This week was a combination of some family favorites (Black Bean Quesadillas), some dishes I have made before that were filed into the "I should remember to make this again sometime." recipe pile (Chana Masala, Creamy Meatballs and Noodles), a new salad that was good, but I am not sure I will make again (Summertime Barley Salad) and another recipe passed on from my Grandmother (Peach Cake). Enjoy!
Black Bean Quesadillas
Preparation Tip: These quesadillas take only a few minutes to make and only a few more to cook and are delicious! This recipe is slightly different than the Black Bean and Corn Quesadillas recipe I posted previously. I prefer this one and it is the one that I tend to use more often. If you have never made quesadillas in a frying pan before, be sure to give it a try. It is quicker than the oven (which means better for hot days) and they come out so much crispier. I will never go back to doing them in the oven again!
Lilah's Take: Lilah loves quesadillas! They are a great kid-friendly finger food.
Ingredients
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 tomato, chopped
1/2 c. frozen corn kernels
1/3 c. green pepper, diced
2 green onions, thinly sliced
1/4 tsp. salt
1 c. shredded cheddar cheese
4 large tortillas
2 tsp. olive oil
1/2 c. salsa (for serving)
1/2 c. sour cream (for serving)
Directions:
In a large bowl, combine beans, tomato, corn, green pepper, green onions, and salt. Divide among halves of each tortilla, sprinkle with cheese; fold.
Brush large skillet with half of the oil; heat over medium heat. Cook 2 quesadillas, turning once, until golden brown and crisp, about 6 minutes. Serve with salsa and sour cream.
Chana Masala
http://www.canadianliving.com/food/quick_and_easy/chana_masala.php
Preparation Tip: Don't be afraid of this Indian dish. It is actually very mild and sweet tasting. Serve it over rice and with naan bread.
Lilah's Take: Lilah is a bean lover (and a bread lover) so this dish goes over quite well with her. She tends to just pick the chickpeas out of the dish and leave the onions behind, but that is fine with me because at least she is eating the protein packed part of the meal.
Creamy Meatballs and Noodles
http://www.canadianliving.com/food/quick_and_easy/creamy_meatballs_and_noodles.php
Preparation Tip: If you have time, make the meatballs ahead of time and keep them in the fridge until you are ready to cook them. It makes cooking this dish SO much faster! Bonus: They will also hold their shape better when you do cook them.
Lilah's Take: This dish always goes over well with Lilah because 1) it is pasta; 2) it is creamy; and 3) there are peas in it. As long as the meatballs are cut up, they make their way into her mouth too though.
Peach Cake
This peach cake is another one of my grandmother's recipes. Delicious!
Preparation Tip: To peel peaches, soak them in boiling water for about 5 minutes. The peel should come off very easily.
Ingredients
Cake:
2 c. all purpose flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 c. sugar
4 tsp. baking powder
1 egg
1 c. milk
1/4 c. butter, melted
4 large or 6 small peaches, peeled and sliced
Topping:
1/4 c. sugar
2 Tbsp. flour
1 tsp. cinnamon
2 Tbsp. cold butter
Directions
Mix all dry cake ingredients, add egg, milk and butter. Pour into greased 9 X 9 square pan. Layer sliced peaches on top. Using fingers, mix butter with topping ingredients. Sprinkle on top of cake. Bake in 350 degree oven for about and hour.
Summertime Barely Salad
http://www.canadianliving.com/food/summertime_barley_salad.php
Preparation Tip: I mentioned that I didn't think I would make this recipe again. That isn't because it wasn't good, it was. It is because it made such a large portion that we were eating it for days and I am sick of it. It was my first time using Pearled Barley and I would love to find more recipes that use it!
Lilah's Take: Of course, Lilah picked the chunks of cheese out of the salad, but that was about it. I guess I would also avoid making it again because she wasn't really a big fan.
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Healthy Snacks
Looking for some new and healthy snack options for your kids? Below are a few that we tried this week (including an amazing one that will have your kids (and husbands) eating tofu without even knowing it! Be sure to give the Chocolate Mousse recipe a try! It is DELICIOUS and I PROMISE they will never know what it is made out of!
