Let's discuss your "meat group" item and veggie combos

[Babywhite]

After reading several posts, I have decided to (try to) improve my dinners. :)

I feel that I always have the exact same veggies with each meat/poultry, etc. I really need some new ideas. :)

Please share what your family's favorite "meat group" and veggie combos are...

Here's mine:
Chicken, carrots and green beans
Pork Chops, corn on the cob, broccoli
Turkey, yam patties, peas
Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, peas
Hamburgers and potatoes
Roast with carrots and pototoes
Ham, mac/cheese and green beans

Thanks for your ideas!! :)

R.W.

[Lynnie]

no ideas, but let me say I envy that menu !

but, also my older ds loves tomatoes.

if i had time to cook i might make baked sweet potato fries. with ham.

spinach is good with beef i think, and chicken.

[brittone2]

We eat all kinds of veggies including things like swiss chard, roasted beets, etc. so we're a little wacky like that ;)

How about subbing sweet potatoes for regular potatoes as a simple start? When you make a roast, just add in some sweet potatoes in chunks as you would with regular white potatoes. Try sweet potato fries (as the PP mentioned) instead of white potatoes with your hamburgers.

Cauliflower can be cooked until really soft and mashed w/ butter, garlic, cheese, etc. like mashed potatoes.

[kimbe]

Although they aren't "meat" --- our favorite meat and veggie combo is lentil tacos. Just make the taco meat with lentils and then add tomatoes, avacado, lettuce, and any other veggie that you might like. (We sometimes add grated carrots, peas etc.) Add some cheese and some tortillas and you've got the 4 food groups!

We also do chicken with brown rice and broccoli/cauliflower/carrot mix.

(I always do roast with carrots and potatoes too!! :) )

[lilycat88]

Italian Sausage, Spinach, Sun-dried tomatoes, black olives

cook the sausage in a skillet with some olive oil (either meatballs or I just tear the sausage into pieces)... when the sausage is cooked, stir in the tomatoes (as many as you like) and black olives...then, toss the spinach on the top and cover with a lid to help it "wilt) a bit...stir and serve over pasta or couscous.

2 veggies...a grain...and a meat. One of DDs first "favorites".

[BaileyBea]

I make a dish called Pasta Surprise (I made this up because you never know what you get on Pasta Surprise Day).

I combine all or some of the following depending what's in my fridge.:

Penne or Bowtie Pasta
Grilled Chicken
Feta Cheese
Grated Parmesean or Romano
Artichoke Hearts
Roma Tomatoes
Carrots chopped up small
Olives
Capers
Asparagus
Red Peppers
Sun Dried Tomatoes
nuts (either walnuts, or pine nuts)

I toss everything together w/a little bit of Olive Oil.

My other combo that is super easy is Salmon or Tilapia with couscous and asparagus with a salad. It takes about 15 minutes to cook and is so super easy to just toss together and have it seem like you slaved in the kitchen all day. ;-)

[linsei]

I think your list looks great, and you have some great suggestions too.

One of the few things that I "always" cook together is roast with carrots, potatoes, and I recently started to add a bag of green beans. I cook the roast in a pressure cooker and when it's done, remove the roast and add the veggies. They taste so much better when cooked in the broth.

I need to remember to use sweet potatoes instead of white potatoes more often!

Linda

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[BeachBum]

Well we don't really do standard combos here.
But we do eat a lot of asparagus which isn't on your list. I usually just put a tad of olive oil on it and sprinkle (lightly) with fresh Parmesan cheese and salt and pepper. Or I will put a splash of balsamic vinegar.
We also eat a good bit of winter squash. Those I typically roast in the oven (but you can do them in the micro too), in a glass baking dish with a bit of water, cut sides down. Then I will just sprinkle with fresh herbs (or a dry blend if I don't have fresh). If we are having a spicy meat then I will do a tad of maple syrup on the squash with some butter.
We don't eat white potatoes except on special comfort food occasions. I have been traumatized by knowing how much sugar they convert to. :)

We also do a good bit of stir fry at our house. I usually will do a cabbage, (nappa is my favorite), onion, bell pepper, carrots and broccoli then either chicken or tofu.

You might also want to check out Cooking Light magazine. I love that they always use veggies that are in season which helps me try new things.