I need to make a dinner for 4 that can be ready in less than 3 hours, Please Help Me!?

Question

Every Friday I make a dinner for my family (4 people), but I need something interesting that can be ready in less than 3 hours, since I don't get home until 4 in the afternoon, last week we had Manicotti, Please Help Me, I need to have an answer tonight (August 14, 2008)!!!!!

Answer 1

3 hours? You can do a lot in 3 hours. It would help if you would narrow it down a bit.

But... get a pound or two of medium sized shrimp. (depends on the count and how many servings you want to make) Some whole button mushrooms, pearl onions, sweet cherry peppers, pineapple (is also good) and a pound of thin sliced bacon. Pre-soak some bamboo skewers while you fry the bacon strips til they are nearly done. Skewer the shrimp and extras alternating them on the skewers use 3-4 shrimp per stick. I also like to take a wedge of pepperjack or other (your choice) type of block cheese and insert it in the shrimp where it has been deveined. then wrap a piece of bacon around that using a toothpick to hold it in place. Brush them with butter and/or lemon juice then sprinkle them with lemon pepper and garlic salt or whatever seasoning you prefer. Make several kabobs this way until you have 3-4 per person. Set your oven to broil if you don't have a grill. About 10 minutes and they are done. You may have to check in 5min. and roll them over if your heat is too close but that should be apparent. A nice dipping sauce either bbq or sweet n sour goes nice with that. Add a nice green salad and some bread sticks (or maybe a lil stir fried rice) and you will impress and satisfy your guests.

I also like to add some scallops when I can get good ones. yummy

All this can be done in waaay less than 3 hours...except the shopping possibly.

You can use precooked/deveined shrimp if you don't know how to do fresh. It takes time to clean fresh shrimp for some people so you may want to go with this instead. Oh BTW... be sure to place the kabobs on a cookie sheet or pan of some type when you put them in the oven. I like to do this on my outdoor grill but not everyone has that option. They are excellent and easy to prepare. good luck

Answer 2

Brown up some stew beef, make some beef gravy, and cook some egg noodles.  Mix the beef and gravy together and pour over the egg noodles.

Answer 3

Try marinating chicken cutlets in sundried tomato dressing, then cook them on a skillet and top with diced tomato, basil, and shredded mozzerella cheese. its delicious

Answer 4

Corned Beef. (Silverside, Pickled Pork)

Bring the piece of Corned Beef/Silverside to the boil, then reduce heat to a gentle simmer and cook for 30 minutes per 500g (lb).

When cooked rest for 15-20 minutes before carving.

Serve with mashed potatoes, carrots and cauliflower, hot English mustard, or a warm sweet mustard sauce.

Answer 5

Chicken Enchiladas

INGREDIENTS

4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves

1 onion, chopped

1/2 pint sour cream

1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

1 tablespoon dried parsley

1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

1/2 teaspoon salt (optional)

1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce

1/2 cup water

1 tablespoon chili powder

1/3 cup chopped green bell pepper

1 clove garlic, minced

8 (10 inch) flour tortillas

1 (12 ounce) jar taco sauce

3/4 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

In a medium, non-stick skillet over medium heat, cook chicken until no longer pink and juices run clear. Drain excess fat. Cube the chicken and return it to the skillet. Add the onion, sour cream, Cheddar cheese, parsley, oregano and ground black pepper. Heat until cheese melts. Stir in salt, tomato sauce, water, chili powder, green pepper and garlic.

Roll even amounts of the mixture in the tortillas. Arrange in a 9x13 inch baking dish. Cover with taco sauce and 3/4 cup Cheddar cheese. Bake uncovered in the preheated oven 20 minutes. Cool 10 minutes before serving.

Spanish Rice

INGREDIENTS

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

2 cups uncooked long-grain white rice

1/4 onion, chopped

1 green bell pepper, chopped

salt and pepper to taste

1 (14.5 ounce) can stewed tomatoes

4 cups water

DIRECTIONS

In a large skillet, combine oil, rice, onion, green pepper and salt and pepper until the rice is a light brown color. Remove skillet from stove.

