How to Make Easy Meals

Archive for the ‘Side Dish’ Category

Ingredients:

1 can of chickpeas – drained
handful of green onions (scallions)
1 whole freash tomato
1 large sprig of parsley
Lemon juice of about half a lemon
Olive Oil

Instructions:

Drain a can of chick peas and pour into a small salad bowl.  Chop up the parsely, tomato, and green onions to add to chickpeas in the bowl. Squeeze lemon juice over everything and douse with oil.  Toss until well coated.
For added flavor add some fresh herbs from your herb garden.

(chickpeas are also known as garbanzo beans)

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon canola oil
1 teaspoon mustard seed
1 (16 ounce) bag coleslaw
1/4 cup cilantro, chopped fine
1 Serrano chile sliced thin
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon ground turmeric
3 tablespoons lime juice

Instructions:

Heat the oil in a large skillet until hot over medium high heat. Add the mustard seed to the hot oil. Cover the skillet and heat the mustard seed 30 seconds or until the popping stops completely.  Add the coleslaw mix, cilantro and chile and blend together.  Sprinkle in the salt, cumin and turmeric and stir well to incorporate the flavors.  Continue cooking and stirring continuously for 4 minutes or until vegetables are crisp tender.  Pour in the lime juice and cook an addition 1 minute.

Serves 6

Ingredients:

1 (14.5 ounce box macaroni
6 tablespoons of butter
1 small onion, diced
6 tablespoons flour
6 cups milk
1 (6 ounce) package provolone cheese, cut into 1 inch cubes
1 cup red bell peppers, diced
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
Pepper to taste
1/3 cup Parmesan cheese

Instructions:

Place the butter in a skillet over medium heat.  Allow the butter to completely melt.  Add the onions and cook 4 minutes.  Onions should be a light brown.  Add flour and whisk until smooth.  Continue to whisk until the flour starts to brown slightly.  Slowly add the milk.  Bring the mixture to boil while constantly whisking the mixture.  Once boiling reduce the heat to the lowest temperature.  Add the provolone cheese cubes.  Cook, stirring occasionally, until the cheese has completely melted.  Stir in the peppers, nutmeg and pepper.  Cook the macaroni as directed on the box.  Drain well.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Spray a large baking dish with a non stick cooking spray.  Add the cheese mixture to the macaroni and stir well.  Pour the macaroni mixture into the prepared baking dish.  Sprinkle the top with the Parmesan cheese.  Bake 25 minutes.  Should be a golden brown and bubbly when done.

Ingredients:

4 baking potatoes
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese, divided
3/4 cup sour cream
1 tablespoon buffalo style hot sauce
1 (24 ounce) package grilled chicken breast strips, diced
1/4 cup buffalo style hot sauce
1 tablespoon butter
3/4 teaspoon chili powder

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.  Wash and prick the potatoes. Wrap tightly in aluminum foil.  Place on a cookie sheet.  Bake 1 hour.  Potatoes should be tender.  Remove foil and cut potatoes in half lengthwise.  Spoon out the potato pulp being sure to leave the skins intact.  Place the pulp in a large mixing bowl.  Add 3/4 cup of cheese and sour cream to the pulp.  Stir to combine.  Add 1 tablespoon of buffalo sauce and mix well.  Refill the potato skins.  Top with the remaining cheese.  Place on the cookie sheet and bake at same temperature for about 7 minutes.  The cheese should be completely melted.  Cook the chicken according to package directions.  Once cooked add the butter, 1/4 cup of buffalo sauce and chili powder.  Stir to coat the chicken.  Add the chicken mixture to the top of the potatoes.  Serve with toppings such as chopped green onions, sour cream, hot sauce or Cheddar cheese.

Ingredients:

2 large cucumbers, peeled, seeded and diced
Salt
1/4 cup minced red onion
1/4 cup red bell pepper
1/4 cup minced fresh mint
3 Tablespoons rice wine vinegar
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 jalapeno, seeded and minced
1 1/2 teaspoons sugar

Instructions:

Wash, peel, and remove seeds from cucumbers.  Dice cucumbers and set in a fine mesh sieve over the top of a bowl.  Salt and allow to drain for one hour. Pat cucumber dices dry with a paper towel and place in a large bowl.  Combine onion, bell pepper, mint, vinegar, garlic, jalepeno and sugar with cucumbers and toss well.  Cover and allow to chill in refrigerator between one and four hours prior to serving.  When ready to serve, remove from refrigerator and stir well.