Category: Budget Friendly

Pasta Mish Mash

Posted on by Lisa P

Serves: 2 people
Hands-on time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min

This pasta dish is a great way to use up leftover items from the week.  A thick pasta (penne or fusilli work great) plus a ton of veggies and some protein are all it takes.  The ingredients are very flexible, and I’ve never had a bad batch!

Ingredients

  • 1/2 lb thick pasta such as penne or fusilli (gluten free preferred)
  • 1 C of onions, peppers, shallots, fennel, cabbage or other fragrant vegetable with a lot of water content
  • 1 C any leftover non-starchy vegetable such as broccoli, green beans, brussels sprouts, asparagus, etc.
  • 1-2 cloves of garlic
  • 1-1/2 C leftover protein
    • meat-based: chicken sausages, meatballs, chicken, steak, pork chops, etc.
    • vegan/vegetarian: cooked chickpeas, tofu, tempeh, pine nuts, peas, soybeans, etc.
  • 1/2 C white wine or chicken broth (veggie broth if vegetarian/vegan)
  • 1/2 tsp italian seasonings (or herbs de provence)
  • 1/2 Tbsp olive oil
  • parmesan cheese (optional, omit if vegan or dairy-free)

Continue reading “Pasta Mish Mash” →

Scrambled Eggs with Spinach and Feta

Scrambled Eggs with Spinach and Feta

Posted on by Lisa P

Serves: 1 person
Prep Time: 5 min
Cook Time: 5 min
Cleanup Time: 2 min
Total: 12 min
WW Points: 5

This savory high-protein breakfast uses only three basic ingredients — scrambled eggs, spinach, and feta — and whips up in just 10 minutes.  It’s perfect with a can of low-sodium V8 and a cup of coffee. Continue reading “Scrambled Eggs with Spinach and Feta” →

Healthy Commuter Breakfast

Posted on by Lisa P

This healthy commuter breakfast takes a little bit of planning but is totally worth the effort, and once you’ve done it a few times the prep becomes automatic.

Ingredients

1 container high-protein greek yogurt with fruit
2 Tbsp chia seeds
6 Tbsp almond milk (30 calorie version)
2 Tbsp raw sunflower seeds
2 Tbsp Ezekiel Almond cereal (more if desired)
1/2 banana

Directions

Continue reading “Healthy Commuter Breakfast” →

Vegan “Dirty” Brown Rice

Posted on by gch_admin

This is a wonderful rice dish as a vegan main course or a side dish to a piece of fish or chicken. You can spice it up with any of your favorite vegetables and or hot peppers.  For a protein-rich version add a drained and rinsed can of black or red beans along with the vegetables. (See note in directions.)

Ingredients

1 cup of fresh broccoli, chopped
1 cup of fresh cauliflower, chopped
1 cup of sliced carrots
2 cups of long grain brown rice
5 1/2 cups of water
2 tablespoons of garlic
1 teaspoon of salt
1 teaspoon of pepper
1 teaspoon of your favorite dried herb or herb blend (optional)
1 can of drained beans or chickpeas (optional for protein if desired)

Directions

  1. Combine 2 cups of long grain brown rice and 5 1/2 cups of water in a large saucepan. Bring just to a boil. Add carrots and seasonings, stir and bring to a boil. (Add 1-2 tbsp of butter or oil if desired.)
  2. Reduce heat and cover tightly.
  3. Simmer 30 minutes, then lift cover and quickly add the cauliflower and broccoli. Don’t stir.
    Re-cover immediately. [To make this a complete meal with protein, you can add a can of drained beans or chickpeas right here as well.  Add them first, stir the pot, then add the cauliflower and broccoli on top.]
  4. Simmer 15-20 minutes longer, or until rice is tender and all the water is absorbed.
  5. Fluff lightly with a fork and serve.

Nutrition Info

Nutritional Value of Brown Rice (1 cup cooked)

216 Calories
1.8 g Total Fat
0 g Cholesterol
10 mg of Sodium
84 mg of Potassium
45 g Total Carbohydrates
5 g Protein

Nutritional Values of Vegetables (1 cup raw)

73.6 Calories
.8 g Total Fat
0 mg Cholesterol
89 mg Sodium
2607 mg Potassium
15 gr Carbohydrates
5.26 g Protein

Gluten Free Quesadilla (10-Minute Lunch)

Gluten Free Quesadilla (10-Minute Lunch)

This gluten-free quesadilla is made with corn tortillas that contain no flour. If you aren’t gluten-sensitive, feel free to buy the corn tortillas that have flour in them if you like them better.  The GF tortillas I buy from Trader Joe’s have only corn and lime, and as such they are somewhat prone to fall apart with too much handling.

Cutting this into four wedges makes it easier to eat without falling apart.

The photo shows the quesadillas on a paper plate served with a small side of leftover roasted potatoes.

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 Gluten Free Quesadilla Lunch Yum
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 seconds
Servings
person
Ingredients
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 seconds
Servings
person
Ingredients
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Rating: 0
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Instructions
  1. Put 2 tortillas side by side
  2. Using the back of a fork, mash the avocado onto one tortilla. Put some slivers of cheese on the other.
  3. Put the slices of lunch meat on top of the cheese. Put the one with the cheese and meat on it on a paper towel and heat in the microwave for 10 seconds.
  4. Arrange the leafy greens on top of the meat. Place the other tortilla on top, with the mashed avocado side down.
  5. Cut into four wedges with a knife or pizza cutter.
  6. Put a couple spoonfuls of salsa in a small glass dish, cover with a small piece of paper towel and heat in the microwave for just a few seconds.
  7. Dip the quesadilla wedge into the salsa and enjoy. Yum!
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Panini without a Press

Posted on by Lisa P

Do you love panini and wish you could learn how to make panini sandwiches at home? Here’s a great article on different ways to make panini at home without a panini maker. Thank you, PaniniHappy.com, for posting this great article!

http://paninihappy.com/how-to-make-panini-without-a-panini-press/

I have read on some other blogs recently that can also use a George Foreman Grill to make panini sandwiches.

So with all these alternatives available to you, you really don’t need a panini press!