garlic herb quinoa

Very flavorful!

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon butter (I used a lactose-free variety, since Mike's mom was visiting)
  
• 1 cup uncooked quinoa
• 2 cups vegetable broth
• 2 teaspoons chopped garlic
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
• 1/2 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 1 dash fresh lemon juice (optional)

Directions

1. Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the quinoa, and toast, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Stir in broth, and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer, cover, and cook for 15 minutes, or until quinoa is tender.
2. In a bowl, toss quinoa together with garlic, parsley, thyme, salt, and onion. Sprinkle with lemon juice, and serve.

photo, recipe from allrecipes.com

spicy honey-brushed chicken thighs

I don't usually make chicken thighs, but I thought this recipe worthy of tagging to make again-- very easy, and I cut the spiciness down a lot for the kids' sake, but it was still a tasty dish, enjoyed by all. I served it with herbed quinoa, peas, and salad.

Ingredients

• 2 teaspoons garlic powder
• 2 teaspoons chili powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon ground red pepper
• 8 skinless, boneless chicken thighs
• Cooking spray
• 6 tablespoons honey
• 2 teaspoons cider vinegar

Preparation

1. Preheat broiler.
2. Combine first 6 ingredients in a large bowl. Add chicken to bowl; toss to coat. Place chicken on a broiler pan coated with cooking spray. Broil chicken 5 minutes on each side.
3. Combine honey and vinegar in a small bowl, stirring well. Remove chicken from oven; brush 1/4 cup honey mixture on chicken. Broil 1 minute. Remove chicken from oven and turn over. Brush chicken with remaining honey mixture. Broil 1 additional minute or until chicken is done.

photo courtesy of myrecipes.com

Heavenly Healthy Banana Bread

In search of a healthy baked good recipe to use up ripe bananas, I came across this whole grain bread. It only calls for a little brown sugar (I used raw cane sugar, and even less than it called for), and the rest is sweetened with honey. This is some of the best banana bread I've ever had. From one batch, I made two mini loaves for us and the neighbors as well as some mini muffins for the kids... they like those.

Here is the recipe

avocados & cherry tomatoes with lemon pepper

From 02/22/2012 (by Eye-Fi)

My parents introduced me to California bagels after they had them while in CA for my cousin's wedding-- with avocado, tomatoes and lemon pepper, and I found the combination a winning one. The topping by itself is simply satisfying. Lately, this has been a favorite snack of mine.

banana oat muffins

From 02/19/2012 (by Eye-Fi)

I needed to use up a couple of spent bananas.... these had just the right amount of sweetness...

Ingredients

• 1 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
• 1 cup rolled oats
• 1/4 cup oat bran
• <1/2 cup white sugar
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 egg
• 3/4 cup milk
• 1/3 cup vegetable oil
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup mashed bananas

Directions

1. Combine flour, oats, sugar, baking powder, soda, and salt.
2. In a large bowl, beat the egg lightly. Stir in the milk, oil, and vanilla. Add the mashed banana, and combine thoroughly. Stir the flour mixture into the banana mixture until just combined. Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper bake cups, and divide the batter among them.
3. Bake at 400 degrees F (205 degrees C) for 18 to 20 minutes.

Tuscan bean and sausage soup

From 02/15/2012 (by Eye-Fi)

I love tomatoes, my husband, and generally my children, do not. The girls are both sick and didn't try any, but Jack (and Mike) gave it the thumbs up. He is a particularly easy child to feed, so it was no surprise. At any rate, I thought this was a great, savory simple meal on a cold day (served with some crusty bread-- this photo was taken before the cheese was added).

Ingredients

1 lb Italian sausage links, removed from casing and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, pressed
1 yellow squash, sliced
2 cans white beans, rinsed and drained
1 can Italian tomatoes, undrained
4 cups of chicken broth
2 cups spinach, shredded
1 tsp. Italian seasoning
3 Tbls. romano cheese, grated

Preparation

In a soup pot over medium-high heat, brown sausage and fully cook. Drain grease. Add onion and garlic and cook till translucent. Add squash and saute about 1 min.

Add remaining ingredients except cheese, and simmer till heated through, about 10 min. Serve with cheese on top.

recipe adapted from Saving Dinner

taboule salad

From 01/05/2012 (by Eye-Fi)

I found a similar recipe on the back of a box of whole wheat couscous and changed it to my likings- and to what we had on hand. Of course, I was the only one who ate it, but it was very good.

