Tag Archives: quick meal

Lemony Pasta with Goat Cheese and Spinach

Posted by deliciousonadollar in Main Dish, Quick Meals and tagged with , , , , , ,

Lemony Pasta with Goat Cheese and Spinach. 

 

During this time of year as the number of activities and parties increase all tempting us with special foods to eat, I try to lighten up what I prepare for our everyday meals.  My rational is that if we eat light but healthy meals at home then it’s OK to have some treats when we go out.  I’m not sure how that all adds up, but it works for me.

The recipe I’m offering today is one that is very quick to make with just a few ingredients.  It could stand alone with only the addition of a salad to make it a complete meal.  Although the main ingredient is pasta it is kept light with a sauce  that incorporates  goat cheese for creaminess, and also includes spinach and lots of parsley.  The addition of lemon jest and juice provides the brightness that makes the flavors pop.

LEMONY PASTA WITH GOAT CHEESE AND SPINACH

EVERYDAY FOODS

Only a few ingredients needed.

SERVES:   4

Ingredients

  •  3/4 pound spaghetti
  • 4 ounces fresh goat cheese
  • 10 ounces baby spinach
  • 2 cups fresh parsley, chopped
  • 1 Tablespoon grated lemon zest
  • 1 Tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • 1/4 cup walnuts, chopped and toasted

Directions

1.  Bring a large pot of salted water to boiling.  Add pasta and cook according package directions for al dente.  Remove and save 2 cups of pasta cooking water.  Drain the pasta.

2.  In the pot, stir together 1 cup of pasta water and the goat cheese over medium heat to melt the cheese.  Add pasta, spinach and parsley, lemon zest and lemon juice.

Cook pasta, then mix everything together in the same pot.

Stir to coat with the sauce.  Add more pasta water as needed to  create a sauce that coats the pasta.  Season with salt and pepper.  Sprinkle with walnuts to serve.

Lemony Pasta with Spinach served with crispy breaded shrimp.

Making a Classic Calzone

Posted by deliciousonadollar in Bread, Rolls, Main Dish, Quick Meals and tagged with , , ,

By the time most Fridays roll around, I want an easy meal that I can get on the table quickly, and often times that’s when I make a pizza. Luckily Mr. D. and I love pizza, and we are both pretty adventuresome when it comes to food.  So I have made pizzas with many different toppings;  some traditional and others non-traditional or down-right unusual;  like clean-out-the-fridge-and-use-up-the-leftovers-pizza. Don’t worry, I won’t be posting that one!

My first attempt at making a calzone. Not the traditional shape, but it sure tasted good.

What I want to tell you about today, is how I made a calzone.  It’s sort of like a pizza with the filling wrapped inside the dough.  And just like pizza, you can make any kind of filling you like.  For this one, my first attempt, I used the classic filling of marinara sauce, sliced genoa salami, pepperoni, and mozzarella cheese.  It was bigger than I thought it would be, and I needed a second pair of hands to help me get it onto the baking sheet once it was made.  The smell of it baking was heavenly, and I couldn’t wait to eat it.  I was not disappointed in the least.  With more practice rolling and shaping the dough my future calzones will most likely look more like a calzone should i.e. a half moon shape, but as I frequently say, ” Pretty doesn’t taste any better”, and we both enjoyed it very much.

CLASSIC CALZONE

SERVINGS    4

This is what you need to have ready:

  • olive oil for brushing
  • all-purpose flour for your work surface
  • 1 pound of pizza dough, thawed if frozen
  • 1/3 cup marinara sauce
  • 1/4 pound thinly sliced genoa salami
  • a few slices of pepperoni
  • 6 ounces fresh mozzarella, thinly sliced
  • kosher salt

1.  Preheat oven to 425 degrees.  Brush a rimmed baking sheet with oil, or line with parchment paper.

2.  On a lightly floured work surface, roll dough into a 16 inch circle.  If the dough is “fighting” you, let it rest periodically, then roll some more.  I found it a little difficult to get any where near a perfect circle.

