Easy, Quick and Tasty

 Happy Thursday all.  Hope this finds you all well.  Sunny and cooler morning here today.  The dew is so heavy this morning!  I'd love to mow again today - but can't imagine it drying out in time before the rains come!!  It looks to be cooler for many days - but that is fine.  Love this kind of weather.

As promised, today is just a post about some simple easy and tasty meals I make.  Now, being alone, I can eat differently than many - but truthfully G would have eaten all these things too (and did).  I have always made rather simple meals, with simple ingredients - but that doesn't take away from taste.  

Hopefully, some of you gals just starting out will get a few new ideas and even those who have been following all along.  We all need new ideas now and then.

Quesadillas are very easy to make.  A large tortilla, top with whatever you like.  You can top with a 2nd tortilla or use 1/2 of one - and fold over.  Above is tomato, cheese and flaked chicken.  Anything on it is good. I have a quesadilla maker - but you can grill (above was done on a G. Foreman) or do it in a pan - place a heavy pan or foil covered brick on top - to flatten when cooking side one!  There is always a way to do it!!!

Roll-ups or wraps.  They can be veggie or add meat and cheese and whatever you have on hand to make.  They are quite tasty.  Wraps are a summer favorite for me.

Mac n cheese with cut up smoked sausage or hotdog - veggies (whatever you have) on the side.

Mexican style skillet - beans, taco meat (w/seasoning), corn, diced onion - all cooked together and then topped with cheese.  Use what you have.  You can make skillets with all the ingredients of stuffed peppers or cabbage rolls - just cook it all together in a pan and top with cheese.  You will have deconstructed pepper or cabbage rolls!  Add some bread or a salad - yum.

Using leftover Mex. skillet (above) and make smothered burritos or use to make enchiladas or fancy tacos.  A serving on the plate topped with an egg would be tasty as well.

Fried tuna patty, mashed potatoes, and fresh asparagus.  Extra potatoes can be turned into potato cakes with little effort!

Fried rice is simple and tasty.  Cook up some rice - add what you have.  Above I found a can of mixed veggies - know idea why I had those, but decided to use, baggy has a little turkey I froze in pieces.  Add an egg to the mixture when sauteing up and you have fried rice.  There is no right or wrong way to make this - just use what you have.  Not necessary to even add meat.  You can do this with spaghetti noodles as well and make lo mein.

Dirty rice with meat added (you can use any kind of rice or flavor), garlic toast and fresh veggie.  Simple and tasty.

French bread pizza and a side salad.  I can often buy a whole loaf of Italian or French bread for $1.  Split it in half and top with whatever you have on hand.  Spaghetti sauce makes a great base or use tomato sauce and seasoning if no pizza sauce or use your favorite white sauce.  There are no rules!!!!!  Any meats or veggies or cheeses.  Have fun with it and experiment a little.  You could feed a family from a whole loaf made.  I always have lots of leftovers to freeze for another day.

Think about:

Spaghetti w/sauce (meat or not)

Soup beans - then maybe beans and rice with leftovers

Smothered hotdogs and fries (can make baked beans with dogs)

Burger (any way you like) with fries, or fried potatoes or beans or salad

Chili and crackers or cornbread

Soup - can be anything you have around the house.  Hamburger soup is a favorite here.  Use your leftovers or a few cans of veggies to make.

Sandwiches of all sorts - hot or cold with a salad or veggie side

Breakfast for dinner - eggs, sausage or pancakes, waffles, omelets, etc.

This is an omelet for one with a side of asparagus.  I threw some cheese, summer sausage, and onion in the omelet.  YUM

Hand pies.  These are made with empanada disks (super cheap for many in pkg,) or you can use pie crust.  Stuff with whatever you like.  Can be Mexican, pizza stuff, thick stew, mac n cheese - you name it - no limits.  I fried these in the air frier or they can be done in the oven until browned and crisped.  So tasty!  Add a salad and you have a meal.  Great way to jazz up leftovers.  These would be great with scrambled eggs and cheese too!

OK - there you go - just a sampling of some of the things I make.  It all is easy and uses what I have on hand - no special ingredients.

I get bored easily, so I like trying to experiment - and rarely does something not turn out tasty.

Just one thing all the beginners need to remember - THERE ARE NO RULES!!!!!!!

There are many ways to use up leftovers or simple ingredients in your pantry/freezer.  Take a little time and look around - get creative and have fun.

USE WHAT YOU HAVE AND HAVE WHAT YOU LIKE!

Have a wonderful day everyone!