Quick but healthy recipes wanted

[Haze]

I'm going back to work soon so my evenings are going to be much more compressed than they've been and that means that my available time for cooking the evening meal is going to be similarly reduced.

We eat fairly healthily and almost all meals are cooked from scratch so what I'd appreciate are some 20 minute recipes (that's start to on the plate time) for me to try with the girls. Oh and I'd like them not to be all pasta based too, rice, couscous, quinoa are all to be found in my cupboards.

I do the usuals like stir-fries, curries, chilli & spaghetti bolognese already but some alternatives would be greatly appreciated, especially with the hopefully warmer weather approaching.

[marmalade]

Quesadillas are pretty fast. I never use a recipe, just see what I have on hand. Everything gets chopped up, maybe sauteed for a bit, and then warmed up between the tortillas. Cheese helps to glue things togeher in between the tortillas, but is not absolutely neccessary.

[Stephane]

i'll go with pasta primavera.. fancy italian name for vegetarian pasta.

20 minutes will be when you're used to it. It's a little dependent on your cutting speed.

Boil your water and put the pasta in for the time needed (usually on the box).
Use your favorite pasta type. it's usually 8-12 minutes of cooking time.

While the water boils and/or the pasta cooks..

Cut up the following things (I'm guestimating the mesurements for 3 people).
1/2 medium cooking onion in slices
1 green/red or yellow bell pepper in slices (I'll usually go with red or yellow for color)
1 small (~5-6 inches) zucchini in slices (don't go there!)
10-12 cherry tomatoes, or a roma tomato sliced in 8ths (go with the cherries, I like the pop-gush)
2-3 garlic cloves crushed/chopped (or more, to your liking).

Note: At this point, you should have enough to have a decent amount of vegetables. If you think you need more, you another bell pepper, preferably another color for presentation, but they aren't always cheap. Or you could add a small chinese eggplant for the purple look. <HUGE GRIN>

Put the pan on medium-high. Pour in about two tablespoons of OOEV and the onions and the garlic. Let the onions become semi-translucent, if they start bruning, lower to medium (should be about 1-2 minutes). Add the other vegetables, except for the tomatoes. Salt and pepper to your liking. Cook them until al dente or soft, to your liking.

When you are about 1 minute away from the pasta being done, add the tomatoes and another tablespoon of OOEV. (Tomatoes cook really fast, so this is the last step before serving).

When the pasta is ready, the vegetables should be ready as well. Drain the pasta and dump them in the pan. Mix. Add a small amount of graded parmegiano. Mix.

Dump in a large bowl and serve with more graded parmigiano on the side, for the people to add to their taste.

Voila.

It usually doesn't take much more than 20 minutes. It's a busy 20 minutes, mind you.

[Haze]

Quesadillas are pretty fast. I never use a recipe, just see what I have on hand. Everything gets chopped up, maybe sauteed for a bit, and then warmed up between the tortillas. Cheese helps to glue things togeher in between the tortillas, but is not absolutely neccessary.I have no idea what a Quesadilla is but otherwise that sounds quite nice. ;)

[Haze]

20 minutes will be when you're used to it. It's a little dependent on your cutting speed.Given I sliced my finger cutting bread this morning that'll probably be slowly. <g>

1 small (~5-6 inches) zucchini in slices (don't go there!)LOL! That almost sounded like a dare...
Note: At this point, you should have enough to have a decent amount of vegetables. If you think you need more, you another bell pepper, preferably another color for presentation, but they aren't always cheap. Or you could add a small chinese eggplant for the purple look. <HUGE GRIN> :troutslap:
Put the pan on medium-high. Pour in about two tablespoons of OOEV and the onions and the garlic. What's OOEV?
Dump in a large bowl and serve with more graded parmigiano on the side, for the people to add to their taste.Thank you it sounds tasty.

[silverwhisper]

OOEV is, i suspect, an abbreviation for extra version olive oil. although it looks neither french nor italian.

[Mouser]

make spaghetti

stir-fry onions, mushrooms, chicken, veggies

sauce:

soy sauce
crunchy peanut butter
oregano
basil
hot pepper to taste
water

add sauce to stir-fry until everything is melted together.

Combine with pasta

share & enjoy

[marmalade]

I have no idea what a Quesadilla is but otherwise that sounds quite nice. ;)
Here's an example...
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Bean-N-Beef-Quesadillas/Detail.aspx

You can type "quesadillas" into the search option for this website and you'll have many recipes at your disposal. Prep time decreases when you use pre-cooked meats and store-bought salsa, etc.

[Zayda]

I have no idea what a Quesadilla is but otherwise that sounds quite nice. ;)


Quesadilla:

Take a flour tortilla, fill one half with meat (fried hamburger, ground turkey, chopped cooked chicken), cheese, refried beans, sauteed onions, tomatoes or whatever combination you choose. Fold in half. Grill in a pan or bake in the oven.

