Farro Risotto with Artichokes

Stumbling upon this recipe was a result of me getting stuck making the same few things with farro and wanting to try something new. So I just started googling farro and a combination of the herbs that were thriving in my garden. I stumbled upon several "farrotto" recipes. I based this idea on this recipe from Eating Well, and combined several other concepts, using what I had on hand as well. 

Farro Risotto with Artichokes

• 2 cups farro, rinsed 
• About 2 cups water
• 5 leaves of fresh sage
• 3 sprigs fresh rosemary
• 3 sprigs fresh thyme
• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 small onion,  finely chopped 
• 4 cloves finely chopped garlic
• 1 pint of cherry tomatoes halved
• 10-12 ounces frozen artichoke hearts, thawed and coarsely chopped
• ¼ cup torn fresh basil leaves, plus more to top bowls with
• ½ teaspoon coarse salt
• Freshly ground pepper, to taste
• 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper
• 2 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth
• ½ cup grated Pecorino Romano cheese
• 1 teaspoon freshly grated lemon zest, juice of 1 lemon

1. Place farro in a big pot and cover with about 2 inches of water. Add sage. thyme, and rosemary. 
2. Bring to a boil; reduce the heat and simmer, uncovered, until the farro is tender but still firm to the bite, 20 minutes. Remove the herbs and drain.
3. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and cook, stirring, until soft and beginning to brown, 3 to 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Stir in the farro, tomatoes, artichokes, basil, salt, pepper and crushed red pepper.
4. Add ½ cup broth bring to a boil over medium heat and cook, stirring, until most of the broth is absorbed. Repeat with the remaining broth adding it in ½-cup increments and stirring until it's absorbed, until the farro is creamy but still has a bit of bite, about 10 minutes total. 
5. Stir in ¼ cup cheese and lemon zest, and lemon juice.
6.  Serve sprinkled  ¼ cup cheese on top, and some chopped fresh basil

Asparagus Power Salad with Ginger Dressing

The idea for this salad actually started from a NY Times recipe that involved chicken. I loved the concept of Asparagus with Asian flavors, and took it from there - making it a Vegetarian hearty main dish.  I kept the dressing idea, and asparagus and added a ton of veggies and some spins here and there. BUT if you love the meats, throw in some rotisserie chicken and enjoy. This makes 4 salads. 

Asparagus Power Salad

• 2 cups of cooked Edamame
• 1 cup Shredded carrots
• 2 cups Napa cabbage finely chopped or shredded
•  2 cups shredded Red cabbage
• 2 cups baby Kale thinly sliced
• 1/4 cup of  roasted unsalted peanuts chopped
• 1/4 cup of Cilantro chopped
• 1 pound asparagus
• Salt and pepper
• 1/4 cup of thinly sliced basil leaves
• 1/4 cup thinly sliced mint leaves
• 1 Serrano pepper, thinly sliced
• 1 tablepsoon sugar
• 1 /4 cup of white wine vinegar

Dressing

• 1 large shallot
• 3 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
• 1 tablespoon dark brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• Salt to taste
• Generous pinch of cayenne
• 1 tablespoon grated ginger
• 2 garlic cloves
• 2 teaspoons sesame oil
• 1 tablespoon olive oil.

1. Bring a large saucepan of salted water to a boil. Snap off the tough end of each asparagus spear, then cut each spear into 2-inch lengths. Cut thicker pieces in half lengthwise as necessary so all cut pieces are approximately the same size. Place asparagus pieces into boiling water and cook for 1 minute. Drain and cool under running water. Blot dry.
2. While that cooks - quick pickle the Serrano. There are a million ways to do this. But simply put it in a small pan sprinkle on the sugar, cover with vinegar and add a pinch of salt. Bring to a boil. Then remove from heat and let sit. You can store the ones you don't use in the fridge for a couple weeks. 
3. To make vinaigrette, combine all ingredients in a blender until smooth. 
4. To make salad base, combine the cabbage, kale, and herbs and toss together. 
5. For 4 salad bowls: Layer mixed greens/cabbage, asparagus, carrots. edamame, nuts, then top with dressing and Serrano.

**Makes 4 servings

Greek Spaghetti Squash (with a microwave trick)

Up until this recipe I have avoided spaghetti squash for a couple of reasons. It takes a long time to bake, and some I have had in the past was quite tasteless. But I was getting on a kick of making nothing but salads and grain bowls so I wanted to try something new. This recipe from Cooking Light kept popping up on Pinterest and Facebook so I decided to give it a whirl with a few twists to make it easier. I found in a separate article ways to microwave spaghetti squash and after a few tries, found a good way to do it, and loved it. And now I am trying even more new ways to work with Spaghetti squash now that I know I can make it in the microwave! 

Microwave Greek Spaghetti Squash 

•  2 medium-ish spaghetti squash
• 1/4 cup of water
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/2 of a red onion, thinly sliced 
• 4 cups baby spinach
• 15 oz can of chickpeas, drained and rinsed
• 4 cloves garlic minced
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme
• 1 tablespoon minced fresh rosemary
• 1 pint of cherry tomatoes, halved
• salt and pepper
• 1/4 cup of feta, crumbled
• 1/4 teaspoon of red pepper flakes

1. Half the spaghetti squash length wise. You'll need a good sharp knife to cut this. Cut off the top and bottom to stabilize. If you don't have a good one, using the knife to poke little slits along where you want to cut it and microwave whole for one minute. It'll make it easier to cut. Scoop out seeds in the middle. 
2. The best microwave method I have found: place two halves of squash cut side down in a microwaveable flat casserole dish. Fill with about 1/4 cup of water. Microwave about 12 minutes. Test with a fork to see if it pulls away into strings easily. If not give it another 2 minutes and try again. 
3. You have to do this twice to cook enough spaghetti squash unless you have a huge microwave and big microwave dish! 
4. When cooked let cool, and then use a fork to scrape out the spaghetti like strands.
5. While the squash is cooking heat oil in a large skillet to medium-high. 
6. Add onion and garlic and sauté 4 minutes until soft.  
7. Add chickpeas, thyme, rosemary and tomatoes; cook 1 minute.
8.  Add spaghetti squash, and salt and pepper. Toss, not stir, gently to combine. If you like a little kick I also will sprinkle in a few red pepper flakes here. 
9. Toss in the spinach at the last minute to warm but not wilt!. 
10. Serve in 4 bowls with feta on top!

