Cold Orzo Salad

This quick pasta is a great side or delicious on it's own!

1 box cooked orzo (cooled)

Couple bunched of raw kale (chopped)

1 large tomato (seeded & chopped)

3 Persian cucumbers (chopped)

1/4 red onion (finely chopped)

Red Wine Vinaigrette:

1/2 cup olive oil

1/4 cup red wine vinegar

Pinch of oregano 

Salt & pepper to taste 

Mix veggies with the orzo & slowly incorporate Vinaigrette. Mix & taste, adjust seasonings if needed. Sprinkle feta cheese crumbs on top, add more to your liking. 

Refrigerate for about 20 mins, allowing flavors to incorporate. 

Enjoy!

Simple Spaghetti & Meatballs

Ingredients:

(For the meatballs)

1 1/2 lean ground beef

1 egg

1/2 shredded small zucchini 

1/2 cup Parmesan cheese

Some bread crumbs

1 tsp Italian seasoning

1Tb salt & freshly ground pepper 

Mix all ingredients in a large mixing bowl, with a small ice cream scoop

form the balls. Heat up a large skillet, add olive oil, brown the meatballs

 in two batches. Take out meatballs onto a plate lined with a paper towel

 to drain excess oil.

Sauce:

Favorite store bought marinara

1 garlic clove

1/4 diced red onion

1 bay leaf

Some dried oregano 

You will then add the diced onion & garlic to the skillet you cooked your

meatballs. Sauté for 3-4 mins, add marinara sauce, bay leaf, oregano &

simmer for 10mins. Add meatballs into the sauce & simmer another 10mins.

1 1lb spaghetti to pasta

Meanwhile cook the pasta accordingly. To serve place pasta on a plate & spoon

 over generous amounts of sauce & meatballs. Finish with Parmesan cheese &

 possibly some fresh basil. Enjoy!!

Fiesta lettuce cups

 

Ingredients:

1 iceburg lettuce 

1lb ground beef

2-3 tb of Homemade taco seasoning

1 tomato (chopped)

3 green onions (chopped)

1/2 shredded cheddar cheese

I've said it many times but here it goes again, I always crave Taco Bell (no I don't always give into my cravings). Instead I look for ways of using the same flavors in healthier alternatives. This journey begins with my simple refried beans, which aren't really "fried". I cook the beans, mash with a bit of grape seed oil, some sautéed green onions & season towards the end if necessary. I then brown a pound of ground beef, add my homemade seasonings (which you can find the recipe on my blog). Simmer for 5 minutes & all done. For the toppings I chop tomato, green onions, shredded cheese & possibly some jalapenos if you like the heat. Lastly, wash some iceberg lettuce, tear into palm size pieces and begin by laying mashed beans, ground beef & the toppings of your choice.
Enjoy!! Oh, don't forget the salsa!!

Baby Spinach Salad

Ingredients:

Organic Baby Spinach

Chopped red onion

Halved Cherry tomatoes

Garbanzo beans

Crumbled Feta cheese

Optional Sides: 

Whole wheat pasta

Hard boiled Eggs

Use Dressing of your choice! Enjoy!

Salad Bar Friday

This is by far my daughters favorite dinner!! Weird right!! But they love salads & serving themselves! This post is pretty self explanatory, I wanted to share my take on an "At home salad bar". Hope this inspires you to recreate your own version, Enjoy!!!

Detox water

There are times when you feel blah, bloated, and just plain gross.. maybe you had an over the top weekend!? By over the top I'm referring to your crazy binge eating, which I'm far more guilty of than I'd like to admit. Opps! Anyhow, I jumped on the detox water drink last year and to my surprise, it worked.... for me. I lost 3-4 lbs in a week, the bloat was gone and my water intake was higher. AMAZING! The best part is all ingredients are natural and accessible.

Try it, you just might be pleasantly surprised.

 

Yes I did the research for you.... you're welcome!

 

Mint:   Mint leaves help you lose weight and stimulate the digestion of fat while eliminating toxins.

Lemon: Vitamin C and the juice is a digestive aid and liver cleanser.

Cucumber: 95 % water, yet more nutrious than plain water. So it keeps you hydrated.

Ginger: anti-inflammatory, eliminates intestinal gas, etc. It's has crazy good benefits!

 

Ingredients:

 

1 Cucumber

1 tbsp. Fresh Ginger (peels)

1 Lemon

Lots of fresh mint

2 Qt of Water

 

In a pretty jug, fill with water, slice the veggies & add to the water.

Allow mixture to sit over night, enjoy the following day.

 

Power Salad

Serves about 4

This salad is great, it's different yet contains many ingredients we all know and love. 

My daughters loved it. 

1/2 head of broccoli 

1/4 cauliflower 

1 cucumber (quartered)

1 tomato sliced

1 cup cooked quinoa

Chopped parsley 

Vinaigrette: 1/4 cup olive oil, 1/4 red wine, 1 tsp sugar, 1 tsp salt,

 pepper & a about 3 chopped kalamata olives. 

Let's get started...

Cook quinoa accordingly, set aside & allow to cool completely.

In a pot of boiling water, throw in broccoli & cauliflower & cook for 2 minutes. Take out & blanch in icy water ( this retains their color & stops the cooking). Meanwhile chop all the remaining veggies. Place everything in a large mixing bowl, add cooked quinoa, soup on desired amount of vinaigrette. Combine all ingredients & Enjoy!!! 

Black bean & Zucchini Quesadilla

INGREDIENTS:

1 can organic black beans (rinsed)

1 zucchini (diced)

1 garlic (minced)

Pinch of cumin

Part skim mozzarella cheese (shredded)

This mixture should give you about 5 whole quesadillas.

I love topping these with some fresh pico de gallo.

Let's get started...

Heat up a large skillet, add a tb of olive oil, sauté minced garlic (1min). Add diced zucchini (3min), incorporate black beans & season with cumin. When beans are heated through, turn heat off. 

Heat up tortillas, place some cheese as a base & spoon on a hefty portion of the bean mixture, cover with a second tortilla & melt cheese.

Cut into quarters & enjoy!