STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

a microwaved potato with salsa, plain yogurt instead of sour cream and salt. it fills up a plate and is only like 150 calories. it tastes really good too (at least to me!) I also like to micowave a sweet potato and use plain yogurt instead of butter with salt and pepper.

other fast meals are cans of soup. I will also sometimes make a sandwhich of whole grain bread, a couple slices of swiss, and good mustard. 

ttara123 wrote:

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D wrote:

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a microwaved potato with salsa, plain yogurt instead of sour cream and salt. it fills up a plate and is only like 150 calories. it tastes really good too (at least to me!) I also like to microwave a sweet potato and use plain yogurt instead of butter with salt and pepper.

other fast meals are cans of soup. I will also sometimes make a sandwich of whole grain bread, a couple slices of swiss, and good mustard. 

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Forgive me for being an idiot... but do you microwave a raw potato? Or are you re-heating a baked potato?

If it's raw... how long do you microwave it?

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it is raw. you wash it, prick it with a fork a few times on both sides, put it on a plate in the microwave, 3 min. on one side, turn it over and cook 2 more minutes (that's for a standard large potato - if it's still hard in the center, stick it back in for however many minutes you need to)

after that, I take it out, slice it down the center, then pinch it open and mash it on the plate with a fork. I then cover it with whatever I want to cover it with and eat it skin and all (most of the nutrients are in the skin (I don't do this with a sweet potato though because the skin's too tough - sweet potatoes tend to take longer to cook also because they're bigger)

another topping that isn't horribly high in calories (even though it seems like it would be) is ragu cheddar sauce. you can steam a little broccoli while your potato is cooking, and heat the sauce up in a little bowl, mash your potato on the plate, put the broccoli on it, then cover it with the cheese sauce. 

I know this is not gourmet, but they're quick, easy, and tasty for me!

Super unhealthy mac and cheese! Boil some shell shaped pasta.  Throw it in a bowl, mix it with a ton of shredded cheddar cheese (pre-shredded from a bag is ok).  Mix in some chopped roasted red peppers (about 1/3 of a small jar).  Top with paprika, add about 1/8 cup of milk, nuke for 4 mins.  Yum! 

If I want to be healthier, I stir fry some chopped up chicken with fresh minched ginger and some broccoli with a few dashes of chinese cooking wine and/or rice vinegar.  Takes 4 mins.  Sometimes I add green beans, too. 

Another really easy chicken dish is to take a chicken breast, put it on a large square of tinfoil, squeeze some lemon juice over it, and top with some sage (fresh is good, dried leaves from a jar worktoo, ground sage does not work).  Then I wrap it in the foil and cook it for about 15 mins.  (I think I set the oven to 400, but can't remember right now.)  Serve with asparagus, broccoli, or green beans (they all take about 4 mins to boil).  If I don't want to take the time to boil a veggie, I make salad w/ salad-in-a-bag. 

My favorite easy meal is low-fat chicken enchiladas.  All you need is a rotisserie chicken from the grocery store, low-fat mozzerella, green enchilada sauce, defrosted frozen spinach and corn tortillas.

You take a lasagna pan and put a little of the enchilada sauce on the bottom so the tortillas don't stick, then you just layer the tortillas, cheese, spinach, enchilada sauce and shredded chicken a few times.  I've also added black beans into the mix before and that's good too.  Super easy.

Stir fry is also a fave of mine. Just cut up some peppers, mushrooms, zucchini, onions, string beans, and maybe some chicken. Throw it all into a pan, spice with garlic, sesame seeds, breadcrumbs, and serve over basmati rice.

I also like a simple Italian food that I used to buy, but now I make it all the time. Get those big beefsteak tomatoes, slice them up, get some fresh mozz. cheese, some fresh french bread, olive oil, and fresh basil. Toast the bread, put on the cheese and tomoato, drizzle the olive oil and basil, and eat while its hot.

I also like making fish. I buy frozen salmon at Sams Club, broil it in the oven for about 30 minutes (my favorite way to flavor it is with soy sauce and lemons) and put it over steamed spinach.

Collette wrote:

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Anything in a slow cooker. You can actually buy the whole meal frozen and toss it in a slow cooker in the morning. By the time you get home it's done. If you want specific slow cooker meals let me know and I'll tell you my favorites.

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Colette - I would love your slow cooker recipes.  I'm getting one for Christmas and I can't wait!