e Recipe Finder

Breakfast is considered the most important meal of the day. Since you are still sleepy from a good night’s rest, it is only right that you should know some quick and easy recipes that you can come up with in a few minutes.

If your kids love milk, then offer them something by combining milk with some cereals and fruit. To do that, you pour cornflakes from the box and into the bowl. Add milk and then slice into small pieces a banana or some strawberries and then serve.

For adults, you can substitute cereal with oatmeal which is quite healthy since it has been proven to lower your cholesterol. You can add with your bowl of oatmeal some fruits as well which are also good for you.

You can’t have cereal or oatmeal everyday so why don’t you try something else like an omelet. There are different ways to make it and the simplest one is to cook 2 eggs and add margarine into a frying pan. You can add flavor to it by also putting in some sliced mushrooms, onion and sliced sausages.

Once the omelet begins to set, use a spatula to push the edges of the egg mixture in. Keep doing this until you can flip one side of the omelet over the other one and then serve on a plate.

Do you want some bread for breakfast? Well you can by making blueberry French toast. To do that, you will need some eggs, milk, cream cheese, blueberries, vanilla and cinnamon.

Using a blender, beat together the milk, cream cheese, and blueberries until smooth then set aside. Using a medium mixing bowl, beat the eggs then add vanilla, and cinnamon. When you are done, add the blueberry mixture.

The last thing to do before serving is to dip the bread in the batter, and fry in a pan or griddle until slightly browned.

Another all time favorite is the waffle and if you want to add some spice to it, don’t just make any and go for the German waffle.

The ingredients for the German waffle include half a cup of butter, some sugar, egg yolk, milk, flour, baking powder, salt and gratings of lemon.

Now cream the butter and add the sugar until this turns into a cream then add the egg yolks and beat thoroughly. Next, sift the flour, salt, and baking powder together and add this to the creamed mixture alternating with the milk. Add the lemon peel and blend thoroughly then cook using a hot waffle iron and serve.

Pancakes anyone? Well try out the French Jelly Pancake. If you know how to make pancakes, we can already skip forward and move on to the best part which is adding the jelly. You have to do this while it is still hot and spread this evenly to keep it from spreading.

Next, dredge this with sugar and to make it look attractive, burn some lines around it using your toaster before serving.

Breakfast is important and fortunately, there are a lot of great quick and easy recipes that you can serve when you get up in the morning. As refreshments, always serve it with a cup of coffee or tea for the grownups and milk or juice for the kids.

Another day, another dinner to prepare. Are you having a difficult time finding easy to prepare meals that can satisfy your growing family?

You want to give your family the best, but time is in short supply and preparing a healthy meal has become a chore. Too often take out or frozen dinners have to do. Is there a way to combine healthy eating with convenience?

Healthy Family Meals – Better for Children, Easier for You
Yes! Quick and easy recipe, new methods of cooking and easy to prepare staples can change your eating habits and lead to a better eating style for your family. According to the ‘Kid’s Health’ Program created by the Nemours Foundation, family meals are an important part of developing healthy habits in your kids.
Eating as a family will encourage your kids to eat healthy foods like whole grains and vegetables. It will discourage unhealthy snacking and even make them less likely to try smoking, alcohol or marijuana.

But how do you plan healthy family meals on a tight schedule? Here are some ideas to start:

Does your family love lasagna? Maybe you thought that it was a labor intensive dish that just doesn’t fit your lifestyle. Cheesy and full of fat, perhaps it’s not even a wise choice. However, lasagna is actually one of the most versatile meals to prepare – and with instant (no boil) noodles, it doesn’t even have to be a big job.

There are lasagna recipes for vegetarians, low-carb, low-fat and even diabetic diets. Lasagna noodles now come in instant, no-cook preparations that cut time and energy when making this hearty dish.

For lasagna or other pasta dishes, try using whole wheat pasta and shredding carrots or zucchini into the meat sauce for an easy way to up the nutritional value. Using lean ground beef or even substituting with ground turkey or chicken can make for a surprising, yet nourishing result. Buy bottled pasta sauces for even faster preparation – many grocers carry a wide assortment that will add variety to your dishes.

