Hello Everyone!  Here is another tasty salad to enjoy for lunch.  It’s a cool treat as the summer gets a little hotter.  I hope you like it!

Breakfast: Orange Sticky Buns

Lunch: Cherry Tomato salad

Snack: Whole Grain Toast with Apple Butter

Dinner: Mozzarella Chicken

Dessert: Dessert Pizzas

Cherry Tomato Salad

Ingredients

• 40 cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1 cup pitted and sliced green olives
• 1 (6 ounce) can black olives, drained and sliced
• 2 green onions, minced
• 3 ounces pine nuts
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• 1 tablespoon white sugar
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• salt and pepper to taste

Preparation

1. In a big bowl, combine cherry tomatoes, green olives, back olives, and spring onion.
2. In a dry skillet, toast pine nuts over medium heat until golden brown, turning frequently.
3. Stir into tomato mixture.
4. In a small bowl, mix together olive oil, red wine vinegar, sugar, and oregano.
5. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
6. Pour over salad, and gently stir to coat.
7. Chill for 1 hour.

Yum! Enjoy!

Hi everyone and happy Monday.  Today’s menu will be featuring Asparagus and Carrot Noodles which is an absolutely delicious recipe!

Breakfast: Fruit Smoothie

Lunch: Asparagus and Carrot Noodles

Snack: Mango Slices

Dinner: Chicken Stuffing Casserole

Dessert: Vanilla Cake

Yum! Yum! Enjoy!

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp Tahini
• 1 tbsp Pure Sesame Oil
• 2 tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar
• 2 tsp Honey
• 1/4 tsp Spices, Crushed Red Peppers
• 1/4 tsp Sea Salt
• 8 oz Whole Wheat Spaghetti
• 16 stalks Asparagus
• 2 Whole Carrots
• 1/2 cup Scallion
• 1 tbsp Raw Sesame Seeds

Directions

1. Bring water to boil for pasta.
2. Prepare sesame dressing in a small bowl,
3. Whisk together tahini, oil, vinegar, 2 tbsp water, honey, crushed red pepper and salt; set aside.
4. Add spaghetti to boiling water and cook according to package.
5. Add two inches of water to another saucepan and fit with a steamer basket.
6. Bring water to boil
7. Add asparagus to basket
8. Steam until tender, about 2 minutes.
9. In a large bowl,
10. Add asparagus, carrots and scallions.
11. Add spaghetti and sesame dressing;
12. Toss to combine.
13. Sprinkle mixture with sesame seeds.
14. Serve warm or chilled.

I hope you enjoy it!  Have a great day!

Happy Saturday everyone!  Here is today’s menu

Breakfast: Fluffy Pancakes

Lunch: Chinese Chicken Salad

Snack: Sweet Potato Potstickers

Dinner: Vaca Frita

Dessert: Pumpkin Pie

Chinese Chicken Salad is my absolute fave salad!  It has a lot of really unique tastes blending together to create a really lovely.  I hope you enjoy it!

Ingredients

• 4 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce, divided
• 2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil, divided
• 1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breasts
• 1/2 head napa cabbage, thinly shredded (about 6 cups)
• 1/4 head red cabbage, shredded (about 2 cups)
• 1 large carrot, shredded (about 2 cups)
• 3 scallions, trimmed and thinly sliced, greens included (about 1/2 cup)
• 1 (8-ounce) can sliced water chestnuts
• 1 (11-ounce) can Mandarin oranges in water, drained
• 1/3 cup rice wine vinegar
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic
• 1 teaspoon minced ginger
• 2 tablespoons canola oil
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons chili-garlic sauce or chili sauce
• 1/4 cup sliced almonds, toasted

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Combine 1 tablespoon soy sauce and 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil and brush onto chicken breasts.
3. Arrange in a baking dish and bake until juices run clear, about 13 to15 minutes.
4. Remove from oven,
5. cool completely
6. cut into 1/4-inch slices.
7. In a large bowl, combine Napa cabbage, red cabbage, carrot, scallions, water chestnuts, Mandarin orange and sliced chicken.
8. In a separate bowl, whisk together 3 tablespoons soy sauce, vinegar, garlic, ginger, oil, 1 1/2 teaspoons sesame oil, brown sugar and chili sauce.
9. Pour dressing over salad and toss to combine.

