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Category Archives: quick and easy

Blasted Broccoli & Cauliflower Recipe

26 Monday Sep 2016

Posted by in Gluten Free, quick and easy, Recipe, Uncategorized, Vegetables, Vegetarian, whole30

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Blasted Broccoli & Cauliflower Recipe 3

A few days ago I had a large plate of blasted broccoli at one of Seattle’s restaurants. I couldn’t stop myself from eating the charred, salty, and slightly spicy florets. And so, I decided to recreate the dish adding my own twist of sesame oil, garlic, and ginger. Plus, I mixed in a bunch of cauliflower florets. Hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I did.

Blasted Broccoli & Cauliflower

Ingredients

1 pound broccoli florets
1 pound cauliflower florets
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 tablespoon sesame oil
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 tablespoon minced ginger
1 tablespoon sesame seeds (I like the combination of white and black)
1/4-1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes

Blasted Broccoli & Cauliflower Recipe 4

Directions

1. Place a baking sheet on the middle oven rack and preheat the oven to 450F.

2. Mix broccoli, cauliflower, extra virgin olive oil, and salt in a large bowl. Spread on the preheated baking sheet and roast for 15 minutes.

3. Whisk sesame oil, garlic, ginger, sesame seeds, and pepper flakes in the bowl. Add in roasted broccoli and cauliflower and stir to coat.

4. Transfer back to the baking sheet and roast for additional 5-8 minutes.

Blasted Broccoli & Cauliflower Recipe

These are best when they are still hot, right out of the oven. If you do have leftovers, chop them up into salads or add into your morning omelets. And truth be told, I have snacked on some of them straight out of the fridge.

 

 

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Watermelon Agua Fresca with Mint and Lime

13 Tuesday Sep 2016

Posted by in Drink, Fruit, quick and easy, Uncategorized, whole30

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Here is a refreshing, sugar-free beverage to help you celebrate the last few days of summer. Made with watermelon, mint, and lime juice, this delightful pink drink is perfect on its own, but can be jazzed up with a shot of rum and sparkling water.

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Watermelon Agua Fresca with Mint and Lime

Ingredients

1/2 watermelon, peeled and cut into chunks
2-4 cups water
1/2 lime, juiced
1 tablespoon mint leaves

Directions

1. Add all ingredients to a blender or food processor and puree until smooth.

2. Strain through a mesh strainer or cheesecloth and refrigerate until ready to drink.

3. Serve garnished with lime and mint.

Optional: serve over ice with a shot of rum or vodka and finished with sparkling water.

Homemade Garlic Aioli Recipe

26 Friday Aug 2016

Posted by in quick and easy, Recipe, Uncategorized, whole30

≈ 3 Comments

Homemade Garlic Aioli Recipe

This recipe is a happy accident. I started out wanting to make mayonnaise, just to find out I only had extra virgin olive oil on hand. And as some of you might have discovered for yourself, mayonnaise made out of extra virgin olive oil does not taste right.

The truth is, the oil adds too much flavor. Not wanting to waste a batch of homemade mayonnaise, I added a pinch of ground cayenne pepper, an extra squeeze of lemon juice, and garlic. Voila! A happy accident turned into this versatile spread and dip.

Homemade Garlic Aioli

Ingredients

1 egg, at room temperature
1 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
2-3 tablespoons lemon juice
2 cloves of garlic, grated (tip: use a Microplane)
1/2 teaspoon salt or more to taste
1/2 teaspoon ground mustard
pinch of ground cayenne pepper

Directions

1. Add all ingredients to a cup of the immersion stick blender. Place the head of the blender at the bottom of the cup. Turn the stick blender on, and move it slowly up, while blending the ingredients. Once incorporated, taste and adjust the seasonings to your liking.

Homemade Garlic Aioli Recipe 3

Now for the best part – trying to figure out what to do with this batch of aioli. Use it any place you’d add mayonnaise – sandwiches, salads, dips for vegetables of fries. Go wild!

Homemade Garlic Aioli Recipe 2

 

 

How to Make Gazpacho with Poached Shrimp

19 Friday Aug 2016

Posted by in Gluten Free, quick and easy, Recipe, Seafood, Shrimp, Uncategorized, whole30

≈ 2 Comments

The summer in Seattle has been especially hot lately, and this spicy tomato gazpacho with poached shrimp is exactly what you want to be eating. Cool, refreshing, requiring hardly any cooking, this vibrant meal will also take care of your abundance of garden tomatoes and herbs.

