I’m not one of those women who loves to cook. Unfortunately, however, I am one of those women who loves to eat, so I’ve tried to find several meals that I can put together quickly. I don’t know about you, but I need those meal ideas during the Christmas season more than ever. With presents to wrap, cards to send, and Christmas movies to watch, I want a meal that’s reasonably healthy and quick to assemble. I’ve found a few recipes that are delicious, nutritious, and get you in and out of the kitchen quickly.

As I’m not much of a cook, all of these recipes are ones I’ve found online so I’ll simply share the links with you.

One of my favorites is Pesto Chicken. It’s simply delicious, looks pretty, and is a great dish to bring to a friend in need. It’s only 205 calories per serving if you make your own pesto sauce, but that slows things down, so I just use a store-bought pesto (which bumps it up to 440 calories per serving) and skip the cookie for dessert. I usually serve it with roasted potatoes and broccoli.

 Balsamic Pork Roast has to be one of the easiest meals I cook. Sometimes, I buy two pork loins, cook one, and put the other in the freezer with the marinade already on it so it’s ready to go on another night. I serve it with rice, sautéed green beans, and a salad (on a good night—sometimes I skip the salad.)

Pan Fried Flounder picture here I’m not a huge fan of fish, but I hear it’s really good for my brain and, well, my brain can use all the help it can get. This Weight Watchers recipe for Pan Fried Flounder is not only low on calories but big on taste. It does take a few minutes longer to make than the first two, but it’s worth the effort and is still reasonably quick.

The key to making this Apricot Balsamic Chicken without overcooking the chicken is to prep and measure all the ingredients before you start to cook. It doesn’t take long and it’s oh so yummy!

Waldorf Chicken salad doesn’t exactly feel like a winter meal, but I love this one so much I’ll eat it any time of the year. Whenever I make chicken, I always cook extra, cut it up into small pieces and throw it in the freezer (in some type of container, of course). So, to be honest, this meal is only quick if you happen to have the chicken ready to go.

Happy eating and enjoy your Christmas season!

Nancy Holte

Nancy loves to laugh and considers laughter a critical part of human survival. If you were to ask, most days she would say her glass is half full but when it starts reaching the half-empty level, she reaches for a funny book or movie knowing that indeed “A cheerful heart is good medicine.” Nancy has three married sons and five grandchildren. To read more from Nancy find her at www.nancyholte.com.

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