any ideas

[wannabegoodcook??]

any ideas on a plain but tasty meal, im not the greatest cook so the easyier the better to start with. thank you!

[Giant Crab Invasion]

Sausage and Mash.

last time I did this I boiled some leaks and sliced apple and added that to the mash. It made a plain dish much more tasty.

[lesley]

any ideas on a plain but tasty meal, im not the greatest cook so the easyier the better to start with. thank you!

This is a tasty meal, we eat weekdays, quick & easy, hope you like it.:)


Pasta Sauce, Starting From Scratch.

Tomatoes, garlic, fresh basil and onion or shallots are the ingredients for the Italian “base sauce”, Salsa al Pomodoro”.

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm162/bazmj_1/Sauce-on-pasta.jpg

My “Base Sauce” Variation

Serves 2
Prep Time 5 mins
Cooking Time 25-30 mins
Ingredients

* 1 large onion, finely chopped
* 1 clove garlic, finely chopped
* 2 (400g)tins chopped tomatoes
* 2 Tbsp tomato puree
* 2 Tbsp Ex virgin olive oil
* Large handful fresh basil leaves, shredded
* 2 Tbsp chopped fresh parsley
* Large pinch of oregano
* Lots of freshly ground black pepper and a pinch of salt
* 1 Tsp sugar

Base sauce ingredients

Method

* Heat the olive oil in a large frying pan or wok and add the onion
* Cook for 3-4 minutes, taking care not to burn
* Add the chopped garlic and cook for another 5 minutes, stirring occasionally
* Reduce the heat to low
* Add the chopped tomatoes, parsley, oregano, basil and stir
* Sprinkle in the sugar
* Season to taste with Himalayan or Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
* Continue to cook low-medium uncovered for another 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it reduces to a thicker sauce

Equipment

* Large frying pan or wok

Shopping List

* 1 large onion
* 1 clove garlic
* Extra virgin olive oil
* 2 (400g)tins chopped tomatoes
* Tomato puree
* Fresh basil
* Fresh parsley
* Oregano
* Sugar
* Salt and black pepper

[lesley]

Sausage and Mash.

last time I did this I boiled some leaks and sliced apple and added that to the mash. It made a plain dish much more tasty.

I like the sound of that! :)

[Elisha]

Hi, here's another great pasta recipe, it should not take you more than half an hour to make it. Hope you'll enjoy it!

Pasta with creamy tomato and mushroom sauce

Ingredients:
400 g pasta
Olive oil
1 onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, crushed
3 cans of peeled chopped tomatoes
750 g fresh mushrooms, sliced (or 2 cans)
Oreganum, salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Optional: some fresh cream to make the sauce even more special, grated cheese to top

Instructions
1. Cook the pasta in plenty of boiling salt water. Precooking the water with the kettle can safe you some time.
2. Whilst the pasta is cooking, chop the onions and garlic. Wash and slice the mushrooms (if you use fresh ones, otherwise just drain the canned ones).
3. Heat a bit of olive in a pan, add onions and garlic and stir-fry a few minutes until golden.
4. Add the mushrooms, reduce the heat a bit and stir for about 5 minutes.
5. Add the tomatoes and simmer over moderate heat for another 5 minutes until everything is hot.
6. Season with oreganum, salt and pepper.
7. Take the sauce of the stove and add a bit of fresh cream.
8. Serve with the pasta, sprinkle with grated cheese.

Serves 4.

[nubemet]

Bake potatoes with garlic for 1 hour.
Add some peppers and onion 5 minutes before its ready.
As simple as that, and tastes well.

[RecipeDirect.Net]

Not exactly gourmet, but great for the beginner cook or when a quick dinner is a must.

Chicken Cacciatore in 20 minutes
1 pound boneless chicken stips
1/2 cup onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
2 Tablespoons oil
1 (16 ounce jar spaghetti sauce)
1 1/4 cups water
1/2 teaspoon basil
1/2 teaspoon oregano
1 cup green pepper strips
1 1/2 cups instant rice, uncooked

Brown chicken, onion and garlic in oil. Add spaghetti sauce, water, seasoning and green pepper. Bring to a full boil. Stir in rice. Cover, remove from heat. Let stand 5 minutes. Stire before serving.

[tom0407]

Sausage and mash gets my vote, quick and very easy. An omlette is another good, quick and reletively healthy option. Just make sure you don't cook it for too long, nobody likes a rubbery omlette :)

[almutawa]

I suggest to try the arabic simple food you can check the salad that its called tabbouleh which is a mix of green veggies and tomatoes.

[Big Daddy's House]

Try making one-pot meals such as jambolia, tuna noodle casserole, spaghetti and meatballs, spaghetti carbonara, and such.