Oatmeal Snack Squares
Yogurt Bran Muffins
Chocolate Mousse (made with tofu)
Ingredients
1 pkg silken tofu
1 1/2 c. chocolate chips
1/3 c. maple syrup
2 tsp. vanilla extract
1/4 tsp. almond extract
Directions
Blend tofu in food processor until smooth. Blend in melted chocolate chips (see below), maple syrup, vanilla and almond extracts. Portion into serving bowls, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving.
Note: Melt chocolate in a double broiler, stirring constantly to prevent burning, or in microwave, on the defrost setting for approximately 3 minutes, stopping to stir at least once.
Ingredients
1 pkg silken tofu
1 1/2 c. chocolate chips
1/3 c. maple syrup
2 tsp. vanilla extract
1/4 tsp. almond extract
Directions
Blend tofu in food processor until smooth. Blend in melted chocolate chips (see below), maple syrup, vanilla and almond extracts. Portion into serving bowls, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving.
Note: Melt chocolate in a double broiler, stirring constantly to prevent burning, or in microwave, on the defrost setting for approximately 3 minutes, stopping to stir at least once.
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
July Recipes - Week 2
It finally cooled off this week and we were all craving some cooked meals so I decided to make some of our family favorites, Crunchy Macaroni and Cheese with Bacon (posted previously) and Salsa Stuffed Muffin Meat Loves (posted previously). I did try out some new recipes though including a new dessert incorporating rhubarb! Yummy!
Chickpea and Black Bean Salad
http://www.canadianliving.com/food/chickpea_and_black_bean_salad.php
Preparation Tip: The green beans are the only thing that needs to be cooked for this dish so it is great for a hot day! I added about 1 c. of cubed, firm tofu to give the salad a protein boost, but you could also add a can or two of tuna. You can prepare the entire dish in advance, but store the green beans in a separate bowl until you are ready to serve.
Lilah's Take: Lilah tried the green beans as she always does, but spit them out as she always does. She particularly liked the cubed tofu (we call it tofu cheese because it seems to get her to eat it) and the corn.
Corn Bread Muffins
http://dinersjournal.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/09/26/recipe-of-the-day-cornbread/
Preparation Tip:
I used a slightly modified version of this recipe (from Mark Bittman's cookbook) using only enough butter to coat the muffin tin, 1 Tbsp of sugar, 1 egg, and sour milk (1 1/4 cup milk and 1 Tbsp white vinegar). I made these to serve with the Creamy Ham Salad, but ended up incorporating them into some of the other meals we had this week as well.
Creamy Ham Salad
http://www.recipe.com/creamy-ham-salad-with-corn-muffins/
Preparation Tip: This dish was incredibly easy to make and doesn't require any cooking. It can be made in advance and scoped into the red peppers when you are ready to eat.
Lilah's Take: Even though she won't eat raw pepper, Lilah thought it was fun to eat her dinner out of a "red pepper boat".
Rhubarb Banana Crumble
http://www.canadianliving.com/food/baking_and_desserts/rhubarb_banana_crumble.php
Preparation Tip:
This crumble takes a little longer than your average crumble because the rhubarb needs to be baked in the oven for 25 minutes before the crumble can be assembled and baked, but it is worth it if you are a rhubarb fan!
Sweet Chili Chicken
http://www.canadianliving.com/food/quick_and_easy/sweet_chili_chicken.php
Preparation Tip:
I wasn't able to find sweet chili sauce so I used a couple of tablespoons of mild curry paste instead. If you want to save a couple of dollars, use chicken thighs with the bone in and skin on. It takes a little more work to prep them, but it can be done ahead of time.
Chickpea and Black Bean Salad
http://www.canadianliving.com/food/chickpea_and_black_bean_salad.php
Preparation Tip: The green beans are the only thing that needs to be cooked for this dish so it is great for a hot day! I added about 1 c. of cubed, firm tofu to give the salad a protein boost, but you could also add a can or two of tuna. You can prepare the entire dish in advance, but store the green beans in a separate bowl until you are ready to serve.
Lilah's Take: Lilah tried the green beans as she always does, but spit them out as she always does. She particularly liked the cubed tofu (we call it tofu cheese because it seems to get her to eat it) and the corn.
