The Martha Stewart Magazine Everyday Food has been appearing in our mailbox for a few months now. A gift from our mom. And we love it. It's tiny and easy to stuff into a bag for perusing while on the go.
The magazine's tagline is great food fast. And we concur. In every issue we find useful tips, ideas and recipes like Cozy, delicious baked pastas and 5 nights of hearty dinners.
We're passing the inspiration on to one of you. For a free one-year subscription to Everyday Food, leave a comment on this post telling us what your favorite, fallback week night meal is. You know, when you're in a hurry and need something fast that everyone likes. Comment before Tuesday, October 20th at 11pm. We'll choose a winner at random and announce it Wednesday the 21st.
My go-to quickie dinner is spaghetti con sugo di tonno ( http://oddmom.net/2009/10/05/spaghetti-con-sugo-di-tonno/ ). Cooking the whole thing takes just as long as it takes the pasta to cook, and the ingredients are easy to keep on hand. And it is crazy good.
Posted by: Jaz | October 17, 2009 at 12:41 PM
Right now, my go to meals are assembled, rather than made. I hope to change that next year and get back into the kitchen.
Posted by: Melanie @ Mel, A Dramatic Mommy | October 17, 2009 at 01:09 PM
Our quickie meal is chicken sauteed with zucchini, canned tomatoes, artichokes, onions and garlic over whole wheat angel hair, with some parmesan on top.
Sounds like it takes a whole lot longer than it does, especially since you can use canned ingredients for most of it.
Posted by: AndreAnna | October 17, 2009 at 01:09 PM
Thin crust cheese pizza and salad. And if it's been a really crazy day we have a "dinner party" in front of the TV!
Posted by: Jen K | October 17, 2009 at 01:19 PM
I like by myself, so my fallback meals tend to be odd mixes like hummus, cheese, crackers, pistachios, and a beer. Very healthy! If I actually make something, I will do pasta with chicken or hot Italian sausage and whatever sauce I have open.
Posted by: Marie | October 17, 2009 at 02:10 PM
My go-to dinner is stir-fried vegetables (anything and everything and especially snap peas) with a little bit of chicken or shrimp. So easy, and SO tasty.
Posted by: Kerri Anne | October 17, 2009 at 02:38 PM
scrambled eggs with whatever veggies I have on hand, and some salsa, over toast.
If I am feeling super lazy I hard-boil the eggs instead of scrambling them, to make dishwashing easier.
Posted by: stacy | October 17, 2009 at 02:43 PM
One of my best fall back meals is a pork pasta dish. Cubed pieces of pork,onion, garlic, green chiles, and a can of green enchilada sauce mixed cooked down together and then tossed with pasta. Fast, delicious, and super easy. And it has a nice kick to it.
Posted by: Ruby42 | October 17, 2009 at 02:56 PM
Eggs poached in tomato sauce with some sort of yummy cheese grated over the top and a rustic piece of toast. yum.
Posted by: Jess | October 17, 2009 at 03:06 PM
Pasta with drained canned tuna in olive oil, tomato based pasta sauce of choice (in our family it's Barilla Arrabbiata or Barilla Basilico), lemon zest, some olives and/or capers if I have any, topped with grated parmesan.
YUM!
Posted by: Altissima | October 17, 2009 at 03:15 PM
Grilled cheese and tomato rice soup. The poached eggs mentioned above look amazing, though.
Posted by: Jessica | October 17, 2009 at 03:21 PM
Ground beef w/taco seasoning. Then I throw it over rice or roll it up in a flour tortilla or put it w/tortilla chips. Mmmm. Easy.
Posted by: ceri | October 17, 2009 at 03:41 PM
I live alone, and my fallback meal that looks fancy, tastes yummy, and is super-healthy and easy is sushi salad. Throw the brown rice in the rice cooker when I get home. Take some time to unwind, catch up on Facebook. Chop some cucumbers and carrots and bell peppers (or toss in a bag of shredded carrots and cabbage if I'm feeling lazy), avocado if I have one lying around. Steam some edamame in the microwave. Put some rice vinegar in a big tuppperware and stir in a packet of Splenda. By then the rice is done. Toss it with the rice vinegar, stir in the veggies. Toss in lox or fake seafood or even a can of tuna. Put some in a bowl and dress it with soy sauce and wasabi, eat with chopsticks, feel ever so chic. And I make a big enough quantity to have it for lunch or dinner every day for a week.
(P.S. - I've been reading you for ages, RSS'd you almost immediately. Haven't commented but have made several of your recipes, including your galette which is always a hit with my friends.)
Posted by: Marnie | October 17, 2009 at 04:06 PM
Spaghetti with garlic bread and a big salad
Posted by: angela patrick | October 17, 2009 at 04:32 PM
One of my favorite fall back meals is homemade chicken cheesesteaks subs...I usually cook a meal but when time is limited and I am tired, I thinly slice chicken breasts and saute' them with onions and hot peppers and serve them on sub rolls with cheese lettuce and tomato...easy and delicious. beats a carryout sub any day!
Posted by: Karen | October 17, 2009 at 04:37 PM
The only go-to the little ones will *reliably* eat (that the grownups also like) is breakfast for dinner: pancakes or waffles, bacon, and scrambled eggs
Posted by: Jeliza | October 17, 2009 at 04:40 PM
Spaghetti carbonara. Everyone in my family likes it and takes almost no time. I throw in peas as well so we get our veggies in too!
Posted by: MariaT | October 17, 2009 at 05:02 PM
I thaw and roast some shrimp with garlic and cherry tomatoes and throw it over some rice. I'll steam up whatever veggies we have or mix up a salad and everyone in our family of five (with at least four picky eaters) is happy.
Posted by: Jen | October 17, 2009 at 05:10 PM
Super, super crunched for time.....hummus wraps. Normal crunched for time? Spaghetti (I usually have sauce in the freezer).
Posted by: Kristy | October 17, 2009 at 05:18 PM
Pumpkin pancakes and poached eggs are always a winner and come together in no time.
Posted by: Deborah | October 17, 2009 at 05:55 PM
If we're going for quick, I'd say quesadillas, especially if my husband makes them. They're so easy and cheap to make!
Posted by: Emily | October 17, 2009 at 06:11 PM
I won't lie--I'm in college, and my biggest go-to meal right now is probably Zatarains. Turkey and pesto panini sandwiches are also pretty high on the list, though.
Posted by: Stephanie | October 17, 2009 at 06:38 PM
We've been freezing a lot of casserole type dishes, so we'll just pull one of those out of the freezer. If we are really pressed for time, mac & cheese.... Not healthy, but yummy. I love the Everyday Food magazine. I had a subscription in the past and loved each and every month's copy.
Posted by: Elizabeth S | October 17, 2009 at 07:27 PM
Our family favorite fall back meal is taco salad!Soo good and can be put together
quickly!
Posted by: Alicia | October 17, 2009 at 10:04 PM
We love Pita Pizzas. Just grab some Pita Pockets, add spaghetti sauce and top with whatever is in your fridge/pantry. Then bake it at 400 for about 10 minutes and VOILA! Dinner!
Posted by: Megan | October 17, 2009 at 10:41 PM