Tag: quinoa

Perfectly Plump Peppers: Roasted Quinoa and Veggie Stuffed Peppers!

Pepper Perfection! My favorite pepper creation so far! Try this recipe!
Pepper Perfection! My favorite pepper creation so far! Try this recipe!

Packed with superfood quinoa and vitamins and minerals, these stuffed peppers maximize on taste and are super healthy! The kids love to eat out of the pepper bowl and then eat the pepper! So cute!
Roasted Quinoa and Veggie Stuffed Peppers

Ingredients:
6 bell peppers, any color!
2 tbsp. olive oil
2 cloves of garlic, pressed
1 small onion, chopped
1 cup quinoa
2 cups water
1/4 cup sunflower seeds
6 basil leaves, chopped
5 Yelo tomatoes

I chose these at the produce market because the package states "youth, energy, life" Yep, they got me at youth!
I chose these at the produce market because the package states “youth, energy, life” Yep, they got me at youth!

Ingredients (cont.)
1 handful of spinach
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

In a small saucepan, add 1 cup of uncooked quinoa and 2 cups of water on medium heat with a lid. Bring to a boil, remove from heat and cover. Let stand 15 minutes The quinoa will absorb the water.

Quinoa recipe- 1 cup uncooked quinoa and 2 cups water!
Quinoa recipe- 1 cup uncooked quinoa and 2 cups water!

Wash, cut the tops off of the peppers and clean out the seeds and white insides.

Place the hollowed peppers upside down on a Pam coated cookie sheet and roast for 25-30 mins or until peppers are softened and browning.

The peppers will soften but at the same time brown, if that makes sense. Here is the "look ." If you overcook they will turn to mush and be impossible to stuff. Error on less time if you are worried.
The peppers will soften but at the same time brown, if that makes sense. Here is the “look .” If you overcook they will turn to mush and be impossible to stuff. Error on less time if you are worried.

Meanwhile, in a frying pan heat the olive oil low to medium heat and add garlic and onions.

When the onions start to become transparent, add the quinoa and sunflower seeds.

The seeds and quinoa get a nice toasted , nutty taste.
The seeds and quinoa get a nice toasted , nutty taste.

Turn up the heat and toast the quinoa and seeds a bit, while constantly stirring.

Add tomatoes, basil and spinach and mix well.

Mix mozzarella and parmesan together to create a cheese mixture.

Fill the peppers with layers of the quinoa mixture and cheese mixture. Ending with quinoa mixture on top.

Fill them up! Don't be shy!
Fill them up! Don’t be shy!

Bake for another 5-8 minutes.

Toasted roasted perfection! So many beautiful textures and colors!
Toasted roasted perfection! So many beautiful textures and colors!
Always top with fresh grated Parmesan cheese! Enjoy!!
Always top with fresh grated Parmesan cheese! Enjoy!!

Ciao!

 

 

 

 

My First Experiment With Sriracha…Honey Sriracha Grilled Chicken and Pineapple Quinoa Salad!

After hearing the latest Sriracha headlines, “Residents of Irwindale (Sounds totally like Arrendale from Frozen – although opposite problem -is the Southern California city where it is made-Go USA!!) Say The Air Is Too Spicy and Are Fighting to Close Sriracha Plant,” to “America’s Most Popular Condiment” and “Sriracha Shortage Imminent,” I was dying to buy some and try it!!

Photo from 4/23/14 courtesy of Washington Times! Air so spicy your eyes water and itch! I need to try this!
Photo from 4/23/14 courtesy of Washington Times! Air so spicy your eyes water and itch! I need to try this!

I love sweet and spicy together! The most flavorful taste combo!
So here it is, the family says the best meal I have ever made.

Honey Sriracha Grilled Chicken

Ingredients:

3-4 boneless skinless chicken breasts 2 1/2 to 3 inches thick
1/4 cup honey
1/2 cup Sriracha sauce

Directions:

Mix 1/2 of the honey and half of the Sriracha in a bowl.

It's one part honey one part Sriracha. Hard to say how much I used! Mix more if needed!
It’s one part honey one part Sriracha. Hard to say how much I used! Mix more if needed!

Remove chicken from package and place in a container with an airtight lid.
Brush or spoon to coat raw chicken and marinate.

I didn't drench the chicken with the sauce...it is pretty strong stuff!
I didn’t drench the chicken with the sauce…it is pretty strong stuff!

Refrigerate to marinate 1-9 hours ( I did mine at 8am and pulled it out at 4:30 to grill.)

Heat grill on medium high heat to 350 degrees.
Cook chicken on one side for 12-15 minutes.
Coat with another mixture of honey sriracha.
Flip and cook another 8-10 minutes.
Coat with remaining sauce.