Looking for an elegant chicken dinner? Don’t forget about frozen skinless chicken breasts. Baked in the oven with a dollop of salsa and shredded cheddar on top makes for a healthy alternative to frying or heavy sauces.

Need ideas for a side dish? Why are you wasting time cutting and washing lettuce when you can pick up a prepackaged bag at the grocers? Not to say it’s the cheapest method, but it definitely helps busy families put nutrition ahead of convenience when planning a meal.

Have you ever tried steaming vegetables in the microwave? Fresh or frozen veggies make for another easy side dish when they’re popped into the microwave for a few minutes. Add a couple tablespoons of water and cover with a paper towel, an easy AND healthy alternative to frying or boiling.

We’re all concerned about our children eating healthier foods. Regular family meals will encourage kids to develop healthy eating habits – an important key to good health later in life. By making meal time less stressful you can focus on the joys of spending time together instead of the hassles of preparing healthy family meals.

For more Free Resources http://www.dishadvice.com

When you have a busy schedule it’s not always easy to find time to shop for, prepare and cook hot, healthy meals with fresh food. I’ve certainly found that anyway. Rather than go down the microwave ready meal route I’ve got a few favourite easy recipes that I make if I haven’t got much time and the ingredients are usually already there in my cupboards. Following you will find my 3 favourite quick and easy recipes:

Spaghetti And Cheese On Toast

My scary ex mother in law introduced me to this snack. It’s hard not to think about her when I prepare and eat it but it hits the spot and tastes so good that the memories fade into a delicious oblivion.

Ingredients:

Tin of Spaghetti or Spaghetti Hoops – whatever size or brand you prefer. I use Heinz.
Bread For Toasting – I use wholemeal but any will suit
Cheese – Cheddar is best and I use low fat
Spread – Optional but I use low fat.

Method

Lightly toast your bread and at the same time heat the spaghetti up, but don’t overheat. Grate enough cheese for your needs. Put a thin layer of spread on your toast and then cover with the warm spaghetti. Cover the spaghetti with grated cheese and then pop under the grill until the cheese is melted to your taste. Transfer to a warm plate and eat.

That’s a really quick, filling and easy recipe and you can either make it as a snack with one round of toast or a meal with 2 rounds of toast.

Jacket Potato With Tomatoes, Cheese & Onion

After I got divorced I was broke and needed to add cheap but nutritious meals to the menu, and as I was working 2 jobs the meals had to be quick to prepare and energy giving. This was one of the cheapest meals that I made and it never got boring.

Ingredients:

Large Baking Potato
Tin Of Plum Or Chopped Tomatoes
Small Very Finely Chopped Onion Or Dried Onions
Grated Or Crumbled Cheese – whichever you prefer

Method

Either bake the potato for 50 minutes or microwave for 7 minutes. Slit the cooked potato open and place the onions in the slit. Cover the onions with cheese and pour the tomatoes on top. Place in microwave and cook on full power for 3-4 minutes.

I’ve sometimes added cooked, sliced mushrooms instead of or with the onions, or used low fat cheese slices instead of grated cheese. I also use baked beans instead of tomatoes on occasion.

Really Super Noodles

I experimented and added to a tip in a magazine for this quick meal.

Ingredients:

Pack Of Bachelors Barbeque Beef Super Noodles
Tin Of Plum Or Chopped Tomatoes
2 Cooked Sliced Sausages
Dried Onions

Method

Break up and place the noodles in a pan with the included flavouring. Add a small amount of dried onions and add the tinned tomatoes instead of water. Stir and keep stirring while bringing to the boil. Simmer for 2 minutes and then add the cooked, sliced sausages. Simmer for another couple of minutes and your very quick meal is ready.

The beauty of this recipe is that you can experiment with different ingredients and still get a tasty meal. For instance sometimes I add pre cooked beef strips instead of sausages, or I use chicken flavoured noodles and pre cooked chicken strips and leave out the onions.

Health & Diet

I suppose that it depends how you look at it, or how you prepare the meals whether you think they are healthy or not. The meals have varying amounts of carbohydrates, protein, calcium and iron and we need them all to live.

