Two Meals, No Messing Around

My roommate and I don’t like to mess around in the kitchen. We like great meals in the shortest amount of time.

These two ideas, for instance, are quick, easy and absolutely delicious.

Take scallops and heat them up with garlic and olive oil. Then add some red wine vinegar and soy sauce to taste to make a sauce. While the scallops cook, throw a red bell pepper in the broiler and roast it quickly, peel the skin and slice. Set out plates of mixed green salad and lay the peppers over them and place the scallops on top and then pour the sauce over the shellfish. It is a nice warm salad. Cut bread and serve.

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Another really quick meal is to heat up frozen vegetables and fresh spinach, tomatoes, onions, garlic and olive oil. Let these simmer for a few minutes and add chile paste to taste and lime or lemon juice. Add about a cup and a half of either stock or water and, after it gets hot, add couscous and turn off the heat. After about another minute, serve. Place a bit of sour cream or cottage cheese on top. Pour a glass of wine, sit down and enjoy.

Leigh Koon and Karen Greisen

Laguna Beach