lentil coconut soup

usually when i try out a new recipe, i only make half in case it doesn't turn out. i am so glad i made the full batch this time. my 1-year-old liked it too.

the original recipe is from delicious magazine, but i found the recipe at cook clean craft. i changed/added some ingredients to use what i had.
serves 6

8-10 bacon strips, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
1 tablespoon coconut oil or olive oil
1 carrot, diced
1 celery stalk, diced
1/2 onion, diced
3 garlic cloves, crushed or finely chopped (use fresh, it makes a big difference!)
1/8 teaspoon dried red chili flakes
1 cup red lentils, rinsed and drained (i used brown 'cause that's what i had)
4 cups chicken stock
1 can coconut milk, regular or light
1 lime cut into 6 wedges
cilantro, to garnish (i didn't bother with this, it's not my fav)

1. heat a large saucepan over medium heat and cook the bacon for 4-6 minutes until golden. remove from pan and drain on paper towel.
2. heat coconut oil or olive oil in the same saucepan over medium-low heat. add the carrots, celery, onion and garlic, cook for 2-3 minutes until softened. stir in the chili flakes and lentils.
3. add the stock and coconut milk, and simmer for 15-20 minutes or until the lentils are tender. remove from heat.
4. divide among serving bowls. top with bacon and garnish with cilantro leaves. serve with a lime wedge (squirt to taste) and some crusty bread.
   

my green smoothie

i try to make a green smoothie for breakfast most days of the week. this way, no matter what i eat the rest of the day, (hopefully it's still pretty healthy) i've already had a good amount of fruit and veggies. green smoothies sound (and look) a bit strange at first, but try a google search for 'green smoothies' and you'll see a lot of people are making them. bottoms up!

makes about 1 quart

1 cup orange juice
4+ cups greens (i like spinach, collard greens, or kale)
2 tablespoons raw cashews or almonds (soaked in water for a few hours or over night)
3 pitted dates
1 banana
2 cups frozen mixed fruit (i get the spectrum blend from costco)

blend the first 4 ingredients in a blender for a few minutes until smooth. while that's going, i put the frozen fruit in the microwave on defrost for 2 minutes - so i won't destroy my blender. add the banana and frozen-ish fruit. blend for a few minutes more until smooth.

carrot cake smoothie

a while back, i bought a big bag of raw cashews i was planning on using to make cashew milk. though i love cashews, i discovered i don't like cashew milk. ew. i found this recipe at choosingraw.com and i had to buy a big bag of carrots to go with that big bag of nuts. i could seriously drink this smoothie every day.
adapted from choosingraw.com

serves 2-3

1 1/2 cups fresh carrot juice (from about 6-8 large carrots)
1 cup ice
1/2 cup cashews, raw
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp allspice (i just use cloves since i don't have allspice)
2 tablespoons honey (or to taste)

soak the cashews in a cup of water in the refrigerator for a few hours. drain. process the carrot juice and cashews in a blender for a few minutes until smooth. add the remaining ingredients and blend until smooth. (if you have a really cool blender like this one or that one, then you could just throw all the ingredients in at once, but this is how i have to do it in my blender.)

chicken and spinach stuffed shells

serves 8-10

6 oz pasta - jumbo shells, cooked 2 minutes less than package directions
2 cups shredded cooked chicken
2 cups fresh spinach, chopped
1 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
15 oz ricotta cheese
2 - 8 oz packages cream cheese
5 oz Parmesan cheese
1 egg beaten
1 Tablespoon parsley
1 teaspoon italian seasoning
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
2 cups mozzarella cheese
26 oz spaghetti sauce

preheat oven to 350. grease 2 9x13 baking dishes. combine chicken and the rest of the ingredients except mozzarella and sauce. stir in 1 cup cheese and spoon mixture into shells. spread half the sauce in baking dishes. arrange shells over sauce and top with the rest of the sauce. cover with foil and bake for 40 minutes. uncover, sprinkle the tops with the remaining cheese and bake for 5-10 minutes.

you can prepare both dishes just up to baking and cover one with foil and freeze for later.

baked creamy chicken taquitos

Recipe by OurBestBites.com

1/3 C (3 oz) cream cheese
1/4 C green salsa
1T fresh lime juice
1/2 t cumin
1 t chili powder
1/2 t onion powder
1/4 t granulated garlic
3 T chopped cilantro
2 T sliced green onions

2 C shredded cooked chicken
1 C grated pepperjack cheese

small corn tortillas
kosher salt
cooking spray


Heat oven to 425. Line a baking sheet with foil and lightly coat with cooking spray.

