This is a dish that I made long time ago (before the vegetarian approach) and I never had a chance to post it. It's so simple and delicious that I think everybody who eats meat should try it at least once... I promise you won't be disappointed! Me and my friend Shannon always share and swap recipes and ideas for some great family meals. Recently she bought a "Flat Belly Cookbook" and she tried out few of their recipes and liked them a lot. One of them, an Indian chicken with a cilantro and cashew sauce, sounded like something I would love, so I decided to try it as well. Quick, easy, healthy and delicious. Only a few ingredients, but lots of flavor, I'm sure you will like it. The recipe serves 4:
Ingredients:
* 1 lb chicken breast, cut into long thin strips
* 1 cup cilantro (packed)
* 1/2 cup cashew nuts
* 1 cup chicken broth
* salt and pepper
* juice of 1 lime
* rice
Directions:
1. Place cilantro, cashews and chicken broth into a food processor and blend until smooth.
2. Transfer into a skillet and start cooking. When the sauce is boiling, add chicken and cook for 10-15 minutes until chicken is completely cooked. If the sauce is too thick add more chicken broth or water.
3. Season with salt and pepper, add lime juice and serve with rice.
Smooth, creamy, light sauce paired with lean chicken is a great combination. You can also add red pepper flakes if you like some heat, but since I'm not a heat fanatic I decided to skip them all together. I think it might be one of my favorite quick chicken dishes... Justin loved it too.
Enjoy,
Magda.
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Sunday, May 19, 2013
Summer or Winter!
Can you have chili in the Summer? Some people think that it's only a Winter weather dish, but I don't care if it's Summer or Winter, if I want one I will have it! Especially if it's vegetarian chili... it's basically a veggie stew! I wasn't sure if it would be as satisfying as the meaty version so I decided to serve it with a large baked potato. I shouldn't have worried about it being "enough", it's super filling, but I just loved it spooned over the baked potato (I'm Polish - I eat potatoes like it's candy!) and sprinkled with some cheese. Check it out:
Ingredients:
* 1 cup dry red lentils
* 1 large onion, chopped
* 1 15oz can red beans, rinsed and drained
* 1 15oz can black beans, rinsed and drained
* 2 15oz cans fire roasted diced tomatoes
* 2 packs McCormick reduced sodium chili spice
* 1 cup fresh chopped cilantro
* 1 tbsp olive oil
* 4 large potatoes
* 4 tbsp shredded cheese (I used mixed cheeses)
Directions:
1. Wash and scrub potatoes, dry them with a paper towel, pierce with a fork and wrap into aluminum foil. Bake at 400F for 60-90 minutes (depending on the size of the potato).
2. In the meantime, in a Dutch oven heat the olive oil and saute onions for 4-5 minutes.
3. Add dry lentils and cook for 5 minutes constantly stirring.
4. Add tomatoes (with the juice), beans, McCormick spices, cilantro, and 1 cup of water, lower the heat and cook for 20-30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until lentils are cooked (but not mushy). Add some more water during the cooking if needed - lentils will soak up some of it.
5. Slice potato in half, top with as much chili as you like, sprinkle with shredded cheese and enjoy.
I cooked my lentils to the point where they were still a little bit crunchy, that's how I like it here. I feel like they give this dish a nice texture and don't make it mushy and one-dimensional. Of course you can cook your longer if you are too lazy to chew, but I encourage you to try them this way. You can also add some hot sauce (as Justin did) and a dollop of sour cream if that's what you like.
Enjoy,
Magda
Ingredients:
* 1 cup dry red lentils
* 1 large onion, chopped
* 1 15oz can red beans, rinsed and drained
* 1 15oz can black beans, rinsed and drained
* 2 15oz cans fire roasted diced tomatoes
* 2 packs McCormick reduced sodium chili spice
* 1 cup fresh chopped cilantro
* 1 tbsp olive oil
* 4 large potatoes
* 4 tbsp shredded cheese (I used mixed cheeses)
Directions:
1. Wash and scrub potatoes, dry them with a paper towel, pierce with a fork and wrap into aluminum foil. Bake at 400F for 60-90 minutes (depending on the size of the potato).
2. In the meantime, in a Dutch oven heat the olive oil and saute onions for 4-5 minutes.
3. Add dry lentils and cook for 5 minutes constantly stirring.
4. Add tomatoes (with the juice), beans, McCormick spices, cilantro, and 1 cup of water, lower the heat and cook for 20-30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until lentils are cooked (but not mushy). Add some more water during the cooking if needed - lentils will soak up some of it.
5. Slice potato in half, top with as much chili as you like, sprinkle with shredded cheese and enjoy.
I cooked my lentils to the point where they were still a little bit crunchy, that's how I like it here. I feel like they give this dish a nice texture and don't make it mushy and one-dimensional. Of course you can cook your longer if you are too lazy to chew, but I encourage you to try them this way. You can also add some hot sauce (as Justin did) and a dollop of sour cream if that's what you like.
Enjoy,
Magda
Labels:
stew/sauce,
vegetarian
Monday, May 13, 2013
Yet, another burger.
