Fast, Frugal and Good for You - Beans

Written Monday, March 8th, 2010 by Anne Coleman

Beyond the egg, another of what I like to think of as a 'superfood' is beans. Not only are beans frugal and versatile, but they're good for you. Beans are very low in fat, cholesterol free, high in protein and full of fiber.

Although beans can take some time to cook from their dry state, canned beans are a fine alternative and one of the fastest fixes for any dish.  But, what do you do with them beyond chili and soup? Here are a few ideas and some links to recipes right here at Half Hour Meals.

Bean Dip - Think outside the box (or can) here. While classic bean dip with pintos is delicious in its own right, white bean dip with a Mediterranean flair is so good (and easy) that you'll turn to it again and again. Combine a can of drained white beans such as cannellini with a clove or two of garlic, sea salt and olive oil and blend until smooth. Add fresh herbs like basil or thyme for different flavor combinations and add a bit of grated Parmesan for real depth of flavor. Serve with toasted pita wedges or a baguette for a great first course of light lunch.

Beans and Pasta - While the combinations here are endless, I really like light colored beans like garbanzos or cannellini beans with angel hair. Toss together with lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, a bit of red pepper flakes and cooked shrimp. Light, refreshing and packed with protein.

Bean Patties - Black beans combined with breadcrumbs, cilantro, lime juice, cayenne pepper and a little shredded Monterey jack cheese, shaped into small patties and fried lightly are one of the best 'burgers' around.

Use your imagination - and if you're still stumped, check out the many bean recipes here at Half Hour Meals: Beans

My Top-Ten Time Savers in the Kitchen

Written Thursday, February 25th, 2010 by Anne Coleman

Everyone has certain things that help to save time with various tasks, from laundry to studying to cooking. I'm no different, with 9 people in our family, there's a lot going on in a day and I need all the help I can get.

This list is by no means comprehensive, but it is the 10 things that I find most helpful in getting meals on the table in a timely fashion.

1. Pasta - The most versatile food ever, its a great filler, stretcher and all-around fabulous food. Quick to cook and goes with just about anything. Not to mention its a favorite of the kids. Boxed mac and cheese makes it into this list, too. I try to buy organic, but if I can't, I don't beat myself up over it. Any mom will tell you how much of a life-saver it can be. A pound of ground beef and a bit of tomato with a box of mac makes the best 'beef-a-roni' ever - just ask my kids.

2. Jarred pasta sauce - I'm not big on cans and boxes, but when it comes to pasta sauce and tomatoes - the canned and jarred varieties are excellent choices for many things. Straight up on pasta or used as a base for chili, soups and stews, it makes dinner prep so easy and the end result is always delicious.

3. Rice - Sort of a sister to pasta, another great filler and base. Fried rice from leftover cooked rice is so fast and chicken with rice is an old stand-by here that everyone loves. It cooks in a mere 20 minutes and even plain buttered rice is a great addition to any meal.

4. Frozen meatballs - homemade or store-bought, the uses are endless. Soup, chili, subs, curry and good old spaghetti and meatballs are all big hits here. Cook time is quick and the flavor is always consistent.

5. IQF Chicken breasts - Individually Quick Frozen chicken is always, always in my freezer. It thaws quickly and we all know the uses for chicken are endless.

6. Frozen veggies - Next to fresh, frozen veggies are the best choice and as they are already pre-blanced they cook really quickly and augment any meal in just the right way.

7. Pre-packaged 1 pound bags of ground beef - I buy ground beef on 5 to 10 pound packages and separate into one pound segments to freeze. Once they're separate, they thaw easily and I even cook from frozen for things like sauce and chili - just keep an eye on it and stir often.

8. Boxed or canned stocks - When I don't make my own stock and freeze in 4 cup containers, I rely on boxes or cans of stock. Any sauce or soup is prepared really quickly when all you have to do is open and pour.

9. A small hand grater - Not exactly a Microplane zester, but close. When I need garlic minced and don't have time for chopping by hand, this is my best friend. I use it for everything from citrus zest to garlic to nutmeg grating and it works perfect every time.

10. Food processor - I went for years without a food processor and chopping and slicing got to be a real chore. When my husband bought me one with a wide-mouth tube, I was in heaven. It takes second to slice fresh veggies and anything that needs to be pureed is finished faster than you can read this sentence.

What are your favorite time-savers in the kitchen?

Supermarket Shortcuts- From the Freezer Part 1

Written Thursday, July 24th, 2008 by Penny Hawkins

Like the deli in your supermarket, the frozen foods aisle is a great place to find dinner shortcuts (and I don’t mean T.V. dinners!). Here are some of my favorites:

Meatballs- Another of my favorite time savers, and one I put on my personal staples list. Pre-cooked frozen meatballs are another instant dinner idea, and most of them are as good as homemade. Use them for spaghetti and meatballs, meatball subs, sweet-n-sour meatballs, etc. There are also quite a few recipes out there for casseroles that use frozen meatballs, so if you have them on-hand you are halfway to dinner!

Dinner Kits- I put these on the list because they are fast and they areconvenient, even though I find that most of them have little taste. I avoid the ones that already have the meat in them because there is never enough and it usually has a texture like rubber. If you use a frozen dinner kit, look for the ones that you add your own meat to. An exception to this rule are the ones by Bertolli- they have enough meat (not rubbery) and they taste great! Keeping one of these on-hand for emergencies is not a bad idea (add some garlic bread and a salad, and dinner is done).

Refrigerated Pie Crust and Pour-A-Quiche- What could be easier? Mrs. Smith’s makes a great frozen quiche filling that you thaw, pour in a pie shell (I use Pillsbury) and bake! You can add some of your own ingredients if you want, such as chopped onion, real bacon bits, frozen chopped broccoli (thawed and drained) or fresh herbs. With a side salad or some fresh fruit, this is an easy delicious meal.