Spinach And Strawberry Salad

 

 This delicious salad will satisfy your vegetable AND fruit cravings!

2 bunches spinach, rinsed and torn into bite-size pieces
4 cups sliced strawberries
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup white wine vinegar
1/2 cup white sugar
1/4 teaspoon paprika
2 tablespoons sesame seeds
1 tablespoon poppy seeds

1. In a large bowl, toss together the spinach and strawberries.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the oil, vinegar, sugar, paprika, sesame seeds, and poppy seeds. Pour over the spinach and strawberries, and toss to coat.

 

Gluten-Free Tiramisu Brownies

Ingredients Brownie Base

• 2 1/2 cups cashew flour
• 1/2 cup coconut flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 cup cocoa powder
• 1 cup bitter sweet chocolate chips

• 1/4 cup freshly brewed espresso (add 1 sachet instant coffee and dissolve for a more intense coffee flavor)
• 1/2 cup + 1 tablespoon maple syrup
• 1/4 cup raw virgin coconut oil
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 4 tablespoon unsweetened apple sauce
• 2 eggs

Ingredients Tiramisu Cream

• 8oz mascarpone
• 8oz cream cheese
• 1/4 cup maple syrup
• 3 egg yolks (only if you have fresh eggs; it will taste good without yolks, too)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon almond extract (in place of Amaretto)

Directions
Preheat oven to 350F and line a baking dish with parchment paper.  Add coconut oil to a small saucepan and melt over low heat.
In a large bowl, mix all dry ingredients for brownie base: cashew flour, coconut flour, baking soda, cocoa powder and chocolate chips.
Using a medium sized bowl, mix all wet ingredients for brownie base: espresso, maple syrup, coconut oil, vanilla extract, apple sauce and eggs.
Make sure the eggs are mixed in well and there are no strings. If necessary, use a hand mixer.
Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and mix (by hand) until well incorporated. The batter will be thick, that’s ok!
Fill brownie batter into your baking dish and bake for approximately 25-30 minutes. Do the tooth pick test: If you stick a tooth pick down the middle and batter crumbs stick to it, you need to continue baking.
Allow brownie base to fully cool off.

Mascarpone and cream cheese should be at room temperature. Combine all Tiramisu Cream ingredients and mix with hand mixer until you have a smooth cream.
Spread on top of your now cold brownie base and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Brownie base by itself keeps for up to 5 days. Tiramisu cream containing egg yolk should be consumed within 2 days.

Cinnamon Apple Scones

These are BETTER than grain recipes of the same type! No pale substitutes here! Eat gluten free with no frustrated tears of "why doesn't this taste like it USED to?"

 

3 cups blanched almond flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
4 tablespoons butter, as cold as possible (preferably frozen), cut into small pieces
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 large eggs
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons honey
1 small Granny Smith or Fuji apple, peeled, cored, and cut into thin tiles

 

 

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F with the rack in the middle position, and line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a large bowl, combine the almond flour, baking soda, and fine sea salt. Use your hands or a pastry cutter to work the pieces of cold butter into the dry ingredients until a crumbly mixture is produced. Then, mix the cinnamon into the almond flour mixture.
3. In a separate bowl, thoroughly whisk together the eggs, apple cider vinegar, and honey.
4. Make a well in the middle of the dry ingredients, and pour the egg mixture into it.
5. Gently mix with a spatula until a wet, chunky dough forms, and then throw in the apple. Combine the ingredients with your hands, and form a ball of dough.
6. On a sheet of parchment paper or a nonstick surface, gently flatten the ball with your hand. The round of dough should be about 3/4 inch thick. Using a pastry cutter or a sharp knife, cut the dough into 6 equal-sized wedges, and arrange them on the parchment-lined baking sheet.
7. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, rotating the tray halfway through. The scones are ready when they're golden brown, and an inserted toothpick comes out clean. Transfer the scones onto a wire rack to cool slightly before serving.
 

Vegetable Enchiladas

 

They pack almost all your daily vitamin C.

• 1 pound sweet potatoes, peeled and diced into 3/4-inch cubes
• 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
• 12 corn tortillas (6 inches each)
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 1 1/2 tablespoons dark chili powder
• 1/2 tablespoon chipotle powder
• 1 teaspoons ground cumin
• 1 cup roasted or thawed frozen corn
• 1 cup roasted red peppers
• 1 can (15 ounces) low-sodium black beans, rinsed and drained
• 2 cups cooked shortgrain brown rice
• 1 can (8 ounces) enchilada sauce
• 1 cup shredded lowfat pepper Jack cheese, divided
• 1 avocado, thinly sliced
• 1 scallion, chopped
• 6 sprigs fresh cilantro

 Heat oven to 300°F. In a bowl, toss potatoes in 1 tablespoons oil; spread on a baking sheet. Bake until potatoes are soft and browned, 20 to 25 minutes. Wrap tortillas in foil; bake 10 minutes. In a large pan over medium heat, heat remaining 1/2 tablespoon oil. Add onion, chili powder, chipotle and cumin; cook until onion is tender, 3 to 5 minutes. Add corn, peppers and black beans; cook 5 minutes. Set aside half of corn mixture. Add potatoes, rice and enchilada sauce to pan; cook 6 minutes. Place 6 tortillas on a baking sheet. Spread potato mixture and 1/2 cup cheese evenly among tortillas. Top with remaining 6 tortillas, remaining 1/2 cup cheese and reserved corn mixture; bake 7 minutes. Divide avocado, scallion and cilantro among enchiladas.