3.  Spread the marinara on the bottom half of the dough, leaving a 1-inch border.  Cover the marinara with slices of salami, then pepperoni and finally the mozzarella cheese.  (So sorry, in my enthusiasm for getting it all rolled up, I forgot to get a photo of it at this stage.)

4.  Fold the top half over the bottom half, pinch the edges together and roll up, pinching to seal as you go.  Brush off any excess flour.

Filled and ready for the oven.

5.  Carefully transfer to baking sheet.  Lightly brush with oil, and sprinkle with Kosher salt.  Bake until golden brown 22 – 25 minutes.

Serve with additional marinara sauce.

Cut into serving size slices and serve with additional marinara sauce to spoon on or dip into.   MMMMMM, good.

SOURCE:  Everyday Food

Grilled Cheese with Apples and Bacon

Posted by deliciousonadollar in Brunch, Quick Meals, Sandwichs and tagged with , , , , , , ,

Grilled Cheese with Bacon and Apple Sandwich

Are you ever at the point where you just crave something really simple but oh, so good?  That happened to me not long ago.  We had been out doing Saturday morning errands and  it was rainy, windy  and chilly.  When I got home I just wanted something hot, and satisfying.  My husband suggested Grilled cheese sandwiches, which I thought was a good idea, but as I got started preparing them one thing led to another and I ended up creating these sandwiches that were oooey, gooey good with the addition of crisp bacon and thinly sliced apples with the cheese.  These have now become my new go-to sandwich for when I need some comfort at lunch time.

GRILLED CHEESE WITH BACON AND APPLES

YIELD:  makes 2 sandwiches.  Scale ingredients up to make  more.

  • 4 slices bacon

    Maple Syrup, Apples and Cheese, Yum!

  • 1 Tablespoon maple syrup
  • 4 slices whole-grain bread
  • 4 slices cheddar cheese
  • 1 apple, peeled, seeded and thinly sliced
  • soft butter

1.  Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Brush each side of bacon slice with maple syrup.  Place on a foil-lined baking sheet and bake at 400 degrees for about 8 minutes.  Turn over, and continue baking for another 8 minutes.  Since bacon slices will vary, times are approximate.  Watch closely that it does not become too crisp or burned.

2.  To assemble the sandwich, butter one side to each slice of bread. Lay two bread slices buttered side down, top with a slice of cheese.  Lay 2 bacon strips on top, then some sliced apple, another slice of cheese, and then the last piece of bread, buttered side up.

Building the Sandwich

3.  Place sandwiches, buttered side down, in a hot skillet or grill pan, and cook until cheese is melted, turning over about half way through.  Sandwich should be golden and melty.

Ooey, Gooey, Good!

Quick Fall Minestrone

Posted by deliciousonadollar in Main Dish, Quick Meals, Soups and tagged with , , , , , , , , ,

Fall Minetsrone Soup with Cheese Quesadillas

Hit the Road, Jack!  Yep, that’s us. We’re hitting the road, going on a little vacation, going south, going to visit family, going, going, almost gone.  But before I go, I need to clean out the refrigerator, use up all the bits of veggies that are in there.  So what I’m making is a minestrone soup.  This easy soup  is made up of fresh fall vegetables, some orzo and a can of beans, making it hearty and filling.  I plan to freeze what we don’t eat so we will have it waiting for us when we get back home.  I know that after a long day on the road we will be happy to have a warming, nourishing soup to  return to.

While I’m away, posts that I have already written will be published, but I will not be available to respond to your comments for a while.  I hope you enjoy reading what I’ve prepared for the next week or so.  When I get back I hope to have some new sights, foods, and dining experiences to tell you about.

QUICK FALL MINESTRONE  (alias, Clean- out -the- refrigerator- before -I -go -on- vacation soup)

YIELD:  8  servings

  • 1 Tablespoon vegetable oil

    My ingredients differ slightly from the recipe, because of what I had to use up.