Corn Bread Muffins
http://dinersjournal.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/09/26/recipe-of-the-day-cornbread/
Preparation Tip:
I used a slightly modified version of this recipe (from Mark Bittman's cookbook) using only enough butter to coat the muffin tin, 1 Tbsp of sugar, 1 egg, and sour milk (1 1/4 cup milk and 1 Tbsp white vinegar). I made these to serve with the Creamy Ham Salad, but ended up incorporating them into some of the other meals we had this week as well.
Creamy Ham Salad
http://www.recipe.com/creamy-ham-salad-with-corn-muffins/
Preparation Tip: This dish was incredibly easy to make and doesn't require any cooking. It can be made in advance and scoped into the red peppers when you are ready to eat.
Lilah's Take: Even though she won't eat raw pepper, Lilah thought it was fun to eat her dinner out of a "red pepper boat".
Rhubarb Banana Crumble
http://www.canadianliving.com/food/baking_and_desserts/rhubarb_banana_crumble.php
Preparation Tip:
This crumble takes a little longer than your average crumble because the rhubarb needs to be baked in the oven for 25 minutes before the crumble can be assembled and baked, but it is worth it if you are a rhubarb fan!
Sweet Chili Chicken
http://www.canadianliving.com/food/quick_and_easy/sweet_chili_chicken.php
Preparation Tip:
I wasn't able to find sweet chili sauce so I used a couple of tablespoons of mild curry paste instead. If you want to save a couple of dollars, use chicken thighs with the bone in and skin on. It takes a little more work to prep them, but it can be done ahead of time.
Monday, July 9, 2012
July Recipes - Week 1
It was another hot week so we mainly stuck to the no-cook meals. Things did finally cool off at the end of the week and I decided to make a stir-fry one night. I have to say that although many of the meals I have made have been delicious, we are all craving some home-COOKED comfort food so I am very happy that next week will be cooler and I can actually use the stove and oven!
Hoisin Veggie-Tofu Lettuce Cups
http://www.ivillage.com/hoisin-veggie-tofu-lettuce-cups-0/3-r-367587
Preparation Tip:
I was a bit hesitant about this recipe because I have not had raw tofu before, however, I was pleasantly surprised by how delicious these cups were! I only made half of the recipe because I wasn't sure how the mixture would be leftover the next day (I was worried the tofu would be soggy and disgusting), but half the recipe made enough for the three of us for dinner. The mixture can be made earlier in the day so it is ready to scoop into the lettuce cups come dinner time. *I omitted the hot sauce when making this dish.
Lilah's Take:
Lilah did pretty well with this dish, however, I probably should have left out the red onion for her as it was a bit on the hot side.
Kung Pao Chicken
http://www.canadianliving.com/food/quick_and_easy/kung_pao_chicken.php
Preparation Tip:
This stir-fry was really easy to make, but I did prepare all of the vegetables ahead of time. I also cooked the vegetables for longer than suggested to make sure they were soft enough for Lilah to easily eat. I served the stir-fry over egg noodles, but rice would be good as well. *I reduced the amount of chili garlic sauce by half.
Lilah's Take:
Lilah did alright with this dish. She doesn't flip over red peppers (or any color pepper for that matter) nor is she a big fan of green beans, but she nibbled which is something at least.
Sesame Soy Bow Ties
http://www.canadianliving.com/food/sesame_soy_bow_ties.php
Preparation Tip: This dish was DELICIOUS! It made a huge bowl so I will probably half the recipe next time as the leftovers did end up getting a little soggy after a day or two. The entire dish can be made in advance and the only cooking required is for the pasta so it is really easy to put together!
Lilah's Take:
Lilah was a fan of this dish, but she did pick around the peppers.
Tuna and White Bean Wraps
http://www.parents.com/recipe/seafood/tuna-white-bean-wraps/
Preparation Tip:
These wraps are so simple to make. The bean mixture can be made ahead of time and refrigerated making dinner a snap!
Lilah's Take:
I have mentioned before that Lilah enjoys putting her own wraps together so this meal went over well with her. She does, however, tend to nibble around the outside of the wrap (eating mostly the wrap itself) and little of the filling regardless of what is inside.
