Observer photo by David Verhey
Grace Verhey and Peggy Tsai enjoy a home-cooked meal.

Simple foods even Rachel Ray would love

by JULIA DAHL

Haven’t been to the grocery store this week? Or last week? No problem, here are 5 reasonably well-rounded dinners you can make with a mostly bare pantry.

1. Quesadilla: As long as it’s been in the fridge (preferably wrapped in aluminum foil or sealed in a zip-lock baggie), most hard cheese lasts for weeks. Slice off any questionable fuzz, layer on a tortilla, and microwave. Got half an onion, or a can of corn? Even better. Don’t have a tortilla? Substitute two slices of bread and go for grilled cheese instead.

2. Fried rice: Melt a little olive oil and butter in a pan, saute whatever veggies you have in the fridge (scallions and mushrooms are preferable), add a cup of steamed rice, an egg, a ton of soy sauce, and even more pepper. You’ll feel like your own Benihana.

3. Pasta: Even plain old spaghetti and red sauce tastes special if you remember one thing: fresh grated Parmesan. A chunk (which will run you about $8) lasts for weeks if wrapped in foil or plastic, and will turn your Ragu (or, if you’re really desperate, Chef Boyardee) into a treat. No sauce in the house? Melt some butter and a little brown sugar in a pan then toss whatever pasta you’ve got over the heat with that.

4. Egg salad: Boil some eggs, peel off the shells, and then mash them with mayo in a bowl. Salt and pepper (or paprika, cumin, curry, chili powder, whatever’s in the spice rack) to taste. Eat it with a fork or between two slices of bread. Got lettuce? Add that.

5. Popcorn and choose any vegetable you like: Popcorn is only bad for you if you soak it in butter, so skip the microwave bags and pop your own on the stove using olive oil for flavor. Wash off a couple old carrots or some broccoli florets (they both last forever in the crisper) and you’ve got a finger-food bonanza. No veggies? Gulp down some OJ and call it a day.