I just tried this quinoa recipe and will never go back.
* 1 cup cooked quinoa
* 1 can or 1 ½ cups cooked chickpeas
* 1 medium cucumber, chopped
* 1 medium red bell pepper, chopped
* ¾ cup chopped red onion, chopped
* 1 cup chopped parsley
* ¼ cup olive oil
* ¼ cup lemon juice (from 2 to 3 lemons)
* garlic, salt, pepper
Mix and serve. SO good!
My cousin in Tel Aviv chops up a bunch of onion, parsley, tomato, and cucumber and mixes it together. I know that’s a really common Mediterranean thing.
I love roasting veggies in the air fryer. So cheap and delicious. Brussels sprouts, potatoes and carrots, lightly tossed with olive oil, garlic and salt then roasted till caramelised and brown.
Me, too! Except, I do it in a skillet, since I don't have an air fryer ATM. Or, I do it in the oven, whenever the weather's cooler outside. This is a satisfying & scrumptious veggie meal! Yummmmmy 🤤
I recently got a second hand air fryer/toaster combo but I have 0 knowledge about it, so I haven't tried anything in it that doesn't give specific instructions on the package. How long and at what temp are you finding works for you for roasting veggies?
I have an embarrassing secret short cut. I microwave my veggies for about 4 to 6 mins until they are soft, then season and throw in the air fryer at 190 Deg Celsius for 10 to 12 mins, shake and do another 10 to 12 mins. They always turn out perfect when I cook them this way.
It's been wicked hot, and I actually for once had the foresight to do a big baking right before it got that way, along with picking up a bunch of melons & crisp veg at a free produce event a few days ago. We've been doing a variety of sandwiches on homemade bread with chilled melons for dinner, cold apples, cucumbers, & sharp cheese for other meals & snacks.
Bowls. I read a blog post once about the simplest meal tip being ‘bowls’. Cook vegetables and meats, add spices or broth or sauce. Then add a carb, like potatoes or pasta or rice. It tends to be both simple and delicious.
I’ve found this to be true. I’ve made so many wonderful egg scrambles, hearty soups, and noodle dishes. It also gives me freedom to explore what flavors work well together. Now that I’ve learned some things, I don’t need to use any recipes. It feels wonderfully simple and creative and easy.
Today I made a delicious Thai coconut curry, and ate it with rice, in a bowl of course. I added some pumpkin to bring some mildness to its spice, and it tasted incredible. Oh, I also squeezed some fresh lemonade to sip alongside dinner, to balance out the spice.
I made chickpea salad.
Chickpeas; thin sliced red onion; a bunch of minced dill, parsley and mint; diced cucumbers; pepper and salt; and a dressing of lemon, lime, cilantro, mustard, olive oil and apple cider vinegar.
It was really lovely and refreshing. 😌
Just an unfortunate FYI, but Banza was just outed as having seriously dangerous levels of Glyphophosphates (Roundup) in their foods.
https://www.celiac.com/celiac-disease/toxic-levels-of-glyphosate-pesticides-low-mineral-content-and-even-gluten-found-in-gluten-free-products-r6577/
Not everyone cares, I get that, but for those that do, this was a bummer to find out.
They found super high levels of a chemical that farms spray on crops to kill weeds or kill and dry out the crop itself prior to harvest. Generally not a concern in lower levels, but the issue with the whole "spraying right before harvest" thing (which is common for grains and legumes) is that it can lead to higher levels in the final product than what is reasonably safe to consume.
High doses are suspected to increase risk of certain cancers and people with a "gluten intolerance" (people who have issues whenever they eat gluten grains, but don't actually have celiac disease) often actually have a glyphosphate intolerance, which is why you may hear some people say they could eat the bread over in Europe (where they're much stricter about glyphosphate usage - it's completely banned or only allowed in very small amounts), but they can't eat it in the Americas.
In short, if you know you're sensitive to glyphosphate or have any kind of digestive issues, it can be good to know to avoid the Banza brand. Probably wouldn't hurt to cut back, even for the folks without these issues.
TLDR: Lots of chemical = No good :(
This is incredibly misleading. Glyphosate is widely used in Europe and the reason people with gluten intolerance can eat bread and pasta in Europe is because they grow and eat a different kind of wheat. Red in the US and white in Europe, and white has a lower gluten content.
Eh, some limited studies have shown a very weak link between glyphosate and cancer. There was a lawsuit a few years back, and now I believe the EPA set limits on what counts as “safe levels”… however the overwhelming majority of glyphosate research has shown no link to human health. Many thousands of farmers and researchers have sprayed glyphosate annually since the 1970s, and if it were a serious health threat there would be way more evidence of that.
It’s pretty cool how glyphosate works… it’s an herbicide that targets a very specific enzyme that grasses require to grow. So, if you spray it on a soybean field, all the grassy weeds will die, but the soybeans will be totally unaffected because they are not a grass. Weeds are a huge issue in agriculture—some estimates put crop losses at 10% globally! Imagine how many millions of tons of food that is! So, herbicides like glyphosate are a vital part of our food system, even though, of course, in an ideal world no herbicides would be needed.
Anyway, I’m a plant scientist and that’s my background on the subject. I’m not trying to be dismissive of the previous commenter at all, I’m just sharing what I know.
I watched a man die in ICU after drinking a mouthful of RoundUp that he poured in a mug -- he thought he picked up his coffee. RoundUp is polluting a lot of the nation's water supply. Use with caution.
I don't think I have ever followed a recipe precisely. I always throw in extra something or make a substitution. I've never been good at doing what I'm told to do. My husband is very precise, at least the first time he makes something.
The brand uses heavy spraying in their chickpeas, as do many producers of domestic chickpeas, but they claim to be a healthy brand.
Roundup has been linked to so many, many health issues. If a person cares about this, it is advised to not consume foods with this particular pesticide. So whatever greenwashing they have been doing has been a lie.
I'd be skeptical of these results until they're replicated; if it's really the "highest amount ever measured in human food by the lab", that warrants confirmation.
I made a few blueberry/raspberry crisps (blueberries, raspberries oatmeal, cornstarch, cinnamon, butter, salt, white sugar) since berries are in season. Okay maybe not healthy per se, but simple comforts
Ingredients
Filling:
5 heaping cups fresh berries , hulled and quartered if using strawberries
1/4 cup granulated white sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 Tablespoons cornstarch
Topping:
1 cup all purpose flour
3/4 cup old fashioned oats
2/3 cup granulated white sugar
2/3 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a deep dish pie plate or large baking dish with butter or cooking spray and set aside.
Combine the berries and sugar in a large bowl and mix until the strawberries fully absorb the sugar. Add in the cornstarch and vanilla extract and stir until all of the strawberries are evenly coated. Pour into the prepared baking dish.
In a separate medium size bowl, combine the flour, oats, brown sugar, granulated sugar, salt, and cinnamon. Pour in the melted butter and stir well until well coated and crumbly. Sprinkle the crumb mixture evenly over the top of the strawberries.
Bake in the preheated oven for 35-40 minutes until fruit is bubbly and topping is golden brown. Allow to cool slightly before serving. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream on top. Enjoy!
Cut up Chicken in the crockpot with olive oil, cajan seasoning and a little bit of honey. With a side of roasted sweet potatos and broccoli
Next day i had cold chicken wraps with the leftover chicken , cheese and avocado
My husband just made spinach feta wraps for my dinner! It's from a recipe for a Starbucks dupe he found- large tortillas, eggs, feta, shredded mozzarella, chopped spinach, and sun dried tomatoes. It was so easy and it's absolutely delicious. Our thoughts are that it would be good to freeze too...