  • 1 cup chopped onion
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 6 cups vegetable broth
  • 2 1/2 cups cubed peeled butternut squash ( I only had about half that amount so I added about 1 cup of cauliflower florettes)
  • 2 1/2 cups cubed peeled baking potato
  • 1 cup cut-up green beans, about 1/4 pound
  • 1/2 cup sliced carrot ( I used fennel instead)
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 4 cups chopped greens, such as kale, spinach, broccoli rabe
  • 1/2 cup uncooked orzo (rice-shaped pasta)
  • 1 (16-ounce) can cannellini beans or other white beans, rinsed and drained
  • grated fresh Parmesan cheese to sprinkle on top

1.  Heat the oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat.  Add onion and garlic, sauté  2 1/2 minutes or until tender.  Please excuse me,  I got so caught up in this step, I forgot to photograph it.  But I’m sure you know what sautéing onions and garlic look like. 🙂

Broth and seasonings added to the sautéed vegetables.

2.  Add the broth and the next 7 ingredients (broth through salt); bring to a boil.  Reduce heat, and simmer 3 minutes.

Greens added; in my version I used broccoli rabe.

3.  Add greens, orzo, and beans;  cook 7 – 10 minutes or until orzo is done and vegetables are tender.

Ready for the soup bowls.

4.  Ladle into bowls and sprinkle with cheese to serve.

My version of Fall Minestrone served with Cheese Quesadillas

To go along with the soup I made Cheese Quesadillas:  6 – inch flour tortillas with Monterey Jack cheese in the middle, warmed in a skillet till cheese melted.

Corn Pancakes With Lemon Chive Cream

Posted by deliciousonadollar in Breakfast, Brunch, Quick Meals and tagged with , , , , , , , ,

I think I was meant to live in a place where the weather is warm all year long.  I just love summer;  the sunshine, being outdoors, wearing summertime clothing, and especially the gardens and fresh produce to eat.  That’s why I go kicking and screaming into Fall, hanging onto the last remnants of summer.

One of the foods I particularly enjoy is fresh corn.  Mostly we eat it on the cob either steamed or grilled and slathered with butter.  As the season begins to wind down, however,  I begin to cut the kernels from the cobs and freeze them so I can continue to enjoy the corn later on in other ways.  This recipe is one which uses kernels of corn in a non-traditional way:  in creamy pancakes.

Since the amount of corn in these is substantial, and the pancakes are quite filling, they can stand in for a meal by adding some meat such as ham or sausage.  I like to make these for a Sunday night supper after a busy day outside.

CORN PANCAKES WITH LEMON-CHIVE CREAM

SERVINGS:   6

INGREDIENTS

  • 1/4 cup light sour cream
  • 2 Tablespoons chopped fresh chives
  • 1 teaspoon grated fresh lemon rind
  • 1/2 cup flour
  • 1/2 cup yellow cornmeal
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground red pepper
  • 1 1/4 cups fresh corn kernels, divided (about 3 ears)
  • 2/3 cup low-fat buttermilk
  • 3 Tablespoons butter, melted
  • 1 large egg

DIRECTIONS

1.  Combine first 3 ingredients in a small bowl and chill.

2.  Combine flour and next 5 ingredients – through pepper- in a medium bowl.

3.  Combine 1 cup corn kernels, buttermilk, butter, and egg in a blender; process until coarsely pureed.  Add pureed corn mixture to flour mixture, stirring until just combined.  Fold in remaining 1/4 cup corn.

4.  Pour about 2 Tablespoons batter per pancake onto a hot nonstick griddle or large skillet.  Cook 3 minutes or until tops are covered with bubbles and edges look cooked.  Carefully turn over; cook another 3 minutes or until bottoms are lightly browned.

Keep pancakes warm in a low oven while you finish cooking all of them.  Serve with the chive cream to dollop on top.

Corn Pancakes Hot off the Griddle with Lemon Chive Cream.