**Makes 4 Servings

Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad

This is a combination of two concepts you have seen before on here. My favorite Caesar salad dressing, and grilling romaine on salads. It's a hearty and healthy salad. Because I use chicken thighs, they cook up quick on the grill so it's a super fast weeknight meal too. 

• 1 package boneless skinless chicken thighs (about a pound) Trim them of fat
• 1 tablespoon Oregano 
• 1/2 teaspoon Salt
• 1/2 teaspoon Pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon Lemon pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon granulated garlic
• olive oil spray (like Pam)
• 4 heads romaine hearts
• 1/2 cup shaved parm
• 1 red onion sliced (big enough to grill but not too big, about 3/4 of an inch slices)
• 3 tablespoons lemon juice
• 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
• 2 1/2 teaspoons anchovy paste
• 4 garlic cloves
• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 3 tablespoons grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese

1. Create dressing by combing in a blender or food processor: lemon juice, dijon, anchovy paste, garlic, olive oil, salt and pepper. 
2. Combine seasonings for chicken in a small bowl: oregano, salt, pepper, lemon pepper, and granulated garlic. 
3. Sprinkle each side of the chicken thighs with seasoning blend.
4. Cut each romaine heart in half and spray both sides with olive oil spray. 
5. Heat grill to medium high. Put chicken and onion slices on the grill. Turning each a few times. Chicken should be done in about 6 minutes each side. You want the onions to have a slight char to them.
6. After you remove chicken from grill, throw the romaine on the grill. Grill for 1-2 minutes each side until it starts to char. 
7. Cut the chicken into thin slices. 
8. When you pull the romaine off the grill, place it on the plate. Sprinkle with grated parmesan. 
9. Divide chicken and onion slices among the four salads.
10. Top each with shaved parmesan and dressing. 

Lunch Shortcut: Mediterranean Spinach Quinoa Salad

I am all about easy healthy lunches. I have never been very good at meal prepping, so this is something easy I can throw together before work in mornings and it tastes so good. I change up what I throw on top based on what we have around but this is the basic version. You can throw beats and peppers and other Mediterranean flavors in too! The key is a green layer, a grain layer, some beans and lots of yummy veggies. Let's eat.

Mediterranean Spinach Quinoa Salad

• 6 cups baby spinach
• 1 bag of frozen quinoa or grain mixture that steams in the bag (I love Simple Truth White Quinoa and Barley mix)
• 1 cup chickpeas
• 4 Radishes, cut into thin strips
• 1 cup (from can) artichoke quarters (then give them a rough chop)
• 10 grape tomatoes, halved
• 1/2 cup diced cucumber
• 1/2 cup feta
• the juice from one fresh lemon
• a few banana pepper slices (from jar)
• 2 teaspoons dijon mustard
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• salt and pepper

1. Divide the spinach into two bowls that have covers if you are taking for lunch on the go. 
2. Top each bowl with half of the following: quinoa, chickpeas, radishes, artichokes, tomatoes, cucumber, feta and banana peppers. 
3. To create dressing, combine lemon juice, dijon, olive oil, vinegar and salt and pepper. Then divide that into two containers that seal well, so you can keep salad and dressing separate until you eat. 
4. Toss the dressing into the salad just before serving. 

 

ONE PAN: Roasted Salmon and Brussels Sprouts

It doesn't get much easier than roasting your entire meal in one big roasting pan. This meal is simple, delicious and hearty. I stumbled upon the concept on  Eating Well and took it from there. It feels indulgent because the flavors are rich but it's super healthy and good for you. If you aren't a Brussels Sprouts fan, first of all, TRY THIS, but if you still aren't convinced, it would work well with several different vegetables roasting under the salmon. I'd try cauliflower if I didn't love Brussels so much.

Roasted Salmon and Brussels Sprouts

• 14 large cloves garlic
• 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 3 tablespoons finely chopped fresh oregano
• 1 teaspoon salt, divided
• 1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper, divided
• 1/2 teaspoon lemon pepper seasoning
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 6 cups Brussels sprouts, trimmed and sliced into thirds
• ¾ cup dry white wine 
• 2 pounds wild-caught salmon fillets, skinned, cut into 4 portions
• 2 lemons cut into wedges

1. Preheat oven to 450. 
2. Mince 4 garlic cloves and combine in a small bowl with oil, 1 tablespoon oregano, ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper, lemon pepper and lemon juice. 
3. Halve the remaining garlic and toss with Brussels sprouts and 3 tablespoons of the oil mixture in a large roasting pan. Roast, stirring once, for 15 minutes.
4. Add wine to the remaining oil mixture. 
5. Remove the pan from oven, stir the brussels. Then place salmon on top. Drizzle with the wine mixture. Sprinkle with the remaining 1 tablespoon oregano and ½ teaspoon each salt and pepper. Bake until the salmon is just cooked through, 5 to 10 minutes more. 
6. Squeeze one lemon wedge over the whole pan.
7. Serve with lemon slices. 

Cuban Cauliflower Rice Bowl

 Have you noticed I am really into "bowls." I love the concept of throwing a bunch of healthy stuff together. I also am apparently obsessed with Cauliflower. Which I didn't even notice until I started blogging these recipes and realizing how many involved Cauliflower. Well, it's delicious and I don't care. The inspiration for this one comes from this Eating Well recipe. I just kicked up the spices a bit.  I love that my Kroger lately has had a lot of presliced and prechopped veggies. It made this recipe so easy, bagged cauliflower rice, and presliced Sweet Potatoes and this meal was done so quickly! 