We loved our last veggie burgers so much that I decided to make some more. It's a perfect dish for a busy week - it doesn't take long to make, and you can make a bunch of them and enjoy it for few days with different condiments. This time I decided to use cannellini beans instead of black beans and add some corn and roasted bell pepper for extra flavor. I have to admit that they came out pretty delicious. Remember the pickled onions from my last post about fish tacos? They are a great additions to these burgers. Here is the recipe, serves 12:
Ingredients:
* 1 cup quinoa
* 1 1/2 cup oats
* 1 cup frozen corn, thawed
* 1 jar roasted bell peppers
* 2 15oz cans cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
* 1/2 cup fresh chopped parsley
* 1/2 cup fresh chopped basil
* 1/2 cup ground flax seeds
* 1/2 cup chia seeds
* 1/2 cup oat bran
* 1/2 tsp ground cardamon
* salt and pepper
Directions:
1. Cook quinoa in salted water (20 minutes), drain and set aside.
2. Drain roasted bell peppers and blend them in a blender until smooth. Add flax and chia seeds with 1/2 cup of water and let it stand for 5-10 minutes.
3. In a large bowl, smash cannellini beans with potato masher and add corn, oats, parsley, basil, oat bran,, peppers/chia/flax mixture, and all the spices.
4. Mix everything to combine, form 12 patties, and place on a baking sheet. Refrigerate for 10-15 minutes and bake at 375F for 15 minutes on each side.
5. Using your favorite burger fixings create a sandwich and enjoy.
They are really hearty! If you are looking for something healthy and satisfying, that's your dish. You can customize them by adding your own ingredients and I'm sure they will be good no matter what. I really recommend them to all my health conscious (and not only) followers.
Enjoy,
Magda.
Ingredients:
* 1 cup quinoa
* 1 1/2 cup oats
* 1 cup frozen corn, thawed
* 1 jar roasted bell peppers
* 2 15oz cans cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
* 1/2 cup fresh chopped parsley
* 1/2 cup fresh chopped basil
* 1/2 cup ground flax seeds
* 1/2 cup chia seeds
* 1/2 cup oat bran
* 1/2 tsp ground cardamon
* salt and pepper
Directions:
1. Cook quinoa in salted water (20 minutes), drain and set aside.
2. Drain roasted bell peppers and blend them in a blender until smooth. Add flax and chia seeds with 1/2 cup of water and let it stand for 5-10 minutes.
3. In a large bowl, smash cannellini beans with potato masher and add corn, oats, parsley, basil, oat bran,, peppers/chia/flax mixture, and all the spices.
4. Mix everything to combine, form 12 patties, and place on a baking sheet. Refrigerate for 10-15 minutes and bake at 375F for 15 minutes on each side.
5. Using your favorite burger fixings create a sandwich and enjoy.
They are really hearty! If you are looking for something healthy and satisfying, that's your dish. You can customize them by adding your own ingredients and I'm sure they will be good no matter what. I really recommend them to all my health conscious (and not only) followers.
Enjoy,
Magda.
Labels:
vegetarian
Sunday, May 12, 2013
Searching for the "one".
I always hear mixed opinions about fish tacos, some people love them, some people hate them. I've had few different versions of them and I wasn't really that impressed. I can't say I hated them, they were OK, but I would rather have something else. So as always, I took it as a challenge to make my own and see if I can come up with a recipe that will change my mind about this dish. I decided to pair the fish with some red cabbage slaw and marinated onions - I thought that the acid and crunch would make them much better. So here is my creation:
Ingredients:
* 10-12 oz fish (I used cod)
* 1 tsp taco seasoning
* salt
* 1/4 red cabbage, thinly shredded
* 1 tsp salt
* 1 apple, shredded
* 2 tbsp fat-free mayo
* 2 tbsp Greek yogurt
* 1 lime
* 1 tsp sugar
* 1 small red onion
* 1 cup apple cider vinegar
* 1 cup water
* 1/2 cup sugar
* 4 corn tortillas
Directions:
1. Using mandolin slicer, thinly slice red onion into half moons.
2. Transfer into a large jar and cover with a vinegar/water/sugar mixture. Refrigerate for minimum 2 hours (over night preferred).
3. To make coleslaw: mix thinly shredded red cabbage with 1 tsp of salt and using your hands "massage" and squeeze the cabbage. Refrigerate for 30 minutes. Add mayo, Greek yogurt, sugar and lime juice. Mix to combine.
4. Place fish on a baking dish, sprinkle with salt and taco seasoning and bake at 425F for 15 minutes.
5. Top tortilla with red cabbage slaw, flaked fish and marinated onions.
Judgement time: they are OK, but again, I'm not too impressed. Everything is delicious (I love, love these marinated onions), but somehow I'm not a fish taco person. We ate them and enjoyed them, but I don't see us making them any time soon. The marinated onions on the other hand... I will make sure we always have them in our fridge - we use them on almost everything. But don't get discouraged by my opinion, if you are a fish tacos lover, you might enjoy the dish - it might be your new favorite!
Good luck,
Magda
Ingredients:
* 10-12 oz fish (I used cod)
* 1 tsp taco seasoning
* salt
* 1/4 red cabbage, thinly shredded
* 1 tsp salt
* 1 apple, shredded
* 2 tbsp fat-free mayo
* 2 tbsp Greek yogurt
* 1 lime
* 1 tsp sugar
* 1 small red onion
* 1 cup apple cider vinegar
* 1 cup water
* 1/2 cup sugar
* 4 corn tortillas
Directions:
1. Using mandolin slicer, thinly slice red onion into half moons.
2. Transfer into a large jar and cover with a vinegar/water/sugar mixture. Refrigerate for minimum 2 hours (over night preferred).
