Here are some of my favorite recipes. They are designed to be extremely simple -- simple enough that I will actually cook them, since cooking can be a lot of work in the first place.
Also, the prep times are based on how long it takes me to do it with average skills, since I'm not a professional chef or anything. If you are skilled or quick it can definitely be done faster.
The rice is the hardest part, but a good rice cooker makes it much easier (I always use one). I sometimes just do plain rice. The beans are really easy.
Just basic french fries baked in the oven.
Those Breaded cutlets you get at sushi places. Prepping whatever protein you want is the hardest part.
A quick and easy version of macaroni and cheese.
As delicious as restaurant rice is I never made it before this because it always had so many different spices or other ingredients I didn't have around. This version is great because it gets you there with just the most common ingredients.
The best compromise I have found between terms of effort and flavor for making pizza at home.
Like many other recipes I have here, this one starts with just a can of pinto beans and gets you to refried beans that taste much better than the premade ones.
This is a good way to use a bunch of rhubarb if you have it, but it's a decent amount of work. Extra pies freeze really well too, and overall it is really really tasty.
The easiest version of risotto I could figure out. Aside from the arborio rice you don't need any special ingredients or techniques.
Minimal and simple. The hardest part is shredding the carrots and onions.
Like many of my favorite recipes, this one has very few ingredients. It's really convenient and easy to customize as well.
Good with toast or mashed potatoes and really easy to make. Also good if you're craving fast food but want to save some money.
A quick reference on making a basic soup with chili flavors (as opposed to just a simple broth or cream soup).
A quick reference on making all sorts of creamy soups.
Really simple tortillas. Best made in a larger batch or probably not worth it (at least for two people) since they are best when warm.