Quick & Easy 1 Hour Vegetable Soup

I remember decades ago after college graduation that I continued cooking like a student looking for quick and inexpensive meals. I grew up eating canned tomato soup for lunch, and it was my favorite. By the time I was a college grad, I wanted something better. I remember making tomato soup from tomato juice with a little olive oil, ground garlic, and onion. I even served it to friends who came to dinner in my little efficiency. Several asked for the recipe. It was the first course as we sat around the coffee table sitting on the floor. No, that little apartment didn’t have much room.

Today’s recipe is so easy and so good, Quick & Easy 1 Hour Vegetable Soup. It’s the kind of meal you throw together in a big pot and have dinner in an hour. It’s a great week night meal but also good enough to serve to company. When you come home from work, tired and chilled, put a pot on to cook and go relax with a throw.

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Pan Seared Tilapia

Pan seared tilapia is a fast, easy, and tasty way to prepare fish. Tilapia is a freshwater white fish with a pleasantly flaky texture and mild flavor. It’s one of the most popular types of fish in the United States because it’s inexpensive, easy to find, and easy to prepare. This 15-minute recipe is great for a weeknight meal. Of course there are many ways to season it, but my seasonings are simple: salt, pepper, basil, garlic, and lemon juice. I like to spritz lemon juice before serving or you could serve with lemon wedges and let each diner squeeze the juice. If you like a little spice try adding a pinch of paprika or crushed red pepper flakes. Tilapia has a mild flavor and can be served with almost any vegetable.

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A Fast Meal of Linguine With Red Clam Sauce

Need a meal in a hurry? Today’s recipe is an Italian pasta classic, Linguine with Red Clam Sauce. Delicious clams in a savory tomato sauce make an easy meal that is on the table in 30 minutes. I’m using canned clams which can be a staple pantry item for a quick meal. Drain the clams and reserve the clam juice. You’ll use juice from 2 cans in this recipe and add more if the sauce is too thick. You can use the rest in other recipes. The classic dish calls for linguine but if you don’t have it, spaghetti works well too. Start with a jar of your favorite spaghetti sauce. Add a few flavorful ingredients like capers and anchovy paste and cook with a quality white wine. If you try it with a cheap not so good wine, you can tell the difference in flavor.

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Holiday Chicken Salad

During the holiday season, we’re busy, and many of us spend a lot of time in the kitchen cooking.  For a fast and delightful meal, make a chicken salad with lots of flavor and the sweet tang of fruit-juice sweetened dried cranberries.  I’m calling it Holiday Chicken Salad, but it is really a year-round favorite of mine.  You may add or delete ingredients to meet your family’s need. If you have baked chicken left over, make a salad.  It’s also a fast dinner fix with a store-rotisserie chicken as prep time is only 15 minutes.  Chilling at least an hour helps flavor to mingle.  It’s even better the second day.

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