College students are notorious for being short on time and cash, thus home cooked meals are few and far between! Who wants to leave Whole Foods $50 later, and have to go home and make dinner for two hours? Here are some super simple recipes that are delicious, affordable, and only have five ingredients!
Apricot-Lemon Chicken – Serves 4, approximate cook time: 14 minutes
Ingredients:
4 (6oz) Skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
1/3 Cup apricot spread
2 Lemons
1-Teaspoon curry powder
½ Teaspoon salt and ground black pepper
Preparation:
1. Combine 1 teaspoon curry powder, ½ teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon of fresh ground black pepper in a small bowl. Rub dry mixture over chicken, until evenly covered.
2. Place a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Cook chicken, approximately 6 minutes on each side or until done. Remove chicken from pan, and keep warm.
3. Add apricot spread (1/3 cup), lemon juice (2 tablespoons), and water (2 tablespoons) to a pan over low heat. Stir until sauce is smooth and warm. Spoon sauce over chicken, sprinkle with lemon rind.
Lasagna – Serves 6, approximate cook time: 60 minutes
Ingredients:
1 lb. Italian sausage
2 Cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1 ½ Cups ricotta cheese
28 oz. Jar of chunky pasta sauce w/ vegetables
9 No-boil lasagna noodles
Preparation:
1. Preheat over to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Cook Italian sausage in a skillet over medium heat, stirring to break up meat, should take about eight minutes or until no longer pink. Drain well. Mix sausage, 1 and ½ cups of mozzarella and ricotta cheese in a medium bowl.
2. Place about ½ cup of pasta sauce in 9” square baking dish. Top with three lasagna noodles, then with 1/3 of sausage and cheese filling. Repeat layers ending with pasta sauce.
3. Cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees from 35-40 minutes. Sprinkle the remaining ½ cup of mozzarella cheese and return to over. Bake 5-10 minutes longer until cheese is melted, brown, bubbly, and delicious.
Beefy Corn and Black Bean Chili – Serves 5, approximate cook time: 30 minutes
Ingredients
1 lb Ground beef
2 Teaspoons chili powder blend (such as The Spice Hunter)
1 can (14 oz.) beef broth
1 Package frozen seasoned corn and black beans (such as Pictsweet)
1 Can (15 oz.) seasoned tomato sauce for chili
Preparation:
1. Combine beef and chili powder blend in a large Dutch oven (or Crockpot will work). Cook for six minutes over medium-high heat, or until beef is brown, stir to crumble. Drain and return to pan.
2. Stir in frozen corn mixture, beef broth, and tomato sauce; bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and allow simmering for ten minutes.
3. Uncover and simmer for five minutes, stirring occasionally.
4. Ladle chili into bowls, if you want to spice up your chili, top each serving with sour cream and onions.
Super Simple Apple Tart – Serves 6-8, approximate cook time: 25 minutes
Ingredients
1 Sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed
2 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and sliced very thin
½ Cup apricot jam
1/3 Cup brown sugar
1/3 Teaspoon cinnamon
Preparation:
1. Roll pastry onto well floured surface and into a 12” x 12” rectangle and cut into nine 3” squares. Prick the pastry with a form and coat each with a spoonful of apricot jam.
2. Fan the apple slices over the jam.
3. In a small bowl, combine brown sugar and cinnamon. Sprinkle mixture over apple slices. Put the tarts on an ungreased cookie sheet.
4. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 10-12 minutes, until the apple slices are crisp-tender and the pastry is golden brown. Try serving these hot with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream!
Pork Medallions with Spicy Pomegranate-Blueberry Reduction – Serves 4, approximate cook time: 20 minutes
Ingredients:
1 (1lb) Pork tenderloin, cut across into ¾ inch round slices
¼ Teaspoon garlic powder
1/3 Cup frozen pomegranate-blueberry juice concentrate (such as Old Orchard)
1 ½ Teaspoon minced chipotle chilies, canned in adobo sauce
¼ Teaspoon of salt and pepper
Preparation:
1. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Pound pork slices slightly with the heel of your hand or meat mallet; sprinkle with garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
2. Cook pork for three minutes of each side or until cooked. Remove pork from pan, place on a platter. Add ¼ cup water to the pan, stir in juice concentrate and chipotle chilies. Reduce heat to medium, let simmer for three to four minutes. You want a syrup-like consistency.
3. Return pork and juices to pan, coating the pork for four to five minutes. Serve pork with sauce.
Bon Appétit!
Photo Credit:
http://www.cookinglight.com/food/quick-healthy/healthy-5-ingredient-soup-recipes-00400000048543/
http://busycooks.about.com/od/pastacasserolerecipes/r/easylasagna.htm
http://www.ingredientsinc.net/2011/04/3-ingredient-apple-tart/#.UzNgcq1dXRs
http://busycooks.about.com/od/dessertrecipe1/r/appletart.htm
http://www.inspiredtaste.net/24878/simple-apple-tart-recipe/