Are they fattening? Rigid dieters might say yes but I don’t think so as long as you don’t over eat and you swap ingredients for low fat alternatives. In fact I have included these meals when dieting and lost weight while feeling well and healthy.

Have you seen the price of breakfast bread (Morgenbrød) lately? It’s enough to make one wonder if it wouldn’t be cheaper to make your own. You know what? It is! For the cost of a typical loaf of bread (between $2 – $4), you can make more than one loaf of homemade goodness. A large bag of bread flour can make quite a few loaves with a handful of other ingredients. You’ll need some yeast, salt, sugar, milk, water, oil and maybe an egg or two, depending on your chosen recipe.

Also Quick bread recipes are a great alternative to making homemade loaf the old fashioned way. Sure you can use a bread maker that will do the work for you, but then you would be missing out on all of the fun of making the treats yourself.

When making bread, there are a few things to keep in mind. Choose a basic recipe if you’ve never made bread before. Plan ahead. Read through the recipe a few times to familiarize yourself with the ingredients and the process. It is important to follow the recipe exactly.

Learning how to make bakery (Bageri ) bread is a great way to get started on your path to a healthier lifestyle, plus you’ll get to enjoy fresh, warm loaf that just melts in your mouth. Yummy is the only word to adequately describe homemade loaf.

You can make loaf in two different ways. You can make it from scratch by hand or you can use a bread making machine to make the dough for you. The second yields fast results, but seems to lack that “homemade” quality that comes from kneading and seeing the loaves take shape from your very own hands.

Make sure all your ingredients are at room temperature before you start. Yeast likes a warm environment. The measuring of dry and wet ingredients is of utmost importance to create a tender, tasty loaf. Pre-measure your ingredients if you find that helpful.

Follow your recipe exactly. If it says to mix the ingredients in a certain order, do it. Making bread is a science as much as an art, and if you want your loaf to turn out the same way every time, follow the directions to the letter!

When all your ingredients are mixed, it is time to knead the dough. You will need additional flour to spread on your counter and to dip your hands in so the dough doesn’t stick to you or the table top. Kneading is necessary to develop the gluten in the bread dough, mix in air for rising, and distribute the ingredients so the yeast can feed. Yes, the yeast actually feeds on the sugars in the dough, and creates a fermentation process, which enables the dough to rise properly. The biggest rookie mistake in bread-making is not kneading the dough long enough. Use a timer if you need it. You’ll want to knead the bread between 8-10 minutes.

When you are done kneading, form the dough into a ball and set in a greased bowl. Cover and let rest. Your dough will need to sit for 1-2 hours to rise. Make sure your kitchen is warm to aid the rising process.

At the end of this time, you’ll want to uncover the dough, punch it down, shape the dough how you want it be when you bake it, and cover it for another rising session. When it is done rising, it is time to bake. Pre-heat your oven before baking. Once your bread is done, let it cool completely before slicing.

Once you’ve mastered a basic bread (Brød ) recipe, you can make artisan breads, French bread, herbed breads, rolls, and more.

Just imagine some sweet banana loaf with a gooey cream cheese frosting just waiting for you when you get home from a long, stressful day at work. It is an ultimate comfort food and is well worth the little bit of time it will take to make and bake.

The best diet recipes are those that are quick and painless. And painless recipes are very good indeed.

And there are all sorts of recipes in the world that are quick, but are they good for dieting? I have some suggestions for quick recipes for dieting, many from my own experience.

It’s best to start with breakfast because breakfast is renowned for being the most important meal of the day: Providing 30% of the body’s energy for the day.

When I was dieting, my breakfast meal consisted of the following:

- Eggbeater omelet with various vegetables
- Fruit sides
- Skim milk

It’s not much but it’s certainly quick. An omelet only takes about 5 minutes to cook up, chop an onion or green pepper, toss them in, and you have a fantastic breakfast. I usually would have fruit on the side, like grapes or a cut up apple. Just to have a little more to fill me.

And you can’t go wrong with skim milk over conventional.

I remember my lunch meal to be a bit different but still pretty quick.

- Grilled chicken, no seasoning or marinade (as much as I wanted it)
- Brown rice
- Water

The best thing about this dish, albeit it’s small, is that it’s incredibly simple. Anybody can grill chicken and I’d use my George Foreman grill to accomplish the feat. The rice takes about 5 minutes to cook, and water as a drink is always a solid choice when cutting calories.

