Quick & Easy Weeknight Dining: Tasty Bite Product Review

When I was originally asked if I'd be interested in trying Tasty Bite, a brand that sells quick-to-prepare Asian and Indian vegetarian/vegan meals, I said yes. Not because it sounded tasty (it didn't), but because I'm not one to turn down something for free. They lost me at vegetarian and double lost me at microwavable packaged foods.

Turns out I'm a snob for no good reason, though, because these suckers are good! Normally I turn my nose up at vegetarian food because I'm a carnivore at heart, and I can't imagine being satisfied with just vegetables. I especially hate food imitating other food, so no tofu for me. But these dishes aren't imitating anything. They offer Indian and Asian entrees, noodles and rice dishes that tasted surprisingly similar to what you'd get at a restaurant, and I was satisfied even without meat.

I rarely eat packaged foods because they're all too often stuffed with all sorts of gross ingredients like high fructose corn syrup or unpronounceable additives. But that's not at all the case with the all-natural Tasty Bite line. Want Channa Masala, an Indian Chickpea dish? It's made with just Onions, Water, Chickpeas, Tomatoes, Sunflower Oil, Coriander, Salt, Spices, Chilies, Bay Leaf, Turmeric. Just like you'd do at home if you had way more time on your hands. 

When it came to taste, I had seriously low expectations. So low that I let my sister try one of the packs first, Madras Lentils. When she started raving about them and asking where she could get more, I realized I might be missing out on something.

So one night when I couldn't figure out what to make, I threw together the Thai Lime Rice and the Channa Masala not even caring that it was Asian and Indian. 90 seconds later, I was eating a very flavorful dish, no effort required. Can't beat that after a long day at work! I usually avoid convenience eating because it leads to pigging out on pizza or settling for sandwiches for dinner, but these bad boys were tasty and felt like I was eating "real" food instead of processed junk. On another night, the Mr. checked out the Asian Toasted Sesame Noodles and had the same reaction. You can find more options here and a smaller selection at local Costcos and Whole Foods.

So I stand corrected, and I would highly recommend Tasty Bite to anyone who enjoys Asian and Indian flavors but doesn't always have time to whip up something from scratch or head to a restaurant.

Recipe: Asian Turkey Sloppy Joe's

I had never heard of Fine Cooking Magazine when my sister-in-law gave me a subscription for Christmas. Turns out, the recipes are more consistently amateur chef friendly and delicious than Bon Appetit (is it just me or have their recipes gotten so high falutin' that they're nearly impossible to tackle at home?). In fact, we've found several that have become part of our weekly repertoire. Asian sloppy joes are probably my favorite of these new-found recipes.

Sloppy joes normally make me think of elementary school cafeterias, but these are a sophisticated spin on the childhood classic. The turkey keeps things reasonably healthy, while the Asian flavors from hoisin sauce, lime and cilantro bring depth and a burst of flavor far superior to Doris the lunch lady's version. On a nice toasted bun, these are the business, and they make great leftovers! Plus, they're super easy to make, so they're perfect for weekday dinners that will even please your pickiest eaters.

Asian Turkey Sloppy Joes

Weeknight Recipe: Shrimp Saganaki

There's nothing better on a weeknight than a dinner plan that is full of flavor, uses staple ingredients and comes together in minutes. Meet your new weeknight bestie, Shrimp Saganaki. It seems fancy but requires very minimal effort. The whole process takes us about 15 minutes and most of that is just slicing onions and olives. And how many of you can say you have a Greek dish in your weekday repertoire? Exotic and easy? Yes, please.

Shrimp Saganaki

Quick and Tasty Weekday Recipes

I have an infant, and I've recently returned to work. In short, I'm super busy and tired and not getting to go out to eat very often! Since many of you probably have that in common with me, I thought I'd share a few recipes that have been lifesavers during this hectic time. Mind you, my darling husband has been doing all of the cooking since Baby G was born, so he's the one usually making these. I honestly don't know how women do it if their husband's don't cook!



