Cottage Cheese Yogurt and Fruit

Summer is in full swing. It’s hot, it’s sticky, and I really wasn’t terribly motivated to cook the other day (gasp). I wanted something quick, refreshing, and truly easy to make.  I looked in the fridge and saw that I had some cottage cheese yogurt and fruit (mango in this case).

Then I remembered that there used to be a store near me that sold fresh Greek yogurt with fruit, honey, and vanilla. They had all sorts of combinations: mango, blueberry, peach, and fig.  It was delicious.

Sadly. they’ve closed up and moved away from my neighborhood now, so I can’t get their yogurt without making a special trip.  While  I can’t recreate their yogurt exactly, I can use Fage plain yogurt instead.

Trying to recreate that yogurt salad sounded like a good idea, but I did want something just a bit more substantial than just yogurt and fruit, so I added cottage cheese as well to make a cottage cheese yogurt and fruit salad.

The proportions are about two parts cottage cheese to one part yogurt.




I’ve put this under “15 minute meals” but it isn’t even that much.  It’s closer to five minutes.  Just dump, mix, and drizzle.  Easy!

Cottage Cheese Yogurt and Fruit Substitutions and Variations

  • This works with strawberries, blueberries, peaches, figs, blackberries and raspberries.
  • Or use a combination of fruits instead.  It does not work well (in my opinion) with apples or grapes.

More Salad Recipes with Fruit

apple almond chicken saladApple Almond Chicken Salad

Sweetened with crisp/tart apples, crunchy nuts, and not too much mayo. An easy lunch for a summer’s day.

 

blueberry feta spinach saladBlueberry Spinach Salad with Feta Cheese and Walnuts

No actual cooking required for this salad. Mix together your favorite greens, spinach, salty feta, and crunchy walnuts.

 

strawberry spinach salad with balsamic dressing and feta cheeseStrawberry Spinach Salad with Balsamic Dressing and Feta Cheese

Tangy balsamic dressing and sweet summer berries are an unbeatable combination. Just toss and serve.

 

 




Blueberry Spinach Salad with Feta Cheese and Walnuts

I was so pleased with last week’s spinach and feta salad with strawberries that I decided to try another variation, this time with blueberries. Plus, the spinach and the blueberries at the market looked so fresh that I couldn’t resist buying them. So now, we end up with blueberry spinach salad with feta cheese and walnuts.

I changed the dressing from balsamic vinaigrette to a lemony vinaigrette made with olive oil, vinegar, and lemon peel. I topped it all off with a mixture of nuts, raisins, and sunflower seeds.

I bought the nut/seed combination already mixed, you can add some, or all of the ingredients, depending on what you have in your pantry, your personal taste, or whether you feel like going to the store to get anything you haven’t got handy.  You definitely don’t have to add all of them!

The resulting blueberry spinach salad with feta cheese and walnuts is crispy, a little salty (from the feta), tangy from the lemon, and sweet from the blueberries.

And, it’s even red, white, and blue. It would be great for a Fourth of July picnic or party.  Just throw it together ahead of time and add the dressing when it’s ready to serve.  Gotta have something healthy in-between all those hot dogs!




Substitutions and Variations for Blueberry Spinach Salad with Feta Cheese and Walnuts

  • Don’t have spinach? Try mixed greens or arugula instead
  • Or, add some mushrooms
  • Try adding some carrots or zucchini
  • Swap out different kinds of nuts (or nut mixtures)

More Spinach and Feta Recipes

spinach and feta cheese omeletteSpinach and Feta Cheese Omelette

The flavors of spanakopita (spinach feta pie) in an omelette. Much easier to make, and simply delicious.

 

spinach and egg frittataSpinach and Egg Frittata for One Person

Perfect for brunch or a light lunch and packed with herby and savory flavor from spinach, eggs, nutmeg, coriander, and fresh dill.

