Monday, September 18, 2017

Egg Roll Bowl


Egg Roll Bowl

This is a quick, easy  yet delicious meal.

-1 lb lean ground pork
-2 Tbsp sesame oil
-1 Tbsp minced ginger
-4 cloves garlic, minced
-4 Tbsp soy sauce
-2 Tbsp honey or brown sugar
-1 Tbsp rice vinegar
-1 Tbsp sriracha
-6 c coleslaw mix (or shredded cabbage and carrots)
-4 scallions
-sesame seeds and 2 additional raw scallions for topping

Sriracha Mayo Sauce

-1/4 c mayo
-1 Tbsp sriracha
-1 Tbsp rice vinegar

Combine ingredients for sriracha mayo sauce and set aside.

Heat sesame oil in wok or large skillet over medium heat. Add ginger, saute 1 minute. Add garlic, saute 1 additional minute. Add pork, cook for 10 minutes, stirring often and breaking up pork with spoon. Add coleslaw mix, continue to cook until cabbage has softened, 5-10 minutes. While cabbage cooks, stir together soy sauce through sriracha. Once cabbage is softened add soy sauce mixture and scallions to the pan. Turn off heat and stir everything well. Serve in bowl with sesame seeds and scallions for topping and drizzled with the sriracha mayo sauce.

Chicken Tikka Masala


Chicken Tikka Masala

This is a lightened up version of the Indian classic. I also added peas, although nontraditional, to increase the nutrition. We like to eat this over basmati rice.

Chicken marinade

-1 lb chicken, cut into bite sized chunks
-1/2 c yogurt
-1 1/2 tsp salt
-1 tsp turmeric
-1 tsp garam masala
-1 tsp coriander
-1 tsp cumin

Masala sauce

-2 Tbsp butter, ghee or coconut oil
-1 onion, diced
-1 inch knob ginger, minced
-1 can crushed tomatoes
-1 tsp turmeric
-1 tsp garam masala
-1 tsp coriander
-1 tsp cumin
-1 tsp salt
-1 tsp sugar
-1/4 tsp cayenne
-1 cup frozen peas, thawed
-1/2 cup heavy cream
-handful of chopped cilantro for garnish

Whisk together marinade ingredients, then stir in chicken. Place in refrigerator to marinate for at least 1 hour, and up to overnight. After marinating shake off excess marinade and broil chicken for 7-8 minutes, until charred and just cooked through.

While chicken broils, heat butter/ oil in a medium pot over medium heat. Add onion and ginger, cook 10 minutes, stirring intermittently. Add tomatoes, then stir in turmeric through cayenne. Simmer 10 minutes. Remove from heat, stir in peas, stir in heavy cream, then stir in cooked chicken. Serve over rice and topped with cilantro.

Slow Cooker Korean Beef





Slow Cooker Korean Beef

We like to serve this over brown rice and top it with raw scallions and a squirt of sriracha.


-1-1.5 lb flank steak, cut across the grain into 4 pieces
-1/2 c soy sauce
-1 cup beef broth
-1/2-3/4 cup brown sugar
-1 Tbsp rice vinegar
-1 Tbsp sriracha
-2 Tbsp sesame oil
-4 cloves garlic, minced
-1 inch knob ginger, minced
-1 red bell pepper, diced
-2 Tbsp cornstarch dissolved in 2 Tbsp water
-scallions, sesame seeds and sriracha for garnish

Grease or spray the inside of your slow cooker. Combine soy sauce through ginger in the slow cooker and whisk well. Stir in diced bell pepper. Add flank steak and spoon sauce over top. Cook on low for 6-8 hours, until meat shreds easily with a fork. Add cornstarch mixture, stir and cook an additional 30 minutes. Add water, 1/2 cup at a time, if the mixture isn't sauce-y enough (or add more cornstarch if you want to thicken it). Serve.

Cheese Stuffed Mini Bell Peppers


Cheese Stuffed Mini Bell Peppers

These are so yummy and work as an appetizer or side dish. I've done them with and without the turkey bacon and like them either way, or you could use regular bacon if you prefer.

-1 pack mini bell peppers, tops cut off, sliced in half and seeded
-1 wheel laughing cow cheese (we like the pepperjack or chipotle)
-1 pack turkey bacon, sliced in half (optional)

Spread cheese inside each pepper half. If desired, wrap each stuffed pepper in turkey bacon and secure with a toothpick. Bake peppers at 425 for 15-20 minutes or until peppers have softened and bacon is crisp and browned. Cool 5 minuteds and serve.

Banana Swirl


Banana Swirl

This is such an easy, dairy-free dessert that is on the healthy side. My kids watched Daniel Tiger and wanted to make the banana swirl from the show. We have made it plain, like Daniel Tiger did, with just frozen bananas and we have also made versions with cocoa powder, nutella, peanut butter and honey (separately). Any way we've done it has been delicious. This is a great way to use up any bananas that are past their prime.

-6 bananas, sliced then frozen for at least 2 hours
-1-2 Tbsp nutella, peanut butter, honey or chocolate (if desired, but not necessary)

Place the bananas and any extra ingredients you are using in a food processor. Process until everything is smooth and uniform. Serve immediately for a soft serve texture or return to freezer for at least 2 hours to scoop and serve like a traditional ice cream.

Roasted Okra


Roasted Okra

This is by far my favorite way I've ever eaten okra and it is so simple. It's not slimey at all, and my non-okra liking hubby loves this.

-1 lb okra, tops cut off and pods sliced lengthwise
-2 Tbsp olive oil
-1/2 tsp salt
-1/4 tsp pepper

In a small bowl whisk together oil, salt and pepper. Toss oil with okra and arrange okra cut side down on a greased or lined baking sheet. Bake at 425 10-15 minutes until desired browning and tenderness is achieved. Serve immediately.

Asparagus and Brie Tart


Asparagus and Brie Tart

This tart is fairly simple yet super delicious and impressive. It can be sliced like a pizza and served as an appetizer or with a green salad for brunch or lunch. This is also very versatile. You can leave the egg out altogether for vegans and change up the cheese to fontina, ricotta or goat cheese depending on your preference.

-1 sheet puff pastry, thawed
-1 small wheel or wedge of brie with the rind cut off and cheese slliced
-1 egg, beaten
-1 bunch asparagus, trimmed

Cover a sheet pan in parchment. Place puff pastry on parchment and roll the dough out a little in each direction. Fold in each of the sides at about an inch to form a crust. Spread slices of brie inside of the crusts. Pour beaten egg over the crust and brush over edges. Lay asparagus over egg mixture. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake at 375 for 20 minutes, or until dough is puffed and golden. Cool 5 minutes and serve.