Black bean tacos

Black bean tacos are a staple of Meatless Mondays at my house. We always have canned black beans on hand, and any well stocked kitchen would have cumin and chili powder around. Once you throw on some sour cream, salsa, jalapenos and cheese, you've got yourself a really darn tasty dinner that took only a few
minutes to throw together. Bonus points for being pretty healthy, too.

Asian Sloppy Joe's

This is a true 30 minute meal and the Asian flavors make it surprisingly sophisticated tasting for something that is fundamentally a sloppy joe. I love these so darn much that I've asked my hubby to make it a zillion times since I first discovered it in Fine Cooking Magazine. It makes great leftovers, too!


Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos

Slow cookers are a lifesaver. There is nothing better than coming home to dinner already ready to go. These are a little bit fiery and pack a ton of flavor for very little effort. Just throw a few ingredients in the slow cooker that morning, and you're good to go. At night you just have to heat up tortillas and put out some accouterments (I'm a sucker for pickled jalapenos), and you're all set.

Deviled chicken thighs

We've been making these for years. We make them with onions rather than shallots since we're more likely to have that on hand. I love that it takes just a few minutes under the broiler to cook these, and like all of the recipes, they pack a lot of punch with minimal ingredients or effort required. Serve with a quick roasted veggie or cook up some frozen peas or boil some corn, and you've got a complete meal in 30 minutes.

Meatless Monday: Quinoa and Bean Salad

After a weekend of decadent eating (read: a Tommenator followed by Morelli's Ice Cream!), it was definitely time for Meatless Monday. I had never made quinoa before, but I picked up some at Costco and found it easy as can be.

I'm almost ashamed to admit where I got this recipe. Food snobs like me often scoff at Rachael Ray for being both a hack and mightily annoying. But I read the April issue of her magazine courtesy of my mother-in-law and was amazed at how much I picked up from it. Consider me a reformed hater, sort of.

I was feeling very pro-Rachael, but I just tried another recipe from her magazine and all I can say is 30 minutes my butt. Ok onto happier things...

Quinoa and Red Bean Salad


And how timely, NY Times covered quinoa this weekend. Who knew it was all grown in Bolivia? I feel bad that we're eating all of their quinoa, but I feel good that I'm eating something good for me. Ooh too much thinking for Monday night, that's an ethical dilemma for another time!

Easy Recipe: Quick Coq Au Vin

You don't always have time to let your inner Julia Child run free, but fortunately there are short cuts for busy nights. This recipe gives you the wonderful aromas and flavors of coq au vin, without the long prep time.

I made the recipe using breast, but I think next time I'd choose the more flavorful thigh. I got hung up on getting the internal temperature up to 160 and think I overcooked it a bit. I suppose the time in the oven would give it time to get those last few degrees without drying things out.

You might be tempted to flip the chicken too quickly, but resist. As a cooking teacher once told me, you want the chicken to get really brown and sexy. Such things can't be rushed!

The best part is you get a lovely wine aroma while you're cooking, and it's full of French flavors Julia would be proud of!

Quick Coq Au Vin

Farro Salad with Fried Cauliflower

Long ago, I'd found a recipe for Farro Salad with Fried Cauliflower that caught my attention. I honestly didn't know what farro tasted like, but having been obsessed with crispy fried cauliflower served at a little pita shop near my old NY hood, I couldn't resist the siren call of that unheralded veggie. Alas, I couldn't find farro anywhere.

So it got filed away in the dark vault of recipes I'll never try, and I forgot about it. That is until I stumbled onto a giant bag of farro at the Brookhaven Costco the other day. That's what passes for excitement for me these days, so suffice it to say I was rather pleased to dust off the languishing recipe and give it a go.

Turns out it was worth the wait. Not only is it super easy and quick to make, but it's packed with fresh flavors of herbs and lemon, combined with the al dente chewiness of the farro, the crispy fried perfection of cauliflower and the fatty joys of prosciutto. A veritable taste explosion!

Seriously, though, I loved that it was light but satisfying, and if you aren't familiar with the wonders of fried cauliflower, allow me to introduce you. An otherwise bland veggie becomes a gorgeous melding of golden crunch when introduced to a sizzling pan of oil. It's utterly addictive!

And best of all, it held up well the following day and made for great cold leftovers. What more can you ask for?

