Asian Style Chicken and Rice

 

Prep: 20 min

Cook Time: 1-1.5 hrs

Serves: 4

Ingredients:

• 1 whole chicken (fryer works well), about 3.5 lbs
• .5 Cup Dried dates, chopped roughly (pitted)
• .5 Cup Roasted peanuts
• 1 Cup Whole wheat rice
• 8 Cups Chicken stock
• 3 Cups water
• 1/2 Cup ginger, peeled and chopped into inch x inch cubes (remove after cooking)
• 2 Cloves of garlic, peeled and split in half (remove after cooking)
• 1/2 Cup Soy sauce, light
• Cilantro

Instructions:

1. In a medium bowl, mix uncooked rice, dates, and peanuts together. Stuff washed chicken with mixture. Tie legs together with twine.
2. In large pot add broth, water, ginger, and garlic. Bring to a boil.
3. Add chicken breast down making sure broth and water mixture goes into the cavity where the rice mixture is.  Bring back to a boil.
4. Reduce to simmer, for 40 min. Flip and cook for at least 20 more min. At and of an hour check rice texture for doneness. Cook longer if needed.
5. Remove chicken from broth, and set aside. Strain broth and reserve broth adding the soy sauce to it.
6. Remove rice mixture and quarter chicken to plate serve with a garnish of cilantro and side of broth.

Enjoy cheers!

Random pic! Here’s a cute nursing fawn in our neighbors yard on Cinco De Mayo!

Grilled Shrimp with French Green Lentils and Roasted Carrots, Fennel, and Shallots

This healthy and earthy dish is very satisfying and simple to make. You will be happy you tried it I used the carrots and fennel from our CSA from JBG

 

Prep : 25 min

Cook Time: 30 min

Serves: 2

 

Ingredients:

• 1 Cup cooked green lentils
• 10 Large raw shrimp, peeled and deveined, leave tail on.
• 1/2 Cup carrot, cubed
• 1/2 Cup fennel, shaved
• 1/4 Cup shallots, shaved
• 2 TBS balsamic vinegar
• 3 TBS olive oil
• Pinch of dill pollen
• Salt
• Pepper

Instructions:

1. Make a vinaigrette with balsamic, 1 TBS olive oil, pinch of dill pollen, pinch of salt and pepper. Mix well.
2. Roast veggies on foil lined pan with 1 tbs olive oil and salt and pepper pinch for 20-25 min. Reserve in foil to keep warm. 
3. Heat medium skillet to high and saute shrimp in a TBS of olive oil, season with salt and pepper.
4. Mix roasted veggies, lentils, and vinaigrette together and serve shrimp on top.
5. Enjoy!

Crockpot Chicken, Carrots, and Mushrooms with Lentils and Wild Rice

This a great healthier  week night meal that is easy to set up and can cook in as little as 4 hrs in the crock while you are off at work or running errands.

This is not the greatest photo, but it was late and I was hungry

Prep: 10 min
Cook Time: 4-8 hrs
Serves: 4 ish

Ingredients

• 6-8 organic chicken thighs, remove fat (the ones I had were small so we had 2 each)
• 2.5 cups no sodium chicken stock ( I like homemade or Kitchen Basics)
• 1 cup blend of wild rice and lentils (pick your favorite)
• 1 cup sliced cremini mushrooms
• .5 cup chopped carrots
• .5 cup onions, chopped
• 1 TBS fresh lemon thyme
• .5 TBS olive oil
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp pepper

Instructions:

1. Place stock in pot, add rice, veggies,oil, and herbs: stir.
   
2. Add chicken thighs to pot, season lightly with salt and pepper. 
3. Cook for 4 hours on high or 8 hours on low. ( I do 4 on high)
4. Serve, salt and pepper to taste. 

Sous Vide Herbed Lamb Loins

If you haven’t noticed…I’m absolutely loving my Sous Vide Supreme. The lamb loins were on sale at my local grocer so I bought 3 instead of 2. Normally one is enough for me (they are about 5 oz each with the bone). The sous vide ensures that these little lamb loins will be cooked to a perfect 134 degrees.

Prep: 5 min
Cook: 2-4 hrs
Serves: 2

Ingredients.

• 2-3 lamb loins
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 TBS fresh parsley, chopped
• .5 TBS fresh thyme, remove from stem
• .5 tsp sea salt
• .5 tsp pepper
• Butter

Instructions

1. Heat sous vide to 134 F.
2. Chop garlic and herbs and blend together with salt and pepper.
3. Coat loins with herb and garlic mixture on both sides.
4. Cut 3 slices if butter and place on top of loin
5. Vacuum seal loins separately in bags
6. Submerge in water bath for a minimum of 2 hrs and max of 4 hrs.
7. Once done seat on hot oiled grill for 1 min on each side.

