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Wednesday, June 20, 2007 5:37 PM

No-cook meal ideas?

Q: We’re in the process of moving and clearing out our cupboards, and it’s been super hot. So I’m not really in the mood for cooking—much less shopping for tons of ingredients, or cleaning. Any ideas for a hot weather meal that requires little to no prep?

A: Besides ordering take-out from the local Chinese joint? Kidding. (Kind of.) I’ve moved more times than I care to remember, and when there are boxes piled up (or there’s a heat wave on) I’m a big believer in cheese and crackers for dinner—but fancy-ed up a little, like the French do, or the more rustic British Ploughman’s Lunch.

The best part is, you don’t have to touch your stove. Just grab your biggest wooden cutting board and a bottle of wine, and you’re halfway there. Dig up whatever bits and ends of cheese you have left in the refrigerator, including cream cheese. Round up a nice loaf of bread or crackers, then scrounge around for condiments. Mustard, chutney, pickles, olives, cocktail onions, pepper jelly—you probably have about 800 little jars, containers and bottles of condiments lining the door and shelves of your refrigerator, and you never realized how good they are schmeared on bread with cheese. Now’s you’re chance to get rid of them. Blue cheese is great with honey and most jams, including fig. Cheddar is awesome with chutney. Cream cheese is especially flexible, and works with just about any sweet, spicy or savory condiment. Add a hard, cured meats or a pate—including braunschweiger or liverwurst, a.k.a. the poor man’s pate—to the board. And, finally, throw down some raw fruits and vegetables—carrots, apples, celery, grapes, radishes (my current favorite), pears, cucumber.

It might not sound like a hearty meal for you and your DH, but this type of snibbly dinner has kept the peace in our house whenever it’s too hot to think, pack or cook.

My second runner up is this Veggie Clubhouse. I blend pesto into the cream cheese and add cold cuts or bacon if we’re feeling carnivorous.

What's your favorite no-cook meal?

Posted by Nest Colleen
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Comments

re: No-cook meal ideas?

I have long been gathering no-cook meal ideas.

Pizza (out of the box- like 5 bucks- which is cheaper than ordering one)

Pre-made hoagies at your local supermarket, and grab a bag of chips

Salads from a salad bar at your local food market

Soup always works- and you can throw it in the microwave....

My fiance' likes those Lipton noodle packs and makes them himself sometimes.

Crock-pot meals like Marie Callendars, if you have your crockpot out

Sometimes I declare "snack food" night and throw a bunch of munchies in the oven like mozzerella sticks, potato skins, chicken fingers/popcorn chicken, jalepeno poppers, wings

(Not ALL of these but 2 or 3 choices. Adds a fun new spin to dinner!)

Hope some of these help. =)

LL

Posted by Posted by LaraLadd    Monday, September 17, 2007 9:33 AM


re: No-cook meal ideas?

These sounds like great ideas for me, but I would love to see the the look on my husband's face when I told him we were having cheese and crackers for dinner. Definately would not fly.

Posted by Posted by StacyS444    Saturday, October 20, 2007 4:38 PM


re: No-cook meal ideas?

So in the freezer section they have these bags that have pasta, veggies, and meat in a type of sauce that you just throw in a bowl and microwave.  I know it's a little bit of cooking, but you really can't get easier than that AND it's filling (sometimes you are HUNGRY and cheese and crackers just don't cut it).  Stouffers and Birds Eye are just a couple of makers of these, check in the frozen veggie aisle!

Posted by Posted by meetmow    Saturday, November 10, 2007 10:51 AM


re: No-cook meal ideas?

It may be a little cooking, but throw a chicken breast on the george foreman, and whip up a salad. Toss together with some dressing and it is an easy and fast dinner!

Posted by Posted by 060708Bride    Thursday, December 13, 2007 6:00 PM


re: No-cook meal ideas?

Flat bread pizza! For the vegetables, you can use a combination of broccoli, carrots, red onion, yellow summer squash, mushrooms, and bell peppers. Chop finely and toss vegetables with salt, pepper, olives and lemon peel. Spread garlic and herb or regular cream cheese over each flatbread and top with vegetable mixture. Add left over chicken if you have it! Sprinkle each with cheddar and havarti cheeses. Toast or eat cold. Yum!

Posted by Posted by Ashleighl    Saturday, December 22, 2007 5:36 AM


re: No-cook meal ideas?

tuna pasta salad. all the cooking you have to do is boiling the pasta.

other than that really any salad will do. they are quick and rel. low maintainance!

