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Category Archives: Uncategorized

Sheet Pan Roasted Chicken with Vegetables Recipe

02 Saturday Dec 2017

Posted by in Chicken, Dinner, quick and easy, Recipe, recipe development, Uncategorized

≈ 1 Comment

Having spent a lot of time in the kitchens, both for work and personal reasons (a girl has got to eat), it’s only natural I have favorites tools and gadgets and oxo happens to be one the brands I’ve loved for years. I was happy to receive a box of oxo tools to help me in executing this flavorful, sheet pan supper with chicken and vegetables.

Pan sheet roasted chicken

In the box, I found the following:

Chef’s Precision Digital Instant Read Thermometer: The Instant Read Thermometer provides quick, accurate measurements for cooked meat. The pivoting head allows reading temperature from any angle.

Silicone Roasting Rack: elevates food above fat and liquid for healthier cooking and allows air to circulate around food for faster, more even roasting.

Flavor Injector: inject marinades and other flavorings into meat for delicious flavor and juiciness. Two needles for thick and thin marinades store inside injector tube when not in use.

Good Gravy Fat Separator: Easily separates the fat for healthier gravies, soups and sauces
Non-Stick Pro Half Sheet Jelly Roll Pan: Square-rolled edges add reinforcement for structure, strength and durability

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Time to get to work and prepare a meal for your family, or perfect for packed lunches for a week.

Sheet Pan Roasted Chicken with Vegetables

Marinate:
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup olive oil
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
2 garlic cloves, grated
1 tablespoon minced fresh thyme leaves
1 1/2 teaspoons sea salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Chicken and Vegetables:
1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs, trimmed
4 carrots, peeled and cut into bite-size pieces
2 parsnips, peeled and cut into bite-size pieces
1 red onion, cut into bite-size pieces
1 pound Brussels sprouts, halved (or whole if small)

1. Preheat oven to 450 F.

2. White together marinate ingredients and pour half into the flavor injector. Gently insert the injector into each chicken thigh and slowly inject with marinate. Transfer chicken thighs on top of the silicone roasting racks set inside the baking sheet pan.

3. Use the remaining marinate to toss with vegetables and spread in a single layer around the roasting racks. Roast in the oven for 30-35 minutes, turning vegetables halfway through, until caramelized and until the chicken registers 165 F on the instant-read thermometer.

Time to eat!

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Thank you, oxo for letting me play with your tools in my kitchen!cipe

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Roasted Delicata Squash with Lamb and Vegetables

20 Monday Nov 2017

Posted by in Dinner, Fall, Lamb, Recipe, recipe development, Thanksgiving, Uncategorized

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With Thanksgiving just around the corner, I accepted yet another challenge from Superior Farms for Thanksgiving-related recipe using lamb. When brainstorming ideas for the recipe, I dreamed of the kitchen perfumed with Thanksgiving aroma (thyme, rosemary, squash, mire poix) while including ingredients and flavors that pair well with lamb (feta cheese, garlic, tomatoes).

Roasted Delicata Squash with Lamb (1)

Thanksgiving Roasted Delicata Squash with Lamb and Vegetables

Ingredients
2 Delicata squash, cut in half lengthwise and seeded
2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
Sea salt
8 ounces ground lamb
2 carrots, peeled and cut into 1/4-inch dice
2 celery ribs, cut into 1/4-inch dice
1 small onion, cut into 1/4-inch dice
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon fresh minced thyme
1 teaspoon fresh minced rosemary
Freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 (15-ounce) can diced tomatoes, with juice
1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
1/4 cup breadcrumbs
1 tablespoon fresh chopped parsley

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Place squash halves on the baking sheet, cut side up, brush with 1 tablespoon oil and season with salt. Roast in the oven for 25 minutes.

To a large skillet set over medium-high heat, add lamb and cook, breaking into pieces with a wooden spoon, until browned, about 5 minutes. Reduce the heat to low and add carrots, celery, onion, herbs, and garlic. Cook until vegetables are softened, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Stir in tomato paste and tomatoes and simmer for another 5 minutes. Off heat, stir in crumbled feta cheese.