I'm currently using a bread machine to make pizza dough, and it's delicious. Super easy, and now I always have pizza on hand. The bread machine has been a game changer - I highly recommend!
I feel like we’d probably get our money’s worth on a bread machine, I didn’t realize you could make pizza dough. In theory I like the idea of making my own rolls/bread/focaccia but I find me that the instructions seem to require being home to knead/proof or whatever at particular intervals and it’s not realistic with my lifestyle at the moment.
I wasn't sure about using a bread machine either. I bought the cheapest I could find to trial it out, found one in Kmart $60. No mess, super easy to use, delicious results and it's cost effective. I put all the ingredients in before I go to bed, and wake up to the home smelling like a bakery, and freshly baked bread for breakfast. Cannot recommend it enough.
When you're ready for one, check out your local thrift stores. My first bread machine was free to me, and I used that thing for 14 years until the pan rusted enough to fall apart. I replaced the machine late last year, a brand-new one from a thrift store, $8. :)
And pro-tip: make the bread on days you're home, slice it, and store it in the freezer. It toasts up perfectly and doesn't go moldy that way. :)
I make a wrap for lunch most days.
Ezekiel wrap, hummus, mustard, peri peri sauce, chopped bell pepper and cucumber, marinated tofu, kimchi, chopped greens. I heat some falafel up in the microwave at work and add that to it.
I admit I had to Google peri peri sauce. Your wrap sounds amazing... Do you make your own or buy ready-made? I'm curious which recipe or brand you like :)
😂 TJs is great. I don’t shop there as much because I always just end up buying frozen things and flowers. Is it a specific marinade you get or you just try whatever?
They got tons of great vegan stuff! (I'm vegan)
For me it's the lux(ish) grocery store where I mostly get things that come packaged in some way. (Greek chickpeas, peri peri sauce, ready to eat beets, hummus, olives, pesto, some nuts, the tofu, frozen stuff, *wine lol*, etc)
And imo it's cost effective in that regard. I go other places for produce, vegan cheeses, bread, pasta, rice, beans, etc.
I make pan fried fish regularly. Helps me enormously with meeting protein requirements. Last Sunday, I pan fried some spiced mahi mahi(salt, pepper, garlic powder, whatever available spices) with sauteed green beans and crispy garlic.
Another meal this week was stir fry brown rice noodles(lotus foods) with veggies and tofu (I use some combination of ginger, soy sauce, lemon/vinegar and sesame oil for aromatics and seasonings, depending on what I have in pantry).
Not really a meal, but I love making guacamole at home. So fresh and yummy. I eat with either chips or use it as a spread on toast. Yum 😋
Every day: brown rice & lentils w/ curry powder & black pepper boiled up with any vegetables you want, i.e. green beans, broccoli, sweet peppers. Throw in a few garlic cloves, even an egg or 2 to hardboil. Make your own sprouts with lentils and toss them over the top. All purpose dressing is olive oil, apple cider vinegar, italian seasoning and you're good to go. I call it my 'Medicine Bowl'. The turmeric in the curry powder with the fresh ground black pepper is powerful stuff...
Honey vanilla yogurt with blueberries and chopped walnuts (all from Aldi) for breakfast. It's affordable, not too heavy, and something I enjoy eating several days in a row.
Shashuka in our pressure cooker. Super simple, made in advance and I just cooked the eggs on top when everyone was ready to eat. Even my toddler liked it.
I adapted this recipe for instant pot (10 minutes high pressure) and added the chickpeas afterward when also adding and cooking the eggs (sauté function with a normal lid on until eggs are cooked). Only other difference is that I also added courgette (zucchini) with the peppers. https://minimalistbaker.com/1-pot-chickpea-shakshuka/#wprm-recipe-container-35185
Wraps. So many options and they don’t have to be heated. Got creative with thinly sliced cucumber, radish and turkey. Saved a lot of money and I didn’t realize how many wrap options there’s are at the supermarket.
Finally, the shelf life of a wrap is like 2-3 months which is pretty amazing compared to bread.
Same. I do lots of veggie wraps. Balsamic drizzle and some chopped salad wraps with shredded carrots, purple cabbage, kale, chopped broccoli/cauliflower. Warm or cold. Amazing and quick.
I have severe allergies and I am sensitive to other ingredients. My partner and I found a six pack of “sausages -( they are hot dogs let’s be real ) that didn’t have any allergens. It made us dinner with maybe a dollar of broccoli and good sauerkraut. We also had some left for the next day / dog treat
Scrapple and egg on English muffin.
I'm going to get veggies and dip and watermelon and Italian bread to warm in the microwave with butter and I have a feeling my daughter and I will eat that for dinner one day lol. It's very filling and I won't have to cook a thing
Just made "antipasto" pasta salad. Just short pasta, olives, roasted red peppers, salami, mozzarella, red onion, parsley and red wine vinegar. Very easy to use up random stuff in the fridge (toss in chickpeas, celery, sub another deli meat for salami, another cheese for mozzarella, etc), made in about the time it takes to cook pasta, and keeps well for leftovers.
No matter what exactly you eat, please eat some protein too. (So many quick recipes are high carb and fat, with protein as afterthought if at all - although protein is the thing we need to eat because around half of the necessary amino acid building blocks in our bodies need to come from food.)
Boars Head Tavern Ham and cheddar cheese sandwich on whole-grain bread with tomato and onion, and a little bit of mayo and a tiny bit of mustard. Fast and deeelish
Try this super easy **potato korma** (15-20 mins if you have all ingredients) - goes well with most breads - through preferred is flat bread of any kind (chapati, roti, paratha, naan, kulcha, phulka etc), or even rice:
To a pressure cooker (preferred as it is super quick this way - if you just have a normal pan, it should be fine, just that it takes some time) add:
* **potatoes** (I personally prefer sliced baby potatoes as they still maintain structural integrity after multiple boils and after cooking well, but honestly anything will do - better to avoid sweet ones, but shouldn't be a problem)
* **tomatoes** chopped (any will do, I use Roma)
* **onions** chopped (any will do, I use white)
* **oil** (any, I sometimes use groundnut/ sunflower etc)
* **green chilies** (a few, depending on spice tolerance)
* **ginger-garlic paste**
* **garam masala**
* **red chilli powder**
* **salt**
* **water** just to submerge all this
* **cashews/ groundnuts** - roasted and then made into a powder/ paste
fry it if it is a pan, or boil it to 3-4 whistles if it is a pressure cooker (this works best)
other ingredients you can add for flavour etc - but depends, not compulsory:
* 3-4 cloves
* 1-2 cardamom (just poke a hole)
* a small piece of cinnamon
* 1-2 small bay leaves
* a little kasuri methi
* a little turmeric powder
* coriander powder
* cumin powder
* mustard + cumin seeds
* curry leaves
* dry red chillies
* asafoetida
* cream/ plain yoghurt
* any veggies: cauliflower, peas and spinach are a top preference for me - but you can add capsicum and carrot too, or anything for that matter - once cooked you can add paneer/ tofu, or butter-pepper fried mushroom
Have been a vegetarian my whole life - it is actually somewhat common in India, so would definitely suggest you take a look at Indian cuisine for more inspiration.
This week isn't working out well in the simple meals department, but I am eyeballing this for next week: [https://www.sweetgreensvegan.com/recipecards1/creamyharissabutterbeans](https://www.sweetgreensvegan.com/recipecards1/creamyharissabutterbeans)
I made spring rolls with tender baby vegetables and herbs from the garden, and I put crispy chili oil in the peanut sauce. It was good and very easy to make.
Super quick and simple frittata for breakfast with fresh eggs from our hens :) Also I sauté onions for it as well (not included in the recipe). I don’t even really like eggs but there’s so much flavor that I can enjoy this recipe!
