Quinoa Salad with Cucumber

Inspiration:
A search for a new rice/pasta/other salad to take for lunch, and Martha Stewart's Living.


Ingredients:

• 2 cups water
• 1 cup quinoa, rinsed
• Coarse salt
• 1 small shallot, finely chopped
• 3 tablespoons champagne vinegar
• 1/2 teaspoon red-pepper flakes
• 1/4 cup plus 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 small English cucumber, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced crosswise (1 cup)
• 3/4 cup finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

Instructions:

1. Bring water, quinoa, and 1 teaspoon salt to a boil in a small saucepan. Reduce heat; cover, and simmer until tender and water has been absorbed, about 15 minutes. Transfer to a baking sheet, and let cool on a wire rack.
2. Combine shallot, vinegar, and red-pepper flakes in a small bowl. Gradually whisk in oil until emulsified.
3. Transfer quinoa to a large bowl, and stir in cucumber, parsley, and vinaigrette. Season with salt.

Notes:
I substituted white wine vinegar for the champagne vinegar and used a regular cucumber.

While this was ok, I think it would be even better with some feta or ricotta salata cheese added-- or kalamata olives or diced red bell pepper.


Liz's Rating: 7.5/10
Tim's Rating: 8/10

Pioneer Woman's Restaurant-Style Salsa

Inspiration:
I love restaurant-style salsa, so when I saw Pioneer Woman's recipe on my friend Sarah's blog, I had to make it immediately!


Ingredients:

• 1 can (28 Ounce) Whole Tomatoes With Juice
• 2 cans (10 Ounce) Rotel (diced Tomatoes And Green Chilies)
• ¼ cups Chopped Onion
• 1 clove Garlic, Minced
• 1 whole Jalapeno, Quartered And Sliced Thin
• ¼ teaspoons Sugar
• ¼ teaspoons Salt
• ¼ teaspoons Ground Cumin
• ½ cups Cilantro (more To Taste!)
• ½ whole Lime Juice

Instructions:

1. Combine whole tomatoes, Rotel, onion, jalapeno, garlic, sugar, salt, cumin, lime juice, and cilantro in a blender or food processor. Pulse until you get the salsa to the consistency you’d like—I do about 10 to 15 pulses. Test seasonings with a tortilla chip and adjust as needed.

2. Refrigerate salsa for at least an hour. Serve with tortilla chips or cheese nachos.

Notes: I used one large jalapeño, including the ribs and seeds. I would describe the salsa as medium-hot. Tim loves spicy food, so I'll probably use two next time. This makes a lot, but we ate the entire batch within a week.

I make my own salsa in summer using fresh tomatoes, but I never had made it in winter. This recipe is so good! I think it may be my favorite salsa of all time.


Liz's Rating: 10/10
Tim's Rating: 9.5/10

Bok Choy Salad

Inspiration:
A desire to increase my vegetable intake during lunches and Martha Stewart's Living.


Ingredients:

• 4 teaspoons rice vinegar
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
• 3/4 teaspoon sugar
• 5 cups sliced, raw bok choy (any type; about 1 1/2 pounds)
• 2 tablespoons chopped cashews

Instructions:

1. Whisk together 4 teaspoons rice vinegar, 1 tablespoon soy sauce, 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil, and 3/4 teaspoon sugar in a bowl. Toss in 5 cups sliced, raw bok choy. Top with 2 tablespoons chopped cashews.

Notes:
I had a little extra bok choy, so I doubled the dressing amount and tripled the cashews :)

Updated Notes:
If you are going to store this for later, one batch of the dressing should be enough. This salad is so good!

Liz's Rating: 9/10

Asian Dumpling Soup with Shitakes and Edamame

Inspiration:
Have you ever returned from a vacation where you overindulged, and all you wanted to do was eat spinach and drink water for a week? Tim and I just had a fun-filled trip to the Caribbean, and we enjoyed all the food--perhaps a little too much. This soup was just the healthy, vegetable-packed recipe we were craving.
Recipe adapted from Real Simple


Ingredients:

• 64 ounces low-sodium vegetable or chicken broth
• 1 2-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and thinly sliced
• 1 16-ounce package frozen pot sticker dumplings or Japanese gyoza
• 2 medium carrots, halved lengthwise and sliced
• 4 ounces shiitake or white mushrooms, stems discarded and caps thinly sliced
• 2 cups frozen shelled edamame
• 1 bunch watercress, thick stems removed (or spinach, see note; about 3 cups)
  
• 1 tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce
• kosher salt
• 4 scallions, sliced

Instructions:

1. In a large saucepan, bring the broth and ginger to a boil. Add the pot stickers and carrots and simmer until just tender, 8 to 10 minutes.
2. Add the mushrooms and edamame and simmer until heated through, about 2 minutes.
3. Stir in the watercress, soy sauce, and ½ teaspoon salt. Sprinkle with the scallions before serving.

Notes: I substituted 3 cups of spinach for the watercress as my food co-op didn't have watercress. I doubled the mushrooms as Tim loves them.
This is really easy to make as long as you don't mind chopping a few carrots/mushrooms/scallions.

See recipe for nutritional information.