10.  Divide among bowls and top each serving with 2 teaspoons toasted almonds

Bon Apetit!

Happy Friday!  As the Rain continues to fall in the Capital District, I hope this fun salad will help bring some pep into your day.  It combines a number of delicious flavors that really pleases the palate. Plus it’s pretty healthy!  I hope you enjoy it.

Breakfast: Mint and Cilantro Melon Salad

Lunch: Bartlett Pear Salad

Snack: Crispy Fried Tofu

Dinner: Cuban Paella

Dessert: Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie

Ingredients

Salad
1 (10-oz.) package washed and ready-to-eat fresh spinach
2 to 3 large, ripe California Bartlett pears, cored, quartered and sliced
1 avocado, peeled and diced
3 to 4 strips bacon, cooked crisp and crumbled
1/2 cup pine nuts or other nut, toasted
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/4 cup fresh mushrooms, optional
Dressing
1/2 cup olive oil
2 tbsp. seasoned rice vinegar
1 to 2 tsp. Dijon mustard, to taste
1 clove garlic, crushed
1/4 tsp. salt

Preparation

1. Combine spinach, pears, avocado, bacon, pine nuts, cranberries and mushrooms in salad bowl.
2. In a small bowl, whisk all dressing ingredients and drizzle over salad.
3. Toss before serving.

Short and sweet.  Enjoy!

Breakfast: Strawberry Melon Salad

Lunch: Cuban Lentil Soup

Snack: Baked Sweet Potato Chips

Dinner: Buttermilk Ranch Chicken Breast

Dessert: Peanut Butter Cookies

Happy Wednesday my fellow food lovers!  Today’s feature recipe is soup!  I love soup and I enjoy soup all year round.  Here is a yummy Cuban Lentil Soup for your enjoyment!

Cuban Lentil Soup, also known as sopa de lentejas, is delicious!  One thing I really love is having a few spoonfuls and then adding lime to the soup.  It completely changes the flavor.  Being from the Caribbean, I’m used to it being hot all the time, so soup is something we enjoy year round.  I hope you like it as much as I do.

Preparation

1. Over low heat, pour the water and add the lentils in a large sauce pan.
2. Bring to a boil
3. Reduce heat to low
4. Cover and simmer for 15 mins.
5. Add vinegar, onion, garlic, beef bouillon, celery, tomatoes, potato, bay leaf, cumin, basil and oregano.
6. Stir ingredients well
7. Bring to a boil
8. Reduce the heat to medium
9. Cover and simmer for 45 mins.
10. Remove the bay leaf and discard.
11. Add salt and pepper and wine and stir well.
12. Cook an additional 5 mins.
13. The soup should be somewhat thick and not very watery, and the potatoes tender.
14. To thicken, let stand for several mins.
15. Serve on soup bowls and enjoy!

I typically enjoy the soup with a side of rice, but it’s hearty enough to enjoy by itself!

Thursday? Thursday! I don’t know about you, but this week flew by!  Here is our Thursday menu!

Breakfast: Yogurt and Granola

Lunch: Five Cheese Mac and Cheese

Snack: Fruit

Dinner: Oxtail Stew

Dessert: Fruit Sorbet

I think I mentioned it before, but I’m Caribbean (Dominican and Bahamian) so oxtail stew was a weekly thing at my house.  We typically had it Sundays, but why not spice up your Thursday with something different?  It’s delicious with yellow rice, beans and rice or just white rice.  A real treat for your family!  Enjoy!

Ingredients

• 12 ounces dried lima beans
• 4 pounds oxtails
• 2 large Vidalia onions, chopped
• 3 scallions, chopped
• 4 garlic cloves, smashed
• 1 bunch fresh thyme
• 2 tablespoons red pepper flakes
• 4 teaspoons hot paprika
• 2 bay leaves
• 2 tablespoons hot sauce
• 4 tablespoons gravy master
• 6 cups low-sodium beef broth
• 4 teaspoons tomato paste
• 2 tablespoons salt
• Right rice, recipe follows

Preparation

1. In a large bowl, cover lima beans with water, cover with a towel and soak overnight.
2. In a large pot, add oxtails, onions, scallions, garlic, thyme, red pepper, paprika, bay leaf, hot sauce, and gravy master and marinate at least 4 hours or overnight in the refrigerator, stirring occasionally.
3. Add enough water to just cover the oxtails and bring the mixture to a boil. Lower to a simmer, cover and cook 2 hours. Every 30 minutes for 2 hours add 2 cups of water or broth, alternating, as necessary, to keep oxtails covered with liquid.
4. At 2 hours, add the beans, tomato paste, and 2 more cups of beef broth and water, if needed. Bring to a boil then simmer uncovered 2 hours, skimming fat off top and stirring occasionally. In the last 1/2 hour of cook time, season with 2 tablespoons salt. Serve with rice.

