Working Mommies..dinner question...

When do you cook dinner (if you do)? And what kinds of things do make that you make when you get home? Or do you pre-make thing for the week?

Re: Working Mommies..dinner question...

I start dinner around 5 or 5:15 which is right when Loey is usually going down for his last nap of the day.

See the Food & Recipes board for my normal weekly menus!

ETA: Here's this weeks (copied/pasted) - I swear they are all pretty easy meals! The pizza crust I prepared in advance (night before) but everything else I make that night. Oh and the rotisserie chicken was from Costco - definite time saver!

Saturday - Roast chicken with caramelized shallots and sauteed spinach

Sunday - Rotisserie chicken with peas and baked potatoes

Monday - Caramelized onion & prosciutto pizza with salad

Tuesday - Baked ziti with sausage

Wednesday - Balsamic grilled chicken, greek salad, homemade whole wheat pita chips

Thursday - Hamburgers, roasted potato wedges

Friday - chef's night off!

Message edited 3/25/2010 3:30:49 PM.

Re: Working Mommies..dinner question...

I start dinner around 6 - 6:30. I make easy meals like chicken cutlest, raviolis (left over sauce from Sundays), tacos, quesidillas, chicken burgers, pork chops and usually pizza one night. All in all usually takes 30 - 40 minutes to get dinner on the table.

Re: Working Mommies..dinner question...

When do I cook?

Does that answer? LOL!

It's hectic during the week. We usually throw some small things together. Use those veggie steam bags and pasta a lot, ziti, order in, sandwiches, etc.

DH has been helping a lot. When I get home I feed Mason at 5:30 (too early for me). Then we play, bathtime, bottle, book and bed. He's sleeping by 7:30PM
I usually run on the treadmill after and DH will throw something together when I'm doing the night routine with DS. On weekends we try and eat together.

Re: Working Mommies..dinner question...

I try to make stuff on the weekends that I can reheat during the week. I try to cook 2 nights a week on my "early" nights to get home from work. I make easy things like chicken florentine, pasta w/ veggies, tacos, side dishes of frozen fries & steam fresh veggies.....stuff like that

Re: Working Mommies..dinner question...

I start usually within 15 minutes of getting home (after some snuggle time with Luce) which is usually some time between 6:30 and 7.

I don't make a lot ahead b/c I never seem to have time on the weekends but I do make a lot of quick, simple stuff.

like tonight, I am making steak with sauteed onions, rice, beans, avocado salad.

it should take me about a half an hour.

I also like to roast a lot b/c it requires me to be physically at the stove for less time.

so I'll throw chicken in the oven with potatoes and carrots on another rack. maybe make corn or salad on the side.

pasta with veggies and sausage is also quick.

while I am cooking. Luce hangs in his high chair watching me/playing or has special daddy time (dh usually gets home a little after I do..by 7 or 7:30 most nights)

we eat by 8, 8:30. Luce is asleep by 9.

inspired by Hayley, here is mine!

Sunday: burgers and fixings

Monday: family in from Spain...going out to dinner!!

Tuesday: cider mustard pork chops, mashed potatoes green beans

Wed: bistec encebollada, beans, rice, avocado salad

Thurs: roasted chicken with potatoes and carrots, sauteed swiss chard

Fri: roasted salmon, sauteed spinach, couscous

I just realized I am messed up I switched wed for thursday. oops

Message edited 3/25/2010 3:34:55 PM.

Re: Working Mommies..dinner question...

I cook a lot on the weekend and just heat up during the week.

On days when I cook during the week, it is something easy.

Last night was sausage and peppers and onions over rice with in a balsamic vinaigrette.

Two nights ago was defrosted sauce and meatballs with whole grain pasta and bread.

Last week I did baked chicken Parmesan with pasta and sauce with spinach.

Tonight-left overs!

ETA: We get home around 5:30. I change, get a quick snack for DD and get DS settled, then cook. If I am making something that DD can help with she is usually in the kitchen with me and DH is feeding and playing with DS. Prep time is about 15 minutes-then I'm just checking up on it in between playing with the kids.

Message edited 3/25/2010 3:49:48 PM.

Re: Working Mommies..dinner question...

Well, since I work opposite from my DH, I try and have something prepared in the crock pot or in a dish in the fridge that he just has to heat up and eat. It's not easy to do having a 3 month and 17 month old to take care of all day and then get ready and be out the door on the way to work at 2pm. I do my best to have dinner done on Tues and Thurs since that is when DH picks up my 3 stepkids for dinner. It's pretty hectic around my house.

Re: Working Mommies..dinner question...

DH does most of the cooking during the week thankfully. If he's working, I usually just grab something quickly.

Otherwise, my crockpot has become my best friend.

Re: Working Mommies..dinner question...

Baked Macaroni & Cheese - last atleast 2 days

Baked Chicken Breast

Baked Ziti - last atleast 2 days

Spagetti w/ meat sauce

Pork Chops

Beef Steaks

Rice

Sandwiches

There are a few other things I can't think of right now....

I don't have to worry about cooking everyday anymore because with DH's new job he works late hours and most times his boss will order in dinner for them. He provides them with lunch everyday too...

I recently decided to start using my crockpot now that the weather is nicer. This way dinner is pretty much 90% done already by the time we get home and I can have more time to play with DS outside to enjoy the weather.....

Re: Working Mommies..dinner question...

Lately I've been getting really upset about this. I use to LOVE to cook, still do but I feel like I have zero time to. My plan has been to start planning my meals for the week on Sunday but that has yet to happen which in turn leads to DH and I scrambling during the week to try to put stuff together!

Re: Working Mommies..dinner question...

This working mommy is lucky because the working daddy cooks!

DH usually gets home by 6:00. I get home with DS around 6:30. In that 1/2 hour DH usually preps and starts dinner.

Monday - leftovers from Sunday, usually pasta

Tues - Thurs is usually chicken cutlets, minute steaks, baked chicken legs, or pork chops. Side dishes are usually frozen veggies, fries, tater tots, scalloped, rice or mac & cheese.

Friday could be a take-out night.

He usually thinks about dinner one night in advance and plans out what we're having so he's not worrying about it that night.