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Recipe: Avocado Salad Wraps

Posted by Jenny Lewis Categories: Dinner, Lunch, Side Dishes, Quick Meals, Recipes, Summer Cooking, Fruit, Salad, Vegetables, Vegetarian

avocado salad

It’s summer, and the food lobe of my brain turns to one thing when the weather starts warming up - avocados. Being on the East Coast, avocados are definitely my favorite summertime-only indulgence, and they are well worth the wait in all of their forms. Another recipe from Clean Eating magazine, these Avocado Salad Wraps are fantastic as a light lunch or, when paired with some bread or tortillas, a stove-free dinner on a hot day.

Ingredients:

  • 2 T Dijon mustard
  • 1 medium ripe avocado, diced
  • 1 medium ripe tomato, chopped into pieces the same size as the avocado
  • 1/4 cup cilantro
  • lime juice (optional)
  • 4 big lettuce leaves (romaine works great)

Preparation:
Combine the first four ingredients in a bowl. If the wraps aren’t going to be eaten right away, toss some lime juice into the bowl with the salad.

Divide the salad between the 4 lettuce leaves, wrap and enjoy!  Or, if you’re like me, eschew the lettuce altogether and eat the salad straight out of the bowl.

Read More | Clean Eating Magazine

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Recipe: Summer Pasta Salad

Posted by Jenny Lewis Categories: Dinner, Lunch, Side Dishes, Recipes, Summer Cooking, Cheese, Salad, Vegetables, Vegetarian

summer-pasta-salad

This pasta salad is one of my favorite potluck contributions. Because of the fact that the pasta has to be completely cool - at most room temperature - before assembling the salad, it’s a great dish to start at night and finish the next day. Here’s a recipe for a great Summer Pasta Salad:

Ingredients:

  • 1 Lb smallish, shaped pasta (rotini, farfalle, macaroni, anything small and easily fork-able)
  • 1/2 bottle of Italian dressing (not creamy)
  • 4 T Salad Supreme
  • 1 12 to 14 inch cucumber or two smaller ones, peeled and seeded
  • 1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes, washed and halved
  • 4 ounces Provolone cheese (this is usually 4 slices of prepackaged sliced cheese)
  • 4 ounces salami (again, usually 4 slices of prepackaged sliced meat, but this can also be 4 ounces from a whole salami)

Click to continue reading Recipe: Summer Pasta Salad


Recipe: The Perfect Protein, Rice and Beans

Posted by Jenny Lewis Categories: Dinner, Lunch, Quick Meals, Grains, Poultry, Grilling

perfect-protein

Beans and rice, rice and beans. Endorsed by scores of nations worldwide, beans and rice provides a balance of protein and carbs that can hardly be beat (not to mention the combination creates a very thrifty meal). Add some chicken for an extra protein bump and some salsa for flavor, and you have a dinner that’s quick, healthy and delish.

This recipe came to me via the print edition of Clean Eating magazine, which I highly endorse.

Click to continue reading Recipe: The Perfect Protein, Rice and Beans


Recipe: Bang Bang Chicken

Posted by Jenny Lewis Categories: Dinner, Lunch, Recipes, Poultry, Far East, Boiling

bang bangchicken

I love Chinese food. If I had my way, I’d have it at least once a day, every day. I’m lucky enough to have four Chinese delivery options in my neighborhood, and you can bet I know exactly which one to call depending on what I have a taste for that day. But when I came across this recipe on the Internet one day, I had to try it.  I think that I am safe in saying that my calls to delivery joints might become a little less frequent.

Click to continue reading Recipe: Bang Bang Chicken


Recipe: Sauteed Corn, Spinach, and Green Beans

Posted by Monica Edwards Categories: Dinner, Side Dishes, Recipes, Salad, Vegetables, Vegetarian, America

Sauteed corn, spinach, and green beansI prefer to have vegetables prepared with every dinner that I serve my family, so it is nice to come across a recipe that is easy to prepare while the entree is cooking away. True, the kids may pick and choose which veggie is their favorite, as my 4-year-old would, but I enjoy all three as I hope your family will. This recipe calls for frozen vegetables to save time, but I always love to use fresh when given the choice…up to your preference.

Ingredients:

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 pkg. 10 oz. frozen corn kernels
  • 1 pkg. 10 oz. frozen cut green beans
  • 5 oz. fresh baby spinach
  • 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
  • 2 teaspoons white wine vinegar
  • coarse salt and ground pepper

Preparation:
Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high, add corn and green beans, and cook about 4-6 minutes, until green beans are warmed through. Next add the thyme and spinach, seasoning with salt and pepper. Toss until spinach is wilted, about 1-2 minutes, then stir in the vinegar. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve in a bright dish for added pizazz.


