30 Minute Dinner for Four

Hungry - tired? Don't feel like going out or just not in the budget? Here's what we had for supper tonight, Casserole. Quick and easy and what's great is that the filling is up to you whatever you have on hand or your little heart desires.

We like seafood, so I used one package of crab meat. The glory is that they have these foil packages, which you can keep in your refrigerator, usually around 3 to 6 months - check your expiration date.

Options would be - simply add an extra egg and perhaps extra cheese and either green onions or spinach or broccoli or peas or whatever veggie sounds good to you. In the winter months, I favor cabbage and cauliflower and peas and carrots for instance.

In the summer, if you have tomatoes on hand or in your garden, go ahead and use those. If you prefer meat, use chopped up chicken, hamburger, ham or bacon work great.

The trick is to use a quiche or a pie dish, because that way it will be done much quicker. Normally casseroles take 40 to 60 minutes - this is one way to cut your cooking time in half.

It's frugal and budget friendly, because you can make it on the cheap by switching the ingredients and what's nice the kids usually like the cheese, hamburger, chicken, turkey or their favorite veggie version.

Fix a salad or serve plain fruit as an accompaniment. We had watermelon from the farmers market tonight, but I also like a cucumber salad or a plain green salad. Tomatoes, with olive oil and basil go well with this. If you want to keep it even simpler serve a scoop of ice cream for dessert, topped with a drizzle of chocolate syrup.

Oh, I forgot to mention, if there is only two of you, like in our case, eat half and nuke the other half tomorrow. How easy is that? I covered the remainder of the quiche/casserole with a towel, until it is cooled off, then cover and refrigerate.

It's not complicated - you basically stir all ingredients with a fork, melt one stick of butter and pour the liquid butter over everything  - mixing it well. That is it! Pop it into the oven at 375 for 20 minutes, check it and if it is not yet golden brown set your time for 3 minute intervals until it looks good to you. Ours ended up taking 25 minutes, but ovens are all a bit different.

I just made up this recipe tonight, because I hadn't cooked a thing or defrosted anything by around 10 to six, when the BF arrived home. This is what I call a kitchen sink supper and a reason to get creative.

I'm an - I invent it as I go - kind of cook. So if the BF really wants a particular dish again, he'll have to remind me to fix it, since I can easily cook something different 365 days of the year:)

Preheated Oven: 25 to 30 minutes or until golden brown. Temperature: 375 degrees

INGREDIENTS:

One 6.5 oz package of Jiffy brand corn bread mix

One egg

1/3 cup of milk

One 7 oz package of refrigerated lump crab meat (comes in an aluminum pouch)

4 green onions chopped - use as much of the green part as possible

One stick unsalted butter

One quarter of an onion

I did not use any spices, but you can add a pinch of sea salt, a pinch of white pepper and a veggie -  meat or seafood seasoning as you like. I added nothing and because the butter is sweet, combined with the crab it will taste slightly sweet, so counteract that with a pinch of salt or your favorite seasoning, if that is not your preference.

TIP: Remember if you use bacon or ham - do not use seasoning or it will be overpowering, be sure to not use ham that has been too heavily seasoned or salted.

TIP: If you prefer the vegetarian version of tomatoes, cheese or whatever veggie is in season - be sure to add a pinch of salt and - or - herbs to flavor your dish. EASY - VEGETARIAN

TIP: For an Italian version - try tomatoes and lots of basil or squash with mozzarella or use sausage or hamburger meat with a teaspoonful of Italian seasoning. PRONTO - ITALIANO 

TIP: Have some leftover salsa and a little bit of this and that - a slice of cheese, one hamburger - whatever - you get the picture - chop it up, add a little seasoing and voila. It is now a Quiche a la "you":)

See how easy it is to look like a hero in the kitchen?:)

Oh, did I mention you will not have any extra bowl or dishes to clean up either:)

Three fourth of an 8 oz package of shredded cheese (I used 4 cheese Mexican, but mozzarella or cheddar is always a good choice too)

Start with the corn muffin mix - empty it directly into your quiche or pie pan (no - you do not need to spray the pan)

Add an egg in the middle, start stirring it with a fork and gradually add the one third cup of milk.

Add your green onion and regular onion and the crab meat - mix thoroughly

While you are mixing, melt one stick of sweet butter on the stove in a small pan on medium heat. The second it is melted - take it off the heat.

Pour on top of you mixture and keep stirring it together with a fork. Let sit about 2 minutes and then stir together one more time.

Flatten everything out with your fork - so that it all reaches the edges of your pan and place in your preheated oven.

          ENJOY!     BON APPETITE!     BUON APPETITO!     GUTEN APPETIT!

 Deliciously tempting:)

All imagen taken by Rose H. on 6-27-2008 with D-540 Olympus digital camera.