What are your favorite super simple meals? There's only so many times I can get away with serving pasta with butter for dinner
a large assortment of ideas, some of which can be combined in various ways (and all of which are vegetarian because I am, but could probably be adapted for a more omnivorous diet)
- pasta with jarred pesto or tomato sauce is only a bit more work than pasta with butter and might add some variety while still keeping your current routine which seems to be working okay?
- if you’re up to it sometime, peel a bunch of garlic cloves and poach them in olive oil (or some other kind of oil) on your stoves lowest possible heat until they’re golden and cooked through and then store the now extra delicious oil in the fridge to use as a topping for pasta/rice/etc. Or if you’re slightly more ambitious, use to sauté pre-chopped frozen veggies in and then put *that* on the pasta/rice/etc
- premake or buy a couple spice mixes so you can just throw them on carbs to make them tastier without thinking too much!
- frozen peas can just be put in anything made in boiling water when its almost done cooking (~1-3 min is my preference but ymmv)
- boiled eggs + sesame seed oil + nice soy sauce can really elevate an instant noodle packet into something more meal like (also a good one to add those pre-chopped frozen veggies to)
- set up a rice cooker like you normally would for a couple servings of rice & then dump a can of your preferred type of drained canned beans in right before you hit start. Definitely improved by also throwing in some herbs/spices or topping with garlic oil
- you can make p good oatmeal out of steel cut oats in the rice cooker! throw a handful of dried fruit and a little extra water in for both flavor and nutritional variety
- quick cook grits + stir in some shredded cheese + top with fried egg &/or a sliced tomato
a large assortment of ideas, some of which can be combined in various ways (and all of which are vegetarian because I am, but could probably be adapted for a more omnivorous diet)
@Forestofglory also https://cookbooks.leannebrown.com/good-and-cheap.pdf assumes a US context in terms of pricing & availability but may also have some decent inspiration in it
