Healthy Sloppy Joes or Stuffed Peppers

For a yummy alternative make the sloppy joe mix, stuff it in bell peppers, top with your favorite cheese, and put it under the broiler for 5-10 minutes or until cheese is golden and bubbly.

FORMULA:

1 lb. ground turkey, beef or vegetarian ground meat, or 28 – 30 oz. pinto beans, drained and rinsed
1/2 yellow onion, finely diced
1 red or yellow bell pepper, finely diced
1 large carrot, finely diced
15 oz. tomato sauce
1 Tbsp. brown sugar
2 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
2 Tbsp. ketchup
8 whole wheat buns, (or use taco shells)

PROCESS:

In a large skillet over medium heat, brown the meat in its own juices until it is almost cooked through. (If you are using vegetarian ground “meat” or the beans, add them after the tomato sauce instead). (Meanwhile, start the potato chips, if you are serving them.)
Drain off the excess liquid, if necessary, and add the diced vegetables to the skillet (if you are making a meatless version, heat 1 Tbsp. olive oil in the skillet before adding the vegetables).
Sauté the mixture for 2 minutes and add all the remaining ingredients, except the buns. Bring it to a boil, reduce the heat, cover the skillet, and simmer it for 15-20 minutes until the vegetables are tender. At this point you can refrigerate or freeze the mixture, or proceed to the next step.
To serve the sandwiches, lightly toast the buns and fill each one with a large spoonful of the meat mixture.

Baked Falafel

I found this recipe on Chow Vegan.  It was a great week-night meal and Oliver liked it too.

FORMULA:

1 15 ounce can garbanzo beans

1 small onion, finely chopped

2-3 garlic cloves, finely chopped

3 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped

1 tablespoon fresh cilantro, chopped

1 teaspoon lemon juice

1 teaspoon olive oil

1 teaspoon coriander

1 teaspoon cumin

1/2 teaspoon dried red pepper flakes

2 tablespoons flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

Salt and pepper to taste


PROCESS:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Drain and rinse the garbanzo beans. Put in a medium sized bowl and smash with a fork. Add the rest of the ingredients and mix well. Form into small balls, about 1 1/2″ in diameter and slightly flatten. Place onto an oiled baking pan.

Bake for 15 minutes on each side, until nicely browned (since it’s baked, only the part actually touching the pan will be browned and crispy).

Serve with mini pita pockets, hummus, tahini sauce, tomatoes, lettuce and/or cucumber.

Cashew Chicken

This is a good, quick weeknight meal...and a bonus is that it is pretty healthy.

.

FORMULA:

.

4 chicken breast halves, diced

3 tbsp soy sauce, divided

1 tbsp cooking sherry

1 tbsp corn starch

2 tsp sugar

1 tsp white vinegar

¼ cup oil

1 tsp red pepper flakes

3 green onions, sliced diagonally

2 cloves garlic, minced (about 1 tsp of jarred minced garlic)

¼-½ cup cashews, unsalted

toasted sesame seeds

hot cooked rice (we used brown)

.

PROCESS:

.

In a medium bowl, combine 1 tablespoon soy sauce with the cooking sherry. Cut chicken into bite-sized cubes, about 1/2 inch, and place chicken pieces in soy sauce/sherry mixture. Let it sit while you prepare the other ingredients.

.

In a small bowl, whisk remaining 2 tablespoons soy sauce, corn starch, sugar, and vinegar until well combined. Set aside. Slice the green onions, and measure out the red pepper flakes and minced garlic.

.

Heat oil in a wok over high heat. (Make sure it is very very hot. I didn't have mine hot enough and my chicken didn't turn out brown and crispy on the outside like it should have. Hot hot hot!) Add red pepper flakes and stir for 10 seconds. Add chicken all at once - it will sizzle and spatter quite a bit in the hot oil - stir quickly to brown all sides of chicken. Cook for 2 minutes until chicken is browned on all sides. Remove chicken from wok. Add sliced green onions and garlic and cook, stirring frequently, until onions are slightly cooked (about 1 minute). Return chicken to wok. Slowly pour in reserved corn starch sauce, stir to coat. Continue cooking on high, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes, until chicken is cooked through and sauce thickens. Remove from heat, stir in cashews. Serve over hot cooked rice with toasted sesame seeds on top.

Roasted Red Pepper Soup

This recipe is from Sunset. I love Sunset recipes.

FORMULA:

• 3 large (1 1/2 lbs.) red bell peppers
• 3 medium thin-skinned potatoes, peeled and chopped
• 1 large onion, chopped
• About 3 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil, divided
• 4 cups vegetable or chicken broth
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt

PROCESS:

Put peppers on a baking pan and broil 3 in. from heat, turning as needed until all sides are charred, 10 to 12 minutes. Cool; remove stems, seeds, and skin. Coarsely chop peppers.

In a large saucepan over medium-high heat, cook onion in 2 tbsp. oil, stirring, until lightly browned, 6 to 8 minutes. Add potatoes, peppers, broth, and salt. Cover and bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer until potatoes are tender when pierced, 10 to 15 minutes.

In a blender, purée soup in batches, holding lid down with a towel. Pour back into saucepan and thin to desired consistency with more broth if you like; reheat until hot. Drizzle each serving with a scant 1 tsp. oil.

Fresh Pico

I love tomatoes. I love garlic. I love cilantro. I love pico de gallo, although I have never understood why it was named after a rooster's beak.