3. To make coleslaw: mix thinly shredded red cabbage with 1 tsp of salt and using your hands "massage" and squeeze the cabbage. Refrigerate for 30 minutes. Add mayo, Greek yogurt, sugar and lime juice. Mix to combine.
4. Place fish on a baking dish, sprinkle with salt and taco seasoning and bake at 425F for 15 minutes.
5. Top tortilla with red cabbage slaw, flaked fish and marinated onions.
Good luck,
Magda
Labels:
fish/seafood
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
New healthy habit.
I know, I already told you that we are drinking fresh vegetables/fruit juices for breakfast, but I love it so much that I can't just stop with one blog post about it. It's so much fun to try new flavor combinations, but I have to admit - some are better than others. Obviously fruit based juices are much sweeter and tastier than the veggie ones, but we like them all... well, most of them. The one I'm posting today is one of my favorites - it looks good, it smells good, and it's delicious. Check it out:
Ingredients:
* 4-5 large carrots
* 1/3 large pineapple
* 10 strawberries
* 2 inches fresh ginger, pealed
Directions:
1. Juice everything together. The End.
That's all there is to it... it's that easy... and it takes 5 minutes every morning. I love it so much, I could drink a bucket of it and still want more... it's my favorite breakfast ever! It's so worth it to invest in a juicer and make your own juices. It's much better, cheaper, and more convenient than buying it from a juice bar.
Enjoy,
Magda.
Ingredients:
* 4-5 large carrots
* 1/3 large pineapple
* 10 strawberries
* 2 inches fresh ginger, pealed
Directions:
1. Juice everything together. The End.
That's all there is to it... it's that easy... and it takes 5 minutes every morning. I love it so much, I could drink a bucket of it and still want more... it's my favorite breakfast ever! It's so worth it to invest in a juicer and make your own juices. It's much better, cheaper, and more convenient than buying it from a juice bar.
Enjoy,
Magda.
Labels:
breakfast,
fruit,
vegetarian
Saturday, May 4, 2013
Egg sandwich reconstructed!
I have posted many recipes for breakfast dishes so far, but that doesn't mean that I will stop creating new ones. It's one of my favorite meals in the entire world (probably due to my addiction to eggs) and I am constantly experimenting with new things. I especially love weekend breakfasts because not only Justin makes the best eggs Benedict ever, but also because I always get breakfast in bed with a cup of hot green tea. Weekend breakfasts are always Justin's creations, but during the weekdays I am responsible for it and since we eat it at work it has to be something that is easily transported and won't lose it's deliciousness! Egg muffins... that is my answer - you can make it one night, pre-pack it, and grab them as you heading out the door. Recipe makes 6.
Ingredients:
* 8 eggs
* 3 whole wheat kaiser rolls, cubed
* 1 1/2 cup skim milk
* 1 1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
* 2 medium tomatoes, diced
* 1/2 cup fresh chopped parsley
* 1 tbsp curry powder
* 2 tbsp flour
* 2 tbsp honey mustard
* salt and pepper
Directions:
1. In a large bowl whisk eggs together with milk, curry powder, flour, honey mustard, salt and pepper.
2. Add 1 cup of cheddar cheese, diced tomatoes, parsley, and cubed bread. Mix gently to combine.
3. Transfer into 6 greased ramekins, top with remaining cheddar cheese and bake at 350F for 20-25 minutes.
4. Let them cool slightly before removing from the ramekins and enjoy your breakfast.
Egg sandwich reconstructed. You have bread, eggs, cheese, and tomatoes... and no need to make it fresh every day...or spend money on breakfast sandwiches. I love these kind of dishes. As always, you can change up the recipe and add or subtract things you want. I think next week I will substitute tomatoes with mushrooms... that sounds delicious!
Good luck,
Magda
Ingredients:
* 8 eggs
* 3 whole wheat kaiser rolls, cubed
* 1 1/2 cup skim milk
* 1 1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
* 2 medium tomatoes, diced
* 1/2 cup fresh chopped parsley
* 1 tbsp curry powder
* 2 tbsp flour
* 2 tbsp honey mustard
* salt and pepper
Directions:
1. In a large bowl whisk eggs together with milk, curry powder, flour, honey mustard, salt and pepper.
2. Add 1 cup of cheddar cheese, diced tomatoes, parsley, and cubed bread. Mix gently to combine.
3. Transfer into 6 greased ramekins, top with remaining cheddar cheese and bake at 350F for 20-25 minutes.
4. Let them cool slightly before removing from the ramekins and enjoy your breakfast.
Egg sandwich reconstructed. You have bread, eggs, cheese, and tomatoes... and no need to make it fresh every day...or spend money on breakfast sandwiches. I love these kind of dishes. As always, you can change up the recipe and add or subtract things you want. I think next week I will substitute tomatoes with mushrooms... that sounds delicious!
Good luck,
Magda
Labels:
breakfast,
eggs,
vegetarian
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Farmer's pie!
