Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Lemon Spinach Pasta

This simple and quick meal is loaded with the healthy superfoods of spinach, olive oil, garlic and lemon. Even my children will eat their spinach when mixed with this tasty sauce.

1 pkg. frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained
16 oz. whole wheat pasta (shells or penne)
1 lemon, zested then juiced
1/4 c. extra virgin olive oil
2 cloves chopped fresh garlic
2 Tbl. toasted pine nuts
salt to taste
fresh grated romano or asiago cheese

Boil pasta according to package directions. While pasta is cooking, mix lemon zest, juice, olive oil and garlic with a whisk. Drain pasta over thawed spinach to warm the spinach and return to pot. Mix pasta and spinach thoroughly. Add pine nuts and pour olive oil mixture over pasta.

Serve while still warm and top with a sprinkle of cheese.

To reheat leftovers, add a little more olive oil so it's not too dry.

Monday, April 13, 2009

Roasted Curry Cauliflower

I can't eat broccoli every day, as recommended by those who wrote the SuperFoodsRX book, so am glad they have those "sidekicks" foods. Otherwise, I'd be bored quickly.

I love this side dish because it smells so good when cooking! I've made a meal out of it by serving it on a bed of brown rice.

Ingredients:
12 cups cauliflower florets (from about 4 pounds cauliflower)
1 large onion, peeled, quartered
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1 teaspoon ground cumin seeds
3/4 cup olive oil
1/2 cup red wine vinegar
3 1/2 teaspoons curry powder
1 tablespoon Hungarian hot paprika
1 3/4 teaspoons salt

1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

Preheat oven to 450°F. Place cauliflower florets in large roasting pan. Pull apart onion quarters into separate layers; add to cauliflower.

Whisk remaining ingredients except for cilantro. Coat the cauliflower and onion in the dressing. Then spread in single layer onto a cookie sheet. Bake for 35 minutes.

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Slow-Cooker Turkey Breast

This is one of the easiest ways to cook a turkey breast. For my family, we always have enough left-overs for at least another meal. I'll set this up in the mornings of days I expect to busy right up until dinner time.

Ingredients

1 6-8lb turkey breast, bone in
1 can of gravy
1 T of chopped rosemary

Remove skin from the turkey breast plus any visible fat. Place breast side up in the slow cooker. Cover in gravy, then sprinkle on the rosemary. Cook at the low setting 8-10 hours.

Great side dish: Whipped sweet and yukon gold potatoes.

Thursday, April 2, 2009

Taco Seasoning

This works with fish, chicken, pork or beef tacos. Adjust according to taste the level of red pepper and type of chili poweder (I prefer the hot version)

1 tablespoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon black pepper

Mix then store in an airtight container. Double or even triple if you make tacos more than twice a month!

Easy Fish Tacos

This is one of those recipes I trot out a couple of times a month because it just so easy. I prefer salmon or one of its "sidekicks" for the nutritional punch, but you really can use any kind of fish. And if you're in a pinch, store bought taco seasoning works just as well as mixing it yourself.

The shredded cabbage that is used (don't use lettuce) is from the broccoli family. If you top with kiwi-pineapple salsa this becomes one of those meals packed with SuperFoods.

Serves 4

1 pound salmon filet
2-3 T of taco seasoning

12 soft corn tortillas
olive or canola oil

Kiwi Pineapple Salsa (or any other salsa, fruit based is best)*
shredded cabbage
diced avocado

Sprinkle the salmon with taco seasonings and pre-heat oven to 325°. Then bake salmon about 20 minutes.

While fish is baking, in a small skillet, heat about a teaspoon oil over medium heat. Then drop in a corn tortilla, when it starts to bubble, turn it over. You want it to deepen in color but remain soft. Once oil is heated, it takes less than a minute per tortilla. Once tortilla is done, put on a plate lined with a paper towel and top with a paper towel. Repeat until done.

Great side sides: black beans cooked with more taco seasoning.

*If your kids don't like salsa or avocado, I mix up a bit of non-fat sour cream with some hot sauce and/or have shredded cheese on hand for them.