Tag Archives: vegetables

Jalapeno Poppers

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These are delicious! I mean how could they not be? Cheese filled jalapeno peppers wrapped in bacon and baked to crispy perfection! These must be a total crowd pleaser – an awesome app for any season! Enjoy. 🙂

Blog jalapeno popper

Ingredients

  • 12 jalapeno peppers, halved and seeds removed (keep a few seeds if you like spicy – as the seeds hold the heat!). And a note of caution – don’t touch your eyes while chopping. The oil from the seeds is very hot!
  • 1 8oz block of cream cheese
  • 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese
  • 6 strips of bacon, halved

Directions

  • Mix cream and cheddar cheeses
  • Fill jalapeno pepper half with cheese mixture and put on the other half
  • Wrap in bacon
  • Bake at 400 for 20 minutes or until bacon is crispy (use broiler for a few minutes at end for extra crispiness if needed!)

dit-elle-Esther

Baked Parmesan Zucchini

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Crisp, tender zucchini sticks are brushed with oil, topped with parmesan and herbs, and roasted to perfection. Totally yummy! I had to make a second batch just for the photos as the first batch disappeared pretty fast. 🙂

Blog baked zucchini-2 Blog baked zucchini-1

Ingredients

  • 4 zucchini, quartered lengthwise
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley leaves

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat a cooling rack with nonstick spray and place on a baking sheet; set aside.
  • In a small bowl, combine Parmesan, thyme, oregano, basil, garlic powder, salt and pepper, to taste.
  • Place zucchini onto prepared baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with Parmesan mixture. Place into oven and bake until tender, about 15 minutes. Then broil for 2-3 minutes, or until crisp and golden brown.
  • Serve immediately, garnished with parsley, if desired.

Thanks http://damndelicious.net/2014/06/21/baked-parmesan-zucchini/

dit-elle-Esther

Cucumber-Jalapeño Agua Fresca

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Here’s another refreshing Agua Fresca recipe, adding to the collection of cool drinks including previously posted: Horchata and Honeydew Lemongrass Agua Fresca.

If you like cucumber, you will love this drink!

Blog cucumber fresca-2 Blog cucumber fresca-1

Ingredients

  • 2 1/4 cups water, divided
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint
  • 1/2 jalapeño pepper, seeded, to taste
  • 2 large cucumbers, peeled and chopped
  • 1 tablespoon lime juice
  • Ice, for serving

Preparation

  • Combine 1/4 cup water and sugar in a saucepan; simmer for 3 minutes. Remove from the heat and add mint and jalapeño. Cover and steep for 15 minutes; strain.
  • Blend together cucumbers, lime juice and remaining water. Add sugar syrup, to taste. Strain and serve over ice.

Thanks PCC Natural Markets for the inspiration!

dit-elle-Esther

Mixed Greens with Raspberries, Candied Pecans and Goat Cheese

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It’s the time of year when we start eating every meal outside on our deck – so lovely! Here’s an easy and delicious (and pretty!) salad. 🙂

Blog salad with berries nuts goat cheese

Ingredients

  • Mixed greens (spinach and arugula are great, but really any mixed greens work well)
  • Raspberries
  • Candied pecans
  • Goat Cheese
  • Olive Oil
  • Balsamic or White Champagne Vinegar

Directions

  • Toss greens with vinegar and olive oil
  • Add in raspberries and pecans and toss lightly
  • Top with goat cheese
  • Serve immediately and enjoy!

On the dinner menu: I served this with Herb and Parmesan Baked Salmon and chilled Sauvignon Blanc.

dit-elle-Esther

Spinach, Bacon and Artichoke Dip

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It feels like I’ve been on this Artichoke Dip frenzy now that I look back at our recipes, but then I guess we’ve also been doing this blog for a while! 🙂 Over the holidays I discovered Hot Artichoke and Crab Dip, then I was looking for a very simple baked dip and discovered the awesome Warm Artichoke Dip with only FOUR ingredients, then finally with some tweaking and consulting of multiple recipes, discovered this excellent Spinach, Bacon and Artichoke Dip that I’m posting today.