Cuban Cauliflower Rice Bowl

• 1 package of sliced sweet potatoes, or a medium sweet potato, peeled and sliced ¼ inch thick
• 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil plus 1 tablespoon
• 2 pinches salt plus ½ teaspoon, divided
• 1 teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper, divided
• ¼ cup orange juice
• the juice of two fresh limes
• ½ cup chopped fresh cilantro, divided
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• ½ teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• ½ teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 bag cauliflower rice
• 1 15 ounce can black beans, rinsed
• 1  avocado, diced
• ½ cup fresh salsa or pico

1. Preheat oven to 400°
2. Toss sweet potato in a medium bowl with 2 teaspoons oil, some salt and pepper,  chili powder and cayenne. Put in a single layer on a  baking sheet covered in foil. Roast until tender- about 10 minutes. 
3. To create a dressing, combine orange juice, lime juice, ¼ cup cilantro, 2 minced garlic cloves, cumin, oregano and a pinch of salt in a bowl. 
4. Heat the remaining tablespoon of oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the remaining 2 garlic cloves and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the cauliflower rice, a little salt and pepper.
5. Cook, stirring, until softened, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in the remaining ¼ cup cilantro.
6. To serve, divide the cauliflower among 4 bowls. Layer bowls with sweet potato, black beans, avocado and salsa. Drizzle each portion with the dressing.

All the Veggies and Chickpea Pasta

This is what you do when it's rounding out farmer's market season, and you have run out of ideas for "new" healthy things to do with zucchini and squash. You throw it all into a pasta. And in this case, you use a chickpea pasta because it's delicious, and filling and wonderful. This was our first time using a pasta that wasn't regular or whole wheat. I was shocked at how good it was, and how much less "pasta" I used because it filled me up more. We used the Banza Chickpea Penne, which is lower in carbs and higher in protein than regular pasta.

All the Veggies and Chickpea Pasta

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 head broccoli cut into small florets
• 1/2 yellow onion diced
• 4 garlic cloves minced
• 1-2 zucchini (depending on the size) cut into bite sized pieces 
• 1 squash cut into bite sized pieces 
• 1 large tomato diced
• 1/2 cup of snap peas, sliced on the diagonal into 1/2 inch pieces 
• 1/4 cup basil leaves cut into thin strips 
• 1 8 oz package chickpea penne (I use Banza)
• 2 oz fresh mozarella torn into pieces
• salt and pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon lemon pepper

1. Cook Chickpea pasta according to box. DO NOT OVERCOOK. And save about 1/4 cup of cooking water. 
2. In a large skillet (I mean a big one, you will eventually add the pasta in here too), heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onion and garlic and cook until onion is translucent.
3. Add broccoli and squash to the skillet. Season with salt and pepper and lemon pepper. Cook until it's tender but still has bite to it, stirring occasionally. 
4. Add in diced tomatoes and cook until heated through. Add in saved pasta water. Add in snap peas.
5. Toss in the pasta and stir to coat and combine well. 
6. Top each of four servings with mozzarella and fresh basil. 

 

Curried Eggplant and Mango Salad

Sometimes I think Eating Well can read my mind. Eggplant is plentiful at our farmer's market right now, and when searching for new ideas to use it this just happened to be a feature on Eating Well's facebook page. The flavors in this are fantastic and it's hearty and delicious and you don't miss the meat. You really want to lentils to be crunchy so I used canned. I can never seem to cook lentils from scratch to the right consistency.

Curried Eggplant and Mango Salad

• 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
• 3 teaspoons chili powder, divided
• 3 teaspoons curry powder, divided
• 2 medium eggplants trimmed and cut into 1-inch cubes
• ⅓ cup lime juice
• ¼ cup fresh prepared salsa like a pico (the kind you buy in the refrigerated section) 
• 2 tablespoons honey
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon freshly ground pepper
• 1 15-ounce can lentils, rinsed
• 2 bunches scallions, coarsely chopped 
• 4 cups torn romaine lettuce
• 2 large ripe mangoes, peeled and diced 
• 2 tablespoons coarsely chopped roasted peanuts 
• 2 tablespoons coarsely chopped cashews
• ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro

1. Preheat oven to 500°F.
2. Combine 1 tablespoon oil with 2 teaspoons each chili powder and curry powder and a sprinkle of salt in a large bowl. Add eggplant and toss well. Spread the eggplant on a large, rimmed baking sheet. Roast, stirring once halfway through, until tender, about 15 minutes.
3. Thoroughly combine the remaining tablespoon oil, remaining teaspoon each chili powder and curry powder, ⅓ cup lime juice, salsa, honey, salt and pepper in a large bowl. Add the roasted eggplant, lentils and scallions; toss to combine. 
4. Serve the eggplant  on a bed of romaine. Top with mango, nuts, cilantro. 

Grilled Cauliflower Steak with Chimmichuri

If you think this is one of those new health trends that's only for super healthy people, you are wrong. It's good. No it isn't steak. But it's good. and in this case the perfect use of my leftover chimichurri sauce, find that recipe here, and use it for everything (Including this Steak Salad). This makes a really good meaty main dish. You could probably sear the cauliflower steaks in a ban if you don't want to fire up the grill. Below this makes 2 servings depending on how big the cauliflower is. 

