Feta Peas

Just felt like jazzing up a side dish of peas for dinner.

Ingredients
2 cups of Frozen Peas
1/4 cup crumbled Feta Cheese
1 tablespoon chopped fresh Basil
1/4 teaspoon Salt
1/8 teaspoon Black Pepper

Directions
1) Cook peas as directed
2) Stir in all other ingredients over low heat until combined.

Chicken and Sausage Jambalaya

Ingredients

1 cup chopped onions
1 cup chopped green bell peppers
1/2 cup chopped celery
1 cup peeled and chopped tomatoes
1/2 cup chopped carrots
1//2 lb chicken breast, julienned
1/2 lb smoked sausage, cut into rounds 1/4-inch thick
3 cups chicken stock
1 1/2 cups long-grain rice
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp dry mustard
1/2 tsp dried thyme
1/4 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp cayenne
Salt to taste
2 bay leaves
2 tbsp oil

Directions
1. In a heavy skillet or Dutch oven, heat oil over medium-high heat and add onions, bell peppers, and celery. Cook until vegetables are completely cooked and browned, scrapping the bottom of the pot often, about 10 minutes.

2. Add all seasonings and cook for a few minutes longer, continue to stir and scrap the brown bits on the bottom of the pot.

3. Add the tomatoes and chicken and cook for 5 minutes, until chicken is no longer pink.

4. Add chicken stock and bring to a boil.

5. Stir in the rice and return to a boil.

6. Reduce heat to a simmer, add sausages, and cover the pot. Cook for 20 minutes or until liquid is completely absorbed and rice is fully cooked.

Zucchini Bread

Ingredients

• 3 C. Flour (I substituted Whole Wheat Flour)
• 1 t. Salt
• 1 t. Baking Soda
• 1 t. Baking Powder
• 1 T. Cinnamon
• 3 eggs
• 1 C. Canola or Vegetable Oil (I substituted Coconut Oil)
• 2¼ C. Sugar
• 1 T. Vanilla
• 3 1/2 C. Zucchini, grated (I shredded it and it was fine.) 
• *1/4 c Flax Seed (I added this although the original recipe didn't call for it.) 

Instructions

1. Grease and flour two 8x4" loaf pans. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
2. Sift together the flour, salt, baking powder, soda, and cinnamon in a bowl.
3. Beat eggs, oil, vanilla, and sugar together in a large bowl.
4. Add the dry ingredients to the mixture, and stir until just combined. Add the zucchini and mix in until well distributed.
5. Divide batter between prepared pans.
6. Bake for 50 to 60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
7. Allow to cool in pan for 10 minutes. Run a butter knife around the edges remove the bread from pan.

Baked Carrot Cake Oats

I haven't been eating too many grains lately but this was calling my name.

1 cup steel cut oats (soak overnight)

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp ginger 

1/4 tsp nutmeg

1 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp cardamom

1/2 tsp vanilla

1/2 cup grated carrot

pinch of sea salt

a handfull raisins(if you like)

1 egg or a chia seed egg

2 1/4 cups unsweetened almond milk

crust

1 Tbsp maple syrup

1 Tbsp cocnut oil

3/4 cup nut or seed of choice, chopped

If you soak the oats overnight they cook a bit quicker, but you can also use rolled oats. Grease your baking dish with a bit of coconut oil.  Pour all ingredients up to the crust in and bake at 375 for about 40 minutes.  I took mine out and gave it a stir at about 20 min just to redistribute the liquid.  When it is starting to thicken sprinkle the crust/nut mixture on top and bake for another 15 min or until the nuts start to brown a bit. This will thicken as it cools and sets so its ok if its a bit wiggly coming out of the oven. With 1 cup of steel cut oats this makes 4 servings, they are about 425 calories each, mostly from the nuts.