How to Make a Sensational Salad For One

I was blessed in college to have had roommates who knew very well how to make salads, a foreign concept to me. Typically my salads were potato or pasta based. I never knew how amazing salads could truly be. I typically thought that salads had to be carefully planned with exquisite ingredients like hearts of palm (my favorite) and goat cheese. Not the case at all. My dearest friend is a master at salad creations (and creating in general), that when I think I've got a good one, she blows my socks off with her combinations. I then stumbled upon PowerCakes, who creates Powerbowls, and that was my first real introduction to experimenting with flavors and ingredients, combining quinoa, beans, lettuce, and fruit with my veggies. It may sound odd, but it's oh so good. I have now found that carrots and celery are rarely found in my salads because there are so many more tastes I rather enjoy.




















Lately, I have found myself simply using half a lemon, salt, and pepper to season my salads. I'd say that I've always enjoyed more simple vinaigrettes than ranch, so this may not work for you.

The ingredients that I have found to create fabulous salads at lunch are
Lettuce Mix
Mango
Tomatoes
Green Onions
Cucumber
Basil
Radishes
Apples
Cheddar Cheese
Parmesan Cheese
Chia Seeds


I don't combine these all together, but its a nice base for have several different varieties of salad. It starts with a wide bowl and a large handful of salad base (sometimes I use Spinach or Arugula). Then one whole fruit, and at least 3 vegetables. I like to vary textures and tastes with the vegetables I choose. As you can tell, I don't shy away from unpopular veggies, but the savory taste of mango, with lemon tartness paired with radishes, its so delicious, it's similar to a fruit salsa.

I've not yet mastered the task of creating a large salad for my family, but I sure;y look forward each lunchtime for one of these scrumptious salads.

What do you like on your salads? Any tips and tricks?

 

Take Out Tuesday: Red Potato Salad

And so we enter holiday season....and a load of carbs and calories. Yippee! Well if you're anything like me, you may want a bit of a healthier option. Here is a fun recipe from my Grandpa:

Red Potato Salad

Ingredients

8-9 large red potatoes (choose organic if you can)

1- 1 1/2 cup of EVOO

6-7 stalks of celery, sliced lengthwise and chopped

6 green onions, chopped

handful of fresh parsley, chopped

1t-1T of salt (desired taste)

Place potatoes in a large pot. Cover with water, about 3 inches over potatoes. Boil over medium high heat for 45 minutes to an hour or until potato skin starts to crack (they should be tender). Drain water and let cool. Place potatoes in a large bowl and while still warm start to mash. Add the rest of ingredients. Combine and add desired amount of salt. Enjoy warm or cold!!

I also created garlic infused oil. The way to prepare is to add oil to a pan and cook for 1-2 minutes over medium hot. You should be able to see little bubbles forming on the pot. Remove from heat and add chopped garlic. Allow the garlic to sit in the oil for about 45 minutes to 1 hour. Separate garlic from oil and add to potatoes.

What is your favorite way to enjoy mashed potatoes?

 

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Take Out Tuesday: Carrot Ginger Tofu Soup

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Take Out Tuesday: Butternut squash Soup

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Take Out Tuesday: Broccoli Cheddar Soup

Another yummy soup recipe!

This one is definitely my favorite I have made this season.

Broccoli Cheese soup! What more could you want. Veggies and cheese and so easy. I will say that my husband was not a fan of the consistency and said that it was more of a mousse than a soup. I’m still experimenting with the amount of cornstarch to add to make it thicker. I’ve tried both 1 teaspoon and 1 Tablespoon. The Tablespoon definitely made the soup more thick.

Ingredients

1 cup milk

½ cup cheese

1 ½ cup chopped Broccoli, steamed

1 t diced onion

1 t or 1 T of Cornstarch (depending on the consistency)

¼ t of chicken boullion

Place all ingredients into the Vitamix container.

Turn on Variable 1

Turn Machine on and quickly increase speed to Variable 10, then High

Blend for 5-6 minutes or until heavy steam escapes.

