simple strawberry salad.
June 2, 2014 § 2 Comments
I love a colorful salad!
I snapped these photos the other day on a whim. I wasn’t planning to blog about this salad, but this has become a go-to meal as of late. Light, easy, satisfying, somewhat healthy. [As a rule, I only eat salads if they involve cheese. And bacon.]
So, I thought I’d share. The ingredients are all approximate; make it as large as you like. Feel free to leave out ingredients or swap in others. This is what I did to make one salad.
What you need:
- generous handful of fresh spinach
- generous handful of romaine lettuce
- tablespoon of goat cheese, crumbled
- 1-2 cups strawberries, stems removed, roughly chopped into small pieces
- 5-6 snap peas
- 1-2 teaspoons of chopped pecans
- 1 slice of bacon, chopped
- juice of half a lemon
- 1-2 teaspoons of olive oil
- salt and pepper
What to do:
Put the spinach and romaine in a large bowl, and toss to combine. Add the strawberries, snap peas, and goat cheese.
In a small bowl, whisk your lemon juice with the olive oil (using a fork) and season with salt and pepper. Pour dressing over salad. Top with chopped pecans and bacon.
Note: It doesn’t seem like a lot of dressing, but it goes far!
shaved asparagus pizza.
May 22, 2014 § 2 Comments
My new favorite.
To set the scene: It was a Sunday afternoon. Ty and I had spent several hours cleaning out closets and piling up clothes for Goodwill. Around 5:30, we realized we were starving.
I remembered that we had a pile of freshly picked asparagus on the counter–the perk of a long-ago-planted asparagus patch in our backyard.
20 minutes later, this pizza was in the oven.
15 minutes later, it was being devoured.
Just do it!
Shaved Asparagus Pizza
Recipe from Smitten Kitchen (with some adjustments)
What you need:
- one refrigerated thin pizza dough
- medium bunch of asparagus
- 1/4 cup grated or shaved Parmesan
- 2 cups low-fat mozzarella cheese, shredded
- roughly two tablespoons of olive oil
- dash of sea salt and black pepper
- 1 green onion, thinly sliced
- 1/2 lemon (optional)
- dash of red pepper flakes (optional)
- 2-3 minced garlic cloves (optional)
What to do:
Preheat your oven to 450 degrees.
Rinse and dry your asparagus. Holding the thick end of the asparagus, shave long, thin strips using a peeler. There is no perfect way to do this, and it doesn’t really matter if the sizes or thickness of your pieces are uneven.
Place the strips in a bowl and toss with the drizzle of olive oil and dash of sea salt and black pepper. I also added a sprinkling of red pepper flakes for a little kick.
Set aside the bowl momentarily. Time to stretch out and prepare your pizza dough.
I used dough from Trader Joe’s. When I prepare it, I stretch it out on a lightly floured cutting board. Then I transfer the dough to a cookie sheet that I have drizzled with olive oil.
Once the dough is ready, spread the Parmesan cheese evenly. Then, spread the Mozzarella cheese.
Layer your shaved asparagus on top. If you are choosing to add garlic (and why would you not!?!) now is the time to sprinkle on the minced garlic.
Quick close up!
Put the pizza in the oven and bake for 15 minutes at 450 degrees. As soon as you take it out of the oven, sprinkle on your sliced green onion. I squeezed the juice of half a lemon on top for added flavor.
Admire it for a second, then slice & eat!
We ate this so fast that I thought it was a dream. Luckily I have these photos.
CLOSE UP ACTION.
lemony veggie pasta.
May 12, 2014 § Leave a comment
I love pasta dishes like this one: a light sauce of lemon juice and prepared pesto, an easy way to get your dose of broccoli (and asparagus, my favorite!), and an excuse to sprinkle on crumbled feta cheese.
When I spotted this dish on Pinch of Yum, I knew I’d found a perfect “reset” dish for the week. I made this on a Sunday evening, and it gave me & Ty enough for four dinners. It reheats perfectly.
I’ve been in need of a reset, in a lot of ways. Sometimes stress and anxiety gets the better of me. I often find myself so consumed with worry – of the littlest things to the largest of things, for my family and others in my life who are hurting — that the days pass and I haven’t allowed myself to just breathe, relax, savor life in the moment. Worry is my enemy, my biggest struggle. Sometimes posting in this little blog seems silly. But the truth is, looking at recipes, making grocery lists, taking dozens of photos: That’s my therapy.
So let’s reset together. Happy May!