 

strawberry spinach salad with balsamic dressing and feta cheeseStrawberry Spinach Salad with Balsamic Dressing and Feta Cheese

Sweet local strawberries balanced against tangy balsamic vinegar and feta cheese.  Great for a hot summer day (no cooking!)

 

penne with feta cheese and sundried tomatoesPenne with Feta Cheese, Sun-dried Tomatoes, and Olives

The intense sweetness of sun-dried tomatoes is a perfect foil for briny olives and salt feta.  The recipe comes together quickly and is a great summer meal.

 




Strawberry Spinach Salad with Balsamic Dressing and Feta Cheese

Strawberry season has finally arrived! They’re wonderful just right out of the box, but much as I love strawberries, they’re not a complete meal.  This strawberry spinach salad with balsamic dressing and feta cheese is easy to make, delicious, and even healthy (all those greens and Vitamin C). And the colors look pretty too.  The tartness of the balsamic vinegar, and the saltiness of the feta cheese complements the sweetness of the strawberries. The almonds on top add a bit of extra crunch.

Since I wanted more veggies than just spinach, I added carrots, red cabbage, and tomatoes for extra color and more nutrition (I was trying to make up for indulging at a party!).

Make the dressing first, and let the flavors blend together while you fix the rest of the salad.

This is a great quick lunch or dinner. Just double the spinach, and add more tomatoes. You might want to increase the dressing recipe too (I like less dressing than most people).




 

Strawberry Spinach Salad with Balsamic Dressing and Feta Cheese Substitutions and Variations

  • Try mixed greens instead of the spinach
  • Use goat cheese rather than feta
  • Swap the strawberries for blueberries
  • If you’re wary of the balsamic, try a lemony vinaigrette dressing instead
  • Top it all with some mixed nuts or walnuts

More Entree Salad Recipes

smoked salmon artichoke saladSmoked Salmon Artichoke Salad

Colorful and delicious, this salad has bright and sweet citrus,  earthy spinach, crispy veggies, and plenty of flavor,  all topped with a savory dressing.

 

chili citrus avocado chicken saladChili Citrus Avocado Chicken Salad

A great summer salad with leftover chicken, tangy lime, and rich, smooth avocado.  The chicken comes with a kick, so it’s a festival of sweet//spicy flavors.

 

cottage cheese yogurt and fruitCottage Cheese Yogurt and Fruit Salad

Healthy and easy to make. I used mango, but you can use strawberries, nectarines, peaches, or blueberries if you like. Or mix them all up.  Just pour everything into a bowl. Done!

cold leftover steak saladCold Leftover Steak Salad with Goat Cheese and Red Wine Vinaigrette

Forget the classic steak sandwich for a minute and use your leftovers to make this salad instead.  Chop some veggies, add goat cheese, and make a quick red wine vinaigrette. A full meal with no cooking! Ta da!




Quick Creole Cabbage and Sausage

This creole cabbage and sausage recipe is quick and easy to put together. Just the thing when you want a quick dinner. Don’t be intimidated by the ingredients list.  The creole seasoning and the mustard are fairly easy to find.

If you can’t find them, or don’t want to buy a whole jar of something for one recipe, it’s pretty easy to make both from ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen.  There are links to recipes for each of them further down on the page. I keep a repurposed jam jar of the creole seasoning in my cupboard so it’s ready when I need it.

I used a spicy chicken sausage here, but you could use andouille sausage or hot Italian sausage if you prefer.  Just cook it a bit more, and eliminate (or reduce) the first tablespoon of oil.




Here are links to recipes for the creole seasoning and the mustard. Just toss (or mix) ingredients together and you’re done.

Creole Seasoning Recipe

Creole Mustard Recipe

More Sausage and Cabbage Recipes

bibimbap rice bowlBibimbap Rice Bowl with Meat and Vegetables

Bright, colorful and packed with flavor from tender veggies, warm/spicy ginger and garlic, ground beef and a spicy sriracha-infused sauce.