This recipe was found in the Vitamix Create Recipe Book. 

Enjoy!!

What is your favorite Fall Recipe?

 

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Take Out Tuesday: Harvest Soup

Soup Season is here!!

Well maybe I jumped the gun...it's still been in the 90's lastely. but I couldn't resist busting out my Vitamix and some yummy recipes.

This one I found in my Vitamix Recipe Book that came when we received our Vitamix.

It's an interesting combination of ingredients, but I sure loved it!!

Ingredients:

2 Granny Smith Apples chopped

2 Cups of Chicken Broth

2 T of White Wine

1/4 Onion

2 Large Potatoes, scrubbed and baked

1 celery stalk

1/4 t dried thyme

1/4t nutmeg

Pinch pepper

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

• Place all ingredients (except cheese) in the blender.
• Select Variable 1.
• Turn machine on and quickly increase speed to Variable 10, then High.
• Blend for 6-7 minutes or until heavy steam starts to escape from the top.
• Reduce speed to Variable 4, and add cheese.
• Blend for an additional 15 seconds.
• Enjoy with some Sourdough Bread.

I really enjoyed the consistency and taste of this soup. Although the combination of purple onion and white wine was a little tart. I might experiment with less.

Hope You enjoy!!

This recipe was found in Vitamix Create Recipe Book.

What is your favorite soup?

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Take Out Tuesday: Eggplant Fries

Eggplant Fries

It's an understatement to say that I LOVE fries!! I've made carrot fries, potato fries, zucchini fries, so EGGPLANT was next on the list. 

I must say that I have FAILED miserably at it. I thought for some reason that you could saute it in a pan with oil, like squash. I've tried that 4 times, thinking this must be the way!!

But the best way I've had it is grilled and of course as fries. I think you have to dry it out, otherwise it becomes a sponge.

 Get the recipe here: SkinnyTaste Eggplant Sticks

 

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Take Out Tuesday: Skinnytaste Lasagna Rollups

It’s Takeout Tuesday! Here is a deliciously simple recipe…and guess what, it’s a pasta dish?! Who knew that all the new recipes I’d be stumbling upon would be pasta. Oh well. It sure is yummy.

I found this recipe at Skinnytaste.com

Click here for the recipe!!

Enjoy!

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Take Out Tuesday

It's another pasta recipe!

Yum Yum!!

Ingredients:

1/2 pound of angel hair pasta

5 large tomatoes or a small crate of cherry tomatoes

4 large cloves of garlic

2 T of EVOO

salt to taste

Parmesan cheese

Optional: addition of greens (I liked kale)

Boil water for pasta and cook as directed on the box.

Add EVOO to pan and cook on medium heat.

Cut tomatoes into slices (large) or in half (cherry tomatoes).

Add tomatoes to the hot pan.

Saute adding garlic and salt.

Cook for about 10-15 minutes stirring often.

(You want the skins to be falling off the tomatoes and become tender).

Option to add greens and parmesan cheese.

Add tomatoes sauce to pasta and enjoy.

A simple meal with lots of flavors.

 

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Take Out Tuesday

Here is a deliciously simple recipe for you to enjoy!! It's too AMAZING not to try. Our family loved it and so did I. Throw everything in a pot and cook. YES!! 

Damn Delicious serves up a great dish that is healthy and scrumptious.

Have you ever cooked everything in a pot?
Tell me what you think!!

 

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Yummy Vegan Chocolate Cupcakes

Being the health nut that I am, I'm always on the lookout for vegan, low sugar sweets. But most of the time I find vegan or gluten free this to be loaded with sugar. This makes me upset.

I received a cupcake recipe book at my shower and came across a recipe for Vegan Chocolate Cupcakes. 

The first time I made these I didn't add sugar. The second time I cut it in half, which was still a whopping cup for 12 cupcakes. I noticed that the first batch was more cocoa-y and the second batch was much tastier, as my husband ate a few (That is a HUGE victory!).

