Quickest Afterwork Dishes

[Behemoth]

When I reall really really don't feel like cooking?

Cans are my friends:

1) one can high quality tuna packed in olive oil, drained of oil then mixed with lemon juice, new olive oil and extra salt if it needs it.

2) one can canneli beans, drained, heated in a pan with olive oil and some chopped garlic

3) olives

4) pita bread, that I take out of the freezer and pop in the toaster.

done.

Edited September 11, 2004 by Behemoth (log)

[formerly grueldelux]

My favorite "instant" supper when I am so tired I can barely get into the kitchen is very simple.

Quesadillas.  Flour tortillas which I always have on hand, shredded or grated cheese that I prepare and keep in a 2 quart Cambro container in the fridge (the half and half colby jack that comes in the big blocks and has just the right flavor), and a can of diced green chiles, the mild ones.

I have a small microwave in my mini kitchen in the great/family room close to my recliner.

The tortilla goes onto a rigid paper plate - better than china which attracts water condensation -

using a slotted spoon I put about a tablespoon of the green chiles on a tortilla, spread them around a bit.  Add shredded cheese and place in the microwave, set timer for 50 seconds ( longer in a lower powered unit) until cheese is melted. 

Fold in half and eat when cool enough. 

If I happen to have leftovers of cooked steak or pork I shred or chop it fine and add some on top of the cheese along with a little salsa but this is not necessary, the plain cheese and green chile quesadilla is enough for me.

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That's one of my favorite things too. Also great with the addition of canned diced tomatoes. For some reason it's a magic combination. Even better when brushed with melted butter and baked on parchent till browned.

[babka]

I keep potstickers and a hunk of ginger in the freezer for really bad nights, and pasta puttanesca ingredients in the pantry for bad nights with many guests.

Zucchini-yogurt salad--I think this was bittman's originally. Cook some grated zucchini until it's mostly dry, then toss with a yogurt/olive oil/green herbs of some sort/salt/pepper/garlic dressing. Stick it in the fridge for 10 minutes or so to bring the temp down.

Devilled eggs: They take no time, but they make me happy.

[patti]

My son's favorite quick meal is simple. Boil pasta to desired doneness; drain, plate, add butter, salt, lots of black pepper and some grated parmesan cheese. Voila! A meal. Buttered toast is his lone accompaniment.

I always have chicken breasts and/or chicken breast tenders in the freezer. They don't need to be thawed to cook, and sauteeing them in butter and olive oil is a quick and easy starter for a number of quick meals. Last night I sauteed chicken tenders, and a couple of links of chicken sausage (sliced into coins) that needed to be used up, followed by sliced zucchini and yellow squash, some canned tomatoes, basil and oregano; short simmer. In short order, it was ready for eating. I'm low carbing, so I didn't toss it over pasta, but that would have been the logical conclusion, otherwise.