 

Asian chicken salad with cabbageSingle Serving Asian Chicken Salad with Cabbage Recipe

Get your veggies and make yourself a one bowl, no cook meal with leftover chicken, cabbage, peppers, and a gingery vinaigrette.

 

stuffed cabbageSmall Batch Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls Recipe

Standard stuffed cabbage is great, but it’s a lot of work. This is much easier. Don’t stuff, layer instead.

 

Polish sausage with cabbage and potatoesOne Pot Polish Sausage and Cabbage with Potatoes

A meal in a bowl. But don’t let the easy prep fool you. This dish is full of flavor from buttery potatoes, rich sausage, braised cabbage, and sweet carrots.  Great taste doesn’t have to be hard.

 




Easy Chicken Curry Recipe

This easy chicken curry recipe is a quick and delicious way to get the taste of Indian food without a lot of work.  The original recipe came from The New York Times (I think), but I had to put my own spin on it. It only requires a few ingredients and a small skillet and you can put the whole thing together in fifteen minutes. Just perfect when you’re hungry and in a hurry!

If you don’t have Greek yogurt, you can use sour cream instead. As a bonus, sour cream is more heat-resistant than yogurt so you can add it directly to the pan, rather than dirtying a separate bowl. I use the yogurt because I prefer the flavor. Also, it seems more authentic to use yogurt instead of sour cream.

Garam masala is a spice mixture (kind of like curry, every mixture and every manufacturer is a bit different).  It adds warmth and savor to the dish (not spiciness).




Chicken Curry Recipe Variations and Substitutions:

  • If you don’t have jalapeño pepper, add a pinch of red pepper flakes along with the curry
  • Add some ginger
  • If you don’t have boneless chicken, cut up a bone-in thigh, or just start the chicken first, cook it for ten minutes, then add the onions, and follow the rest of the recipe (with the bone-in thighs, the recipe will take about 25 minutes total).

Recommended Books and Ingredients

Madhur Jaffrey cookbook

Madhur Jaffrey’s Quick & Easy Indian Cooking

I love Indian food, but I used to find it a bit intimidating, because it’s not as familiar to me as a home cook. However, this cookbook made that a lot easier (and I use it quite a bit).

My favorites are quick chicken korma, lamb with spinach, fish fillets in curry sauce, and curried tuna (the canned kind, not fresh). Most of the recipes take less than 30 minutes to prepare.

Indian cooking unfolded

Indian Cooking Unfolded

Many Indian cookbooks use ingredients that can be hard to find if you don’t live in an area with a large Indian or Pakistani population. I have some excellent spice stores near me, but many don’t.

That’s one reason this cookbook caught my eye. He gives you the standard ingredients, and then tells you how to “cheat” if you don’t have them available. It makes the food much more accessible. The recipes are easy to follow and have 10 ingredients or less.

garam masala

Rani Garam Masala

An essential mixture for Indian cooking. It’s a blend of 11 different spices, so it’s full of flavor.  Great for chicken (like this recipe), or use it on eggs, lentils, or veggies. It’s got cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, and nutmeg so the flavor is “warm” and aromatic, rather than spicy or hot.

More Chicken Recipes for One Person

peruvian roast chicken with green saucePeruvian Roast Chicken in Green Sauce Recipe

I just can’t stop eating this. Crispy chicken skin, juicy meat, and a lip-smackingly delicious sauce. Use it on the chicken, as a dip, or on fish.

 

chicken mango stir fryQuick Chicken Mango Stir Fry

Sweet mango and bell peppers, with a little kick from green or red chile. Don’t have fresh peppers? No problem. A frozen stir fry mix is fine. So is frozen mango. Ready in about 20 minutes.

honey sticky garlic chickenHoney Sticky Garlic Chicken

Crispy, sweet, spicy, and delicious. And all you need to make it is fresh chicken and pantry ingredients.

 

Jewish chicken curry chitarneeJewish Chicken Curry Chitarnee

Not the Jewish food you were expecting! This is from India, so it’s fragrant with warm spices like ginger, onions, and cardamom.