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Spicy Tomato Gazpacho with Poached Shrimp

Ingredients

3 cups tomato juice
4 roma tomatoes, chopped
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1 Hatch pepper, roasted, peeled, seeded, and chopped
1/4 small onion
2 garlic cloves
1/2 cup cilantro
1/4 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons lemon juice
salt to taste

***

2 bay leaves
raw, peel-on shrimp

Garnish with: avocado, basil, olive oil

Directions

1. Add all of the gazpacho ingredients to a blender or food processor and puree until desired consistency. Adjust with salt, as needed.

2. For the shrimp, bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Add bay leaves and reduce the heat to a simmer. Add the shrimp and set the timer for 3 minutes. Remove the shrimp immediately and peel. Serve right away on top of gazpacho with avocado, basil, and a drizzle of olive oil.

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Happy eating, friends!

Kale and Basil Vegan Pesto Recipe

08 Monday Aug 2016

Posted by in Cooking, Paleo, quick and easy, Recipe, Uncategorized, Vegan, Vegetarian

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Kale & Basil Vegan Pesto

I don’t often make my own pesto, but this year, the basil on my patio is out of control, and as I’m continuing my journey on whole30, I decided to add this bright, vibrant condiment into my kitchen collection. Since I had some kale hanging out in the refrigerator, approaching its death, I decided to save it and mix it in with the basil.

This pesto has no cheese in order to be whole30 compliant, so it’s perfect for those who keep to a vegan lifestyle as well. Since I was making the pesto in my Vitamix, I was able to combine all ingredients at once and blend together. If your mixer or blender is less powerful, pulse the basil and kale first with walnuts and garlic, before drizzling in the olive oil and lemon juice. And as always, be sure to taste and adjust to your liking.

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Kale & Basil Vegan Pesto

Kale  & Basil Vegan Pesto

Ingredients

2 cups basil leaves
1 cup kale leaves
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil, plus more if needed
1/3 cup walnuts
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2-4 cloves of garlic
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

Directions

1. Combine all ingredients in the food processor or a blender. Pure until desired consistency. Adjust with extra oil for a thinner pesto.

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Kale & Basil Vegan Pesto

I’ve served this kale and basil pesto over sauteed sweet potatoes with the spiralized chicken and apple sausage. I can see it going into eggs, zucchini noodles, and salads during next week.

Enjoy!

Paleo and Whole30 Tuna Confetti Recipe

01 Monday Aug 2016

Posted by in Gluten Free, Lunch, quick and easy, Recipe, Seafood, Uncategorized, whole30

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On August 1st (tomorrow!), I’m starting my second round of whole30. My first one was in December, about a year and a half ago. I made it through, but didn’t experience the promised euphoria and the non-scale victories promised by the program and experienced first-hand by many of its participants.

This time around, I’m armed with more time, experience, and most importantly, support of many friends who are joining me on this journey.

To keep things quick, simple, and easy, without too much shock to your system, here’s a whole30 compliant recipe for tuna salad. Enjoy!

Paleo and Whole30 Tuna Confetti Salad Recipe

Tuna Confetti Salad

Ingredients

1 can of white tuna, packed in water, drained
1 tomato, chopped
2 pickles, minced
1/2 bell pepper, diced
2 tablespoons sweet onion, minced
1 tablespoon capers, minced
1 tablespoon basil, chopped
1 tablespoon parsley, chopped
olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and black pepper to taste
Napa cabbage leaves for serving

Directions

1. Combine all ingredients in a bowl and stir to combine. Serve in Napa cabbage leaves, if desires.

If you love your tuna salad on a creamier side, you can use whole30 compliant mayo, or stir in half of a mashed avocado.

Overnight Oatmeal with Chia Seeds, Walnuts, Blueberries, and Candied Ginger

28 Thursday Jul 2016

Posted by in Breakfast, Healthy, quick and easy, Recipe, Uncategorized, Vegetarian

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Try this fantastic recipe for overnight oatmeal made with yogurt, chia seeds, and water. You can top it with anything you’d  like, but I love a combination of walnuts, blueberries, and candied ginger.

Overnight Oatmeal with Walnuts and Blueberries

My breakfast routine has never been the same since I’ve discovered overnight oatmeal. For someone like me, who doesn’t like the taste of traditional hot oatmeal, this has been life changing. I usually make 5 individual containers on Sunday, grab one each morning and add my mix ins. Eat up!

