Gorgonzola & Pear Salad

I love this combination. The sweetness of the pear and the saltiness of the gorgonzola cheese go together beautifully with the added crunch of toasted pecans and crispy red onion! Perfect for Summer time!

Ingredients:

- 1 bag of flat leaf spinach
- 2 pears
- 1 red onion
- pecan halves
- gorgonzola cheese (blue cheese crumbles work for this too)
- balsamic vinaigrette dressing (or whatever you prefer, but I think the balsamic goes very well)

Directions:

 Start by toasting about 1 cup of pecan halves over medium heat in a small skillet until they are warm. (your nose will let you know when they are done)

  Next dump your bag of spinach into your serving bowl and slice your pears.

Add your sliced pears to the spinach, arranging them neatly and evenly over the top.

  Next slice your red onion and add to the spinach and pears.

Finish by adding your toasted pecans and sprinkling the gorgonzola (or blue cheese crumbles) over the top.

 Now you're ready to serve! Add dressing to each plate after dishing up, or you can add the dressing first, toss to coat, and then serve. I like to let everyone add their own dressing and I just serve this salad as is, after it's assembled.

Fresh Spinach & Tomato Egg White Sandwich

Just got done making this one. After I work out, I try to refuel with a good balance of protein and carbohydrates to help with muscle recovery and to keep energy levels high.  This was something that I thought would do the trick, with the protein in the egg whites and the carbs from the bread, it was just what I was looking for!

This is a simple, fresh twist on your typical breakfast sandwich, it is really easy to make and takes hardly any time at all!

Ingredients:

-1 large slice of sourdough bread (cut in half & toasted)
-2 egg whites (kept separate)
-2 small handfulls of fresh spinach
-2 small tomato slices
-1-2 tblsp olive oil (divided)
-salt & pepper *to taste

*however much you like

Directions:

 Over medium-high heat in a small frying pan, fry each egg white in about 1/2-1 tblsp olive oil and keep separated so you can place one on each half of the sourdough toast. Fry for about 2-3 minutes then flip and fry for another minute or two until egg whites are cooked through. (Season egg whites with salt and pepper while they are cooking on the first side if you choose)

 Once the egg whites are cooked, assemble your sandwich! Open-faced is how I like to eat mine, less bread that way, but you can make 2 whole sandwiches with this if you like.

 Start by placing one egg white on each 1/2 slice of toast, then a small handful of spinach on each, followed by a tomato slice. To top everything off, drizzle the remaining olive oil over each 1/2 sandwich, and sprinkle with salt & pepper to taste. Bon Appetite`!

Balsamic Chicken & Strawberry Salad

 This is a great recipe for the warm weather coming up. I threw this one together one very hot summer day in Kansas City, MO. 

Ingredients:

-Fresh baby or regular Spinach

-1 grilled chicken breast per salad (sliced)

-5 or 6 fresh strawberries (sliced)

-1/4 of a small red onion (sliced)

-Toasted pecans

-Feta cheese

Dressing:

-Olive oil

-Balsamic vinegar

-Sugar (white)

-Granulated garlic

-Salt

-Cracked black pepper

*All of the ingredients for the dressing are 'to taste' because to be honest, I've never measured how much of everything I put into it, so I have no idea what the measurements are. :-P

Directions:

Fill a large plate with about 1-2 cups of Spinach.  Add onion, strawberries, grilled chicken, toasted pecans, and feta cheese on top of the spinach. Whisk all of the ingredients for the dressing together until combined, then drizzle on top of the salad. 

Tater-tot Shepherd's Hot Pie Dish

This recipe was a HUGE hit with my husband, who LOVES potatoes... He might as well face it, he's addicted to spuds... ;)  He made a request one night for Shepherd's Pie.. but then he couldn't make up his mind between that and Tater-tot Hot Dish. So I thought, why not both!?!?!?

Result: Happy Husband, Easy Entree :)

Ingredients:

• 1-1/2 pounds ground beef
• 1 can (10-3/4 ounces) condensed cream of mushroom soup, undiluted
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 6 cups frozen Tater Tots
• 2 cups frozen green beans, thawed
• 3 cups hot mashed potatoes
• 1 cup (4 ounces) shredded cheese (colby works great)

Directions:

• In a large skillet, cook beef over medium heat until no longer pink; drain. Stir in the soup, garlic salt and pepper.
• Place Tater Tots in a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish. Top with beef mixture and green beans. Spread mashed potatoes over the top; sprinkle with cheese.
• Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 40-45 minutes or until heated through.

