Everyday Food for Busy People
This soup has a lot of things going for it.
It can be made entirely in the slow cooker.
The chicken cooks in the soup, so no need for an extra step.
Just like taco soup, there are a million variations. Use what you’ve got available in your pantry.
Here’s what I used: [Read more...]
I created this soup the other day when I needed something fast for dinner. If you’ve got cooked hamburger in the freezer, this meal really comes together quick. It’s a combination of Hamburger Vegetable Soup and Pasta Soup.
Feel free to vary the recipe according to what you like and what you have available in your pantry. It’s a good one for using up small amounts of pasta. You could also use rice or barley instead of the pasta. And you might want to add more veggies.
Here’s what I used: [Read more...]
This meal is so fast to get on the table. The soup cooks up very quickly and Sister Schubert’s Mini Baguettes are not only the prefect accompaniment, they are also quick to the table.
Do you like dipping bread in your soup? I do and these were perfect for doing that. The outside of the baguette is crunchy, making them great for dipping. The inside is soft and warm, which gives them a homemade taste. I also really appreciate that they are individual servings, versus a whole loaf that needs to be cut. When you need to get dinner to the table fast, every little time-saving step helps!
The other thing I love about this whole meal is that it requires no advanced planning. It’s basically a pantry/freezer meal. All the ingredients can be kept on hand and pulled out when you need them. The Mini Baguettes warm in the oven while the soup comes together. I love meals like this!
Here’s what you’ll need to make the soup: [Read more...]
The fantastic thing about this soup is that it’s really just a bowl full of raw veggies. But it tastes divine. So good, you could just eat and eat it. So good for you that you can do just that with no guilt.
It’s perfect for a hot, summer evening because it’s eaten cold. I have to admit that freaked my kids out. They did eat it, but they weren’t sure they liked cold soup. Jim and I loved it though.
I adapted my recipe from Pioneer Woman, adding red bell pepper, jalepeno and parsley just because they were hanging out in my fridge. I don’t own a food processor, so I used my pitiful blender that has been partially melted in the dishwasher. It worked fine, so I guess I still don’t have an excuse to buy a food processor.
Here’s what you’ll need: [Read more...]
This is not your typical tuna salad. There’s no mayo.
Instead, the tuna is served over avocado slices and topped with tomatoes, cilantro and a simple vinaigrette dressing. The flavors are out of this world. For complete happiness, serve it with good, crusty bread.
Oh yeah, you don’t need to turn the oven on for this dinner either.
Here’s what you’ll need: [Read more...]
Is there anything better than a tomato plucked straight from the garden?
I didn’t think so.
Tomatoes are a kitchen staple. I have to admit, for recipes I mostly use the diced, canned variety. They are convenient and taste good, even in winter. When we have the real deal, ripe from the garden we eat them sliced on a plate or on a sandwich or in salad. Anything that will highlight their perfection.
Here are some of my recipes that use tomatoes: [Read more...]
Have you read the Mitford series books by Jan Karon? Father Tim and Cynthia feel like old friends and so do all the other characters that populate the small town of Mitford.
On my last library trip, I spotted the Mitford Cookbook and Kitchen Reader. It’s full of recipes mentioned in the books (Orange Marmalade Cake, anyone?) and also lots of excerpts. Food and stories is a hard combination to beat.
One recipe that caught my attention was Velma’s Chili. I did make a few changes to it. For one, I used half the meat it called for. Two pounds of meat for 6-8 servings sounded like too much. I doubled it and made a few other alterations as well. Here’s what you’ll need to make my version: [Read more...]
This is a quick meal, except for the potato baking. But even that can be done in the microwave if you’re really pressed for time.
And there are a couple things you can do to make it even faster. Keep cooked ground beef in the freezer so it’s ready to go for recipes like this. You can also keep cooked bacon and onion in the freezer.
Or you can slow it down by putting the topping in the slow cooker until you’re ready for dinner.
Another bonus, this recipe is versatile. Vary the ingredients for what you have in your pantry. I don’t think you can mess this one up. Nearly anything goes.
Here’s what you’ll need: [Read more...]
Every once in a while, I like a good cheater meal. One that relies on a prepared ingredient to speed dinner prep. This one uses two such ingredients – a jar of alfredo sauce and prepared pizza crust. You could probably also count the bag of pre-washed spinach and shredded cheese too.
In fact, the only thing I really cooked for this was the grilled chicken. If you’re in a big hurry, you could buy those grilled chicken strips from the meat section of the grocery. I used the George Foreman to grill mine since the grill was covered with snow.
What can I say? I like to cheat at dinner prep sometimes. Call me lazy.
Here’s what you’ll need, if you’re a cheat, like me: [Read more...]
Soccer season is presenting a real challenge to dinnertime. We’ve been picnicking on the field while we watch the games. But sandwiches can get old, especially if you’ve packed one for lunch too. I created this easy pasta salad to take with us one night. It’s creamy and flavorful with homemade ranch dressing.
Here’s what you’ll need:
