5 Ingredient Favorites Summer cooking made easy

Does anyone out there adore grocery shopping?! Well, kudos to you if it’s your thing, but for this gal, it’s not a fun time! I would wager that most of you readers fall into my camp. How about going grocery shopping without a mile-long list? Better, right? I can almost hear the sighs of relief! These five-ingredient recipes will allow you to grab the small basket instead of the industrial-sized cart.

First, here are some ground rules: salt, pepper, butter and olive oil do not count as ingredients (because you don’t buy those during every grocery trip). If we all agree, let’s see what’s cooking! These recipes are simple, flavorful and fun to make. They all can be easily made, so you have more time at the pool or in the garden this summer. Enjoy!

Crispy Butter Bean, Mushroom and Date Salad

Calling all vegetarians: this salad is easy and uses only one skillet — win, win! This dish is great for a weeknight when you want to feel like you are getting a good helping of veggies but still want to have a hearty meal. Some substitutions I make are using gnocchi instead of butter beans, mixing up different types of mushrooms or adding roasted pine nuts to the top.

2 tablespoons olive oil

4 cups mushrooms, chopped (use your favorites)

1 teaspoon salt

3 cloves garlic, smashed

2 large Swiss chard leaves, remove stem and torn or chopped

1 tablespoon salted butter

1 ½ cups canned butter (lima) beans, rinsed and drained

6 dates, pitted and chopped

Salt and pepper to taste

In a large skillet on medium high heat, add olive oil, mushrooms and salt. Toss together. Cook until mushrooms are softened with crispy edges and most of the water is gone. Add the garlic and Swiss chard and toss one more time. Set aside.

In the same pan, on medium heat, add the butter and beans. Toss together and crisp up, about 5-7 minutes. Toss in dates and heat through. Turn the heat to low and add all the ingredients back into skillet and toss gently. Cook for 1 more minute to heat through and season to taste.