Fast. Simple. Fresh. Easy and Delicious in 30 Minutes or Less!

So let's be honest here: as much time as we all spend oogling over perfectly crafted meals on Pintrest, how much time do we actually spend preparing our own meals? For most of us it's very minimal. Some of us feel like we lack the necessary skills, some of us just don't have the time or budget to shop for 1000 ingredients and most of us are just plain busy. Below is a handful of quick, easy and cheap meals that you can prepare when time is of the essence and you're in a pinch!

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Pesto Salmon with Garlic Rice and Green Beans

This little diddy is easy on the wallet, simply to assemble and PACKED with flavor. 

Ingredients:
4 4oz salmon filets 
4 tbsp prepared pesto
1 package frozen green beans
1 cup brown rice
2 cup water
1 tbsp olive oil 
1 tbsp fresh minced garlic (substitute for 1 tsp garlic powder)
Salt and Pepper to taste

Instructions:
1. Pre-heat oven to 400F
2. On a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, place salmon filets and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Coat each filet with approximately 1 tbsp prepared pesto. Bake for 15-20 minutes until opaque or internal temperature reaches 145F
3. Combine rice and water into a medium sauce pan and bring to a boil. Once boiling, cover pot and reduce to simmer. Cook for 15-20 minutes on low heat until all of the water has been absorbed.
3. In a large sauce pan add olive oil and heat over medium heat. Add in garlic and green beans. Cook for 5-6 minutes, stirring occasionally. 
4. Add rice to green beens and stir. Place a mound of rice/green bean mixture in the center of the plate and serve salmon filets on top. Enjoy! 

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Eggs in Hell

Talk about easy, and CHEAP! This recipe only requires two-ingredients: eggs and jarred pasta sauce! That's it! 

Instructions: 
1. Heat pasta sauce in skillet over medium heat. Use about 1/2 the jar for 6 eggs, adjust accordingly
2. Crack eggs directly into sauce and cover. Cook for 3-5 minutes until set to desired doneness. 
​3. Spoon into a bowl, serve with toast or garlic bread. Enjoy! 

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"Kitchen Sink Spaghetti

Ever have a fridge full of left overs but you're tired of eating all of them? Spice them up by combining them into a pasta dish. For the recipe featured I used a leftover pork loin cut into cubes, but any meat/protein source will work. I threw in spiniach that had been in my freezer to boost the vitamin and mineral content but any frozen or cooked veggies will do!
Just cook your pasta according to the package instructions.
While you wait, add your favorite jarred pasta sauce to a medium skillet and throw in your meat/veggies. warm everything through, stirring occasionally.
When the pasta is done cooking, add it to the skillet and stir everything together. Top with some parmasean cheese and you've got a well balanced meal in under 20 minutes!  

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And there you have it! Three well-balanced, simple meals using easy-to-find, cheap ingredients. Stay tuned next week as I break down popular diet facts vs. fiction!