Let’s not forget though, the importance of protein. And when I was dieting I always like to make myself a protein shake. For a lot of dieters this could be the best, quickest thing for them. After all, you simple toss stuff into a blender and turn it on.

A typical protein shake for me is similar to this:

- Skim milk
- Whey protein
- Ice
- Strawberries, bananas, and any other fruit you like

Not a whole lot to it, and it takes no more than five minutes!

I’ll leave dinner up to the consumer, as they are probably the most difficult meals to produce. Generally speaking though, sticking to a dinner with steamed veggies, lean meat like fish, or grains like rice are a good idea.

Personally, I’d make mostly whatever I had for lunch for dinner again.

A great idea though is to portion your food, no matter what the recipe is. This way you’ll never eat too much because the calories will always be small.

In the end, as far as quick recipes go, sticking everything in the blender is probably the best choice.

Do you need easy Italian recipes that you can cook up fast that are delicious and inexpensive?

Below are three very simple Italian recipes that do not require much time to prepare and only use several ingredients that you may even have on hand.

This is the beauty of Italian cooking. You do not need a ton of ingredients to cook up a delicious meal.

The key with cooking great Italian food is to use fresh quality ingredients, like fresh herbs and fine olive oil. And the number one most important ingredient in any type of cooking is of course Love!

Enjoy and Buon Appetito!

EASY ITALIAN MARINARA SAUCE RECIPE

Here is a great recipe for marinara sauce using canned tomatoes. This marinara sauce is delicious over your favorite pasta, on top of pizza and over mussels and shrimp. The beauty of this sauce is that it can be used with a number of other recipes, so it’s a great starting point in Italian Cooking and it is very easy to make.

You can use either fresh or canned plum tomatoes for this recipe, however using fresh tomatoes requires more time and preparation, so I prefer to use canned. If you do plan on using fresh tomatoes, make certain the tomatoes are ripe and in season.

For the canned tomatoes, I prefer Rienzi brand tomatoes. I have tried a number of different brands of canned tomatoes and Rienzi has the best flavor amongst the supermarket brands, in my opinion.

Marinara Sauce Ingredients:

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

4 garlic cloves, peeled and chopped (More or less depending on how much you like garlic)

1 35 ounce can of whole plum tomatoes with liquid

Salt to taste

Crushed red pepper to taste (You can use black pepper if you wish)

10 – 12 fresh basil leaves , torn

1/2 teaspoon of dried oregano

Directions:

1) Open your can of tomatoes and crush them by hand into a bowl and set aside.

2) Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add your garlic to the oil and cook until soft and lightly browned. Be sure to watch the garlic to make sure it doesn’t burn.

4) Carefully add the tomatoes along with their liquid into the pan with the garlic and oil. Use caution when adding the tomatoes to the hot oil. The oil can splatter. Add the oregano.

5) Stir the mixture and bring to a boil. Season with a bit of salt and red or black pepper. Lower the heat so that the sauce is reduced to a simmer. Break up the tomatoes as it cooks with a spoon until your sauce is chunky. You want the sauce to simmer until thickened, about 20 – 25 minutes.

6) Add your fresh basil a few minutes before the sauce is done. Taste the sauce and add more salt or pepper if needed.

7) Serve over your favorite pasta.

EASY ITALIAN PESTO SAUCE RECIPE

Let’s learn how to make pesto sauce.

This is another very easy and delicious recipe that can be served over your favorite pasta, grilled chicken, mussels or as a topping for pizza. For those of you who want your basil pesto sauce without pine nuts, you can leave them out or substitute the pine nuts with walnuts.

For a nice variation on this recipe, try adding sundried tomatoes to the pesto mixture before blending for a delicious tomato pesto sauce.

This recipe should only be used as a guide. Not everyone has the same preferences. Some do not like a lot of garlic or olive oil flavor for example, so it is recommended that you experiment until you find the right recipe.

