Posts Tagged ‘tomatoes’
Spring Salsa
April 29, 2013 | 
Author For The Secret Recipe Club this month, I was assigned to Baking and Creating with Avril. She actually had my blog in March of 2012 and she made my Fluffernutter Blondies, so I was excited to explore her blog this time. Initially I was drawn to her Crescent Chicken Packages and Chunky Monkey Oatmeal Cookies, but with Cinco de Mayo coming up in combination with the spring weather, I had to make this salsa.
This salsa was incredibly easy to throw together and disappeared even faster. If you are serving this to more than 2-3 people you might want to consider doubling it. My friend Maggie and I nearly killed the entire thing while watching Hustle and Flow (figured we should watch it since we live in Memphis).
Two years ago: Funfetti Month Recipe Round-Up
SPRING SALSA
Ingredients:
15.25 oz. can sweet corn
2-3 Roma tomatoes, chopped
1 ripe avocado, peeled and chopped
1/4 cup red onion, finely chopped
1 lemon, juiced
Salt and pepper
1/4 cup cilantro, finely chopped
Directions:
- Combine all ingredients except cilantro, adding salt and pepper to taste. Refrigerate at least 1 hour before serving.
- Stir in cilantro just before serving with your favorite tortilla chips.
Posted in Appetizers & Snacks, Cinco de Mayo, Dips, Holidays | 
Tags: avocado, cilantro, corn, lemon, tomatoes | 
14 Comments »
Baked Quinoa Chicken Parmesan
Finally decided to get a z-pack in order to fend away this lingering sinusitis that I’ve been battling, but it hasn’t seemed to greatly increase my recovery rate. I may be wrong, but I feel as though the improvements this far are merely my own body’s accomplishments. Guess that means it could be viral, but either way it’s been a week and I’m tired of having stopped up nose and ears. So with that, let’s talk about some healthy comfort food.
If you haven’t tried quinoa yet, this this is a great place to start. As someone who has played around with quinoa a bunch, this was by far my favorite recipe using quinoa. It’s a healthier version of Chicken Parm! I’m almost mad at myself for not trying it sooner, especially after Tracey raved about it. I did note that she mentioned missing the breading on the chicken in the recipe she posted, so I decided to bread my chicken up! Obviously I do not know what it would’ve been like without it, but was very pleased with the results.
Two years ago: White Bean Chicken Chili
BAKED QUINOA CHICKEN PARMESAN
Serves 6
Ingredients:
CHICKEN
1/4 cup low-fat buttermilk
16 oz. chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
1/2 cup toasted Panko breadcrumbs
2 Tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
SAUCE
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 medium onion, finely chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
1 (15 oz.) can tomato sauce
1 (15 oz.) can diced tomatoes (I prefer petite diced)
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
1/2 tsp dried basil
1/2 tsp dried oregano
QUINOA
1 cup quinoa, well rinsed with cold water
2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
TOPPINGS
1 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese, divided
2 Tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
2 Tbsp Panko breadcrumbs
2 Tbsp chopped fresh parsley
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Place a wire rack on a large baking sheet. Coat the rack with cooking spray and set aside. Also spray a 2-qt baking dish with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
- To make the chicken: Place the buttermilk in one shallow dish, and then combine the Panko, Parmesan, salt and pepper in a second shallow dish. Add chicken pieces to the buttermilk, turning to coat. Remove and dredge in Panko mixture. Arrange chicken on prepared wire rack and spray tops with cooking spray. Bake for 10 minutes or until done. Set chicken aside.
- To make the sauce: Add the oil to a large saucepan set over medium heat. When it shimmers, add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook for 30 seconds to 1 minute, just until fragrant. Add the vinegar and scrape the bottom of the pan to release any browned bits. Continue cooking until the vinegar is almost completely absorbed. Stir in the tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, red pepper flakes, basil, oregano, and salt and pepper to taste. Bring the sauce to a gentle boil, then reduce the heat and allow to simmer as you continue with the recipe.