Chicken with Baked Eggplant & Tomato

This is one that I tried once and liked, but I would add salt and pepper to the vegetables to enhance the flavors.

Ingredients:

- 1 Red Pepper
- 1 Eggplant
- 3 Tomatoes
- 7oz. Large Button Mushrooms
- 1 Onion
- Canola or Olive Spray
- 1 1/2 Tbs Tomato Paste
- 1/2 Cup Chicken Stock
- 3 Tbs Dry White Wine
- 2 Slices low-fat/ Turkey Bacon
- 4 Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts
- 4 Small Sprigs Rosemary

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cut the pepper & eggplant into bite-sized pieces. Cut the tomatoes into quarters, the mushrooms into halves, and the onion into thin wedges. Mix the vegetables together in a roasting pan. Spray with oil & bake for 1 hour or until starting to brown and soften, stirring once.

Mix together the tomato paste, stock and wine, then pour into the roasting pan with the vegetables and roast for 10 minutes, or until thickened.

Meanwhile, cut the bacon in half. Wrap a strip around each chicken breast securing underneath with a toothpick. Poke a sprig of fresh rosemary underneath the bacon. Heat a non-stick frying pan over medium heat. Spray with oil. Cook the chicken for 2-3 minutes on each side, or until golden on both sides. Cover and cook for 10-15 minutes or until chicken is cooked through. Remove the toothpicks. Serve the Chicken on the vegetables, surrounded with sauce.

This dish went well with orzo pasta tossed in a light olive oil with salt & fresh cracked black pepper. A nice wholegrain bread would go nicely too!

Creamy Chicken, Mushroom & Asparagus Soup

This one I made myself from scratch. I didn't really know if it was going to turn out well, but it ended up being pretty good! This recipe is very versatile, as most soups tend to be, you could choose to leave out the mushrooms if you don't care for them, but I love the hearty flavor that they add to this dish.

Ingredients:

- 1 small-medium onion
- tsp butter
- 4-6 Chicken breasts (cubed & cooked)
- 4 cups (32 oz.) Chicken (or vegetable) broth
- 1lb. Fresh asparagus (cut into 1-2 inch long pieces)
- 4-5 medium sized potatoes (peeled & cubed)
- 1lb Fresh mushrooms (sliced)
- 1/2 - 1 cup half&half
- 1/2 cup flour to thicken (optional) *leave out for gluten-free menu
- Salt & pepper to taste

Directions:

Sautee onion in butter in the bottom of a large soup kettle until tender and slightly browned. Add a clove of minced garlic if desired.

Add broth, potatoes, asparagus & mushrooms to the pot. Cover and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, add chicken (cooked) and let simmer for 5-8 minutes until vegetables are tender, and chicken is warmed through. Reduce heat to medium-low and gradually stir in half&half, making sure the heat is low enough so that it won't cause the cream to curdle. *add flour if you choose to thicken, bring to low boil for about 2 minutes. Add salt & pepper to taste & serve. I usually pair this with a whole-grain artisan bread. Yum!

Chipotle-Chicken Quinoa

 This is my own recipe. I just sort of threw a bunch of things that I had in my fridge/pantry together, & it ended up being pretty good!


Ingredients:


 -1 cup (dry) Quinoa prepared according to package directions in 1 1/2 cups chicken broth 
 -1-2 Chicken breasts, cubed & cooked
 -1 can white kidney beans 
 -1 can whole kernel sweet corn 
 -1 diced tomato, or red bell pepper 
 -1 onion, diced 
 - 2-3 cloves of garlic, diced 
 - 2 cups roughly chopped fresh spinach (or 1 cup fresh cilantro, chopped) 
 -1-2 tsp cumin 
 -1-2 tsp cayenne pepper 
 -1-2 tsp crushed red pepper flake 


Directions: 


Combine Quinoa with chicken broth and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 10-15 minutes, or until all the liquid is absorbed.