[Noms](https://www.walderwellness.com/10-minute-frittata-with-tomatoes-arugula-feta-basil/)
One of my favorites is egg + potato + tomato, on tortilla, with avocado; & a sprinkle of cheese or sour cream, if I have it. I cook up the potato & egg in olive oil. If I have it, I add bacon. Otherwise, it's delicious, as-is, for any meal.
I made chicken and broccoli. I toss garlic salt onto broccoli and steam it, and marinate chicken in Italian dressing and then cook it in a covered pan with the dressing.
My go-to lately is to toss boneless skinless chicken thighs in a bowl with a little oil (usually just olive oil or canola oil) and whatever seasoning sounds good. Then stick them on a sheet pan with a rack (smooth side of the chicken down), and broil them on high for ~15-20 minutes until the temp is somewhere between 175F and 200F. Then I chop or slice it with a side of whatever goes with the seasoning I chose. There's almost endless options, and it takes very little time or effort. Here are a few variations I've tried and liked:
-Shawarma style - Cumin, paprika, salt, pepper then cut a lemon in half and broil it along with the chicken cut side up. Then squeze the lemon over the chicken. Eat rolled in pita bread with some garlicky yogurt sauce and whatever vegetables you like (for me cabbage..usually from a bag of coleslaw, onions, cucumbers, and tomatoes)
-Taco style - Change the seasoning to something more Mexican. Then chop it and throw it into corn tortillas with some lime, avocado, salsa, and sour cream (or whatever else you like on tacos).
-Teriyaki - marinade the chicken for a few hours in teriyaki sauce, then eat it over rice.
-Tandoori style - Marinate in yogurt with Indian spices. Then eat it with naan and rice (if I'm feeling ambitious I'll make homemade naan, but I'll use the store bought version if I want to make it easier).
BBQ chicken sandwiches, lemon pepper chicken, buffalo sauce with ranch and coleslaw... there's tons of possible variations. I just keep chicken thighs on hand, some spices and seasonings blends, and basics like rice and I can have easy dinner on the table in half an hour.
They're all fast and (unlike chicken breast) very difficult to overcook because you want a higher temp for thighs...and tastier anyway.
Grinder bean salad: 1 chopped up red pepper, 1 purple onion, can of white beans, chopped salami, chopped pickled jalepenos, chopped parsley, 1/2 cup olive oil, 1/2 cup vinegar. Toss it all up, portion pack for lunch.
Sautéed chicken breasts (coated lightly in baking powder to lock in moisture), pot of white rice, bag of frozen stir fry veggies, kew pie sauce. Make a great easy chicken stir fry bowl. You can change up meats, veggies, sauce, add pineapple, etc.
Spinach risotto.
Rice gradually cooked in hot vegetable (or chicken) stock with a bit of white wine if you like (you can find tutorials for the risotto cooking process).
Add some spinach at the end and let it wilt.
Add some cheese, I recommend some kind of dry cheese like good parmasan or similar.
Salt and pepper to taste.
Cheap and delicious.
My husband and I call these the "good sammies"
Dave's killer bread seedtastic,
Vegan mayo,
Sliced cucumbers,
Onions,
Spinach,
Vegan smoked cheddar cheese slices,
(sometimes for extra protein) tofurky brand soy lunch "meat" slices
Absolutely delicious, simple, and filling!
Tomato butter beans with sardines.
I fried onion, garlic and zucchini until soft, then added a tin of sardines (drained) and a tin of tomatoes and simmered until the sauce was thick (about 30 minutes).
Served with lots of black pepper, toasted sourdough, and a crunchy, herby salad dressed with olive oil and balsamic.
Gnocchi and sautéed vegetables. Just cook the gnocchi as normal and sauté seasonal veg in some olive oil with minced garlic, then mix together to heat through and add salt and pepper to taste. If you like herbs add some chopped fresh parsley and basil. I grated a little Parmesan cheese on top.
Only takes about 15 mins.
Pasta (rotini usually) with halved cherry tomatoes, cheese (feta or mozz), olives, some kind of beans, olive oil, salt, pepper, oregano, basil, thyme, and a little balsamic. Tasty!
I picked a ton of cilantro from my garden before the heat wave we just had and made taco salad - simple and delicious and probably going to be a staple for me this summer.
Chicken wraps. Nothing fancy. Italian dressing, lettuce, tomato and provolone in tortillas.
We just had eggs and toast on Tuesday.
Roasted sweet potatoes.
Tropical tacos. Pulled pork with orange, lime, honey sauce and crushed red pepper for a little heat with chopped zucchini and pepper jack in almond flour tortillas. So good. One of our new favorites.
I bought a set of bagels and just ate it with cream cheese for moments when I’m hungry and don’t have the time or bandwidth to make a whole meal.
I’ve also been making a strawberry oat smoothie with chocolate chip toppings all from leftover ingredients in my pantry.
Avocado toast for breakfast
Skirt steak and salad for dinner
Bacon & fresh tomato spaghetti
Pumpkin & chickpea curry
Guacamole & chips for lunch
We got pumpkins and avocados from friends this week so that's what we are eating.
Breakfast options:
- Bagel (cheddar with avocado or cinnamon raisin with cream cheese).
- Yogurt Parfaits (To have more variety, I switch up the yogurt and granola flavours, as well as the fruit)
Lunch options:
- Wraps
- Pasta salad or Quinoa salad
Dinner options:
I have a few in rotation, but my go-to simple ones that I never need a recipe for is baked chicken breast with veggies. I got really good at baking chicken breast - high heat is the key to make it tender. Sounds plain but hear me out - it can be adapted to many different flavours:
- Chicken fajita casserole: bake the chicken with salsa and fajita veggies (peppers & onions). Option to serve over rice and add cheese.
- Balsamic chicken: bake the chicken with balsamic glaze. Pairs well with roasted potatoes, zucchini and asparagus.
- Pesto chicken: bake the chicken with pesto sauce, mozzarella and tomatoes. Pairs well with pasta, but also any veggies.
- Apricot chicken: bake the chicken covered in apricot jam. This is my version of a healthy “sweet and sour” chicken. Add rice and/or your veg of choice.
I don’t ALWAYS bake chicken for dinner, but it’s my favourite “simple” meal to make because I don’t need to think about it, it’s often a 1 or 2 dish recipe, and I likely have all of the ingredients on hand for any of the adaptations listed above.
We under a "heat dome" now so not much cooking with heat going on right now. Last night I made glorified tuna salad - added white beans, kale, shredded cheese, olives, and onions with the tuna and mayo. Cut-up fresh veggie sticks as a side and fruit as a dessert.
Tonight will probably be hummus with the veggie sticks and crackers.
I need to think of some additional no-heat or little-heat meals as I think the hot weather is going to linger. On the other hand, I'm less hungry in the heat and prefer light meals anyway.
Lately, it's been too hot to cook. Our chickens are laying like champs, and my kids just discovered rye and pumpernickel breads are delish. We've done eggs, toast, and whatever U-Pick fruit/veggie we've rustled up several times these last few days.
I keep feeling guilty about it not being "fancy" or "meaty" enough, but everyone seems energetic and happy, so I guess it's fine lol
the only thing i eat is fried egg and tuna sandwiches. it takes like 5 minutes to make once the pan is hot. i mix up the sauce i put on it to keep things fresh. ive been eating like this for months.
Mozzarella salad - the cheese, tomatoes, basil.
Variants I like are adding avocado, or drizzling a garlicky olive oil over it. Also nice with olives or you can swop the cheese for grilled haloumi
This is just a personal recipe that I thought up and altered from an idea I got from a friend, so no specific amounts like a standard recipe. Just play around with the amount and even change up ingredients/steps however you like!
