EAsy Sides With An Easy Main

 The main course is sometimes the easiest part of the meal to cook. There's nothing to air fried chicken tenders or pan fried steaks. You want the sides to be equally easy as well. Keep everything simple for a quick hassle free dinner.

Salad has always been every one's go to sides for centuries. You could go traditional with simple Bibb leaf lettuce and tomatoes. Just dress it with a simple viniagrette. Do something different if you want to have a fancier side. Add some almonds or walnuts along with shredded cheddar or mozzarella. You could also add microwaved bacon or bacon bits.If you're bored with the dressing then sub in lemon, lime or fresh squeezed orange juice instead of the vinegar. A quarter teaspoon  of honey or even maple syrup can give a dressing a totally different flavor. This may not be the season for tomatoes so try a one veggie salad. It's easy to whip up an simple broccoli or string bean one. It's just taking frozen broccoli or string beans and then steaming them.Use the mocrowave to save time. Dress them with a simple oil and vinegar one .Add a dash of garlic powder for extra flavor. What's great about this is that you can have trhe leftoivers with a sandwich then next day for lunch. 

Cooked easy sides can also work too. That steamed broccoli and stringbeans? They are just as good hot as they are cold. Add some butter like the plant based Melt, and garlic powder. Broccoli is also good topped with melted cheese. Heat  Kraft's cheddar in the microwave and pour over the florets. You could even toss in some bacon bits for more flavor. Tomatoes Provencale may sound elaborate and fancy but it's simply sliced tomoates sauted in garlic, butter and olive oil and topped with spoonfuls of breadcrumbs. They're the perfect side to any kind of steak or even burger. You can't go wrong with potatoes.Instant mashe d potatoes are always a crowd pleaser. They're simple to make and you cna vary the recipe  with the addition of cheese, bacon or even minced garlic cloves. Air fryer potatoes are another tasty side that everyone will like. It's just aking the smaller ones , cutting htem in half and htne coating them in a mix of olive oil, oregano, salt and pepper.They're then air fried at 400 degrees Farenheit  for ten minutes. You could also serve microwaved baked Idaho or sweet potatoes.

If you have an easymain course then think about making easy sides. They're a snap to cook. even better they're a delicious snap to eat.

Easy French Cooking

Easy and French cuisine rarely are heard in the same sentence. Yet you can create tasty Gallic influenced foods in no time at all. There are many dishes that can be whipped up without a maximum of toil and trouble. They're not only great mais tres facile!

Crepes are one of the easiest French dishes to make. The batter can be made anywhere from an hour to a night before and let stand. All it it takes is flour, melted butter or olive oil and a cup of milk along with salt and two eggs. Crepe batter is similar to pancake batter but should be a tad thinner (this comes from a good whisking). Lightly grease a crepe or regular frying pan and that's it. Finish with a sprinkle of sugar and cinnamon for a sweet meal. You can also stuff crepes with shredded ham and cheddar cheese and let the hot crepe cook them up. Another idea is filling crepes with canned chicken ala king. This makes for a really yummy dinner and one even kids will enjoy. You can also saute tomatoes , squash,eggplant and onion together for a quick ratatouille filling .

Another quick French meal is steak au poivre, steak with peppercorns. This bistro fave just requires steak , then coating it in salt and peppercorns. It is quickly pan fried.Use the drippings and cognac along with butter, dark stock and shallots to create a yummy sauce. Serve with fries for a true Parisian meal. Croque monsieur is another easy dish. Basically it's just a fried in butter grilled cheese with ham. You can make a bechamel sauce for it or add an fried egg to create a croque madame. After a busy day, this is a fun dinner to make and also a satisfying one.

French cooking isn't all fancy dishes and complicated time consuming sauces. You can have a tasty Parisian meal in just minutes. Best of all it's also tasty and filling and just as good as any multistep Gallic dish.

Easy, Cheap Cooking

Now that it's the height of summer and the height of the recession it's time we start changing our eating habits. We want something tasty and good We don't want to be chained to the kitchen . We also don't want to break what's left of our banks either. What to do ?

