Low-calorie, easy recipes?

I was trying to think of some other things we have on a fairly regular basis that's not too expensive.  We do a quiche at least once a week.  I've got quite a few recipes if you want any.

I have never made quiche, but now's a good time to try it. Spinach and bacon or cheese would be great (I don't like most veggies, but found I can get myself to eat spinach if I put it in an omelet or cornbread, so this will give me one more way to get some veggies). Please do forward any quiche recipes -- ones using a store-bought crust!

What about beans?  We buy a bag of dried beans (very cheap) and soak and cook them all at once, then freeze then in portions (about 1 1/2 cups).  We like bean/lentil stews or curries or "burritos".  I make them all pretty much the same way, just switching up the seasoning and the beans. 

I forgot about beans! I love them, but don't know if my hubby does. I can try that. What's the best kind to use in homemade burritos?

Pasta is easy, too.

We have a couple cheap, easy ones we do. A favorite is to pan fry some chopped up bacon and once cooked a bit, toss in a couple handfuls of halved cherry tomatoes. Once the tomatoes go a bit soft, toss with pasta of your choice. If you like it 'saucy-er' you can add some passata but you'll need to season more.

If you like spinach, you can cook a big pan of that, whizz it down with a handheld blender, mix in some cream and parmesean cheese and toss with pasta.

I forgot about beans! I love them, but don't know if my hubby does. I can try that. What's the best kind to use in homemade burritos?

I use black or pinto.  You could probably look up a real recipe for bean burritos, but we usually throw this together when I am in no mood to cook. 

OK, here's the bacon and spinach quiche

6 eggs
1 1/2 cups heavy cream (could be substituted with something else for lower cal)
salt and pepper
2 somewhat packed down cups fresh spinach, chopped
1 pound bacon, cooked and chopped into bits
1 1/2 cups swiss cheese shredded
1 9" refrigerated pie crust

combine eggs, cream, dash of salt and pepper in bowl
layer the spinach, cheese and bacon in pie pan that has been lined with pie crust
pour egg mixture over and bake at 375 degrees for 35 to 45 minutes until set

The longest bit about making this is frying the bacon, but it's so worth it.  Very yummy and filling and works great for leftovers the next day.  It can be warmed back up in the microwave or in the oven and is even better the next day.

This one is a crab and cheese one that's not expensive to make if you can find canned crab meat.  It calls for green onions and the onion taste is really strong.  If you don't like onions, you could sub spinach or any other veg in.  I don't like onions, but i still ate some of this one, it was pretty good.

1 package 8 oz cream cheese, softened
1 can 6 oz crab meat, drained
4 eggs
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup sliced onions (or whatever you sub for them)
1/2 tsp dill weed
1/2 tsp lemon pepper seasoning
1 9" pie crust

mix all ingredients and pour into pie crust
bake 40 mins at 350 degrees or until set

This one is even easier than the bacon one as you don't have to cook anything before putting it in the oven.

A whole chicken is really easy to cook.  Asda often has 2 for £5 for the medium-size ones.

One thing I make on Slimming World that's gotten raves is a crustless quiche.

Beat 4 eggs and mix with a small pot of cottage cheese and 112g of shredded cheddar and whatever other fillings you want.  Bake in a flan dish sprayed with FryLight in the centre of the oven at 190C/Gas Mark 5, for about 40 minutes until firm and golden brown on top.

I've done this with pineapple or tropical cottage cheese and ham, leftover cooked chicken and spinach, bacon, just cheese etc.  It's lovely with a side of veg or salad or Slimming World chips.

SW Chips

Do not peel potatoes, cut up 1-2 large baking potatoes per person.  Boil 5 minutes.  Drain and let sit at least 10 minutes.  Spray very generously with FryLight and cook at Gas Mark 9/240c for 25 minutes.  Mmmmm. 

One thing I make on Slimming World that's gotten raves is a crustless quiche.

....

SW Chips

Both of those sound great! And like something I could actually make! But I don't have a flan dish and have never seen one even (I'm a real novice at cooking). About what size dish would I need to use? Or could I pour the quiche mixture into some smaller, individual-sized dishes and cook it for the same amount of time?

I've used both the pyrex pie dish I brought from the states and a flexible silicone flan dish I bought at TK Maxx for about £5, both work well but the flan dish is thinner.

In smaller dishes you probably would have to check a bit earlier, might be a few minutes less cooking time.

Whenever I go to Borders, I look on the tables where they have the reduced price books.  They usually have nice, easy to follow light recipes.  I am a cookbook addict so I usually buy some, sometimes as cheap as £2.  The receipes are mainly for British taste but there is always something I like the sound of.  I always buy cooking magazines too, the homey ones, not the gourmet cooking ones cause I am no Betty Crocker!

June