Posted by Posted by hisnhers    Tuesday, January 15, 2008 12:00 AM


re: No-cook meal ideas?

Microwave mac-and-cheese. Sprinkling or shredding other types of cheese on it make it more interesting, and it's always a good fall-back that almost everyone likes. So are Spaghettios, when you get right down to it. If even the microwave isn't an option, we make cold sandwiches.

Posted by Posted by Koneko    Thursday, February 21, 2008 5:55 PM


re: No-cook meal ideas?

I tell ya girls, the George Foreman Grill is the best invention.  We also received a quesadillas maker for a wedding gift.  It's very simple, trust me, I'm no chief! Two flour tortillas, place one on the bottom of the machine, add some shredded cheese, and salsa (or whatever else you like),  place the other tortilla on top.  Close, ready is five minutes. Very easy clean up as well!!!!!  I also tend to save extra sauce we get from fast-food rest., so I use our left over Taco Bell sauce! :) I believe the brand is Santa Fe.

Posted by Posted by Jess61584    Thursday, May 08, 2008 12:43 PM


Making dinner when it’s too hot to cook?

There are days when turning on the stove, even to make a pot of coffee , makes me cringe. And as much

Posted by Posted by Dinner    Wednesday, June 11, 2008 10:44 AM


re: No-cook meal ideas?

COOK IN BULK!!  My husband and I are really working on eating healthier, on a night I DO feel like cooking I make a lot (fish, chicken, pasta dishes, etc.)  You can put most anything in air-tight containers for up to four days, or pre-portion stuff and freeze it--they make great microwave dinners!

Posted by Posted by breezybridemc    Wednesday, June 11, 2008 5:26 PM


re: No-cook meal ideas?

These are all great ideas, thanks for sharing them! I am a beginner (at all things that have to do with cooking) and the detailed recipes are a little overwhelming at times. It's nice to know that a Crockpot and George Foreman Grill are good additions to my kitchen. Thanks again!!

Posted by Posted by NWYogaGal    Monday, July 21, 2008 11:30 AM


re: No-cook meal ideas?

Dice a ripe tomato or two, an onion & a green pepper.  Add a can of black beans and either a can of sweet corn or the equivalent in frozen corn.  Add chili powder, garlic powder, lime juice, pepper & soy sauce.  Toss to combine.  Makes a great side dish, but, it would do for dinner in a pinch.

Posted by Posted by belovedbright    Friday, July 25, 2008 12:58 PM


re: No-cook meal ideas?

I live in Phoenix and it is sometimes 110 degrees. I make taco salads when it is really hot. On top of lettuce I put rinsed beans, frozen, defrosted corn, and shredded cheese. Top it off with salsa and sour cream.

Posted by Posted by krystalgus    Tuesday, July 29, 2008 5:00 PM


re: No-cook meal ideas?

We'll do cheese and crackers and cold-cuts and hummus and my husband loves it - as long as I let him pick the ingredients!

Our usual would be (garlic or tomato basil) wheat thins, (garlic, plain, or sesame) bagel crisps, pepper-jack, sharp cheddar, honey ham, salami, and (roasted red pepper or garlic) hummus.

The trick is variety - and only picking one option in garlic. Works great with any types of cheese, meat, bread, and spread. For something a little heartier, get the meat cut extra thick, or dice a chunk into squares. Grab a loaf of fresh bread (something fun, not just a boring baguette) and get a spreadable cheese. It can actually be a bit pricey when go crazy in the fancy bread and cheese sections, but it's so much fun picking out the food and eating it with a bottle of wine.

Posted by Posted by Faerievert    Thursday, August 14, 2008 1:25 AM


re: No-cook meal ideas?

For a nice no cook meal, how about a tuna salad stuffed tomato served with some club crackers. The tuna salad can be as simple as drained flaked Albacore tuna Add a dollop of mayo,  some chopped onion and chopped pickles.  If you want to cut down on the chopping time, Pickle relish will substitute for the chopped pickles.

Posted by Posted by kybridalservice    Thursday, August 28, 2008 1:50 AM


re: No-cook meal ideas?

My mom actually suggested this, and my fiance and I have it all the time: You take your favorite frozen dinner of mac and cheese, (like lean cuisine) peel back the cover, add frozen peas, cook it according to package directions, add a half can of tuna and salsa. It ends up tasting like tuna noodle casserole. It's very comforting, and quite healthy, if you watch the sodium in the fro dinner.

Posted by Posted by rae.alyssa    Tuesday, September 23, 2008 4:46 PM


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