Recipe: Tomato, Chickpea, and Arugula Salad

Posted by Monica Edwards Categories: Dinner, Lunch, Side Dishes, Quick Meals, Recipes, Salad, Vegetables, Vegetarian, America

Tomato Chickpea salad

I absolutely love salads, so when I come across a new recipe, I have to share it with everyone - we all could use more veggies in our diets. This recipe is quite simple and tasty, as well as pleasing to the eye—because I am a huge believer in that we first eat with our eyes, before our mouths.

Ingredients:

  • 3 ounces baby arugula
  • 2 scallions, thinly sliced
  • 1 15 oz. can of chickpeas, rinsed and drained
  • 1 cup halved cherry tomatoes
  • 1/4 cup walnuts, toasted if desired(my preference)
  • 2 TB red wine vinegar
  • 2 TB olive oil
  • coarse salt and ground pepper to taste

Preparation:
In medium bowl, layer the first 5 ingredients and set aside. In separate tightly lidded container, combine vinegar, oil, salt, and pepper; shake until blended. Pour directly onto salad and toss.

Enjoy a fresh, quick salad.


Recipe: Rosemary Beef Skewers with Horseradish Dipping Sauce

Posted by Monica Edwards Categories: Dinner, Recipes, Beef, Meat, America, Roasting

Rosemary beef skewers

When our family is enjoying any kind of meat dish, I love to break out the horseradish and announce to whoever is within earshot, “Horseradish makes EVERYTHING taste better”. So when I came across this recipe in Everyday Food for beef skewers with rosemary (one of my favorite herbs to cook with), my mouth started watering at the thought of dipping the yummy skewers into a horseradish dipping sauce, bringing the whole dish to a new level.

Ingredients:

  • 3 flat iron (shoulder top blade) steaks (1 1/2 pounds total, with gristle removed)
  • 1/2 cup reduced fat sour cream
  • 1 tablespoon prepared white horseradish, drained
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • 2 tablespoon fresh rosemary leaves
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • coarse salt and ground pepper
  • Eight 6 inch wooden skewers

Click to continue reading Recipe: Rosemary Beef Skewers with Horseradish Dipping Sauce


Recipe: Pea and Parsley Risotto

Posted by Jenny Lewis Categories: Dinner, Side Dishes, Recipes, Vegetarian

peaparsleyrisotto

Risotto has a reputation for being tedious, laborious, and finicky. To some extent, I agree. It takes a while to prepare, you have to have your mise en place* on point, and if you’re really hungry you could end up eating your fill WHILE you’re cooking dinner. However, if you have some time and don’t mind putting up with a tired arm from all of the stirring, risotto can be one of the most satisfying meals or elegant sides you’ll ever make.

Ingredients:

  • 2 T olive oil
  • 1 small onion, diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced (or 2 teaspoons minced garlic from a jar)
  • Black pepper to taste
  • 1 cup Arborio rice
  • 2 to 3 cups chicken or vegetable broth
  • 1/2 cup chopped fresh flat leaf parsley (also called Italian - this is NOT curly parsley)
  • 1/2 cup frozen peas (I use petite sweet peas but any kind work)
  • 1/4 to 1/2 grated Parmesan cheese (as always, fresh is best but the pre-grated stuff from the store works just as well)

Click to continue reading Recipe: Pea and Parsley Risotto


Recipe: Carbonara Pasta

Posted by Jenni Burns Categories: Dinner, Comfort Food, Recipes, Poultry, Italy

Carbonara Pasta

Carbonara
Ingredients:

1 lb Bacon, fried
1 onion, chopped
5 cloves garlic, minced
2 Tbsp olive oil
1 pint of heavy cream
1 lb Chicken sauteed until done
2 cups Parmesan or Romano cheese, shredded

Click to continue reading Recipe: Carbonara Pasta


Pot Roast with Vegetables Recipe

Posted by Jenni Burns Categories: Dinner, Recipes, Beef, Meat, Vegetables, America, Roasting, Slow Cooking

Pot Roast

There is something wonderful about the smell of a cooking for hours on a cool autumn day. The spices and juices from the meat fill the house with a lovely inspiring smell. This wafting scent will lure even your pickiest child to the table, to taste of the labors of your hard working oven. I was excited to see that this recipe from All Recipes called to use a because I had not used one before. I used mine for the first time a few days ago, and I was extremely impressed with how well it worked. A worthy investment if you don’t have one.

Click to continue reading Pot Roast with Vegetables Recipe


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