ONLY THREE INGREDIENTS?
By Louise Whiteside
That’s right — only three ingredients each to prepare an appetizer, a soup, a salad, an entree or even a dessert to be proud of!
You may have thought that meal preparation couldn’t get any easier with all the modern appliances and quick cooking methods available. But did you know that you could prepare a delicious, home-cooked meal, one fit for a holiday feast, using a mere three ingredients for each dish?
The following recipes can help the busiest person to cook a memorable meal in minutes. Here are just a few samples of easy, short-cut meals which will save time but not jeopardize taste.
APPETIZER
Easy Vegetable Dip
1 cup cottage cheese, drained
1 cup low-fat mayonnaise
1 – 1-ounce package ranch-style salad dressing mix
Combine all ingredients and mix well. Chill until ready to serve.
Serve with raw vegetables or crackers.
SOUP
Tortilla Soup (2 servings)
1 can (10-1/2 ounces) low-sodium chicken and rice soup
1 can (10 ounces) diced tomatoes and green chiles
12 baked or low-fat tortilla chips
In a saucepan combine soup and tomatoes with chiles. Bring to a boil.
Place tortilla chips in the bottom of two soup bowls, then pour soup
mixture over them. Serve immediately.
SALAD OR RELISH
Applesauce De Luxe (4 servings)
1 package sugar-free raspberry or cherry gelatin
1-1/2 cups sugar-free applesauce
1 teaspoon lemon juice
Dissolve gelatin in one cup boiling water. Blend in applesauce and lemon juice.
Pour into individual molds or a serving dish. Chill until firm.
(A wonderful accompaniment for poultry or ham.)
ENTREE
Crispy Baked Chicken (8 servings)
8 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
2 eggs, beaten
Crushed corn flakes (or any crushed cereal), seasoned to taste
Dip chicken in eggs and roll in crushed, seasoned cereal until well coated.
Place chicken on baking sheet sprayed with nonstick cooking spray.
Bake at 350 degrees for one hour or until golden brown.
DESSERT
Fruit Cocktail Cake
1 – 18-ounce box yellow or white cake mix
3 eggs
1 – 15-ounce can juice-packed fruit cocktail (with juice)
In large bowl, combine all ingredients and mix well.
Pour into 9 x 13-inch baking pan sprayed with nonstick cooking spray
Bake at 350 degrees for 45 to 50 minutes.
Be easy on yourself! Check out the references below for many additional delicious, quick-to-prepare meals in all categories.
REFERENCES
Simply Colorado Colorado Dietetic Association.
Eastwood Printing, Denver, Colo. (1989)
The Best of Cooking With Three Ingredients By Ruthie Wornall
Cookbook Resources, LLC Highland Village, Texas (2002)
Joys of Jello General Foods Corp. White Plains, N.Y. (1963)