Quick & Easy

That's today's Share a Spoon theme over at Think Tank Momma - quick and easy meals.  Because it's hot.  I don't mean, it's summer so yeah, it's hot - or I live in the South so it's hot & humid - I mean it's H-O-T.  Record-breaking over the 100 degree mark, super hot.  So who wants to spend a lot of time in the kitchen, over a hot stove, heating up the house when the air conditioner is already working to it's maximum capacity?  Not. me.  So today's theme got me thinking...what are some of my go-to quick and easy meals?

The first thing that comes to mind is PIZZA! I think I love it even more than the kids do.  It's so versatile, the whole family likes it, and it doesn't take a lot of effort.  I love a meal that can be easily customized to fit every one's taste buds. (as picky as some of them are).  My go-to crust is this one - it's made in the bread machine which I find super convenient.  I've also recently discovered this pizza sauce....no cooking required, super simple, and so much better than what I was buying in the jar!

Easy Pizza Sauce III from allrecipes.com

• 1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
• 1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
• 1 tablespoon ground oregano
• 1 1/2 teaspoons dried minced garlic
• 1 teaspoon ground paprika

Directions

1. In a medium bowl, Mix together tomato sauce and tomato paste until smooth. Stir in oregano, garlic and paprika.

You can't get much easier than that!  Then you can top it with whatever your family likes.

Another super quick and easy meal are quesadillas.  They are also versatile and you can fill them with whatever you like.  I had some shredded chicken (that had been pre-cooked and frozen - huge time saver!) thawed in the fridge and was trying to decide what to fix for dinner the other night.  When I saw the tortillas in the pantry...I decided on quesadillas.  Chicken, with a little taco seasoning and cheese for the kids...

and buffalo chicken for me...

hmmm, I sort of overfilled mine! This is just chicken mixed with buffalo wing sauce, cheese and fat free blue cheese dressing.  And it's the bomb. This also makes a good pizza!  I cooked our quesadillas in the George Foreman, which worked okay, but a panini press or quesadilla maker would work even better.

OR...if you feel like grilling - which let me just say...I needed a couple of really cold margaritas to cook on the grill as hot as it is - 

Beef and chicken kabobs with potatoes, zucchini, onions and peppers (all from the garden!)

They got a little overdone.  What can I say, that's what happens when you drink margaritas while cooking.  They were still yummy!

And need some super easy veggies?

No cooking required for this cucumber and tomato salad.  It's just cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, peppers with a little salt and pepper, red wine or balsamic vinegar and drizzled with olive oil.  Mix together, and let sit in the fridge for a little while so the flavors can 'marry'.  Very fresh and easy summer dish.

Or, if you feel like turning on the oven, roasted green beans are super easy and a very good way to eat your beans!

So those are a few of my quick and easy meals. What are yours?  Link up with Think Tank Momma!