FORMULA:

3 Roma Tomatoes
1/8 Onion
1/8 Green Pepper
1-2 Garlic Cloves, Minced
1 tsp Salt
1, 2, or 3 Cerrano Peppers, Seeds Removed, Minced
Juice of 1/4 Lime
3-5 Sprigs of Cilantro, Minced

PROCESS:

Chop all ingredients up into desired size. Dump in bowl and fold together. Let juices sit for a minute and enjoy.

Bruschetta With Tomatoes & Basil

FORMULA
4 medium tomatoes , ripe, (about 1 2/3 pounds), cored and cut into 1/2-inch dice
1/3 cup shredded fresh basil leaves
1 loaf country bread (approximately a 12-by-5-inch loaf), sliced crosswise into 1-inch thick pieces, ends removed
1 large clove garlic , peeled
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

PROCESS
1. Heat broiler or light grill fire.

2. Mix tomatoes, basil, and salt and pepper to taste in medium bowl. Set aside.

3. Broil or grill bread until golden brown on both sides. Place toast slices on large platter, rub garlic over tops, then brush with oil.

4. Use slotted spoon to divide tomato mixture among toast slices. Serve immediately.

Grilled Zuccini And Red Onion With Lemon-Basil Vinaigrette

FORMULA:

1 large red onion , peeled and cut crosswise into four 1/2-inch-thick rounds

3 medium zucchini (about 1 pound), ends trimmed, sliced lengthwise into 3/4-inch-thick planks

1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

Kosher salt and ground black pepper

1 small garlic clove , minced or pressed through garlic press (about 1/2 teaspoon)

1 teaspoon finely grated zest from 1 lemon plus 1 tablespoon juice

1/4 teaspoon Dijon mustard

1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil leaves

PROCESS:

1. Thread onion rounds, from side to side, onto 2 metal skewers. Brush onion and zucchini evenly with ¼ cup olive oil and season with 2 teaspoons kosher salt (or 1 teaspoon table salt) and pepper to taste.

2. Whisk remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil, garlic, lemon zest and juice, mustard, and ½ teaspoon kosher salt (or ¼ teaspoon table salt) together in small bowl; set aside.

3. Grill vegetables over medium heat, turning once, until tender and caramelized, 10 to 12 minutes (move vegetables as needed to ensure even cooking). Transfer vegetables to platter; remove skewers from onion and discard any charred outer rings. Rewhisk vinaigrette and pour over vegetables. Sprinkle with basil and serve.

Grape and Feta Salad with Rosemary

Fresh, different, and delicious.

FORMULA:

1/3 pound feta cheese , crumbled coarse
1/2 pound black grapes or red grapes, halved and seeded, if necessary
2 teaspoons minced fresh rosemary
2 tablespoons olive oil
salt and pepper
1 1/2 quarts mesclun or any mix of baby salad greens, rinsed and dried
1 tablespoon raspberry vinegar (red wine vinegar works too)

PROCESS:

Mix cheese, grapes, and rosemary in medium bowl. Add oil; toss to coat. Sprinkle generously with pepper.

.
Toss mesclun with vinegar in medium bowl. Season to taste with salt. Arrange on large serving platter or individual plates. Top with cheese mixture and serve.

General Tso's {Ozzy's Favorite}

This is a lighter version of General Tso's, but it is just as delicious. We prefer to add a little extra red pepper for a little extra kick.

.

FORMULA:

1/4 cup cornstarch
1 pound snow peas, trimmed and halved crosswise
4 garlic cloves, sliced
2 teaspoons fresh ginger, grated and peeled
3 tablespoons light-brown sugar
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1/2 teaspoon red-pepper flakes
2 large egg whites
Coarse salt and ground pepper
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
2 tablespoons vegetable oil

Rice for serving

.

PROCESS:

Cook rice according to package instructions. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, stir together 1 tablespoon cornstarch and 1/2 cup cold water until smooth. Add snow peas, garlic, ginger, sugar, soy sauce, and red-pepper flakes; toss to combine, and set aside.

In another bowl, whisk together egg whites, remaining 3 tablespoons cornstarch, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Add chicken, and toss to coat.

.

In a large nonstick skillet, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium-high. Lift half the chicken from egg-white mixture (shaking off excess), and add to skillet. Cook, turning occasionally, until golden, 6 to 8 minutes. Transfer to a plate; repeat with remaining oil and chicken, and set aside (reserve skillet).
.

Add snow-pea mixture to skillet. Cover; cook until snow peas are tender and sauce has thickened, 3 to 5 minutes. Return chicken to skillet (with any juices); toss to coat. Serve with rice.

Summer Salad

FORMULA:

1 package Spring Mix or Continental Mix, mixed with Romaine lettuce

Strawberries, halved

Blueberries

Avocado, sliced

Pear, sliced - but not until right before serving

Grapefruit, peeled and sliced like a pinwheel

Oranges, peeled and sliced like a pinwheel

Crumbled blue cheese

Sugared pecans, whole or halved

DRESSING:

1 package Good Seasons Italian dressing

1 T. sugar (or just a little less)

3 T. Water

1/4 C. Vinegar

1/2 C. Oil

PROCESS:

Mix all dressing ingredients before adding the oil. It's best to first toss the lettuce with dressing, then add the fruit and toss with dressing, and put the cheese in at the very end. Don't overmix.