Category: Quick Meals

Asian, Cooking Techniques, Easy, Family Favorites, Gluten-free, Ingredient Substitutions, Low-Carb, Main Course, Poultry, Quick Meals, Sauces and Condiments

Korean Fried Chicken

Last year my kids came home raving about the Korean fried chicken they had at a restaurant. That being the case, I did some research to make it at home. It seemed pretty easy to make but there were variations in the dredging flour, the pieces of chicken used, and the sauce in the recipes […]

Asian, Breakfast, Easy, Family Favorites, Gluten-free, Heart Healthy, Indian, Low-Fat, Main Course, Quick Meals, Side Dish, Soup, Vegan, Vegetarian

Aloo – Potato Stew

I should make this stew more often because it’s one of the few foods that all three of my kids like. It’s delicious, fast, and easy too. Inexplicably, I make it only for religious feasts alongside Puris, Kale Chole, and Sooji Ka Halwa. Prep time: 10 minutes Cook time: 25 minutes Yield: 8 servings INSTRUCTIONS […]

Asian, Breakfast, Desserts, Easy, Family Favorites, Heart Healthy, Indian, Low-Fat, Quick Meals, Side Dish, Vegan, Vegetarian

Sooji Ka Halwa – Sweet Porridge

Hindu and Sikh temples give out free food to all visitors on a daily basis, regardless of their religious affiliation. In Hindu temples or Mandirs, ‘Prasad’ comes in the form of this sweet porridge and/or an Indian dessert or fruit and nuts. In Sikh temples or Gurdwaras, you get ‘Kada’, a whole wheat-based sweet porridge […]

Asian, Breads/Rolls, Breakfast, Cleaning Out Refrigerator and Pantry, Cooking Techniques, Easy, Heart Healthy, Indian, Low-Fat, Quick Meals, Vegan, Vegetarian

Dal Ka Paratha

I made some Dal the other day. It was a hit, but like me, my family doesn’t care for leftovers after the next day. Therefore, I decided to disguise the leftover Dal as a Paratha. There are several ways to make Dal Ka Paratha: Cook Channa Dal (pigeon peas) with very little water so that […]

Asian, Breads/Rolls, Breakfast, Cooking Techniques, Easy, Family Favorites, Heart Healthy, Indian, Low-Fat, Quick Meals, Vegan, Vegetarian

Aloo Paratha – Potato Stuffed Wheat Flatbread

There are many choices for Paratha fillings: some include meat, most of them are vegetarian. I vary the dough depending on whether the moisture in the filling will tear the Paratha. I use a wheat/white flour blend in either a 1:1 ratio or a 3:1 ratio (3 parts wheat, one part white flour) for the […]

Asian, Breads/Rolls, Breakfast, Cooking Techniques, Easy, Family Favorites, Heart Healthy, Indian, Ingredient Substitutions, Low-Fat, Main Course, Quick Meals, Vegan, Vegetarian

Paratha- Stuffed Wheat Flatbread

The Hindu religious festival of Navratri (9 nights and 10 days) began this past Sunday and will end the following Tuesday. It celebrates the feminine nature of the Supreme Divine. It is celebrated twice a year in North India and occurs when the seasons change from cold to hot or vice versa. In practice, Hindus […]

American, Asian, Cooking Techniques, Eastern European, Easy, European, Gluten-free, Heart Healthy, Indian, Latin, Middle Eastern, Quick Meals, Rice/Grains/Pulses, Side Dish, Vegan, Vegetarian

Rice on the Stovetop

I have never owned a rice cooker. I make rice in either a pot or a pressure cooker. Both methods work well, however, the pot takes 15 minutes to cook rice with a 5 minute rest period whereas the pressure cooker takes only 5 minutes. It makes sense as pressure cookers need only a third […]

Appetizers, Snacks, and Dips, Asian, Easy, Gluten-free, Heart Healthy, Indian, Ingredient Substitutions, Low-Fat, Quick Meals, Rice/Grains/Pulses, Salad, Side Dish, Vegan, Vegetarian