Grilled Cauliflower Steak with Chimmichuri

• 1 large head cauliflower 
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• salt and pepper to season

Chimichurri Sauce 

• 1 cup water
• 1 tablespoon coarse salt
• 1 head garlic, cloves peeled, and minced very fine
• 1 bunch flat-leaf parsley leaves only (my grocery store has been out of flat-leaf before and I used regular and it was just as good, just make sure you don't get much stem in there)
• 1 cup fresh oregano leaves
• 2 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes
• 1/4 cup of red wine vinegar
• 1/2 cup of Olive Oil

1. Cut 2-4 slices from center of cauliflower - about an inch to an inch and half thick. You can save the other ends of the cauliflower. 
2. Brush with olive oil each side of cauliflower steaks. Season with salt and pepper.
3. You can either bake or grill at this point. To grill - heat grill to medium high, and throw on there. Grill for about 10 minutes a side, until the cauliflower is charred and tender. 
4. To bake - start on the stove.  In a large oven-safe skillet, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil on medium-high. Add cauliflower steaks and cook for 3 minutes on each side. Carefully turn slices over. Place skillet in the oven and roast for 10-15 minutes or until stem is tender.
5. To make Chimichurri sauce:
1. Make a salmuera by bringing the water to a boil, then stirring in the salt until dissolved. Remove from heat and let cool.
2. Mince your parsley leaves, and oregano leaves and combine them with the garlic and red pepper flakes in a bowl.
3. Whisk in the vinegar, then the oil. Then whisk in your salt water salmuera. Stir it up real good and put in a jar or container with a tight lid.
6. Use about 2 tablespoons of sauce on each cauliflower steak and serve. 

*Makes 2 servings

*2 on Bryce's dish scale! 

Kale and Roasted Veggie Salad with Carrot Top Pesto Dressing

I am not a potatoes in my salad kind of girl. But I do love using what's fresh at the farmer's market. So when this Kale Salad recipe popped up in my Pinterest feed using all the ingredients that we just got in our Farmer's market basket - I thought i would give her a whirl. OMG it was surprisingly delicious. I altered a little per usual and based on what looked good at the market.  I have since made several other variations too. This is a great base for a salad idea. And do not skip the carrot top pesto - It gives it a fresh taste that you can't get from a regular pesto. 

Kale and Roasted Veggie Salad with Carrot Top Pesto Dressing

• One bunch Dino Kale -  Sliced Thin
• 4 tablespoons raw Sunflower Seeds
• 1 Avocado thinly sliced
• 1 Lb baby red potatoes or fingerling potatoes cut into THIN rounds (the thin makes them roast up nice and crispy)
• 3-4 Large Carrots cut into rounds (use a fancy variety if you can find them)
• 1 15 oz Can Chickpeas drained and rinsed
• 1 tablespoon Olive Oil
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1/2 tablespoon dried parsley
• 1/2 tablespoon dried basil
• 1 teaspoon granulated Garlic 
• 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves

Pesto:

• Tops of 1 Bunch Carrots
• 1/4 Cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 1/4 Tsp Salt
• 1/4 Tsp Pepper
• 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest 
• Juice from 1 Lemon

1. Preheat oven to 425. 
2. In a big bowl toss the cut carrots and potatoes with chickpeas, olive oil, salt pepper parsley basil, granulated garlic and thyme. (save this bowl) 
3. Spread out evenly on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake until they are brown and crispy. About 40 minutes.
4. Make the pesto by combining the ingredients in a food processor until smooth. You may have to add a little more lemon juice based on how many good carrot tops you have. 
5. In the same bowl you tossed the veggies in, toss in the thinly sliced kale. Use about half the pesto and toss the kale with it. 
6. Serve the salad by topping kale with roasted veggies, avocado, sunflower seeds and a little more pesto on top of all that. 

Spring Vegetable Bowl

This is adapted from an idea I saw in a Cooking Light magazine, and based on what was in season at my farmer's market this spring. Basically, grab some fresh veggies from the market, cook some farro, and top with fresh goat cheese. And it's springtime in a bowl.

Spring Vegetable Bowl

• 3 cups Arugula
• 3 beets, peeled and thinly sliced
• 1 1/2 cups small cauliflower florets
• 1 cup snap peas or snow peas thinly sliced on the bias
• 3 carrots, cut in half length wise, then thinly sliced AND SAVE THE CARROT TOPS 
• 3 stalks celery thinly sliced on the bias
• 1/4 cup sherry vinegar (divided)
• 1 tablespoon olive oil, plus one teaspoon 
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 2 oz goat cheese crumbled 
• 1 and half cups Farro

1. Cook Farro by combining 1 and half cups with three cups water and bringing to a boil then simmering for about 20 minutes. You may have to drain it, it doesn't absorb all the water. 
2. After cooking the Farro  toss it with 2 tablespoon sherry vinegar and one teaspoon olive oil, plus a little salt and pepper while it's still hot. 
3. While the farro is cooking heat the tablespoon of oil in a skillet. 
4. Toss in your cauliflower, carrots, celery and beets. Season with salt and pepper. 
5. Saute for about 10 minutes until veggies are warm but still crisp. Deglaze pan with the rest of the sherry vinegar and stir for about 3 minutes. 
6. To build a bowl, put arugula down in a bowl, then top with grains, some veggie mixture, a sprinkle of goat cheese and then top with the sliced snow peas and minced carrot tops. 

Shrimp Piccata over Zoodles

This is so easy, light and flavorful. I love piccata sauces because they combine my favorite tangy flavors like lemons and capers. But they aren't always healthy so I loved finding a way to healthy it up. The key in any zucchini noodle dish is not to skip the part where you try and get the liquid out of the zoodles, otherwise it gets soggy. I've seen several recipes for this online and combined quite a few, but H/T to Eating Well for always giving me the best jumping off point. 

