Quick and Easy Meals

After our last post, Jane M wrote in asking for ideas for meals in a hurry. We have a few favourites, and I hope you will share yours, as well.

When you have a few minutes to actually cook something, it's always a good idea to make a little extra. Leftovers are really the fastest meal idea going - especially if it's something that can be eaten cold.

One of our favourite pasta dishes is to cook up a bunch of noodles and toss some broccoli into the water just before the pasta's done. While this is cooking (and it goes quickly), pour a little olive oil into a big bowl (about a quarter cup for 2-3 servings of pasta), squeeze in a tablespoon or two of lemon juice and add some hot pepper flakes (this very much depends on your taste. I like it spicy, some of you may not). Drain the pasta and broccoli, pour it into the bowl with the oil and other ingredients and toss to coat well.

There you have tonight's dinner, with enough left over for lunch tomorrow. Just remember - it's important to coat the noodles thoroughly with the oil so they don't clump up.

And for nights when even this takes too much time, I recommend Sandwich Night. Pile on the greens and sliced tomato if you have it. Try peanut butter with apple slices and alfalfa sprouts for the kids. Quick, cheap and so much better for you than drive-thru (or Jane's fall-back: poptarts).

What do the rest of you like for a quick meal?