10-minute Seasoned Corn Appetizer/Side dish

I had this dish decades ago while visiting family friends. They were both practicing physicians with young children and very little spare time. This was the appetizer that “Auntie” whipped up. Aside: If you don’t have access to the spices listed below, just use regular salt and pepper and some ground cumin. No worries. Prep […]

Appetizers, Snacks, and Dips, Asian, Breads/Rolls, Cleaning Out Refrigerator and Pantry, Easy, Family Favorites, Heart Healthy, Ingredient Substitutions, Low-Fat, Main Course, Quick Meals, Sauces and Condiments, Seafood, Side Dish, Vegan, Vegetarian

Korean Seafood And Vegetable Pancake – Haemul Pajeon

Our family always orders this dish when we go out to a Korean restaurant. It makes for a fantastic shared appetizer or a main course. The pancake is crispy and flavorful and the dipping sauce adds savory, sweet and sour notes to the dish. Although, it is quick and easy to make at home. I […]

Caribbean, Casseroles, Cleaning Out Refrigerator and Pantry, Easy, Family Favorites, Gluten-free, Ingredient Substitutions, Latin, Low-Carb, Main Course, Meat, Quick Meals

Pastelón de Plátano – Plantain and Meat Casserole

I learned how to make this dish from my Dominican classmate in college. It is made using sweet and green plantains that are boiled and mashed and sandwiched around a ground meat preparation similar to Picadillo (a Mexican sweet-and-sour ground meat main course) covered with cheese and baked. Think of it as a Carribean lasagne. […]

American, Appetizers, Snacks, and Dips, Asian, Breads/Rolls, Desserts, Easy, Family Favorites, Heart Healthy, Ingredient Substitutions, Low-Fat, Quick Meals, Spice Blends (Masalas)/Seasonings, Vegetarian

Baked Wonton Chips

I found this recipe in a magazine from the local organic supermarket in Solon, Ohio. What a great idea for a healthy version of chips. They crisp up beautifully and can be made either savory or sweet depending on your choice of topping. They took minutes to make and turned out so pretty that I […]

Appetizers, Snacks, and Dips, Asian, Breakfast, Easy, Family Favorites, Gluten-free, Heart Healthy, Indian, Ingredient Substitutions, Low-Fat, Main Course, Quick Meals, Rice/Grains/Pulses, Side Dish, Vegan, Vegetarian

Sabudana Khichdi – Curry Tapioca Pearls

Tapioca pearls (sabudana), which are derived from the cassava plant, are a staple in the Indian/Asian/Brazilian diet. They are sometimes confused with Sagu which is derived from the pith of tropical palm trees. Sagu and tapioca pearls resemble one another as they both appear as small, white, opaque pearls that become translucent when cooked. Think […]

Appetizers, Snacks, and Dips, Asian, Breads/Rolls, Breakfast, Cooking Techniques, Easy, Family Favorites, Indian, Ingredient Substitutions, Quick Meals, Vegan, Vegetarian

Mathi – Crisp flatbread

If you have never had a Mathi, you don’t know what you are missing. This is top on my list of comfort foods. I’m still basking in the afterglow from having eaten three of them for breakfast with my cup of Masala Chai. Mathi is a crisp, flaky pastry that is generally served during high […]

American, Appetizers, Snacks, and Dips, Easy, Gluten-free, Heart Healthy, Latin, Low-Fat, Quick Meals, Rice/Grains/Pulses, Salad, Side Dish, Vegan, Vegetarian

3-Minute Corn Salsa with Black Beans

Years ago, I ate this salad as a sample at our local Trader Joe’s and fell in love with it. What shocked me was how easy it was to make. I only needed two ingredients and zero cooking! Olé! I made it for my book club later that week and it was a hit. I […]

Appetizers, Snacks, and Dips, Easy, European, Family Favorites, Gluten-free, Heart Healthy, Ingredient Substitutions, Low-Carb, Low-Fat, Middle Eastern, Quick Meals, Sauces and Condiments, Side Dish, Vegetarian