Crawfish, Goat Cheese, and Baby Kale Frittata

This frittata is quite nice and light compared to a typical frittata. By using only 2 eggs and the rest whites creates a lighter/healthier- but equally as satisfying version. The trick to perfecting your frittata is ensuring you cook on super low to set the bottom and sides of the frittata before placing in the oven. The crawfish, goat cheese, and baby kale go very well together, I was quite happy with the outcome!

Prep Time: 10 min

Cook Time: 30 min

Serves: 4 Slices

Ingredients:

• 2 Large eggs, beaten
• 1 C. Egg whites
• 2 TBS milk
• 1 C.  Crawfish: peeled, cooked, deveined
• 1/4 C. Sweet onion, chopped
• 1 C. Baby Kale or Spinach (I used one cup but next time I’ll use 2).
• 1 Clove of garlic, minced
• 1 TBS Coconut oil
• 1/4 C. Monterrey Jack Cheese, reduced fat is fine.
• 1 tsp. Long pepper, ground (regular is fine).
• 1 tsp. Himalayan Pink Salt (regular is ok).
• 1/4 tsp Smoked paprika for the top of frittata.
• 1/4 C. Goat cheese crumbles for top

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 425 F.
2. In medium oven proof skillet sauté onions, garlic, and kale on low/medium in coconut oil until lightly cooked and fragrant: about 5 min. TURN HEAT TO LOW
3. In medium mixing bowl: Whisk together eggs (2 eggs and whites), salt, pepper, milk. Then add cheese, crawfish, and give it a light mix.
4. Carefully add egg and crawfish mixture to the skillet that contains the onion, garlic, and kale. Remove any kale or bit that may be on the edges with a spatula.
5. Place goat cheese on top of mixture in skillet and sprinkle with smoked paprika.
6. Let the frittata bottom and edges set on the stove top for about 5 min on low.
7. Place in oven for 15-20 min or until done.

Enjoy!

Pan Seared Ahi Tuna with a Cilantro Ginger Slaw

This is a delicious and healthy lunch or dinner dish that is super simple to prepare. You will love it!!!

Prep Time: 10 min

Cook Time: 6 min

Serves: 2

Ingredients:

• 2 Ahi tuna steaks (I like to do about a 4-5 oz steak).
• 2 cups Green cabbage, shredded
• 2 cups Purple cabbage, shredded
• 2 TBS Pickled ginger
• 3 TBS Cilantro, chopped rough
• 1 TBS Black sesame seeds
• Salt and pepper
• Coconut oil

Dressing for slaw

• 1 tsp Sesame oil
• 1 tsp Agave nectar
• 1 TBS Yuzu juice
• 2 TBS Rice wine vinegar
• 1 tsp Wasabi paste

Instructions:

1. Wash Ahi and pat dry, season with salt and pepper. Place in fridge while you prep slaw.
2. Mix cabbage, cilantro, sesame seeds, and ginger in a medium mixing bowl. Place in fridge.
3. Mix up slaw dressing and reserve, dress right before serving.
4. In medium to large skillet heat 1 tsp of coconut oil on medium high.
5. Sear tuna for about 3 min on each side, at the end of the second side sear the edges quickly- serve rare.  You can always cook longer but do not over cook! You want it to be pink in the middle.
6. Place tuna on top of dressed slaw salad! Serve with anything else you like, I did sweet potato gnocchi!

Happy Belated 2nd Birthday ZBD & Vegan Black Bean Burgers

Hello Friends! As the summer winds down, I hope to find some more time to blog. It’s been one crazy few months and I have not had a dull moment yet. I’ve missed blogging and reading your blogs so I’m very happy to get back to it. While I was away ZestyBeanDog turned 2 in July!  I missed it… does that make me a bad blog Mom?  Happy Belated Birthday ZestyBeanDog! 

These burgers are wonderful and great for a filling lunch or dinner. They are low in fat and calories and high in fiber and have a decent amount of protein. You can make these as is and they will be vegan, adding some low fat cheese  (as shown in picture above) will add some protein but will obviously not be vegan BUT tasty I will say these were awesome tasting but if you are expecting it to have the texture of meat, they will not quite (most freezer brands do not). I will be experimenting with that in the near future and see what happens. For now here is something not to be missed.

Prep Time: 30 min

Cook Time: 15 min

Serves: 2 large burgers or 2 medium and 1 small

Ingredients:

• 1 Can low sodium black beans, drained well
• 1/2 Cup Panko bread crumbs
• 1 TBS Shallots, diced
• 1 tsp. Chia Seeds, ground
• 1 tsp. Flax Seeds, ground
• 1 Clove garlic
• 1 tsp olive oil
• 1 lime, juiced
• 1 tsp. Mexican oregano
• 1/2 tsp. Cumin
• 1/2 tsp. Salt
• 1/2 tsp. Black pepper
• 1 green onion
• 2 TBS water

Instructions:

1. Place all ingredients in a bowl and mix with a spoon. Transfer mixture to food processor (I love the Ninja).
2. Blend all ingredients in a food processor, pulsing for about 20- 30 sec. It should not be liquidy or too dry. It will however be soft. Mold into patties and place on a plastic wrapped plate, cover and let set in fridge for at least 20 min.
3. Turn skillet on medium and spray with pam or you can use regular olive oil. Once hot cook burgers for about 6-7 min on each side until golden brown and hot all the way through.
4. Serve on your choice of bun with any toppings you like! It goes great with some sauteed kale!  I love Cabot 75% as a reduced fat cheese, it’s very good!
   

