Cold Day Dinner Ideas for Bored Days

You need

• 1 onion
• 1 garlic clove
• 1 can chopped tomatoes
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1/2 tsp cumin
• 2–4 eggs
• bread to serve

Method

1. Soften chopped onion and garlic in oil.
2. Add spices, then tomatoes; simmer ~10 min until thick.
3. Make wells, crack in the eggs, cover and cook to your liking.
4. Serve straight from the pan with bread.

You need

• 1 tortilla
• grated cheese
• optional: beans, leftover veg, salsa

Method

1. Fill half the tortilla with cheese and any extras, fold over.
2. Dry-fry on medium until golden and melting, ~2 min a side.
3. Cut into wedges.
4. Dip in salsa or yogurt.

You need

• 2 tbsp popcorn kernels
• 1 tbsp oil
• salt
• optional: butter, cinnamon-sugar

Method

1. Heat oil and 2–3 kernels in a lidded pan until they pop.
2. Add the rest, cover, shake until popping slows.
3. Tip out fast so it doesn't burn.
4. Season while hot.

You need

• whatever's around: cheese, crackers, fruit, nuts
• hummus or peanut butter
• something crunchy

Method

1. Pick one creamy, one crunchy, one sweet thing.
2. Arrange on a plate so it feels intentional.
3. Add a dip.
4. No cooking required.

You need

• 1 large baking potato
• butter
• filling: beans, cheese, tuna-mayo or coleslaw
• salt

Method

1. Prick the potato, microwave 8–10 min, then crisp in a hot oven 10 min (or all-oven for an hour).
2. Split, fluff and butter.
3. Add your filling.
4. Season well.

You need

• 1 block instant noodles (discard seasoning)
• 1 tbsp miso paste
• 1 tsp soy sauce
• 1 egg
• 1 handful spinach or frozen greens
• 1 spring onion, sliced
• optional: chilli oil, sesame

Method

1. Boil the noodles in ~2 cups water until just soft.
2. Lower the heat, stir in the miso and soy until dissolved (don't hard-boil miso).
3. Slide in the egg and greens; cook 1–2 minutes.
4. Tip into a bowl, scatter spring onion and chilli oil.