Liz's Rating: 9.5/10
Tim's Rating: 9/10

Irish Beef Stew

Inspiration:
Simply Recipes


Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1 1/4 pounds well-marbled chuck beef stew meat, cut into 1-inch pieces
  
• 6 large garlic cloves, minced
• 6 cups beef broth
• 1 cup of Guinness beer
• 1 cup of fine red wine
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 tablespoon dried thyme
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 2 bay leaves
• 2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) butter
• 3 pounds russet potatoes, peeled, cut into 1/2-inch pieces (about 7 cups)
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 2 cups 1/2-inch pieces peeled carrots
• Salt and Pepper
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

Instructions:

1. Heat olive oil in heavy large pot over medium-high heat. Lightly salt the beef pieces. Working in batches if necessary, add the beef (do not crowd the pan, or the meat will steam and not brown) and cook, without stirring, until nicely browned on one side, then use tongs to turn the pieces over. Continue to cook in this manner until all sides are browned, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and sauté 1 minute. Add beef stock, Guinness, red wine, tomato paste, sugar, thyme, Worcestershire sauce and bay leaves. Stir to combine. Bring mixture to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, then cover and simmer 1 hour, stirring occasionally.

2. While the meat and stock is simmering, melt butter in another large pot over medium heat. Add potatoes, onion and carrots. Sauté vegetables until golden, about 20 minutes. Set aside until the beef stew in step one has simmered for one hour.

3. Add vegetables to beef stew. Simmer uncovered until vegetables and beef are very tender, about 40 minutes. Discard bay leaves. Tilt pan and spoon off fat. Transfer stew to serving bowl. Add salt and pepper to taste. Sprinkle with parsley and serve. (Can be prepared up to 2 days ahead. Cool slightly. Refrigerate uncovered until cold, then cover and refrigerate. Bring to simmer before serving.)

Notes:
Beef stew isn't my favorite, but I did enjoy this. This is a good recipe for grass-fed beef; it uses a cheaper cut of meat, and the cooking method makes it nice and tender.


Liz's Rating: 8/10
Tim's Rating: 8.5/10

Lentil-Pecan Burgers with Blue Cheese and Apple

Inspiration:
Cara's Cravings


Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup dry brown lentils
  
• 1 1/2 cups water
  
• 2 tablespoons cider vinegar
  
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
  
• 1 cup minced onion (150gm)
  
• 4 large cloves garlic, minced
  
• 8oz mushrooms, minced
  
• 1/2 cup finely chopped pecans (2oz)
  
• freshly ground salt & pepper
  
• 2 tsp minced fresh rosemary or thyme
  
• 1/2 cup rolled oats
  
• buns or rolls of your choice
  
• thinly sliced apple
  
• blue cheese (about 1/2 oz per serving)

Instructions:

1. Place lentils and water in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer, partially covered, for about 30 minutes, or until the lentils are soft and the liquid is gone.
   
2. Meanwhile, heat the oil in a medium-sized skillet. Add onion and saute over medium heat for about 5 minutes. Add the mushrooms and garlic and saute for about 5-10 minutes more, until the vegetables are soft. Add the rosemary and/or thyme, the pecans, and season with salt & pepper. Set aside to cool while the lentils finish cooking.
   
3. When the lentils are done, place in a bowl and mash with the vinegar. Add the sauteed vegetables and the oats and mix well. Chill for about an hour.
4. Preheat broiler. Form the lentil mixture into six equal sized patties and place on a baking sheet. Broil for about 8 minutes on each side. Top the burgers with the sliced apple and blue cheese and broil for one minute more, or until cheese is melted and begins to brown. Serve on toasted buns.
   
   Nutritional Info (per burger, without apples, cheese, or bread)
   Servings Per Recipe: 6
   Amount Per Serving
   Calories: 172.3
   Total Fat: 9.7 g
   Cholesterol: 0.0 mg
   Sodium: 2.7 mg
   Total Carbs: 20.3 g
   Dietary Fiber: 8.0 g
   Protein: 8.3 g

Notes:
These were fabulous! Thanks, Cara!
I had a little issue with binding, but I just kind of kept pushing the burgers together, and they turned out fine. If you really want them perfectly shaped, perhaps add an egg to the mixture?

Liz's Rating: 9.5/10
Tim's Rating: 9/10

The Easiest Chicken Chili

Inspiration:
The last week of regular season NFL football
and
Pink Parsley's recipe


Ingredients:

• 4 cans white beans, drained and rinsed
• 3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, trimmed of fat
• 8 ounces Pepper jack cheese, cut into 2-inch cubes
• 2 cups salsa
• Optional garnishes: shredded cheese, sour cream, avocado, sliced green onions, crushed tortilla chips, extra salsa, tabasco
  

Instructions:

1. Combine the beans, cheese, and salsa in a crockpot. Nestle the chicken breasts into the mixture, and cook on low 6-8 hours.
   
2. Remove chicken breasts, shred with a fork, and return to crockpot. Stir to combine, and serve with desired garnishes.

Notes:
I thought that a little more tomato would be good. I'd consider replacing one can of beans with one big can of stewed tomatoes or additional salsa, and I'd maybe add a little cumin. Tim was completely satisfied with the recipe as written. It's so easy, I think he can make it next time!


Tim's Rating: 10/10
Liz's Rating: 9/10