Tahini Vinaigrette

Ingredients

3 cloves garlic

1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar

2 tablespoons tahini

1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

1/4 teaspoon sea salt

1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper

3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

Instructions

Place garlic in food processor and pulse. Add the vinegar, tahini, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Process until smooth, about 5 seconds. With the machine running, add the oil slowly, in a steady stream. After all the oil has been added, process for an additional 10 seconds. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.

Jerk chicken with mango, avocado salsa and plantains

Salsa

1 mango, diced

1jalapeño, diced, for less heat remove the seeds

1 avocado, diced 

a handful of chopped cilantro

zest and juice of 1 lime

salt to taste

Chicken

1 lb diced chicken

2 TBSP chili powder

1/2 tsp cumin

1 tsp coriander

1 tsp garlic powder

1/2 tsp onion powder

1 tsp paprika

1/4 tsp red chili flakes

1 diced red or yellow pepper

1/4 cup broth

1 Tbsp coconut oil

Plantains

2 ripe plantains peeled and sliced on diagonal

Instructions

Preheat oven to 400

Mix all ingredients for the salsa and set aside in the fridge.

Place plantains on a parchment lined baking sheet and sprinkle a bit of cinnamon and crushed red pepper on them.  Drizzle with a bit of coconut oil.  After about 10 minutes check to see that they are brown on the bottom and flip.  Mine took about 18 minutes total.

While plantains are cooking heat a large skillet over med heat and add the TBSP of coconut oil.   Add your diced peppers then add your chicken and sprinkle all of the mixed spices over the top.  Its a lot of spice mixture but makes a good sauce.  When chicken is done add the broth and cook down till thick.  

Super easy!! To plate, put a few plantains around the outside of the plate and pile the chicken mixture in the middle, then top with some of the mango, avocado salsa.  Enjoy!

Black Bean Lentil Salad with Cumin-Lime Dressing

Ingredients

1 cup dry lentils (green or brown) ($1.19/bag)
15 oz. can black beans, rinsed and drained (Wild Harvest Organic $1.18)
1 red bell pepper ($1.00)
1/2 small red onion ($.50)
1-2 roma tomatoes ($2.00)
Large bunch cilantro, stems removed ($.99)
Optional: green onion

For the Dressing

Juice of 1 lime ($1.50)

2 Tbsp. olive oil
1 tsp. dijon mustard
1-2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp. cumin
1/2 tsp. oregano
1/8 tsp. salt
Optional: chipotle powder, chili powder, pepper, hot sauce, other seasonings, etc.

Directions

1) Cook lentils according to package directions, leaving firm not mushy. Drain.
2) While lentils are cooking, make the dressing: place all ingredients in a small bowl and whisk to combine. Set aside.
3) Finely dice the bell pepper, onion, and tomatoes. Roughly chop the cilantro.
4) In a large bowl, place the black beans, bell pepper, onion, tomatoes, and lentils. Add the dressing and toss to combine. Add cilantro, and lightly toss.
5) Serve immediately or chill covered in the fridge for at least an hour to let the flavors combine.

Vegan, gluten-free. From thegardengrazer.com

Vegetable Tian

Find the original recipe Here

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp olive oil (divided)
• 1 large sweet yellow onion cut in half and sliced
• 2 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1-2 russet potatoes, unpeeled
• 1 zucchini
• 1 yellow squash
• 3 large Roma tomatoes
• Sea salt, freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
• Dried thyme, to taste
• 1/2 cup of grated Parmesan cheese

Directions
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Coat a baking dish with olive oil cooking spray. Heat 1 tbsp of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add the onions and saute until translucent, about 8 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for another 60 seconds. Spread the onion mixture on the bottom of the greased baking dish.

Slice the potatoes, zucchini, squash and tomatoes in 1/4 inch thick slices. Layer them alternately in the dish on top of the onions, fitting them tightly into a spiral, making only one layer. Season with sea salt, black pepper and dried thyme, to taste. Drizzle the last tablespoon of olive oil over the top.

Cover the dish with tin foil and bake for 35 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender. Uncover and sprinkle the Parmesan cheese on top and bake for another 25-30 minutes or until browned. Enjoy.

Ham, & Cheese Soufflé

I love St. Louis Bread Company's soufflés and could eat them several times a week. I threw together a few ingredients to make my own at home. They need some tweaking, but they are headed in the right direction.

