Microwaveable Meals in a Minute

I'll admit, I have not even thought about this blog since the start of the semester...but don't worry...I have many new recipes to share! However, I thought tonight would be a great opportunity to share some of the do's and don'ts of microwaveable meals I have learned over the past few months.

I know that this is a cooking blog, but we all know that college students do not always have the time to sit down and cook a meal every night. These are great to bring to work too!

First, be sure to remember to check the ingredient listing!

Pre-cooked meals typically carry 25-50% of the recommended amount of sodium for the day...!

With that in mind, I have found that Lean Cuisine and usually range from 24-35% recommended sodium...high, but not the worst I have found! Some of my favorites include:

• Chicken with Almonds
• Cheese Ravioli
• Four Cheese Cannelloni
  

On the other hand...I have had really bad experiences with these, as well. I would not recommend:

• Lemongrass Chicken
• Asian Style Potstickers
  

I haven't tried all of the varieties since I try to stay within the 200-calorie range and lower on the sodium scale. But, I have heard many recommendations for the dishes with higher calorie counts.

Other great sources for frozen meals are Smart Ones, Stouffer's, and even restaurant chain's like Friday's and P.F. Chang's. Just be sure to check the sodium levels! Feel free to try crazy varieties of frozen meals...trust me, you can be happily surprised when you find a delicious one! Find some that you like and enjoy!

Cheesy Chicken and Rice Burrito

Craving Mexican food, but don't want to go out? In a time crunch, but want to eat a complete meal? Try this cheesy chicken and rice burrito--it's simple, delicious, and quick!

The best part of this recipe is that it involves two simple, ready-to-go ingredients:

• 1 cup Minute Ready to Serve Brown Rice
• 1 package Perdue Short Cuts Carved Chicken Breast (grilled and roasted are both delicious!)
  

Note: both of these products are optional--regular rice and chicken work just as well, but are not as quick to prepare!

You will also need:

• shredded cheddar cheese
• salsa
• 1 flour tortilla
• various burrito toppings of choice (lettuce, sour cream, olives, tomatoes, etc.)

What else is great about this meal? It's ready in five minutes! Place the chicken pieces in a pan on medium heat and stir for about two minutes. Uncover the cup of rice and place in the microwave for one minute. Add the rice, salsa, and cheese to the pan. Stir and remove from heat...under five minutes and the burrito filling is fully cooked!

Fill the flour tortilla with as much filling as you would like (remember, everything I cook is left-over friendly!). Add your burrito toppings and roll up. Serve with chips and salsa and enjoy! A filling and delicious Mexican meal in five minutes!

Snicker and Apple Salad with a Twist

The first time I had Snicker and Apple Salad was two years ago at one of my friend's parents' house in Wisconsin...and it was surprisingly delicious! Since then, I have seen many people make various different versions--always with the base of Snickers, Cool Whip, and apples.

On variation I tried had pieces of pineapple...and I've heard of including peaches...but my twist was the addition of raspberries!

This recipe is so simple, and somewhat healthy (it's mostly fruit!), you'll absolutely love it.

What you'll need:

• 1/2 8oz container of Cool Whip (I use Fat Free...it tastes the same!)
• 1 apple
• 1 container of raspberries
  
• 1 Snickers bar
• 1 bowl
  

First, cut the apple into 1 inch or smaller pieces...remember to get rid of the core! Dump the pieces into the bowl and cut the Snickers bar into pieces of the approximately same size. Pour in as many raspberries as you'd like...I used just under a whole container (the small container that's often sold on sale 2 for $5).

Scoop out half of the small container of Cool Whip, dump into the bowl with the fruit and Snickers, and mix. By this time, the Cool Whip has probably melted, so you might want to put it in the fridge for 5 minutes before eating. Quick, simple and delicious...enjoy!

Simply Perfect Sausage and Peppers

I'm guilty... having spent almost the whole past week either eating out or skipping meals I felt it absolutely necessary to hit up the grocery store yesterday. I took one of my friends to the store and he had the great idea to cook a family style meal for Sunday dinner with some friends. His choice? Sausage and peppers...mmm delicious!

Now remember, this meal cooked enough for 4 friends and and still plenty of left overs..but you will need (feel free to half this recipe!):

• 2 packages of Italian sausages (we used Johnsonville Mild Italian)
• a mix of 3 or 4 red, orange and/or green peppers
• 1 yellow onion
• rolls
• 2 tsp oil
• water

Pour about 1 inch of water into a large pan and place all of the sausages in the pan. Put on high heat and cover for about 10 minutes. While the sausage is cooking, cut the peppers and onions into small slices.

