Quick and Easy Recipe Sampler

2 cans (6 oz) Albacore, solid white tuna in spring water, drained
1/2 cup ranch dressing
1/2 cup diced celery
1/4 cup diced green onions
8 slices sandwich bread

Mix tuna with dressing, celery and onions in a bowl.

How can I say, “Best” ? I can say it because I am - THE WEBMASTER - of QuickEatsPlus! But, really, this is one great rub. Try it.

3/4 tsp cumin seeds, toasted
1/2 tsp coriander seeds, toasted
2 1/2 pieces dried chipotle chili peppers, toasted & broken into pieces, seeds removed
2 1/2 tsp sugar
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp powdered mustard
1/4 tsp black peppercorns

Place all the ingredients in a food processor or grinder and pulse until the spices are well blended. How’s that for quick and easy?

To toast:
Place cumin and coriander seeds in a small skillet over medium heat. Add the seeds and toast, shaking the pan occasionally, until the spices are fragrant, 2 to 4 minutes. Transfer to a heatproof bowl and let cool.

Place the dried chili peppers in a dry skillet over moderate heat for 1 to 2 minutes - be careful that they don't burn.

If you only eat those thick, juicy steaks on big occasions like the Chicago Cubs winning the World Series you'll never get tired of them. But, really, if you eat them more often it's possible they'll get a bit ho-hum.

For a change, try these thinner steaks with a wonderful sauce that provide sort of an Italian influence. And it is an easy recipe, isn't it?

4 beef strip steaks, cut 3/4 inch thick, 8 ounces each
3 Tbsp olive oil
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 small onion, chopped
1 14-oz can Italian diced tomatoes, drained
2 tsp chopped fresh oregano leaves or 1/2 tsp dried
2 garlic cloves, chopped
Pinch of hot pepper flakes

Pound steaks between two pieces of wax paper or plastic wrap until flattened to 1/2 inch thickness. Brush or spray with olive oil and season with 1/2 tsp salt and pepper.

In a medium saucepan, heat remaining 2 Tbsp olive oil over medium heat & saute onion about 3 minutes, or until softened.

Add tomatoes, oregano, garlic, remaining salt, and the pepper flakes. Bring to a boil and immediately reduce heat to low, and gently simmer about 7 minutes to blend flavors. Set aside.

Place the steaks about 3 inches below the broiler or above a bbq grill's heat source and cook for no more than 2 minutes per side.

If you know habanera peppers you know why I say 1/2. And, yes, seeds optional - if you can stand the heat.

2 Tbsp olive or vegetable oil
1 1/2 cups onions, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 Tbsp fresh ginger, minced
1/2 tsp allspice
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1 & 1/2 cups black beans, cooked or canned
1 & 1/2 cups cooked rice
1/2 habanero pepper or 1 jalapeño pepper, chopped (seeds optional)
1 cup bread crumbs
1 tsp salt
black pepper to taste

Heat 1 tablespoon of oil and sauté the onions, stirring occasionally, until they soften, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic, ginger, allspice, and nutmeg and sauté for two more minutes. Pour into food processor along with beans, rice, and peppers. Pulse repeatedly, until mixture is chopped, but not puréed.

Transfer to bowl, add remaining ingredients, and mix well. Taste and adjust seasonings.

Shape into four patties, adding more bread crumbs if necessary and fry in 1 tablespoon oil over medium heat until crust forms, about 4 minutes per side.

Your non-vegan friends might never go to McDonald's again - Sure.

If you take a bite and close your eyes you'll swear you're in a $40-a-plate restaurant.

1 salmon fillet, 1 1/4 lb
2 Tbsp melted butter
1/4 tsp salt
3/4 cup unseasoned bread crumbs
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 tsp thinly sliced green onions
2 tap grated lemon peel
1/4 tsp dried thyme leaves

Heat oven to 375ºF.

Spray shallow baking pan with cooking spray. Pat salmon (nice salmon, nice salmon) dry with paper towel & place it skin side down in the pan. Brush with 1 Tbsp of the butter & sprinkle lightly with salt.

Mix bread crumbs, cheese, onions, lemon peel, thyme & remaining Tbsp of butter. Press this mixture mixture evenly on salmon.

