Easy Meal Ideas

This has been a bit of a hectic week for me – I have a big exam for graduate school so haven’t had a lot of time to cook or meal prep. Below are a couple things I cook when I am short on time that are easy to prepare and can last awhile.

Now remember I don’t use precise recipes (see here) so these are more like guidelines. And feel free to use your imagination and change up however fits you!

With all ingredients, try to get the highest quality you can find and afford.

Lamb with Pine Nuts & Cucumber, Tomato, Onion salad

Being half Lebanese, I love lamb, and this has become a super simple, easy go to dish for me

 Ingredients –

• Organic ground lamb (grass fed if possible)

• Pine nuts

• Cucumbers

• Tomatoes

• Red onion

• Zaatar aka sumac (if have it, otherwise use you whatever spices you have)

• Olive oil

• Salt

• Hummus (optional)

Directions –

• Toast pine nuts in a sauté pan until golden brown (be careful not to burn)

• Sauté lamb with zaatar and salt

• Add pine nuts when meat is done

• Chop cucumbers, tomatoes, red onion

• Mix cucumbers, tomatoes, and red onion with olive oil and salt

• Serve lamb with salad on the side. Serve with hummus if desired

My Famous Chili

This was something I started making during the pandemic and it was devoured every time. It can also easily be frozen. My quantities are enough to feed four hungry adults (with a little leftover) 

Ingredients –

• 2 packages of organic ground turkey (beef works too, can also omit meat altogether)

• 2 containers of kidney beans

• 2 containers of black beans

• 2 yellow onions

• 2 red peppers

• 2 green peppers

• Can of tomato paste

• 2 cans of crushed tomatoes

• Garlic

• Chili powder

• Garlic powder

• Cumin

• Salt

• Pepper

• Guacamole

• Green onion

• Salsa

Directions -

• Chop onions and peppers

• Sauté garlic with onions

• Add chopped peppers and cook for a few minutes

• Add ground meat and cook until nearly done

• Rinse beans and add

• Add can of tomato paste and crushed tomatoes

• Add chili powder, garlic powder, cumin, salt, pepper (and any other spices)

• Bring to simmer and cover

• Let cook for 30-45 minutes

• When done, serve with guacamole, green onion, and salsa (or whatever other toppings you would like)

Let me know if you try any of these “recipes” and what you think. Happy cooking!