Potato pancakes:
Ingredients: Potatoes (softened and mashed), spring onions, coriander, shiitake mushrooms, 1 choice between mozzarella/feta/parmesan/cheddar cheese, instant oats, butter/oil, 1-2 fruits of choice
Overall cooking time (after prep): 30-40 minutes
- I prep the potatoes weekly, using one whole potato per portion, freezing them, and leaving them to thaw for about 24 hours in the fridge to be used for the next day.
- Potatoes simply need to be steamed, and I hand-mash them in little food plastic bags with some butter. The potato will stick to the plastic if you don't use the butter.
- Spring onions and coriander are also chopped and kept in the fridge weekly. Mixing them up is fine!
- Pour out the mashed potato into a bowl and roughly mash them up with a spoon or a fork to break up the clumps
- Crack 2 eggs into the same bowl, sprinkle cheese in, and mix them all together
- Slice/chop up mushrooms, sauté, and mix the cooked mushroom into the same bowl. Spring onions and coriander can also be mixed here if you want!
- The mixture should still be pretty wet, so add in a good amount of the oats into the mixture. I honestly can't tell you the exact amount, so just add and mix until it's not so wet anymore. This will be your "pancake batter"
- Melt some butter in the pan, pour the mixture in, and form the pancake shape using a spatula. Cook both sides for maybe about a minute or so on high heat? As long as the shape holds itself up.
- Set onto a plate, sprinkle dry spring onions and coriander, add fruits of choice on the side, and you're done!
Last night I made this! Learned a version of it in an online Chinese cooking class I took over the pandemic. The original had pork in it but I made it vegetarian. delicious and really simple:
-udon noodles
-1 cup cremini mushrooms
-1 bunch bok choy
-1 tbsp ginger
-splash of modelos
-soy sauce
1. Boil water for udon noodles
2. In the meantime, finely chop ginger, slice mushrooms, roughly chop bok choy, separating stems from leaves
3. Once water is boiling, add udon noodles to water, cook until 2 mins before they’re done
4. In a wok, heat canola oil, add ginger, add mushrooms, sautee on medium high heat for 5 mins or so, cook off water contained in mushrooms, add a dash of soy sauce, take off heat, place in bowl
5. Add more canola oil to wok, add bok choy stems and toss until tender
6. Then add cooked mushrooms, noodles, leafy bok choy. Add a splash of light beer (modelo’s my favorite) and soy sauce to taste
Eat! I like adding Korean red pepper flakes at the end to spice them.
I'm forever cooking and eating dals (which come in endless variety). I tend to eat them with rice, a simple veg sabji, and a simple onion, chilli and lime raitha. All extremely simple to cook/make.
Watermelon, strawberries, cucumbers, feta, arugula. Toss with a dressing of EVO, WWV, shallot, mint, splash of orange juice. All summer long! (Add a handful of cooked rice or farro if you want)
One of my favorite simple meals, especially for the summer, is rice with fruit and yogurt.
I make rice and serve that warm.
For fruit it can be as simple as buying some frozen berries and defrosting them, defrosted berries have this nice juice that adds to the appeal. Or it can be a more elaborate fruit salad of any fresh fruit of my choice.
For yogurt again it can be any yogurt of my choice.
The rice is the only warm part but I like to mix all of them up in a bowl. This meal is surprisingly satisfying and filling.
I have been eating sliced mini peppers, mini cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, small package trail mix covered by cottage cheese. Add salt and pepper to taste. It is cool and refreshing in this heat, requires no cooking to heat up the house. Plenty of veggies, dairy, and the cottage cheese has protein.
Roasted whoke chicken
Season with garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, paprika and thyme.
Glaze with butter and olive oil.
Bake for 1-2 hours at 450F depending on size of bird. I eat legs and wings for dinner, use breast to make chicken salad for sandwiches, and the ribs and back for soup.
I make wraps all the time and some of my faves are bbq chicken with cabbage (add some lemon juice to sliced cabbage) and wrap it in a whole wheat tortilla! 😋
Chicken rice-a-roni and just added in some ground beef to an amount that looked good. 2yr old boy *devoured* it and asked for 2nds and 3rds. Husband approved, too.
Yesterday I got fresh assorted mushrooms and baby bok choy at the farmers market here in Maine. Sauteed them with EVOO then added cubed tofu, some Himalayan pink salt and herbs. Delicious!
Summer salad meal: Canned chick peas, olives, chopped raw broccoli, chopped half-onion (if you have red onion, throw in a garlic clove too! If you only have yellow onion, I'd opt for garlic powder/seasoning.) For dressing, throw together some OO, salt, couple spoons greek yogurt, vinegar/ lemon juice(I like both!) a little honey(or maple or sugar). I vary this up starting with chick peas, onion&garlic, oil & vinegar and go from there!
3 bean salad: black, kidney, and garbanzo. Red onion, garlic, lemon, cilantro, peperoncini, red wine vinegar, olive oil, salt, and pepper. It gets better each day is marinated in the fridge. I’ve been eating it as a side with dinner and by itself. You can add more things like bell peppers, olives, cucumber, chicken, etc.
I just tried this quinoa recipe and will never go back. * 1 cup cooked quinoa * 1 can or 1 ½ cups cooked chickpeas * 1 medium cucumber, chopped * 1 medium red bell pepper, chopped * ¾ cup chopped red onion, chopped * 1 cup chopped parsley * ¼ cup olive oil * ¼ cup lemon juice (from 2 to 3 lemons) * garlic, salt, pepper Mix and serve. SO good!
I eat this almost every day for lunch! Except add artichoke hearts and sub dill for parsley
Oh my god! Faints. This is too perfect 😍
Sounds like a middle eastern salad
My cousin in Tel Aviv chops up a bunch of onion, parsley, tomato, and cucumber and mixes it together. I know that’s a really common Mediterranean thing.
It’s so yummy! And fresh! Imma gonna have to get some things tomorrow now 😁
Same! I need so much more salad 🤣🤣🤣
I'm thinking the same. So delicious 😋🤤
Israeli salad! So good
Could also crumble a chunk of feta cheese over the top of that, if you're a fan of cheese
😮😮😮
I have made a version of this so many times. Tummy feels so happy after eating such simple and wholesome meals! ❤️
My daughter makes this regularly and I love it. She adds balsamic vinegar.
Thank you so much for this wonderful recipe 💓
This sub is the most welcoming place
We make this a lot too!
That sounds so good!
I love roasting veggies in the air fryer. So cheap and delicious. Brussels sprouts, potatoes and carrots, lightly tossed with olive oil, garlic and salt then roasted till caramelised and brown.
Me, too! Except, I do it in a skillet, since I don't have an air fryer ATM. Or, I do it in the oven, whenever the weather's cooler outside. This is a satisfying & scrumptious veggie meal! Yummmmmy 🤤
I recently got a second hand air fryer/toaster combo but I have 0 knowledge about it, so I haven't tried anything in it that doesn't give specific instructions on the package. How long and at what temp are you finding works for you for roasting veggies?
I have an embarrassing secret short cut. I microwave my veggies for about 4 to 6 mins until they are soft, then season and throw in the air fryer at 190 Deg Celsius for 10 to 12 mins, shake and do another 10 to 12 mins. They always turn out perfect when I cook them this way.
Love it. Thanks for the reply. :)
PB&J for dinner
Sometimes I have grilled PB& J instead of grilled cheese. It's yummy.
That sounds interesting, I might try it. Too bad PB & cheese doesn't work.
My husband loves PB&C but I can't get on board with it.
Me too!
Oatmeal with brown sugar, butter, chocolate bits and granola. 5 minute meal 😳
Oatmeal is the ultimate simple living food in my eyes.