Spoon the filling into the roasted squash and sprinkle each squash with 1 tablespoon breadcrumbs. Drizzle evenly with the remaining 1 tablespoon oil. Roast in the oven until the filling is heated through and the crumbs and browned and crispy, about 10 minutes.

Transfer roasted squash to individual plates and garnish with parsley.

This makes for a very generous serving and is lovely with an arugula side salad. I invite you to step outside of your traditional Thanksgiving menu this year and try these Roasted Delicata Squash with Lamb and Vegetables.

Roasted Delicata Squash with Lamb (8)

Disclosure: I was sent a gift card to cover ingredients for this recipe development.

Moroccan Lamb & Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie

07 Tuesday Feb 2017

Posted by in Cooking, Dinner, Lamb, Recipe, recipe development, Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

I’m so excited to be continuing my partnership with Superior Farms in 2017. For my first assignment, I was asked to create a cold-weather comfort food dish using ground lamb. Appropriately enough, the day I developed the recipe, Seattle received a healthy doze of fresh snow.

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For me, comfort food usually involves potatoes, but looking around my kitchen, I only found sweet potatoes. And that’s where the idea for Moroccan Lamb & Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie originated. To bring everything together, I added harissa, the North African condiment made from roasted red peppers, chile peppers, garlic, coriander, olive oil, and other spices. Harissa packs a lot of flavor and is so handy to keep in your refrigerator.

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Moroccan Lamb & Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie

Ingredients

4 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into thirds
1 tablespoon olive oil, plus extra for drizzling
1 medium onion, diced
2 medium carrots, diced
1 red bell pepper, diced
4-6 garlic cloves, chopped
1 pound ground lamb
4 tablespoons harissa, divided
salt
1 (15-ounce) can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1 (15-ounce) can diced tomatoes
1/2 cup pitted and sliced green olives
green onions or cilantro for garnish

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

2. Place potatoes in a medium saucepan and cover with water. Add a pinch of salt, cover, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer potatoes until tender, 15-20 minutes.

3. Heat oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add onion, carrots, bell pepper, garlic, and lamb. Stir and cook until vegetables are tender, about 10 minutes. Continue to crumble up the lamb as it cooks. Drain excess fat.

4. Add 3 tablespoons of harissa and cook for a minute. Add chickpeas and tomatoes, stir, and simmer for another 5 minutes, or until most of the juices are absorbed. Stir in olives and season with salt.

5. Drain potatoes and mash with the remaining tablespoon of harissa and season with salt.

6. Spread potatoes over the lamb, drizzle with olive oil and bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes. For extra color, broil for a few minutes and garnish with green onions or cilantro.

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I’m typing the recipe after snapping photos and helping myself to a serving of the pie (ok, 2 servings, but who’s counting?). You guys! It’s seriously good. Definitely comforting. Definitely flavorful. So colorful! Please make it and let me know your thoughts!

Coconut Carrot Soup with Za’Atar Hazelnuts

21 Saturday Jan 2017

Posted by in Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Recipe, Soup, Uncategorized, whole30

≈ 4 Comments

Soup is a staple in my kitchen throughout the year. During the fall and winter months, I gravitate toward creamy, hearty, bright bowls. I hope you’re going to love this carrot soup with coconut milk. As delicious as the soup is, the topping is equally as good. If you’ve never tried za’atar spice blend, you’re in a for a treat.

This is a recipe I developed during the second round of Whole30, so you know it’s gluten-free, dairy-free, and has no sugar or dairy. You won’t miss any of those though – it’s seriously delicious.  I shared bowls of soup with my Whole30 tribe during our dinner potluck.