Shrimp Piccata over Zoodles 

• 6 medium zucchini
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 5 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 pound raw shrimp peeled and deveined
• 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• ⅓ cup white wine
• 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
• ¼ cup lemon juice
• zest of one lemon
• 3 tablespoons capers, rinsed
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
• 1/4 cup shaved Parmesan 

1. Use a spiralizer to turn your zucchini into zoodles, I use the thickest setting. Don't pulverize the middle with the seeds, toss it when you get to those parts. THIS IS IMPORTANT: Place the zucchini "noodles" in a colander and toss with salt. Let drain for 15 to 30 minutes, then gently squeeze to remove any excess water.
2. In a large skillet, heat butter and 1 tablespoon oil over medium-high heat. Add garlic and cook, stirring, for 30 seconds. Add shrimp and cook, stirring, for 1 minute.
3. Whisk broth and cornstarch in a small bowl. Add to the shrimp along with wine, vinegar, lemon juice and capers, season with salt and pepper. Simmer, until the shrimp is just cooked through, and the sauce reduces slightly. 
4. Remove from heat and set aside. 
5. Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the zucchini noodles and gently toss until hot, about 3 minutes. Serve the shrimp and sauce over the zucchini noodles, sprinkled with parsley and Parmesan. 

**Makes 4 servings

**3 on Bryce's dish scale because I am usually thawing 

Spicy Sweet Cauliflower Tacos

Have you heard I'm obsessed with Cauliflower? I swear sometimes it tastes like meat. I love it because it takes on the flavor of whatever you cook it in, and it's so healthy. This recipe gets it crispy and delicious. Inspiration came from a number of recipes I found online but huge shout out to Eating Well for the Chipolte Lime sauce.  This was a combo of things we found fresh at our farmers market this season, but things you should be able to find year round. 

Spicy Sweet Cauliflower Tacos

• ¼ cup lime juice (from about 2 limes)
• 2 tablespoons chopped chipotles in adobo sauce
• 1/2 tablespoon honey
• 3 cloves garlic
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 large head cauliflower, cut into small bite sized floret
• 1 small red onion, halved and thinly sliced
• 1 (15 ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
• 8 corn tortillas
• ½ cup crumbled queso fresco
• 1 cup Sliced red cabbage
• 1 avocado, diced
• 1/2 cup micro greens
• 4-5 radishes thinly sliced (cut in half if large)
• 1/2 cup green salsa/hot sauce of some sort (I love herdez Salsa Verde, and recently found a hatch green chile salsa in a jar I loved) 

1. Preheat oven to 450°F. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with foil.
2. Combine lime juice, chipotles, honey, garlic and salt in a blender. Process until mixed together well. 
3. Place cauliflower in a large bowl (microwave safe, this comes in handy later), add the sauce and stir to cover and coat. 
4. Transfer to the baking sheet. Sprinkle onion on top.
5. Roast, stirring occasionally, until the cauliflower is browned in spots, but tender, and the onion is cooked down. This takes about 20 minutes.
6. In the same bowl you tossed the cauliflower in, add your beans and toss around to soak up any of the sauce left. Heat in the microwave for about a minute, then mash beans with a fork so they smooth out. 
7. Heat tortillas either on a grill, directly on the gas stove top or in a pan. Do not take the microwave route or the taco shells won't hold up! 
8. To make a taco: Add mashed beans, then cauliflower and onions, top with cheese, cabbage, avocado, micro greens, radishes and salsa or hot sauce. 

**Makes 4 servings
**2 on Bryce's Dish scale since I reuse the bowl!

All the Green Salad: Green Lentils with Roasted Green Beans and Broccoli and Green Goddess Dressing

I have always loved the idea of Green Goddess dressings, but can't do a lot of dairy, so I found a way to make my own! I coupled that with this idea from Eating Well chock-full of green veggies and it makes the most hearty salad! It truly fills you up and is so yummy. And it's a salad you can save for leftovers by keeping the roasted veggies, dressing and lettuce separate. 

Green Lentils with Roasted Green Beans and Broccoli and Green Goddess Dressing

• 4 cups  broccoli florets cut into small pieces 
• 2 cups trimmed and halved green beans 
• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• salt and pepper
• 1 teaspoon lemon pepper seasoning
• 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 2½ cups water
• ¾ cup French green lentils, rinsed
• 8 cups  green leaf lettuce
• 2 cups thinly sliced dino kale

Dressing 

• ½ cup fresh tarragon leaves
• 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves
• 1 tablespoon olive oil 
• 1 cup nonfat Greek Yogurt
• salt and pepper to taste
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
• 1 teaspoon white miso
• 2 cloves garlic

1. Heat oven to 400 degrees. 
2. Toss broccoli and green beans with oil, lemon pepper, red pepper flakes, and salt and pepper on a large rimmed baking sheet. Roast, stirring once, until tender, about 20 minutes. 
3. While that cooks, bring water and lentils to a boil in a medium saucepan over high heat. Reduce heat to a simmer, cover and cook until tender, about 25 minutes. Rinse with cold water to cool off and drain well. 
4. Combine dressing ingredients in a food processor. 
5. Layer lettuce and kale, then top with the roasted vegetables. Serve with the dressing.

Super Easy Black Bean Shrimp Salad

 It doesn't get easier than this. You can make this the night before and it's a great lunch salad. After seeing this recipe pop up on a million "Easy Lunch" lists from Eating Well, I knew I had to add to my rotation. I tweaked a few things and make it more "salad" like for my taste. But kudos to Eating Well for a great concept. Buying precooked shrimp makes this a breeze. This could make a good taco filling with corn tortillas too. 

Super Easy Black Bean Shrimp Salad

• 1 lb cooked peeled and de-veined shrimp, cut into bite sized pieces (I buy frozen and thaw quickly under cold water, it only takes a few minutes) 
• 1 bunch cilantro, roughly chopped
• 1 pint cherry tomatoes, quartered
• 1 poblano pepper, chopped
• 1 15 oz. can of black beans, rinsed
• 1 bunch green onions minced
• 4 cups mixed baby greens
• 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
• 2 garlic cloves minced
• salt and pepper
• 2 tablespoons olive oil 
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
• 1 tablespoon minced chipolte pepper in adobo sauce
• 1 avocado, diced

1. Whisk vinegar, oil, garlic, chipotle, cumin, chili powder and salt and pepper in a large bowl.
2.  Add shrimp, beans, tomatoes, poblano, green onions and cilantro; toss to coat. 
3. Serve over mixed baby salad greens, top with avocado.

