Easy Recipes

Here are a few easy recipes for some quick snacks that will kick up the protein and carbs.  Some of them are make ahead and reheat – great for running in from school and grabbing to eat on your way to practice.  (And don’t leave your mess in the car for your parents to clean up).

Cottage Cheese Pancakes

You can make them from scratch or use a pre-made mix – either way, you get carbs and protein.  Make these ahead and freeze two or three in Ziploc bags to toss in the microwave for 1-1:30 minutes and you’re good to go.

• 1/3 cup chopped onion
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 7 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 1 1/2 cups whole-milk cottage cheese
• 3 large eggs
• 6 tablespoons all-purpose flour

Cook onion, 1/8 teaspoon salt, and 1/8 teaspoon pepper in 2 tablespoons butter in a small heavy skillet over moderately low heat, stirring occasionally, until golden brown, about 12 minutes. Transfer to a bowl, then add cottage cheese, eggs, flour, 1/4 cup butter, remaining 1/8 teaspoon salt, and remaining 1/8 teaspoon pepper and whisk until combined.

Brush a 12-inch nonstick skillet with some of remaining butter and heat over moderate heat until hot but not smoking. Working in batches of 5, scoop 1/8-cup measures of batter into skillet and cook until undersides are golden brown, 1 to 2 minutes. Flip and cook until undersides are golden brown and pancakes are cooked through, 1 to 2 minutes more. Transfer to a baking sheet and keep warm in oven. Brush skillet with butter between batches if necessary.

If you use easy-mix pancake batter, all you have to do is add the cottage cheese.  If you’re cooking these yourself (sans parents), you’ll know it’s time to flip the pancakes when the bubbles on top start to pop.

 

Easy Pasta Snack

Cook your favorite pasta noodles ahead of time (fettuccini is great since the noodles are thicker) as you normally would.  Cook a whole box because you’re going to keep it in the fridge for however long it takes you to eat it all.  Try whole-wheat pasta for a healthier version.

• drain the pasta in a colander (a good word to know)
• throw the pasta in a large container with a lid and cover with cold water to heat and “accessorize” later

When you’re ready to have a quick snack, grab a handful of your cooked pasta and throw it in a bowl.  Add LOTS of butter and some cheese (parmesan works well and is easy).  Heat your combo in the microwave for about 3 minutes.  Stir well – make sure it’s the temperature you want it – and that’s it.  Lots of carbs and some protein.  Because parmesan is a “hard” cheese, it’s supposed to be healthier.  Crushed red pepper gives it an extra kick.

Add anything else you like for more nutrients:  Spinach, chicken, tuna, diced tomato…

 

“No Yolk” Noodles

“No Yolks” cook fast and have more protein than regular pasta noodles.  A 2 oz. (dry) serving – that’s about 1/2 cup cooked – contains 9 grams of protein and 41 grams of carbs.  These can also be cooked ahead.  Here are some quick things to add to your noodles:

• cottage cheese (tons of protein)
• chicken, turkey, or tuna (cold or hot)
• vegetables – broccoli, green beans, carrots, tomato, spinach (all rich in vitamins)
• skittles – not really – I just wanted to see if you were paying attention

 

Baked Potatoes

Baked potatoes can be cooked ahead in the oven (much better flavor) and reheated in the microwave or you can cook start to finish in the microwave.  The great thing about a baked potato is you can load it with anything you like.  Anything!

Here are some things to throw on your potato:      Cheese – any kind, including our favorite –     cottage cheese      Veggies      Salsa      Chicken or Tuna Salad      Use your baked potato as a taco shell