- To make the quinoa: Transfer the quinoa to a saucepan and add the chicken broth. Set over medium-high heat and bring to a boil, then cover and reduce the heat to low. Simmer for 20-25 minutes, or until the liquid has been absorbed.
- When the quinoa is almost done cooking, preheat oven to 375 degrees.
- Add the cooked quinoa and the chicken to the sauce and stir to combine. Add half of this mixture to the prepared baking dish then top with 1/2 cup of the mozzarella. Add the remaining half of the quinoa mixture and sprinkle with the remaining mozzarella. Top with the Parmesan cheese and then the breadcrumbs.
- Cover the dish with foil and bake for 15 minutes then remove the foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and golden brown. Garnish with the parsley before serving.
Source: Chicken adapted from The New Way to Cook Light, page 219. Recipe from Tracey’s Culinary Adventures, slightly adapted from Elly Says Opa.
Rainbow Guacamole Deviled Eggs
Happy belated Easter! I hope you all had a splendid weekend. On Sunday, I went to a friend’s for Easter brunch with other friends who were spending the holiday away from family and I brought along these fun deviled eggs. Not only are they festively colored, but they are stuffed with guacamole instead of traditional deviled eggs yolks.
In other news, my March Madness bracket completely imploded over the weekend. I’m not really a basketball fan aside from always cheering for any Ohio State sport’s team, but I always enjoy making a bracket and seeing how it all plays out. Not a single of my final four made it and of course the most disappointing one was Ohio State. Figures that the one Big Ten team that made it was Michigan. Boo. I guess I should cheer for Syracuse now since it’s close to Rochester where I grew up.
Two years ago: Baked Funfetti Doughnuts
RAINBOW GUACAMOLE DEVILED EGGS
Makes 24
Ingredients:
EGGS
12 eggs, hard boiled and peeled
Food coloring
White vinegar
Water
Cups or mugs
FILLING
2 avocados
1 lime, juiced
1 Tbsp red onion, minced
1 jalapeno, minced
2 Tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped
Salt and pepper, to taste
1 Roma tomato, diced
Chile powder, for garnish
Directions:
- Mix 20 drops of food coloring* with 1/2 tsp vinegar and 1 cup water in a mug or small cup. Place eggs into colored water and allow them to sit for one hour. Remove eggs from the colored water and rinse well. Slice in half to reveal the beautiful rings around the whites of the cooked egg. Remove yolks and place in a medium bowl.
- Mash the avocado and egg yolks. Mix in lime juice, red onion, jalapeño, cilantro, salt and pepper and adjust to taste. Gently fold in tomato.
- Scoop heaping spoonfuls of the guacamole into the 24 halved eggs. Sprinkle with a little chile powder for color and arrange on a platter.
*Color variations: Orange = 17 yellow, 3 red, Purple = 15 blue, 5 red, Teal = 15 green, 5 blue, Pink Berry = 14 red, 6 blue, Yellow Green = 14 green, 6 yellow
Source: Color adapted slightly from Crafts by Amanda. Egg filling adapted from Skinny Taste.
Posted in Appetizers & Snacks, Easter, Holidays | Tags: avocado, cilantro, eggs, jalapenos, lime juice, red onion, tomatoes, vinegar | 2 Comments »
Creamy Tomato Tortellini Soup
I know a lot of you are probably expecting a post about my NYC adventures I mentioned on Friday, or Luke’s 1st birthday party, but today is dedicated to March’s Secret Recipe Club and this time I got to choose something from A Cook’s Quest! I was very interested in Jenn’s Baked Penne with Chicken, Broccoli and Cream Sauce, and her Peanut Butter Struesel Brownies, but decided to go for something a little different – a soup made with tortellini. I actually worried this soup was going to taste like eating tortellini in too much sauce/watered down sauce, but it was excellent! Imagine a flavorful, creamy tomato soup, with cheesy tortellini thrown into the mix. Pretty much a great idea.