Pesto Sauce Ingredients:

4 cups fresh basil leaves

3/4 cup chopped walnuts or pine nuts (the nuts can be lightly toasted in a dry pan before blending for added flavor)

2 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped (more or less depending on your taste)

1/2 cup of grated Parmesan cheese

1/2 cup of extra virgin olive oil

salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Add all ingredients to a food processor or blender except olive oil. Add a little oil at a time and process until sauce reaches desired consistency. Ready to serve in your favorite dish.

EASY PASTA WITH GARLIC, OIL AND FRESH HERBS

This is another quick and easy Italian recipe with only a few ingredients. It is important that you do not burn the garlic with this recipe otherwise it will become bitter.

Ingredients:

1 pound of spaghetti

3 – 4 garlic cloves chopped (more or less, depending on how much you like garlic)

1/2 cup reserved pasta water

1/4 Cup of Chopped Italian Flat Leaf Parsley

1/4 cup of chopped fresh basil leaves

6 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil

Salt to taste

A pinch of red pepper flakes (more or less depending on how spicy you like it)

Directions:

1) In a large pot, bring about 6 quarts of salted water to a rolling boil. Add the pasta and cook for about 6 – 8 minutes or until al dente. Drain but make sure you reserve about 1/2 cup of pasta water.

2) While the pasta is cooking, heat 4 tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat in a large skillet. Add the garlic and saute until light brown in color. Remember to pay close attention to the garlic to make sure it doesn’t burn. Remove from heat.

3) Stir in fresh herbs, red pepper flakes, and few tablespoons of the reserved pasta water. Mix until combined.

4) Transfer the drained pasta to a large serving bowl and mix in the remaining olive oil and pasta water.

5) Add the garlic and herb mixture into the pasta and mix well.

6) Taste and add salt and red pepper if desired.

7) Serve immediately. Top with grated cheese if desired.

There you have it. Three great easy Italian recipes that you can whip up in a flash and please everyone. I hope you enjoy these easy italian recipes. Happy Cooking!

After an earnest tribute to our beloved Indian cuisine and Indian recipes, I suppose its time to move on with our big ride. So, before we get started, plz fasten those seat belts tight, as you’d need really something to keep you taut from falling off as you scroll down…. Why?? Coz your first stop is gonna be into the amazing world of absolutely luscious dips… yes… u guessed it rite…chutneys it is… or rather chammandhi as per Malayalee vocab….

Chutneys…a vibrant n alluring medley of dips…something that truly exemplifies the beauty and diversity of our Indian cuisine. Be it north or south, east or west, Indian cooking households are no new to this rather mouthwatering name. Be it a morning breakfast, or a scrumptious lunch, or savoring evening snacks with hot tea, or a light dinner, chutney or chammandhi is more or less an habitual side dish on all dining tables on all or any one of these occasions…almost tagging itself as an inevitable part of our Indian cuisine.

Following the basic trait of our Indian cuisine, these chutneys too come in all sorts of shades depending upon the ingredients used and in various textures as well depending upon the cooking process followed. As for the tastes, it too differs accdg to the ingredients and cud be hot n spicy, sweet, sour and even tangy thereby leaving all your taste buds hankering for more…. A remarkable facet of our Indian cooking, so to say!!!

Chutneys popularly nicknamed as “Thottu kootan” in Kerala cuisine, can be made in a curry base for which you need to cook the ingredients and then blend it; or you can also blend the fresh ingredients directly and top it with oil or seasoning. In either case, it’s usually either the coconut or the onions used to get that creamy mixture base.

Recollecting a point from one of my previous blog article on my favourite onion chutney recipe,  believe chutneys often educe a nostalgic touch in the making process as it’s often considered the first lessons of cooking by Malayalee cooking novices…apart from tea/coffee…. And being a true Keralite, even I was taught the first chapter of cooking in the form of “Thenga Chammandhi” of all the Indian recipes at hand…which thankfully, wasn’t adjudged as a total
disaster….

And during this transition phase from being a cooking novice to an almost above average cook (being very modest), I learnt to make various types of Indian recipes making me quite obsessed to Indian cooking, especially naadan kind. And in due course, I have quite mastered myself in making different types of chutneys too…or at least I hope so…. (being modest again)

Enlisting below a few among them; falling under South Indian chutney recipes.