Farro Salad with Fried Cauliflower

Grilled Eggplant Parmesan

After several weeks of rather decadent eating (hello Miller's burger and peanut butter banana cream pie), I'm back on a health kick. That does not mean I'm willing to forgo tasty food, though. Fortunately I can satisfy my craving for eggplant parmesan, a dish I virtually never have because of it's horrific waistline implications, without feeling bad about it.

This dish is actually made on the grill, making it a nice change from the burgers and steaks grilling norm. It's also a perfect meatless Monday option and can be whipped up in no time. The season is pretty well past for tomatoes and eggplant so try this before it's too late! I'm on an anti-carb kick, too, so I skipped the breadcrumbs on one occasion and still found it plenty tasty.

Grilled Eggplant Parmesan  

Bon Appétit | August 2002

Quick and Easy Recipes: Mussels Steamed in Beer

After realizing recently how easy mussels are to cook, I was hooked. At $2-something a pound, I can't think of a much cheaper way to have a fancy-schmancy home cooked meal. This month's Bon Appetit had a bunch of totally delish sounding Belgian recipes, and Belgium was indeed where I tasted my first moules, so I couldn't resist.

No one knows this but Mr. AT, but I have an odd affinity for beer breath. There's just something about the smell of beer that makes me swoon. So this recipe was perfect - the Hoegaarden smelled wonderful when combined with the herbs. Not only that, but the Parmesan Croutons were such crunchy, salty perfection that they might well make appearances in other dishes from here on out.

I know friends have mentioned they're scared of preparing mussels, but it's seriously so easy. The grocery store has already debearded them, so the only part that takes any special effort is throwing out the open ones before you cook them and the closed ones after you cook them. Other than that, it couldn't be easier. This recipe took no more than 20 minutes to prepare and seemed like a restaurant quality dinner. I served with fries and a Hoegaarden for an authentic Belgian experience!

Mussels Steamed in Beer with Crème Fraîche, Herbs and Parmesan Croutons

Quick and Easy Dinner: Spicy Tilapia with Pineapple Relish

I keep trying to work more fish into our diet, but so many recipes we've tried have turned out to be blah. But we finally found a winner, and it's super fast,  healthy, and inexpensive to boot.

I picked up some fresh pineapple mango relish at Whole Foods and snagged some tilapia on sale. I seasoned the fish with cajun spice, red pepper and salt and cooked it in a teaspoon of vegetable oil for 2 minutes on each side. Topped it with the pineapple salsa and paired it with some sliced avocado and corn on the cob.

Finally, fish with some flavor, and the whole thing took less than 10 minutes. Wow, definitely a keeper!

Quick Monday Night Dinner: Steamed Mussels in Tomato and Garlic Broth

Mussels always seemed like one of those dishes best left to restaurants. I had visions of having to scrub away at dirty bearded mollusks (yikes, that sounds gross!), slaving over a stove and red alert potential for food poisoning. Turns out I was very, very wrong. In fact, mussels are so easy to make that I'd venture to say they have one of the best effort to impressiveness ratios out there and are easy enough for even the most novice of home cooks.

First off, mussels turn out to be very, very cheap. Whole Food was selling them this weekend for $3/lb and Publix had them for $4.99/lb. They are already cleaned and debearded so a good rinsing is all you need to do to prep them. I asked a Publix seafood department guy if their mussels were cleaned and debearded and his response was to look at me like I was insane and reply on, "these are mussels, ma'am.." Three employees later, I found someone who in fact knew something of mussels. Somehow I don't think I should be the most knowledgeable person in the seafood department, but  after the chorizo incident, nothing surprises me.

Steamed Mussels with Tomato and Garlic Broth

I served the mussels in their super flavorful broth along side crusty bread for dipping and a green salad. Truly a 30 minute, one-pot dinner, and so tasty. Mussels will definitely be in the rotation from here on out!

Shrimp Saganaki

Sunday night I had a quandary on my hands. It's 7, I haven't even grocery shopped, and I'm starving. What to do? Fortunately I happened on a great, super simple and fast recipe that was not only tasty, but also healthy. Definitely a keeper!

Shrimp Saganaki