Tag Archives: side

Polenta Torte

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Like gorgonzola? Then you will love this dish! Don’t like it? Then simply omit and stick with the parmesan cheese. This is a wonderful polenta & greens dish, spiced with some hot chili flakes and pepper and topped with cheese. Not really a kid dish, given the spice, but you could make a dish of plain polenta and top with cheese – a favorite in our house!

Blog polenta torte with greens

Ingredients

  • 4 c lukewarm water
  • 1 c stone-ground coarse cornmeal
  • salt to taste
  • 1-2 lbs mixed tender greens (spinach, kale, arugula)
  • 3 Tsp olive oil
  • 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
  • ground black pepper
  • 1 garlic clove
  • 1/2 c grated pecorino cheese (like parmesan)
  • Crumbled gorgonzola

Directions

  • Heat olive oil and add pepper flakes, ground pepper and garlic – sauté until fragrant but don’t let the garlic brown or it will turn bitter
  • Pour half of the oil in a large glass baking dish
  • Add water & cornmeal & salt and bake, uncovered, for ~50 minutes
  • Add greens to skillet with leftover oil and cook for 10 minutes (covered) stirring frequently, removing lid at end and raising heat a bit to just evaporate any liquid left
  • Remove baked polenta from oven and with a spatula, scrape off the top 1/2 layer of polenta, set aside
  • Add cooked greens to the baking dish with polenta, sprinkle gorgonzola and half of the parmesan, and then cover with the rest of the polenta
  • Top with parmesan and return to oven for 10-15 minutes
  • Serve warm!

dit-elle-Esther

Savory Delicata Squash

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Not only are pumpkins in season, but there’s an abundance and huge variety of beautiful squash out there. This recipe calls for “Delicata” squash and you can eat the peel – which is full of good nutrients too.

A dusting of curry powder and freshly chopped cilantro make this a wonderful, subtly flavored, side dish! Actually, I could probably eat this as a main dish! So yummy! 🙂savory squash

Ingredients

  • About 6 cups of your favorite squash cubed (I used Delicata squash, including skins, and it was delicious!)
  • 1 Tbsp olive oil
  • 1/4 cup raisins
  • 1 Tbsp honey
  • 1/2 tsp curry powder
  • 2 Tbsps fresh chopped cilantro
  • Salt/pepper

Directions

  • Oven to 425*
  • Toss cubed squash in oil and season with salt & pepper
  • Place in a large pan
  • Bake for 30 minutes or until soft enough to easily spear with a fork
  • Remove from oven and toss with remaining ingredients
  • Serve hot or at room temperature

Super Mom Tip: Cube the squash a day ahead and store in a bag in the fridge until ready to use.

dit-elle-Esther

Papusas

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My sister was in Peru recently and brought back this fabulous recipe – Salvadoran Papusas. So easy, so fun! Basically mix finely ground corn meal (called masa harina or masa de maiz) with water, add whatever toppings/stuffings you want (like cheese, herbs, cooked meat, veggies) and fry in a dry pan (no oil). I topped with Cilantro Lime Crema and these were delicious!

Blog papusas (2) Blog papusas (1)

Ingredients

  • Finely ground corn meal
  • Water
  • Toppings/stuffings: cheese, spices, veggies, cooked meat. I did these simply with some cheddar jalapeno cheese.

Directions

  • Put corn meal in a bowl and add water stirring until a soft dough forms
  • Shape and stuff with toppings
  • Fry 1-2 minutes per side or until golden

More info on these delightful papusas or ‘stuffed pockets’ http://www.whats4eats.com/breads/pupusas-recipe or on Wikipedia.

Super Mom Tip: fun recipe for kids to help make. Have them do the stirring and shaping and you do the cooking! 🙂

dit-elle-Esther

Strawberry, Mint and Goat Cheese Salad

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Strawberry season is in full swing – ripe, sweet, juicy strawberries. Love strawberry salads? We do too! Add some roasted chicken to make it a meal!

Blog strawberry_mint_goatcheese_salad (2) Blog strawberry_mint_goatcheese_salad (1)

Ingredients

  • 3 cups quartered strawberries (about 1 lb)
  • 1 Tbsp chopped fresh mint
  • 1 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
  • 1 Tbsp olive oil
  • salt/pepper to taste
  • 1/2 cup crumbled goat cheese (tip: chill goat cheese in freezer for five minutes to make crumbling easier!) (omit cheese for dairy free and paleo)
  • 4 cups mixed greens or spinach
  • 1 cup cooked chicken (optional)

Directions

  • Combine quartered strawberries, mint, vinegar, salt & pepper and toss gently to combine
  • Cover and chill for an hour
  • Divide mixed greens on to four plates with strawberry mixture and sprinkled with crumbled goat cheese
  • Serve immediately
  • Enjoy! 🙂

dit-elle-Esther

Greek Salad with Roasted Chicken

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Love greens, veggies and chicken! This is really a variation on the classic Greek Salad but adding chicken makes it a wonderful meal in and of itself! And paleo!

