Nothing in the Refrigerator

Dinner When You Haven't Been to the Market

Sometimes your day can get busy and hectic and even though you know your cupboard is bare, you just don't have time to get to the market. Do you have any 'standby' simple meals? Or do you pick up the phone and order takeout?

Here are three quick things I make for a simple dinner -- I usually have something on hand...

Pasta with Cream Sauce
While your pasta cooks, melt a few tablespoons of butter in a skillet, throw in a couple of cloves of garlic, minced. Add a couple of sliced green onions, if you have them, or maybe a little bit of sliced onion. A few sliced mushrooms, too, if you have any. Saute these items until tender then add about 1/2 cup heavy cream and about 1/3 cup grated parmesan. Pour this sauce over cooked pasta.

Grilled Cheese
Take two types of cheese (cheddar, american, swiss, etc.) add a couple pieces of ham, cooked bacon or leftover pancetta, and a slice of tomato if you have one. Grill sandwich and serve with sliced apple or other fruit.

Omelette
If you have a couple of eggs, you have dinner. Pick easy fillings, in a combination you enjoy. Cheese, spinach, onion, tomatoes, ham, bacon -- whatever!

The more you cook, the more creative you will become with the contents of your refrigerator, freezer and pantry.