire week (Mon thru Fri)of dinner recipes. They also include a grocery list you can print out so you know what all you'll need at the store. The keep all the recipes in archives so you can browse through and get more menus.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.D.

answers from Montgomery on

go to www.cooks.com, i like their recipes a lot, they are quick n easy. good luck with cooking. Enjoy!

More Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.G.

answers from Tuscaloosa on

Here's something I do: get the boyfriend to cook. So far its worked for me.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

D.R.

answers from Birmingham on

Here are 3 sites that I use... mealsmatter.com, recipezaar.com, and e-mealz.com. Hope you find something.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

T.W.

answers from Auburn on

Chicken Crescents

1 can crescent rolls
1 pound chicken tenders
1 can cream of chicken soup
Shredded cheese.

Boil chicken until done. Mix chicken with half a can of cream of chicken soup. Roll out crescents individually and place a spoon of chicken in each with cheese as desired. Roll crescents up so that chicken mixture is inside sealing the sides. Place in 13x9 inch casserole dish, spoon remaning cream of chicken soup around the crescent rolls. Bake at 350 until crescents are done (usually around 15-20 minutes).

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

L.S.

answers from Huntsville on

I'm in the same boat! My parents did everything for me - I was the only child. Well, 5 years later after moving out and 3 kids later - my husband still does the main cooking. However, he is in the National Guard so here lately since he's been activated I've had to cook.

Heres some I do:

Chilli Mac:
1 box of Macaroni N Cheese
1 lb. of ground beef or ground turkey(which I use b/c its a little bit healthier)
2-3 tblsp. of Chilli Powder or according to taste

Put the meat in the frying pan on medium to medium high heat and just break it apart with you spatula. Just keep moving it around and about 10 minutes later you'll have browned your meat. Now, put in a strainer and set aside. Cook your Macaroni n Cheese according to directions. When done combine the two. All you need to do then is add some Chilli Powder to taste - I use a lot. Serve with a nice salad or Corn on the Cob - whatever sounds good!

Dessert: Butterfinger Cake

3 Butterfingers
1 jar of Caramel Ice Cream Topping
1 container of Cool Whip
1 can of condensed milk
1 box of Devils Food Cake

Make your cake according to directions -- very easy. Let cool down for at least an hour. While its close to being cooled completely, mix your condensed milk and caramel topping in a big bowl and stir around. Now poke holes all over your cake using a toothpick - you want tons of holes. Pour that mixture on top of the cake. Add your cool whip and then crumble your butterfinger up and pour on top.

Also, I love the hamburger helper meals!

Hope this helps some!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

W.W.

answers from Auburn on

Hey Here is a easy one!

Chicken Pot Pie

pre-heat the oven to 350
deep pan pie crust (frozen section) comes with two
2 cans of chicken: 12.5 oz cans (you can find it by the tuna) make sure you get all the water out before you put it in the mix.
2 cans of cream and potatoe
1 can of cream of chicken
1 can of veg all (dran the water out)

let one pie crust defrost while you are mixing all the items together.
Put mixture into the frozen pie crust then lay the defrosted pie crust on top...then pinch the sides together. (where the ends of the crust meet.

Then put in the oven for about 45 min. untill the crust is brown. (make sure you put the pie on cookie sheet with foil because it will be heavy)

good luck!
W.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

B.B.

answers from Birmingham on

Calls for chicken breast (boneless is easier)
some bisquick
ice cold water

boil your chicken breast with a little salt and pepper and some butter until done.

once done, cool chicken breast (keep the broth boiling!) and cut up, add back to the broth.

then take your cup or two of bisquick mix together with the coldest water you got and mix together.
once mixed, take a small spoon and drop into the broth..

and viola! you have homemade chicken and dumplings the lazy way!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

T.

answers from Birmingham on

A great place to start is on babycenter's web site. There is a board there called cooking for your family and the ladies there are great. There are recipes from beginning to advanced and they review the recipes.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.H.

answers from Birmingham on

N.,
You need a couple of good basic recipe books to get you started. All of Southern Living's books are simple because that is one of their criteria when they select recipes. I have a couple of extra recipe books that I would love to give you to get you started. ( I work for a division of the company so I get extras sometimes). E-mail me privately at ____@____.com and we'll figure out how to get them to you. I have a great cookbook for kids you can use for Cassidy.
I'm in Vestavia. Once you get the hang of the basics in cooking, it gets easier, I promise...
A.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.J.

