Sunday, November 30, 2014

Orzo with Roasted Veggies


This meal was inspired by a Barefoot Contessa recipe I found on her blog. It was very easy to throw together and the roasted veggies gave the dish lots of flavor. Enjoy with a good crusty bread.

Roasted Veggies:
  • 1 small zucchini, diced 
  • 1 small yellow squash, diced 
  • 1  red bell pepper,  diced
  • 1  yellow bell pepper,  diced
  • 1  sweet onion, peeled and diced
  • 2 Tbl coconut oil, melted
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/2 lb orzo pasta, cooked according to the directions on the box
 Dressing:
  • 2 Tbl lemon juice (1 juicy lemon)
  • 2 Tbl Braggs apple cider vinegar
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • salt & pepper to taste
Add to the top:
  • 3 green onions, sliced thin
  • 1/4 cup pine nuts (toasted is extra yummy)
  • 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
  • Approx. 15 fresh basil leaves, julienne
 
Preheat oven to 400F
 
Place all the cut veggies on a cookie sheet lined with foil. Drizzle melted coconut oil on the veggies, sprinkle with salt and pepper and toss until evenly coated. Roast for 20 minutes. 

While veggies are roasting, cook orzo and make the dressing. To make the dressing, combine the lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, olive oil and salt & pepper in a tupperware with a tight fitting lid. Shake well to combine.

After veggies are roasted, orzo is cooked and dressing is made, combine them all in a large bowl. I put mine in the refrigerator at this point because I wanted it to be chilled. You could also eat it warm. 

Before eating, sprinkle green onions, pine nuts, feta and basil on top. Enjoy!

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Pumpkin Banana Muffins with Hemp & Flax Seeds


I literally cannot make enough of these muffins! I always try to bake enough to freeze so we can enjoy them throughout the week as snacks and for a quick breakfast....but, they never seem to make it to the freezer. My kids scarf these down (and so do I)....I think my daughter has eaten three today....yep, she has - one for breakfast, one for a snack (and she ate the one I took out for myself, too)....about thirty minutes ago she asked me if she could have one for her dessert. I will happily oblige.  They are full of fiber from the pumpkin, omegas from the flax, and protein from the hemp seeds. Win, win, win! The bananas give a great dose of potassium and vitamin C. These muffins are little power-houses of health. And even though they are low in sugar, they are absolutely delicious!! YUM! Whip up a batch today (actually, it might be wise to whip up two). Enjoy!

1/3 c coconut oil (and a little bit for greasing the pan)
2 very ripe bananas
1/2 cup coconut sugar (find this at Whole Foods or in the organic section of the grocery)
1/4 cup coconut syrup (find this at Whole Foods- or if you can substitute honey or pure maple syrup)
2 eggs
1/3 cup canned pumpkin puree
3/4 cup whole wheat pastry flour
1/2 cup oat flour
1/4 cup ground flax seeds
1/4 cup hemp seeds
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup Enjoy Life chocolate chips (these are dairy, nut and soy free)

Preheat oven to 350F

Line a muffin pan with cupcake liners.

Melt the coconut oil in a large microwave safe bowl for about 50 seconds. Remove bowl from microwave and use a wooden spoon to stir it around until it is completely liquid. Add the two bananas and mash well. Add the coconut sugar and the coconut syrup to the banana/oil mixture and stir until combined. Add the eggs one at a time and combine; add pumpkin and stir. Add the rest of the dry ingredients from the whole wheat pastry flour to the cinnamon. Stir to combine. Fold in chocolate chips.


Use a 1/4 cup measuring cup to scoop batter into the lined muffin pan. Bake for 21 - 22 minutes or until the muffin springs back when gently touched.  Let cool on the counter. I can usually get about 15 muffins out of this recipe.



 

Sunday, November 2, 2014

Halloween Candy Junkyard Cookies


I don't know about you, but I have a TON of Halloween candy that I would really like out of my house!! I made these cookies last night for my friends' Halloween party and they were a big hit. The recipe is simple - make your favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe (I use the recipe on the back of the Toll House semi-sweet chocolate chips bag) and substitute 3 cups of chopped Halloween chocolate for the semi-sweet chips. That's it! Enjoy!