Grilled Vegetable Salad with Fresh Tomatoes and Basil

We combined several recipes to come up with this hearty vegetable side. We based it on the bounty we picked up at the farmer's market, grilled most of the vegetables and served it with some fresh tomatoes and herbs. The simplicity was awesome. I could have made this my whole meal. You could certainly change out the veggies based on what looks good at the market. But the key here is grilling them to get a good char on it all. I used Japanese eggplant because that's what my market had, any small eggplant would work. And might I add that if you think you don't like okra, try it and grilled and get back to me. We have also added red onions to this mix too. 

Grilled Vegetable Salad with Fresh Tomatoes and Basil 

• 1/4 cup thinly sliced basil
• 6 Japanese eggplant (or small eggplant) halved
• about a cup of okra
• 2 heirloom tomatoes sliced 
• salt and pepper to taste (about a half a teaspoon of each)
• 1/2 teaspoon lemon pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic salt
• 4 tablespoons olive oil, divided 
• 1 tablespoon champagne vinegar
• 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar 

1. Toss sliced eggplant and okra in about a tablespoon of olive oil, some salt and pepper and garlic salt and lemon pepper.
2.  Grill those vegetables on medium heat, turning 4-5 times as you grill about 10 minutes. We use a cast iron insert on our Weber to keep the veggies from falling through.
3. Mix together vinegars, remaining olive oil and season with a little salt and pepper. 
4. On a platter, layer tomatoes, grilled veggies and basil, then drizzle your dressing mixture over the top. 

Kimchi Cauliflower Fried Rice

If you read my blog a lot you know I love experimenting with the new trends in food. And right now it's "Cauliflower Rice." I've always been a big fan of using Cauliflower instead of meat in recipes (Buddha Bowls and on top of some Gnocchi and OMG with Indian Flavors Over Quinoa) , but this was an idea I never had and have to thank Pinterest for introducing me to. I saw a million ways to do it on there, as a side, trying it as "fried rice," roasted, in a pan, etc. So I decided to read all those, and come up with my own idea. My husband and I LOVE fried rice, so if there's a way to do it healthy - I AM IN. I was afraid it wouldn't have much flavor without some big FLAVORS added, so I followed a similar pattern as when I made Quinoa Fried Rice the first time (that recipe here) and decided to try  using the KIMCHI I have been saving too! It was awesome. Count me in on this new trend. What makes it even easier? Most grocery stores now sell cauliflower "riced" already. But if they don't, just throw it in a food processor and pulse until it's chopped, but not too fine. 

Kimchi Cauliflower Fried Rice

• Either 2 heads cauliflower "riced" in a food processor until rice shape - or one big bag of "Cauliflower Rice or Pearls"
• about 2 cups Broccoli cut into bite size florets
• 1 cup shelled Edamame (I buy the frozen bag where it steams right in the bag)
• 3 carrots chopped into bite sized pieces
• 1/2 yellow onion, chopped
• 1 egg
• 1 cup Kimchi, roughly chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
• 1 tablespoon coconut oil
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon grated ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1 teaspoon honey
• 5 green onions, chopped. 

Heat a large wok (or skillet) over medium heat and then add coconut oil. Add onion and saute until tender, about 2 minutes. 

Add garlic, carrots and broccoli and saute until tender, about 5 minutes.

Meanwhile in a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, honey, ginger and red pepper flakes; set aside.

Slide veggie mixture to one side of the wok and add in the beaten egg, scrambling until cooked through and then incorporate with the veggies.

Stir in cauliflower "rice" and pour your  sauce mixture over top. Stir well. 

Cook for an additional 3 to 4 minutes, until cauliflower is soft and tender.

Mix in Edamame,  Kimchi and green onions.  Cook until heated through. 

SUPER FAST: Black Bean Burger Turned Burrito

 You can tell from my blog, I am a big fan of fast meals. One night when I needed a hearty meal and hadn't had time to shop I threw this together. This is why my tips on keeping a stocked pantry help so much on those nights you might be tempted to order out or grab fast food. All of these items I used are on my staples list! I love Morning Star Farms Spicy Black Bean Burgers but this was my first experiment doing them any way other than as a burger and it was awesome! the Below recipe is to make one burrito. This is what I had on hand, but any salsa would be delicious and you could certainly add some Greek yogurt if you want a healthy alternative to sour cream. I also once added a few "salad topper" tortilla strips for a little crunch!

Black Bean Burger Turned Burrito 

• 1 Spicy Black Bean Burger (I love MorningStar Farms) 
• 1 whole wheat tortilla ( I keep Ole Xtreme Wellness High Fiber, Low Carb tortillas in my pantry constantly) 
• Olive oil cooking spray
• 1/4 of avocado diced
• Either shredded lettuce or mixed greens chopped
• 1 tablespoon crumbled queso fresco
• 3 tablespoons fresh pico or fresh refrigerated salsa
• 5 cherry tomatoes, halved

1. Spray a nonstick skillet with olive oil cooking spray. Heat on medium heat. 
2. Cook your black bean burger about 4 minutes each side until it crisps up. 
3. When you take the burger out of the pan, throw the tortilla in it to heat about 30-45 seconds each side. 
4. Slice the black bean burger into 4 pieces.
5. Layer your burrito with the black bean burger slices, cheese, lettuce, avocado, tomatoes and salsa. 
6. Fold in the sides and WRAP IT UP!

Spicy Mushroom and Tofu Soup

Y'all this spicy soup is just so delicious you'll be shocked at how easy it is. It tastes like the broth has been cooking for hours. The leftovers are delicious too. Don't worry if you don't think you like tofu, just try this dish. The idea comes from Eating Well . I just spiced it up and added more mushrooms. I also can never find "fresh lo mein" as suggested. But instead of using dried noodles,  I use Ka-Me "fresh-cooked" udon or stir fry noodles. So my version is below.

