Baked chicken drumsticks, meatloaf, rice, and spaghetti are currently staples in my diet.  I'm not a heavy football p_layer_, but I need a substantial dinner with a fair amount of meat.  However, the recipes I know of so far take too long to prepare (around an hour), and meat needs a few days to defrost (the microwave is an option, but I've been told that it is an inferior one).  Short of crash dieting (I'm not interested in making Kate Moss look like Rush Limbaugh), becoming a vegetarian (it may be appropriate for some people, but I'm not one of them), or eating a lot of expensive frozen food (I'm not ready for bankruptcy court), what do you suggest?  What do you consider to be your miracle (or commonsense) recipes? Please post your suggestions rather than e-mailing me so everyone can see. Please, I need viable alternatives to meals that have to be decided 3 days in advance and easily take an hour to prepare.  Cooking a large amount and eating leftovers helps, but the leftovers don't last that many days.

Baked chicken drumsticks, meatloaf, rice, and spaghetti are currently staples in my diet.  I'm not a heavy football p_layer_, but I need a substantial dinner with a fair amount of meat.  However, the recipes I know of so far take too long to prepare (around an hour), and meat needs a few days to defrost (the microwave is an option, but I've been told that it is an inferior one).  Short of crash dieting How about hearty soups & stews with moderate amounts of meat, poultry & lots of good veggies that can be made in a crockpot & quickly reheated from the frig?  There are many cookbooks with good soup recipes, you cook once & have numerous meals.  If you make several different types, it won't be boring.  Just a thought. Cheers, Melodi in VA