Heat cream cheese in the microwave for about 20-30 seconds so it's soft and easy to stir. Add green salsa, lime juice, cumin, chili powder, onion powder and granulated garlic. Stir to combine and then add cilantro and green onions. Add chicken and cheese and combine well.

You can prepare up to this step ahead of time. Just keep the mixture in the fridge.

Work with a few tortillas at a time and heat in the microwave until they are soft enough to roll without cracking. It helps to place them between damp paper towels. Usually 20-30 seconds will do it. If you find yours are cracking when you roll them or come unrolled right away, just try heating them longer and try the paper towel thing.

Place 2-3 T of chicken mixture on the lower third of a tortilla, keeping it about 1/2 inch from the edges.

Then roll it up as tight as you can.

Place seam side down on the baking sheet. Lay all of the taquitos on the baking sheet and make sure they are not touching each other. Spray the tops lightly with cooking spray or an oil mister and sprinkle some kosher salt on top.

Place pan in oven and bake for 15-20 minutes or until crisp and the ends start to get golden brown.

Dip them in salsa, sour cream, or guacamole.

chicken fajita bake

from good things utah

4 chicken breasts
1 green bell pepper, thinly sliced
1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
1 large onion, thinly sliced
8 – eight inch flour tortillas
4 Tablespoons McCormick Mesquite Grilling Mates Seasoning
2 Tablespoons soy sauce
2 Tablespoons real butter
1 lb. Shredded Monterey Jack cheese (divided)
1 can Campbell’s Cheddar Cheese Soup
2 cups salsa
sour cream
avocados
fresh jalapeno slices

Place chicken in a large zip lock baggie with mesquite seasoning and let marinate for 2 hours, no more than 4. Grill or fry chicken until cooked through. (Sometimes I just cook them in the crock pot with some water and the grill seasoning.) Slice thinly and set aside. Sauté peppers and onions in butter until tender. Add soy sauce and sauté a minute more In a medium bowl, mix together cheddar cheese soup and salsa. Pour 1 cup of the mixture in a 9x13 pan, spreading evenly. Roll equal amounts of chicken, Monterey Jack cheese, peppers and onions in the 8 tortillas and place in the baking dish. Pour over the remaining soup/salsa mixture and top with remaining Monterey Jack cheese. Bake at 350 covered with foil for 30 minutes and uncovered for 10 or until bubbly and cheese is melted. Serve with sour cream, avocado slices and jalapenos if desired.

spinach brownies

adapted from allrecipes.com

1 (10 ounce) package spinach, rinsed, squeezed dry and chopped
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 eggs
1 cup milk
3 Tablespoons butter, melted
1 onion, chopped and sautéed
1 (8 ounce) package shredded mozzarella cheese (I use swiss/cheddar, or feta)
1 clove garlic, minced (saute with the onion)
pinch of nutmeg
pinch of cayenne pepper
1/8 tsp pepper

DIRECTIONS:
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
2. In a large bowl, mix flour, salt, cayenne, pepper, nutmeg and baking powder. Stir in eggs, milk and butter. Mix in spinach, onion/garlic and cheese.
3. Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish. Bake in the preheated oven 30 to 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool before serving.

thieves pasta

Adapted from 365 Days of Slow Cooking

Serves 4

8 oz penne pasta
8 oz chicken breasts
14 1/2 oz diced tomatoes with juice
8 oz can of tomato sauce
1 tsp Italian seasoning
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups frozen spinach (loosely packed)
1 1/2 tsp sugar
Salt and pepper
1/8 tsp crushed red pepper
4 oz cream cheese
1 Tbsp tapioca
1/4 cup toasted pine nuts
feta cheese