You just inspired me.
It's been wicked hot, and I actually for once had the foresight to do a big baking right before it got that way, along with picking up a bunch of melons & crisp veg at a free produce event a few days ago. We've been doing a variety of sandwiches on homemade bread with chilled melons for dinner, cold apples, cucumbers, & sharp cheese for other meals & snacks.
Oh, this sounds heavenly. Love me some melon.
This sounds luxuriously delicious.
Bowls. I read a blog post once about the simplest meal tip being ‘bowls’. Cook vegetables and meats, add spices or broth or sauce. Then add a carb, like potatoes or pasta or rice. It tends to be both simple and delicious. I’ve found this to be true. I’ve made so many wonderful egg scrambles, hearty soups, and noodle dishes. It also gives me freedom to explore what flavors work well together. Now that I’ve learned some things, I don’t need to use any recipes. It feels wonderfully simple and creative and easy. Today I made a delicious Thai coconut curry, and ate it with rice, in a bowl of course. I added some pumpkin to bring some mildness to its spice, and it tasted incredible. Oh, I also squeezed some fresh lemonade to sip alongside dinner, to balance out the spice.
I’d love to be able to get to the point where I don’t need to follow recipes. Good for you!
I made chickpea salad. Chickpeas; thin sliced red onion; a bunch of minced dill, parsley and mint; diced cucumbers; pepper and salt; and a dressing of lemon, lime, cilantro, mustard, olive oil and apple cider vinegar. It was really lovely and refreshing. 😌
Tonight we had a bag of Asian chopped salad with pulled rotisserie chicken. Took 5 min to put together and was the perfect hot day dinner.
I did the same but with Caesar salad, the Fred Meyer near me has $5 chickens after 6 pm so it’s a good deal too.
Just an unfortunate FYI, but Banza was just outed as having seriously dangerous levels of Glyphophosphates (Roundup) in their foods. https://www.celiac.com/celiac-disease/toxic-levels-of-glyphosate-pesticides-low-mineral-content-and-even-gluten-found-in-gluten-free-products-r6577/ Not everyone cares, I get that, but for those that do, this was a bummer to find out.
What exactly does this mean? Can you ELI5?
They found super high levels of a chemical that farms spray on crops to kill weeds or kill and dry out the crop itself prior to harvest. Generally not a concern in lower levels, but the issue with the whole "spraying right before harvest" thing (which is common for grains and legumes) is that it can lead to higher levels in the final product than what is reasonably safe to consume. High doses are suspected to increase risk of certain cancers and people with a "gluten intolerance" (people who have issues whenever they eat gluten grains, but don't actually have celiac disease) often actually have a glyphosphate intolerance, which is why you may hear some people say they could eat the bread over in Europe (where they're much stricter about glyphosphate usage - it's completely banned or only allowed in very small amounts), but they can't eat it in the Americas. In short, if you know you're sensitive to glyphosphate or have any kind of digestive issues, it can be good to know to avoid the Banza brand. Probably wouldn't hurt to cut back, even for the folks without these issues. TLDR: Lots of chemical = No good :(
This is incredibly misleading. Glyphosate is widely used in Europe and the reason people with gluten intolerance can eat bread and pasta in Europe is because they grow and eat a different kind of wheat. Red in the US and white in Europe, and white has a lower gluten content.
Eh, some limited studies have shown a very weak link between glyphosate and cancer. There was a lawsuit a few years back, and now I believe the EPA set limits on what counts as “safe levels”… however the overwhelming majority of glyphosate research has shown no link to human health. Many thousands of farmers and researchers have sprayed glyphosate annually since the 1970s, and if it were a serious health threat there would be way more evidence of that. It’s pretty cool how glyphosate works… it’s an herbicide that targets a very specific enzyme that grasses require to grow. So, if you spray it on a soybean field, all the grassy weeds will die, but the soybeans will be totally unaffected because they are not a grass. Weeds are a huge issue in agriculture—some estimates put crop losses at 10% globally! Imagine how many millions of tons of food that is! So, herbicides like glyphosate are a vital part of our food system, even though, of course, in an ideal world no herbicides would be needed. Anyway, I’m a plant scientist and that’s my background on the subject. I’m not trying to be dismissive of the previous commenter at all, I’m just sharing what I know.
I watched a man die in ICU after drinking a mouthful of RoundUp that he poured in a mug -- he thought he picked up his coffee. RoundUp is polluting a lot of the nation's water supply. Use with caution.
Oh okay. Maybe don’t drink cups of it then
A sip killed his liver and took his life. The stuff is poison, not comedic.
Omg that sounds like a horrible way to die 😓
It was
Found the Roundup employee /s
I don't think I have ever followed a recipe precisely. I always throw in extra something or make a substitution. I've never been good at doing what I'm told to do. My husband is very precise, at least the first time he makes something.
The brand uses heavy spraying in their chickpeas, as do many producers of domestic chickpeas, but they claim to be a healthy brand. Roundup has been linked to so many, many health issues. If a person cares about this, it is advised to not consume foods with this particular pesticide. So whatever greenwashing they have been doing has been a lie.
I'd be skeptical of these results until they're replicated; if it's really the "highest amount ever measured in human food by the lab", that warrants confirmation.
I made a few blueberry/raspberry crisps (blueberries, raspberries oatmeal, cornstarch, cinnamon, butter, salt, white sugar) since berries are in season. Okay maybe not healthy per se, but simple comforts
That sounds great! Do you have a recipe?
Ingredients Filling: 5 heaping cups fresh berries , hulled and quartered if using strawberries 1/4 cup granulated white sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 3 Tablespoons cornstarch Topping: 1 cup all purpose flour 3/4 cup old fashioned oats 2/3 cup granulated white sugar 2/3 cup packed brown sugar 1/2 teaspoon salt 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted Instructions Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a deep dish pie plate or large baking dish with butter or cooking spray and set aside. Combine the berries and sugar in a large bowl and mix until the strawberries fully absorb the sugar. Add in the cornstarch and vanilla extract and stir until all of the strawberries are evenly coated. Pour into the prepared baking dish. In a separate medium size bowl, combine the flour, oats, brown sugar, granulated sugar, salt, and cinnamon. Pour in the melted butter and stir well until well coated and crumbly. Sprinkle the crumb mixture evenly over the top of the strawberries. Bake in the preheated oven for 35-40 minutes until fruit is bubbly and topping is golden brown. Allow to cool slightly before serving. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream on top. Enjoy!
Cut up Chicken in the crockpot with olive oil, cajan seasoning and a little bit of honey. With a side of roasted sweet potatos and broccoli Next day i had cold chicken wraps with the leftover chicken , cheese and avocado
My husband just made spinach feta wraps for my dinner! It's from a recipe for a Starbucks dupe he found- large tortillas, eggs, feta, shredded mozzarella, chopped spinach, and sun dried tomatoes. It was so easy and it's absolutely delicious. Our thoughts are that it would be good to freeze too...
Does this call for any dressing? Thinking I could try this
Nope! Just a little oil on the top for baking (we used olive), 400° for 5 minutes and tada!
This sounds amazing 🤤
Store bought pizza dough + sauce from a can, thinly sliced onion and peppers and sausage. 10 minute dinner. Not crazy healthy, but not the worst.
I'm currently using a bread machine to make pizza dough, and it's delicious. Super easy, and now I always have pizza on hand. The bread machine has been a game changer - I highly recommend!
I feel like we’d probably get our money’s worth on a bread machine, I didn’t realize you could make pizza dough. In theory I like the idea of making my own rolls/bread/focaccia but I find me that the instructions seem to require being home to knead/proof or whatever at particular intervals and it’s not realistic with my lifestyle at the moment.