Spicy Mushroom and Tofu Soup

• 6 garlic cloves, minced 
• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar 
• 14 ounces firm tofu, water-packed 
• ¼ cup reduced-sodium soy sauce 
• 1 tablespoon chile-garlic sauce, or to taste 
• 4 cups thinly sliced tender bok choy greens (a little of the white part too for bite)
• 10 ounces fresh Chinese-style noodles or freshly cooked noodles. Not dried. 
• 4 cups vegetable broth, or reduced-sodium chicken broth 
• 4 ounces fresh shiitake mushrooms, stemmed and sliced
• 4 ounces oyster mushrooms or other wild mushrooms 
• 2 tablespoons grated fresh ginger
• ½ cup chopped fresh cilantro 

1. Rinse the tofu and pat dry. Cut it into thin strips that almost mimmic the shape of the shiitake mushroom caps. About two inches long and thin.
2. Heat oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add ginger and garlic. Cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute. 
3. Add mushrooms and cook until slightly soft, 2 to 3 minutes. 
4. Stir in sugar, broth, soy sauce and chile-garlic sauce; cover and bring to a boil. 
5. Add bok choy and tofu, cover and simmer until greens are wilted, about 2 minutes. Raise heat to high and add the noodles, pushing them down into the broth. Cook, covered, until the noodles are tender, 2 to 3 minutes. 
6. Remove from the heat and stir in cilantro.

Kale Caesar Salad

 I love Caesar salads but hadn't found a good way of making them healthy-ish until NOW. I also avoid eggs because of allergies, and you don't miss the egg in this dressing. We experimented with several recipes and this combo of them has been a HUGE hit. My family and friends now ask for it. Most of them are surprised to like Kale so much in it. The key here is the type of kale you use. Dino kale. You'll also see it labeled as Lacinato Kale and Tuscan kale. Cutting it into thin strips helps break down the toughness usually associated with kale too. This is so good, we don't even put croutons on it. It's healthier that way too. But my sister in law suggested using those "parmesan crisps" instead of croutons if you want a crunch and it was wonderful. The below recipe makes about 4 side salads. If you wanted to add chicken it could be a main dish for 2. 

Kale Caesar Salad

• 3 tablespoons lemon juice
• 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
• 2 1/2 teaspoons anchovy paste
• 4 garlic cloves
• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 3 tablespoons grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
• 1/4 cup tablespoons either shaved parmesan to top, or parmesan crisps crumbled up for crunch
• 1 bunch dino kale, stems removed, leaves thinly sliced

1. Combine lemon juice, mustard, anchovy paste, garlic, olive oil, salt and pepper into a small food processor. Blend until smooth. 
2. Toss thin strips of kale with grated cheese. 
3. Add dressing to the kale, working in batches until it's just coated, about 5 minutes before serving so it sits on there a bit. This will take about 3/4 of the dressing. Put the rest of the dressing on the table in case people want more. 
4. Top with either shaved parmesan or parmesan crisps. 

***Makes ABOUT 4 sides salads.

***It takes a lot of dishes, but is worth it. 

Grilled Red Snapper

Since it's starting to warm up around here I thought I would throw out a grilling recipe. This is actually one my husband made all by himself one night, but it was so good I had to share. We had never cooked with big Red Snapper or whole cumin seeds before. He googled a few ideas while in the store after seeing how good the snapper is, and came up with this. Here is where the inspiration came from, he adapted to what we could find. We used peaches instead of mango, but I think it would be delicious either way.  We served it with some Basmati rice and an easy salad. 

Grilled Red Snapper

• 6 tablespoons olive oil
• 5 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
• 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
• zest of one large lime 
• salt and pepper
• 4 5- to 6-ounce red snapper fillets
• 4 peaches, cut into wedges
• 3/4 teaspoon whole cumin seeds
• 4-8 large lettuce leaves

1. Whisk oil, 4 tablespoons cilantro, lime juice, and lime zest in small bowl. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Split into two bowls (to avoid cross-contamination), placing about 2/3 in one bowl, and one third in another.
2.  Use one bowl to brush all sides of fish and peach quarters vinaigrette. Reserve remaining vinaigrette. Sprinkle fish and mango with salt, pepper, and cumin seeds. 
3. We used our cast iron insert on our Webber to make grilling the fish and peaches easier. 
4. Grill fish without turning until it is just opaque in center.
5. Grill peaches alongside fish, until beginning to brown, about 6 minutes. 
6. Plate with lettuce on the bottom, then fish and peaches. 
7. Drizzle with remaining vinaigrette. Sprinkle with 1 tablespoon fresh cilantro.

**Makes 4 servings. 

Quinoa Veggie Tacos in Lettuce Wraps

Three ways to make your traditionally not-so-healthy tacos... healthy. Add a lot of vegetables, swap the tortilla for lettuce and pack in the flavor with fresh ingredients. You won't miss the meat in this recipe because you get so much protein from beans and quinoa, that it almost tastes like meat. You can really experiment with the toppings and add whatever you want. I was inspired by this original recipe from Feasting not Fasting, and took the idea and ran with it. Just taking my own short cuts and adding in flavors we love. 