 Add cooked chicken, tomatoes (red pepper), corn, kidney beans, and spinach (cilantro). Stir until spinach (cilantro) is wilted and the beans & corn are warmed through. In a separate pan, sautee onions in olive oil until tender. Add garlic & cook for 1 more minute. Add onions & garlic to Quinoa mixture. Add cumin, cayenne pepper, and red pepper flake to taste, depending on how spicy you like it. :) Stir & mix until completely & evenly incorporated. Dish up & serve! Enjoy!

Pork Chops with Apples & Onions

This recipe is the favorite of my good friend Emily. I think of her every time I make it. Here's to you, Emily!

Ingredients

• 2 teaspoons coarsely ground pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 4 bone-in center-cut pork loin chops (1-inch thick and ounces each)
• 2 medium onions, thinly sliced
• 2 medium tart apples, peeled and chopped
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar

Directions

• In a small bowl, combine the pepper, salt and garlic powder. Rub over pork chops. Grill chops, covered, over medium heat for 4-5 minutes on each side or until a thermometer reads 145°. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.
• Meanwhile, in a large skillet, saute onions and apples in butter until tender. Stir in brown sugar; cook until thickened and bubbly. Serve with pork chops.

Chicken with Rosemary Butter Sauce

This is one of my husband's favorites, and I am in love with it as well. Mostly because it is so simple to make! I will reach for this recipe when I need to make something quickly, or when I know I need a people-pleaser. Who doesn't love a great butter sauce??

Ingredients

• 4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves (4 ounces each)
• 4 tablespoons butter, divided
• 1/2 cup white wine or chicken broth
• 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
• 1 tablespoon minced fresh rosemary

Directions

• In a large skillet over medium heat, cook chicken in 1 tablespoon butter for 4-5 minutes on each side or until a meat thermometer reads 170°. Remove and keep warm.
• Add wine to the pan; cook over medium-low heat, stirring to loosen browned bits from pan. Add cream and bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cook and stir until slightly thickened. Stir in rosemary and remaining butter until blended. Serve sauce with chicken.

Roasted Zucchini and Cauliflower

This recipe makes a great side dish and is very simple to make.

Ingredients:

- 1 head of cauliflower
- about 3 medium-large green zucchini
- olive oil
- salt
- pepper

Directions:

Cut the stem out of the cauliflower and either cut, or break the head into bite-size florets. Slice up the zucchini into about 1/2 inch thick slices.

In a large roaster, drizzle about 2 tablespoons of olive oil, then add the veggies, salt and pepper to taste. Toss to coat the vegetables in the olive oil, salt and pepper.

Pre-heat the oven to  400 degrees. Place the roaster with the veggies, olive oil, salt, and pepper in the oven, un-covered and cook for about 20-30 minutes or until veggies are tender.

Serve with your favorite main dish, enjoy! I sometimes substitute the cauliflower for yellow squash, any combination that you want would work great!

Gluten-Free Protein Pancakes

So this recipe is one that really deserves to be credited to my Dad, Steve. He uses this recipe to make waffles, served with butter and sugar-free maple syrup.  I prefer in the form of pancakes with a healthy dollop of plain, Greek yogurt, fresh (or frozen) blueberries (sub any fruit you like), and clove honey. YUM-O!

First off, the list of ingredients:

Get ready because it's SUPER complicated:

- 1/2 cup cottage cheese
- 1/2 cup rolled oats (raw/ uncooked)
- 3 egg whites
- a pinch of salt


...... I know right? Doesn't get much easier than 4 ingredients!

Directions:

Combine all of the ingredients in a bowl with a hand mixer until fully incorporated.

Use a large griddle set to about 300 degrees and ladle about 1/2 - 2/3 cup per pancake. Cook for about 2-3 minutes or until bubbles apear on top, then flip! Cook for another 2-3 minutes on the other side and remove when both sides are golden brown.  Makes 3-4 pancakes. * I usually double, or triple the recipe.

Helpful hint:  I have found that it can get very sticky on the first flip if you try to turn the pancakes too soon. Waiting until you see bubbles on the tops, and/or using a little non-stick cooking spray on your spatula before flipping is helpful! ( yes, I am speaking from experience. My first few attempts were a flop... no pun intended)

Enjoy!

For the Love of Food

 So I have decided to start a new blog.

 I have recently discovered a love for cooking, and as it happens, I'm not bad at it.

 I have made up my mind that I will join the forces of women who have shared their love for making food and their recipes online, and start a recipe blog of my own.

More to come! Time to get cookin'!