Whoever heard of quick and easy paella? Who ever heard of "paella"?

Of course, you know about this dish but maybe you didn't know there was a quick & easy recipe for it.

If you're a traditionalist you can add clams or shrimp. If you're not, add whatever you like - or don't add anything; it's pretty great as presented.

4 chicken legs (thighs and drumsticks)
4 Tbsp olive oil
1 large onion, finely chopped
I garlic clove. crushed
1 tsp ground turmeric
1/2 lb chorizo or andouille sausage
1 cup long grain rice, uncooked
1 14 oz can chicken broth
1 28 oz can diced tomatoes
1 red pepper, seeded and sliced
1 cup frozen peas
Salt and ground black pepper

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Place 4 drumsticks and 4 thighs (cut apart, of course) in a large stove-top roasting pot with the olive oil and brown them on both sides, about 4 minutes total.

Add the onion and garlic and stir in the turmeric. Cook for 2 minutes over a medium heat.

Slice the sausage and add to the pan, with the rice and stock. Bring to boil and season to taste, then lower the heat, cover and cook for 10 minutes.

Remove from the heat and add the tomatoes, red pepper and frozen peas. Return to the heat and cook, stirring frequently for a further 10—I5 minutes until the chicken is fully cooked and the rice has absorbed the stock.

Want to really impress your significant other - husband, wife, girlfriend, boyfriend - provided he/she is not a vegan? No, not virgin...vegan! This one should do it.

Really, it's pretty hard to find anything but an easy recipe for steak.

1 & 1/2 Tbsp black peppercorns, crushed
2 5 to 6 oz beef tenderloin filet steaks room temperature
2 Tbsp vegetable oil
1 Tbsp butter
Salt
2 Tbsp Cognac
1/3 cup crème whipping cream,UN-whipped
Watercress sprigs

Press filets into peppercorns on a plate, turning to coat both sides. Let stand 10 minutes.

Heat oil and butter in a heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Add filets when butter just begins to sizzle. Cook until crisp and dark brown on one side, about 5 minutes; turn. Salt filets. Cook, basting with pan juices, until still rare in center, about 4 more minutes.

Remove pan from heat; remove filets. Pour off grease in pan. Return steaks to pan. Put pan over medium heat; add Cognac.

(Here comes the exciting part; be sure your dinner mate is there to be impressed.)

Carefully ignite Cognac with a long match. Gently shake pan over heat until flame dies. Transfer steaks to 2 plates or a platter. Keep warm (I mean the steaks!).

Add cream to the pan over medium heat and simmer for about 2 minutes scraping the browned bits from the pan. Taste and adjust seasoning.

This is a quick and easy recipe if you like to serve delicious, warm pudding. If you want cold pudding, fuggedaboudit. If you decide to make it anyway and serve it cold after a couple hours just don't tell anyone it came from QuickEats Plus, ok? (Hey, just kidding, I need all the exposure I can get.)

I cup uncooked instant rice
I cup milk
1/4 cup raisins
l/4 teaspoon salt
3 Tbsp sugar (or Splenda if you're watching)
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon or nutmeg

Mix all ingredients in 2-quart saucepan. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly; remove from heat. Cover and let stand 5 minutes.

Why New Mexico? I'm told this tasty dish is similar to one native to that part of the country, called migas

I'm tempted to dice up a Roma tomato and toss it in, too, but that might compromise this easy recipe's native integrity (What is he talking about???. This is just a RECIPE!)

4 large eggs
4 large egg whites
1/2 cup coarsely crumbled tortilla chips
Salt & freshly ground black pepper
2 tsp unsalted butter
2 green onions, sliced thin
i jalapeno, seeded and minced
1/4 cup minced cilantro
Salsa, optional

Whisk together eggs and egg whites in a medium-sized bowl. Add tortilla chips, salt, and black pepper; set aside.

Melt butter in a medium-sized nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add green onions and jalapenos and stir them around slowly for less than a minute until they soften a bit.

Add the egg mixture, sprinkle with cilantro and scramble those eggs, over medium heat until just softly set. If you prefer your scramblers like popcorn keep on scramblin'.