SOURCE:  Cooking Light,  August, 2012

Chicken Tostadas and Avocado Salsa

Posted by deliciousonadollar in Main Dish, Quick Meals and tagged with , , , , , , ,

Chicken Tostadas and Avocado Salsa

Occasionally when I’m out for the day and I know I won’t have much time to prepare a full meal I’ll pick up a Rotisserie Chicken at my local market.   I’ll add a vegetable and a salad and dinner’s ready.  But what happens to the chicken that wasn’t eaten at that meal?  Usually I make chicken salad  with it for lunches.  But last week when I was confronted with this situation, I wanted to do something different; I was tired of chicken salad.  Luckily for me I came across this recipe for Chicken Tostadas and Avocado Salsa that calls for two cups of shredded rotisserie chicken.  With a few additional ingredients that you probably already have on hand, this goes together quickly, and is fun to eat.

My husband and I were comfortable eating this whole recipe.  Unless you are serving children, just one of these is not enough.  They are a little messy to eat, but the flavor is sooo  good.   I’m sure any substitutions you might make would not detract from the enjoyment of eating these.

INGREDIENTS

SERVES 4

  • 3 Tablespoons fresh lime juice ( juice of 1 lime)
  • 1 1/2 Tablespoons olive oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 cup chopped tomatoes (remove as many seeds as possible)
  • 1/2 cup chopped onion or scallions
  • 1 Tablespoon chopped cilantro
  • 1 avocado, peeled and diced
  • 1 Tablespoon olive oil, divided
  • 4 ( 6-inch ) flour tortillas
  • 2 cups shredded green lettuce
  • 1 ( 15 ounce ) can black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 2 cups shredded rotisserie chicken
  • 1/4 cup crumbled queso fresco, or other favorite cheese

DIRECTIONS

1.  Combine the first 5 ingredients in a medium bowl, stirring with a whisk.  Add the tomato, onion, cilantro and avocado;  toss gently to coat.

2.  Heat a large cast-iron or nonstick skillet over medium heat.  Add 3/4 teaspoon oil to pan; swirl to coat.  Add 1 tortilla to pan; cook 1 minute on each side or until browned.  Repeat this 3 more times with remaining 2 1/4 teaspoons oil and tortillas.

3.  To serve:  place 1 tortilla on each of 4 plates.  Layer each tortilla with 1/2 cup lettuce, about 1/2 cup beans, 1/2 cup chicken, 1/4 cup avocado salsa, and 1 tablespoon cheese

SOURCE:    Cooking Light Magazine

Glazed Chicken and Szechuan Noodle Salad

Posted by deliciousonadollar in Main Dish, Quick Meals and tagged with , , , , , , , , , , ,

Would you believe I have spent all summer (until now) without a gas grill?  How is that possible you might ask?  Ours simply refused to light when we took it out of storage in the Spring.  My husband took it all apart, cleaned all the parts, refurbished the burner with new parts, put it back together and it still wouldn’t work.  Dang!   So while everyone else was having their cookouts, or talking about the great foods they cooked on their grills I was feeling totally left out, not having anything to contribute to that conversation.

Last weekend we finally got a new grill, all in pieces, in a HUGE box.  The nice guys at the big orange store brought it out and put it in my car for me, but I was dreading the task of helping to put it together.  But surprise! it was so simple.  The directions were clear, made perfect sense. and all the screws were even pre-installed so we didn’t end up with any extra parts.  This grill is just like having a gas stove on my back deck instead of in my kitchen.   We celebrated the new grill and how smart we were to put it together by grilling a steak for dinner that evening.  It was a very good steak but not especially blog-worthy.  (I like that word.)

My post today is about my first real effort to cook something a little jazzier on the grill; Glazed Chicken Thighs.  Since the recipe for the chicken contained some ingredients found in Asian cuisines, I paired it with another recipe I had for Szechuan Noodle Salad, and also included Sesame Broccoli.  This, then, is my complete menu.  It can be prepared in about 30 minutes.  While the grill is heating coat the chicken in the glaze mixture.  Grill the chicken.  Keep the chicken warm in a low oven, and cook the noodles and steam the broccoli. Season the noodles and broccoli and serve.