Spray sides of slow cooker with cooking spray. Combine chicken, tomatoes, Italian seasoning, garlic, sugar, and red pepper in slow cooker. Cover. Cook on low for 4 hours (until chicken is cooked through). Place spinach in a strainer. Run hot water over it and drain. Add spinach, cream cheese, and tapioca to slow cooker. Stir. Cook for an additional 30 minutes. Add cooked and drained pasta and pine nuts and stir and serve. Salt and pepper to taste and sprinkle some feta cheese on top.

crispy kale

This is salty and crunchy, almost like potato chips. Kale is loaded with vitamins A and C, and has calcium, iron, and fiber. Make this for your kids, mine surprisingly likes it.

6-8 cups chopped fresh kale, washed, dried, and hard stems removed
2 Tbsp. olive oil
1 tsp. apple cider vinegar (I use lots more vinegar, a couple capfuls)
1/2 tsp. kosher salt or sea salt

1. Place a rack on the lowest shelf of your oven. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Spread kale out on a sturdy baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and apple cider vinegar. Toss to coat completely. Sprinkle with salt.
3. Place on the lowest rack of the oven and bake for 10 minutes.
4. Remove from oven and stir so that kale can get crispy all over.
5. Bake another 8 to 12 minutes or until kale is crispy to the touch. Don’t let it brown.
If kale still bends, rather than crackles, when you touch it, it isn't done yet. Return to the oven. Turn down the heat if it is getting too brown. Continue cooking until crispy.
6. Remove from oven and enjoy.

brazilian lemonade

serves 4

2 limes

1/3 cup sugar

3 tablespoons sweetened condensed milk

3 cups cold water

ice

Zest the limes then remove the rinds with a knife. Discard rinds. Cut limes into large chunks. In a blender, combine the limes, zest, sweetened condensed milk and water. Blend until well combined, about 15 seconds. Pour mixture through a fine meshed strainer and serve over ice.

roasted broccoli pick up sticks

I’ve made this so many times, I don’t even measure anymore. This is a great way to get kids to eat broccoli.

Makes four side-dish servings or 12-15 cocktail party servings.

Ingredients

1 pound broccoli florets, separated

1 inch-piece fresh ginger root, peeled and diced (I use a microplaner)

1 clove garlic, minced

1⁄2 teaspoon salt

1⁄8 teaspoon cayenne (use just a pinch)

1-2 tablespoons olive oil

black pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place all ingredients in a mixing bowl. With your hands, mix to combine until broccoli is well coated. Place broccoli on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and into the oven. Roast until fork tender (about 12 minutes). Serve warm or at room temperature.

Tip: Buy fresh ginger, peel it, and put it in a Ziploc bag in the freezer. Use a microplaner to grate it in your recipes. You’ll always have fresh ginger since it keeps for months frozen.

slow cooker refried bean chili

Serves 8-10

I usually make this chili when I don’t know what to do with the leftover roast from Sunday dinner. I cut the recipe in half and substitute the shredded roast for the ground beef. The full recipe requires a 5 to 6 quart slow cooker.

2 pounds ground beef

1 cup chopped onion

2 15 ounce cans chili beans with gravy

1 16 ounce jar thick and chunky salsa (your preference of spiciness)

1 16 ounce can refried beans

1 cup beef broth

2 tablespoons chili powder

1 tablespoon cumin

2 tablespoons lime juice (I never put this in)

Optional toppings:

Sour cream, shredded cheese, diced green peppers, diced tomatoes, avocados, or corn chips.

In a large skillet cook beef and onion until meat is brown and onion is tender. Drain off fat.

In a 5 to 6 quart slow cooker mix the ground beef, chili beans, salsa, refried beans, broth, chili powder, and cumin. Cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours, or on high for 3 to 4 hours. Stir in lime juice at the end of cooking. This thick chili is great in bread bowls.

teriyaki sauce

adapted from allrecipes.com

Once you make this sauce, you’ll never go back to the store bought kind. I like it over rice. It’s strong, so you don’t need a lot. Mix equal parts of the sauce and 7-up to use as a marinade for grilled chicken or pork. Let meat marinate up to 4 hours before grilling.