I love a little char when I grill. Medium/High heat keeps the chicken moist and you still get  the char! The gauge on the grill read 350-370 degrees.
I love a little char when I grill. Medium/High heat keeps the chicken moist and you still get the char! The gauge on the grill read 350-370 degrees.

Pineapple Quinoa Salad

Ingredients:
1 cup quinoa uncooked
1 1/2 cup water
1 can pineapple chunks, drained
Baby greens salad
Pint of grape tomatoes
2 tbsp. red pepper flakes

Directions:
Cook quinoa in a saucepan.
Add water bring to a boil.
Simmer for 20 minutes until water is absorbed.

1 cup uncooked quinoa and 1 1/2 cup water- always!
1 cup uncooked quinoa and 1 1/2 cup water- always!

Meanwhile, add lettuce to a serving bowl.
Layer it with tomatoes, quinoa and pineapple.
Sprinkle on red pepper flakes.

No dressing needed! But I'm sure a honey sesame would be awesome! Next time!
No dressing needed! But I’m sure a honey sesame would be awesome! Next time!

Serve together or make your own sides! I think corn on the cob was the only thing missing tonight!

The perfect spring or summer meal!! We loved it! I hope you will, too!!
The perfect spring or summer meal!! We loved it! I hope you will, too!!

Enjoy!
Ciao!

Twofer Tuesday!! Quinoa Black Bean And Lentil Chili Turned Tostadas! Si, Señora!

Superfoods that taste super good?? Yes!  Incorporate quinoa as a substitute for meat, rice, and pasta to come up with your own fun new recipes!  Shhhh! They will never know!

Twofer Tuesday!!!  Two meals in one!

Quinoa Black Bean and Lentil Chili

Ingredients:

1 15.5oz.can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 cup lentils,washed and drained
1 medium onion, chopped
2 bell peppers, chopped
2 cloves garlic, pressed
2 tbsp olive oil
2 35oz. can San Marzano tomatoes
4 carrots peeled, chopped
3 celery stalks, chopped
1 cup uncooked quinoa, cooked according to package. (2 cups water for 1 cup uncooked quinoa)
4 tbsp. chili powder
2 tbsp. paprika
Salt/pepper

Red lentils! Add a splash of color to your meals!
Red lentils! Add a splash of color to your meals!

Directions:

Heat a frying pan on low/medium heat.
Add olive oil, garlic, onions, carrots and celery.

Don't burn your garlic! No brown! No snap crackle pop! If it burns throw it out and start over!
Don’t burn your garlic! No brown! No snap crackle pop! If it burns throw it out and start over!

Season with spices-chili powder, paprika, salt and pepper.
Cook until the carrots begin to tenderize.
Add tomatoes, lentils and ingredients from pan to a stock pot.

Let lentils cook in tomatoes for a few minutes. Stir well.
Let lentils cook in tomatoes for a few minutes. Stir well.

Cook on low covered for 45 minutes.
Add cooked quinoa and heat through. (5-10 minutes)

The smell is amazing!! Spice it up with some red pepper flakes and hot sauce of you need a kick!
The smell is amazing!! Spice it up with some red pepper flakes and hot sauce if you need a kick!

Twofer Tuesday! This dish becomes your Mexican tostada base for another meal! Toast your tostada shells.  Heat your chili. Add toppings of your choice like shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, sour cream, shredded cheese and avocado!

Serve with Corn bread! Enjoy !
Ciao!

Superfood Quinoa Crockpot Stuffed Peppers!! Anti-aging Disease Preventing…Yes, Please!!

The term “superfood” is used by nutritionists, doctors and scientists to describe foods with extremely high nutritional benefits and obvious disease fighting chemical properties. Dr. Oz is pretty convincing in his arguments promoting superfoods for anti-aging, anti-inflammatory, cancer fighting, cancer prevention and the overall health of our bodies’ systems!

Some of Dr. Oz’s favorites:
Sweet potatoes
Kale
Black soy beans
Quinoa
Red wine

In our crazy busy worlds, let’s try to add some superfoods a few times each week. Ever heard of chia?? It can add 10+ years to your life! Look for plenty of chia recipes coming soon!!!! All I need to hear is anti-aging, cancer preventing and red wine and I’m in!!

So Here it is:

Superfood Quinoa Crockpot Stuffed Peppers

Be healthy , look younger and feel great!!
Be healthy , look younger and feel great!!

