Top 10 Idiot-Proof Dishes

Some people are gifted when it comes to whipping up spectacular gourmet fare - coq au vin, no problem - beef wellington, no sweat. Others (like us) have to work a lot more at it. If you count yourself among the culinary-challenged, help is on the way. Here are ten fool-proof, can't-mess-it-up-no-matter-what dishes to delight your friends and family.

  • Pasta. If you can boil pasta, you can't mess this up - honestly! Don't rinse the pasta when it's done - simply drain it and add your choice of sauces. A good jarred marinara always works (we like Trader Joe's organic) - dress it up with parmesan cheese and fresh basil. Another yummy option - toss with olive oil and jarred or easy to open canned goodies - artichoke hearts, chopped sundried tomatoes, sliced black olives, black pepper and parmesan. Mario Batali, eat your heart out!

  • Quesadillas. Fill flour tortillas with canned black beans (drained), corn, sliced red pepper or pretty much anything else you can think up. Add chunks of rotisserie chicken (purchased in the deli section of your local grocery store), sliced mushrooms, fresh spinach, or chopped tomatoes. Top it off with a healthy handful of grated cheddar or jack cheese. Stick in the microwave for about a minute (until the cheese melts) - fold in half and enjoy. What could be easier?

  • Pizza. That's right, pizza is on our list of fool-proof dishes. These days, premade pizza dough is readily available (Trader Joe's offers three varieties of plain, what and herb). You can also use pita bread. All you have to do is stretch the dough out on a cookie sheet, top with jarred marinara or pizza sauce, and sprinkle with grated mozzarella and parmesan. Feel free to jazz it up with an array of "gourmet" toppings - mushrooms, peppers, olives, sliced ham or pepperoni, and more. Bake until bubbly and golden - you'll never order delivery again!

  • Caprese Salad. Not only is this one of the easiest dishes you can make - it's also one of the prettiest. Slice large balls of fresh mozzarella cheese and arrange on a platter alternated with slices of tomato. Drizzle olive oil on top, sprinkle with fresh chunks of basil and a dash of salt and pepper.

  • Bean Salad. If you want to whip up something impressive in about two minutes flat, this is the dish for you. Start with canned beans (black, kidney, white or chickpeas). Drain them well and then toss in a bowl with chopped red pepper, onion, corn, and tomatoes. Add some olive oil (plus a splash of vinegar or lemon juice if you like a bit of tang), salt and pepper and then stir to perfection. For an extra touch, sprinkle with goat or feta cheese.

  • Greek Salad. Toss prepackaged, prewashed lettuce or chopped romaine with crumbled feta cheese, sliced black olives, chopped tomatoes, green peppers, olive oil, salt and pepper. Sprinkle with slivered almonds or some ready-made croutons for a bit of added toasty crunch.

  • Pot Pie. This may sound a bit complicated but it's actually surprisingly simple. The key is to use premade pie crusts (in the refrigerated section of the grocery store) - they come in sets of two. Unfold one into a pie dish and set the other one aside. Next, mix up the filling - chopped rotisserie chicken, frozen mixed veggies (corn, peas, carrots), and fresh veggies if you like. Mix some canned cream of chicken soup with milk and stir it into the filling mixture. Pour into the pie dish and top with the second crust. Bake and you're ready to feast!

  • Chicken Salad. Once again, rotisserie chicken comes to the rescue. Chop it up and mix with celery, mayo and a dash of salt and pepper. Experiment with other additions - fresh herbs, chopped walnuts, sliced scallions. Serve on a bed of greens or piled onto a bakery-bought croissant.

  • Grilled Cheese. Just about everyone feels pretty confident whipping one of these up - after all, it's just cheese between two pieces of bread, heated up on a buttered griddle. And by trying different kinds of breads (sourdough, seeded, raisin) and additions (ham, prosciutto, tomatoes, sliced pear) you can turn the idea of "grilled cheese" into something truly gourmet.

  • Nachos. Grab a bag of tortilla chips (get the baked ones if you want to cut down on calories), melt some cheddar and jack cheese in the microwave for a minute, pour it on. Next, dump a can of jalapeno peppers and some ready-made salsa on top with a dollop of sour cream. Lickity-split deliciousness!