I use the recipe on the back of the Toll House semi-sweet chocolate chips bag, but, you can use your favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe instead.
  • 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup (2 sticks) butter
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar <I only use 1/2 a cup of granulated sugar>
  • 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 large eggs
  • <3 cups of chopped chocolate bars, all mixed together>
PREHEAT oven to 375° F.

COMBINE flour, baking soda and salt in small bowl. Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract in large mixer bowl until creamy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in chopped chocolate bars. <I always refrigerate my cookie dough for at least two hours before baking - I find it makes for much better cookies!!> Drop by rounded tablespoon onto ungreased baking sheets.

BAKE for 9 to 11 minutes or until golden brown <I never bake for more than 9 minutes- slightly undercooked cookies always taste best!!>. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely. 




Monday, October 20, 2014

Spinach-Artichoke Mini Lasagnas


Oh boy, these were crazy good!! Yummy, filling, hearty, flavorful....yeah, we liked them a lot!! My adventurous son ate three of these little lasagnas. I had quite a few left over (this recipe does make 24 mini-lasagnas!!!), so, I've been sending them to school with my son in his lunch box. I found the recipe in this month's issue of Vegetarian Times. The recipe comes from their reader recipe contest.....these little lasagnas won first prize. Once you make them, you will see why!!!

Oh! And if you want to add some meat, I think a couple links of Italian chicken sausage (cooked and crumbled) would really add a lot of deliciousness to the lasagnas. 

*Please note that I could not find Amore Herb Paste (and I looked all over Whole Foods for it)....so, I substituted 2 tsp dried basil and 2 tsp dried oregano in its place.

Here is the recipe verbatim from Vegetarian Times:

1 16oz pk frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained
1 15oz can water-packed artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
1 16oz container Ricotta
12 oz shredded mozzarella cheese, divided (3 cups)
1/2 cup Parmesan
1 large egg, lightly beaten
3 Tbs Amore Herb Paste, divided* <I used 2 tsp of dried basil and oregano, each>
1/4 cup red wine
1 25oz jar good marinara sauce
72 refrigerated or thawed frozen dumpling or wonton wrappers

1. Stir together spinach, artichoke hearts, Ricotta, 2 cups mozzarella, Parmesan, egg and 2 Tbl. herb paste <or 1 tsp dried basil and 1 tsp dried oregano> in a large bowl. Set aside.

2. Bring wine to a boil in small saucepan over medium-high heat. Boil until reduced by half. Stir in  remaining 1 Tbl herb paste <or remaining 1 tsp dried basil and 1 tsp dried oregano> then marinara sauce, and bring to just a simmer. Remove from heat.

3. Preheat oven to 375F, and coat two 12 cup muffin pans with cooking spray <I used olive oil and I coated the pans generously>. Press 1 wonton wrapper into bottom of each muffin cup. Spoon 2 Tbl cheese mixture into wonton wrapper. Top with 1 1/2 tsp sauce. Repeat layering wonton wrapper, cheese mixture, and sauce. Top with wonton wrapper, and crimp or turn down edges as you would a pie. Spread 1 Tbl sauce over top. Sprinkle lasagnas with remaining 1 cup mozzarella.

4. Bake 10 to 12 minutes, or until cheese on top is melted and bubbling. Cool 5 minutes before un-molding and serving.


Saturday, October 11, 2014

The Oh She Glows Classic Glo Bar


Okay, I know I have already told you I am obsessed with Angela Liddon's The Oh She Glows Cookbook- OBSESSED!!! I am working my way through her whole book.....every recipe is to die for (and even if you aren't vegan/vegetarian you will definitely agree).  The number one recipe I cannot get enough of is Angela's Classic Glo Bar - oh, have mercy these bars have become a staple in my busy life.  Oh, Classic Glo Bars, How Do I Love Thee? Let Me Count the Ways..... I always have all the ingredients on hand, they are no-bake and extremely quick to throw together, they satisfy my sweet tooth above and beyond, they are chock-full of healthy ingredients, and number one - they are DELICIOUS!!!!!!!! I have made them about four times in the last three weeks. Yum, yum, yum, heaven, heaven, heaven!! I had to share! Please try them for yourself and please buy this vegan-genius' cookbook- stat!!!