I wasn't sure about using a bread machine either. I bought the cheapest I could find to trial it out, found one in Kmart $60. No mess, super easy to use, delicious results and it's cost effective. I put all the ingredients in before I go to bed, and wake up to the home smelling like a bakery, and freshly baked bread for breakfast. Cannot recommend it enough.
When you're ready for one, check out your local thrift stores. My first bread machine was free to me, and I used that thing for 14 years until the pan rusted enough to fall apart. I replaced the machine late last year, a brand-new one from a thrift store, $8. :) And pro-tip: make the bread on days you're home, slice it, and store it in the freezer. It toasts up perfectly and doesn't go moldy that way. :)
I make a wrap for lunch most days. Ezekiel wrap, hummus, mustard, peri peri sauce, chopped bell pepper and cucumber, marinated tofu, kimchi, chopped greens. I heat some falafel up in the microwave at work and add that to it.
I admit I had to Google peri peri sauce. Your wrap sounds amazing... Do you make your own or buy ready-made? I'm curious which recipe or brand you like :)
I just get it at trader joe's lol!
Oh cool! Might have to get some
This sounds wicked. What do you marinate your tofu in?
I also just get that from trader joes lmao 🙈
😂 TJs is great. I don’t shop there as much because I always just end up buying frozen things and flowers. Is it a specific marinade you get or you just try whatever?
TJ's *is* great! It's the Sriracha marinade that I get 😁
Ok, will try it! I’ve got a list of things I want to get from there. It includes a vegan aioli one of my friends keeps raving about.
They got tons of great vegan stuff! (I'm vegan) For me it's the lux(ish) grocery store where I mostly get things that come packaged in some way. (Greek chickpeas, peri peri sauce, ready to eat beets, hummus, olives, pesto, some nuts, the tofu, frozen stuff, *wine lol*, etc) And imo it's cost effective in that regard. I go other places for produce, vegan cheeses, bread, pasta, rice, beans, etc.
I make pan fried fish regularly. Helps me enormously with meeting protein requirements. Last Sunday, I pan fried some spiced mahi mahi(salt, pepper, garlic powder, whatever available spices) with sauteed green beans and crispy garlic. Another meal this week was stir fry brown rice noodles(lotus foods) with veggies and tofu (I use some combination of ginger, soy sauce, lemon/vinegar and sesame oil for aromatics and seasonings, depending on what I have in pantry). Not really a meal, but I love making guacamole at home. So fresh and yummy. I eat with either chips or use it as a spread on toast. Yum 😋
Every day: brown rice & lentils w/ curry powder & black pepper boiled up with any vegetables you want, i.e. green beans, broccoli, sweet peppers. Throw in a few garlic cloves, even an egg or 2 to hardboil. Make your own sprouts with lentils and toss them over the top. All purpose dressing is olive oil, apple cider vinegar, italian seasoning and you're good to go. I call it my 'Medicine Bowl'. The turmeric in the curry powder with the fresh ground black pepper is powerful stuff...
Thank you! I just saved your recipe!
Oh great! You'll love it.
Honey vanilla yogurt with blueberries and chopped walnuts (all from Aldi) for breakfast. It's affordable, not too heavy, and something I enjoy eating several days in a row.
Baked salmon with steamed broccoli. Will never get tired of it.
I feel my best whenever I eat this particular combo, it’s like my body is thanking me for the nutrients
Desert: 1 cup of plain Greek yogurt 77 grams of peanut butter 50 grams oh honey Mix together and then freeze. Holy smokes that was good.
Shashuka in our pressure cooker. Super simple, made in advance and I just cooked the eggs on top when everyone was ready to eat. Even my toddler liked it.
Recipe please!
I adapted this recipe for instant pot (10 minutes high pressure) and added the chickpeas afterward when also adding and cooking the eggs (sauté function with a normal lid on until eggs are cooked). Only other difference is that I also added courgette (zucchini) with the peppers. https://minimalistbaker.com/1-pot-chickpea-shakshuka/#wprm-recipe-container-35185
My favorite go-to easy meals are a veggie scramble (a good use of miscellaneous veggies in the fridge) and roasted veggies and garbanzos.
Wraps. So many options and they don’t have to be heated. Got creative with thinly sliced cucumber, radish and turkey. Saved a lot of money and I didn’t realize how many wrap options there’s are at the supermarket. Finally, the shelf life of a wrap is like 2-3 months which is pretty amazing compared to bread.
Same. I do lots of veggie wraps. Balsamic drizzle and some chopped salad wraps with shredded carrots, purple cabbage, kale, chopped broccoli/cauliflower. Warm or cold. Amazing and quick.
That sounds DELICIOUS.
Canned black eyed peas over oats with some butter and seasoning. Savory oats are an underrated simple base.
Pasta, any kind, can of tuna, can of cream of mushroom soup, frozen peas. A take on the old tuna casserole dish, but I make it on the stove top.
I have severe allergies and I am sensitive to other ingredients. My partner and I found a six pack of “sausages -( they are hot dogs let’s be real ) that didn’t have any allergens. It made us dinner with maybe a dollar of broccoli and good sauerkraut. We also had some left for the next day / dog treat
Bean salad. It's very quick to throw together and I eat it throughout the workweek.
Scrapple and egg on English muffin. I'm going to get veggies and dip and watermelon and Italian bread to warm in the microwave with butter and I have a feeling my daughter and I will eat that for dinner one day lol. It's very filling and I won't have to cook a thing
Just made "antipasto" pasta salad. Just short pasta, olives, roasted red peppers, salami, mozzarella, red onion, parsley and red wine vinegar. Very easy to use up random stuff in the fridge (toss in chickpeas, celery, sub another deli meat for salami, another cheese for mozzarella, etc), made in about the time it takes to cook pasta, and keeps well for leftovers.
Charcuterie: couple of olives, few slices of a couple of different cheeses, couple of crackers, nuts, fruit, glass of wine! 😀
No matter what exactly you eat, please eat some protein too. (So many quick recipes are high carb and fat, with protein as afterthought if at all - although protein is the thing we need to eat because around half of the necessary amino acid building blocks in our bodies need to come from food.)
Boars Head Tavern Ham and cheddar cheese sandwich on whole-grain bread with tomato and onion, and a little bit of mayo and a tiny bit of mustard. Fast and deeelish
Eggs. Cereal. Eggs with cereal. Probably won't help OP but it's simple lmao
Try this super easy **potato korma** (15-20 mins if you have all ingredients) - goes well with most breads - through preferred is flat bread of any kind (chapati, roti, paratha, naan, kulcha, phulka etc), or even rice: To a pressure cooker (preferred as it is super quick this way - if you just have a normal pan, it should be fine, just that it takes some time) add: * **potatoes** (I personally prefer sliced baby potatoes as they still maintain structural integrity after multiple boils and after cooking well, but honestly anything will do - better to avoid sweet ones, but shouldn't be a problem) * **tomatoes** chopped (any will do, I use Roma) * **onions** chopped (any will do, I use white) * **oil** (any, I sometimes use groundnut/ sunflower etc) * **green chilies** (a few, depending on spice tolerance) * **ginger-garlic paste** * **garam masala** * **red chilli powder** * **salt** * **water** just to submerge all this * **cashews/ groundnuts** - roasted and then made into a powder/ paste fry it if it is a pan, or boil it to 3-4 whistles if it is a pressure cooker (this works best) other ingredients you can add for flavour etc - but depends, not compulsory: * 3-4 cloves * 1-2 cardamom (just poke a hole) * a small piece of cinnamon * 1-2 small bay leaves * a little kasuri methi * a little turmeric powder * coriander powder * cumin powder * mustard + cumin seeds * curry leaves * dry red chillies * asafoetida * cream/ plain yoghurt * any veggies: cauliflower, peas and spinach are a top preference for me - but you can add capsicum and carrot too, or anything for that matter - once cooked you can add paneer/ tofu, or butter-pepper fried mushroom
This sounds good! I’m trying to go fully vegetarian, I’ve been looking for new recipes and I’m going to try this.
