No-Measure Southwest Salad

This one's a no-measure, just dump the ingredients in easy-as-opening a can recipe I just made up throwing together what looked and sounded good this afternoon.

1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 can corn, drained
1 can garbanzo beans, drained
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1/4 red onion, finely chopped
2 tomatoes, seeded and chopped
2 cloves garlic, pressed
Juice from 1 lime
1/2 medium jicama, peeled and diced
1 small handful cilantro, finely chopped
2 Tbsp olive oil
a few cranks of sea salt (roughly 1/2 tsp)
a small palmful of cumin (roughly 1 tsp)

And it is a simple as opening cans and chopping a few things! Just dump it all in a bowl and stir to combine! I'm thinking if you dice everything really small it would make a great dip for chips, but as-is, I'm eating it with a spoon!

Creamy Chicken Pasta

4 large cloves garlic, peeled
1 jar (7 oz) sun-dried tomatoes in oil, undrained
3 cups penne pasta (NOT whole wheat)
4 cups chicken broth
1 head broccoli (2 cups small florets)
2 medium carrots, peeled
4 oz reduced-fat cream cheese
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp coarsely ground black pepper
Grated fresh Parmesan cheese and snipped fresh basil (optional)


Place 2 Tbsp of the oil from the Sun-Dried tomatoes into the bottom of the Deep Covered Baker. Use Garlic Slicer to slice all 4 garlic cloves into oil, and stir to coat. Cover and microwave 2 minutes, stirring halfway through. Add pasta and broth, stir, cover and return to microwave for 12 minutes, stirring halfway through.

While pasta is cooking, cut broccoli into small florets and place them in the Batter Bowl. Cut carrots in half length-wise then thinly slice on a bias. Add carrots to the batter bowl. Drain sun-dried tomatoes on a paper towel and slice into thin strips. Cut cream cheese into cubes.

When the microwave goes off, remove the DCB, stir pasta and add in broccoli and carrots, salt and pepper. Cook for 3 minutes, stir, add tomatoes and cream cheese, cover and cook for an additional 3 minutes.

Stir and serve immediately, garnishing with Parmesan cheese and basil. Stir in some cooked chicken to add some protein and make it a complete meal.

Total time start to finish: 19 minutes!!!

Hummus

1 clove garlic, pressed (if using roasted garlic, use 2-3 cloves)
1 can garbanzo (chichi) beans, drained but reserve liquid
2 Tbsp Tahini
2 Tbsp Greek yogurt
1 Tbsp lemon juice
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp paprika

Combine all ingredients except reserved liquid in food processor. Pulse until combined, then blend, slowly adding reserved liquid until smooth, starting with 1 Tbsp.

Lowfat Chicken Veggie Alfredo

Adapted from a couple of Hungry-Girl recipes

2 pkgs Tofu Shirataki noodles
1 cup chopped carrots
1 cup cut up asparagus
1 red bell pepper cut into chunks
1/2 cup zucchini chunks
1 clove garlic
2 wedges Laughing cow cheese
2 Tbsp low fat sour cream
1 Tbsp parmesan cheese
1 large or 1 small chicken breasts, cooked and cubed

Combine and cook all veggies in a zip and steam bag 3-4 minutes or until softened. Set aside.

Drain and rinse noodles very well, and dry thoroughly. Cut noodles if desired. Put noodles, cheeses and sour cream in a bowl, microwave for 1 minute. Stir, and microwave for 1 minute more.

Add in veggies and chicken, season with salt and pepper if desired.

Pasta Bake

1 box pasta (whatever you have on hand - rotini, penne, macaroni)
1 jar (26 oz) pasta sauce
1 lb ground beef
1/2 onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, pressed
1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Brown meat with onion and garlic, drain. Meanwhile, cook pasta according to directions for al dente (or 2 minutes shorter than recommended cook time), and drain.

Return pasta to pot, pour in pasta sauce, meat mixture and 1/4 cup of the parmesan cheese. Mix well and spread into a 13x9 inch dish (like the Rectangle Baker stone) and spread remaining cheeses over pasta mixture.

Bake for 20 minutes or until cheese is bubbly and dish is heated through.