Rely on easy and cheap cooking. First of all stick to your grocery . It may be tempting to hit some of your local farms and farmer's markets but watch out. I've found that both here in New Jersey are higher in cost than my local A&P. All that freshly picked corn and tomatoes may look yummy but you re bound to pay a few extra bucks for them. Go to your local store and also check out sales too. Also sub in one kind if fruit , like the inexpensive peach for the more pricier bing cherry. (unless there's a sale).Think about what you want to make. Salads are easy. Just avoid the salad bar and pick up a bag of the less costly mixed greens. Add tuna or grill your own chicken for it as opposed to getting the inhouse fancier mixed Cobb or chef's salads.


Another place to shop is Costco or BJ's here you can save on burgers and dogs. Also look to your local Wal-Mart or Target for sales on frozen dinners and deli meats. Choose wisely on these , because they can be overloaded with sodium or fat. Try to get something from the Weight Watchers or Healthy Choice lines. You can microwave a tasty but low calorie dish along while saving money on it. Another easy choice is Ramen soup which is every dorm student's staple. Don't underestimate these. They make a good alternative to a brown bag lunch or a quick Sunday supper.

This is the time and the season to go easy on your kitchen and your wallet. Keep your food bill down to a bare minimum along with your cooking time. You'll feel better by havingmore money and less hassle in the kitchen.

Quick and Easy Weekend Meals

Summer weekends are always chock full of something. There's always a barbecue or some function to attend. The beach beckons. There's a ton of demanding household and garden chores that need to be done. Somewhere in this you 've have to create meals that are tasty and satisfying for your family. Yes , it 's easier to head to your local fast food joint however that can be costly both in money and calories. The best path to take is creating simple, creative dishes that the whole family will enjoy.

Sandwiches are always a good solution to a Saturday lunch or a Sunday supper. For added zing use good crusty Italian or French bread. There's nothing like prosciutto or morta della on a thick slice of one of these. For added fun have any of the Italian olives such as the Gaeta or the Cerignola varieties and with fresh or sun dried tomatoes. Now that this is the season for tomatoes a good old fashioned tomato sandwich on thinly sliced sandwich bread (such as Pepperidge Farm's kind) is a yummy lunch. Just slice tomatoes, slather generous amounts of mayonnaise on both slices and place the tomatoes on one slice. Sprinkle a little salt and pepper and voila - a tasty quick lunch that's a summer favorite. If you want you can turn it into a BLT with some bacon and freshly picked lettuce. Another good tomato sandwich is one with sliced tomatoes , mozzarella cheese and fresh picked basil. Make this open faced on Italian or French bread.

If you're looking for something a bit more exciting , consider filling a sandwich with any kind of spread. My Mom and I love making this wonderful chicken tarragon spread. I had been inspired years ago by that great chain restaurant, Au Bon Pain. The chain still makes this great spread that we adapted. It just requires Underwood Chicken Spread , some tarragon and mayo. Mix it together and it creates this wonderful paste that can be spread on bread or even crackers. Another variation is deviled ham , mayo and celery bits or celery seeds. The flavor is amazing and it's just great on anything. Remember that simple cream cheese makes a fantastic sandwich filler. Have it plain or add garlic or olives (two of my family recipes) Serve on an opened faced baguette slice.


Don't discount soup during this hot weather. A hot lunch is always appreciated and it 's filling if served with a salad. However cut down on cooking time in a hot kitchen by using bouillon cubes or soup packages such as Knorrs and Bear Creek. The last sells a wonderful potato soup in which extras such as corn or ham bits can be added for extra kick. You can make a fresh vegetable soup just by using your garden's bounty and a simple beef, chicken or vegetable bouillon based stock. Canned soups are good as well if you're time restricted.

Don't be tied down in the kitchen if you have a busy weekend schedule. Create quick and easy meals that are light but filling this summer.

Easy Chicken Tarragon Salad ( my thanks to Au Bon Pain for the inspiration for this recipe.

1 can of Underwood Chicken Spread
2-3 heaping tablespoons mayo
2 or 3 tablespoons of tarragon. (dried or fresh)


Mix chicken and may until thoroughly blended. Fold in tarragon. You can vary this by adding less or more mayonnaise and tarragon.
Serve on crackers or bread. Refrigerate any leftovers in a covered container.