Do you remember my "meat and potatoes kind of girl" post from long time ago featuring delicious Shepherd's pie (if not you can find it here)? Well, I might not be so "meaty" anymore, but I still love me some potatoes and that's why I created this dish. I can't call it a "Shepherd's pie" anymore because it doesn't have any meat, but since it's a vegetarian version I decided to call it a "Farmer's pie". It's really good and flavorful. I used some chia seeds, because they are not only a great "binder", but also add tons of omega-3s and proteins to the dish. If you can't find them or don't want to spend money, you can definitely skip them in this dish and it still will be delicious. Here is the recipe, serves 6-8:
Ingredients:
Veggies:
* 1 large onion, chopped
* 3 garlic cloves, chopped
* 2 zucchini, chopped
* 4 celery sticks, chopped
* 1 cup frozen corn
* 2 cups frozen carrot/pea mix, thawed
* 1/3 cup chia seeds
* 1/2 cup fresh chopped parsley
* 1 tsp dried thyme
* 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
* 2 tbsp ketchup (trust me!)
* 1 tbsp olive oil
* salt and pepper
Potatoes:
* 2 large potatoes
* 2 yams
* 1/2 cup skim milk
* 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan
* 2 eggs
Directions:
1. Boil potatoes and yams in salted water.
2. In the meantime, in a large skillet heat the olive oil and saute chopped onions for 3-4 minutes. Add garlic, zucchini, celery, corn, and carrot/pea mix. Add a pinch of salt (will help to sweat the veggies) and cook for 6-7 minutes until veggies are tender but not overcooked.
3. Add thyme, Worcestershire sauce, ketchup, pepper and salt (to taste) and cook everything for 2-3 minutes.
4. Add chia seeds and parsley, mix to combine and set aside.
5. Drain cooked potatoes, add milk, Parmesan cheese, and eggs - mash everything together until smooth.
6. On the bottom of the baking dish layer all the vegetables, top with potato layer, and bake at 360F for 30 minutes.
The top of the potatoes is super crispy, while the middle is creamy and smooth. The deeper you dig the more flavor and texture you can find... chunks of delicious veggies mixed with creamy potatoes is just a perfect combination.
Enjoy,
Magda.
Ingredients:
Veggies:
* 1 large onion, chopped
* 3 garlic cloves, chopped
* 2 zucchini, chopped
* 4 celery sticks, chopped
* 1 cup frozen corn
* 2 cups frozen carrot/pea mix, thawed
* 1/3 cup chia seeds
* 1/2 cup fresh chopped parsley
* 1 tsp dried thyme
* 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
* 2 tbsp ketchup (trust me!)
* 1 tbsp olive oil
* salt and pepper
Potatoes:
* 2 large potatoes
* 2 yams
* 1/2 cup skim milk
* 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan
* 2 eggs
Directions:
1. Boil potatoes and yams in salted water.
2. In the meantime, in a large skillet heat the olive oil and saute chopped onions for 3-4 minutes. Add garlic, zucchini, celery, corn, and carrot/pea mix. Add a pinch of salt (will help to sweat the veggies) and cook for 6-7 minutes until veggies are tender but not overcooked.
3. Add thyme, Worcestershire sauce, ketchup, pepper and salt (to taste) and cook everything for 2-3 minutes.
4. Add chia seeds and parsley, mix to combine and set aside.
5. Drain cooked potatoes, add milk, Parmesan cheese, and eggs - mash everything together until smooth.
6. On the bottom of the baking dish layer all the vegetables, top with potato layer, and bake at 360F for 30 minutes.
The top of the potatoes is super crispy, while the middle is creamy and smooth. The deeper you dig the more flavor and texture you can find... chunks of delicious veggies mixed with creamy potatoes is just a perfect combination.
Enjoy,
Magda.
Labels:
vegetarian
Sunday, April 28, 2013
Cheers!
So here it is, as I promised... our sweet, girly, fruity drink that is perfect for ladies night. I just thought it would be nice to have a mixed drink rather than a
wine... we always do wine, so it was high time to change it up a
little bit. Just think about pineapple, rum and limes put together to create a dense and delicious Hawaii-inspired cocktail. Sounds good, doesn't it? As always, you can adjust the amount of ingredients... you can make it as strong, as sweet, and as limey as you like, but here is the general recipe:
Ingredients:
* 1 fresh pineapple, cored and cubed
* 3-4 cups Ginger Ale
* 3 limes
* 3 cups of rum
* 2 cups water
* 1 cup sugar
* small bundle of mint
* 2 cups of ice
Directions:
1. To make simple syrup: in a skillet, combine 2 cups of water with 1 cup of sugar. Bring to boil, add mint bundle, turn off the heat and let it cool completely. When cold remove the mint and set aside.
2. In a blender, combine cubed pineapple with simple syrup and blend until smooth.
3. Combine blended pineapple with rum, lime juice and Ginger Ale. Taste everything as you are adding ingredients so you make is exactly as you like it (you may want to adjust the amount of some ingredients).
4. Add ice and serve.
Delicious! I think it would be really good also with other types of fruit ... I can't wait for watermelon season to begin! That sounds like a perfect fruit to make a drink with.
Enjoy,
Magda.
