I eat a lot of quesadilla things while on deadline. I take wheat tortillas, put in shredded colby (out of a bag--this is deadline), some bell pepper, avocado and onion and whatever else strikes my fancy like chipotle tobasco sauce, and then fold it up and put it on the foreman grill for a few minutes and eat (also can heat in a frying pan but the foreman is quicker).

It works as comfort food for me. It's the cheese and avocado I think.

Other than that, I like micro-baked potatoes with butter and cheese on them. But potatoes have tryptophan, so that may not be a good idea.

Here's me waving pom poms and cheering you on!

Breakfast for dinner (a fried egg, toast, hot tea) or PB&J with a big glass of milk.

Also tuna melts. Tuna salad on a wheat pita with a slice of tomato, then a slice of processed cheeeeez on top. Run under the broiler. Yum!

The recipe for black beans and rice on the back of the Goya Black Beans cans is phenomenal. It's not as quick as a PB&J, but it's probably quicker than what you mentioned in this post. Prep basically involves cutting up onion and green pepper, measuring a few spices and liquids and then heating things. It's a staple in our house.

Hershey's miniatures (either regular mix of four kinds or the all Special Dark four kinds). Open bag. Pull one of each kind out. Unwrap and eat in succession. Repeat as needed. Goes good with either ice water or a cold Coke, depending on whether you're shaking with too much caffeine at the moment. (grin)

Dr. Phil

Some form of sleep or else the cells will be mush

If you eat red meat, simmer beef or steak for two hours in a can of tomatoes, garlic, and your choice of herbs. It's easy and good over one of my favorite comfort foods, rice. Or, good old Campbell's tomato soup. A little garlic and feta cheese makes it pretty awesome.

Was "then hunker down and go cave girl. Grrr. Argh." a Buffy reference? Say it's so and I will squee with delight!

Fastest meal ever. Brown one pound of hamburger in the microwave while cooking some noodles (any kind work, thin egg noodles work best). Drain both. Mix together with a can of tomato soup and a small can of peas. Add salt and pepper to taste. Throw it back in the microwave for about ten minutes.

My mom always called it Dinner in a Dish. It's surprisingly good.

Microwave tuna casserole works about the same way; just don't put breadcrumbs or potato chips on it, they get soggy.

Persian Rice-Rice cooker method.

Use basmati rice.

Rinse rice (about 2 cups-- this gives you about three meals) Put rice in rice cooker with 1 can diced tomatoes + 1 can of water. Add 1 can drained garbanzo beans 2 tbsp butter 1 tsp salt.

If you want you can add garlic and green onions to rice cooker too. If you happen to have Ethiopian Spiced Butter on hand sub that for plain butter.

Turn on rice cooker. Make sure to leave it on the "warm" function after it pops up for at least 20 minutes to steam.

You can eat this plain or with grilled chicken or yogurt or with any kind of eggs. Keeps well. Reheats in microwave well.

Just tried this recipe last week, from the new issue of Vegetarian Times:

Stir fry broccoli rabe (or swiss chard or spinach if you don't like the rabe, like me) in a wok with 2 T olive oil, minced garlic, and a dash of red pepper flakes until it wilts. Set aside on a serving dish.

Put 1 more T olive oil in wok, and add a pint of grape tomatoes, stirring frequently until they start to pop. Then add a can of cannellini beans (drained and rinsed) and heat through.

Put tomato-bean mixture on top of greens and sprinkle with parmesan cheese.

Good luck with the book -- which one are you working on? I just read (and loved) The Iron Hunt and The Wild Road.

This one is good for the colder days. (But you're freezing, so maybe it's a good time!)
Cube up some chicken (uncooked, can be slightly frozen), put in slow cooker. In a bowl, mix 1 can cream of mushroom or chicken soup. Some garlic and onion if you want. Any veggies you want (I recommend green beans), frozen is fine. Add cubed potatoes if you have any. Salt and pepper to taste. Mix it up and pour over chicken, stir a little. Turn the cooker on low and come back 5 or 6 hours later. (3 or 4 on high) Yum! I like to sprinkle a little parm cheese on top.

Good luck with the book!
Rose

Easy. Order in.

Maya