Lemony Veggie Pasta
Recipe from Lindsay at Pinch of Yum, which some adaptations
What you need:
- 1 box of your favorite penne pasta
- 1/4 cup pesto (homemade or store bought)
- 1 can, whole peeled tomatoes (like Contadina)
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 lemon, juiced
- 1/2 cup feta
- 1 bag of broccoli florets (or break down a large head of broccoli)
- 1 bunch asparagus, stems trimmed
What to do:
Cook your pasta in a large pot according to the directions. When the pasta has 2 minutes left to boil, add your broccoli and asparagus. After 2 minutes, drain the pasta, broccoli, and asparagus, and return to the pot. Keep the pot over medium high heat.
Add the can of tomatoes and the garlic. Saute for several minutes, then add the pesto. Stir well. Add the lemon juice, and toss. Top each serving with feta.
So quick and easy! So many servings! So good!
Extreme closeup action:
easy fajitas with grilled chicken, peppers, and onions.
April 21, 2014 § 3 Comments
So, to tell you the truth, I am exhausted. Ty & I have been house hunting for several months, and last week involved several nights spent with our realtor. It’s so much more of an emotional process than I had anticipated! Lots of excitement followed by let downs… But my fingers are crossed that something good is just around the corner!
In the meantime, I’m counting on simple recipes like this one to get me through some hectic weekdays. I’ve made double batches of these fajitas twice in the last two weeks to give us some great leftovers!
Easy Fajitas with Grilled Chicken, Peppers, and Onions
Recipe from Smitten Kitchen with minor changes
What you need:
- 1 and 1/2 pounds boneless chicken breasts
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- 1 and 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 and 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 minced garlic clove
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 6-8 flour or corn tortillas
- drizzle of olive oil
- 3-5 assorted bell peppers (2-3 large or 4-5 small) – can be red, green, yellow, or orange
- 1 large sweet onion
- shredded cheese and/or sour cream, for topping
What to do:
Start by preparing your chicken. I like to trim excess fat off of my chicken breasts before thinly slicing them in 1/2 inch strips. Put the strips into a plastic freezer bag. In a bowl, combine the lime juice, salt, oregano, cumin, minced garlic, cayenne pepper, and smoked paprika. Pour over the chicken strips. Seal bag tightly and place in fridge for at least 30 minutes. (This can also marinate overnight!)
Peel and slice your onion into very thin strips. Cut your bell peppers into thin strips, as well, removing seeds and stem. 
Heat a very large skillet over a high heat. (You want this pan HOT.)
Once skillet has heated, drizzle with olive oil to coat. Place your sliced bell peppers in one layer on the skillet. Allow them to cook for several minutes without touching them–resist the urge to flip them! Turn one over as a test to see if its begun to char. If so, flip. Sear the other side until brown. Then, add the onions. Also allow them to char and turn golden. Once the onions have softened, remove the entire onion and pepper mixture from the pan and set aside in a bowl. Add another drizzle of olive oil to the pan. Add the sliced chicken strips in a single layer. Cook for 4-5 minutes on one side, then flip. Cook for another 5 minutes on the other side. Chicken should be browning. Once chicken is cooked, add the onion and pepper mixture back into the skillet and toss well. When you are ready to serve, remove the skillet from heat.
I warmed my tortillas on a grill pan until they were slightly charred. Spoon a generous serving of the chicken fajita mixture onto each tortilla.
After snapping these photos, I topped my fajitas with shredded cheese and sour cream. (You could add other toppings, to your liking, like salsa, corn, black beans, cilantro, slaw, etc.)
Enjoy!
barley soup with turkey sausage, swiss chard, and shaved parmesan.
April 7, 2014 § Leave a comment
The calendar may say spring, but I’m not buying it. We haven’t quite let go of winter just yet. And for these lingering cold days when you’re in need of a hearty, warm lunch or dinner, may I suggest this barley soup? It is good and good for you, simple, and tasty.
Top it with some shredded or shaved cheese and serve with some crusty bread. Or just eat it like this. I don’t care. You will like it, I promise.
