Okay, so today I decided to dive into the world of “quick and easy cooking.” I’m no chef, far from it, but I do like eating, and sometimes I just don’t have the energy for a big cooking production. So I started a hunt for recipes that promised minimal effort and maximum flavor.
First, I scrolled through some cooking blogs. I skipped anything that had a mile-long ingredient list or involved techniques I’d never heard of. My main goal was “easy,” remember?
My First Find: One-Pan Lemon Herb Roasted Chicken and Veggies
This one looked promising! I grabbed a pack of chicken thighs (bone-in, skin-on, because that’s where the flavor is!), some baby potatoes, and some carrots. I already had some lemons and dried herbs at home.
- I preheated my oven to 400°F (about 200°C).
- Then, I chopped the potatoes and carrots into bite-sized pieces – nothing fancy, just rough chunks.
- I tossed the veggies and chicken in a big bowl with some olive oil, salt, pepper, dried thyme, and dried rosemary. I also squeezed the juice of a lemon over everything.
- I spread everything out on a single baking sheet (less cleanup!).
- Then, I stuck it in the oven and set a timer for 45 minutes.
While that was baking, I made a super simple salad. Just some mixed greens, a quick vinaigrette (olive oil, lemon juice, salt, pepper – seeing a theme here?), and that was it.
After 45 minutes, I checked the chicken with a meat thermometer to make sure it was cooked through. It was! The veggies were tender, the chicken was juicy and crispy on the outside. Success!
Next Up: Speedy Shrimp Scampi with Linguine
For this one, I grabbed a bag of frozen, pre-cooked shrimp (because, again, easy!), a box of linguine, some garlic, butter, and white wine (I had a bottle leftover from the weekend). I have parsley that I bought at the market, and I chopped it.
- I boiled water and cooked the linguine according to the package directions.
- While the pasta was cooking, I melted some butter in a pan. Then I added some minced garlic and cooked it for just a minute until it smelled amazing.
- I threw in the frozen shrimp and a splash of white wine,and stirred.
- I added some salt, pepper, and a pinch of red pepper flakes for a little kick.
- Once the shrimp was heated through, I added the cooked pasta directly to the pan and tossed everything together. Add the parsley.
I sprinkled some Parmesan cheese. And wow, it was actually really good!
So, that’s my quick and easy cooking adventure for today. Both meals were super simple, didn’t require any fancy skills, and tasted pretty darn delicious. Definitely adding these to my regular rotation!