Overnight Oatmeal with Chia Seeds, Walnuts, Blueberries, and Candied Ginger

Ingredients

1/3 cup oats
1/3 cups plain nonfat yogurt
1/3-1/2 cup water
1 tsp chia seeds

Mix ins: blueberries, chopped walnuts, chopped candied ginger

Directions

Mix together and refrigerate overnight.

In the morning, mix in blueberries, walnuts, and candied ginger.
.

Enjoy!

Beet Hummus Recipe

26 Tuesday Jul 2016

Posted by in Appetizer, Beets, Gluten Free, quick and easy, Recipe, Uncategorized, Vegetarian

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Here’s a recipe for a homemade Beet Hummus spread with Za’atar. If you’re like me, and love beets and hummus, you might’ve seen and tried the combination of the two from your local restaurants and grocery stores. In fact, I’ve seen beet hummus on display at both Costco and Trader Joe’s within the last few weeks.

I came across the Shocking Pink Beet Hummus recipe in  The Picnic: Recipes and Inspiration from Basket to Blanket by Marnie Hanel, which was the latest selection for our Cookbook Club. This was the perfect recipe to use on my continued quest of converting everyone into beet lovers.

Here’s my adaptation of the recipe. Enjoy!

Beet Hummus Recipe (1)

Beet Hummus with Za’atar

Ingredients

2 medium beets
1 15-ounce can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
1/4 cup tahini
1/4 cup water
3 tablespoons lemon juice
2 cloves of garlic
1/2 tablespoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cumin

For serving

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon za’atar
pita chips

Beet Hummus Recipe (3)

Directions

1. Scrub beets and trim the ends. Place in a saucepan and cover with cold water. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to medium, and simmer until beets are tender, 30-45 minutes. Drain beets and cool completely. Peel the beets, and reserve 1/4th of one of them. Chop the rest of the beets into about 1/2″ pieces.

2. Add chopped beets with the remaining ingredients into a blender and puree until completely smooth. Taste and adjust the seasoning with extra salt and lemon juice as needed.

3. Spread the hummus onto a serving plate or bowl and garnish with the reserved 1/4th of the beet (finely diced), olive oil, and za’atar.

Beet Hummus Recipe (4)

And that’s all! You get the most unbelievably gorgeous vibrant color of hummus. The addition of beets bumps up the nutrients and vitamins and cut down on the starchiness of the traditional hummus. Plus it’s fun and tastes awesome!

 

Taco Tuesday: Steak & Eggs Breakfast Tacos with Guacamole

28 Tuesday Jun 2016

Posted by in Avocado, Breakfast, Eggs, Gluten Free, quick and easy, Recipe, recipe development, tacos, Uncategorized

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You might want to sit down for this one, because in this post, I’m combining some of my favorites: Taco Tuesday, Breakfast for Dinner, and Southwestern Food. That’s right, all three in one easy, simple, delectable recipe. Let’s do this!

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The inspiration for the recipe came from Sabra’s latest innovation: Guacamole Veggie Fusions. The guacamole comes in 3 flavors: South Western, Mango Lime, and Garden Vegetable. In addition to being ready at your slightest guacamole craving, these creations have 30% less fat than a classic guacamole and are made with 7 different varieties of crisp vegetables.

What’s not to love? In case you’re curious, the South Western Guacamole that I chose for this recipe included Hass Avocado, Onion, Yellow & White Corn, Black Beans, Tomato, Red Bell Pepper, Red Chili Pepper, Salt, Cilantro, and seasonings.

Steak & Egg Breakfast Tacos with Guacamole

Ingredients

Steak & Eggs Breakfast Tacos.jpg

2 teaspoons of vegetable oil
3 large eggs
2 teaspoons of water
salt to taste
4 corn tortillas, warmed
1/4 cup Sabra South Western Veggie Fusions Guacamole
1/4 cup chopped cooked steak
1/4 cup crumbled Queso Fresco
2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
lime juice to taste

Directions

1. Heat oil in a nonstick pan over medium heat. Whisk together eggs, water, and salt. Add to the pan and scramble to your liking.

2. Assemble tacos: evenly divide guacamole among 4 tortillas and top with eggs, steak, cheese, cilantro, and lime juice.

3. Get your napkins ready and devour!

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Get your coupon for $1 off at www.Sabra.com/VeggieFusions

If you love the recipe, please pin and share with hashtags #VeggieFusionsGuac and #VeggieUpYourGuac

Disclosure: I was provided with the product by Sabra and compensated for this post. All opinions are my own.