Spring Pizzas

This recipe is different and light. Perfect name for it because it reminds you of spring. Very tasty. This is definitely one of my favorites!

 

1 pound pizza dough
All-purpose flour, for dusting
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for brushing and drizzling
6 ounces ramps or scallions, trimmed
Kosher salt
1 cup ricotta cheese
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
Coarse sea salt
Coarsely ground black pepper
1/4 cup fresh basil leaves
Grated parmesan cheese, for topping

Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F. Divide the dough into 4 pieces on a floured surface. Brush a baking sheet with olive oil. Stretch the dough into four 6-inch rounds; place on the baking sheet and bake until golden, about 12 minutes.

Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Toss the ramps or scallions with 1 tablespoon olive oil and season with kosher salt. Saute until just wilted, about 1 minute. Transfer to a cutting board and cut into pieces.

Mix the ricotta, lemon zest, the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil and some sea salt and pepper in a bowl. Brush the crusts with olive oil (this will protect them from getting soggy), then spread with the ricotta mixture and season with sea salt. Top with the ramps or scallions. Return to the oven until warmed through, about 2 minutes.

Top the pizzas with basil, parmesan and a drizzle of olive oil.

30-Minute Parmesan Chicken

 

This is a favorite in my house. We make it all the time.

 

4 to 6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 extra-large eggs
1 tablespoon water
1 1/4 cups seasoned dry bread crumbs
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan, plus extra for serving
Unsalted butter
Good olive oil
Salad greens for 6, washed and spun dry
1 recipe Lemon Vinaigrette, recipe follows
1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (2 lemons)
1/2 cup good olive oil
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Pound the chicken breasts until they are 1/4-inch thick. You can use either a meat mallet or a rolling pin.

Combine the flour, salt, and pepper on a dinner plate. On a second plate, beat the eggs with 1 tablespoon of water. On a third plate, combine the bread crumbs and 1/2 cup grated Parmesan. Coat the chicken breasts on both sides with the flour mixture, then dip both sides into the egg mixture and dredge both sides in the bread-crumb mixture, pressing lightly.

Heat 1 tablespoon of butter and 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large saute pan and cook 2 or 3 chicken breasts on medium-low heat for 2 to 3 minutes on each side, until cooked through. Add more butter and oil and cook the rest of the chicken breasts. Toss the salad greens with lemon vinaigrette. Place a mound of salad on each hot chicken breast. Serve with extra grated Parmesan.

Lemon Vinaigrette:

In a small bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper.

Summer Spicy Shrimp Salad in Tortilla Cups

 This recipe is great in tortilla bowls or as a dip with toasted baquette pieces. It can be prepared in larger tortilla bowls or smaller ones that you can make in a muffin pan for hor douevres.

1 lb cooked shrimp, chilled and coarsely chopped

1/2 c mayonnaise

1 1/2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice

1/2 tsp paprika

1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

1/4 c minced red onion

1/4 c minced celery

1/2 c real bacon bits (4-5 slices chopped)

1/4 c fresh parsley chopped

Mix all salad ingredients together. Chill for at least 1/2 hour. Fill Tortilla cups or bowls or use as dip with toasted baquette slices.

Cream of Chicken and Wild Rice Recipes

Simple and so good. Warm yourself through and through with this flavorful, hearty soup! 

 

 

 

 4 chicken breast halves, skinless and boneless and cubed

1 stick butter, cold

2 c wild rice, uncooked (prefer uncle bens)

1 onions, yellow, medium chopped

2 c carrots, chopped

2 c celery stalk, chopped

8 oz mushroom pieces

1/3 c flour

6 c chicken broth

1 pt heavy whipping cream

1 Tbsp parsley flakes

1/2 tsp sage, dried

 

In large skillet, add 1/4 cup butter, onion, celery, carrots, sage, and salt and pepper to taste. Sauté till onions are turning translucent. Add chicken breast and continue to cook until meat turns white. In a sauce pan, bring 2 cups water to rolling boil. Add rice, reduce heat, cover and simmer 15 minutes or until rice is cooked. Combine Vegetable/chicken mix, rice, and chicken broth in large soup kettle. Bring to boil, reduce heat. Add cream and parsley. Heat just to boiling point but don't boil. In a microwave safe bowl, melt remaining butter and add flour to make roux. Slowly whisk the roux into the soup mixture to thicken. Enjoy!