1 tablespoon cornstarch

1 tablespoon water

1/2 c. sugar (can be white, brown, or a mixture of both)

1/2 c. soy sauce (use low sodium)

1/4 c. cider vinegar

1 clove garlic

1/2 teaspoon ginger

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

pinch of red pepper flakes (optional)

Whisk dry ingredients in a small saucepan. Add wet ingredients. Bring to a boil then simmer on medium until thickened, about 4 minutes. Makes 1 cup.

pork tetrazzini

serves 4-6

this is a good recipe to make when you need to clean out the fridge. use whatever vegetables you want - sauteed mushrooms would also be good. chicken or turkey can be used in place of the pork.

8 oz whole wheat spaghetti
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup flour
1 1/2 cup chicken broth
1 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
3/4 cup parmesan cheese, divided
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 cup sliced carrots
1/2 cup sliced celery
1/2 yellow onion, chopped
1/2 cup red bell pepper, chopped
1/2 cup frozen peas
2 cups cubed cooked pork
1/2 cup seasoned bread crumbs (i used crushed croutons)
salt and pepper, to taste

preheat oven to 350. cook spaghetti in boiling salted water for 1 minute less than stated on the package directions. drain well and put spaghetti in a greased 8x8 baking dish. in a medium saucepan, saute carrots, celery, and onion in olive oil until onions are translucent. add to spaghetti along with the red bell pepper and peas. spread the vegetables around to evenly distribute. melt butter in the same saucepan. whisk in flour, add garlic powder and red pepper flakes. add chicken broth and milk, whisking to prevent lumps. bring to a boil. reduce heat and simmer for 3-4 minutes or until thickened, stirring occasionally. stir in 1/2 cup parmesan cheese. taste the sauce and adjust seasonings if needed. pour over the spaghetti and vegetables. add the cubed pork. sprinkle remaining cheese and bread crumbs over the top. bake for 45-60 minutes. let cool for 5-10 minutes before serving.

refrigerator bran muffins

recipe from Marjorie Hinckley's book Small and Simple Things

2 cups boiling water
6 cups kellogg's all-bran cereal (i used raisin bran)
1 cup shortening (i used butter)
1 1/2 cup sugar
4 eggs
4 cups buttermilk
5 cups flour (i used half all-purpose, half whole wheat)
5 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
(i also added 2 teaspoons each of cinnamon and vanilla)

pour boiling water over bran in a large bowl. add shortening. stir till melted, let cool. add other ingredients, stir to mix well. use immediately or cover and put in fridge and bake as desired. keep batter up to 2 weeks.
drop into well-greased muffin pans. bake at 400 degrees for about 10-15 minutes.

irresistible graham cracker cookies

i found this little gem on the back of a box of kroger graham crackers, of all places. notice there are no eggs - i wish i had known about this recipe when i was pregnant and had a serious craving for cookie dough!

1 1/2 cups honey graham cracker crumbs, finely crushed
1/2 cup flour (i used 1/4 cup all-purpose and 1/4 cup whole wheat)
2 teaspoon baking powder
1 (14 oz.) can sweetened condensed milk
1/2 cup butter, softened
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup chopped walnuts
1 cup flaked coconut (run your knife through a bit so the pieces aren't too big)
1 teaspoon vanilla

Preheat oven to 350. in a medium bowl, mix together graham cracker crumbs, flour and baking powder. in another bowl, beat sweetened condensed milk and butter until smooth. add vanilla extract. add crumb mixture and stir until smooth. add chocolate chips, coconut, and walnuts. cover dough and place in the refrigerator to chill, about 30-60 minutes. drop walnut sized balls of dough on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper or silpat. bake 10 minutes. let cool for 5 minutes, then move to a wire rack to cool completely.

makes 4 dozen

raspberry honey butter

this recipe makes a lot, just warning ya.