You won't have many pots & pans to wash afterwards.

[backybay]

Thank you Lesley, I like it. :)
________
RM85 (http://www.cyclechaos.com/wiki/Suzuki_RM85)

[Zippy]

any ideas on a plain but tasty meal, im not the greatest cook so the easyier the better to start with. thank you!
Take two large cans of good diced tomatoes, a large sweet onion (quartered), one stick of butter and place in a large saucepan. Let simmer, stir once in a while until tomatoes and onions are broken down into a very nice pasta sauce. Serve over your favorite pasta, top with some good grated cheese and some nice crusty bread to mop up the sauce.

It's simple and only takes two pots... one for sauce and one for pasta. Not much clean up.

[Semigourmet]

Creamy Beef and Potato Stew (very easy all done in the crock pot)

Servings 4


Ingredients

12 ounces boneless beef chuck
1 16 ounce package frozen cut green beans
1 5 ½ ounce package dry au gratin potato mix
½ teaspoon dried thyme, crushed
3 cups water
1 ½ cups half and half or light cream (I used ¾ cup half and half)
Finely shredded Parmesan cheese (optional)



1. Trim fat from meat. Cut meat into ¾ inch pieces. In a 3 ½ to 4 quart slow cooker combine the meat, frozen green beans, dry potatoes, sauce mix from potatoes, and thyme. Pour the water into the cooker.
2. Cover and cook on low heat setting for 7 to 8 hours or on high heat setting 3 ½ to 4 hours.
3. If using high heat setting, turn to low heat setting. Stir half and half into potato mixture. Cover and cook about 15 minutes more or until heated through. To serve, ladle stew into bowls. If desired, sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.

[Semigourmet]

Overnight Pasta and Meatball Casserole (tastes like lasagna)
Ingredients

1 (14 to 15 oz.) jar your favorite tomato pasta sauce
1 (1 0 ¾ oz.) can condensed Cheddar cheese soup
1 cup water
3 cups uncooked mini lasagna noodles (mafalda)
1 cup frozen bell pepper and onion stir fry, larger pieces cut up
1 18 ounce frozen cooked Italian meatballs
6 ounces (1 ½ cups) shredded Mozzarella cheese
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley



Directions

1. In ungreased 13 X 9 inch (3 quart) glass baking dish, combine pasta sauce, soup and water; mix well. Stir in uncooked noodles, and bell pepper and onion stir fry. Add meatballs; turn to coat with sauce. (Noodles should be completely covered with sauce.) Cover tightly with foil; refrigerate at least 8 hours or overnight.

2. When ready to bake, heat oven to 350 F. Bake casserole, covered, for 45 minutes.

3. Uncover baking dish; sprinkle with cheese and parsley. Bake, uncovered, an additional 5 to 10 minutes or until casserole is bubbly and cheese is melted.

[Semigourmet]

Cod Vera Cruz (this is a campbells recipe and not too bad)
Ingredients

1 pound fresh or thawed frozen cod or haddock fillets
1 can (10 ¾ oz.) Campbell’s condensed tomato soup
1 can (10 ¾ oz.) Campbell’s condensed chicken broth
1/3 cup pace thick & chunky salsa or picante sauce
1 tablespoon lime juice
2 teaspoons chopped fresh cilantro, optional
1 teaspoon dried oregano, crushed
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder or 1 clove garlic, minced
4 cups cooked hot rice



Directions

1. Place fish in 2 quart shallow baking dish.

2. Mix soup, broth, salsa, lime juice, cilantro, oregano and garlic powder. Pour over fish. Bake at 400 F. For 20 minutes or until fish flakes easily with tested with a fork. Serve over rice.



Notes For single servings ¼ pound fish fillet, ½ can tomato soup, 5 ½ ounces chicken broth, 1/8 cup picante sauce, 1 teaspoon lime juice, a pinch of cilantro or you can omit this, 1 pinch dried oregano, dash of garlic powder, to taste, ½ cup cooked hot rice. (one cup is way too much)

[chrisandcindy]

Try this one,

Sweet And Sour Chicken

Ingredients:
1 env. Lipton’s Dry onion soup mix
8 oz Russian or Catalina dressing
10 oz Apricot preserves










Directions:
1. In a roasting pan place a whole cut up chicken.
2. Combine the three ingredients and whisk well to make a sauce.
3. Pour the sauce mixture over the chicken and cover the roasting pan.
4. Place the roasting pan in a 350 degree oven for about 1 ½ hours.
5. Check internal temp of chicken. It is done at 160 degrees.
6. Serve chicken over rice topped with sauce.