Ingredients:
5-6 whole peppers- hollowed out and de-seeded with the tops cut of (see photo)
2tbsp. Olive oil
2 cloves garlic pressed
1 small onion chopped
5 carrots peeled and chopped
3 celery stalks chopped
1/3 cup chopped spinach
1 35oz can San Marzano tomatoes
1-1/2 cups quinoa- cooked
2tsp. of Salt/pepper/sage
freshly grated Parmesan cheese

image
I keep the ‘hats”, the top of the peppers you cut off, for a cute presentation!

Directions:
Cook quinoa according to package -3 cups water cook until tender,quinoa will absorb water

1 cup quinoa 2 cups water -it absorbs the liquid!
1 cup quinoa 2 cups water -it absorbs the liquid!

Meanwhile,
Add olive oil to frying pan on medium heat and add garlic

Add carrots, celery, and onion and cook 5-10 minutes

Add can of tomatoes.

As soon as carrots start to soften, add tomatoes!
As soon as carrots start to soften, add tomatoes!

Let it cook another 10 minutes

Add chopped spinach last

In a large mixing bowl, add quinoa to veggies and stir until blended.

Carefully spoon mixture into peppers

Mix well together. Taste - add extra salt, pepper, sage or spice it up with some cayenne pepper!
Mix well together. Taste – add extra salt, pepper, sage or spice it up with some cayenne pepper!

Add 2 cups of water to crockpot.

Set peppers in crockpot

Peppers will hold each other up in the crockpot! Be sure to see how many fit and choose your peppers accordingly! Maybe you need tall peppers instead of fat!
Peppers will hold each other up in the crockpot! Be sure to see how many fit and choose your peppers accordingly! Maybe you need tall peppers instead of fat!

Cook on low for 3-4 hours

**Careful not to overcook the peppers!! You cannot cook them all day in the crockpot or you will end up with Quinoa Stuffed Pepper Soup!!**

Serve with a simple salad.
Always top off with freshly grated parmesan!! Enjoy!

Father, Son, Holy SHRIMP!- Try my Friday Menu! Panko Parmesan Zucchini Fries, Roasted Red Pepper and Pineapple Quinoa Coleslaw and OldBay Steamed Shrimp!

Why do we eat cheese pizza every Friday during Lent? Why do we wear our black blouse, silver jewels, favorite jeans and boots every time we don’t know what to wear? We are content-it is easy- everybody will eat it. There are many awesome alternatives! Have you ever tried quinoa??

Let me share with you a quick, delicious menu! Panko Parmesan Zucchini Fries, Roasted Red Pepper and Pineapple Quinoa Coleslaw and OldBay Steamed Shrimp!! Voila!
 

Panko Parmesan Zucchini fries

Ingredients:
2 zucchini peeled and cut into 1/2 inch thick rectangles
2 eggs
1tbsp milk
1c.flour
2c.Panko bread crumbs
Freshly grated Parmesan cheese

 

Directions:
Beat eggs and add milk
Set up your assembly line- zuchinni strips – beaten egg bath-flour, Breadcrumbs

Cut zucchini in half or leave long for long fries!
Cut zucchini in half or leave long for long fries!

Dip and dunk each stick!

Assembly line

Shake on your Parmesan!

Shake it on be generous!
Shake it on be generous!

Place on an untreated stoneware pan or a jelly roll pan sprayed with Pam.
Bake for 15mins at 400 degrees- flip for 10 mins. Until golden brown

Zucchini fries

Roasted Red Pepper and Pineapple Quinoa Coleslaw
Ingredients:
1/2 jar Mancini red peppers chopped

I use these for everything! Great as a Pizza topping!
I use these for everything! Great as a Pizza topping!

1/4 c.quinoa
1 bag coleslaw mix
1 can crushed pineapple
1tbsp. Spicy mustard
1tbsp. Olive oil
salt/pepper

Directions:

Boil quinoa for 10 mins.in 2 cups of water and then simmer for 15 mins

Boil and simmer with lid for 15 mins. Turn off heat until liquid is absorbed!
Turn off heat and let sit until liquid is absorbed!

In a large bowl mix coleslaw mix , red peppers, quinoa with spicy mustard, olive oil mixture

Add salt and pepper to taste!

Slaw

Old Bay Steamed Shrimp
I use equal parts beer- yes beer! – white vinegar and water! Excellent recipe!! Cook only until pink!! Once the water is at a boil throw in thawed shrimp!! Love love love!!!

Shrimp

Old Bay shrimp!
http://www.oldbay.com/Recipes/Shrimp/Appetizers/OLD-BAY-Steamed-Shrimp-with-Cocktail-Sauce.aspx

Miss Bella and I visited Penn Ave Fish Company today! We found the freshest seafood and a wonderful surprise!!! The best fish tacos I have found, yet..spicy!!! Sushi bar and a dining room if you visit for lunch. Just walk in and buy fresh fish!

Penn Ave Fish Company