Barley Soup with Turkey Sausage, Swiss Chard, and Shaved Parmesan
Recipe from Climbing Grier Mountain (with adaptations)
What you need:
- 1 pound of turkey sausage
- 1 yellow onion, chopped
- 1 fennel bulb, chopped [remove leaves and stem]
- 2-3 carrots, chopped
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 and 1/2 cup barley [I used 1 package of Trader Joe’s 10 Minute Barley]
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 2 quarts chicken broth
- 4 generous cups of cleaned and chopped Swiss chard
- 1 15-ounce can garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained
- shaved Parmesan, for topping
What to do:
Finely chop your onion, fennel, and carrots. In a large Dutch oven, heat olive oil to medium high heat. Add the turkey sausage, and cook until browned. I let the sausage cook for about 10-12 minutes. Then, add the chopped veggies and saute until soft, 5-6 minutes. Add the barley and red pepper flakes. Cook for about 5 minutes, then add the broth. Bring the pot to a boil, then turn to low heat and let the soup simmer for 35 minutes. Add the chopped chard and rinsed & drained garbanzo beans, and cook for an additional 15 minutes. Remove soup from heat. Serve with a spoonful of shaved Parmesan cheese.
Note: This was my first recipe with fennel. It’s been described as having a licorice taste, but I found it to be lightly minty. Once it was chopped, sauteed, and mixed into the soup, I couldn’t even distinguish it. But it’s apparently packed with nutrients: fiber, Vitamin C, antioxidants. Still, if you are leery, or can’t find fennel in your grocery store, just use add more carrots or a finely chopped stalk of celery. Whatever floats your boat will work well in this soup.
ZOOMED IN GOODNESS.
One last picture because I am new-camera-happy.
sloppy joes with bacon and simple slaw.
April 2, 2014 § Leave a comment
I got a new camera, finally–my first since 2008! A Canon EOS Rebel 3Ti! In full disclosure, I haven’t the slightest idea how to use it. I am just beginning to read the manual and surf through the dozens of buttons and shooting options. But I managed to attach the lens and take some photos using the automatic setting.
To celebrate this I made some pretty epic sloppy joe sandwiches.
I should probably mention that prior to making these sandwiches, I refused to eat sloppy joes. I used to think of it as a mysterious beef mixture, and I just didn’t want any part of it. That might be because I hadn’t made it myself–I didn’t see how the beef was seasoned and browned; how the sweet and tangy sauce was whisked and boiled. And, I didn’t realize the potential of using a lightly toasted pretzel bun and some bacon hot off the griddle. Oh.my.goodness.
Then I decided it needed just a little something more. So I made a super quick slaw and added a scoop on top.
Um, YES.
My personal advice: Don’t be scared of the Sloppy Joe.
Sloppy Joe’s with Bacon and Simple Slaw
Adapted from Simply Scratch [I followed her family recipe for the sloppy joe meat, but made some substitutions based on what I had in my pantry! In parens, I noted if I used something different.]
What you need:
- 1 tablespoon bacon fat or olive oil
- 1 yellow or red onion, diced
- 1 and 1/2 pounds ground beef, thawed/uncooked
- 1 and 1/2 cups, ketchup
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/2 tablespoon white vinegar (or white balsamic vinegar)
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 3/4 tablespoon yellow mustard (or honey mustard)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- dash of black pepper
- dash of paprika
- 4 large hamburger buns or rolls (used pretzel rolls from Trader Joe’s)
- 6 slices of bacon
- 3-4 cups prepared cabbage coleslaw mix
- 2 green onions, sliced
- 1-2 tablespoons low-fat mayonnaise (could also use ranch dressing)
What to do:
Begin by heating a skillet over medium heat. Cook your bacon until crisp, then drain on paper towels. Set aside. Reserve one tablespoon of the liquid from the skillet.
Heat a nonstick Dutch oven or stockpot over medium heat. Add the reserved tablespoon of bacon fat (if you don’t want to use the fat, you can use one tablespoon of olive oil. but trust me that the bacon fat adds amazing flavor!)
Add your chopped onion to the pot and cook until golden, about 5-8 minutes. Then, add the ground beef. Allow the beef to cook until it begins to brown. I let my beef cook for about 15 minutes, stirring often and breaking up the meat with a wooden spoon.
While the beef is cooking, you can make your Sloppy Joe sauce. In a small bowl, add your ketchup, water, vinegar, sugar, mustard, salt, pepper, and paprika. Mix well. Set aside.
Also prepare your simple slaw: Mix the prepared slaw with your chopped green onions and a tablespoon of mayonnaise. Less is more–you can always add more mayo if you need it. Set aside.
Turn your attention back to the beef! Once the beef is fully cooked, remove it from the pot using a slotted spoon. I transferred the beef/onion mixture to a large bowl, allowing the grease to drain. Once all meat has been removed, drain the grease and discard.
Return the meat to the pot. Pour in the sauce. Stir well to combine. Allow the beef and sauce to come to a boil, then turn the heat to low and simmer for 20 minutes. After the beef has simmered, let it cool slightly before preparing your sandwiches.