Ingredients:
* 1 fresh pineapple, cored and cubed
* 3-4 cups Ginger Ale
* 3 limes
* 3 cups of rum
* 2 cups water
* 1 cup sugar
* small bundle of mint
* 2 cups of ice
Directions:
1. To make simple syrup: in a skillet, combine 2 cups of water with 1 cup of sugar. Bring to boil, add mint bundle, turn off the heat and let it cool completely. When cold remove the mint and set aside.
2. In a blender, combine cubed pineapple with simple syrup and blend until smooth.
3. Combine blended pineapple with rum, lime juice and Ginger Ale. Taste everything as you are adding ingredients so you make is exactly as you like it (you may want to adjust the amount of some ingredients).
4. Add ice and serve.
Delicious! I think it would be really good also with other types of fruit ... I can't wait for watermelon season to begin! That sounds like a perfect fruit to make a drink with.
Enjoy,
Magda.
Labels:
appetizers,
dessert,
drink
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Another one bites a dust!
Yep... we are losing another member of our "get-together-eat-drink-and-gossip" club. She got an awesome job and she is moving to a far far away land with a slick chance of ever coming back (unless she can't deal with the separation from us). I think we should start some kind of recruitment program to try to fill the opening... so if you are funny, a little bit sarcastic, love to eat, drink, and gossip... send us your application! Last weekend we had one of our final get-togethers and we started it with a super healthy and super delicious edamame dip as an appetizer! Well, we started it with a great drink... but for that you will have to come back next time. Here is the recipe for a dip:
Ingredients:
* 1 12oz bag frozen shelled edamame, thawed
* 1 cup plain yogurt
* 1 tbsp lemon juice
* 2 tbsp fresh chopped basil
* 1 tsp garlic powder
* 1 tbsp olive oil
* salt and pepper
Directions:
1. Combine all the ingredients in a food processor and process until smooth and well combined.
2. Refrigerate for 30 minutes and serve with pita chips.
Fresh, creamy and nutritious. I don't think you can find an appetizer that is better for you than this one. There are only healthy ingredients in it... yogurt, edamame, lemon juice and olive oil - pure health on a plate... and it tastes fantastic too! If you are curious about our girly fruity drink that goes great with the dip... come back in a few days!
Enjoy,
Magda.
Ingredients:
* 1 12oz bag frozen shelled edamame, thawed
* 1 cup plain yogurt
* 1 tbsp lemon juice
* 2 tbsp fresh chopped basil
* 1 tsp garlic powder
* 1 tbsp olive oil
* salt and pepper
Directions:
1. Combine all the ingredients in a food processor and process until smooth and well combined.
2. Refrigerate for 30 minutes and serve with pita chips.
Fresh, creamy and nutritious. I don't think you can find an appetizer that is better for you than this one. There are only healthy ingredients in it... yogurt, edamame, lemon juice and olive oil - pure health on a plate... and it tastes fantastic too! If you are curious about our girly fruity drink that goes great with the dip... come back in a few days!
Enjoy,
Magda.
Labels:
appetizers,
vegetarian
Sunday, April 21, 2013
No skimpy shirmp!
What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you think of Chinese food? Shrimp fried rice - that's my choice! So simple, but so delicious! I love to make my own at home because I can pack it with whatever ingredients I want and with as much ingredients as I want (no skimpy restaurant shrimp portions). I load mine with lots of veggies (especially snow peas - love, love, love), scallions, and pile it with a mountain of freshly cooked shrimp. I know your mouth is watering right about now... I know mine is! Here it is (serves 4):
Ingredients:
* 1 lb raw shrimp
* 2 cups brown rice
* 1 cup snow peas
* 1 cup froze carrot/peas mixture
* 1 red bell pepper, chopped
* 6 scallions, chopped
* 2 eggs
* 2 tbsp butter
* 2 tbsp olive oil
* 1 tsp garlic powder
* salt
Sauce:
* 1/4 cup soy sauce
* 1 tbsp hoisin sauce
* 1 tbsp agave nectar
* 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
Directions:
1. Cook brown rice in salted water for 30 minutes, drain and set aside.
2. In a deep skillet melt butter, add shrimp season with garlic powder and a pinch of salt. Cook for 3-4 minutes until pink and cooked. Remove the shrimp from a skillet and set aside.
3. Into the same skillet add olive oil and when it's hot add bell peppers, snow peas, carrots/peas, and scallions. Saute for 4-5 minutes on high heat. Add prepared sauce and cook for 1-2 more minutes.
4. Add eggs and cook for 2 minutes constantly mixing.
5. Add cooked rice and shrimp and mix everything to combine.
Oh that juicy, juicy shrimp! Crispy veggies, juicy shrimp, super flavorful sauce... how can you not like it? You add what you like, as much as you like, and no need to pay for a second helping... perfect (homemade) takeout!
Enjoy,
Magda
Ingredients:
* 1 lb raw shrimp
* 2 cups brown rice
* 1 cup snow peas
* 1 cup froze carrot/peas mixture
* 1 red bell pepper, chopped
* 6 scallions, chopped
* 2 eggs
* 2 tbsp butter
* 2 tbsp olive oil
* 1 tsp garlic powder
* salt
Sauce:
* 1/4 cup soy sauce
* 1 tbsp hoisin sauce
* 1 tbsp agave nectar
* 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
Directions:
1. Cook brown rice in salted water for 30 minutes, drain and set aside.
2. In a deep skillet melt butter, add shrimp season with garlic powder and a pinch of salt. Cook for 3-4 minutes until pink and cooked. Remove the shrimp from a skillet and set aside.