answers from Jackson on

I was in the same boat as you, I didn't even know how to sort laundry. I can tell you that it does get easier. My first cookbook was a Bells Best (I don't remember the volume, but its the beige one) you can get them at: www.bellsouthpioneers.org/EStoreCookBooks.htm
They have everything you could think of in there. I, also, signed up at www.kraftfoods.com and they send out a mag every 3-4 months with lots of great recipes for that season. Good luck to you!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

D.H.

answers from Birmingham on

The web is a great place to find recipes. Campbell's soup's web site and Kraft's web site have great recipes using typical ingredients that you have at home. I would really recommend that you get a copy of "The Joy of Cooking". It is THE first cook book a person should have. It not only has great simple recipes, but also very practical things like, how to bake a potato, or how to make a pot roast.

Here's my recipe for simple pot roast in a crock pot:

add one beef roast (any type) to the crock pot
also add one packet of dry onion soup mix and
1/2 cup water.

cover, turn crock pot to high, and let it simmer all day.

Blessings,
D.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.H.

answers from Birmingham on

First get a crockpot. You can start things in the morning and they're ready when you get home. Here are 2 really easy recipes for crockpot:
Pot Roast
1 chuck roast (rump roast or whatever)
1 can french onion soup
1 pkg lipton onion soup mix
carrots
potatoes
Put all ingredients in crockpot, veggies on bottom, then roast, then liquid soup, then powdered soup on top of roast. Cover and cook on low 7-10 hours.

Bavarian Meatballs
25-30 frozen meatballs
1 bottle chili sauce (next to cocktail sauce at store)
1 can jellied cranberry sauce
1 can bavarian kraut (regular ok but bavarian is best)
1/2 cup brown sugar
Spaghetti noodles

Put all ingredients, except meatballs and noodles, in crockpot and mix together a little bit (cranberry sauce will still be lumpy. Add meatballs and coer with sauce. Cover crockpot and cook on low 7-10 hours. Cook noodles as directed and serve meatballs over sphaghetti. Doesn't sound that good but it is wonderful - the sauce is sweet and tangy. Meatballs can be made on stovetop in about 45 minutes also. Folllow above recipe but simmer meatballs and sauce covered on stove until they are thawed and completely heated.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.H.

answers from Huntsville on

An easy recipe that I can remember right now is spaghetti. All you have to do is get a package of spaghetti noodles, a jar of Ragu sauce, a jar of Prego sauce, and 1 pound of ground beef. Cook the spaghetti noodles according to the package (Fill a pot about 3/4 full of water, bring to boil on the stove, add spaghetti noodles, let boil for time indicated in directions). While the noodles are cooking, cook the ground beef in a pan on medium heat. As the beef browns, chop it up in small bits. Keep stirring, flipping, & chopping the meat as it cooks so that it doesn't burn. Once all of the meat is browned, pour in the jar of Prego and jar of Ragu sauce. When the noodles are done cooking, pour them into a colander in the sink to drain the water. Put some noodles and some sauce on a plate & you have spaghetti! :)

This has been my dad's favorite food forever, and my daughter likes it too. Your daughter should be able to eat it too if you cut up the noodles for her. :)

Good luck!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.P.

answers from Mobile on

Here is an easy one I just found- and you can add just about anything to it that you want to.

Brown 1 1/2 lbs of hamburger
Put it in a baking dish with a small jar of spaghetti or pizza sauce (the 14 oz jar) and cut up a can of biscuits into quarters. Mix it all together and bake at about 350 for 20 minutes or so. Then put cheddar and mozerella on top and bake it awhile longer til the cheese is melted. It also heats up great it the oven or microwave the next day

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.

answers from Birmingham on

Great thing to have on hand is the pre-cooked grilled chicken (buy it in the freezer section). You can just heat in the microwave to serve over salads, on wraps, and over pasta (buy canned alfredo sauce and you've got a meal). Also, buy the fresh green beans that are already washed and trimmed in a bag in the produce section - directions on the bag tell you how to microwave in the bag, so no pan required :)

As far as easy quick meals when there's no time to cook - you could do wraps with a salad on the side or some chips. Take a flour tortilla, spread with garden vegetable cream cheese, put spinach leaves and ham on top, and then roll tightly - excellent! Or, use the grilled chicken, and add salsa, shredded cheese, and sour cream (optional).

