Easy Cold Cucumber Soup

 

Summer heat and humidity makes it hard to turn on the stove and heat up the house. Today’s recipe is perfect for hot August days, but is easy and tasty enough for any day. Cold cucumber soup is a quick-to-make, refreshing, and flavorful cold soup. and it helps use all those fresh cucumbers from the garden. Perfect to serve as an appetizer, side dish, or for a light, healthy main dish. I’m using Greek yogurt low fat but you can certainly use regular Greek yogurt too. Add lemon juice, minced shallots and fresh herbs and blend. Refrigerate at least 4 hours up to overnight for a wonderful mouthful of cold goodness.

 

 

Cold Cucumber Soup

Use organic when available. Makes 6 servings of 1/2 cup

 

Ingredients

• 2 large English or seedless cucumbers peeled, seeded, sliced
• 2 cups plain Greek yogurt
• 1 shallot minced
• 1 clove garlic minced
• 1/4 tsp ground cumin
• 3 tsp chopped fresh dill
• 1/4 cup fresh parsley chopped
• 1 lemon juiced (or lime)

Instructions

• In a blender or food processor, add cucumbers, yogurt, shallot, garlic, fresh dill & parsley, lemon juice and ground cumin.
• Puree for 1 minute until smooth
• Taste and adjust seasoning, add salt and white pepper to taste
• Refrigerate for at least 4 hours until cold
• Optional garnish of sliced cucumbers, fresh herbs
• Serve well chilled

Enjoy!

 

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Fast & Filling Meals

 Everyone should have recipes for crazy nights when you need a meal in minutes not hours. Here are a few ideas to keep your family fed fast.

 

 

I. Pan Seared Tilapia 

 

This 15-minute recipe is great for a weeknight meal. My seasonings are simple: salt, pepper, basil, garlic, and lemon juice. If you like a little spice, try adding a pinch of paprika or crushed red pepper flakes. Serve with simple side dishes for your fast meal, like a simple green salad with frozen corn. 

 

Pan Seared Tilapia 

 

 

II.  LInguine With Red Clam Sauce

 

An Italian pasta classic, Linguine with Red Clam Sauce is a fast and filling meal. 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.

 

 

 

 

Linguine With Red Clam Sauce

 

 

 III. The Easiest Vegetable Stir Fry

 

The Recipe Critic has a recipe for The Easiest Vegetable Stir Fry. Like always, modify as necessary. What makes this an amazing recipe? The great sauce you make. 

 

Recipe Critic

 

 IV. Spend With Pennies has an Easy Beef Stir Fry.

 

 

 Beef Stir Fry

 

 This easy beef stir-fry is a quick weeknight meal with the most delicious sauce.

 

 V.  Mac and Cheese

 

Mac and cheese is another fantastically simple delicious meal that the whole family can enjoy. It takes no time at all to prepare and it is one of those meals that can be prepared in the morning and then reheated in the evening. Take a look at an easy mac and cheese recipe at Sweet C’s Design if you are unsure how to make it. If you are wanting a low-fat healthier alternative then you can even accomplish this also. Switch out the pasta for whole wheat pasta and the cheese and milk for low fat versions. You will get the same end result and then pair it with some veggies for a filling meal. 

Sweet C’s Design

VI.  Broccoli Pasta Shells

 

If you’re looking for a healthy meal that’s fast and easy to prepare, then you might want to try broccoli pasta shells. Broccoli is a great addition to your diet and will certainly offer fantastic health benefits. There are several recipes online, but I like the one by RecipeTinEats. The recipe uses olive oil which I love to use and a little lemon juice, one of my favorite flavors. One of the best emergency quick dinner ideas with broccoli, pasta and not much else; it’s a little bit lemony, a little bit cheesy and a whole lot of yum. 

RecipeTinEats

VI. Noodle Recipes

If you’re a fan of your noodles in a packet that you can throw in the microwave, then it’s time for the real thing. I promise you, the ones that you prepare yourself taste even better, and they won’t take up that much of your time at all. One point to consider with noodles is what you’re going to put with them. Similar to stir fry, you have countless options that are worth considering here. For instance, you can create some chicken noodles in about twenty minutes. Or, if you want a great vegetarian dish, just add some peppers and herbs for a delicious meal that you can easily get ready when you come in from work. Insanely Good has 27 Easy Noodle Recipes to consider.

Paula Dean’s Goulash

VII. Fried Rice 

If you are looking for a healthy meal choice, then you can try mixing some ingredients with egg fried rice. This can be as healthy as most meals in this list, if you avoid MSG and packets of ingredients with lots sodium or chemicals. The main consideration will be choosing and preparing the right protein. Fish can be a great choice here as well as chicken. They pair quite well together. Gimme Some Oven has a great basic recipe that takes 5 minute preparation and 10 minutes to cook it. Check it out at Fried Rice.

Gimme Some Oven

I hope this inspires you to create some fantastic meals that are easy to prepare when you only have a little time to spare. Keep a few ingredients in the pantry for an unexpected busy work day and you won’t be spending an age in the  kitchen preparing the family meal. 

 

 

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