1 cup butter, softened (don't even think about using margarine)
2/3 cup honey
3/4 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup raspberry jam

using an electric mixer, cream the butter. add the honey, powdered sugar, vanilla, and raspberry jam. beat until all the ingredients are well incorporated, about 30 seconds.

serve at room temperature, but store the leftovers covered in the fridge.

this tastes great on anything, but i like it best on homemade whole wheat bread.

balsamic chicken noodle bowl

* Serves 6 - 8
adapted from tastykitchen.com

12 oz linguine
1 red pepper, cut into thin strips
4 Tablespoons balsamic vinegar
5 garlic cloves, finely minced
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 1/2 tablespoon dried basil
2 cups chicken, cooked and shredded
1 1/2 cups shredded or cubed mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup feta cheese

Cook the linguine according to package directions. Drain.

In a small bowl, whisk together the vinegar, garlic, basil, salt and pepper. When combined, slowly whisk in the olive oil until the dressing is completely combined.

While the pasta is boiling, heat 1 teaspoon olive oil in a 12 inch non-stick skillet over medium heat and add the bell pepper. Cook briefly until crisp-tender. Add the cooked chicken and cook for 1-2 more minutes until the chicken is heated through.

Add the hot noodles to the skillet with the red pepper and chicken and toss. Add the shredded or cubed mozzarella and toss quickly to combine before the cheese melts. Pour the dressing over the top and toss with tongs to coat all the ingredients with the dressing. Crumble the feta cheese and sprinkle on top. Serve warm or at room temperature.

*jessica's note: i also added some sauteed mushrooms, fresh diced tomatoes, and a few handfuls of fresh spinach to the warm pasta. yum!

Pear and Feta Cheese Salad

adapted from allrecipes.com

* 1 (10 ounce) bag mixed field greens
* 1/2 cup sliced red onion (optional)
* 1 pear, cored and sliced
* 1/2 cup chopped candied pecans
* 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
* 1/3 cup dried cranberries

for the dressing: (you'll only need about half the amount of dressing for this salad)
* 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
* 1/2 cup mayonnaise, sour cream or plain yogurt
* 3 tablespoons packed brown sugar
* 3/4 teaspoon salt
* 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
* 1/4 cup vegetable oil


Directions

1. Place the salad greens in a large bowl. Add the red onion, pear, pecans, cranberries, and feta cheese, and toss to mix evenly.
2. To make the dressing, place the vinegar, mayonnaise, brown sugar, salt, and pepper in a blender, and blend thoroughly. With the motor running, slowly pour in the oil. Blend until mixture becomes creamy, about 1 minute. (I just put all the ingredients in a jar with a lid and shake it for a few minutes.) Pour over salad mixture, and toss to coat greens evenly. Serve immediately.

buttermilk rolls

makes about 3 dozen rolls
adapted from my kitchen cafe

3 cups buttermilk at room temperature
3 cups flour
1 tablespoon yeast dissolved in 1/4 cup warm water (let proof for 2-3 minutes)
1/2 cup sugar
3 eggs, slightly beaten
2 teaspoons salt
5 cups flour, more or less (i've needed up to 8 cups of flour in the past, and at least 2 of those cups i use whole wheat flour)
1/2 cup oil, (i use 1/2 cup butter, melted)
1 teaspoon baking soda
*i also add 1/2 cup potato flakes, 2 tablespoons vital wheat gluten, and 2 teaspoons dough enhancer*

mix the buttermilk, flour, and yeast/water mixture together thoroughly in a large mixing bowl. let stand at room temperature until double in size, about 2 hours. add the rest of the ingredients. mix well and knead for 7-10 minutes. divide the dough into 3 equal portions. roll out each portion into a circle (about 12-14 inches in diameter) brush with melted butter or oil, and cut into 12 triangles. roll them up into crescent shapes and place on a greased baking sheet.

let rolls rise until double in size 1-2 hours. bake at 350* for 10-12 minutes.

you can also roll out the amount of dough you want and keep the rest covered in the refrigerator for another day. the cold dough just takes longer to raise, but will keep for a few days in the fridge.