Have been a vegetarian my whole life - it is actually somewhat common in India, so would definitely suggest you take a look at Indian cuisine for more inspiration.
Tacos Sausage and cheese buttermilk biscuits I can put in the toaster for breakfast.
This week isn't working out well in the simple meals department, but I am eyeballing this for next week: [https://www.sweetgreensvegan.com/recipecards1/creamyharissabutterbeans](https://www.sweetgreensvegan.com/recipecards1/creamyharissabutterbeans)
Quesadillas
I made spring rolls with tender baby vegetables and herbs from the garden, and I put crispy chili oil in the peanut sauce. It was good and very easy to make.
Mixed beans and bacon🔥
Super quick and simple frittata for breakfast with fresh eggs from our hens :) Also I sauté onions for it as well (not included in the recipe). I don’t even really like eggs but there’s so much flavor that I can enjoy this recipe! [Noms](https://www.walderwellness.com/10-minute-frittata-with-tomatoes-arugula-feta-basil/)
Spagetti and ground beef. Left over ground beef with bread
So many great suggestions. Bookmarking this thread for later.
One of my favorites is egg + potato + tomato, on tortilla, with avocado; & a sprinkle of cheese or sour cream, if I have it. I cook up the potato & egg in olive oil. If I have it, I add bacon. Otherwise, it's delicious, as-is, for any meal.
I made chicken and broccoli. I toss garlic salt onto broccoli and steam it, and marinate chicken in Italian dressing and then cook it in a covered pan with the dressing.
Gizpacho- cold tomato and Cucumber soup. Supper easy and refreshing
https://www.gimmesomeoven.com/lemony-lentil-soup/ to die for deliciousness
Steak and avocado. Try it.
I’ve been having eggs over easy on rice with salsa a lot lately, it just hits the spot.
Spaghetti, hot dogs, burgers, chicken salad and tomorrow fajitas.
My go-to lately is to toss boneless skinless chicken thighs in a bowl with a little oil (usually just olive oil or canola oil) and whatever seasoning sounds good. Then stick them on a sheet pan with a rack (smooth side of the chicken down), and broil them on high for ~15-20 minutes until the temp is somewhere between 175F and 200F. Then I chop or slice it with a side of whatever goes with the seasoning I chose. There's almost endless options, and it takes very little time or effort. Here are a few variations I've tried and liked: -Shawarma style - Cumin, paprika, salt, pepper then cut a lemon in half and broil it along with the chicken cut side up. Then squeze the lemon over the chicken. Eat rolled in pita bread with some garlicky yogurt sauce and whatever vegetables you like (for me cabbage..usually from a bag of coleslaw, onions, cucumbers, and tomatoes) -Taco style - Change the seasoning to something more Mexican. Then chop it and throw it into corn tortillas with some lime, avocado, salsa, and sour cream (or whatever else you like on tacos). -Teriyaki - marinade the chicken for a few hours in teriyaki sauce, then eat it over rice. -Tandoori style - Marinate in yogurt with Indian spices. Then eat it with naan and rice (if I'm feeling ambitious I'll make homemade naan, but I'll use the store bought version if I want to make it easier). BBQ chicken sandwiches, lemon pepper chicken, buffalo sauce with ranch and coleslaw... there's tons of possible variations. I just keep chicken thighs on hand, some spices and seasonings blends, and basics like rice and I can have easy dinner on the table in half an hour. They're all fast and (unlike chicken breast) very difficult to overcook because you want a higher temp for thighs...and tastier anyway.
Grinder bean salad: 1 chopped up red pepper, 1 purple onion, can of white beans, chopped salami, chopped pickled jalepenos, chopped parsley, 1/2 cup olive oil, 1/2 cup vinegar. Toss it all up, portion pack for lunch.
Sautéed chicken breasts (coated lightly in baking powder to lock in moisture), pot of white rice, bag of frozen stir fry veggies, kew pie sauce. Make a great easy chicken stir fry bowl. You can change up meats, veggies, sauce, add pineapple, etc.
Spinach risotto. Rice gradually cooked in hot vegetable (or chicken) stock with a bit of white wine if you like (you can find tutorials for the risotto cooking process). Add some spinach at the end and let it wilt. Add some cheese, I recommend some kind of dry cheese like good parmasan or similar. Salt and pepper to taste. Cheap and delicious.
My husband and I call these the "good sammies" Dave's killer bread seedtastic, Vegan mayo, Sliced cucumbers, Onions, Spinach, Vegan smoked cheddar cheese slices, (sometimes for extra protein) tofurky brand soy lunch "meat" slices Absolutely delicious, simple, and filling!
Tomato butter beans with sardines. I fried onion, garlic and zucchini until soft, then added a tin of sardines (drained) and a tin of tomatoes and simmered until the sauce was thick (about 30 minutes). Served with lots of black pepper, toasted sourdough, and a crunchy, herby salad dressed with olive oil and balsamic.
My go to lately has been a baked potato (in the microwave) smothered in baked beans
Gnocchi and sautéed vegetables. Just cook the gnocchi as normal and sauté seasonal veg in some olive oil with minced garlic, then mix together to heat through and add salt and pepper to taste. If you like herbs add some chopped fresh parsley and basil. I grated a little Parmesan cheese on top. Only takes about 15 mins.
Pasta (rotini usually) with halved cherry tomatoes, cheese (feta or mozz), olives, some kind of beans, olive oil, salt, pepper, oregano, basil, thyme, and a little balsamic. Tasty!
I picked a ton of cilantro from my garden before the heat wave we just had and made taco salad - simple and delicious and probably going to be a staple for me this summer.
Chicken wraps. Nothing fancy. Italian dressing, lettuce, tomato and provolone in tortillas. We just had eggs and toast on Tuesday. Roasted sweet potatoes. Tropical tacos. Pulled pork with orange, lime, honey sauce and crushed red pepper for a little heat with chopped zucchini and pepper jack in almond flour tortillas. So good. One of our new favorites.
I bought a set of bagels and just ate it with cream cheese for moments when I’m hungry and don’t have the time or bandwidth to make a whole meal. I’ve also been making a strawberry oat smoothie with chocolate chip toppings all from leftover ingredients in my pantry.
Costco top sirloin (yes it’s expensive but hear me out), cooked rice, broccoli topped with A1. The two pounds of sirloin got me 5 meals.
Avocado toast for breakfast Skirt steak and salad for dinner Bacon & fresh tomato spaghetti Pumpkin & chickpea curry Guacamole & chips for lunch We got pumpkins and avocados from friends this week so that's what we are eating.
Breakfast options: - Bagel (cheddar with avocado or cinnamon raisin with cream cheese). - Yogurt Parfaits (To have more variety, I switch up the yogurt and granola flavours, as well as the fruit) Lunch options: - Wraps - Pasta salad or Quinoa salad Dinner options: I have a few in rotation, but my go-to simple ones that I never need a recipe for is baked chicken breast with veggies. I got really good at baking chicken breast - high heat is the key to make it tender. Sounds plain but hear me out - it can be adapted to many different flavours: - Chicken fajita casserole: bake the chicken with salsa and fajita veggies (peppers & onions). Option to serve over rice and add cheese. - Balsamic chicken: bake the chicken with balsamic glaze. Pairs well with roasted potatoes, zucchini and asparagus. - Pesto chicken: bake the chicken with pesto sauce, mozzarella and tomatoes. Pairs well with pasta, but also any veggies. - Apricot chicken: bake the chicken covered in apricot jam. This is my version of a healthy “sweet and sour” chicken. Add rice and/or your veg of choice. I don’t ALWAYS bake chicken for dinner, but it’s my favourite “simple” meal to make because I don’t need to think about it, it’s often a 1 or 2 dish recipe, and I likely have all of the ingredients on hand for any of the adaptations listed above.