From clockwise direction: Coriander chutney, Manga chammandhi, Small onion chutney topped with coconut oil, A trio chutney with onions, tomato and coriander and finally the Dates chutney

Coconut chutney – A highly popular accompaniment with Dosas, Ghee roast or   Idlis, one of the most easiest to make. You can even change the colour by   adding green chillies or chilly powder accdgly.

Onion chutney – Another easiest and highly preferred one which goes well with Dosas, Idlis and Kappa. Red onions can be substituted with small onions too.  Can be blended either fresh or sautéed as desired. Check out my favourite version.

Thenga chuttha chammandhi – An extremely popular one made using sautéed coconut blend with sautéed dry chillies and tamarind. You can also add fresh coriander leaves to add flavour. You can even store it for a couple of days….  But just make sure that you don’t add water while grinding.

Mango chutney – A common side dish with hot rice or hot rice gruel making your dinner light and appetizing. Try blending a ripening one (not fully ripened) with a few dry red chillies, a piece of ginger and a few small onions finally topped with pure coconut oil. Am sure you’d be left speechless. And not too sure if it’d make your dinner light or heavy….

Tamarind chutney – A dip popularly used in North India while serving samosas or bhel or chat. Another one that’s absolutely irresistible!!!

Tomato chutney – A tangy one to go with a couple of hot dosas or steaming idlis. No words to express the tanginess!!!

Dates chutney – Another one extensively used as a side dish for hot n spicy Biriyanis…. Also used as a dip for samosas, bhel pooris, chat etc.

Coriander chutney – Something refreshingly green and easy to make; to go with a couple of dosas, idlis and even as a spread on rotis and sandwiches. A very popular one indeed!!!

Mint chutney – How about waking up to the mint flavor with a generous dollop of mint chutney spread ready in your sandwiches. Absolutely yummy, isn’t it!!!

Small green chillies (Kanthari) chutney – The only fitting or rather the ultimate side dish paired with a couple of cooked yummy kappas (tapiocas) to make your day. Absolutely divine!!!

A combo of onion, tomato and coriander chutney – And finally, saving the best to last… A personal favourite of mine, this combo of a few of the above makes it all the more worthwhile. Check out the recipe here.

And so, the never ending list cud go on and on and on…. For more of these and the recipe guidelines, you can surf here…includes those too which ain’t there in the list above. For any of the above recipe details, pls do feel free to ask me too and I shall try my best to help you out, hopefully with an authentic one….

And yes, these are just pure guidelines, no hard-fastened rules to follow…. It’s something even a beginner could work on with some slender changes, and finally churn out something that’d leave you all sizzling too.

So, go rite ahead and start nippin’ with a dippin’ into the bowl of dip-ins.

Happy dippin’…oops…happy cooking or shud I say happy grinding!!!

What can beat a quick and easy recipe that is as good for your busy schedule as it is for your health?  Not only is baking considered to be the healthiest way of preparing chicken, but it is also one of the quickest and simplest ways to prepare a tasty meal. 
Chicken is loaded with proteins and has considerably less fat than red meat, making it an ideal source of protein.  

Whether prepared in whole or in part, it is recommended to keep the skin on the chicken while baking to prevent the meat from drying and burning.  The skin helps maximize taste and can be removed before serving.  For those who choose to leave the skin out entirely, baking chicken in sauce or as part of a casserole is a great way to serve a more juicy and tasteful entrée. There is a range of sauces and seasonings used to prepare truly mouthwatering chicken recipes.      

Follow this expert tip for getting the most taste out of your baked chicken dishes: once the dish is prepared for baking, place the contents in an oven bag to preserve flavor throughout the cooking process.  Your guests will taste the difference.  An alternative is to place individual pieces of chicken in aluminum foil, along with sauce and seasonings.  The foil should be folded in a way that would prevent the sauce from escaping.  Arrange the foil-wrapped chicken pieces on a baking dish or tray and bake in a preheated 375 degree oven.   Most recipes for chicken require a baking time of 30 minutes to one and a half hours.

Chicken lends itself well to a variety of flavors and seasonings.  Below are some of the most popular chicken recipes among home cooks.