Two years ago: Banana Pecan Waffles
CREAMY TOMATO TORTELLINI SOUP
Serves 6
Ingredients:
2 cloves of garlic, minced
2 Tbsp olive oil
2 cans (10-3/4 oz. each) condensed tomato soup
2-1/2 cups milk
1 cup heavy cream
2 cups chicken broth
2 Tbsp tomato paste
1 tsp onion powder
2 tsp Italian seasoning
1/2 tsp salt
1 package (9 oz.) refrigerated cheese tortellini
1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
Directions:
- Heat a large stock pot until hot. Add olive oil and garlic. Saute until the garlic becomes fragrant and slightly golden, about 30 seconds to a minute. When the garlic is golden, add the soup, milk, heavy cream, chicken stock and spices. Let this simmer for about 8 minutes then add your pasta. Follow the instructions on your brand of pasta. Cooking time may vary. Ladle the soup into bowls and enjoy with Parmesan cheese and garlic bread.
Source: Adapted slightly from A Cook’s Quest.
Garlic Lover’s Pizza
Last month for Secret Recipe Club, you may recall me resisting the urge to make a recipe from my assigned blog last month that was actually from another SRC member. As luck would have it, I am assigned to that other blog this month – Kudo’s Kitchen! Although it obviously has been featured on another SRC reveal day in the past, I thought it was worthy of a repeat.
This recipe makes one large pizza, but you could easily make two medium ones and is what I would have done if I had used my pizza stone (since it’s smaller than my pizza pan). Either way, this pizza is a garlic lover’s dream. Both the crust and the toppings are bursting with garlic, so vampires beware. I personally love garlic so I used 8 cloves in the toppings instead of the indicated 5 in the recipe. Who says garlic breath is a bad thing?
Two years ago: “Creamed” Berry Cheese Spread
GARLIC LOVER’S PIZZA
Serves 4
Ingredients:
CRUST
3/4 cup water
3/4 cup beef stock
1/4 cup unsalted butter
1-1/2 Tbsp dried minced onion
3-1/2 to 4 cups all-purpose flour
1 package active dry yeast
1 Tbsp garlic powder
2 tsp dried basil (I used 2 Tbsp fresh, minced)
2 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp dried thyme (I used 1 Tbsp fresh, minced)
1/2 tsp black pepper
1 tsp salt
2 Tbsp sugar
TOPPINGS
2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
5 (or more) freshly grated garlic cloves
4 red ripe tomatoes, sliced into 1/4″ thickness
1 log (16 oz.) fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced into 1/4″ thickness
Fresh or dried basil and oregano, to taste
Directions:
- Over low heat in a small saucepan, heat the water, stock, butter, and onions until the butter is just melted. Allow to cool slightly so that you can comfortably stick your finger in and not be burned.
- In a large bowl, combine the remaining dry ingredients, starting with only 3-1/2 cups of flour. More may be necessary later.
- Add the liquid ingredients into the dry ingredients in the large bowl and mix until moistened. Stir in enough remaining flour (if needed) to form a soft but not sticky dough. Knead until the dough is smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes.
- Place the dough in a greased bowl, turning once to grease the top. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour. When dough has fully risen, punch down and allow to rest for at least 15 minutes.
- Meanwhile, pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees.
- After the dough has risen, add approximately 1 tablespoon cornmeal to the surface of your pizza pan. Using your fingertips, spread the dough out to fit the size of the pan (I used a large 16-inch pizza pan), pinching the edges to form a crust.
- Pre-bake the crust for approximately 15 minutes.
- After the initial pre-baking, take the crust from the oven and allow to cool for a few minutes. Using your fingertips, lightly dimple the top of the crust to form little wells.
