By Busy days, busy weeks, busy months. It all just blends together in one big, busy blur of working, playdates, laundry, cleaning, and more. And the one thing that I find myself slipping in is FOOD. Now, trust me when I say that I pass absolutely zero judgement on any mother who finds herself popping chicken nuggets into the oven at dinnertime, because I am that mom on many days out of the week.
But there are times when I can set just a little time aside and actually make something that everyone likes and is pretty healthy as well! So, without further ado, here are five easy peasy, no fuss meals for a busy week:
1. Okra and Onions (Pakistani Style)
Ingredients:
- 2 bags of cut frozen okra from any grocery store
- 4 onions
- 1 can of diced tomatoes
- 6 tablespoons of olive oil
- 1 teaspoon red chili powder
- 1 teaspoon of salt
- Half a teaspoon turmeric
- 1 teaspoon paprika
Method:
- Peel and slice the onions into a pan and drizzle 3 tablespoons of olive oil over it.
- Stir fry until golden brown, then add the tomatoes and stir.
- Put to the side. Stir fry the okra with the remaining oil separately until brown.
- Add the onion and tomato mix and then add in all the spices. Cook until it is all mixed.
I like to make roti (bread) with this particular dish so I have the wheat flour all ready beforehand. This dish can be good with boiled rice as well!
2. Pesto Shrimp Pasta
Ingredients:
- 1 box of bowtie pasta
- Half a pound of small frozen, cooked shrimp
- 1 jar of pesto sauce (store bought)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- Half a teaspoon paprika
- Half a teaspoon of crushed red pepper
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
Method:
- Boil the pasta and set it aside.
- Stir fry the shrimp with all the spices and oil until tender. The shrimp should be light pink!
- Add it to the pasta, then mix in the desired amount pesto.
- Voila! Throw some store-bought garlic bread in the oven, and you are all set!
3. Tacos
Ingredients:
- 1 pound ground meat
- 3 tablespoons of olive oil
- 1 pack of taco seasoning (store bought)
- Hard shell or soft tacos, depending on your preference
Toppings for the Tacos:
- Diced tomatoes
- Shredded lettuce
- Sour cream
- Salsa
- Shredded cheese
Method:
- Brown the ground meat in the oil and throw in the taco seasoning.
- Mix and cook well.
- When it’s done, make yourself the juiciest taco with your toppings and enjoy!
4. Palak Aloo (Spinach and Potatoes, Pakistani Style)
Ingredients:
- 2 packs of frozen chopped spinach
- 3 potatoes
- 4 tablespoons of olive oil
- Water
- 1 and a half teaspoon red pepper powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon turmeric
- 1 tablespoon ginger paste
- 1 tablespoon garlic paste
- Half a teaspoon of garam masala (if you don’t have an Indian store nearby, you can totally order garam masala on Amazon)
Method:
- Boil the spinach in a pot of water with all the spices.
- When almost all the water is gone, add in the oil and cook it really well while stirring.
- Peel and cut the potatoes into cubes and throw them in along with half a cup of water, and let it sit on low heat until the potatoes are soft.
This is another dish I made with roti, and it is super easy, and super healthy! Even better; it’s kid-approved!
5. Spicy Baked Chicken
Ingredients:
- 1 pound of chicken drumsticks
- 1 cup of yogurt
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon red pepper powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- Half a teaspoon of turmeric
- 1 teaspoon of garam masala
- 1 teaspoon of ginger paste
- 1 teaspoon of garlic paste
- 3 tablespoons of oil
Method:
- Pre-heat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Mix the yogurt and all the spices and oil.
- Marinate the chicken in your yogurt mix.
- Put chicken on a baking sheet in the oven, and bake for an hour or until cooked all the way through.
- Serve over boiled rice and enjoy!
Bon appetit, everyone!