Right Rice:

• 2 cups rice

Rinse rice 3 times to remove starch. Put rice in a medium saucepan. Fill saucepan with enough water to cover the rice by 1/2-inch or measure by placing your thumb tip on the rice and filling the pot with water until the water reaches the middle of your thumbnail. Bring rice to a simmer, cover and cook until tender and liquid is evaporated, about 15 minutes. Remove from heat and let rice stand another 5 minutes, covered.

Yield: 4 to 6 servings

Have a great meal!

Happy Saturday, everyone.  It’s Sabroso Saturday so today we have a delicious Sancocho recipe that is a favorite among many Hispanic families.  It’s always a treat for me and my family.  The preparation seems scary and long, but it’s just a lot of small steps, I promise!  I hope you enjoy it as much as we do!

Breakfast: Eggs and Homefries

Lunch: Garlic Broccoli

Snack: Trail Mix

Dinner: Dominican Snacocho

Dessert: Spiced Carrot Cake with Coconut Cream

Dominican Sancocho

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs beef with bones
• 1 lb of goat meat
• 1 lb. pork sausage (longaniza)
• 1 lb pork
• 1 1/2 lb chicken
• 2 lbs of pork ribs
• 1 lb of bones from a smoked ham
• 4 lemons cut in halves
• 1 tablespoon of mashed garlic
• 4 tablespoons of oil
• 1/2 lb of cassava cut into 1-inch thick pieces
• 1/2 lb of yam cut into 1-inch thick pieces
• 2 celery stalks
• 1/2 lb of malanga cut into 1-inch thick pieces
• 1/2 lb of potatoes cut into 1-inch thick pieces
• 3 unripe plantains, 2 cut into 1-inch thick pieces
• 2 cubes of beef stock (optional)
• 2 corn cobs cut into 2-inches long pieces (may be omitted)
• 1/2 teaspoon of powdered oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon of coriander/cilantro
• 2 teaspoons of vinegar
• 2 teaspoons of chili pepper sauce or agrio de naranja
• *10 Bollitos de harina (boiled flour rolls) (optional)

Preparation:

1. Place the beef in a pan and add the celery, coriander, oregano, garlic, vinegar, and salt.
2. Marinate for at least half an hour.
3. In an iron pot heat the oil, add the beef and stir (be careful with hot oil splattering).
4. Cover and and simmer for 10 minutes. Add a few spoons of water if the meat sticks to the pot.
5. Add the pork and let simmer for 15 minutes, adjust water when necessary.
6. Add the rest of the meat to the pot (except for the chicken) and simmer for another 15 minutes, adding tablespoons of water as needed to prevent it from burning.
7. Add the chicken and let simmer for another 10 minutes.
8. Add 1/4 gallon of water to the pot and bring to a boil.
9. Add the yam, malanga and the two plantains that you had previously cut.
10. Add the bollitos now.
11. Simmer for 15 minutes.
12. Add all remaining ingredients and adjust water when necessary.
13. Stir regularly to avoid excessive sticking.
14. Simmer until the last ingredients you added are tender.
15. Grate, or scrape with the knife the remaining plantain to make it into a pulp, add to the pot.
16. Simmer for another 10 minutes.
17. Adjust salt to taste.
18. Serve hot with white rice.

Dominican Sancocho

Hi Everyone!  Today we will be having Ginger Steak Salad.  It really delicious!  I absolutely love it and it’s a lot easier to make than you would think!  I hope you enjoy it.

