Easy to make Dinners

Hi Everyone,

Was hoping people could post some easy to make dinners that don't require crazy ingredients or a lot of time.  I'm looking for cal intake of about 500-600 cals :)

Thanks!

lentils with pasta. the lentils are so easy to make- take onions and garlic- saute- add chicken stock, water and lentils. bring to boil, then cover and simmer for 30 min. meanwhile cook whole wheat pasta. serve lentils over pasta with some parm cheese.

Whole wheat pasta and some jarred sauce - Sauces 'n Love makes very delicious marinara sauce that is only 45 calories for 1/2 cup.  I got mine at Sam's Club, but I think Whole Foods Market and some other stores carry it, too.

Put a nice big salad with that and you're good to go.

Fajitas is a go-to recipe at my house.  This is the recipe I use for the marinade:

Fajitas

Put all the marinade ingredients in a ziploc bag, then add strips of boneless, skinless chicken breast (you could do shrimp, fish, pork - whatever. You can do steak too, but I find it doesn't take on the good marinade flavor as well) and either cook right away or stick in the fridge until you're ready to use it.  If you double it, you can make half now, then put the rest in the freezer and have it ready for another day.  I cook mine on a grill pan, but you could do it just as easily on a real grill or just a fry pan on the stove top.

As long as you keep the toppings like cheese, sour cream or guacamole to a minimum, this is a hearty, healthy, quick and easy recipe that everybody so far has liked.

http://www.calorie-count.com/recipe/18147.htm l

How about chicken and vegetable kebabs with some rice?

grilled chicken packets

boneless skinless chicken breast

add a bunch of veggies, I like zucchini, summer(yellow) squash, tomatoes, onions, red bell pepper, but you can put whatever veggies you like in chop them all up to about the same size, add some lemon pepper and any herbs you like, rosemary and basil are good! then wrap it all in foil and grill it (about 10 minutes on each side) you can broil it too but I suggest putting the packets on a cookies sheet cause juices will leak and make a mess :)

I forgot to say it's good w/wild or brown rice :)

Black bean burritos are one of my go-to recipes.  DH likes his w/rice (I don't), so I start that.  Then soften 1/2 or 1 onion, chopped, in some olive oil w/desired spices (chili powder, cumin, red pepper flakes).  While that's cooking, I open and rinse a can of black beans, then add them to the onion.  Sometimes I also add frozen corn.  While that's all heating, chop up some tomato and lettuce (cheese if desired).  Finally, warm some whole-wheat tortiallas, squeeze lime juice over the black bean mixture, and assemble.  It's all done in like 20-min, while the rice is cooking.  And it's ingredients that keep well in the cupboard (except for the veggies and cheese, but those are optional, too.)

Hope this helps.

I posted this on another thread just a few days ago. I like to make fried rice. I put sesame or olive oil into my wok and saute onions and garlic. The I add Bok Choy, carrots, (any other veggies you like), and some pineapple. Next, I put in the cooked brown rice.  After a minute or so, I make a whole in the rice and add some eggs. I let it cook for a bit (you can cook the egg seperatly if you feel  better about it), mix it all around and keep cooking. Finally, I add some soy sauce and Voila!  Its delicious.

Ok now this may sound gross but I LOVE it!  I have it for dinner every night!

I just make up a bowl of plain oatmeal, and stir in some steamed broccoli and steamed spinach.  Then you can add whatever flavors/seasonings you like!  My favorites are garlic and onion salt, or white vinegar and chili sauce.  Curry powder works well too..but seriously you can make it however you want!  I just try new things all the time!

Then with that I either have fish or chicken for protein and I'm one happy girl =)