Slice your rolls in half and warm on a grill pan for 2-3 minutes. Top rolls with a heaping serving of Sloppy Joe mixture, a piece or two of bacon, and spoonful of slaw.
CHOW DOWN.
An added bonus for you–the first official food photo taken with my new camera.
I call this Ty meets Sloppy Joe.
Note: This recipe could make 6 reasonably portioned sandwiches. But with this guy around, I got about 3 massive sandwiches from one recipe.
mediterranean turkey wraps.
March 23, 2014 § 2 Comments
The best way to get through a mundane 8-5 work day? An exciting lunch.
exciting for me = colorful, flavorful, healthy, filling.
I was in a real lunchtime rut until a search turned up this recipe from Iowa Girl Eats for quick Greek-inspired turkey lunch wraps. I made them last week and ate one every day. They were so delicious that I made them again for this week! I’m sure I will wear them out soon, but for now, I’m enjoying them. You can totally customize these to your liking–below is what I used!
Mediterranean Turkey Wraps
Idea and Recipe adapted from Iowa Girl Eats
What you need:
- 5-6 tortillas (I use Giant Eagle brand Tomato Basil and love them!)
- hummus (I used La Sabra’s Roasted Garlic–could also use an olive, sun-dried tomato, or plain flavor)
- 3/4 cup feta cheese, crumbled
- 2 tomatoes, sliced thin, seeds removed
- 1/4 red onion, sliced thin
- 1 cup fresh spinach
- 1 small jar of marinated artichoke hearts (I used DeLallo)
- 1/2 cup seedless kalamata olives, chopped
- 3/4 pound deli turkey (I used Dietz & Watson low-sodium turkey breast, shaved)
Note: The tortillas I bought came in a pack of 6, so I made 6 wraps. You can make more or less depending on how full you want yours to be!
What to do:
Prep your ingredients first. Slice your tomatoes as thinly as you can, and push out the seeds and goop. (You don’t want your sandwiches to get soggy in the fridge from the tomato juices.) Also slice your red onions. Chop your kalamata olives. I drained my artichoke hearts and lightly patted them with a paper towel, to absorb some of the moisture. Then, I chopped them up, too.
Now, to prepare each wrap:
Set out one tortilla on a cutting board or other surface. Spread one tablespoon of hummus over the entire tortilla. Layer on 3-4 slices of turkey. Top with several slices of tomato and red onion, a handful of chopped kalamata olives and artichoke hearts, several spinach leaves, and a sprinkling of feta cheese.
Roll the wrap as tightly as you can, and slice in half.
I wrapped my wraps (ha!) in wax paper, then put in individual baggies. I make a little lunch “station” in my fridge with my wraps and grapes ready to go and easy to pack in the morning. I feel like I am winning at lunch right now. It’s nice.
smoky chicken chili.
March 11, 2014 § Leave a comment
I thought maybe I’d waited too long to share this recipe. I thought, yesterday, Spring is here. No one wants any more cold weather comfort food. But then, I saw the forecast for Wednesday. Five to eight inches of snow. And I may have cried. But then I thought…
CHILI TIME!
I know I shared a recipe for a white bean chicken chili last month. (It’s excellent.) This recipe for smoky chicken chili has a completely different flavor profile. It has a deep, smoky, lingering spiciness, the result of slow cooking the onions and allowing the chicken to absorb the spices. It takes just a little extra time, but it’s definitely worth it. Also, if you don’t have smoked paprika, I highly suggest you get some to use for this recipe. (I know they sell it at Trader Joe’s!) It really makes the difference, and I don’t believe that regular paprika will have the same effect.
Smoky Chicken Chili
Recipe from How Sweet Eats, on the Tasty Kitchen blog
What you need:
- 4 slices of bacon, chopped
- 1 large yellow onion, diced
- 3 cloves of garlic, chopped
- 1 rotisserie chicken, shredded
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 6 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 28-ounce can roasted diced tomatoes
- 4 14.5-ounce cans white beans (use cannellini or Great Northern or both)
- 2 4-ounce cans of diced green chilis
- 1 cup low-fat mozzarella cheese (for topping)
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro (for topping)
What to do:
In a large stockpot, cook the chopped bacon for 3 minutes. Add the chopped onion and garlic to the bacon and continue to cook, stirring frequently, for 30 minutes. The onions should begin to caramelize and brown.
Now, add the shredded chicken, smoky paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper to the pot. Cook for 10 minutes, stirring and pressing the spices into the chicken with a wooden spoon. This helps to infuse the chicken with flavor.