GLAZED CHICKEN and SZECHUAN NOODLE SALAD with SESAME BROCCOLI

SERVINGS:    4

INGREDIENTS–CHICKEN

  • 1 Tablespoon grated peeled fresh ginger
  • 3 Tablespoons hoisin sauce
  • 1 teaspoon olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon lower-sodium soy sauce
  • 8 skinless, boneless chicken thighs (about 1 1/2 pounds)
  • cooking spray

INGREDIENTS–NOODLES

  • 6 ounces uncooked udon noodles (thick, fresh Japanese wheat noodles), or whole-wheat linguine
  • 1/4 cup bottled Szechuan sauce
  • 1 Tablespoon creamy peanut butter
  • 2 teaspoons lower-sodium soy sauce
  • 2 teaspoons fresh lime juice
  • 1 cup matchstick-cut carrots
  • 1/2 cup matchstick-cut green onions

INGREDIENTS–BROCCOLI

  • About 1 pound broccoli, trimmed and cut into florets
  • 1 Tablespoon sesame seeds
  • 1 Tablespoon dark sesame oil
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

PREPARATION

1.  Preheat grill to medium-high heat.

2.  Combine fresh ginger, hoisin sauce, lime juice and olive oil in a large bowl.  Add chicken, toss to coat.

3.   Place chicken on grill rack coated with cooking spray.  Grill, about  4 minutes/side or until done.  Remove from grill, cover and keep warm.

The chicken could also be cooked indoors on an electric grill, or on the stove-top in a grill-pan.

4.  Cook noodles according to package directions.  Drain well.  Combine Szechuan sauce, peanut butter, soy sauce, and lime juice in a large bowl, stirring with a whisk.  Add noodles, carrots, and green onions; toss and serve with chicken.

5.  For the broccoli:  Add water to a saucepan to a depth to 1-inch.  Add broccoli florets, bring to a boil and simmer for 4-5 minutes until crisp-tender.  Place broccoli in a medium bowl.  Add the sesame oil and sesame seeds,  kosher salt and  black pepper. Toss well.

SOURCE:   Cooking Light   for both Glazed chicken thighs and Szechuan noodles.

Pineapple Jerk Chicken and Rice

Posted by deliciousonadollar in Main Dish, Quick Meals and tagged with , , , , , , , , ,

I made this dish for the very first time just a few days ago, and it came out so good I must tell you about it.  Normally I steer clear of dishes that I think will be very spicy.  From what I know about jerk seasoning, it is quite “hot”  since Scotch Bonnet peppers are usually  amongst the ingredients.  But on reviewing the ingredient list on the bottle of jerk seasoning marinade I became convinced that it would be OK.  So I purchased the suggested brand:  Lawrys Jerk Marinade, and proceeded with the recipe.

This is a one-dish meal featuring chicken breasts, pineapple, black beans, cilantro, onions and the jerk marinade served over brown rice.  It goes together quickly once you have everything prepped.   Mr. D.,  a person who likes spicy foods, was very complimentary when he tasted it.   It does have some heat to it especially with the jalapeño  chile in it, but I could tolerate and even enjoy it, so I know I will be making this dish again.

INGREDIENTS 

SERVES    4

  • 2 cups brown rice,  or 2 bags Boil-in-Bag brown rice, such as Uncle Ben’s
  • 1/4 cup Olive oil
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 1 jalapeño chile–stemmed, seeded and finely chopped
  • 1 1/2 pounds skinless boneless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
  • salt and pepper
  • 1/2 fresh pineapple cut into 3/4 inch pieces  (about 3 cups)
  • 1/2 cup jerk marinade, such as Lawry’s
  • 1 (15 oz.) can black beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1/2 cup chopped cilantro

1.  In a large pot of boiling, salted water, cook the rice, uncovered and stirring occasionally, until tender, about 30 minutes;  drain.  If using bagged rice, cook in boiling water 10-12 minutes, as package directs.

2.  Meanwhile, in a large skillet, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium heat.  Add the onion and jalapeño and cook until the onion is browned, 7 minutes;  transfer to a bowl.