3. Into the same skillet add olive oil and when it's hot add bell peppers, snow peas, carrots/peas, and scallions. Saute for 4-5 minutes on high heat. Add prepared sauce and cook for 1-2 more minutes.
4. Add eggs and cook for 2 minutes constantly mixing.
5. Add cooked rice and shrimp and mix everything to combine.
Oh that juicy, juicy shrimp! Crispy veggies, juicy shrimp, super flavorful sauce... how can you not like it? You add what you like, as much as you like, and no need to pay for a second helping... perfect (homemade) takeout!
Enjoy,
Magda
Labels:
eggs,
fish/seafood,
rice
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Aromatherapy!
Basil, lemon, and cardamon... how does that smell to you? If you don't know, let me tell you - it smells fantastic!!! Smells great and tastes even better. Check out my baked pasta with lemon/cardamon/basil sauce and delicious edamame for some protein. I don't know why I didn't create this dish earlier, it's definitely our new comfort food and I'm planning on making it very often... yes, it's that good! Recipe serves 2-6 and I mean it's big enough for six portions, but so good that two people could eat it at one sitting (looong sitting).
Ingredients:
* 1 lb large rigatoni pasta
* 1 cup shelled edamame
* 1 cup fresh chopped basil
* 2 lemons (zest and juice)
* 1 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
* 3 tbsp butter
* 3 tbsp flour
* 3 cups milk
* 1/2 tsp ground cardamon
* salt
Directions:
1. Cook pasta in salted water until al dente.
2. In a deep skillet melt butter, add flour and cook for 1-2 minutes constantly whisking.
3. Add milk, cardamon and a little bit of salt. cook (whisking) for 3-4 minutes until it thickens.
4. Add edamame and 1 cup of Parmesan cheese, mix to combine, and transfer into a deep bowl.
5. Add basil, lemon zest and lemon juice. Add pasta, mix to combine, and transfer into a baking dish.
6. Top with remaining 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese and bake at 360F for 25 minutes.
Oh, that fantastic smell... I think they should bottle it and sell it as an aromatherapy scent! The pasta on the top is crispy and browned and the deeper you dig the more it becomes creamy and cheesy.
Enjoy,
Magda.
Ingredients:
* 1 lb large rigatoni pasta
* 1 cup shelled edamame
* 1 cup fresh chopped basil
* 2 lemons (zest and juice)
* 1 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
* 3 tbsp butter
* 3 tbsp flour
* 3 cups milk
* 1/2 tsp ground cardamon
* salt
Directions:
1. Cook pasta in salted water until al dente.
2. In a deep skillet melt butter, add flour and cook for 1-2 minutes constantly whisking.
3. Add milk, cardamon and a little bit of salt. cook (whisking) for 3-4 minutes until it thickens.
4. Add edamame and 1 cup of Parmesan cheese, mix to combine, and transfer into a deep bowl.
5. Add basil, lemon zest and lemon juice. Add pasta, mix to combine, and transfer into a baking dish.
6. Top with remaining 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese and bake at 360F for 25 minutes.
Oh, that fantastic smell... I think they should bottle it and sell it as an aromatherapy scent! The pasta on the top is crispy and browned and the deeper you dig the more it becomes creamy and cheesy.
Enjoy,
Magda.
Labels:
pasta,
vegetarian
Sunday, April 14, 2013
Spring in the oven!
When I think about a "Springy" dish I think about something green, light, and with lots of veggies! Eggs aren't bad either and since we buying our eggs from farmers nowadays...we tend to eat much more of them (not like I didn't have my fair share of them before!). Imagine asparagus, potatoes, feta cheese and eggs... doesn't is sound delicious? Check out this Spring-inspired quiche, serves 4-6:
Ingredients:
* 1 Pillsbury refrigerated pie dough
* 2 medium potatoes
* 2 cups chopped fresh asparagus
* 1 cup fresh chopped parsley
* 5 eggs
* 1 1/2 cups milk
* 2 tbsp flour
* 1 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
* 2/3 cup feta cheese, crumbled
* 1 tbsp turmeric powder
* 1 tsp olive oil
* salt
Directions:
1. Peel and dice potatoes and boil them in salted water for 10-15 minutes until soften, but not completely cooked. Drain and set aside to cool down.
2. Cut asparagus into 1.5 inch pieces, put into boiling water for 3-4 minutes and transfer into ice water to stop the cooking process. Drain and set aside.
3. Place pie crust in a large pie baking dish, brush with olive oil and prick it with a fork so it wont puff up. Pre-bake at 350F for 6-7 minutes.
4. In a bowl whisk eggs together with milk, flour, turmeric, and some salt (to your liking). Add 1 cup Parmesan cheese and most of the feta cheese, mix to combine.
5. Fill pie crust with cooked potatoes and asparagus, cover with egg mixture, and sprinkle with remaining feta and Parmesan. Bake at 350F for 30 minutes. Let it stand for 10-15 minutes before cutting into it.
I think feta cheese is one of my favorite things about this quiche. I mean asparagus is great too... but cheese always beats everything. You can enjoy it warm or cold, it's good both ways.