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Coconut Carrot Soup with Za’atar Hazelnuts

Ingredients:

Soup:

  • 2 teaspoon olive oil
  • 1 large sweet onion, chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves
  • 2 pounds of carrots, peeled and chopped
  • 4 cups of water
  • 1 can of coconut cream
  • salt to taste
Za’atar Hazelnuts:
  • 1 teaspoon olive oil
  • 1/2 cup raw hazelnuts
  • 1 tablespoon za’atar
  • pinch of salt

Directions:

1. Heat 2 teaspoons of olive oil in a soup pot over medium-high heat. Add onion and garlic and cook for 5-7 minutes.

2. Add carrots and cook for another 5 minutes. Add water and bring to a boil. Lower the heat, cover the pot, and continue to cook until carrots are completely soft, about 15 minutes.

3. Puree the soup, in batches if necessary, until completely smooth. Return the soup to the pot, stir in coconut milk and cook over low heat until heated through, about 5 minutes. Season with salt.

4. Heat 1 teaspoon of olive oil in a nonstick pan over medium heat. Add nuts and za’atar and cook until the nuts are toasted, 5-7 minutes.

5. Serve soup topped with nuts.

_______

Cold Brew Coffee with Cashew Milk

19 Thursday Jan 2017

Posted by in Dairy Free, Healthy, Recipe, Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

I drink cold brew all year long. But when I started Whole30, I gave it up for almost a week, because I didn’t think I could drink coffee without half&half and I didn’t like the taste of it with almond or coconut milk. This recipe for cashew milk was a game changer! Cold brew came back into my life, and later when the weather changed, I enjoyed cashew milk with hot coffee as well.

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Cold Brew Coffee with Cashew Milk

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup finely ground coffee

  • 1/2 cup raw cashews

  • Drop of lemon juice

  • Pinch of kosher salt

  • 1 ½ -2 cups filtered water

Directions:

  1. Add coffee grounds to a standard coffee press. Fill with filtered water to the top and stir. Cover the press (do not press) and leave out at room temperature for 12-24 hours.

  2. Add cashews to a large glass jar, along with a drop of lemon. Cover with plenty of filtered water and soak for 2-4 hours.

  3. Drain cashews and rinse. Add cashews and a pinch of salt to a high-speed blender. Pour in 1 ½ cups of filtered water and blend until completely smooth. Thin out with extra filtered water, as needed and store in the refrigerator.

  4. Press the coffee and pour over ice. Add a splash of cashew milk and enjoy!

cashew-milk-and-coffee

Happy New Year – May 2017 Be Sweet

09 Monday Jan 2017

Posted by in Cake, Dessert, Uncategorized

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happy-new-year-2017-cake

Happy New Year to you and yours. A week or so later, but I am wishing you a sweet, successful, healthy year. I started the year with this honey and walnut cake with sour cream frosting and bubbles. The cake was made by my mom, and is one of my favorite cakes.

What are you goals for the year, both in and outside of the kitchen?

Do share.

Roasted Salmon Salad with Potatoes and Dill

29 Thursday Sep 2016

Posted by in Fish, Salad, Seafood, Uncategorized, whole30

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salmon-salad-with-potatoes-and-dill

Salmon Salad with Potatoes and Dill

Ingredients

Dressing:

1 tablespoon garlic aioli (or compliant mayonnaise)

1/2 tablespoon pickle or lemon juice

1 tablespoon fresh dill, chopped

Salad:
1/2 cup slowly roasted salmon, flaked
1/2 cup diced English cucumber
4 baby potatoes, boiled, cooled, and quartered
1 tomato, diced
3 green olives, sliced

Directions

1. Whisk together dressing ingredients.

2. Gently mix the dressing with the salad ingredients. Serve right away or refrigerate until ready.

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.

 

 

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.

Chicken Salad with Grapes & Apples

07 Wednesday Sep 2016

Posted by in Chicken, Lunch, Recipe, Salad, Uncategorized, whole30

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Sweet, savory, and fruity, this chicken salad has a little bit of everything. Try the salad over mixed greens, serve it with cucumber slices, or try it stuffed into a tomato or avocado. This makes a big batch, perfect to have on hand for leftovers and packed lunches.

Chicken Salad with Grapes & Apples

Ingredients

2 roasted chicken breasts, diced
1 cup green grapes, sliced
1 red apple, diced
2 stalks of celery, minced
1/4 cup chopped basil
1/4-1/3 cup Homemade Garlic Aioli
salt to taste
Garnish: chopped toasted walnuts

Directions

1. Combine all ingredients and season with salt to taste.

2. Garnish with chopped walnuts.

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Happy Eating!