 




Easy Italian Wedding Soup

I’m not Italian, so don’t hit me if this easy Italian wedding soup recipe isn’t authentic. It is, however, quick and satisfying.

There are plenty of recipes out there that require over an hour to make and a long list of ingredients. Sure there are times when I’m perfectly happy to spend an hour or more making soup, but there are other times when I’m hungry and I don’t want to wait!

This soup recipe goes from start to finish in about fifteen minutes.  It hardly even requires cooking at all.  Just dump, pour, and heat and you’ve got a fast, easy soup. It’s great when  you don’t feel like fussing.

Besides, something about soup is just comforting, especially on a chilly day.

All you need are a few simple ingredients: meatballs (frozen are fine, or make them ahead), chicken broth, a can of white kidney (cannellini) beans, parmesan cheese and some spinach.




 

I had some chopped beef to use up the day I made the soup, so I whipped up a few meatballs  with some onion, garlic, bread crumbs, egg, and oregano.  You can use pre-made or purchased frozen ones if you like, it will turn out just fine! If you do buy meatballs, I recommend the Trader Joe’s party meatballs.

Also, there was a bit of cabbage left in the fridge, too little to do much of anything with, so I added that in too for some extra vitamins.

Substitutions and Variations for Easy Italian Wedding Soup

  • Use chicken to make your meatballs
  • Add some cooked sausage
  • Saute some garlic and add that to the soup
  • Use garbanzo beans instead of white kidney beans

More Soup Recipes

spicy beef noodle soupSpicy Beef Noodle Soup for One

This garlicky, spicy beef noodle soup only takes a few minutes to prepare.  The garlic fights germs, the steam eases congestion, and it’s just plain comforting on a cold day.

ham and lentil soupEasy Ham and Lentil Soup for One Person

Filling, and delicious too, without a lot of work. Just chop, pour into the pot, and let it all simmer. Easy!

 

caldo verde soupQuick Caldo Verde Soup

Simple and easy, with a garlicky punch.  You only need a few ingredients and about 30 minutes.

 

pasta e fagioli soupPasta e Fagioli Soup (Small Batch)

A bowl of comfort packed with tomatoes, pancetta, and rosemary. Pantry- and budget-friendly too.

 

 




Quick Dinner Recipes for One Person

You get home from work, you’re tired, you’re hungry, and you’re thinking, “How can I make a quick dinner that won’t take forever to cook?” You open the refrigerator, and stare inside, hoping for inspiration. You’re tempted to go for fast food, or reach for the menu from the pizza place.   Skip the takeout and make one of these quick dinner recipes for one person instead.

They’re all a single serving, but you can make enough for two, save the rest, and reheat it a day or two later (then you get dinner in 2 minutes!).

Most of these recipes take about 20 or 25 minutes to cook. Cut up some fruit, heat some rice (I always make extra), make a quick salad, or grab some crusty bread, and you’ve got dinner!

Quick Dinner Recipes for One

creole cabbage and sausageSingle Serving Creole Cabbage with Sausage

This creole cabbage and sausage recipe is quick and easy to put together. You can have the whole thing finished in about fifteen minutes.  Great when you’re hungry and you don’t want to stand over the stove for hours

chicken mushroom skillet recipe

Skillet Chicken Thighs with Mushroom Sauce

Hungry after a long day at work?  This chicken with mushroom sauce is the perfect answer to the “Feed me nows!!”
Just pan fry the chicken, slice the mushrooms, onions, and garlic, and let it simmer. All in one pan.



easy italian wedding soupEasy Italian Wedding Soup Recipe

This soup recipe goes from start to finish in about fifteen minutes.  It hardly even requires cooking at all.  Just dump, pour, and heat and you’ve got a fast, easy soup. It’s great when  you don’t feel like fussing.

apple glazed ham steak

Apple Glazed Ham Steak

When I was little, everyone served ham with pineapple. That’s good, but I think this apple glazed ham steak is better.
Apples are less overpoweringly sweet and complement the salty ham better.