Mix 1/2 cup boiling water with 1 1/4 cup dry couscous. Add 6 Tbsp. olive oil and 1/3 cup lemon juice. Stir well. Cover and let sit for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork. Add 1 diced tomato 1 clove minced garlic, 1/2 diced green pepper, 1/2 chopped onion, 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, and salt and pepper to taste. Toss lightly. Refrigerate for 15 minutes. Fluff with a fork and serve. Serves 5.

vegetable chili

I got the resounding, "Thanks for making this, Mom!" from the kids (and Mike), which automatically makes it post-worthy. (I didn't grab a photo, but you can imagine what this chili, chock full of veggies and legumes, looks like.

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/2 medium onion, chopped
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 2 tablespoons dried oregano
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 2 stalks celery, chopped
• 2 bell peppers, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• (optional) 2 (4 ounce) cans chopped green chile peppers, drained
• (optional) 1 jalapeno pepper, chopped
  
• 2 (28 ounce) cans whole tomatoes, crushed
• 1 lb lean ground beef
  
• 1/4 cup chili powder (I added about half of this, since the kids don't like it too hot)
  
• 1 tablespoon ground black pepper
• 1 (15 ounce) can kidney beans, drained
• 1 (15 ounce) can garbanzo beans, drained
• 1 (15 ounce) can black beans
• 1 (15 ounce) can whole kernel corn

Directions

1. Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Stir in the onion, and season with bay leaves, cumin, oregano, and salt. Cook and stir until onion is tender, then mix in the celery, green bell peppers, jalapeno peppers, garlic, and green chile peppers. Cook ground beef separately, drain any grease. When vegetables are heated through, mix in the ground beef. Reduce heat to low, cover pot, and simmer 5 minutes.
2. Mix the tomatoes into the pot. Season with chili powder and pepper. Stir in the kidney beans, garbanzo beans, and black beans. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, and simmer 45 minutes. Stir in the corn, and continue cooking 5 minutes before serving.

sweet potato cranberry bake

From 01/13/2012 (by Eye-Fi)

When we were in Wisconsin after Christmas, we finally got Jack to try some of the Apple Mallow Yambake that Grandma made (not before pulling some teeth). Afterward, he told me I needed to make it every day. While I haven't had a chance to make that yet, I tried a recipe tonight that reminded us of that one- but instead of apples, I used some cranberries I've been wanting to use, and instead of a marshmellow topping, there was a walnut, (minimal) brown-sugar and cinnamon topping. And Jack said tonight's dinner was the best he's ever had. For the record, the accompanying foods were baked tilapia, mixed veggies (corn, edamame and red peppers) and homemade wheat rolls. I'll be sure to duplicate this one again... we had not a leftover. It's gluten-free and can easily be made dairy-free, as well.

Ingredients

• 4 medium sweet potatoes
• 1 cup fresh cranberries
• (less than) 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon butter, melted
• 1/2 cup orange juice
• TOPPING:
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
• (less than) 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 2 tablespoons cold butter

Directions

1. Place sweet potatoes in large pot; cover with water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 30-40 minutes or until tender. Drain. When cool enough to handle, peel potatoes and cut into 1/4-in. slices. Place half in a medium baking dish. Top with the cranberries, brown sugar and butter. Pour orange juice over the top.
2. Cover and bake at 350 degrees F for 25 minutes. In a bowl, combine the walnuts, brown sugar and cinnamon; cut in butter. Sprinkle over sweet potato mixture. Bake, uncovered, 10 minutes longer or until topping is golden brown.

chewy chocolate chip oatmeal cookies

From 01/11/2012 (by Eye-Fi)

I love oatmeal cookies. And chocolate. I had told the kids we'd make cookies if they took good naps today... they did! So we made chocolate chip oatmeal cookies... a double reward pour moi! Mmmmm... so good!

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1/4 cup white sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3 cups quick-cooking oats
• 1 cup chopped walnuts
• 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
2. In a large bowl, cream together the butter, brown sugar, and white sugar until smooth. Beat in eggs one at a time, then stir in vanilla. Combine the flour, baking soda, and salt; stir into the creamed mixture until just blended. Mix in the quick oats, walnuts, and chocolate chips. Drop by heaping spoonfuls onto ungreased baking sheets.
3. Bake for 12 minutes in the preheated oven. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.