The Quick and Easy

I wanted a quick and easy meal tonight because I have a lot of homework and don’t have much time to cook. I stopped in at the new Caputo Cheese Market at 777 N Bank Lane in Lake Forest. I picked up a package of their homemade cheese ravioli and some great Italian bread.

The first thing I did when I got home was to take out my magic wand and zap all of the calories out of the bread. Hey, it’s the weekend. I cheat – remember?

I have homemade red sauce that I keep in small containers in my freezer. I put some in a bowl (yes- those great little prep bowls I cannot live without). The ravioli’s took all of 5 minutes in a saucepan of boiling water. I skip the salt. 2 minutes in the microwave and the sauce was ready. I threw together a low fat Caesar salad with sundried tomatoes. I found my skinny plate. On this plate, it looks like I am having a huge dinner when in fact I am eating very small portions. Half of the reason I love my meals is that they look so great. It’s all about making the food look good.

My cheat weekend dessert was another little heavenly treat from Gerhard's that Mary slipped into my box yesterday. How great was this – layers of mousse and whipped cream topped with pears. Could I love cheating any more than Gerhard’s? If you are going to blow your calories or save calories during the week to spend on a weekend extravagance my absolute first choice is Gerhard’s. A girl that stays home on a Saturday night has to have some fun!

Yes, and I Love Desserts has a Facebook following. Go to: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=125130528668

How great is it to get meals like this in under 30 minutes? I am all about the quick and easy!

Bon Appetit!