Mix tomatoes into the mixture. Pour in water (it should cover the entire mixture; use more if necessary). Return the skillet to the stovetop and bring the mixture to a full boil; salt and pepper to taste. When the mixture begins to boil, cover the skillet, and reduce heat to a simmer. Cook 12 to 15 minutes and never, I mean NEVER, remove the cover. After 12 to 15 minutes, turn stove off and let stand for another 12 to 15 minutes. DO NOT remove cover until the final 15 minutes has elapsed!

Avocado Salad

1 Avocado

1 Large Tomato

1 Medium Cucumber

1/2 Medium Vidalia Onion

2 Tbsp Olive Oil

2 Tbsp White Wine Vinegar

Chop 1st four ingredients then toss with olive oil and vinegar until mixed well.

This entire menu can be made in less than 1 hour!

Answer 6

I always make this for us when I am pressed for time.

1 pound lean ground beef

1 jar spaghetti sauce

1 cup of water

1 cup of elbow or rotini pasta

1/2 tsp. oregano

1 tbs. worcestershire sauce

1 onion, chopped

Directions

1. Heat a large skillet over medium/high heat.

2. Add ground beef and onion and cook until beef is brown.

3. When meat is no longer pink stir in worcestershire sauce. Then add spaghetti sauce and water, bring to a boil.

4. Stir in oregano and pasta, cover and simmer on low for 20 minutes or until pasta is done.

Serve with a salad and your favorite dressing. You can also use ground turkey instead of ground beef.

Answer 7

Tamale Pie

Serves 6 to 8.

Ground beef mixture:

1½ lbs. lean ground beef

1 large or 2 medium onions, chopped

3 cloves garlic, chopped

1½ tsp. salt, or to taste

Black pepper and cayenne pepper, to taste

1 (16-oz.) can whole or chopped tomatoes

2 Tbsp. chili powder

1 Tbsp. ground cumin

1 cup corn, black beans or red kidney beans, optional

1 cup sliced olives (either black or pimento-stuffed)

Cornmeal mush:

6 cups water

1½ to 2 cups yellow cornmeal

1 tsp. beef granules or 1 beef bouillon cube dissolved in ¼ cup hot water

1 tsp. salt

1½ tsp. chili powder

1½ Tbsp. butter or margarine

2/3 cup grated Cheddar and/or American cheese for topping

1. Preheat oven to 325ºF.  n large skillet, sauté meat with onions, garlic, salt and pepper until meat is no longer pink. Add tomatoes, chili powder and cumin. Add optional vegetables, if you like. Stir and simmer for about 30 minutes, then add the sliced olives.

2. While meat is simmering, make the cornmeal mush: In 3-quart pot, whisk cold (tap) water and cornmeal together to blend. Add beef granules or bouillon cube, salt and chili powder. Cook on medium-high heat, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens and comes to a boil. Lower heat and continue stirring until mixture gets very thick.

3. Remove from heat and stir in butter or margarine. Let cool slightly. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

4. Grease a 3-quart baking dish, then layer with about 1/2 of the mush; spreading it on the bottom and partially up the sides of the dish, using the back of a tablespoon.

5. Add the meat filling and top with dollops of the mush, spreading to cover most of the top. Sprinkle with cheese.

6. Bake for approximately 45 minutes.

--The Advocate, August 7, 2008

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Sensation Salad

1/2 to 3/4 lb. of finely ground Peccorino Romano cheese

1 pt. olive oil

Juice of 3 lemons

4 tsp. balsamic vinegar

6 cloves of garlic pressed with pulp and all juice

Very cold iceberg lettuce, romaine and mixed baby greens

Blend all ingredients together by hand. Toss greens together to mix well. Add dressing and toss gently to coat each leaf of greens. Salt and pepper (fresh ground) to taste. Serve on cold plates. This dressing will keep in refrigerator for an extremely long time.

--The Advocate newspaper

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Answer 8

I don't think you need 3 hours for cooking food in your family LOL i mean, seriously you can prepare for less than 1 hour for cooking unless you are going to bake cake or cook so many menu, that will need more time like 3 hours or less.

well, why not surfing korean menu/dish in the net. by doing so, you will find that within or less than 3 hours you were able to cook many dishes already. whereas, in korea, food will be ready for atleast 30-45 minutes (the least)

also try marinate beef and grilled them. it is so easy!

cheers!