This recipe is very similar to my Spinach Artichoke Dip with Bacon, with one key difference being that this one calls for sour cream and the other one calls for mayo, and this one uses a mix of cheeses. This recipe has more veggies and less dairy that many similar dip recipes that you’ll find out there, but that’s the way I like it. And you know, with ingredients like cheese, artichoke, spinach, and BACON.. well.. you can’t really go wrong! Enjoy whatever variation you decide on or come up with. 🙂

Blog spinach bacon dip

Ingredients

  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese + more for topping
  • 1/3 cup sour cream
  • 1/4 cup grated fresh Parmesan cheese + more for topping
  • 5 bacon strips, cooked and chopped (an easy way to cook bacon is to microwave between paper towels until crispy)
  • 3 garlic cloves, crushed
  • 1 (14oz) can artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
  • 1 (8oz) blocks of cream cheese, softened
  • 1 (10oz) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed, drained, and squeezed dry
  • Serve with fresh cut veggies or tortilla chips

Directions

  • Heat oven to 350*
  • Combine mozzarella, sour cream, Parmesan and next 6 ingredients (through spinach) in a large bowl and stir until well blended
  • Spoon mixture into a baking dish and sprinkle with remaining cheese
  • Bake at 350* for ~30 minutes or until bubbly and golden brown
  • Serve warm

Super Mom Tip: this freezes well! Put in individual containers and let thaw in fridge a day ahead of use. 🙂

dit-elle-Esther

Kale Salad with Chicken and Avocado

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This is a wonderful paleo salad with Creamy Lemon Garlic Dressing – add chicken and avocado – and call it dinner!

Blog kale chicken avocado salad-2 Blog kale chicken avocado salad-1

Ingredients

  • large bunch of kale deveined and chopped finely
  • 1/2c dried black current, raisins or cranberries
  • 1/2c. toasted sunflower seeds
  • 1 avocado, peeled and sliced
  • 2-3 cups of chopped cooked chicken or turkey
  • One batch Creamy Lemon Garlic Dressing

Thanks for the inspiration: http://cavemanstrong.com/2014/08/paleo-kale-salad/

dit-elle-Esther

Creamy Lemon Garlic Dressing

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This is a wonderful paleo dressing – great for salads, on roast chicken or as a dip! On Thursday I’ll post a recipe for Kale Chicken Avocado salad with this dressing! 🙂

Blog garlic lemon paleo dressing

Creamy Lemon Garlic Paleo Dressing

Ingredients

  • 1/2 c olive oil
  • juice from one entire lemon
  • 1 garlic clove (large)
  • 1 tbsp maple syrup
  • 1 tsp dijon mustard
  • 1/4 c walnut pieces
  • pinch of sea salt
  • pinch of pepper

Directions

  • Add all items to a food processor (or use an inversion blender) and blend until smooth
  • Refrigerate till ready to use

Thanks for the inspiration: http://cavemanstrong.com/2014/08/paleo-creamy-lemon-garlic-dressing/

dit-elle-Esther

Shepherd’s Pie

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This is some serious comfort food – perfect for this dreary January weather – juicy ground beef and spices are tossed with vegetables and topped with golden and buttery mashed potatoes! 🙂

Blog shepheards pie

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds Yukon gold potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • 2 teaspoons olive oil
  • 1 onion, finely chopped
  • 3 carrots, finely chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 1/2 cup frozen peas, thawed
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley

Preparation

  • Preheat oven to 375° F.
  • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add potatoes and cook until tender, about 20 minutes. Drain; run through a food mill, ricer or mash. Stir in butter and milk; season with salt and pepper. Keep warm.
  • Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add onions, carrots and garlic; cook, until soft, about 7 minutes. Add ground beef and cook until no longer pink, 8 to 10 minutes. Drain the fat.
  • Stir in tomato paste, peas, and parsley; season with salt and pepper.
  • Transfer meat mixture to an ovenproof dish. Spread potatoes over the top and crosshatch with a fork. Bake until golden, 30 to 35 minutes.