Bon appetit,
Magda
Ingredients:
* 1 Pillsbury refrigerated pie dough
* 2 medium potatoes
* 2 cups chopped fresh asparagus
* 1 cup fresh chopped parsley
* 5 eggs
* 1 1/2 cups milk
* 2 tbsp flour
* 1 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
* 2/3 cup feta cheese, crumbled
* 1 tbsp turmeric powder
* 1 tsp olive oil
* salt
Directions:
1. Peel and dice potatoes and boil them in salted water for 10-15 minutes until soften, but not completely cooked. Drain and set aside to cool down.
2. Cut asparagus into 1.5 inch pieces, put into boiling water for 3-4 minutes and transfer into ice water to stop the cooking process. Drain and set aside.
3. Place pie crust in a large pie baking dish, brush with olive oil and prick it with a fork so it wont puff up. Pre-bake at 350F for 6-7 minutes.
4. In a bowl whisk eggs together with milk, flour, turmeric, and some salt (to your liking). Add 1 cup Parmesan cheese and most of the feta cheese, mix to combine.
5. Fill pie crust with cooked potatoes and asparagus, cover with egg mixture, and sprinkle with remaining feta and Parmesan. Bake at 350F for 30 minutes. Let it stand for 10-15 minutes before cutting into it.
I think feta cheese is one of my favorite things about this quiche. I mean asparagus is great too... but cheese always beats everything. You can enjoy it warm or cold, it's good both ways.
Bon appetit,
Magda
Labels:
eggs,
vegetarian
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Baked and beautiful!
Another dish which proves that you don't need meat and that you won't even notice it's not there. The secret is simple... you need to make the dish delicious, satisfying and loaded with proteins. I took two of the most common vegetarian ingredients: brown rice and black beans, and transformed them into this rich and flavorful Mexican-style rice casserole. Lots of beans, lots of cheese, and lots of cilantro... and I have to admit, it's pretty good! Recipe serves 8:
Ingredients:
* 4 cups brown rice
* 1 tsp ground cumin
* 1 tsp five spice
* 1 tsp salt
* 2 15oz cans black beans, rinsed and drained
* 1 15oz can tomato sauce
* 2 cups frozen corn, thawed
* 1 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
* 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
* 4 eggs
* 1 cup milk
* 2 McCormick packets of Original Taco Seasoning
* 1/2 cup panko bread crumbs
Directions:
1. In a large pot boil rice with salt, cumin and five spice. Cook for 30 minutes, drain and set aside to cool down.
2. In a large bowl whisk eggs with milk, tomato sauce, and taco seasoning. Add corn, drained beans, 1 cup of cheddar cheese, and cilantro.
3. Add cooled rice, mix everything to combine and transfer into a deep baking dish.
4. Top with remaining 1 cup of cheddar cheese and panko bread crumbs. Bake at 375F for 30-40 minutes. Let is stand for 10-15 minutes before cutting into it.
Smells awesome! Cheese and bread crumbs on the top create a nice gooey crust (yes, crust can be gooey!), cilantro and taco seasoning give it this distinguish flavor that just makes you want to eat more and more. If you want to convince your carnivore partner to eat some vegetarian dishes... this is the way to go!
Enjoy,
Magda.
Ingredients:
* 4 cups brown rice
* 1 tsp ground cumin
* 1 tsp five spice
* 1 tsp salt
* 2 15oz cans black beans, rinsed and drained
* 1 15oz can tomato sauce
* 2 cups frozen corn, thawed
* 1 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
* 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
* 4 eggs
* 1 cup milk
* 2 McCormick packets of Original Taco Seasoning
* 1/2 cup panko bread crumbs
Directions:
1. In a large pot boil rice with salt, cumin and five spice. Cook for 30 minutes, drain and set aside to cool down.
2. In a large bowl whisk eggs with milk, tomato sauce, and taco seasoning. Add corn, drained beans, 1 cup of cheddar cheese, and cilantro.
3. Add cooled rice, mix everything to combine and transfer into a deep baking dish.
4. Top with remaining 1 cup of cheddar cheese and panko bread crumbs. Bake at 375F for 30-40 minutes. Let is stand for 10-15 minutes before cutting into it.
Smells awesome! Cheese and bread crumbs on the top create a nice gooey crust (yes, crust can be gooey!), cilantro and taco seasoning give it this distinguish flavor that just makes you want to eat more and more. If you want to convince your carnivore partner to eat some vegetarian dishes... this is the way to go!
Enjoy,
Magda.
Labels:
eggs,
rice,
vegetarian
Sunday, April 7, 2013
Grandma's Proziaki!
I know it's way past St. Patrick's Day and everybody already forgot about Irish soda bread, but not me. I was going through some recipes and I saw one for this bread. I heard about it, but I never had one... at least that's what I thought until I read the recipe. I could not believe my eyes... Irish soda bread is nothing other than my grandma's "proziaki"! Seriously, how could I not know about that? Every time (and I mean every single time) we would go to visit my grandma, we would always request them. She would form disks of dough and bake them directly on her old-fashion firewood cooking stove...man it was the best thing in the world!!! And they call it Irish soda bread? No way... it's Grandma's Proziaki, period! So here is the recipe, that couldn't be any simpler ... I did stick to the "bread" shape and I added something extra to make it my own!