3.  Add the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil to the same skillet and increase the heat to medium-high.  Season the chicken with salt and pepper, then add to the pan and cook until browned, 5 to 7 minutes.  Add the pineapple and jerk marinade and simmer until the chicken is cooked through, another 2-3 minutes.

4.  Stir in the onion mixture, black beans and cilantro; cook until the beans are heated through, about 1 minute.  Season with salt and pepper and serve over the rice.

SOURCE:   Every Day with Rachael Ray

Bacon and Pierogi Bake

Posted by deliciousonadollar in Main Dish, Quick Meals and tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

I sometimes rely  on convenience  foods from the freezer section of the supermarket when I am short on time.  They give a “jump-start” to dinner preparations, and often are more economical than what I can make at home.  Pierogis are one of those food items.  Pierogies are filled dumplings; the fillings varying from potatoes, to cheeses, to spinach, or any combinations of these.   The most common way I fix them is to boil them as directed on the package, and serve with melted butter and sautéed onions.  Teamed up with a protein item and a salad, they round out the meal by providing carbohydrates and, depending on their filling, a small additional amount of protein as well.

In this baked dish, however,  I pair pierogies with bacon and a very simple cheese sauce. Top with more cheese, bake for a short time and top with chopped tomatoes and green onions.  Serve with a green salad.  I think this dish is colorful and looks nice baked in gratin dishes for individual casseroles.

INGREDIENTS

Servings:  about 4

  • 1  package ( 16 oz.) frozen pierogies, filling of your choice
  • Cooking spray
  • 2-3 slices bacon, chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1/3 cup (3 oz.) 1/3-less fat cream cheese
  • 1/2 cup fat-free low sodium chicken broth
  • 1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
  • 1/4 cup sliced green onions
  • 1 plum tomato, seeded and chopped

DIRECTIONS

1.  Preheat oven to 400 degrees

2.  Arrange pierogies in an 11″ x 7″ baking dish, or individual casseroles, coated with cooking spray.

3.  Cook bacon in a skillet over medium heat until crisp; remove and drain on paper towel.  Set aside.

4.  Add garlic to drippings in pan, and cook for 30 seconds, stirring constantly.  Add 1/3 cup cream cheese to pan, cook for 1 minute or until cream cheese begins to melt, stirring frequently.  Gradually add  chicken broth, stirring with a whisk till smooth.   Pour this mixture evenly over the pierogies.

5.  Top with 1/2 cup cheddar cheese.  Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes or until bubbly and thoroughly heated.  Remove from oven, and sprinkle with bacon, green onions, and tomatoes.

       SOURCE:  adapted from  Cooking Light Magazine

Grilled Cheddar and Bacon Waffle Sandwich

Posted by deliciousonadollar in Breakfast, Brunch, Quick Meals, Snacks and tagged with , , , , , , , , , , ,

It seems that when ever I make waffles there are always some left over.  Does this happen to you, too?  What I usually do is toast the pieces in the toaster and have them for breakfast or a snack, spread with jam or peanut butter.  Well as luck would have it on the day I made the Summertime Vegetable Soup, (see July 16 post)  I had a few pieces of left-over waffle in the refrigerator.  I was planning on making grilled cheese sandwiches to go with the soup, when inspiration struck:  how about using the waffles instead of bread for the sandwiches.  Bingo!  I was all over that in a second!

Out came the waffles, some sliced cheddar cheese, and some precooked bacon.  On a hot grill pan I placed the bacon just to crisp it up, and it was nice enough to leave behind a tiny bit of fat to grease the pan.  Next I lay the bottom waffle piece on the pan, covered it with slices of the cheddar cheese, lay on the bacon, more cheese to cover, then the top layer of waffle.   Couldn’t be more simple.   Keep the heat on low to let the sandwich toast slowly, so the cheese will melt, but not burn the waffle, since it’s already cooked.   WOW!  These were delicious, and a perfect accompaniment to the soup.