[ssorrrento]

We generally eat dinner at 6pm. Hubby is now working longer days, meaning it'll be 7pm before he can eat dinner.

7pm is too late for DS to eat, so I thought DS and I would eat at 5.30ish. I can then go and exercise when hubby gets home.

I don't want to start cooking two meals when I get home from work, so what are your suggestions for meals that will either keep from 5.30 to 7, or will require minimal additions to be ready for 7pm? Should I par boil veg and then finish when we're each due to eat?

Anything requiring too much effort will result in hubby not bothering with a proper meal and eating rubbish instead.

We don't have a microwave.

[laridae]

Whatever you cook for 5:30 will be cold by 7. Is you DH ok with eating cold food?

Maybe get a microwave? Or you could leave food in the oven on low to keep it warm. Or get a slowcooker and leave that on.

[CharliMarley]

You really do need a microwave, or you are going to be in a mess.

[MrsLexiK]

I was going to say nuk it. Other then that just reheat in the oven. Also do you have a slow cooker? serve your portion up and ensure it is switched to low and you are good to go.

[lucy12345]

Stirfry is a good standby only takes a few minutes to cook up. I prep everything and leave it in the fridge so it is still fresh when cooked at a later time.
Salad and meat is another good one, as it only takes a little while to cook things like sausages, chicken steaks, kebabs, grilled fish etc.
things like lasanga and stew can just be put back in the oven 30 minutes before it is due to be served.
Id would also invest in some foil take away containers you can freeze and pull out to defrost in the morning then whack in the oven.
Have you checked gumtree for a secondhand microwave?

[halcyodays]

I'll be watching this thread with interest- I haven't found a fool proof way and have been having staggered dinner times for 5 years now! Does my head in sometimes.
DH gets to eat left overs most of the time, which is OK when it is pasta or stews. But reheated steak or roasts aren't much fun, same with fritata, pizzas, stir fries.

So far we do pasta occasionally (no one except DS aged 5 likes pasta), stews and curries, stir fry noodles, fried rice. I nuke in microwave for DH.

I often change the order though, and cook for DH and myself at 7.30 or 8pm dinner, and the kids eat the left overs the next day. This works well when kids are going through fussy phases and aren't eating much of my lovingly prepared meals anyway. Works well with pumpkin/roast veg dishes, pies, pasta sauces, cous cous, risotto.

[MrsLexiK]

I reread your post OP, I wouldn't be going out of my way to make something for DH so he didn't eat rubbish. He is a big boy. It is not hard to cook some meat and chuck some veggies in a pot and steam them, if he doesn't want to do this he can eat the rubbish. (And this is coming from someone who does all the meal planning, at present we have changed our roles up and I am probably doing 90% of the cooking as well. )

[PrincessPeach]

Invest in a microwave.

Things like casseroles & spaghetti in sauces & even stir-fry reheat in as little as 3 minutes (for a single serve) - nice & easy.

And if you are doing the nice & easy meat & veggies - I'd do the prep work when you do your own meal & leave his portions aside.

Get the veggies into the microwave when you know he is on his way home & then the meat can grill off nice & quick.

I steam my root veggies in about 10 minutes in the microwave - things like broccoli & snow peas take 2 minutes. Frozen veggies take between 3 & 4 (depending on how much is in there).

[tamjk]

I do roasts, casseroles, pasta dishes and risotto in the slow cooker and just flick it over to the "Keep Warm" function to keep it warm for DH.

Alternatively it's grilled meat and salads. We're currently without a microwave, I 'fried' our microwave last week. Microwaves rarely last longer than 6 months in our house so this one did pretty well.

[SnazzySass]

I reread your post OP, I wouldn't be going out of my way to make something for DH so he didn't eat rubbish. He is a big boy. It is not hard to cook some meat and chuck some veggies in a pot and steam them, if he doesn't want to do this he can eat the rubbish. (And this is coming from someone who does all the meal planning, at present we have changed our roles up and I am probably doing 90% of the cooking as well. )

It is ok for partners to acknowledge each other’s failings and help them. I forget to eat when I have a big essay due and DP makes me a packed lunch in the morning so that I don’t eat crap. I see that as evidence of a loving and respectful relationship. I also don’t think that it is an issue for the OP to cook for the family rather than just herself and child that is normal in most families surely? She is looking for meals that keep for an hour not suggesting cooking two different meals.