Five Quick & Easy Meals…

We all have busy days when taking the time to prepare a meal just seems like too much. Instead of opting for a pre-packaged and highly processed meal or reaching for a take out menu, there are many simple and tasty meals that can be prepared quickly. A lot of these come in handy as food items to bring on the go as well. Here are five of my favorites. They are the most diverse recipes that can added to in any way that you like.

1. Pasta with herbs, garlic, and extra virgin olive oil. Warm some Cold-Pressed Extra Virgin Olive Oil in a pan. Add some minced garlic, pepper, and herbs of your choice (fresh or dried). If you like, add some quick cooking vegetables such as broccoli, cherry tomatoes, and asparagus. You could also add some frozen pre-cooked shrimp, grilled chicken, or tofu for protein. Toss the warm Olive Oil mixture over the pasta. Sprinkle with cheese if desired.

2. Couscous with vegetables. Saute vegetables of your choice in Olive Oil. I usually do onion, garlic, mushrooms, and tomatoes. Add them to your cooked couscous before serving.

3. Quesadillas. Beyond the basic tortilla with cheese, these are really versatile foods. I saute chicken in fajita seasoning for flavor. I also saute onions, green peppers, or any other vegetable I have on hand that sounds tasty. Enclosed in a tortilla with soy cheese and with salsa on the side, it makes a very filling and easy meal.

4. Omlettes. Keep them simple, low fat and low calorie by skipping the processed meat and using minimal, if any, cheese. To cut cholesterol, use all egg whites or a mix of 2 egg whites and 1 egg with yolk. Fill with vegetables, a sprinkle of soy cheese, and serve with salsa.

5. Tofu with vegetables. Lightly coat diced tofu with flour. Pan fry with soy sauce (or flavorings of your choice), minced garlic, and assorted vegetables until tofu has browned and vegetables are done.