Ingredients:
* 4 cups all purpose flour
* 1 3/4 cups buttermilk
* 2 tsp baking soda
* 1 tsp salt
* 3/4 cup roasted pumpkin seeds
* 3/4 cup roasted sunflower seeds
* 1 tsp olive oil
Directions:
1. In a large bowl combine flower, baking soda, salt, and seeds. Mix to combine.
2. Slowly add buttermilk mixing until incorporated into a flour.
3. Place dough onto a floured surface and knead until it forms a ball.
4. Transfer dough onto baking sheet lined with parchment paper, shape it into a round loaf, brush the top with the olive oil, and cut a X on the top.
5. Cover it with aluminum foil and bake at 425F for 30 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for additional 15 minutes until golden brown.
The outside is crispy while the inside is dense and moist. Oh yeah, put a little bit of butter or cream cheese on a hot slice of bread and it's like you are in my grandma's kitchen! Brings me right back to when I was a little kid. I really like it with the pumpkin and sunflower seeds, I think it's a great addition.
Enjoy,
Magda.
Ingredients:
* 4 cups all purpose flour
* 1 3/4 cups buttermilk
* 2 tsp baking soda
* 1 tsp salt
* 3/4 cup roasted pumpkin seeds
* 3/4 cup roasted sunflower seeds
* 1 tsp olive oil
Directions:
1. In a large bowl combine flower, baking soda, salt, and seeds. Mix to combine.
2. Slowly add buttermilk mixing until incorporated into a flour.
3. Place dough onto a floured surface and knead until it forms a ball.
4. Transfer dough onto baking sheet lined with parchment paper, shape it into a round loaf, brush the top with the olive oil, and cut a X on the top.
5. Cover it with aluminum foil and bake at 425F for 30 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for additional 15 minutes until golden brown.
The outside is crispy while the inside is dense and moist. Oh yeah, put a little bit of butter or cream cheese on a hot slice of bread and it's like you are in my grandma's kitchen! Brings me right back to when I was a little kid. I really like it with the pumpkin and sunflower seeds, I think it's a great addition.
Enjoy,
Magda.
Labels:
breakfast,
vegetarian
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Still loving our veggies!
Even though our vegetarian experiment ended few days ago, we decided to reduce our "meat intake" from now on anyways. We liked being vegetarians, we saved some money, we lost few pounds, it was a win-win situation. From now on we will use meat as a "treat" from time to time. If we feel like having a burger - we will definitely have one, if we want a piece of chicken - we will have one as well, no questions about it, but most of the time we will eat meat-free. So I predict that you will see many more vegetarian recipes here than meaty ones. Here is one of them - garbanzo curry in coconut milk:
Ingredients:
* 2 15oz cans garbanzo beans, washed and drained
* 1 large onion, chopped
* 1 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
* 1 13oz can coconut milk
* 1 small (8oz) can tomato sauce
* 1 tbsp cumin seeds
* 1 tbsp mustard seeds
* 1 tbsp white dal
* 1 tbsp ground coriander
* 1 tbsp garam masala powder
* 1 tbsp curry powder
* 1 tbsp light brown sugar
* 2 tbsp olive oil
* salt and pepper
Directions:
1. In a deep skillet heat the olive oil to high temperature and drop in cumin seeds, mustard seeds and white dal. Stand back and immediately cover the pot with the lid - it will splatter. Cook in oil for 1-2 minutes.
2. Add chopped onions, reduce the heat and cook for 3-4 minutes to soften.
3. Add tomato sauce, coconut milk, cilantro, scrape the bottom of pot and cook for 2-3 minutes.
4. Add garbanzo beans, season with brown sugar and salt, and cook on a low heat for 10 minutes until sauce thickens.
5. Serve with cooked rice or quinoa.
Creamy, tangy, a little bit spicy, and very satisfying! I just love coconut milk, not only is it smooth and silky, but also it's delicious and comforting. With a dish like that, you won't even notice that there is no meat at the table!
Enjoy,
Magda
Ingredients:
* 2 15oz cans garbanzo beans, washed and drained
* 1 large onion, chopped
* 1 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
* 1 13oz can coconut milk
* 1 small (8oz) can tomato sauce
* 1 tbsp cumin seeds
* 1 tbsp mustard seeds
* 1 tbsp white dal
* 1 tbsp ground coriander
* 1 tbsp garam masala powder
* 1 tbsp curry powder
* 1 tbsp light brown sugar
* 2 tbsp olive oil
* salt and pepper
Directions:
1. In a deep skillet heat the olive oil to high temperature and drop in cumin seeds, mustard seeds and white dal. Stand back and immediately cover the pot with the lid - it will splatter. Cook in oil for 1-2 minutes.
2. Add chopped onions, reduce the heat and cook for 3-4 minutes to soften.
3. Add tomato sauce, coconut milk, cilantro, scrape the bottom of pot and cook for 2-3 minutes.
4. Add garbanzo beans, season with brown sugar and salt, and cook on a low heat for 10 minutes until sauce thickens.
5. Serve with cooked rice or quinoa.
Creamy, tangy, a little bit spicy, and very satisfying! I just love coconut milk, not only is it smooth and silky, but also it's delicious and comforting. With a dish like that, you won't even notice that there is no meat at the table!
Enjoy,
Magda
Labels:
stew/sauce,
vegetarian
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)














