Category Archives: What’s for Dinner?

Mango Gazpacho

INGREDIENTS:

2 cups. Fresh Mangoes, 1/4 inch diced

1 1/2 cup. Fresh Orange Juice

2 Tbs. Olive Oil, extra virgin

1 ea Cucumber, seedless and cut into 1/4 in. dice

1 sm. Red Bell Pepper, seeded and cut into 1/4 in dice

1 sm. Onion, cut into 1/4 in. dice

2 md Garlic Cloves, minced

1 sm Jalepeno Pepper, seeded and minced (optional)

3 Tbs. Lime Juice, freshly squeezed

2 Tbs Fresh Parsley, Basil or Cilantro, chopped

tt Salt and Pepper, freshly ground

DIRECTIONS:

Process mangoes, orange juice and oil in a food processer or blender until pureed. Transfer to medium bowl, along with remaining ingredients. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Refridgerate until ready to serve (can be made several hours ahead.)

Serve with smoked salmon.

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Filed under International Inspirations, Summer Favorites, Super Soups, What's for Dinner?

Chicken and Chile Stew

INGREDIENTS

2 lbs. Chicken Drumsticks

6 oz. Onions

3 ea. Garlic Cloves, minced

16 oz. Cannellini or Pinto Beans, cooked

A.N. Oil

2 Tbs Chile Powder

1 pt. Cherry Tomatoes

2 oz. Stock or Water

2 oz. Cilantro Leaves

t.t. Salt and Pepper

A.N. Sour Cream

A.N. Black Olives

A.N. Scallions, bias sliced

A.N. Queso Fresco

DIRECTIONS:

Detach tendons from drumsticks. Season the meat well. Heat oil in a heavy bottomed 4 quart pan. Sear the chicken over medium high heat until done on all sides.

Lower heat and add onion, garlic and chile powder. Saute until soft. Add tomatoes and stock.

Cover and simmer, stirring occassionally, until chicken is done. Add beans and simmer until they are warmed through. Add cilantro just before serving.

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Filed under Chicken Dishes, Comfort Cuisine, Fall/Winter Favorites, What's for Dinner?

Baked Cod with Steamed Green Beans

INGREDIENTS

16 oz. Cod Filet

1 tsp. Salt, divided

2 Tbs. Butter, divided

3 cups. Green Beans

2 sm. Lemon Wedges (optional)

DIRECTIONS

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Place the cod on a foil-lined baking sheet and season with half of the salt, then top with half of the butter. Transfer the cod to the preheated oven and allow to bake for 15 minutes or until the fish flakes easily under gentle pressure.

Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water, with a steamer insert and lid, to a rolling boil. Add the green beans to the steamer insert and steam for 5 to 7 minutes. Remove the beans from the steamer and pat dry on clean paper towels.

Toss the cooked beans with the remaining butter and salt. Serve the cod with the green beans and a lemon wedge.

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Filed under Fish Favorites, Summer Favorites, What's for Dinner?

Tex Mex Chicken Skillet

INGREDIENTS:

4 tsp. Avocado Oil

1/2 cup. Leeks, finely chopped

3 lg. Garlic, cloves

3/4 cup Bell Pepper, raw and chopped

36.4 oz. Chicken Breast, boneless and skinless cut into 1″ pieces

3 cups. Zucchini, diced

14 oz. Diced Tomatoes, canned

1 tsp Taco Seasoning

1 Tbs. Cumin, divided

1/2 tsp. Salt

1/2 tsp. Black Pepper, ground

1/2 cup. Cilantro, chopped

1 cup. Tex Mex or Colby Jack Cheese, low-fat shredded

1/2 cup. Green Onions, chopped

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat large skillet on low – medium heat and swirl to coat. Add onion, garlic and bell pepper, saute for 3 minutes, stirring occassionally.

Move vegetables to the side of the skillet and add chicken. Sprinkle with 1 tsp cumin, salt and black pepper. Cook for about 5 minutes. Stirring occassionally.

Add tomatoes, zucchini, taco seasoning and remaining cumin. Stir, cover and cook on low-medium for 10 minutes.

Sprinkle with cheese, cover and cook for a few minutes or until cheese has melted. Top with green onions and cilantro.

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Filed under Chicken Dishes, Fall/Winter Favorites, Summer Favorites, What's for Dinner?

Pho

INGREDIENTS:

2 TBS Avocado or coconut oil

2 cloves Garlic, minced

2 ea Scallions, cut into 1/2 inch pieces

5 slices Ginger

4 cups Homemade bone broth or DKA chicken or beef liquid bone broth or 4 packets of DKA powdered bone broth + 32 oz of water.