Nutrition Facts for Black Bean Burgers includes 1/4 of a medium avocado.

Without Avocado

Tempura Veggies with Awesome Sauce and Voting Polls are Open

We had a sushi night last Saturday and it was amazing! I’m doing a 40 day yoga challenge and one of my commitments was to NOT eat meat… so I haven’t had any meat but some occasional seafood. I’m halfway through it and doing well. See the end of post for details on how to vote for my Marx Foods entry!

These tempura veggies are a light and tasty snack or side to a meal.

Serves: 4

Prep: 10 min

Cook: 4 min or until lightly golden

Ingredients for batter: 

• 1 C. Flour
• 1 TBS Corn Starch
• 1 1/2 C. Club Soda
• 1 tsp. Salt
• Peanut oil

Veggies:

You can use what ever veggies you would like. I like sweet potato, bell peppers, Carrots, and Brocoli. Make sure you don’t slice too thick.

Awesome Sauce:

• 1/2 C. Soy sauce
• 1/2 tsp. Sesame oil
• 1 TBS. Green onion
• 5 Thin slices of ginger, fresh
• 1/2 clove of garlic, minced
• 1 tsp. Lime juice
• 2 TBS Rice wine vinegar

Instructions:

1. Slice veggies and make sauce.
2. Heat fryer oil to 375 degrees.
3. Coat veggies in batter, shake off remaining batter and fry for 3-4 min.  Doing small batches at a time.
4. Place on paper towel. Repeat until done.
5. Serve with sauce.

Please vote for my submission to Marx Foods, I made a Chile, Yuzu, and Jasmine Tea Granita, it was DELISH!  The voting polls close Thursday evening! Thank you so much for the support!

Marx Foods Fire and Ice Contest : Chile, Yuzu, and Jasmine Tea Granita

This granita is a flavorful multi-dimensional creation that starts off cool and tart and builds with a fiery heat from the Thai and tepin chilies. It’s a short lived heat that surprisingly keeps you coming back for more. It’s sure to take your taste buds on a roller-coaster!  I’m submitting this to the Fire and Ice Contest held by Marx Foods. I will post the link where you can vote for my creation as soon as it goes live. I appreciate the support as always! To read more about the contest click here. VOTE HERE NOW

Serves : 2

Prep: 10 min

Set Time: 3 hrs

Ingredients:

• 1/4 C. Yuzu Juice
• 1/4 C. Water
• 1/4 C. Jasmine Tea
• 1/4 C. Agave Nectar
• 1 Thai chile, ground
• 2 Tepin chiles, ground
• 2 Cherries, pitted

Instructions:

1. In a mortar and pestle, grind chilies, seeds and all.
2. In a small/medium pot combine all ingredients and heat to a simmer for 10 min.
3. Strain liquid, removing chilies and cherries. Reserve liquid and cherries.
4. Place liquid in a shallow container and freeze for 3 hrs.
5. Slice cherries and reserve.
6. Once liquid is frozen, churn up with two forks and serve, garnishing with the soaked sliced cherries.

Enjoy!

Disclaimer:  I did not receive any compensation from Marx Food for this post.  All opinions are my own.

Cucumber Yuzu and Lavender Granita

This is the perfect little frozen treat to make at home. It’s so refreshing and so simple to make.

Serves: 6

Prep Time: 20 min

Set Time: about 2-3 hours or so, or until mostly frozen.

Ingredients:

• 3 large organic cucumbers peeled and chopped into chunks
• 1 C. White sugar ( I would like to try this with agave nectar next time).
• 3/4 C. Water
• 1/4 C. Yuzu Juice
• Fresh basil
• Sea Salt (if desired).
• 2 sprigs of fresh lavender

Instructions:

1. Juice cucumbers if you have a juicer, if not blend in a blender and strain through a mesh strainer or cheese cloth, reserve juice.
2. Heat water and yuzu juice to a boil, adding lavender sprigs. Stir in sugar and create a simple syrupy substance, once sugar is melted take off heat and let cool. Remove lavender sprigs and discard.
3. Combine juice and syrup in a shallow plastic plan.
4. Freeze until mostly frozen, scrape icy mixture with a fork to “fluff” up.
5. Serve with a basil and salt garnish.

Enjoy and cheers!