QUICK EASY MEALS FOR THE GOURMAND ON THE GO --- Guest Post by Carolyn Knight

Today is a very special day for BUON APPETITO. I have the very first guest to welcome in my blog. I love to be surprised---in a good way that ends in me being happy and a few days back when I got a mail for Carolyn Knight that filled me with joy and I could not stop smiling :) .

Prior to today I didnt have any guest post in my blog-----frankly I dont know how it works actually , and then Carolyn introduced me to it.Carolyn is a reader of my blog and is concerned about healthy and nutritious meal. I for one need to learn a lot from her :) . 

Quick Easy Meals for the Gourmand on the Go

So you’ve only got 30 minutes to get dinner on the table, and takeout is seriously not an option … again. Fortunately there are plenty of quick easy meals that can be put together with little fuss. Cut down on prep work, choose a protein with a short cook time, and you’ll discover a lot of delicious meals can be prepared from scratch with these easy options.

Fish as a main dish is a good way to cut down on prep and cook time. Go directly to the fish person at the market and have the fish cleaned, or buy cuts that you don’t have to do anything to except rinse before cooking. Pan-seared salmon or halibut don’t take any time at all. A pre-made pesto is an acceptable option; however, you can make this simple pumpkin seed chimichurri in just a few minutes!

Ingredients to serve 4:

Fresh Salmon – About 1 lb.

Shelled Pumpkin Seeds – ½ c.

Cilantro – 1 bundle

Lemon – 1 small (juiced)

Garlic – 2 cloves

Extra Virgin Olive Oil – ¼ c.

Coriander Seeds – ½ tsp.

Salt and pepper to taste

Method:

In a large skillet, heat a little bit of oil over medium heat, and place the salmon skin side down to sear for about 6 minutes or till opaque, all the way through. Toast the pumpkin seeds in a skillet for about 2 minutes, till they start to smell aromatic. Then, put on a paper towel to cool. In a small food processor, pulse garlic, cilantro, lemon juice, pumpkin seeds, salt, pepper, and olive oil to make a simple chimichurri sauce to top the salmon. Serve with a side of sautéed spinach or asparagus. Try using a little bit of garlic, lemon juice, and olive oil to get the job done with a tad more flavor.

If red meat is what you crave, but you don’t think you have the time, try pan searing individual rack of lamb segments. Salt and pepper each rack and place in a large skillet over medium heat with garlic, sage leafs, and a touch of olive oil. Chop fresh herbs and mix into butter to dab on top of the lamb as it comes off the stove. 3 minutes on each side should be plenty for a rare center, moist and full of flavor. Let the lamb rest outside of the pan for a couple of minutes before serving.

It doesn’t have to be time consuming or super complex for it to be a tasty and elegant meal. Try whipping up one of these quick easy meals for your family tonight!