UNBREADED: Quick and Dirty

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Quick and Dirty

(In case you haven't noticed, Unbreaded has added a third blogger! Please welcome Ash, who, blogging as danztilya, authored the last two posts. I can't wait to read all of her great recipes and tips. I just have to deal with my jealousy that she lives in New York, and Katie gets to try all her low-carb cookin'.)

For the past few weeks (okay, months), I've been in a cooking slump where I just cannot find the motivation to prepare healthy food. This has mostly driven me to high-carb take-out and microwavable meals, and I'm so spoiled by the convenience of it all that I'm having a really hard time getting up the gumption to rededicate myself to spending time in the kitchen.

My first few meals in my return to low carb eating have consisted of eating pepperoni slices and gnawing on a block of cheese, and people, I AM BORED. I know there are a million things I can eat, but until I can make some time and find some energy to cut up some stuff and cook up some stuff to have on hand, I really need some ideas for quick and easy meals to get me through a busy week, and I'm hoping you can offer some ideas.

What are your quickest and easiest low carb meals? And I mean EASY. Just in case you're unsure of how lazy I really am, I'm talking minimal-step, minimal dish-dirtying, minimal standing-over-and-stirring. As out-of-the-package-and-into-my-mouth as possible food. Favorite fast food options are also welcome.

Thanks! And here's hoping that once I start feeling the increased energy that comes from ditching all the sugar and starch, I'll at least be able to be bothered to boil an egg again.

Comments (16)

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anne H. · 696 weeks ago

I do like a good egg!
Hi Ash - nice to "meet" ya!

1 reply · active 696 weeks ago

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NotBoredInNY 37p · 696 weeks ago

Hi, nice to "meet" you too Anne :)

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NotBoredInNY 37p · 696 weeks ago

My go-to quick meals:
1. Microwave "poached" Eggs and Bacon - I go with eggs, too most of the time. I use the microwave 2-egg "poacher" like this one http://www.amazon.com/Nordic-Ware-Microwave-Cavit... and then also microwave the bacon on the "crisper" part
2. Ikea meatballs, microwaved
3. Shredded cabbage tossed with some mayo, salt and pepper, for a quick "coleslaw", with any of the meats above
4. Target "Market Pantry" chicken wings. (3g carbs per serving)

For dessert, Almond milk blended with ice, a bit of chocolate powder and splenda

1 reply · active 695 weeks ago

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Tracey · 695 weeks ago

Ooh, GREAT suggestions. The quick coleslaw one is really great for me. I used to keep some actual coleslaw dressing made up (I use the recipe from Dana Carpender's 500 Low Carb Recipes book.) so I could make coleslaw quick and easy, but I never thought to just use the mayo when I'm less prepared.

I've been wary of microwaved eggs ever since I tried some scrambled ones in a similar contraption a few years ago and found them terrible. But I can see poached ones working out a little better. Stovetop eggs are so fast, but somehow they seem like so much more work than the microwave.

I'll totally look for some microwavable meatballs and those chicken wings, too. Once I get past my laziness, it will still be SO good to have stuff like this on hand.

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grace2882 4p · 696 weeks ago

Welcome Ash. I am the blog's official stalker. Tracey should have warned you. bwhahaha.

1 reply · active 696 weeks ago

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NotBoredInNY 37p · 696 weeks ago

Thanks! I'm officially scared. :-S

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plumpdumpling 64p · 696 weeks ago

I do lentils or quinoa in one pan and then throw them in another pan with some browned meat, spaghetti sauce, and a bag of frozen vegetables. (Kam encourages me to warm the vegetables in a separate pot first, but no.) You have a dishwasher, so you can't complain about two pans.

Make a bunch of low-carb wraps loaded with meats and vegetables in one sitting and store them in those Rubbermaid containers. It'll be like going to Subway in your refrigerator?

Chipotle bowls with all of the delicious stuff left off!

And my flaxseed pancakes can be made in one measuring cup and one pan!

I know those aren't helpful at all, though, really. I go through this same struggle all of the time and end up making a million turkey burgers and protein shakes.

1 reply · active 695 weeks ago

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Tracey · 695 weeks ago

Do you brown meat in advance so it's ready to go? Because browning meat is one of my least favorite things in the world to do, for some reason. It's so easy and all, but a meal that involves doing that never feels quick and easy enough to me. Dan is forever in charge of beef-browning when we have tacos.

I do buy those containers of Oscar Mayer pre-cooked chicken and throw them in a pan sometimes with frozen veggies and some sort of sauce. A little soy sauce and sprinkled sesame seeds always make me happy.

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Mrs. Bachelor Girl · 695 weeks ago

Same problem here. And a couple days ago, when I finally had the energy/motivation to do a little low-carb cooking, I discovered we had NO EGGS because my husband threw them out because they were, like, two days past their sell-by date. WHAT. THE HELL.

I've seen some stuff on Pinterest about how to make up sandwich bags of smoothie fixings for the freezer so all you have to do is dump it in a blender and turn it on.

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Fazor · 676 weeks ago

Pesto on top of halibut. Put in oven and cook until done...depending on thickness ~15 min at 375. Really good on the grill this way by the way! Also.. Take mayo, add dried shallots/onions, some garlic a splash of lemon. Spread on top of fish and bake... gets a bit crispy and is SOOOO good! Best part... put skin side down on foil in pan. The skin will stick to the foil. You lift off the fish and throw away the foil...all cleaned up!

1 reply · active 676 weeks ago

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plumpdumpling 64p · 676 weeks ago

What's sad is that both of us who write this blog kind of hate fish! I'm getting to like it more, but Tracey absolutely hates it and won't touch it. Sounds delicious for summer, though! Maybe we could make it with chicken.

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Patty · 651 weeks ago

how about a bacon/cheese sandwich on low carb bread? Too bad you don't live close, I already feed a bunch of people, what is one more?

1 reply · active 651 weeks ago

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plumpdumpling 64p · 651 weeks ago

I'll be right over.

No, but that is a GREAT call. I think of grilled cheese as something I really miss on a low-carb diet, but I forget that it's totally possible. What am I thinking not making low-carb cheese quesadillas for dinner every night?!

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Kathy · 642 weeks ago

Sometimes I run through a taco fast food place and order a bunch of tacos, bring them home and dump them on low carb tortillas. I add some salsa, sour cream and slices of avocado if I have it. Cheap and easy. For an easy low carb bread I make in a cereal bowl. I throw in 1 tbls each of almond flour, coconut flour, golden flax meal, Quarter tsp baking powder, and pinch of salt, stir in one egg and two tbls shredded cheese. Stick in the microwave for a minute and a half. Keep your eye on it cuz they all cook differently. Flip out of the bowl and you can slice like bread and toast it or whatever. I use it for easy pizza dough instead of cooking in the bowl I pat it onto a plate, microwave and then add my low carb toppings and bake on a sheet pan for ten minutes at 400. Make up the dry ingredients and keep in a canister and its super fast. Sorry this is long but these are my faves when I'm in a hurry. :-)

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Tuesday, November 29, 2011

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