Blog greek chicken salad

Dressing

  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • 1 cup plain Greek yogurt
  • 2 tsps. tahini (sesame-seed paste)
  • 1 tsp minced garlic (fresh or bottled)
  • salt & pepper, to taste

Salad

  • 1 lb chicken breast, roasted & cubed
  • 8 cups chopped romaine lettuce
  • 1 cup peeled chopped English cucumber
  • 1 cup chopped tomatoes (grape tomatoes halved work well)
  • 1/2 cup pitted kalamata olives
  • 1/3 cup crumbled feta cheese (minus the cheese for dairy free and paleo)

dit-elle-Esther

Tunisian Pesto

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A delicious pesto made with cilantro, parsley, almonds and olive oil. Excellent with tortilla chips, vegetable sticks or grilled shrimp.

blog pesto genovese 2 Blog pesto genovese 1

Ingredients

  • 2 cups packed fresh cilantro
  • 1 cup packed fresh parsley
  • 1/4  c almonds
  • 1 or 2 cloves garlic
  • 1/2 olive oil
  • 1/2 tsp salt

Directions

  • Combine cilantro, parsley, almonds, garlic and salt in food processor and blend
  • Add oil in a stream while the above is blending until smooth

Note: This freezes very well if you have leftovers – fill airtight container and add some more olive oil on top

dit-elle-Esther

Greek Salad

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Tomatoes, cucumbers, kalamata olives and feta drizzled with olive oil, lemon juice and a dusting of oregano sound good? Yes please! Here are two easy ways to make Greek Salad!

blog greeksalad_veggies1 blog greeksalad_veggies2 blog greeksalad_greens2 blog greeksalad_greens1

Ingredients

  • Tomatoes, diced
  • Cucumbers (English hothouse cucumbers work well), peeled and cubed
  • Kalamata olives
  • Feta cheese, crumbled (omit for paleo version)
  • Mixed greens

Dressing

  • Olive oil
  • Lemon, freshly squeezed
  • Oregano, 1tsp dried or 1 Tbsp fresh chopped
  • Salt & pepper to taste

Directions

  • Mix the veggies and toss with dressing
  • Crumble feta cheese on top
  • Serve

dit-elle-Esther

Endive Salad with Bacon, Blue Cheese and Pears

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Bacon, Blue Cheese and Pears, oh my! This tasty salad could be served as a side, but it’s so yummy you may want to make it an entrée with optional roasted chicken as extra protein!

What’s endive? I didn’t know either. It’s a slightly bitter tasting leaf vegetable that is perfectly balanced in this salad with the sweetness of the pears and salty bacon.

Blog Endivebaconsalad (1) Blog Endivebaconsalad (2)

Ingredients

Directions

  • In a large bowl, combine vinegar, mustard, honey, shallot and garlic. Let sit 15 minutes to soften shallot and garlic and to infuse flavor. Slowly whisk in the olive oil to create an emulsified dressing. Season with salt and pepper.
  • Add endive and arugula to the bowl; toss to coat. Divide salad between 6 plates and sprinkle with bacon, blue cheese, pistachios and sliced pears.

Thanks PCC Natural Markets for the inspiration!

dit-elle-Esther

Lime Cilantro Coleslaw

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With a hint of cilantro and lime, this coleslaw is fabulous with Chicken Chilaquiles!

blog coleslawcilantrolime

Ingredients

  • 3 Tbsp fresh lime juice
  • 1 Tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tsp honey
  • 1/4 cup chopped green onions
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
  • 12 oz coleslaw mix (or a 1/2 cabbage, shredded)
  • 1/2 cup carrots, shredded (optional)
  • Fresh chives for garnish (optional)

Directions

  • Combine lime juice, olive oil, honey
  • Toss green onions, cilantro and shredded cabbage
  • Drizzle dressing over coleslaw and toss to coat

dit-elle-Esther

Roast Chicken Salad with Mango Dressing

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The days are longer, dinners outside  – I love this time of year and can’t wait for it to get warmer!

blog mangochickensalad2 Blog mangochickensalad1

Dressing

  • 1 ripe mango, peeled, pitted and chopped
  • 2 Tbsp plain yogurt (or coconut milk for dairy free and paleo)
  • 3 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 1 Tbsp olive oil

Salad

  • 1 head romaine lettuce, chopped
  • 2 cups baby arugula
  • 2 cups chicken from a roast chicken
  • 1 ripe avocado, peeled, pitted and sliced
  • 1/2 mango, peeled, pitted and chopped
  • 1/3 cup toasted, chopped cashews
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh chives (optional)

dit-elle-Esther