Put the peppers and onions with 2 tsp oil into a pan on medium heat. While they are cooking, take the sausages off of the heat and cut into 1 inch rounds. Place into a backing sheet. Pout the sauteed peppers and onions over the sausages. Add about 2 tsp of water to the pan. Throw into the oven at 325 degrees for 15 minutes.

When the sausage and peppers are done, serve as sandwiches on roles. We got ours as cheap as 3 for $0.99 in the bakery of the local grocery store!

This is a fun meal to cook and great for company, have yourself a great Sunday dinner with your friends! Remember I can't take credit for this recipe...but it's still nice to share...enjoy!

Pasta Perfection: Part One

My dinner staple? Pasta. It's simple, versatile, and delicious! Throughout this blog, you will find examples of endless pasta possibilities! Starting with spinach and mozzarella marinara.

What you'll need:

• pre-made pasta sauce (try Bertoli's Tomato and Basil--it's great and goes on sale often!)
• fresh mozzarella
• spinach (either frozen or fresh--Whole Foods sells great tasting frozen spinach)
• pasta--try whole wheat it tastes almost the same and is much healthier!
• medium size pot
• pasta drainer

If you chose to use frozen spinach, let it thaw out by following the directions on the bag for stove-top cooking or simply put a few drops of water with the size portion you desire in a bowl and microwave.

Fill a medium size pot with water, sprinkle in some salt, and place on high heat until it starts to boil. When it comes to a boil, pour in about a quarter of a box, or the serving size listed. Cook for 9-12 minutes, stirring occasionally. You want it to be al dente--a mixture of firm and chewy--taste for your preference.

Drain the pasta then pour it back into the pot, on low heat. Pour in about a quarter of the jar of sauce and stir. Cut up half of a large mozzarella ball into 1 inch pieces and pour into the pot along with the spinach. Stir, dish out, and enjoy!

Realize you cooked too much? Don't worry, pasta is great left over--just put the extras in a Tupperware, refrigerate, and have a quick meal for another day!

Sizzlin' Chicken Salad Made Your Way

One of the best options for a hot summer night is a simple salad topped with chicken. The best thing about salads? Find all your fresh produce that's about to expire and throw it in! This way, you eat all the fruit and vegetables in time and you have a delicious and healthy meal.

Start out with a package of thin-cut chicken breasts or chicken breast tenders, healthier portions than regular chicken breasts. Purdue offers Perfect Portions--each piece of chicken is individually wrapped for convenience. But if you can't find that in the local store, don't worry! Just buy a regular package and wrap up the extra pieces individually in aluminum foil, place them all in a freezer Ziploc bag, and the chicken will stay fresh in the freezer for what seems like forever!

Cut one of the thin cut chicken breasts into 1-inch pieces and season with an Italian seasoning or other flavoring of choice. Heat a pan with a thin coat of olive oil then throw the 1-inch piece of chicken in.

Cutting the chicken allows it to cook faster for people not used to cooking chicken, like myself--you don't want to get salmonella!

When the chicken is fully cooked, find any other ingredients that you would like for your salad. Tonight, I opted for a fresh tomato cut in wedges, sliced celery, and one of my precooked hard boiled eggs.

Another great buy that makes life simpler is a bag of already cooked and peeled hard boiled eggs--how much easier can you get?! They're great for egg salad, sliced eggs on salads like this one, basically anything...and they're easy to find! Trader Joe's sells a bag of six precooked and peeled eggs or you can get a dozen from Eggland's Best at almost any store.

Season with a 2-1 ratio of olive oil to red wine vinegar and salt and pepper to taste. Enjoy, another simple meal in under 10 minutes!

Simple Smoothie in a Snap

It's hot, there's no air conditioning in my house, I just got home from a long day of work...and now it's time to start thinking about dinner!? The last thing I want to do right now is cook. Simple solution? A healthy, quick, and delicious strawberry-banana smoothie!

The best part about this smoothie is that its low-fat and made with frozen strawberries--that way you won't have to worry about fruit spoiling before it's used!

So here's what you need:

• a handful of frozen strawberries (Trader Joe's is a great stop for frozen fruit)
• one banana
• 1/2 cup non-fat vanilla yogurt
• 3/4 cup ice cubes

Blend until smooth and enjoy! With no extra sugar needed, this smoothie is a healthy option on the go!