Honey ‘n Garlic
Take a walk on the sweet side and add some honey flavor to your baked chicken.  Baked chicken works incredibly well in a honey garlic sauce. Although it may seem like an odd blend at first, the sweetness of honey and the intensity of garlic are a wonderful combination of spices to make a mouthwatering chicken centerpiece.  Honey has a tendency to mellow out the strong flavor of garlic, creating a smooth and flavorful taste to complement most side dishes.  Honey ‘n Garlic chicken tastes wonderful served alongside rice mixed with raisins and other dry fruits.

Barbecue Spices
The sweet tanginess of barbeque is a perfect complement for chicken.  Barbecue sauce bakes well and comes in a large variety of flavors.  From hot and spicy to sweet and tangy, there is ample variety to suit even the pickiest eaters.  Barbecue sauce makes chicken tender, juicy and flavorful and is very easy to prepare.  

Cranberry Sweetness
A special recipe to share with your loved ones is baked chicken with cranberry sauce.  Although cranberry sauce is most commonly associated with holiday turkey dinners, cranberries make a perfect complement for chicken.  Cranberry sauce adds much freshness and juiciness to the natural texture of chicken, and makes an enlivening sauce that is sure to be noticed.  Serve this chicken dish in the wintertime, when the cranberries act as an immune booster.  If fresh cranberries are hard to find, dried berries can be used instead.  Be sure to reduce the amount of sugar in the recipe, as dried cranberries are usually pre-sweetened.  

Asian Sauces
Craving exotic Asian flavors? Chicken in teriyaki sauce is a popular dish that is a sure crowd-pleaser.   Homemade chicken teriyaki is healthier and tastier than takeout.  Instead of opting for bottled teriyaki, make the sauce from scratch for a more intense and fresh flavor.  Making the sauce yourself will also give you a great control over the final taste.  With a bit of experimentation, you can create a sauce that is perfectly suited to your liking.  You control the sweetness, thickness and the intensity of flavor.  There is nothing quite like a teriyaki sauce made at home!

Around Christmas quick dinner recipes are a must.

Things get out of hand very quickly with Christmas parties for school and work, parties with friends, nights out singing carols or going to church, volunteering with local charities…it’s a bit crazy!

Of course at the same time you’re probably trying to buy and wrap Christmas gifts, cook Christmas cookies and cakes, as well as plan and prepare for your family Christmas dinner.

So when do all the normal things like housework and cooking dinner happen?

Well, often the simple answer is that they don’t!

It’s bad enough eating all those lovely festive goodies on Christmas day and feeling the weight settle on your hips so don’t make it worse for yourself by living on fatty take-out in the days before and after.

Here’s what I do to keep the family fed and healthy (and extra money to pay off the overloaded credit cards).

Use the freezer: If I think of it, every time I cook a casserole, soup or pasta sauce in early December I stick half of it in the freezer for emergencies. Even if I just remember to do this 2 or 3 times then that’s got the days immediately before Christmas covered.

Mince: Where would we be without minced meat? It’s just so quick and easy to prepare. I always seem to serve up our entire yearly allowance of Savory Mince around Christmas. Likewise with rissoles. They make such easy dinner recipes; I always make use of them.

Pasta: What could be easier than making up a simple sauce while some pasta boils? Too easy. Stick to simple, fresh ingredients like basil leaves tossed with olive oil, or lemon juice and cracked black pepper. Add a simple side of lettuce and red pepper and you have some healthy dinner recipes. If you have more time, add more ingredients. If you’re really in trouble, see the next point.

Go pre-made: Normally I’d rather eat cardboard than have to eat some salt laden, over processed gunk from the supermarket, but I make an exception at Christmas. Just add as much health as you can to it at home. Add extra chopped mushrooms or peppers and good grated cheese to frozen pizza; serve bottled pasta sauce sparingly with good pasta and a large, fresh salad; chop extra veggies into tinned soup; use brown rice instead of white with a frozen Asian stir-fry mix, and so on.

Keep it simple: If you’ve been eating up big at parties in the days before, then there is nothing wrong with just having melted cheese on toast one night. Or use up some left over dips with heaps of vegetable crudités. Avoid the crackers and chips.

