Everyday Foods: Frittata

Frittata's are great for students because they are easy to make and you can toss pretty much anything into them and odds are it will still end up healthy and satisfying. Since I tend start my frittata "creations" on nights where my fridge and pantry are both shockingly barren, I've consumed an impressive number of highly creative frittata's.

What are some of the unconventional ingredients that found there way into past frittatas?

Left-over spaghetti, pesto, shredded potatoes, and pizza sauce are just a few.

I love being creative, but for just a basic frittata, the equation is simple: 

sauteed veggies + seasonings + eggs + cheese + broiler = perfection

Simple Individual Frittata:

*Non-Stick spray

*Vegetables: completely depends on personal preference. I usually use whatever I have on hand. The night I made this particular frittata it was defrosted French string beans, sliced cremini mushrooms, and sliced zucchini

*2 Eggs. Although I used a 1/2 cup of Egg Beaters (with yolks kind) - once again, it was just what I had on hand

*Cheese: I used a mixture of reduced fat cheeses that I keep in my freezer. The amount used depends on personal preference

*Salt, Pepper, and other Seasonings

Step 1: Pre-heat your broiler.
Step 2: In an oven-proof skillet, coat skillet with non-stick spray (olive oil works too) and saute Veggies in on medium-heat until they are tender. About 10 minutes (too prevent a soggy frittata - make sure most of the water has evaporated out of the mushrooms and zucchinis).

Step 3: Add salt, pepper, and other seasonings of choice to the sauteed veggies.
Step 4: Pour (beaten) eggs on top of the vegetable mixture.
Step 5: Sprinkle cheese on top of the eggs.

Step 6: Put frittata under the broiler for about 5-10 minutes: until the frittata is puffy, the center is set, and the cheese is a nice golden-brown. Note: check frequently when it's under the broiler - nothings worse than a burnt frittata!
Step 7: Enjoy with a side salad and a piece of hearty bread!

For more Frittata assistance, I highly recommend watching Kath's Frittata Video Post from her "Kath Eats Real Food" website.

Craft: Magnetic College-Campus Board

Great craft idea from MarthaStewart.com! You start with a sheet of galvanized metal and end up with a wonderfully personalized bulletin board for your dorm room. They recommend using a map of your college campus as the background, but any special print or image would work fine.

Martha Stewart's Magnetic College-Campus Board

Everyday Foods: Summer Salad

There's no denying it - summer's a comin'! Already there are signs: temperatures are rising, the sun is out later and later each evening, and bikinis and sun dresses fill shop windows. For many, including myself, the change of season comes with a corresponding shift in appetite. In the winter it's hearty stews and rich pastas that I crave, but come summer, it's the fresh salads, grilled chicken, and juicy watermelon that make my mouth water.

Here is my favorite entrée salad recipe - it makes for the perfect summer lunch or light dinner:

Summer Salad
*A few handfuls of Organic Spring Salad mix
*1/2-3/4 cup of dark red kidney beans
*Handful of grated carrots
*Low-fat feta cheese (I use Trader Joe's brand)
*Newman's Own Light Honey Mustard Dressing

This recipe is incredibly adaptable and can be altered to suite a wide range of taste buds and cravings. I often I'll add olives or other in season veggies. This particular combination is really delicious and filling - definitely worth a try!

Good Thing: SNAPWARE®

With food prices on the rise, reducing the amount of spoiled food is becoming a necessity. Thanks to SNAPWARE®'s amazing technology, foods (everything from produce to pet foods) can stay fresher longer.

Last winter, I put some kidney beans (cooked) in a SNAPWARE® container (I have th MODS™ 28-piece set) in my vegetable crisper, and then proceeded to completely forget about them.... Fast forward almost a month later: the rediscovery of my beans. As I popped open the SNAPWARE® technology "snaps," I braced my sensitive nostrils for odors of mold and rot, but much to my surprise, the beans weren't even slimy, let alone rancid. I ended up using them in a salad.

SNAPWARE®

Tip: Do not put the lids in the dishwasher or microwave. The actual SNAPWARE® containers seem fine at higher temperatures, but the lids seem to become a bit vulnerable when subjected to heat.

I bought mine from Costco. I think the MODS™28-piece set was around $45 (not positive on the price).

SNAPWARE® Retailers