Whether you are a career woman with a family, a homemaker or even a single working woman tired of eating the crispy fried onions from the package over the sink, a healthy fast meal is not merely an option, it’s a necessity.
Every so often P.O.W.E.R. will provide recipes – tried and true, that will make you, your family and even guests think you’ve spent hours in the kitchen. Some will be “make-ahead” and freeze, and others will be quick on the spot delights.
Having company on the spur of the moment or just want a fancy dinner for you and the SO without too much work?
How’s this for a quick and easy menu….
Appetizers and Drinks
Stuffed Cucumbers
Using a potato peeler, remove most of the dark green skin of the cucumber, cut it in half and scoop out the seeds.
In a bowl, mix softened whipped cream cheese, dill and onions, mix.
Spread the cream cheese mixture in each half of the cucumber.
Depending on what you like, place a piece of deli turkey, smoked salmon, or other cold cuts onto the mixture.
Put the two pieces of cucumber together, and slice into mouth sized pieces.
Bruschetta
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
In a medium bowl, combine tomatoes, onion, olive oil, oregano, basil and parsley. Place thick sliced bread on a baking sheet, and top with tomato mixture.
Bake in preheated oven for 8 to 10 minutes, or until bottom of bread is browned. Allow to cool 5 minutes before serving.
Bellinis – Proseco and Peach Puree
Pour peac
h purée into chilled flute, add sparkling wine. Stir gently. Traditionally uses white peaches for the fruit.
Main Entrée
Chicken Dijon
For speed, use chicken tenders (or pound boneless chicken breasts to about ¼ inch thickness) Sauté the chicken in a half stick of butter or olive oil (your choice) until seared on each side. Remove from pan. Take some chopped onions, minced garlic (a spoon from the jar) and sauté them in juices. Add ½ cup white wine to deglaze the pan, then ½ cup of chicken broth. Bring to boil. Add 1-3 tablespoons of Dijon or brown mustard (to taste) Stir in. Add chicken to pan, cook for about 5-8 minutes until chicken is cooked through. This also works for pork chops.
Rice Pilaf
Sauté a half cup of chopped onions and 2 tbsp. of garlic in a sauce pan. Add 2 cups of Chicken Broth, and 1 cup long grain rice. Bring to a boil. Cover pan, let cook at simmer for about 10 minutes until rice has absorbed all liquid. Add veggies if you like or slivered almonds.
Salad
Cut up extra cucumber, tomatoes, onion, kalamata olives, crumbled feta cheese, oregano, salt and pepper and dress with olive oil and lemon juice or balsamic vinegar to taste.
Dessert
Rainbow sorbet with sliced strawberries and Proseco poured over…
Refreshing!!!
Tips and Shortcuts
This entire dinner takes under 40 minutes to prepare from start to finish. While the guests are enjoying the cucumbers and bruschetta, you can be turning the chicken and covering it with sauce, and putting the rice in bowls. Serve buffet style and sit around and enjoy!
So how to do this and keep your sanity?
Prepare ahead and use shortcuts. Get precut onions, chicken tenders, and already made broth. Use whatever wine you have in the house (white works well, but red adds some needed color).
No one will ever know how quick and easy this dinner was!