- Using a pastry brush, and being liberal, gently brush the olive oil on top of the crust. Next, sprinkle garlic over the crust. Then arrange tomatoes on top of your crust making sure to cover as much or surface area as possible.
- Next, layer on the fresh mozzarella cheese however you choose and sprinkle the top with additional basil and oregano.
- Increase your oven temperature to 400 degrees and slip your pizza into the oven for approximately 20 minutes or until the cheese is browned and bubbly. Allow to cool slightly before cutting.
Source: Kudo’s Kitchen
Skinny Creamy Italian Chicken Skillet
To make up for yesterday, I am giving you a skinny chicken pasta dish for dinner tonight. That way you won’t feel guilty about all those cookies you will then eat for dessert! For those of you who did not make an eating-habit resolution (like myself), you still need to make this. It’s always a good time to eat something healthy AND delicious.
I’m at a loss of what else to say, because after two weeks of mental freedom I am back to the grind getting ready to set up more 12 hour experiments while attempting to write up two papers to be published on my research and then my dissertation in time to graduate this spring. Eeeek! Hopefully the food juices will not run completely dry inside of my brain in the meantime.
One year ago: Sweet ‘n’ Spicy Hawaiian Pizza
Two years ago: Spinach Tomato Tortellini
SKINNY CREAMY ITALIAN CHICKEN SKILLET
Serves 4
Ingredients:
CHICKEN
1/2 bottle Lowry’s Garlic Herb Marinade
2 Tbsp pesto
4 small chicken breasts
PASTA AND SAUCE
8 oz. penne pasta
2 tsp extra virgin olive oil
1/4 small onion, minced
Salt & pepper
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 cup reduced sodium chicken broth
8 oz. tomato sauce
1 cup evaporated skim milk
1 tsp all-purpose flour
4 tsp pesto
Crushed red pepper, to taste (optional)
Directions:
- Combine marinade and pesto in a large Ziplock bag then add chicken breasts and squish to coat. Marinade in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes, or up to 8 hours.
- Saute marinated chicken in a large skillet sprayed well with non-stick spray over medium heat for 5-6 minutes a side, or until no longer pink in the center. Remove to a plate then cover loosely with foil to stay warm and set aside. Carefully wipe out skillet with a spatula or wet paper towel. Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil then season with salt and add penne. Cook until al dente then drain and set aside.
- Still over medium heat, add oil to the skillet then add onions and season with salt and pepper. Saute for 3-4 minutes, or until tender, then add garlic and saute, stirring constantly, for 30 more seconds. Carefully add chicken broth then let simmer until reduced by half, about 2 minutes. Add tomato sauce and evaporated milk then whisk in flour, pesto and crushed red pepper if using. Simmer until thick and bubbly, about 2-3 minutes. Add cooked and drained pasta then toss to combine. Portion out to plates then top with cooked chicken.
Source: Iowa Girl Eats
Penne with Trapanese Pesto
Thanksgiving is tomorrow, so many of you are probably not thinking about what to make for dinner tonight. Since I will be on the road during dinner time, sweet potato pie oat bars will be keeping my belly filled. But for the rest of you, I have a quick and easy dinner idea. It’s called trapanese pesto and is filled with all kinds of wonderful things, such as cherry tomatoes, almonds, basil and a pepperoncini. Who knew pesto could be so much fun? If you have some time to spare, this is great served with some oven-fried chicken and a spinach side salad.
What are you plans for Thanksgiving? Are you hosting dinner or bringing a side dish to someone else’s home? Or will you be enjoying the couch, away from any responsibility in the kitchen?
One year ago: Butter Pecan with Brandy Ice Cream
PENNE WITH TRAPANESE PESTO
Serves 4
Ingredients:
2 cups cherry or grape tomatoes
1/3 cup almonds, lightly toasted
2 cloves garlic
12 basil leaves
1 pepperoncini, stem removed
1 pinch crushed red pepper
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
3 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
1 pound whole wheat penne pasta
Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
Directions:
- In a food processor, combine the tomatoes, almonds, garlic, basil, pepperoncini, crushed red pepper, cheese, and a good pinch of salt and pepper. Pulse a few times to get it going. With the motor running, add the oil in a thin stream. Taste it. Add a little more salt if needed.