Hoisin Veggie-Tofu Lettuce Cups
http://www.ivillage.com/hoisin-veggie-tofu-lettuce-cups-0/3-r-367587
Preparation Tip:
I was a bit hesitant about this recipe because I have not had raw tofu before, however, I was pleasantly surprised by how delicious these cups were! I only made half of the recipe because I wasn't sure how the mixture would be leftover the next day (I was worried the tofu would be soggy and disgusting), but half the recipe made enough for the three of us for dinner. The mixture can be made earlier in the day so it is ready to scoop into the lettuce cups come dinner time. *I omitted the hot sauce when making this dish.
Lilah's Take:
Lilah did pretty well with this dish, however, I probably should have left out the red onion for her as it was a bit on the hot side.
Kung Pao Chicken
http://www.canadianliving.com/food/quick_and_easy/kung_pao_chicken.php
Preparation Tip:
This stir-fry was really easy to make, but I did prepare all of the vegetables ahead of time. I also cooked the vegetables for longer than suggested to make sure they were soft enough for Lilah to easily eat. I served the stir-fry over egg noodles, but rice would be good as well. *I reduced the amount of chili garlic sauce by half.
Lilah's Take:
Lilah did alright with this dish. She doesn't flip over red peppers (or any color pepper for that matter) nor is she a big fan of green beans, but she nibbled which is something at least.
Sesame Soy Bow Ties
http://www.canadianliving.com/food/sesame_soy_bow_ties.php
Preparation Tip: This dish was DELICIOUS! It made a huge bowl so I will probably half the recipe next time as the leftovers did end up getting a little soggy after a day or two. The entire dish can be made in advance and the only cooking required is for the pasta so it is really easy to put together!
Lilah's Take:
Lilah was a fan of this dish, but she did pick around the peppers.
Tuna and White Bean Wraps
http://www.parents.com/recipe/seafood/tuna-white-bean-wraps/
Preparation Tip:
These wraps are so simple to make. The bean mixture can be made ahead of time and refrigerated making dinner a snap!
Lilah's Take:
I have mentioned before that Lilah enjoys putting her own wraps together so this meal went over well with her. She does, however, tend to nibble around the outside of the wrap (eating mostly the wrap itself) and little of the filling regardless of what is inside.
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
June Recipes - Week 2
As is was HOT all week, I stuck to the quick, easy and no or minimal cook salads. I did, however, turn the oven on one night when it was a little cooler to make the Cheesy Quinoa Bake with Peas and Carrots (very tasty). I did the chicken for the Pasta Salad with Chicken and No-Cook Asian Chicken Wraps in the slow-cooker, but you could also buy a rotisserie chicken at the store if you prefer.
Black Eyed Pea Salad
http://www.marthastewart.com/326491/roasted-pork-with-black-eyed-pea-salad
Preparation Tip:
Make this salad in advance! It is really quick and easy and only requires chopping a red pepper and some green onions.
Lilah's Take: Lilah isn't a huge fan of eating raw vegetables so she kind of picked around the red pepper and green onions, but she did eat the beans and I am sure some of the vegetables inevitably made their way into her.
Cheesy Quinoa Bake with Peas and Carrots
http://www.eatcleandiet.com/the_kitchen_table/recipe/recipe.aspx?id=2161
Preparation Tip:
Make the casserole ahead of time so you just have to pop it in the oven at dinner time. Make sure to cook it for an few extra minutes to account for it being refrigerated. I added a can of black beans before serving this dish to give it a protein boost.
Lilah's Take:
Lilah was a fan of this dish which is great because I am always looking for ways to get different kinds of grains into her.
Couscous and Lentil Salad
http://www.canadianliving.com/food/couscous_and_lentil_salad.php
Preparation Tip:
This salad can be made in advance as well. I added 2 cans of tuna to add a protein boost and to make this salad into a complete meal.
Lilah's Take: Lilah is a HUGE fan of pearled couscous so telling her this was little baby couscous made her more interested in the dish. She actually really likes feta cheese so that helped as well.