Here is my adaptation to the recipe found in 500 Cupcakes:

Dry Ingredients:

2 cups flour

1 cup sugar

4 TBSP of cocoa

Pinch of Salt

Wet Ingredients:

1/2 cup applesauce (I used an organic TreeTop apple sauce pouch)

2 cups cold water

2 tsp of white vinegar

2 tsp of baking soda

Additional: 1/2 cup Ghiradelli 60% dark chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Combine dry ingredients in large bowl, wet ingredients in medium bowl. Then combine the wet with the dry ingredients and add 1/2 cup of dark chocolate chips. 

Spray muffin tins. Add cupcake mixture to muffin tins, about 2/3 full. Bake for 18-20 minutes. Cool for 5 minutes before removing.

Enjoy!

Do you have a fun vegan recipe?

 

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Recipe: Sweet Potato Chips

Last night I decided to switch from the planned sweet potato fries to sweet potato chips. I will say that I probably needed to cook them longer, but they were very yummy anyway.

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Ingredients:

4 small sweet potatoes (I think I used yams)

1 TBSP of EVOO

A few good grinds of Himilayan Sea Salt and Pepper

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Preheat oven to 400. Peel sweet potatoes. Slice potatoes so you are creating disk like slices. You can also use a mandolin for this as well. Place sweet potatoes in large Ziploc bag with EVOO, Sat and pepper. Make sure all are coated. Set aside until ready.

When ready, place sweet potatoes in a single layer on a cooking sheet. Place in oven for 30 minutes checking after 20 minutes. 

I place mine in for 25 minutes and although they were cooked, they were quite crispy.

Enjoy!!

 

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What's For Dinner Week 9

Well I'm back to meal planning. I like it too much. Even though we signed up for emeals, I'll be using it for new recipes, but we are not totally committing to it. 

I love being creative and it's a control issue probably, but if I want my family to eat healthy, I've got to do it! 

Here are this weeks meals (most from cookbooks I have around the house). I also used this book I picked up from the library:

No, we haven't taken the plunge to vegan, but I think that while trying to stay within a budget and eat healthy, you can't go wrong with veggies!!

This book has a wealth of yummy meals. Can't wait to share.

Monday: Braised Cabbage Rolls, hummus and pitas

Tuesday: Crockpot Teriyaki Pineapple Meatballs over Quinoa

Wednesday: Creamy Green Enchiladas

Thursday: Grilled Chicken and Wilted Spinach Salad with Spocy Peanut Dressing

Friday: Nachos

Saturday: Hot and Sour Noodles

Sunday: Family Dinner 

Hope you have a wonderful week!!

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Recipe: Chicken Quesadillas

I found this recipe on the side of McCormick's Crushed Red Pepper shaker. To say I was desperate for a new recipe is an understatement. But this is a MUST TRY!!

It's simple, tasty, and you can make it ahead of time, which is great for a busy mommy.

Ingredients:

corn tortillas

3 chicken breasts

1T of olive oil

1/4 c chopped green onion

1 chopped tomato

1/2 t of the following: crushed red pepper, thyme leaves, allspice

2 c shredded monterey jack cheese

Directions:

Saute chicken in olive oil on medium low heat. Turning about every 5 minutes until done.

Combine green onion, tomato and spices in a bowl.

After chicken is completely cooked and cooled. Chop into small pieces. Combine with spices.

Place tortilla in pan on medium low heat. Add chicken mixture and cheese and cover with another tortilla. 

Flip over quesadilla after about 4 minutes or golden brown.

Enjoy.

I like monterey jack cheese, but feel free to use whatever kind you enjoy!!

 

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Walnut Chickpea Burgers

We have this lovely little place near Sacramento called the Sunflower Drive-In.

It is home to the most fabulous Nut burger.

Even before I knew what a vegan really was, I indulged in this vegan/vegetarian place.