Finally, stir in the chicken broth, diced tomatoes, beans, and green chilis. Allow the chili to come to a slow, rolling boil. Simmer for 20 minutes or so, until the liquid reduces.
Top bowls with some shredded mozzarella and fresh cilantro, if you like. I liked this chili just as well without any extra toppings. Enjoy!
I hope this makes you feel better about this never-ending winter. It makes me feel better.
simple grilled fish tacos.
March 5, 2014 § 2 Comments
I’m not sure if many people crave fish tacos in the winter, but I did. Granted, I have only had fish tacos once, and the fish was lightly battered and fried (let’s be real: that’s my preferred fish preparation). I was mostly craving something light and flavorful. I also wanted to experiment for the first time with tilapia, a mild white fish.
I did a lot of research (on Pinterest) and put together this quick grilled fish taco recipe. I think this is a great option for nights when you don’t have much time to cook, but want something delicious and healthy. The sauce is key!
Simple Grilled Fish Tacos
What you need:
For the sauce:
- 1/2 cup low-fat sour cream
- 1/2 cup reduced fat mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon dill
- 1/2 teaspoon oregano
- 1 teaspoon adobo sauce (optional)
For the fish:
- 1.25 pounds tilapia filets
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
For serving:
- 6 flour tortillas
- 1 cup shredded cabbage
- 2 green onions, thinly sliced
What to do:
In a small bowl, mix the olive oil, minced garlic, garlic powder, cumin, oregano, paprika, and cayenne pepper. Put the tilapia filets in a dish or bowl and season both sides with black pepper and salt, then pour the marinade over the fish. Let the fish marinate for at least 15 minutes in the fridge.
Meanwhile, prepare your sauce. In a small bowl, mix the sour cream, mayonnaise, lime juice, cumin, dill, and oregano. If you want an extra kick of spice, add one teaspoon of adobo sauce (taken from a can or jar of adobo peppers).
After the fish has marinated, heat a grill pan over high heat. Grill the tilapia for 2-3 minutes, then flip, and continue to cook for 2-3 minutes.
Tilapia cooks very quickly. I broke the fish apart with a spatula to ensure it cooked through.
Once the fish is cooked, you just need to assemble your tacos! Warm the tortillas in a skillet until they begin to brown. Top with a scoop of the sauce, then fish, then green onions and cabbage.
This recipe produces 6 tacos: enough for 2 hungry people!
Stay tuned for future fish taco experimentation: perhaps battered cod!
golden mashed potato bake.
February 28, 2014 § 1 Comment
I’m rather unapologetic when it comes to my love of french fried onions. These unassuming little crispy bits are so super satisfying. I have been known to accidentally, ahem, scoop them off the top of casseroles, leaving other servings sadly onion free. Oops! My bad!
That, ladies and gentlemen, is the joy of cooking for yourself. You can scoop up ALL the french fried onions from this potato bake! Muahahaha.
Anyways. They aren’t the only reason I made this dish. But they played a major role.
This is a classic, feel good, warm and fuzzy recipe from Taste of Home. Kudos to my Mom for finding it, and making it for me the first time.
I love the combination of Russet and sweet potatoes.
Golden Mashed Potato Bake
Recipe from Taste of Home
- 4 medium Russet potatoes, peeled and cubed
- 4 medium sweet potatoes (not yams), peeled and cubed
- 1 8-oz package of reduced fat cream cheese, cubed
- 2 eggs
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons dried parsley flakes (or 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley)
- 2 tablespoons minced chives
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 1 2.8-oz can french fried onions
What to do:
Peel and cube your potatoes.
Place them in a very large stockpot and add enough water to cover. Bring the potatoes to a boil. Reduce heat, then cover and simmer for 20 minutes. Test potatoes with a fork to see if they are tender. Drain.
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
In a large bowl or in the stockpot, blend the cubed cream cheese into the potatoes until smooth. Then beat in the eggs, flour, parsley, chives, salt and pepper. I used a potato masher and easily mixed everything by hand.
Transfer the potatoes to a nonstick or greased 3-qt baking dish. Bake uncovered for 45 minutes.
Carefully remove the dish from the oven and sprinkle the potatoes with the French fried onions. Bake for 5-10 more minutes, until top begins to brown.
Note: This makes 8-10 generous servings. My mom also noted that this recipe freezes well – just leave out the French fried onions until you are ready to reheat and serve.
P.S. When in doubt, just add more french fried onions.
The Cheesy Kitchen 