- Meanwhile, cook your pasta in a large pot of salted water until al dente. Drain and return to pot.
- Pour the pesto over the pasta and toss to combine. You don’t have to use all the pesto if you don’t want to. Store whatever is left in a sealed container in the fridge for a week.
- Serve with with more cheese and basil.
Source: Bev Cooks
Posted in Dressing Sauces & Condiments, Entree, Pasta, Vegetarian | Tags: almonds, basil, garlic, Parmesan, pepperoncini, tomatoes | 3 Comments »
Guacamole Seasoning
I am a minimalist when it comes to my guacamole. All I do is mash up two avocados, add some diced Roma tomatoes, then a little salt and a clove or two of minced garlic. And commence inhalation. So when I saw this recipe for a guacamole seasoning, I was a bit hesitant at first because I love my simple guacamole.
But now that I’ve tried it, I would love to make a big batch of this seasoning and store it for later use. Might be a good gift too (since we are becoming ever closer to that gift-giving time of year). I also tried this guacamole with the Trader Joe’s black bean quinoa chips which were fabulous themselves. First time trying those too, and in combination with the guacamole I just might’ve eaten the entire bowl by myself O:-).
One year ago: Breakfast Quesadillas
GUACAMOLE SEASONING
Makes about 1-1/2 tsp seasoning for 2 avocados-worth of guacamole
Ingredients:
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp dried minced onion or onion powder
Pinch of cumin, to taste
1/4 tsp dried cilantro
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
1/4 tsp salt
Directions:
- Combine all ingredients. Store in an air-tight container if not using immediately.
- Too make guacamole, mash two avocados with the seasoning, then stir in 1 chopped Roma tomato. Add 1/4 tsp lime juice to prevent browning. Serve.
Source: Adapted from Peas and Crayons.
Posted in Appetizers & Snacks, Cinco de Mayo, Dips, Dressing Sauces & Condiments, Holidays | Tags: avocado, limes, tomatoes | 2 Comments »
Pizza Quinoa Casserole
It’s Secret Recipe Club time, woohoo! This month I had Nora’s Natural Noshing. In light of the insanity of my last post featuring a roundup of peanut butter and chocolate deliciousness, you would think I would have to share another peanut butter and chocolate recipe today. I did consider making her bite-size peanut butter layer cups, and would’ve even been a healthier option compared to the majority or recipes I shared on Saturday. But I figured I have an entire football season ahead of me to fill with peanut butter and chocolate, so let’s try something else today.
Quinoa is not yet a staple in my diet, but I do use it occasionally. Most recently have enjoyed mixing in candied walnuts and blueberries for breakfast. So when I saw this recipe on Natural Noshing, I had to give it a try.
Although I didn’t think this casserole quite tasted like pizza, it was a great tasting side to accompany the chicken asiago sausage I had as the main dish. If I had added pepperoni, Italian sausage, and green peppers, it probably would have tasted more like pizza and even been able to be a main course by itself. Or maybe add chicken and have it be a chicken Parmesan casserole – there are many options and is definitely something I would make again!