The menu is full of natural goodies, like Falafel and Nut Tacos.

I've always experimented with different ways to make nut burgers.

This is one of the simple ways.

1/2 bag of soaked chickpeas

1 cup ground walnuts

3 T of flax seed

3 T of water

Put chickpeas in food processor and blend until still chunky.

Combine ground walnuts, chickpeas, flax seed and water.

Add any flavorings (I use garlic powder).

Form into patties.

Cook in a pan and Enjoy.

These burgers are messy and tend to fall apart. I have also used this  as a mixture for tacos and added the taco seasoning to it.

Yummy!

 

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Recipe: 3 ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies

You can find this recipe all over the internet. I found my recipe at Gimme Some Oven. They turned out delicious!!

They were super quick to make. I stuck them in the freezer, so if I need to bring something. I will have them done.

Ingredients: 

I cup smooth peanut butter

1 cup organic coconut sugar

1 egg

heat oven to 350.

combine ingredients.

Form dough by using a spoon.

Optional: use a fork to create design on cookies

Bake for 6-8 minutes.

Cool on rack.

Enjoy!! with milk

That was the intention. But I told the Mr. and we already had a few. Looks like I'll be making some more :)

Let me know how they turn out.

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Vegan Black bean quinoa burgers

I've been vegetarian during the week and enjoying a little bit of meat on the weekends (fish is the exception, as I will eat it when ever, especially sashimi).

These are super easy and can be customizable too. I've added onions before, but I really enjoy eating them raw for their health benefits.

Ingredients

2c black beans

1c quinoa

1T garlic salt

3T flax seed

3T water

5 cloves garlic

Dash of salt and pepper

Blend in Vitamix but not purée.

Add additional seasonings to taste.

If mixture is too soggy, add additional flax seed.

Create hamburgers (I get three out of this recipe).

Place in pan and cover.

Heat about 4 minutes each side twice.

BE CAREFUL WHEN TURNING OVER. IF BURGERS ARE TOO SOGGY THEY WILL NOT HOLD TOGETHER :)

Serve on a bun, a lettuce wrap, or over a field of greens.

Enjoy!

Recipe: Granola

I have been really loving making granola. Its easy and super cheap...well I think it is. I have been finding new things to add into it. Here is a vegan granola recipe!!! I even make my own apple sauce by steaming apples and then pureeing them in the Vitamix. 2 apples yields about a cup.

Ingredients

3 cups rolled oats

1 cup coconut flakes (I like organic unsweetened)

1T cinnamon

2T cocoa

2T Coconut Sugar

1 Cup Applesauce

2T Honey

Optional:

1-2 apples peeled and chopped

Preheat oven to 400

Lightly spray pan with EVOO.

Combine dry ingredients.

Mix in applesauce.

Drizzle about 2 T of honey and stir in.

Mix in any fruit or nuts of choice.

Spread out onto pan.

Every 10-15 minutes, use a wooden spoon to move the granola about so it doesn't burn.

Enjoy alone, with milk, or over some yummy yogurt!

Non-Dairy (not Vegan)Berry Muffins

These are yummers...and super easy.

I used my 500 Cupcakes book I got from our wedding shower and decided to whip these up.

Ingredients:

2 1/2 cups berries

2 cups flour

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1 T baking powder

4 T coconut oil

2 lightly beaten eggs.

Grease muffin pan if not using paper cups.

I blended the berries in the Vitamix.

I combined the melted coconut oil and eggs in a large bowl.

Combine all dry ingredients, then add to the wet ingredients.

Fold in and incorporate berries.

Use an ice cream scooper to divvy out the muffins into the pans.

Bake for about 18 minutes at 350 degrees

Yummy!!

Chicken and avocado tacos

I've really been into Romaine fillets. I love that that is what they are called.

This recipe is super easy.

I grilled a chicken breast and cut it up.

Added half an avocado, chopped.

Squeezed a little lime over it.

Ate it like a taco ;)

Enjoy!!