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National Hummus Day: Sabra Rosemary with Sea Salt Hummus Bagel Bites

13 Friday May 2016

Posted by in Appetizer, Cooking, quick and easy, Recipe, recipe development, Uncategorized

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It’s no wonder I’ve named my blog Snacking in the Kitchen. I love to snack! Whether in between breakfast and lunch, lunch and dinner, or dinner and bedtime, snacking offers a quick, easy, fun, and, most importantly, satisfying way to feed yourself and your friends and family. So, when Sabra approached me to develop a recipe with their hummus to celebrate National Hummus Day and highlight their Unofficial Meal concept, I jumped right in.

Bagel Bites with Sabra Hummus and Lamb (4)

I drew inspiration for this recipe from one of my favorite breakfast plates: a toasted bagel with cream cheese, lox, sliced cucumber, red onion, and capers. I replaced the bagel with bagel chips, used braised lamb in place of salmon, and finally, loaded Sabra’s Rosemary with Sea Salt Hummus with chopped up cucumber, capers, and red onion.

Give this a try and I bet you’ll be right there with me celebrating National Hummus Day!

Bagel Bites with Sabra Hummus and Lamb (5).JPG

Sabra Rosemary with Sea Salt Hummus Bagel Bites

Ingredients

1 cup Sabra Rosemary with Sea Salt Hummus
1/4 cup chopped English cucumber
2 tablespoons chopped capers
1 tablespoon minced red onion
bagel chips
1/4 cup chopped Braised Lamb Shanks
fresh dill for garnish

Directions

1.  Mix hummus with cucumber, capers, and onion.

2.  Spoon hummus over bagel chips, top with lamb, and garnish with dill

3.  Eat!

Bagel Bites with Sabra Hummus and Lamb (1).JPG

 

Didn’t I promise this was going to be quick and easy? Try the recipe and let me know how you’re celebrating #NationalHummusDay and #UnofficialMeal. And be sure to get a $2 off coupon from Sabra to help your celebration.

 

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Disclosure: this is a sponsored post. Sabra has provided samples of hummus and compensation for the recipe development. All opinions are my own.

How to Prepare Braised Lamb Shanks

08 Sunday May 2016

Posted by in Cooking, Gluten Free, Lamb, quick and easy, Recipe, Uncategorized

≈ 2 Comments

There’s no denying my love for lamb. I mostly order it at restaurants, but when I got a chance to receive an order of two lamb shanks from Superior Farms, I decided to give cooking lamb at home another try.

With time and ingredient constraints (the refrigerator was looking especially empty that day), I developed this simple recipe using just lamb shanks, onion, garlic, white wine, and…..wait for it…. sparkling lemon water! Go with me on this one.

To prepare the lamb, I used my brand new French oven from Staub – the one I won a few months ago and lovingly named Amelia.

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Braised Lamb Shanks with Wine and Lemon Sparkling Water

Ingredients

2 lamb shanks
salt and ground black pepper to taste
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 sweet onion, sliced
4-6 garlic cloves, chopped
1/2-1/3 cup dry white wine
1 can of lemon flavored sparkling water

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.

2. Pat lamb shanks dry with paper towels and generously season with salt and ground black pepper.

3. Heat oil in a French oven over medium-high heat and sear the shanks on all sides until browned. Do this in batches, if necessary.

Braised Lamb Shanks.jpg

4. Remove the shanks onto a plate; drain excess oil and fat from the French oven. Add onions and garlic and caramelize over medium heat until softened, about 10-15 minutes.

5. Nestle the shanks among the onion, pour in the wine, and braise the lamb shanks covered in the oven for 1 hour.

6. Add in a can of lemon flavored sparkling water and continue braising for another 2 hours, until the lamb is tender.

What’s next is up to you. I chilled the shanks overnight and enjoyed them, thinly sliced in salads, over sautéed potatoes and mushrooms, and on sandwiches.

Here are some of my other favorite lamb recipes:

Inside-Out Gyro-Style Lamb Roulade with Sun-Dried Tomatoes, Pita Chips, and Feta Recipe

How to make Lamb Burgers With Pesto at Home, plus a Watermelon Salad with Feta and Basil ~ Recipes from Snacking in the Kitchen

Pomegranate Molasses Roasted Leg of Lamb

“Baaa!” says the lamb. “Yum!” I say ~ Braised Moroccan Lamb Shanks

 

One Pan Supper: Roasted Vegetables and Salmon

20 Sunday Mar 2016

Posted by in Cooking, Dinner, Fish, quick and easy, Recipe, Uncategorized

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I’m an expert at doing dishes. In fact, it’s been a part of my job for the last four years. I’d do 2-3 full loads of dishes twice a week, twice a month, plus have more to wash by hand. And as much as it can be therapeutic sometimes to play with soapy water and see immediate results of your labor, saving on washing dishes gets gold stars in my book!