Top up with water: At most parties and gatherings you’ll probably find yourself drinking alcohol (Christmas spirit!) or soft drink. The kids are probably filling up on cordial and soft drink too. On the nights when you are actually at home, ban anything that comes out of a container and just drink plain water. Give your body a break.

Don’t forget the fruit: If someone says they are hungry and you tell them to have an apple, they’ll probably turn up their nose at the idea. However, I’ve found that if I have fruit chopped up and on a plate or in a container in the fridge, it miraculously disappears. Likewise, if I slip a plate of fruit or veggies slices onto the table while we’re talking or watching TV, the same thing happens. Give it a try.

Leftovers: Lastly I’ve got to mention leftovers. Some people just throw away any food left after a meal. I guess I come from a frugal household, and I can’t bear to see good food go to waste. As long as food is put away and stored properly, it can nearly always be served up the next day. Sometimes leftovers can be given a make-over, like roast lamb being turned into Shepherd’s Pie, or a heap of roast veggies added to whisked eggs and cooked up as a frittata, both are quick and easy dinners.

Often I’ll just reheat everything and serve it out. We call this ‘bits ‘n’ bobs’ for some reason. It might be last nights roast and veggies with a bit of the previous night’s pasta on the side, something like that.

Yes, I know there will be nights in the weeks leading up to Christmas and probably after, where I just can’t face cooking a full meal, but MOST of the time we eat well and healthy using these quick dinner recipes.

Hope you all have a very Merry Christmas and healthy and prosperous New Year!

I’ve got a heap of easy dinner recipes for mince and pasta on my website. They’re free so help yourself!

If you’re a parent who spends very little time with your kids due to the daily hassles in your office and/or in your home, then I say this to you: make time. When you’re old and look back, you’ll regret not doing things with your kids. You might even end up miserable and hating yourself and the real sad part is that you’ll never get that time back. So why be that old man, try doing things with your kids today. One little activity that is very rewarding for you and your kid is inviting your children into your kitchen. There are quick and easy recipes where you and your kids can enjoy.

How many times have you scolded your kid for playing around the kitchen? Well this is understandable given the potential dangers around the kitchen, knives, hot surfaces, boiling water, hot oils, etc. But by involving them in the cooking process you will be able to teach them the proper and safe conducts in and around the kitchen. This beats scolding anytime.

Children love the whole process of cooking. They the way big pieces of ingredients are chopped, sliced, or grated and mixed together to form a terrific dish. Maybe to them it’s a big jigsaw puzzle which when you get it right you will have one whole piece of dish that you can enjoy and eat.

Be patient when you’re working with kids. Expect a big mess of things. Your work table will most likely be overrun by various ingredients, drops of seasonings, scattered utensils, measuring instruments, and other cookware. This is fun to them, and who knows you might enjoy a taste of chaos once in a while. It might actually be liberating. But for the kids, the experience is hilarious and when they made good with their food, the feeling would be fulfilling.

There are several easy recipes that kids can make. Some very easy and simple dishes include omelet recipes and other breakfast dishes. Making French toasts is quite easy as well. Salads and sandwiches are also quite easy to make plus they are very healthy. Your kids can also bring these sandwiches for their lunch breaks.

One simple recipe is making a banana crepe, or make than a chocolate banana crepe. What you will need is some crepe flour, milk, eggs, melted chocolate, butter and of course sliced bananas. Mix together everything in a bowl except for the chocolate, bananas and butter. Let your kid do the mixing process. Use the butter to grease a crepe pan and then pour the crepe mixture on it. Make sure to spread out the mixture over the pan. Remember to flip it to cook the other side. Once cooked, spread the melted chocolate, line up the banana slices, and then fold it. You can add some more chocolate on the outside. Enjoy this with your kid.

Making pancakes is also another easy one. You can either go with the quick cooked pancakes available in the market or make your own from flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar. Whatever you decide, your kids can handle the mixing of the pancake mix, the greasing of the pan, the flipping of the pancakes and the presentation and additional touches like topping with chocolate or strawberry syrup.

Allow your kids to experiment and be imaginative. You will enjoy quick and easy recipes if you cook them with your kids. Sure expect a dirty kitchen later, but you have so much to gain if you involve your kids with the things you do.