Quick food that's not Fast Food

Here's how to fix yourself a beautiful meal for one really fast

Menu - Dijon salmon, baked potato, asparagus

Earlier in the day, take a salmon portion out of the freezer.  spread it with 1 teaspoon of good dijon mustard and place it in a covered, microwaveable dish.  Scrub a medium size potato.  You will also need a frozen steamer bag of asparagus spears.  This all takes less than 5 minutes

At dinner time - pierce the potato in several places with the tip of a sharp knife.  Microwave about 5 minutes, depending on your microwave.  Place the hot potato on a clean towel and wrap it up to keep hot.

Put the steamer bag of asparagus into the microwave and cook on high for 3 minutes.  Take it out and place it on a plate or towel to rest.

Put the dish of salmon into the microwave and cook on high for one minute.  Test for doneness and cook a little longer if needed.  Do not overcook.

Cut the potato in half and put your favorite topping on it.  Cut open the asparagus and put half the 8 oz package on your plate.  Slide the salmon onto the plate - time, less than 2 minutes

There's your beautiful dinner, made in less than 15 minutes, total, including prep time. 

I had a large portion of salmon and I put two pats of real butter on my potato, so my calorie count for this meal was a little over 500 calories - about right for me.  I could have cut the calories by having half a potato and topping it with fat free sour cream or yogurt. 

Thank you so much !!!!! I think part of my problem is that I think I must always cook meals that take a bit of time (~30mins) so I have a hard time forcing myself into the kitchen on those days when I just do NOT want to cook, but something like this is SO much more doable! I cannot thank you enough !!!

I love to cook on weekends. I make a dinner that serves 4, and I can freeze servings of it to make quick frozen dinners, that are not processed foods.

I ate frozen dinners for many months in an effort to get balanced meals that were low in calories, but I got bored pretty fast.

Salmon is such tasty fish when it's not overcooked. I like to get a pound or so fresh from the market, microwave it with dill & rice wine vinegar, and then freeze cooked portions (about 4 for a lb). The other day, I roasted some root vegetables (beets, turnips, parsnips & carrots) and portioned them with the salmon. It's now one of my favorite meals ... and something you can't buy in a box!

Substitute a sweet potato for that white potato, and add nutrients & flavor!

Fresh asparagus steams in the microwave just as fast as frozen...a little chicken broth can add more flavor, too.