We like taco night - you can buy kits, or just buy the ingredients you like separately. Cook your ground meat, buy a can of refried beans and a package of rice and some tortilla chips and salsa. Put out all the "fixins" (lettuce, tomato, cheese, sour cream, onion, etc) and this is a very easy an quick meal.

Here are a few recipes - I have all my recipes on my computer, so if you like please email me and I'll send more :)

Barbequed (Crock Pot) Chicken
1 chicken, cut up
1 small bottle catsup
1 medium onion, chopped
1 can Coke or Dr. Pepper
salt and pepper

Place ingredients in a crock pot in order listed. Stir once. Turn pot
to low setting and cook overnight. Serve over rice.

Garlic Creamed Chicken
Makes 8 to 10 servings

2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - cut into strips
1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup
1 cup sour cream
1/2 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
2 cloves garlic, minced

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. Place chicken in an ungreased 9x13 inch baking dish. In a medium bowl combine the soup, sour cream, cream cheese and garlic. Mix well and pour mixture over chicken.
3. Bake uncovered in preheated oven for 1 hour.

Western Hash
1 lb ground beef 3 ½ cup canned tomatoes
1 cup chopped green pepper ½ cup onion
½ cup uncooked rice ½ tsp salt
½ tsp basil dash of pepper
½ lb Velveeta cheese, sliced

Brown ground beef. Add other ingredients. Cover and simmer
25 minutes, stirring occasionally. Top with cheese. Heat until melted.

Chicken, Broccoli, and Rice Casserole
½ stick butter
1 (10 oz) frozen chopped broccoli
1/3 cup onion
1 can cream of mushroom soup
½ cup celery
1 cup raw instant rice
1 cup cubed cooked chicken
1 soup can of milk
1 tbsp chopped pimento
1 small jar Cheez Whiz

Melt butter; add onion and celery. Let simmer for 5 minutes. Put
broccoli in boiling salt water to separate (do not cook); drain broccoli.
Mix soup, rice, milk, Cheez Whiz, broccoli, and chicken. Add celery and
onions. Put in 6 ½ by 9” buttered Pyrex dish. Cook 40 minutes covered at
350 degrees, then uncovered for 10 minutes.

Swiss Chicken
1 pkg Swiss cheese, sliced
4-6 boneless chicken breasts
1 can sliced mushrooms
¼ cup Dale’s steak marinade
1/8 cup oil
1/8 cup lemon juice

Marinate chicken in Dale’s, oil, and lemon juice for 30 minutes. Cook
in microwave 4 minutes. Turn and cook another 4 minutes. Cook another
minute if not completely done. Put mushrooms on top of chicken. Top
with cheese. Broil in preheated oven until cheese melts.

Butter Crusted Chicken
1 fryer, cut in pieces 1/3 cup butter, melted
3 tbsp flour 1 tsp salt
½ tsp garlic salt or paprika

Mix flour, salt, and garlic salt or paprika in melted butter. Coat each
piece of chicken with the mixture by brushing it on or using a spoon.
Place in foil-lined pan and bake at 425 degrees for 20 minutes. Reduce
heat to 350 degrees or 325 degrees for an hour.

Creamy Italian Chicken
4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves
1 envelope Italian salad dressing mix
½ cup water
1 package cream cheese, softened
1 can condensed cream of chicken soup, undiluted
1 can mushroom stems and pieces
hot cooked rice or noodles

Place the chicken in slow cooker. Combine salad dressing mix and water; pour over chicken. Cover and cook on low for 3 hours. In a small mixing bowl, beat cream cheese and soup until blended. Stir in mushrooms. Pour over chicken. Cook 1 hour longer or until chicken juices run clear. Serve over rice or noodles.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.W.

answers from Auburn on

Well i am not sure what kind of food you and your boyfriend like...but i am a homemaker and i have twins and i know how hard it is to get a good meal cooked. It is so easy just to pick up Stouffer's Lasagna, Skillet Sensations, and Crock-Pot meals ready to go, but if you are really wanting to cook I have a few that are pretty easy.

