'Five' ingredients or less

[vass]

My main cooking problem is with executive function/attention/general brain fog. If there are too many ingredients or steps, I just tend not to eat, or to eat junk instead of cooking a meal. I once had a three day brain block when it felt too hard to make a banana smoothie. All I needed was ice cream, a banana, cinnamon, and milk, but I also had to get the blender down and wash it afterwards, and it just seemed too hard.

So, it occurred to me this morning that I should try googling for recipes with five ingredients or less/fewer. I found a lot of recipes, but one small problem: THEY CAN'T COUNT.

Take this recipe for crockpot mashed potatoes: it purports to have five ingredients, but actually has nine. I'm guessing they thought the condiments didn't count. Well, if I were adding salt and pepper to my own taste, they wouldn't count. But if they're a step I have to get over while following a recipe, they certainly do count. If I have to go to the supermarket to buy onion powder, garlic powder, and white pepper, because I've never used those things in my life, then yes, they count.

I used to be a good cook.

Does anyone have any brain fog friendly vegetarian recipes? Preferably not too starchy, since insulin resistance contributes to the brain fog.

Comments

[indywind]

My go-to low carb comfort food when low on brain. Spouse calls it "stuff in a pot".

Ingredients:
1. 1 can diced tomatoes (or tomatoes plus seasoning or other veg e.g. onions)
2. 1 can cooked beans (not packed in corn syrup -- saltwater or sauce)
3. big double handful frozen or fresh (chopped/torn) greens
4. 1-2 cups meat (ground or in chunks), sausage, or tofu-sausage, smoked tofu, tvp or another can of beans. Precooked/leftover meat is fine; smoked meat or meat substitute is awesome.

optional:
about 1tbs oil if meat type thing is not oily, chopped onion or garlic, seasonings of choice, any more vegetables you have lying around and are able to deal with.

In a biggish skillet, heat up the oil or oily meat. Cook the meat first if it needs cooking, stirring, and onions/garlic if using. When the meat is cooked, dump in everything else. (may wish to drain beans if packed in water). Put lid on and simmer at medium heat til the greens are wilty, 5-10 minutes. Longer will not hurt if you forget it. Take off lid and season to taste if desired. Or just scoop some in a bowl and eat.


Total prep time: 10-20 minutes (with precooked meatlike thing and frozen greens, versus raw meat and fresh greens).
Total dishes dirtied: 3.5: 1 pan of cooking, one bowl of eating, one spoon of stirring and eating, can opener.