Photo: Leigh Loftus
Rachel Ray did a smart thing when she made it easy and approachable for people to cook dinner with “30-Minute Meals.” The only problem? I’m not so sure a lot of those meals actually take 30 minutes.
My advice? Don’t try to cook dinner in under half an hour. If you work until seven p.m., have a healthy snack at five o’clock so that when you come home, you don’t mind waiting the forty-five minutes that it actually takes to prepare and cook a well-balanced meal.
On the nights where you can’t eat a handful of almonds or some fruit to stave off famished-ness, save complicated recipes for nights when you actually leave work on time. On busier nights, take a simple concept like grilled cheese and turn it into a recipe that delivers some nutrition and a lot of flavor.
Though bread and cheese aren’t always regarded as healthy options, honey is. We all know to put honey in our tea when we have sore throats, but most of us don’t stop to ask why. Honey has been used for centuries as a topical application to help prevent infection, due to naturally-occurring antiseptic and antibacterial qualities.
With the invention of antibiotics, people regard honey less as medicinal and more as….delicious, but consuming honey is still said to have health benefits and might even reduce sensitivity to environmental allergens.
Honey is great drizzled on toast, but that alone isn’t a substantial dinner. However if you add cheese to just about anything, I consider it a meal, as I do this open-faced grilled cheese from the Southern Farmer’s Market Cookbook.
Photo: Leigh Loftus
- 1 (3 oz) piece whole grain baguette (sliced in half horizontally, then into 2 inch pieces)
- 1½ - 2 oz. soft, pungent cheese, such as brie or camembert
- 1 tablespoon honey (local, if possible)
- Preheat broiler to high. Slice bread in half horizontally and cut into 4-6 inch lengths. Top each with a generous portion of cheese (I used brie, my favorite!).
- Broil in the center of the oven until the edges of the bread have browned and cheese is bubbling, about five minutes. Watch carefully to ensure that the cheese doesn't burn.
- Remove from oven and place a couple of toasts onto a serving plate. Drizzle with a tablespoon or so of honey and serve immediately. For a well-rounded meal, serve with fresh fruit or a mixed green salad.
- NOTE: For a larger group (or a big appetite) use approximately a pound of cheese and ½ cup honey to one twelve ounce baguette. The whole recipe serves 8-10 people and is also a great alternative to garlic bread as a side dish or appetizer.
29 Comments
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Palidor
August 30, 2009 at 6:12 pmWhat a great idea to combine honey and cheese. Never thought of that! And I agree about 30 minute meals being a crock. Also, those meals rely on a lot of packaged foods (such as pre-washed salad or pre-sliced vegetables), which are not only expensive but also overpackaged.
Maggie
August 26, 2009 at 6:19 pmI can only imagine that truffle honey would kick this recipe up 500%!!
Chrissy
August 25, 2009 at 2:31 pmOooh, interesting with the honey in this recipe! I’m a big honey fan and have long been touting it’s unique ability to virtually solve any problem. (In my experience, of course.) Unfortunately, no one in my family agrees. But that just means more honey for me. Also, I could live happily on a desert island with bread and cheese (with or without a broiler) for a very long time, so this might become my favorite new quick dinner, lunch, appetizer, snack, dessert…
Aggie
August 24, 2009 at 7:09 amThis sounds great! And would make perfect little appetizers too!
bodelou
August 20, 2009 at 12:59 pmoooo girl! this sounds amazing. however i am a sucker for any kind of dairy mixed with honey. it is sinful.
Jamie
August 20, 2009 at 6:18 amNow this I could eat for dinner! Husband often comes home too hungry and tired to wait for a cooked meal so grabs bread, cheese and a banana. Next time he does that, I’ll make this! Yum!
Nicole
August 19, 2009 at 11:35 pmGreat post! You are right – we shouldn’t try to squeeze our cooking into 30 minutes. I liked your idea of having a snack to hold us over and then cooking for a little longer than the 30. And the honey on cheese toast idea is great! Never had it but it looks really good! Thank you.
Kerstin
August 19, 2009 at 7:45 pmYay for cheesy toast, that picture is making my mouth water!
magda
August 19, 2009 at 9:38 amI have that 30-minute meals cookbook, and I don’t think I’ve made ANY in under an hour. It always gets me frustrated.
I like your substantial snack at 5 idea, too; I bet that would help me get into cooking more on weeknights. I usually come home so famished that it’s re-heats or quickies like pasta for me. This, however, looks absolutely delicious.
Nutmeg Nanny
August 18, 2009 at 11:59 amI agree that usually the 30 minuet meal turns into the 45 to 60 minute meal. I’m not sure I ever really bought into the show but I don’t mind watching it. Occasionally I will find something worth making but I don’t count on 30 minutes to make it that is for sure! Now this little snack looks good. I would have to skip the honey though. Never have been a big fan.
doggybloggy
August 18, 2009 at 10:36 amI hate to be the ‘other one’ but I can whip stuff together in 30 minutes – come on pasta boils in 8 and a quick sauce and salad…its done…
Kristen
August 17, 2009 at 11:30 pmWhat a delicious idea, Maris. I agree about the 30 minute meals too. Plus, the ingredients are often somewhat obscure, so you have to go out and buy something to just use once or twice.
Lydia (The Perfect Pantry)
August 17, 2009 at 9:53 pmYou are so right about Rachael Ray. The only way her meals get done in 30 minutes is if a prep chef gets the ingredients ready for her. But your idea about a late afternoon snack is a great way to stave off the hunger until you get a good meal on the table.
Michelle
August 17, 2009 at 8:21 pmThat looks so yummy.I agree with you about Rachel Ray it can’t be done in 30 minutes.how is that possible especially with a child or two around.
Sues
August 17, 2009 at 4:55 pmMmm this sounds like the perfect combination. I LOVE honey and obviously grilled cheese as well! Will definitely be trying this 😉
KC
August 17, 2009 at 2:42 pmOooh… I want to eat this right now. 🙂
Amy P
August 17, 2009 at 1:34 pmYum! This looks like it would be a great breakfast too:)
elra
August 17, 2009 at 11:17 amCheese and honey are always welcome in my home. Delicious pairs!
Jenny
August 17, 2009 at 9:26 amLooks awesome!
p.s. I’m whipping up a little something with those VIA samples today 🙂
Cate
August 17, 2009 at 3:36 amTotally agree with you about 30 Minute Meals… so not worth it! These, however, look absolutely divine.
Pam
August 17, 2009 at 1:19 amWhy haven’t I ever thought to try this – it looks amazing.
Rachel Ray bugs me a bit too.
lisa (dandysugar)
August 16, 2009 at 11:49 pmI can’t get myself to sit through an entire Rachel Ray episode so I’m with you on that one!
Cheese with a drizzle of honey is delicious.
mandy
August 16, 2009 at 11:08 pmI’ve never been a big fan of Rachel Ray. Cheese and honey I am a huge fan. It never occurred to me to mix the two together.
VeggieGirl
August 16, 2009 at 5:20 pm“Crock of you-know-what” – agreed 😉
Michelle
August 16, 2009 at 4:50 pmI hear you on the Rachael Ray thing. Along with Martha Stewart, she is on the “most irritating women on TV” bandwagon.
But cheese and honey? That could be one of the most yummiest combinations I’ve heard about in a long time and will have to try it out!
Daryl
August 16, 2009 at 3:51 pmThat looks delicious. I might add never give honey to infants under one year.