Alternately, you can top the whole thing with ingredients, top with a second tortilla, and pop in a grill pan or oven until the cheese melts.

if the cheese is still warm, you can pull apart and add lettuce, salsa and guacamole and other condiments inside.

i actually have a quesadilla press, rather like a george forman grill, that makes wedge marks for easy cutting.

[Mouser]

Quesadilla pie:

Same as above with a pie plate.

You then make a pie with lots of layers.

Use canned beans, or toss them into a blender with a little tomato sauce or salsa for a "refried" feel. Then add cooked veggies, cheese, etc.

Heat until everything's melty, cut wedges and top with lettuce.

[Zayda]

I don't know if you like meatloaf, but what's great about these is you can cook them ahead of time, freeze them and then pull out a couple to thaw as you need them.

You can cut the fat content by using leaner hamburger meat or ground turkey.


Mini Meat Loaves with Ketchup Glaze

Meat Loves
2 lbs. ground round beef
1 small onion, finely chopped
2 packets (.98 ounces each) instant oatmeal, regular flavor
2 large eggs
¾ cups ketchup
½ cup low-fat milk
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon salt

Glaze
1/3 cup ketchup
3 tablespoons light brown sugar

1. Heat the oven to 375 F.

2. In a large bowl, mix the meat, onion, instant oatmeal, eggs, ketchup, milk, Worcestershire sauce, and salt together until well-combined.

3. Divide meat mixture into 8 servings and shape into individual loaves.

4. Place meatloaves in a 9 x 13-inch baking pan.

5. Prepare glaze: In a small bowl, blend together the ketchup and brown sugar.

6. Brush the tops and sides of the meat loaves with the glaze.

7. Bake 35 to 40 minutes or until a meat thermometer inserted into the center of the loaves registers 160 F.

8. Let cool 10 minutes.

9. Serve 4 meat loaves.

10. Cool remaining meat loaves for 25 minutes.

11. Then, wrap remaining loaves individually in plastic wrap or waxed paper and freeze.



To reheat:
Place meat loaves in a pan and thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Unwrap and bake 15 minutes in a 350 F oven, or microwave loaves until heated through.

[Stephane]

OOEV: Olive Oil Extra Virgin (or Vergine, in italian).

And sorry about that. I saw Tony use that abbreviation, so I figured it's common place..

[Haze]

Ah, over here the order is revered so it's EVOO and no problem I have plenty of that.

Made Quesadillas yesterday. Oldest thought they were fantastic. Youngest looked like I was trying to poison her.

Today is roast lamb, oven roast vegetables (roughly chopped pepper, courgette, mushroom, tomato & onion) with pomegranate seeds served on a bed of brown rice.

Tomorrow I'l be trying Stephane's pasta primavera recipe.

Now I'll thinking of something to do that involves couscous.

[Haze]

Mini Meat Loaves with Ketchup Glaze[/B]

2 packets (.98 ounces each) instant oatmeal, regular flavor You want me to cook something that has ReadyBrek in it?!!! Ew! I hate Oatmeal. :crap:


Probably best if they don't see me making this one as I imagine their reactions would be much like mine. ;-)

[COTSBOE]

Now I'll thinking of something to do that involves couscous.



Pan seared salmon (or swordfish) is great over couscous. I like to sauté some onions, garlic, diced tomatoes, and asparagus and mix it all in for flavor.

[Stephane]

Tony: I'll try that. We bought some couscous too, and I was pondering what to make with it.

[Zayda]

You want me to cook something that has ReadyBrek in it?!!! Ew! I hate Oatmeal. :crap:


Probably best if they don't see me making this one as I imagine their reactions would be much like mine. ;-)

Use dry breadcrumbs--plain or seasoned--instead of the instant oatmeal. You may have to use a bit more breadcrumbs than oatmeal.

[BattleNymph]

Moroccan Chicken stew over Cous Cous

Boil a chicken that has been cut up in enough water to cover it, plus a can of stewed tomatoes (or several fresh ones cut up if you prefer). Add in 2 bay leaves, some fresh rosemary and a tsp oregano. Cook until the chicken is almost done and add cut up potatoes, carrots, and whatever other veggies you like. Cook until the veggies are done and the liquid has boiled down to a nice thick gravy. Add 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper and salt to taste.

Give each serving one of the chicken peices (which are still whole) over the cous cous with some of the veggies and tomato sauce.

[marmalade]

How does the chicken skin turn out in a recipe like that? Or would you use skinless chicken?

[Haze]

Use dry breadcrumbs--plain or seasoned--instead of the instant oatmeal. You may have to use a bit more breadcrumbs than oatmeal.I made it as per your original receipe and it was very nice. Now I'm having therapy for the psychological damage ensuing from oatmeal abuse. :D

[Haze]

Pan seared salmon (or swordfish) is great over couscous. I like to sauté some onions, garlic, diced tomatoes, and asparagus and mix it all in for flavor.I did this for Friday's evening meal and it was delicious. Sadly my 5 year old refused to eat even a mouthful. :(