The Avocado Snack that Makes a Easy Meal~

Fast+Healthy= Will actually happen

Ingredients:

2 slices of toast

1/2 avocado

Lawyer's Seasoning Salt

Directions:

Prep as shown in the picture and toast in toaster, lightly.  The end.

Time: 5 min

Serves: 1 

Cost: Basically the cost of the avocado so if you time it right this is a $1 meal

AND DELICIOUS!!!!

Did I mention delicious? ;)

Bacon (and Sausage) Carbonara!!

Because who doesn't love food topped with a bacon heart <3

Thick cut bacon is the best!

Total time: 45 min
Serves: 6

Ingredients:

1 package of pasta

1/2 lb of a hard cheese (recommend Jalsberg, as it's very affordable)

5 eggs
1 package of bacon

6 sausages (breakfast sausage works great!)

seasonings to taste: pepper, basil, rosemary, and thyme all work great

Directions:

This dish requires you move fluidly, partially regarding the egg mixture!  For that reason the steps aren't numbered.  Please read though the full recipe before you jump into the kitchen-- It will be worth it I promise!

Cook desired quantity of bacon.  A good rule of thumb is 4 slices.  (That way you have enough for the bacon heart and one to snack on while cooking the rest of the meal.)

While cooking the bacon, boil a pot of water with a dash of salt to get ready to cook the pasta.  Slice the cheese up, the thinner the better.  Combine the cheese with the 5 eggs and seasoning desired. Set aside for the very end.  Timing is crucial at the last step!

Well mixed cheese and egg mixture.
This will be cooked by heat of the pasta and bacon grease at the very end!

Cook the sausage in the bacon grease.  You can substitute in olive oil here, but considering the meal, I usual go with the classic bacon grease. 

Cook the pasta desired.  Drain the cooked pasta well before adding directly to the cooked sausage in bacon grease.  This works best in a large bowl.

Work quickly to mix the pasta and bacon grease and then IMMEDIATELY add the cheese and egg mixture.  Stirr quickly to cook the eggs.  The egg will cook directly onto the pasta, giving it an added texture with the cooked egg on it.  You will know when the eggs are cooked.  For the faint of heart- you can also always mic the mixture at the end, but this should not be necessary.

 Prep time: 50 min.  (Bacon just takes time.)
 Serves: 6 people.

 Cost:

 pasta          $2.00

 cheese       $1.50

 eggs           $1.20

 sausages   $2.99

 seasoning $0.20

 bacon        $3.00         

 total          $10.90

 So per meal: About $1.80

 I love this meal, so have I obviously ordered it in restaurants-- Never for less than $12 a plate, and it is SOOOO much better fresh.  Home cooked is the way to go on this one!

Adventures in Quinoa: Pasta Substitute Time!

As promised: Californian Summer Pasta with Chicken

(Except with Quinoa ;) )

Ingredients:

2 chicken breasts 

1 avocado

1 lemon

3 oranges

1/4 cup orange liquor

fresh rosemary, thyme, black pepper, etc

2 cup quinoa

1 large tomato (Or several small ones as pictured here.)

Directions:

Heat the 2 oranges of juice and two oranges of zest in large frying pan.  Add chopped seasons and pepper, one lemon of juice, and the orange liquor to the pan. Heat sauce on low and then add thawed chicken breast, (2 and cut in half to serve 4 people or you can add 4 whole beasts), to the pan. Cover until the chicken is cooked.  In the mean time, add 2 cups of Quinoa to 4 cups of boiling water.  Add more water as needed. Plate and place chicken breast on top.  Add the fresh avocado-- and any food art desired--Serve hot!  The third orange is for garnish, as you may have noticed--

Serves 4!

Cost:

chicken           $1.99

oranges           $1.00

lemon              $0.50

avocado          $1.00

Quinoa           $1.00

spices/etc.       $0.25     

Total cost:      $5.75

So less than $1.50 a person for this meal.. and it's looks and tastes gourmet!

Time to prepare is thirty minutes, and it makes a great Mother's Day meal ;)

Adventures in Quinoa: Mushroom Caps!!

~~The vegetarian addition~~

Ingredients:
3 cups chopped mushrooms
1 cup chopped celery
1 cup chopped onion
1 cup chopped bell peppers
1/4 cup sweet chili sauce
1/4 vegetable oil
1 cup quinoa
Seasonings to taste... For those truly on the "student budget" I recommend half a package of Raman flavoring ;)

Directions:
Add celery, bell peppers and the carrots to a pan with the hot vegetable oil.  Let these veggies cook most of the way with the lid on to steam them.  Once these veggies are mostly done, add the sliced mushrooms and leave the lid off, (as mushrooms release a lot of water). Meanwhile, boil 2 cups of water.  to the boiling water add the 1 cup a quinoa.  As more water if needed.  Combine all cooked ingredients, plus the sweet chili sauce and seasonings, together.  Back mushroom caps for 30 min at 350 degrees. Garnish with parsley or Sriracha if available.  Serve hot!

You already know this is going to be a healthy dish!

Cook the veggies most of the way before stirring in the fully cooked Quinoa.

Assemble on a backing sheet--This can be done ahead of time if getting ready for a party!!

Serves an easy 6 as a full meal, or it makes great party appetizers :D

Cost:
mushrooms     $5.99
celery              $1.00
onion              $0.50
bell peppers    $1.50
Quinoa           $0.50
oil/etc.             $0.25     
Total cost:      $9.75

So about $1.60 a person for this meal.. and it's actually really filling AND healthy!

Time to prepare is a good hour, but as mentioned above, assembly can be done ahead of time :)