 

 

 

one person chicken curry

Easy Chicken Curry Recipe for One

A few ingredients, a small skillet, and you can put the whole thing together in fifteen minutes. Just perfect when you’re hungry and in a hurry!

 

 

eggplant parmesan for oneEggplant Parmesan

Tender eggplant, sauce from a jar, and cheese make a surprisingly quick and easy dinner. Tastes like you worked for hours though.

Pasta Pesto pistachio pesto penne pastawith Pistachios and Broccoli

Pesto with a fresh twist. You get the sweet, summery taste of basil, the earthiness of  broccoli, and the crunchiness of pistachios.

 

 

 

Salmon with Greek Yogsalmon greek yogurt dill sauceurt Dill Sauce for One

A super-easy, elegant looking dinner that’s really easy to make.  The piquancy of the Greek yogurt complements the rich flavor of the fish beautifully.  A pinch of mustard gives it a bit of a bite, without overwhelming the rest of the dish.

easy singapore noodles with chicken

Singapore Noodles Dinner Recipe for One

Got leftovers? Clean out your fridge and create an entirely fresh meal with this classic stir fry.

 

 

greek fish with lemon and tomatoes

Greek Fish with Lemon and Tomatoes

This has become one of my favorites during the summer. It’s tasty (and quick) when it’s hot and I don’t feel like cooking. Use greenmarket tomatoes (if you can get them).

 

 

cold leftover steak salad

Cold Leftover Steak Salad with Red Wine Vinaigrette

A crispy, delicious salad with peppers, tomatoes, and goat cheese. Top it with a red wine vinaigrette and you’ve got the perfect solution for late summer days when the thought of turning on the stove is too much to bear.




Pan-Fried Tilapia with Lemon Butter Sauce

This single serving of pan-fried tilapia with lemon butter sauce is quick, easy, and delicious. I was never a big fish fan growing up, but I’ve grown to like it as I have gotten older.  If you’re a bit wary of fish, tilapia is a good “starter fish.” It has a mild flavor and doesn’t overwhelm your taste buds (or your kitchen).

I got the idea from someone who said she made tilapia with butter, lemon, and rosemary.  I thought that sounded good, but that it would be even better with some olive oil and mustard powder (it was).

You can put the whole thing together and have dinner on the table in less than fifteen minutes. Make the fish, steam (or zap) some veggies and you’re good to go.

I made this recently (just as spring is finally showing signs of arriving, after a truly nasty winter), but it would be great in the summer when you want something fast.  There’s no need to heat the stove or the oven for an hour.

By the way, the fish came from Trader Joe’s.  They have great frozen fish. The tilapia was in a package with individually-wrapped fillets. Normally, I don’t like extra packaging, but in this case it was perfect, since I only had to defrost one fillet, instead of the entire bag.




 

Pan-Fried Tilapia with Lemon Butter Sauce Substitutions and Variations

  • If you don’t have tilapia, use another mild, white fish such as cod, flounder, or Dover sole
  • Swap the rosemary for some capers
  • Skip the mustard and the rosemary and use dill instead

 

More Easy Fish Recipes

fish fillet with yogurt sauceIndian Fish Fillet in Yogurt Sauce

Fish in a rich, tangy sauce that seems more decadent than it actually is.  There’s a bit of warm spiciness from cumin and garam masala, but it’s not “hot” spicy.

 

greek fish with lemon and tomatoesGreek Fish with Lemon and Tomatoes

Make a quick marinade, let it sit, and pan-fry the fish. Dinner is done.

