Meal plan for those who don't like to cook

One of my older sisters hates to cook; says she will only use a 2 item recipe. I told her the only recipe I could think of was, (1) Open can, (2) Eat. She was only slightly amused. She lives out of the deli area of the local super market.

This month's Family Circle has a cover featuring no cook meals. Think the cover photo was a fruit salad on a skewer. May be of interest to many. Didn't peruse it cuz my time at the supermarket cashier came up.

We eat pretty much the same as we do at home. We grill all our meats, and I will put flank steak or tri tip and marinade in zip bags and freeze. Then defrost overnite in the fridge to marinate. We like grilled chicken wings basted with Bone Suckin Sauce or just tossed liberally with salt, pepper and garlic powder. I also Sous Vide pork chops, chicken breasts and steaks ahead of time (they are vacuum sealed) and then freeze. All they need to finish is to defrost and put them on a hot grill for a minute or two on each side.

For salad I usually make a large potato or macaroni salad before we go. I also take bagged salad greens, cucumbers and tomatoes. We sometimes grill a chicken breast, slice up and add to salad fixings for a complete meal.

I keep pancake mix in the RV for pancakes and waffles. I also take frozen biscuits and Sticky Fingers scone mixes. I bake them on the Weber Q by putting them in two stacked pie pans so they won't burn on the bottom. Also take Jiffy corn bread mix and put it in a pie pan over another pan and bake on the grill.
We cook sausage links and bacon (on a griddle) on our grill too. I usually make sausage gravy one morning for breakfast, and we keep cereal and oatmeal in the pantry. Also always have a loaf of sourdough for grilled garlic bread and French toast for breakfasts.

I like to buy corn, melons, berries, peaches etc at fruit stands if we know there will be some where we are going. Otherwise, I take them with us from home.

I find we rarely snack and usually only eat two meals...late breakfast and then dinner. I do keep popcorn, nuts, cookies, salami, sliced cheeses and crackers on hand for when we do want a snack. A special treat is baked caramel corn which I'll make ahead of time and put into plastic bags.

I like cold dinner plates sometimes. Cold thick ham, potato salad, slice tomatoes, and corn bread and buttermilk or iced tea.
Maybe some saurkraut.

Just fed 4 teens & me on this tonight & it was quick & simple.

In skillet, heat up 2 bags of precooked fajita mix (diced chicken, onions, peppers) plus 1/2 bag of just precooked chicken strips. In pan prepare 2 packages of Spanish or Mexican rice. Set out tortillas, shredded cheese, sour cream, & picante sauce. Took 20 minutes to heat up & we all devoured it!

Can also heat up a can of refried beans to go with.

Thank you Microwave.I don't mind cooking, but cooking for one is work. I also do most of my cooking outdoors. I cook enough spaghette or grilled meats for 5 or 6 meals. Eat one meal, refrigerate several, and freeze some.

As a single RVer, I find that a six pack and a nickel bag of peanuts makes the perfect seven course meal after a long day of driving. :)

SPAGHETTI PIE 8 0z spaghetti, coooked, drained 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese 1 egg, lightly beaten 1 lb. gound beef, cooked, drained 2 cups spaghetti sauce 1 pkg.(8 oz) shredded mossarella cheese TOSS cooked spaghetti, parmesan cheese and egg. Place in 9 inch pie plate. Press along bottom and sides to form crust. MIX cooked meat and spaghetti sauce. Spread meat mixture over spaghetti crust. Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese. BAKE at 350 for 30 minutes or until thoroughly heated. Let stand 5 minutes before cutting into wedges. Makes 8 servings. You can make up ahead of time and freeze. I have done this before and I also cook mine in the microwave.

We try and prepare as much ahead of time as possible. Much of it can be warmed in microwave. What we do cook is all done on the grill and easy to fix.

While I don't like to cook, I love to bake. And my family loves to eat what I bake. Hence the freezing (so they can't get their paws on it until I want them to!).

And thanks to whoever mentioned waffles. Gotta make a big batch of those (sometimes I buy frozen ones) since I can do that while I bake.

Happy clamping (and eating)!