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!

How to Make Sweet Potato Toast with Pesto & Avocado

12 Friday Aug 2016

Posted by in Breakfast, Gluten Free, Recipe, Sweet Potatoes, Uncategorized, Vegetarian, whole30

≈ Leave a comment

Just in time for my second round of whole30, sweet potato toast is sweeping the nation. Truth be told, I’ve been enjoying this culinary delight way ahead of its time in the headlines, but its sudden 5 minutes of fame (or will it be 15?) reminded me that I haven’t made it in some time. And so here it is, my version of the sweet potato toast.

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Let’s be honest. If you expect it to taste like toast, you’d be greatly disappointed. Because really, it doesn’t taste like toast. What it does taste is a perfectly balanced vegetarian breakfast or lunch entree that’s a bit sweet, savory, and stunningly beautiful.

Sweet Potato Toast with Pesto & Avocado

Ingredients

2 teaspoons olive oil
2 slices of sweet potato, 1/3″-thick
1/4 cup Kale & Basil Vegan Pesto
1/2 avocado, sliced
Balsamic Fig Vinegar
Kosher Salt
Arugula

Directions

1. Heat olive oil in a nonstick pan over medium-high heat. Add sweet potato slices and cook until tender, about 5 minutes per side.

2. Arrange slices of sweet potatoes over a bed of arugula. Spread pesto over each slice and top with slices of avocado. Drizzle with balsamic fig vinegar and sprinkle with salt.

This is just a beginning! Imagine these topped with a poached egg, or crispy prosciutto. Where would your imagination take you?

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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!

Quinoa, Chicken, and Kale Salad Recipe

06 Saturday Aug 2016

Posted by in Chicken, Gluten Free, Lunch, Quinoa, Recipe, Salad, Uncategorized

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Find out how to make one salad that will be your lunch for the entire week. No more sad desk lunches! This vibrant quinoa salad with rotisserie chicken and abundance of vegetables is going to get your through the work day keeping your stomach happy and satisfied.

I’ve been making salads like this one for the last couple of weeks. I prep the whole batch on a Sunday night and divide it up among 5 containers. Then each morning, I pop one of the containers out of the fridge, chop up some tomatoes and fresh basil from my garden, and head to work, counting down the hours until it’s lunchtime.

Quioa, Chicken, and Vegetables Salad Recipe

Quinoa, Chicken, and Kale Salad

Ingredients

1 cup quinoa
8 ounces Lacinato kale, chopped
2 rotisserie chicken breast halves, diced
2 bell peppers, seeded and diced
4-6 rainbow carrots, peeled and chopped
1 English cucumber, diced
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup lemon juice
2 teaspoons salt

Daily add ins: chopped tomatoes, basil, avocado

Directions

1. Add quinoa and 2 cups of water into a saucepan over medium-high heat. Add a pinch of salt and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer, cover the saucepan and cook until quinoa is tender and all the water is fully absorbed, 15-18 minutes. I’m a fan of using red quinoa, but any variety will work here.

2. Cool quinoa lightly and mix with kale. This wilts and softens kale just the right amount without cooking it or leaving it entirely raw.

3. Add the rest of the ingredients. To be honest, I rarely make formal dressings. Instead, I drizzle olive oil and lemon juice over the salad, add salt, and gently toss it together to incorporate. Be sure to taste. Add more lemon juice (sometimes I use rice vinegar) or salt, as needed.

4. Divide the salad among lunch containers and refrigerate. In the morning, add chopped tomatoes, diced avocado, and basil to the day’s lunch portion and head out to work.

As the salad hangs out in the refrigerator, the texture changes, but the ingredients never become soggy or inedible. Instead, cucumbers turn almost slightly marinated, while the kale softens further, and quinoa plumps up as it absorbs the dressing.

So, you guys! Make this salad and don’t have another sad lunch desk ever!

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!