Recipes

[Cassie]

For those of you who were interested in recipes - here are some that I make frequently. I don't follow these exactly, but they are good blueprints, and you can tailor them to your tastes.

I make this pasta salad to take for lunches - it's vegetarian and filling. I usually throw a bunch of snap peas, bell peppers, and broccolini in it, and skip the sesame seeds and scallions.

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/crunchy-noodle-salad-recipe/index.html

I lived in London for a year and went to this restaurant Wagamama's all the time. This is an approximation of my favorite menu item.

http://hotcooking.co.uk/recipes/2/wagamamas-amai-udon

Easy Asian meatballs - I usually make with rice and a quick cucumber salad

http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/korean-meatballs-10000002012780/

Really easy eggplant dish

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/eggplant-and-goat-cheese-lasagna/detail.aspx

A basic veggie curry

http://www.food.com/recipe/eggplant-aubergine-spinach-curry-151461

I buy the Thai Kitchen brand of red curry paste and make the coconut curry sauce recipe on the back of the jar. It's so good and really simple. All you need is a can of coconut milk, fish sauce and sugar. I have a microwave rice cooker/vegetable steamer. I cook the rice and steam the veggies in the microwave, make the sauce and dump veggies in, add tofu or shrimp, then serve over rice. So easy and it always tastes good left over.

http://www.thaikitchen.com/products/sauces-and-pastes/red-curry-paste.aspx

Here's a Mexican casserole recipe I made up:

1 onion, diced

1 can corn

1 can black beans

1/2 can olives

1 can diced tomatoes

1 can red enchilada sauce (I like Macayo's brand)

12 small corn tortillas

Shredded cheese

Saute the onion. When soft, add the other stuff and simmer for

a few minutes. Add whatever seasonings you like (I like cumin and

fresh cilantro) Cut the tortillas into quarters. Line the bottom of a

baking dish with half of the the tortilla quarters, top with half the

mixture and some cheese. Repeat with the tortillas, mixture and

cheese. Bake for 20-30 mins at 350 deg.

Some other things I make a lot : enchiladas, chili, lentil stew in the crockpot, shredded beef or pork in the crockpot (you can use for taco/burritos/sandwiches and freeze portions). Use a chuck roast or a pork shoulder (pork butt).

When I don't feel like cooking, I'll make a bean and cheese quesadilla, or an egg and potato burrito. I'll cut up a russet potato into cubes and microwave it to have on hand. For a breakfast or lunch, I'll mix one scrambled egg with a handful of potato cubes, half an avocado, some shredded cheese and hot sauce, and wrap it up in a burrito. Makes a hearty, easy meal for one.

[LILTEX41]

All sounds delicious! Thanks for sharing. I may have to try some of these myself!

[Greg]

Cool.

I have made that crunchy noodle salad! I remember being worried about mixing peanut butter with spaghetti.

Ina garten is awesome. Her spaghetti with real meatballs recipe is incredible..like one of the best things I ever ate

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/real-meatballs-and-spaghetti-recipe/index.html

Personally, this is my favorite vegetarian dish. SO GOOD.

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/baked-penne-with-roasted-vegetables-recipe/index.html

[lea]

I love Ina too