Here is her recipe verbatim from her book:

1½ cups gluten-free rolled oats
1¼ cups rice crisp cereal
¼ cup hemp seeds
¼ cup sunflower seeds
¼ cup unsweetened shredded coconut
2 Tbl sesame seeds
2 Tbl chia seeds
½ tsp ground cinnamon
¼ tsp fine-grain sea salt
½ cup plus 1 tbsp brown rice syrup
¼ cup roasted peanut butter or almond butter
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
¼ cup mini non-dairy chocolate chips (such as Enjoy Life brand) (optional)

Directions:
1. Line a 9-inch (2.5-L) square cake pan with two pieces of parchment paper (one going each way).
2. In a large bowl, combine the oats, rice crisp cereal, hemp seeds, sunflower seeds, coconut, sesame seeds, chia seeds, cinnamon, and salt and mix.
3. In a small saucepan, stir together the brown rice syrup and peanut butter until well combined. Cook over medium to heat until the mixture softens and bubbles slightly, then remove the pan from the heat and stir in the vanilla.
4. Pour the peanut butter mixture over the oat mixture, using a spatula to scrape every last bit out of the pan. Stir well with a large metal spoon until all of the oats and cereal are coated in the wet mixture. (The resulting mixture will be very thick and difficult to stir. If you get tired, just picture me making five hundred of these bars in a row, and you’ll feel better!) If using the chocolate chips, allow the mixture to cool slightly before folding in the chips. This will prevent them from melting.
5. Transfer the mixture to the prepared pan, spreading it out into an even layer. Lightly wet your hands and press down on the mixture to even it out. Use a pastry roller to compact the mixture firmly and evenly. This helps the bars hold together better. Press down on the edges with your fingers to even out.
6. Place the pan in the freezer, uncovered, and chill for 10 minutes, or until firm.
7. Lift the oat square out of the pan, using the parchment paper as handles, and place it on a cutting board. With a pizza roller (or a serrated knife), slice the square into 6 rows and then slice them in half to make 12 bars total.
8. Wrap the bars individually in plastic wrap or foil and store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Alternatively, you can store them in the freezer for up to 1 month.

Tip: To make the bars nut-free, substitute sunflower seed butter for the peanut butter. Look for lightly sweetened sunflower seed butter, such as by Sunbutter, because unsweetened sunflower seed butter can have a bitter aftertaste.

Monday, October 6, 2014

Vegetarian Moroccan Stew


My friend, Keli, shared this scrumptious recipe with me. She found it on Allrecipes.com.  I have to say the dried apricots are the sole ingredient that convinced me to try this.....I love a recipe with a unique addition. It added a hint of sweetness and another dimension of flavor. Even though this stew is vegetarian, I don't think even the most carnivorous man will miss the meat.  Tons of flavor, loads of spices, hearty & filling- this stew has it all! Oh, and did I mention that my entire home smelled incredible as this cooked? 'Nough said - make this this week!

Here is the recipe straight from allrecipes.com (Please note this recipe made a TON!!!! If you have a big family, perfect! If you are just cooking for two, you might want to half this) :

 








 
  <I used spinach>
 
 
  <I used fire roasted tomatoes>
 <I only used 2 medium>
 <I only used 1 medium>
  <I only used 2>
 
 <I chopped these super tiny>
 
 
 
Combine cinnamon, cumin, salt, ginger, cloves, nutmeg, turmeric, and curry powder in a large bowl. 

Melt butter in a large pot over medium heat. Cook the onion in the butter until soft and just beginning to brown, 5 to 10 minutes. Stir in kale and spice mixture; cook until kale begins to wilt and spices are fragrant, about 2 minutes. 

Pour the vegetable broth into the pot. Stir garbanzo beans, tomatoes, potatoes, sweet potatoes, carrots, lentils, apricots, and honey, into the broth; bring to boil, reduce heat to low, and simmer until vegetables and lentils are cooked and tender, about 30 minutes. Season stew with black pepper.