One 8 oz. can of Pillsbury Crescent Rolls
4-6 eggs
1/2 Cup Cheese
1/2 Cup diced ham

Directions
1) Unroll the crescent rolls. I used 2 triangles together and formed 4 rectangles.
2) I laid the recitingle-shape dough into the cupcake pan (Texas size pan) with the excess dough laying over the sides.
3) I scrambled the eggs, ham and cheese in a bowl.
4) I spooned the egg mixture into the four dough cupcake bins. With the excess dough, I covered up the egg mixture like a cocoon.
5) I brushed the tops with a little egg and butter mixture.
6) I baked them at 350º for 20 minutes.

NEXT TIME: I think I'll add some onion or chives, maybe even some cayenne pepper.

Nutrition:
Crescent Roll (each): 100 cal, 6g Fat, 11g Carbs
Brown large egg (each): 70 cal, 5g Fat, 6g Protein

Santa Fe Chicken and Lentil Casserole (Gluten Free)

First off, I found this recipe here. On a scale of 1 to 10, we gave it a 7. It made A LOT of food ... way more than I was prepared for. It filled my 10 x 14 casserole dish to the top. It will feed a large family or you'll have a lot of leftovers. Good thing, it freezes well! Next time, I'll be sure to cut the recipe in half.

Ingredients (Cost me about $13 for fresh items as I already had the spices.)

Lentils:

            1-1/2 cup green lentils, rinsed & drained ($1)

            3 cups chicken broth, low sodium ($2)

            1/8 tsp salt

            

Chicken:

            2 lbs boneless & skinless chicken breasts, diced ($5 for 3 lbs)

            1 tsp cumin

            1/4 tsp salt

            1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper

            1/8 tsp cayenne pepper

            Cooking spray

            

Vegetables:

            1 large onion, diced ($.66)

            5 large garlic cloves, crushed

            2 large bell peppers, diced ($3)

            1 tsp cumin

            1/4 tsp salt

            1/8 tsp cayenne pepper

            Cooking spray

           

Mix Ins:

            14 oz can diced tomatoes (I used Fire Roasted)

            2 cups corn, frozen & unthawed ($.89)

            2 cups Cheddar cheese, shredded & divided

            2 tbsp peppers, seeded & minced (I used a Serrano) ($.20)

            1 tbsp garlic powder

            1 tsp cumin

            1 cup cilantro, chopped & divided ($1)

Directions

1) In a medium pot, combine lentils, chicken broth and salt. Bring to a boil on high, reduce heat to low, cover and cook for 30-35 minutes. Do not drain excess liquid. Set aside.

2) Meanwhile, preheat large skillet on high and spray with cooking spray. Add chicken and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally and draining any liquid if necessary. Add cumin, salt, black pepper and cayenne pepper and cook for another 5 minutes or until golden brown, stirring occasionally. Transfer to a very large bowl and set aside. You'll mix all other ingredients into this bowl.

3) Preheat oven to 350°. Return skillet to medium-high heat and spray with cooking spray. Add onion, garlic, bell peppers, cumin, salt and cayenne pepper and cook for 7 minutes or until golden brown, stirring occasionally.

4) Transfer to the bowl with chicken along with cooked lentils, diced tomatoes, corn, 1 cup cheese, jalapeño peppers, garlic powder, cumin and 1/2 cup cilantro. Mix gently with spatula enough to combine.

5) Transfer the mixture to a 9 x 13 oven proof baking dish. Sprinkle with remaining cheese and bake uncovered for 50 mins. Remove casserole from the oven, cover with foil and let stand for half an hour before serving. Garnish with remaining cilantro and sour cream.

Storage Instructions: Refrigerate covered for up to 3 days or freeze in an air tight container for up to 3 months.

Nutritional Info

Calories: 381, Total Fat: 11 g
, Sodium: 531.4 mg
, Total Carbs: 33.4 g
, Dietary Fiber: 9.2 g, Protein: 41.5 g
, WW Points+: 10

Southern Pralines

Southern Pralines

Ingredients

1 c Sugar

1c Brown Sugar

1/2 c Cream

4 Tbsp Butter, cubed

1-1/2 c Pecans, chopped

Directions

1) Line cookie sheet with aluminum. Spray with Cooking spray. 

2) Melt sugars and cream in pot on medium heat. Once all of the sugar is dissolved, use a candy thermometer and heat until mixture reaches 240°.

3) Once heated, remove from heat and drop in cubed butter. Let sit for one minute then stir. Add pecans.  If mixture hardens too fast, add hot water at a rate of 1 tablespoon at a time. 

4) Drop spoonfuls onto foil-lines cookie sheet for 20-30 minutes or until cool