Recipes Quickie Recipes

So, what's your favorite recipe for a cheap, fast meal? I figured it might be interesting to see what everyone's making, since so many of the members here are at or close to college age.

One rule: you can't post any recipes for pre-packaged instant foods! (Unless you use an instant food as a base and customize it considerably.)


Healthy Smoothie Recipe:
This can be made in around 15 minutes, less if you pre-slice the ingredients. A full glass is actually quite filling and makes a good breakfast.

- One apple (peeled, cored, sliced into chunks) or banana (peeled and sliced) - this acts as a thickener
- One sliced fruit, half can of canned fruit, or large handful of berries of your choice (frozen berries, canned peaches or pineapple, etc. work really well)
- one tablespoon of lemon juice (optional; brings out the flavors)
- 2-4 spoonfuls of sugar (depending on how sweet you want the smoothie, and the sweetness of the fruits you've used)
- enough milk (whole, 2%, or nonfat) to just cover the fruit once it's in the blender

Put the whole mess on Ice Crush (or whatever other cycle your blender has for chopping up big chunks of stuff) until the large pieces are gone. Then mix it on Liquify until smooth. Makes one or two servings, depending on blender size and the amount of fruit you use. You can add ice or freeze the fruits beforehand if you want to.

 

Actually, you probably don't want to freeze it. I've done similar things with bananas, and unless you drink it right away, it turns brown and really gross.

 

That's where the lemon juice comes in. It prevents bananas and apples from going brown. I've left these smoothies in the fridge for half the day, even uncovered - and they're fine.

Still, freezing juice tends to fill it with pointy little ice crystals - like what you get in popsicles that have been left in the freezer for too long. Ice cream actually requires constant mixing until it's totally frozen to keep it smooth. Not that you couldn't freeze a smoothie into a sort of fruit ice or popsicle, of course.

 

The quickest meal I know is Rice Taco Chips


Need:
1 lb of beef
Taco seasoning (2 or three pouches)
4 cups of rice (instant)
Cheese
Salsa (most)
Chips (yellow or white tortilla chips)
Sour cream (if you please)

Take 1 lb of meat brown it. Add in some taco seasoning while browning. (Taste better this way). Once browned drain. Place back in pan add four cups of water and the rest of the Taco seasoning. Bring to a boil. Once boiling add rice remove from heat and put on the cover. Wait 5 or so minutes (depending on instant rice directions). Add in cheese while mixture is still hot. Eat with chips and hot sauce. Add sour cream if you enjoy it.

I eat this for dinner. It is good.
Basher