Falafel Focaccia Sandwich
http://recipes.todaysparent.com/Recipes/View/Falafel-focaccia-sandwich
Preparation Tip:
This sauce was WAY too salty and I used dried mint instead of fresh which was a big mistake. If I make this again, I will add the salt in the end and taste until I find the right balance and use fresh mint. Otherwise, these were really easy to make, particularly because you just throw everything into the food processor and you are done!
Lilah's Take: I deconstructed this sandwich and omitted the sauce when I served it to Lilah. She loves bread so that was the first thing to go followed my a few meager bites of the falafel.
No-Cook Asian Chicken Wraps
http://www.parents.com/recipe/chicken/no-cook-asian-chicken-wraps/
Preparation Tip:
Throw a chicken in the crock-pot in the morning and all you have to do is make the sauce and cut up a few vegetables to be ready to serve dinner! Refrigerate the leftover chicken for use in the Pasta Salad with Chicken.
Lilah's Take: Wraps = fun in Lilah's eyes, especially when she gets to put them together herself!
Pasta Salad with Chicken
http://www.parents.com/recipe/chicken/pasta-salad-with-chicken/
Preparation Tip:
Use the leftover chicken from the No-Cook Asian Chicken Wraps to make this pasta salad and you will only have to boil the pasta, make the dressing and chop a few vegetables to have dinner ready!
Lilah's Take: Again, Lilah is a big fan of feta cheese and she absolutely loves macaroni (which I used as the pasta) so she did pretty well with this salad.
Black Eyed Pea Salad
http://www.marthastewart.com/326491/roasted-pork-with-black-eyed-pea-salad
Preparation Tip:
Make this salad in advance! It is really quick and easy and only requires chopping a red pepper and some green onions.
Lilah's Take: Lilah isn't a huge fan of eating raw vegetables so she kind of picked around the red pepper and green onions, but she did eat the beans and I am sure some of the vegetables inevitably made their way into her.
Cheesy Quinoa Bake with Peas and Carrots
http://www.eatcleandiet.com/the_kitchen_table/recipe/recipe.aspx?id=2161
Preparation Tip:
Make the casserole ahead of time so you just have to pop it in the oven at dinner time. Make sure to cook it for an few extra minutes to account for it being refrigerated. I added a can of black beans before serving this dish to give it a protein boost.
Lilah's Take:
Lilah was a fan of this dish which is great because I am always looking for ways to get different kinds of grains into her.
Couscous and Lentil Salad
http://www.canadianliving.com/food/couscous_and_lentil_salad.php
Preparation Tip:
This salad can be made in advance as well. I added 2 cans of tuna to add a protein boost and to make this salad into a complete meal.
Lilah's Take: Lilah is a HUGE fan of pearled couscous so telling her this was little baby couscous made her more interested in the dish. She actually really likes feta cheese so that helped as well.
Falafel Focaccia Sandwich
http://recipes.todaysparent.com/Recipes/View/Falafel-focaccia-sandwich
Preparation Tip:
This sauce was WAY too salty and I used dried mint instead of fresh which was a big mistake. If I make this again, I will add the salt in the end and taste until I find the right balance and use fresh mint. Otherwise, these were really easy to make, particularly because you just throw everything into the food processor and you are done!
Lilah's Take: I deconstructed this sandwich and omitted the sauce when I served it to Lilah. She loves bread so that was the first thing to go followed my a few meager bites of the falafel.
No-Cook Asian Chicken Wraps
http://www.parents.com/recipe/chicken/no-cook-asian-chicken-wraps/
Preparation Tip:
Throw a chicken in the crock-pot in the morning and all you have to do is make the sauce and cut up a few vegetables to be ready to serve dinner! Refrigerate the leftover chicken for use in the Pasta Salad with Chicken.
Lilah's Take: Wraps = fun in Lilah's eyes, especially when she gets to put them together herself!
Pasta Salad with Chicken
http://www.parents.com/recipe/chicken/pasta-salad-with-chicken/
Preparation Tip:
Use the leftover chicken from the No-Cook Asian Chicken Wraps to make this pasta salad and you will only have to boil the pasta, make the dressing and chop a few vegetables to have dinner ready!
Lilah's Take: Again, Lilah is a big fan of feta cheese and she absolutely loves macaroni (which I used as the pasta) so she did pretty well with this salad.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)