 

sephardic fish in peppery tomato sauceSephardic Fish in Peppery Tomato Sauce

In America, we tend to think of “Jewish” food as brisket, potato pancakes, and bagels. But there’s a whole world of spicier and more varied foods from India, Lebanon, and the Mediterranean. This is one of them.

easy mediterranean fish stewEasy Mediterranean Fish Stew

A variation on the classic cioppino, popular in San Francisco, this stew is easy and accessible.  You can even start it in advance (up to the point where you add the fish).

 




Chicken Florentine for One

Sometimes, there are nights when you’ve been working hard all day, and you open the fridge and wonder, “Where’s the magic instant food fairy?” You’re hungry, you want food, and you want it now. But you also want something you’ll enjoy eating. Chicken Florentine sounds fancy, but it’s really easy to put together. It also cooks quickly.  It only takes about 25 minutes to prepare, from start to finish. Just the thing for one you’re tired, hungry, or it’s hot and you do not want to stand over the stove for ages waiting for dinner to hurry up and cook.

All you have to do is do a little bit of chopping, a quick sauté, and toss a few ingredients in a frying pan.  Ta dah! Dinner is ready.

I served this with a simple side dish of spaghetti tossed with olive oil and butter, and topped with grated parmesan cheese (not shown).




Chicken Florentine for One Substitutions and Variations

• Sauté some mushrooms in the sauce
• Replace the onions with shallots
• Use white wine instead of chicken broth
• Add a squeeze of lemon juice (instead of the wine or the broth); this will add a bit of acidity and brighten the flavor

More Chicken Recipes

 

feta brined roast chicken

Feta Brined Roast Chicken Recipe for One

You’ve likely heard of brining turkey. Turns out feta cheese works just as well (and it’s more flavorful too). Marinate, roast, and serve on a bed of fresh spinach.


Vietnamese baked chicken with lime Vietnamese Chicken with Lime and Ginger

Warm and spicy with a ginger kick, mellowed by sweet, citrusy lime.  Just marinate and bake.

 

peruvian roast chicken with green saucePeruvian Roast Chicken in Green Sauce Recipe

Crispy roast chicken topped with a killer green sauce. Flavored with spinach, hot pepper, and just enough creamy mayo to hold it together. Great as a dip too.

 

Shoemaker’s Chicken

Skillet chicken enlivened with a tangy sauce that cooks right in the pan with the chicken.  One pot, minimal cleanup.

 

Homemade Tortilla Crust Pizza

I wanted homemade pizza one day and was feeling too lazy (and too hungry) to take the time to make dough and wait for yeast to rise.  Usually, I’d use pita bread for this, but I didn’t have any.  I didn’t have any of the usual substitutes either, (not even an English muffin). Necessity being the mother of invention, I decided to create another “base” for my pizza. The answer was homemade tortilla crust pizza.

It turned out that a tortilla made a perfect crust for my pizza.  I didn’t roll it out that much, but left it fairly thick (so it would be more like pita bread).

And, while I was low on pizza base substitutes, I did have sausage, fresh eggplant, and plenty of tomato sauce.

I made a quick tortilla crust, chopped  up the veggies, put it all together, and baked it.  It made a great, fairly easy lunch.

Of course, if you’re really in a hurry, feeling extra tired, you can always skip making the tortilla and use some from the store instead!




More Tortilla Recipes

fried egg burritoFried Egg Burrito

Super-quick (ready in about 10 minutes) and perfect for any meal. Great for a light snack or when you’ve got a bad case of the hungries.

 

egg chili cheese burritoEgg Chili Cheese Wrap Recipe

Chili, cheese, and eggs, all wrapped up in an easy sandwich. No fuss, one pot, and super-fast.

 

cranberry chipotle turkey burrito

Cranberry Chipotle Turkey Burrito

Use up leftover holiday turkey and relish, add some chipotle and you’ve got a whole new set of flavors.  Spicy, sweet, and tangy too.

 

pear dessert crepeEasy Pear Crepe Dessert Recipe for One Person

I know what you’re thinking. This is a tortilla page, where did the crepe come from? Look closely. It’s a tortilla. A super-sneaky easy way to get a crepe.