Mel's Dinner in a Pinch

(adapted from Cooking Light and my ineligible notes from the car)

Ingredients:

Spinach (calls for a bag, use what you have, or less if you want Spinach for tomorrow)

4 cups Broth (calls for chicken, but use what you have)

1 can Great Northern Beans (also called Cannellini)

1/4 cup chopped onion

1/2 cup sliced carrots (or not - I added some celery too. Mushrooms would be good, too. Unless, of course, you know how disgusting they are.)

some chopped meat if you a) have it and b) feel like it

Directions:

1) figure out what it is you have and what you can substitute

2) saute veggies and chopped meat

3)Add broth, Italian seasonings, pepper/salt to taste

4) Bring to boil. After it's boiling add spinach for one minute to wilt.

5) Serve.

Serve with Chicken Salad Sandwich. Wait. What? Didn't have time to stop at the deli for exorbitantly priced chicken salad? No worries. You can, get this, make your own.

You had time to make the chicken salad? I asked Mel, amazed. She has, after all, twice as many kids as I do!

Well, I had the ingredients on hand.

Yeah but by the time you cook the chicken and ...

No, the chicken is in a can. You know, like tuna.

Genius.

So in case you've never made it like someone we all know and love (or why are you still reading this?!)

Chicken Salad Sandwich

Ingredients:

can of drained chicken (did I mention this is pure genius?!)

mayo/miracle whip/Smart Balance whatever

Splash of Dijon - if you have it

chopped celery, onion, or something else crunchy.

Mel suggested adding almonds - yum.

Directions:

Mix. Serve on bread, bagels, pita, or if all of those are molded, scoop into avocado. Call it dinner.