Greek Yogurt Dip

I had a version of this dip at Margaret and Franco’s home at one of their parties and decided to try out this version for my entertainment offering. I have served it for book club and large parties and have been asked for the recipe by several people. Hands-on time: 10 minutes Yield: 2 cups […]

Appetizers, Snacks, and Dips, Breakfast, Easy, Family Favorites, Gluten-free, Heart Healthy, Low-Carb, Low-Fat, Middle Eastern, Quick Meals, Sauces and Condiments, Vegetarian

Feta Cheese Spread

I like to throw cocktail parties where I serve a variety of hearty appetizers and some signature drinks in addition to the usual wine and beer. Here is yet another quick recipe for an appetizer (or, an afternoon snack, as I served this to my kids as well). You can make a lot of this […]

American, Appetizers, Snacks, and Dips, Breakfast, Easy, European, Family Favorites, Gluten-free, Heart Healthy, Low-Carb, Low-Fat, Quick Meals, Vegetarian

1-Minute Cheese Spread

Here is another idea for a quick appetizer for entertaining. It is delicious with crispy bread chips. I did this for my holiday cocktail parties with over 50 guests. It’s pain-free entertainment. INSTRUCTIONS Place the cheese of your choice in a slightly curved dish or one with a slight lip. Pour either the Agave nectar […]

American, Appetizers, Snacks, and Dips, Easy, Family Favorites, Gluten-free, Heart Healthy, Low-Carb, Low-Fat, Quick Meals, Salad, Side Dish, Vegan, Vegetarian

5-Minute Layered Dip

During the summer, we have a large family gathering. With 13 mouths to feed over a week-long period, I look for meals and appetizers that don’t take up a lot of time and still suit the varied diets and palates of the family. Here’s an idea for a layered dip that requires no work yet […]

Breakfast, Casseroles, Cooking Techniques, Easy, European, Family Favorites, Gluten-free, Heart Healthy, Low-Fat, Quick Meals, Side Dish, Vegan, Vegetarian

Scalloped Potatoes

I purchased a lot of red potatoes with the idea that I was going to go on a diet where I would swear off almost all carbohydrates except potatoes. Ha! It lasted ONE day. I should have known better. I’m too much of a foodie to ever diet. Anyway, with this diet in mind, I […]

Appetizers, Snacks, and Dips, Casseroles, Cleaning Out Refrigerator and Pantry, Cooking Techniques, Easy, European, Family Favorites, Heart Healthy, Low-Carb, Low-Fat, Quick Meals, Sauces and Condiments, Side Dish, Vegan, Vegetarian

Cauliflower Béchamel

I made this on a lark when I was trying to finish some milk that was coming close to its expiration date. It turned out to be a new favorite with my kids as it tastes surprisingly like mac-n-cheese but without the macaroni or the cheese. Imagine! Guilt-free mac-n-cheese. It is made in the same […]

Casseroles, Cooking Techniques, Easy, European, Family Favorites, Heart Healthy, Low-Carb, Low-Fat, Quick Meals, Sauces and Condiments, Side Dish, Vegan, Vegetarian

Mushroom Béchamel

My daughter was sick last week and I wanted to offer her a light meal that I hoped she would enjoy. I decided that crêpes were just what the doctor ordered (See my blog on crêpes). This way, I could get her and her siblings to eat a good amount of vegetables and fruit without […]

Appetizers, Snacks, and Dips, Breads/Rolls, Breakfast, Desserts, Easy, European, Family Favorites, Heart Healthy, Ingredient Substitutions, Low-Fat, Main Course, Quick Meals, Side Dish, Vegan, Vegetarian

Crêpes

I understand why there are so many crêperies and street vendors selling crêpes. They are quick, inexpensive and easy to make. They can be eaten for breakfast, lunch or dinner. They are delicious either savory or sweet. They are elegant and can be served as an impressive entrée or wrapped in paper and eaten on-the-go. […]