PIZZA QUINOA CASSEROLE
Serves 4 as a side
Ingredients:
1 cup uncooked quinoa cooked in 2 cups water or about 3-1/2 cups cooked quinoa
6 oz. tomato paste
3-4 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 small onion, diced
2 Tbsp water
1-1/2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
2 Roma tomatoes, diced
2 Tbsp fresh basil, chopped
1 Tbsp dried parsley
1 tsp marjoram
1 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp fennel seed (used caraway seed because I did not have fennel)
1/2 tsp crushed red pepper
1/4 tsp sugar
3/4 salt
1/2 cup shredded Mozzarella
Directions:
- Rinse quinoa well and combine with water in a small pot over high heat. Bring to a boil, cover and turn down to low and simmer for 15 minutes until all the liquid is absorbed, the quinoa is tender and completely cooked. Remove from the heat and leave covered in the pot for 5 minutes while assembling other ingredients.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease four 1 cup ramekins, two 2 cup dishes or a larger casserole dish, depending on how you want to bake and serve this.
- In a medium bowl, combine the tomato paste with the garlic and onion, water and olive oil. Mix well. Add tomatoes and all the seasonings. Mix well again before adding the quinoa. Once the mixture is completely mixed, taste for seasonings and add more salt as needed. Then divide evenly among the dishes for baking, sprinkle with cheese and place in the oven.
- Bake 30-35 minutes until the cheese is golden and bubbly or until the quinoa on top is golden and crispy. If desired, sprinkle with more fresh basil or parsley and serve.
Source: Natural Noshing
Posted in Side Dish | Tags: basil, gluten free, mozzarella, onions, quinoa, tomatoes | 18 Comments »
Zucchini Ribbon Pasta with Creamy Lemon-Basil Sauce
About two months ago I bought one of those starter kits at Target, found in the dollar spot. And after much patience I finally used it for the first time in this recipe. It needs to grow faster because I want to use it all the time! Thankfully my parents have a bunch in their garden so I can avoid hacking mine down to much. It’s still just a little thing.
Thanks in part to my homegrown basil, this zucchini ribbon pasta is a great summer dish. It is light, fresh and full of vegetables. I even used tomatoes from my parents garden. I am really going to miss having access to a garden once my time in Knoxville comes to an end.
ZUCCHINI RIBBON PASTA WITH CREAMY LEMON-BASIL SAUCE
Serves 4
Ingredients:
1/2 lb (or 8 oz) fettuccine
1 medium zucchini
2 tsp olive oil, divided
10 oz. grape tomatoes (about 2 cups)
Salt and pepper
3-4 cloves finely minced garlic
1 cup low sodium vegetable broth (or chicken)
3 oz. reduced fat cream cheese
1 cup very loosely packed basil, chopped
1 Tbsp fresh squeezed lemon juice, more if desired
Directions:
- Prepare a pot of water and cook pasta according to package instructions. Cut ends off zucchini and slice along the long direction, cutting the zucchini into about ⅛ inch slices. Cut each of those slices into long pieces, about the same size as the fettuccine. When pasta is just about done, add zucchini strips to pot (so they’re cooking with the pasta). Boil for about 2 minutes, or until tender. Drain zucchini and pasta, set aside.
- While the pasta cooks, heat a medium size skillet to medium heat. When hot, add 1 teaspoon olive oil. Add tomatoes and give them a little sprinkle of salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, for about 3-4 minutes. Just until they start to burst and look blistered. Remove tomatoes from pan and place in a small dish, covered, and set aside.
- Add another 1 teaspoon olive oil to the empty pan and add garlic. Stir constantly on medium-low heat for about 30-60 seconds. Add chicken broth. Bring to a simmer and use a spatula to scrape any browned bits off the bottom of the pan. Simmer for 1-2 minutes and then reduce heat to low.
- Place cream cheese in a microwave-safe bowl and soften for 20-30 seconds, until it can be easily stirred smooth. Ladle in a couple spoonfuls of the chicken broth mixture into the cream cheese and stir to combine. Once the mixture is smooth, add it to the pan with the remaining broth mixture and whisk until smooth and creamy. Add chopped basil and lemon juice and stir to combine. Taste sauce and season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Combine pasta and zucchini with sauce. Gently toss in tomatoes, or simply add them on top of each serving. Garnish with additional basil if desired.
Source: Adapted slightly from Our Best Bites.