Quinoa Veggie Tacos in Lettuce Wraps

• ½ cup quinoa, rinsed
• 3 ears of corn, kernels cut off the cob
• 1 15 oz. can black beans, rinsed
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 yellow/orange bell peppers, seeded and chopped
• 1/2 cup fresh salsa (not jarred, the kind in the refrigerated kind) 
• 1 cup chopped yellow onion
• 3 cloves minced garlic
• ½ lb. sliced white mushrooms
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1½ tsp. chili powder
• ½ tsp. paprika
• 1 tsp. ground cumin
• 1/4 tsp. cayenne (if you like things spicy) 
• ¼ cup chopped cilantro, split in half
• 1 cup reduced fat shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 head of lettuce, pick leaves that are good lettuce wraps, I like bibb leaves
• 1 avocado, diced

1. Combine 1/2 cup quinoa and 1 cup of water in a pan. Bring to a boil. Cover, knock the heat down to  low. Keep and eye on it. In about 10 minutes it should be close to done. When all the water is gone - it's done. 
2. While quinoa cooks, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add onions and bell pepper and sauté about 3-4 minutes. Add in corn and sauté another 2 minutes.
3. Add garlic and mushrooms and continue cooking until veggies are cooked and lightly browned.
4. Stir in salt, chili powder, paprika, cumin, cayenne, half of the chopped cilantro, and ¼ cup salsa. Add quinoa and black beans. Stir and remove from heat.
5. Serve veggie filling, grated cheese, additional salsa, cilantro, and avocado in lettuce wraps.

**Makes 4 servings ( you can make leftovers into a salad too!)
**3 on Bryce's dish scale. Pot, skillet, knife, cutting board. A strainer for rinsing quinoa and beans. 

Veggie Packed Pad Thai

Don't be scared of fish sauce. It really packs in the flavor in this dish. Just ignore the smell. Then, experiment with the vegetables. I have made it a little different every single time, based on what looks good at the store. I use a combination of a spiralizer and a julienne peeler to get the vegetables to a similar consistently as the noodles. I stumbled upon this idea while searching for ways to use Thai Basil one night and combined several ideas I saw for this because I didn't want to leave anything out. And even though I originally tried it because of the Thai Basil, regular basil will work too. Thanks to Pinch of Yum for the inspiration to try something like this. I can't eat a lot of eggs, but a lot of the recipes I saw included an egg, and I am sure that would be good in this just like any pad thai. 

 Veggie Packed Pad Thai

• 6 oz thin brown rice noodles
• 1 zucchini
• 1 yellow squash
• 3 whole carrots
• 1 yellow bell pepper
• 1 orange bell pepper
• 4 green onions, chopped
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tablespoon olive oil, divided
• 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
• 3 tablespoons fish sauce
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 3 tablespoons low sodium chicken broth
• 2 tablespoons white distilled vinegar
• 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon sambal oelek (chili paste) 
• 1/2 cup roasted unsalted peanuts roughly chopped
• 1/2 cup chopped cilantro
• 1/4 cup thai basil or regular basil cut into thin strips

1. Check the noodle package for instructions on how to cook. Use the way that has them soak in a bowl, it keeps them from overcooking and becoming too mushy. When they are done, drain and set aside
2. To get your veggies into noodle form and ready to roll: For Zucchini and squash, use a spiralizer or a julienne peeler. Set on a paper towel to get the water out while finishing next steps. For carrots, after peeling outer layer, use a julienne peeler to get into thin strips. Use a good knife to cut your bell peppers into thin strips. (I have seen blogs that say you can use a spiralizer to get these into noodles, but it doesn't work in mine, so I just cut it very thin.)
3. Create a sauce by whisking together the fish sauce, brown sugar, honey, broth, white vinegar, rice vinegar, soy sauce, and samba oelek. 
4. Heat sesame oil and olive in a large skillet. Add in your green onions and garlic and saute for about a minute until its fragrant and soft. Add in your other veggies (zucchini, squash, carrots, peppers). Saute until just warmed and softening. You don't want to do it too long, or they will get mushy. Transfer them a dish and set aside. 
5. Heat other tablespoon of olive oil. Add in your rice noodles and stir fry for about one minute. 
6. Add in the sauce and stir around until it's well heated. 
7. Add back in your vegetables and toss it all around until it's well heated. 
8. Serve a heaping bowl with chopped peanuts, cilantro and basil on top. 

***Makes 4 servings

***4 on Bryce's dish scale. Spiralizer, julienne peeler, cutting board, knife, skillet, bowl for sauce, and I like to use a bowl to pile up my veggie noodles as I make them. 

Indian Spiced Chickpea Curry

Indian food is another way to get a ton of flavor into food and keep it healthy. This dish is PACKED with flavor and you can tone down the spices if you don't like it as hot. I got the original idea from this Eating Well recipe, and adapted it and saved a few steps. We have made it where we served it with brown basmati, regular brown rice and whole grain naan. All are delicious, just pick what you are in the mood for or have time to make. In this case we served it with Naan at dinner and put the leftovers with 90 second brown rice. This is a super simple version because you use canned beans. You can beef it up by adding more vegetables if needed like roasted carrots and cauliflower.

Indian Spiced Chickpea Curry

• 1 medium serrano pepper, cut into thirds
• 5 large cloves garlic
• 1 2-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and coarsely chopped
• 1 medium yellow onion, roughly chopped (1-inch)
• 3 Tablespoons olive oil
• 2 teaspoons ground coriander
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 2 teaspoons fresh turmeric grated (if you can't find do a teaspoon of ground turmeric)
• 28 ounce can of crushed tomatos, no salt added
• ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
• 2 15-ounce cans chickpeas, rinsed
• 2 teaspoons garam masala
• Fresh cilantro, roughly chopped, for garnish

1.  If you are serving with brown basmati, start it first, it takes the longest
2. Pulse serrano, garlic and ginger in a food processor until minced. Add onion; pulse until finely chopped, but not watery.
3. Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the onion mixture and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, 3 to 5 minutes. Add coriander, cumin and turmeric and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes.
4. Add tomatoes and salt to the pan. Reduce heat to simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, for 4 minutes until it's heated well. Add chickpeas and garam masala, cover and cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes more so flavors have time to develop.
5. Serve topped with cilantro. 

  **Makes 4 servings
**3 on B's dish scale, food processor, cutting board, big pot and lid.