How to Make a Meal With Four Ingredients and a Dash of Salt and Pepper

Today's families have hectic schedules. Finding time to make a sit-down dinner that's not labor intensive can be a challenge. With only four common food ingredients, you can have that family dinner ready in no time!

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Canned chicken, small can
• Elbow macaroni, 2 cups
• Fat-free cream of chicken soup
• Salt and pepper (to taste)
• Green beans with snaps
• Cooking utensils and cookware
• Preheated oven, 350 degrees

1. Open canned chicken. Drain, rinse and drain again. Cook elbow macaroni according to direction; drain. Blend chicken with elbow macaroni gently. In separate bowl, mix soup with 3/4 cup water. Add to chicken mixture. Add salt and pepper to taste, blending thoroughly. Cook at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. You can add shredded cheese during the last five minutes, but that is optional.

2. While your casserole is cooking, open and thoroughly rinse the green beans. Wash them at least 3 times. Add to pot with salt and pepper to taste. Cook on medium-high heat for 20 minutes, reduce heat to low for 10 minutes. An option here is to buy the green beans in a steamer bag, if you prefer veggies steamed. Completed dinner serves 4.

3. In thirty minutes you've prepared a hearty meal with four basic ingredients, and the prep time is only 15 to 20 minutes! When hectic times call for smart cooking strategies, just a few simple ingredients and a little planning ahead when shopping can deliver a delicious meal to your table without a lot of time and fuss.

Tips & Warnings

• Do a pantry inventory before you shop. It can save time on return trips for forgotten items.
• Always keep a nice supply of herbs and spices. They can spruce up even the most simple dishes.
• You can always kick the casserole up a bit by adding any of the following: chopped onions, mushrooms, chopped black olives, diced pimento, sliced water chestnuts. Be creative!
• Canned foods can be very high in sodium. Always check the label for this and other additives you might want omitted from your family's diet.
• Oven temperatures vary. Check your casserole every 10-15 minutes and remove or lower temperature if top shows browning too soon.