Roast (Rump Roast is what i use)
4-5 Small Potatoes
Small Bag of Baby Carrots
Onion

Place Roast in Crock-Pot. Rub Lemon Pepper on the Roast. Pour maybe 1/4 cup Worcestershire on the Roast. Then add water unitl it almost coervs the entire Roast.

Cook on HI for about an hour if you have an hour. If not then just start preparing the rest.

Peel and cut potatoes in 4's. Place in Crock Pot. Chop Onion to desired size pieces and throw those in. Finally just add the Baby Carrots on top.

Cover and cook on HI for 5-6 hours. Then turn on Low until you are ready to eat.

I know it may sound like a lot of work but it really isnt once you have done it a couple of times.

Homeade Beef Stroganoff

Large pack of Steak Tips
Bag of Egg Noodles
Onion
2 Cans of Cream of Mushroom
3 Beef Bullion Cubes (optional)
Small Container of Sour Cream

Use are Large pot if you have one. Sautee chopped onions in butter. If you dont like onions just skip it and use 1-2 tablespoons of onion powder. Take out onions and place on late with a paper towel. Put your steake tips in the same pot and brown them. You can add some salt and pepper for tast. If you are goin to use the beed bullion cubes, place them in a small container with a little bit of water, microwave for a minute and the y will desolve pretty well. Just add to the pot. Once your meat has browned, add your onions back in. Turn heat to almost low. Add your two cans of cream of mushroom. Stir really well. It will all blend together as it heats. You can now put it on Low heat and then just let it simmer covered for about 45 minutes. I am sure this one sounds hard too but they are really just so easy.

Well maybe you can try these two and if you do and like them i have more. Just let me know. I am young and newly married and my husband loves what i cook whether it is awful or Great...he enjoys that i made an effort to try! That is all that should count. Good luck!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.F.

answers from Montgomery on

This recipe is from my husband's grandmother. I always wondered why it was called Poppy Seed Chicken when there are so few poppy seeds and they in fact can be eliminated altogether if you add other seasonings and spices.
This makes a lot!

3-4 lbs of chicken (white, dark, legs, breasts-doesn't matter- your choice)
2 cans cream of chicken soup
2-3 c cooked rice
1 c sour cream
1 sleeve ritz crackers, crushed
1 1/2 sticks butter, melted
2 tsp poppy seeds

Boil chicken (now is a good time to season). When cool cut into bite size pieces(OR pull apart and shred with fingers).(you can use the rice it's optional,we cook it at my house without the rice, just add 1/4 cup of milk to the chicken soup sourcream mix)Cook rice(I season this step too. But be careful that you don't get too much when you add it all together). Mix chicken, rice, sour cream, and soup and place in baking dish. Top with crushed ritz crackers. Pour melted butter on top. Sprinkle on poppy seeds. Bake at 325 for 30-40 minutes.

This is not a dish for those on a diet but it tastes wonderful. Serve with yellow squash and some fresh green beans-yum or canned sweet peas!!

This dish is easy and if your have leftovers it make an awesome midnight snack or lunch the next day.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.G.

answers from Anniston on

You need to invest in a crock pot! I love my crock pot and it is so easy to use and you can leave it on low all day to cook and your food will be ready when you get home. Something easy to fix: Roast (I prefer the sirlon roast)put about 2 cups of water in the bottom of the crock, put your roast in, you can add the canned already cut potatoes or cut some up the night before put in a plastic bag and then put in the next morning, same for canned carrots or fresh. We like to add canned mushrooms and onions. (You can buy frozen onions already cut up if you do not want to use fresh. You do not have to put any seasoning unless you want. Let it cook on low about 8 to 10 hours and it should just fall apart once it is ready to eat. Hope this helps!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.C.

answers from Greensboro on

Here's an easy recipe:
Just get a can of broccoli and cheese soup and some chicken breasts. Put it in a glass dish and cook it at 350 for about 20-30mins . . . I think for that cooking time . . the recipe is on the back of a cambells soup can . . you really don't need to add anything else that they say.
And I also found a great website for subsitutions of ingredients: FOODSUBS.COM

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.D.

answers from Syracuse on

I found this web site. ITs great! www.allrecipies.com
they have everything . . . and if its not exactly what your looking for there is thousands of recipies for everything under the sun!! Good luck!

For Updates and Special Promotions
Follow Us

Related Questions

Related Searches