Take ten at the holidays
The holiday season may have a big focus on food, but that doesn’t mean there’s time to prepare an extravagant meal every night. After a busy day of shopping, decorating, or playing in the snow, choose main dishes that only take about 10 minutes to prepare.
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Quick Taco Salad
2 16-ounce cans chili beans, undrained
1 10.5-ounce package corn chips
2 cups (8 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese
4 cups chopped lettuce
2 small tomatoes, chopped
1 small onion, chopped
1 2.25-ounce can sliced ripe olives, drained
1-1/4 cups salsa
1/2 cup sour cream
In a saucepan or microwave-safe bowl, heat the beans. Place corn chips on a large platter. Top with beans, cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, onion, olives, salsa and sour cream. Serve immediately. Makes 8 servings.
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Creamy Chicken and Rice
1 cup instant rice
1 cup water
1 15-ounce can mixed vegetables, drained
1 10.75-ounce can condensed cream of chicken soup, undiluted
1 5-ounce can chunk white chicken, drained
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
Pinch pepper
In a saucepan, cook rice in water according to package directions. Add vegetables, soup, chicken, basil, and pepper; heat through. Makes 4 servings.
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Cheddar Bean Quesadillas
4 8-inch flour tortillas
2/3 cup refried beans
1-1/2 cups (6 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese
1/4 cup canned chopped green chilies
1/3 cup sliced green onions
1/3 cup sliced ripe olives
Salsa
On two tortillas, spread refried beans to within 1 inch of edges. Sprinkle each with 1/2 cup cheese; top with chilies, onions, olives, remaining cheese, and remaining tortillas. On a lightly greased griddle, cook quesadillas over medium heat until browned and cheese is melted, about 2 to 4 minutes on each side. Cut into wedges. Serve with salsa. Makes 2 servings.
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Mexicali Pork Chops
1 envelope taco seasoning
4 boneless pork loin chops (1/2 inch thick)
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
Salsa
Rub taco seasoning over pork chops. In a skillet, cook chops in oil over medium-high heat until meat is no longer pink and juices run clear, about 8 to 10 minutes. Serve with salsa. Makes 4 servings.
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Pantry Pointers
When cooking meals in a hurry, remember that smaller ingredients cook faster. Dicing carrots and meat, for example, will allow your meal to cook faster than using whole pieces.
Frozen vegetables make great side dishes since they cook quickly.
When possible, double a favorite recipe and freeze half for a night when you really don’t feel like cooking.
The Practical Pantry ©2007 Tammy P. Olson
http://www.practicalpantry.com
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