Monday, February 28, 2011

Carrot and Ginger Soup

Ingredients:
1/2 lb. carrots (washed, peeled and diced)
1/2 onion medium (diced)
1 tbsp. minced ginger
1 sprig thyme
Salt to taste
Pepper to taste
1.5 cups water
1 tbsp. butter

*note: these ingredients are enough for two

Prep:
get a medium sized saucepan and add the butter - heat till melted
add all ingredients except water
cook for two minutes (stir every now and then)
add water, cover and bring to boil
simmer uncovered till carrots are tender
remove from heat and remove thyme
blend soup till smooth and creamy


enjoy!

Sunday, February 27, 2011

Spinach and Broccoli Dip - Inspired by my best friend Kim

Ingredients:

1 cup chopped frozen spinach
1 cup chopped frozen broccoli
3 oz cream cheese
2 oz sour cream
2 oz mayonnaise (best foods/hellmans is the best)
Salt (to taste)
1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes
3 handfuls shredded mozzarella
1 cup shreddeed parmesan

Prep:
Boil the spinach and broccoli in 1 cup of water until tender - drain and place in oven safe bowl
soften the cream cheese for 25 seconds in the microwave - add to spinach
add all the other ingredients
place in oven for 20 minutes - uncovered
cook till edges are brown and bubbly

enjoy!

Chicken Stuffed Jalapeno Peppers

Ingredients:
1 lb. jalapeno peppers
1lb. ground chicken
olive oil
salt (can use lawrys seasoning salt - as i did)
6 oz. cream cheese (or half pack of Philadelphia cream cheese)
1 Cup Parmesan Cheese


Prep:
wash the peppers


slice down lengthwise
de-seed the peppers

cook the ground chicken in olive oil and salt in a medium sauce pan
cook til brown and cooked through
no water should remain

Soften the cream cheese for 25 seconds in the microwave
Shred 1 cup of parmesan cheese

Mix the cream cheese, cooked chicken and parmesan cheese in a bowl
stuff the peppers with the mixture ;)
place in a glass baking dish
preheat oven to 400 degrees
put in oven for 30-40 minutes (uncovered)
the peppers will lose water and shrivel down in size
i like to cook the peppers until the have browned edges

enjoy!

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Stuffed Peppers (using things lying around my kitchen)

Ingredients:

3 bell peppers (any color - i used green)
2 links of sausage (any kind - i used beef)
1 onion
couscous (i prefer isreali)
3 tsp blackbean sauce
a drizzle of honey
mozzarella cheese (to taste)
a drizzle of hot sauce


Preparation: 
prepare couscous in pot (follow directions on box)
put aside two bell peppers
take the third and chop it medium fine
chop the onion medium fine
chop the sausage into 1 cm squares
put everything together in a bowl
add the black bean sauce
add the honey
add the hot sauce
add the cheese
when the couscous is done, add to mixture
take the 2 bell peppers, slice it down length-wise, de-seed it and stuff it with the mixture

place the bell peppers in a oven safe glass pan (face up ;))

bake for 20 minutes at 350 in the oven


enjoy!

Oven Baked Cauliflower - (inspired by Jonathan Waxman)

Ingredients:
1 head of cauliflower florets
6 tablespoons melted butter
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 clove garlic
3 tablespoons grated Parmesan
A pinch of red pepper flakes
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper


Preparation: 
toss all the ingredients together in a bowl


layer out onto a glass oven baking pan
bake for 30 minutes on 350 degrees in oven


enjoy!