Super Mom Tip: Make days to weeks in advance and freeze! When ready, defrost in fridge overnight and bake per directions above.

Thanks to PCC Natural Markets and note that this recipe has been modified from the original.

dit-elle-Esther

Grain Free Lasagna

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This lasagna uses zucchini for noodles! Yes, it’s true, and what’s even better? It’s super yummy and tastes like lasagna! You slice the zucchini into thin noodles, layer with a hearty meat sauce, ricotta, and cheese, and voila – not only gluten free, but grain free lasagna! 🙂

Blog grain free lasagne

Ingredients

  • 1 very large or 3-4 small zucchinis
  • 1 lb hamburger meat
  • 1 onion, finely chopped
  • 1 Tbsp olive oil
  • 1 large can of tomato sauce, crushed tomatoes or marinara sauce
  • 1 16oz tub of ricotta
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • 2 tsp dried parsley
  • 2 cups of cheese
  • Oregano, salt, pepper – to taste (optional)
  • Bay leaf (optional)

Directions

  1. Wash and peel zucchini
  2. With a mandolin slicer, a cheese cutter, or a sharp knife (this is the hardest) – slice the zucchini lengthwise
  3. Heat olive oil in pan and add chopped onion
  4. Sautee until fragrant and soft and add hamburger
  5. Brown meat and then add tomato sauce and some oregano, let simmer on low heat
  6. Beat egg and mix with ricotta until well blended, add dried parsley
  7. Now you are ready to layer and bake the lasagna – alternating meat sauce, noodles, ricotta, extra tomato sauce (optional) and cheese on top
  8. Bake for 45 minutes on 350
  9. Enjoy with a fresh green salad dressed with olive oil & vinegar and chopped veggies!

dit-elle-Esther

Zucchini Crust Pizza

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There are many excellent gluten free pizza doughs out there, but what if you want to go grain-free and/or paleo? Veggie pizzas are a great alternative. Think zucchini, eggplant or cauliflower for your crust. Top with sauce, meats and veggies, and cheese (optional) of course! I made this one with zucchini and topped it with tomato sauce, cheese and fresh pesto! Yum! Blog zucchini paleo pizza-2 Blog zucchini paleo pizza-1 Ingredients

  • 2 c. zucchini, finely grated, lightly packed (use grater blade on your food processor for easy prep)
  • ½-3/4 c. almond meal
  • 1 egg, lightly beaten
  • 1 T. coconut oil
  • ½ t. oregano
  • ¼ t. garlic powder
  • â…› t. salt (you don’t need much because the zucchini will retain some)
  • Toppings: fresh herbs, vegetables, meats, cheese, pesto
Instructions
  1. Place the grated zucchini in a strainer and sprinkle with a little salt, tossing to mix it in a bit
  2. Place the strainer over a large bowl, and let the zucchini drain for about 30 minutes.
  3. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
  4. Place the grated zucchini into a dry dish towel and squeeze, or press out as much as you can in the strainer
  5. Mix all of the ingredients together in a bowl.
  6. Add almond meal as needed to make a dough (not too wet, not too dry).
  7. On a parchment-lined baking sheet, spread the zucchini mix out into an oval shape. I use a fork to do this, and I press it down to compact it as well.
  8. Place the pan on the bottom rack of the oven and bake for 20 minutes.
  9. Then place the pan on the top rack of the oven for ~8 minutes, until browned.
  10. Remove the pan and flip the crust, bake for another ~5 minutes. Then remove and turn oven up to 500.
  11. Top the pizza with sauce, pesto, and whatever your favorite toppings are
  12. Place the pizza back into the oven and bake for ~5 minutes more

Thanks Oatmeal with a Fork blogger for this tasty recipe!

dit-elle-Esther