With this recipe, you’ll minimize on the number of dishes you’d need to wash while making a super impressive yet easy for a family of 4. If you’re cooking for 1 or 2, don’t despair. You’ll end up with plenty of leftovers for a few lunches.

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One Pan Supper: Roasted Vegetables and Salmon

Ingredients

3 pounds baby potatoes
4-6 garlic cloves, unpeeled
2 parsnips, chopped
1 large red onion, chopped
1 tablespoon olive oil, divided
salt and ground black pepper to taste
4 thyme sprigs, divided
1 pound salmon fillets
1 lemon, sliced

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 425 F with a sheet pan placed on the middle rack.

2. Toss potatoes, garlic, parsnips, and onion with 2 teaspoons of oil. Season with salt, pepper, and add two sprigs of thyme. Add vegetables to the preheated pan in a single layer and roast for 20-25 minutes.

3. Use the remaining olive oil on top of salmon and season with salt. Layer thyme sprigs and lemon over the top.

4. Stir the vegetables and make space for the fish. Add salmon fillets to the roasted vegetables and bake for another 10-12 minutes.

Dinner’s ready! Remember those leftovers I have mentioned earlier? Imagine the chilled roasted salmon on top of a sandwich. Toss the roasted vegetables with a garlic yogurt and dill dressing. Whatever you decide to do with these, please, be mindful of your coworkers and don’t reheat leftovers in the microwave. They shall thank you!

Love the recipe? Share the link, post pictures and tag on instagram with @snackinkitchen.

Taco Tuesdays

13 Sunday Mar 2016

Posted by in Cooking, Mexican, quick and easy, tacos, Uncategorized

≈ 1 Comment

I might argue that tacos are the perfect food. They are portable, super versatile, quick and easy to prepare (relatively speaking at least, once you’ve got all your sauces and fillings ready), affordable, and are plainly fun to make.

Taco Tuesdays have become a tradition all around the nation. Some restaurants even change up their menus to serve these Mexican-inspired delicacies.

What’s your favorite way to enjoy a taco? Are you a corn or flour tortilla fan? (I prefer corn, lightly charred). Do you like a few fillings or load up your tacos to the brim? (I’m a loaded kind of girl, the more, the better – this makes it a bit more difficult to eat the tacos, but so much more enjoyable and satisfying).

Back in the day when I was following a whole30 eating plan, I made my tacos as lettuce wraps. Look at the beauties below! I filled the lettuce with seasoned ground beef, spicy guacamole, and mango-tomato salsa. Skip the sour cream and cheese, and add a serving of plantain chips.

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Another reason to love tacos? They are perfect for parties! Set up a variety of fillings and toppings in individual bowls and let your guests build their own. It’s fun for them and makes your life as a host easier.

Here’s a sample of my taco tray with fajita-style peppers and onions, tender braised and shredded beef, slow cooked beans, salsa, guacamole, pickled radishes, sour cream, and lime.

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Got a favorite taco? Share away!

Loaded Avocado Toast

07 Monday Mar 2016

Posted by in Avocado, Bread, Breakfast, quick and easy, Uncategorized, Vegetarian

≈ 3 Comments

loaded avocado toast

Loaded Avocado Toast with Za’atar, Sumac, and Aleppo Pepper Flakes

Who was the genius who invented avocado toast? If I ever found him or her, I might just give them a hug. It seems like the popularity of avocado toasts has exploded overnight, and just like that, you were seeing pieces of toasted bread topped with mashed or sliced avocados all over social media.

Most of the toasts I’ve come across were simple, if not somewhat plain. Perhaps a sprinkling of salt, maybe a dash of lemon juice, and there it was, in all its glory for you to devour.

I’ve had my share of those for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and everything in between. And then I thought, “Why keep the toast simple? Why not add extra flavors and toppings? Don’t I like most everything loaded? (this includes baked potatoes, pizza, and tacos).” And that’s how this Loaded Avocado Toast was born.

It’s silly to write down a recipe for this, but my preference is for a deeply toasted piece of seeded whole grain bread, topped with mashed avocado and sprinkled with za’atar, sumac, Aleppo pepper, and salt. That’s all guys and girls! Call it a Mediterranean take on the traditional avocado toast. Call it genius. Or simply call it yours and make it for breakfast.

Enjoy!