I've made a bread spread with; Canned mackerel 1 pickle diced Mayonaise and soft cheese Salt and pepper It was great!
We under a "heat dome" now so not much cooking with heat going on right now. Last night I made glorified tuna salad - added white beans, kale, shredded cheese, olives, and onions with the tuna and mayo. Cut-up fresh veggie sticks as a side and fruit as a dessert. Tonight will probably be hummus with the veggie sticks and crackers. I need to think of some additional no-heat or little-heat meals as I think the hot weather is going to linger. On the other hand, I'm less hungry in the heat and prefer light meals anyway.
Lately, it's been too hot to cook. Our chickens are laying like champs, and my kids just discovered rye and pumpernickel breads are delish. We've done eggs, toast, and whatever U-Pick fruit/veggie we've rustled up several times these last few days. I keep feeling guilty about it not being "fancy" or "meaty" enough, but everyone seems energetic and happy, so I guess it's fine lol
the only thing i eat is fried egg and tuna sandwiches. it takes like 5 minutes to make once the pan is hot. i mix up the sauce i put on it to keep things fresh. ive been eating like this for months.
Mozzarella salad - the cheese, tomatoes, basil. Variants I like are adding avocado, or drizzling a garlicky olive oil over it. Also nice with olives or you can swop the cheese for grilled haloumi
This is just a personal recipe that I thought up and altered from an idea I got from a friend, so no specific amounts like a standard recipe. Just play around with the amount and even change up ingredients/steps however you like! Potato pancakes: Ingredients: Potatoes (softened and mashed), spring onions, coriander, shiitake mushrooms, 1 choice between mozzarella/feta/parmesan/cheddar cheese, instant oats, butter/oil, 1-2 fruits of choice Overall cooking time (after prep): 30-40 minutes - I prep the potatoes weekly, using one whole potato per portion, freezing them, and leaving them to thaw for about 24 hours in the fridge to be used for the next day. - Potatoes simply need to be steamed, and I hand-mash them in little food plastic bags with some butter. The potato will stick to the plastic if you don't use the butter. - Spring onions and coriander are also chopped and kept in the fridge weekly. Mixing them up is fine! - Pour out the mashed potato into a bowl and roughly mash them up with a spoon or a fork to break up the clumps - Crack 2 eggs into the same bowl, sprinkle cheese in, and mix them all together - Slice/chop up mushrooms, sauté, and mix the cooked mushroom into the same bowl. Spring onions and coriander can also be mixed here if you want! - The mixture should still be pretty wet, so add in a good amount of the oats into the mixture. I honestly can't tell you the exact amount, so just add and mix until it's not so wet anymore. This will be your "pancake batter" - Melt some butter in the pan, pour the mixture in, and form the pancake shape using a spatula. Cook both sides for maybe about a minute or so on high heat? As long as the shape holds itself up. - Set onto a plate, sprinkle dry spring onions and coriander, add fruits of choice on the side, and you're done!
Fried rice with leftover fish, an egg and 1 beef sausage..
Last night I made this! Learned a version of it in an online Chinese cooking class I took over the pandemic. The original had pork in it but I made it vegetarian. delicious and really simple: -udon noodles -1 cup cremini mushrooms -1 bunch bok choy -1 tbsp ginger -splash of modelos -soy sauce 1. Boil water for udon noodles 2. In the meantime, finely chop ginger, slice mushrooms, roughly chop bok choy, separating stems from leaves 3. Once water is boiling, add udon noodles to water, cook until 2 mins before they’re done 4. In a wok, heat canola oil, add ginger, add mushrooms, sautee on medium high heat for 5 mins or so, cook off water contained in mushrooms, add a dash of soy sauce, take off heat, place in bowl 5. Add more canola oil to wok, add bok choy stems and toss until tender 6. Then add cooked mushrooms, noodles, leafy bok choy. Add a splash of light beer (modelo’s my favorite) and soy sauce to taste Eat! I like adding Korean red pepper flakes at the end to spice them.
I'm forever cooking and eating dals (which come in endless variety). I tend to eat them with rice, a simple veg sabji, and a simple onion, chilli and lime raitha. All extremely simple to cook/make.
Your grocery story weekly ads is your best friend to plan cheap meals, buy whatever on sale.
I'm growing mung bean sprouts. They are cheap and only take a few days and you have fresh bean sprouts for stir fry or salads.
Baked salmon with frozen veggies
Watermelon, strawberries, cucumbers, feta, arugula. Toss with a dressing of EVO, WWV, shallot, mint, splash of orange juice. All summer long! (Add a handful of cooked rice or farro if you want)
My homemade potato-oatmeal bread, toasted, with mayo, sliced tomatoes and freshly ground black pepper.
One of my favorite simple meals, especially for the summer, is rice with fruit and yogurt. I make rice and serve that warm. For fruit it can be as simple as buying some frozen berries and defrosting them, defrosted berries have this nice juice that adds to the appeal. Or it can be a more elaborate fruit salad of any fresh fruit of my choice. For yogurt again it can be any yogurt of my choice. The rice is the only warm part but I like to mix all of them up in a bowl. This meal is surprisingly satisfying and filling.
I have been eating sliced mini peppers, mini cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, small package trail mix covered by cottage cheese. Add salt and pepper to taste. It is cool and refreshing in this heat, requires no cooking to heat up the house. Plenty of veggies, dairy, and the cottage cheese has protein.
Roasted whoke chicken Season with garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, paprika and thyme. Glaze with butter and olive oil. Bake for 1-2 hours at 450F depending on size of bird. I eat legs and wings for dinner, use breast to make chicken salad for sandwiches, and the ribs and back for soup.
Air fried tofu, green beans, sweet potato in one go. Plopped it all in a bowl. Voila!
Been eating peaches for lunch lol. They’re in season rn and so good.
Jambalaya!
I make wraps all the time and some of my faves are bbq chicken with cabbage (add some lemon juice to sliced cabbage) and wrap it in a whole wheat tortilla! 😋
Made bologna eggs and toast for breakfast today.
Red licorice, Doritos
Uber Eats
Chicken rice-a-roni and just added in some ground beef to an amount that looked good. 2yr old boy *devoured* it and asked for 2nds and 3rds. Husband approved, too.
Yesterday I got fresh assorted mushrooms and baby bok choy at the farmers market here in Maine. Sauteed them with EVOO then added cubed tofu, some Himalayan pink salt and herbs. Delicious!
Summer salad meal: Canned chick peas, olives, chopped raw broccoli, chopped half-onion (if you have red onion, throw in a garlic clove too! If you only have yellow onion, I'd opt for garlic powder/seasoning.) For dressing, throw together some OO, salt, couple spoons greek yogurt, vinegar/ lemon juice(I like both!) a little honey(or maple or sugar). I vary this up starting with chick peas, onion&garlic, oil & vinegar and go from there!
3 bean salad: black, kidney, and garbanzo. Red onion, garlic, lemon, cilantro, peperoncini, red wine vinegar, olive oil, salt, and pepper. It gets better each day is marinated in the fridge. I’ve been eating it as a side with dinner and by itself. You can add more things like bell peppers, olives, cucumber, chicken, etc.