Breakfast: Make Ahead Muffins

Lunch: Ginger Steak Salad

Snack: Graham Crackers and Fruit

Dinner: Chicken Crunch

Dessert: Oreo Cheesecake Squares

Ginger Steak Salad

Ingredients

MARINADE INGREDIENTS:

• 2 Tablespoons Soy Sauce
• 1 Tablespoon Sherry
• 2 cloves Garlic, Minced
• 2 teaspoons Brown Sugar
• 1 whole Rib-eye, Strip, Or Sirloin Steak
• 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil

FOR SALAD DRESSING:

• 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
• 2 Tablespoons Soy Sauce
• 2 Tablespoons White Sugar
• 1 Tablespoon Lime Juice
• 2 cloves Garlic, Finely Diced
• 1 Tablespoon Fresh Ginger, Minced
• ½ whole Jalapeno, Seeded And Diced

SALAD INGREDIENTS:

• 2 whole Green Onions
• 8 ounces Salad Greens

Preparation

1. Combine steak marinade ingredients in a Ziploc bag.
2. Mix and place steak into bag.
3. Marinate for 30 minutes to 2 hours.
4. Combine salad dressing ingredients and slice green onion.
5. When steak is finished marinating, add 2 tablespoons olive oil to a hot skillet.
6. Cook steak about 1 1/2 minutes per side, or until medium rare.
7. Remove from skillet and keep on a plate, allowing to cool slightly.
8. Toss salad greens in 3/4 of the salad dressing.
9. Place steak on cutting board and slice thinly, then pour juices from the plate over the top.

10.  Mound tossed salad on a platter, then place sliced steak on top of salad.

11.  Pour remaining salad dressing over the top.

12.  Sprinkle green onions over the salad

Hello everyone!  Frittata is a delicious treat!  I really enjoy it and I hope you do too!  It’s a great way to sneak veggies into a meal for kids.

Breakfast: Asparagus and Sundried Tomato Frittata

Lunch: Loaded Nachos

Snack: Fruit Leather

Dinner: Chicken in Organe Sauce

Dessert: Brownies

Asaparagus and Sundired Tomato Frittata

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup organic sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
• 2 cups organic asparagus, blanched and chopped
• 2 Tbsp organic Parmesan cheese, grated
• 1 Tbsp organic butter
• 1/4 cup organic, 1% milk
• 6 large organic, omega-3 eggs
• 1/2 medium organic onion, diced

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 325 F. In large bowl combine beaten eggs with the milk and Parmesan.
2. Heat the butter in a medium oven-safe sauté pan, and add the onion.
3. Cook until the onion is translucent and golden.
4. Pour in the egg mixture and turn the heat down to low.
5. Stir the eggs to fully cover the bottom of the pan.
6. When the eggs begin to cook and take shape, stir in the chopped sun-dried tomatoes and asparagus.
7. Place the sauté pan into the oven and continue to cook for 2 more minutes until the frittata is cooked around the edges and the center has puffed up.
8. Remove immediately form the oven.
9. Invert the frittata onto a large platter and serve immediately.

Enjoy your meal!

Frittata

Today’s Menu (Friday Nov. 26 2010):

Breakfast – Honey-Nut Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls

Snack1 – Matcha Shortbread

Lunch – Fresh Turkey Salad (from last night’s turkey)

Snack2 – Apple Maple Pecan Bread

Dinner – Baked Salmon & Spinach al Ajillo

Dessert – Tiramisu (a video ’cause you have to see this recipe)

Recipe of the Day:

Baked Salmon & Spinach al Ajillo

This is one of the healthiest, most practical and fastest meals you will see in my kitchen.  I do this after a big feast to take a rest and also to bring the stomach back to normal.  Plus it’s really tasty.

Preparation Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients

• Fillets Salmons (6 oz each, based on the number of members in your family)
• 3 Lemons
• Sazon
• Olive Oil
• Salt and Peper
• 1 pound of washed spinach
• 4 cloves garlic, minced

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 C)
2. Place the Salmon in an medium glass bowl, then brush the sazon and oil on both sides of the fillets
3. Bake it for 30 minutes
4. In the meantime, boil the spinach just for 5 minutes until it soften just a little
5. chop the garlic
6. Heat 5 spoons of olive oil in a pan and place the garlic for 2 minutes until it takes a gold color
7. Pass the spinach by the oil for 5 minutes
8. Add salt and pepper to your taste
9. You can create all kinds of shapes with the Spinach on top of the Salmon for the kids to play (I always do a happy face with the Spinach mouth on top of the Salmon)