1 cup Bok Choy, roughly chopped

1 cup Mushrooms, sliced

2 Tbs Coconut aminos

1/2 tsp Celtic or pink Himalayan salt

1/2 tsp Black or White Pepper, freshly ground

tt Cayenne Pepper, dash

1/2 cup Cilantro Leaves

For Serving (Optional)

Thai Basil

Sriracha Sauce

Mung Bean Sprouts

Lime Wedges

DIRECTIONS:

In a large stockpot, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add garlic, scallions, and ginger, and reduce heat to medium-low. Cook, stirring for 3 to 4 minutes to soften scallions.

Raise heat to medium-high and add broth, bok choy, mushrooms, coconut aminos, salt, black pepper, and cayenne. When soup begins to boil, reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes.

Add zoodles and cilantro, and remove from heat. Serve warm, with thai basil, sriracha sauce, mung bean sprouts, and lime wedges if desired.

NOTE: most stores sell pre-cut zoodles to save time in the kitchen. If you prefer to make them at home you don’t have to have a spiralizer. There are other methods you can use to make zucchini pasta.

Julienne peelers will give you straight, skinny zoodles; mandoline or old-fashion vegetable peelers produce wide, flat zoodles.

You can try konjack zoodles in the dish for a zero-carb alternative that is very, very close to rice noodle texture and soaks up the fragrant bone broth flavors perfectly.

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Filed under Asian Cuisine, Fall/Winter Favorites, Healthy Lunches, Inspiralized, International Inspirations, Super Soups, What's for Dinner?

Red Lentil Soup with Preserved Lemon and Crispy Garlic

INGREDIENTS:

SOUP:

2 Tbs. Olive Oil, extra virgin

2 md Onions, chopped

2 cloves Garlic, finely chopped

1 piece Ginger (2″), scrubbed and finely chopped

2 tsp Cumin, groud

3/4 tsp Tumeric, ground

tt Black Pepper, freshly ground

1/2 ea Preserved Lemon, rinsed, seeds removed, finely chopped

3 Tbs Tomato Paste, double consentrated

8 cups Vegetable or Chicken Broth, good-quality, low sodium

2 cups Red Lentils, rinsed

GARLIC CHIPS AND ASSEMBLY

2 Tbs Olive Oil, extra-virgin

4 cloves Garlic, thinly sliced

tt Kosher Salt

1 tsp Aleppo-Style Pepper

1 cup Tender Herbs, torn mixed (such as basil, dill, cilantro, and/or parsley)

1/2 ea Preserved Lemon, rinsed, seeds removed, finely chopped (optional)

DIRECTIONS:

SOUP

Heat 2 tbs extra-virgin olive oil in a large Dutch oven or other heavy pot over medium. Cook 2 medium onions, chopped, 4 garlic cloves, finely chopped, and one 2″ piece ginger, scrubbed, finely chopped, stirring occassionally, until onions are softened, 6-8 minutes. Add 2 tsp. ground cumin and 3/4 tsp. ground turmeric and stir to coat onions.

Season with freshly ground black pepper. Add 1/2 preserved lemon, rinsed, seeds removed, finely chopped, and 3 tbs double- concentrated tomato paste and cook, stirring often, until tomato paste is darkened in color, about 4 minutes.

Add 8 cups good-quality low-sodium vegetable or chicken broth and 2 cups red lentils, rinsed, and bring to a boil, skimming foam from surface as needed. Reduce heat to medium-low, partially cover, and simmer, stirring ocasionally, until lentils are very tender an soup is almost creamy, 35-45 minutes.

GARLIC CHIPS AND ASSEMBLY

While the lentils are cooking, heat 2 tbs extra-virgin olive oil in a small saucepan over medium. Cook 4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced stirring often, until golden and starting to crisp, about three minutes; remove pan from heat. Using a slotted spoon, transfer garlic chips to paper towels leaving oil behind. Lightly season garlic chips with kosher salt. Stir 1 tsp. Aleppo-style pepper into infused oil in pan and set aside.

Remove soup from heat and stir in 1 cup torn mixed tender herbs (such as basil, dill, cilantro, and/or parsley). If soup is too thick, thin with water. Taste and add up to 1/2 preserved lemon, rinsed, seed removed, finely chopped, if desired (you may find the soup lemony enough as it is). Season with more salt as needed.

Ladle soup into bowls. Top with garlic chips and more herbs and drizzle over reserved pepper oil.

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Filed under Comfort Cuisine, Fall/Winter Favorites, Healthy Lunches, Vegetarian Fare, What's for Dinner?

Lomo Saltado (Peruvian Stir-Fry)

INGREDIENTS:

1 lb Sirloin Steak, sliced against the grain into strips

3-4 Tbs Vegetable Oil, divided

1 sm Red Onion, sliced

2 sm to md Plum Tomatoes, sliced into wedges

2 ea Scallions Ends, trimmed and sliced into 2-in pieces

3 clvs Garlic, peeled and minced

1/2 in Ginger, peeled and minced or grated

1 Tbs Aji Amarillo Paste (or Aji Amarillo Chili Pepper, stemmed, seeded and sliced)

1 Tbs Fresh Cilantro, minced (more for garnish)

A/N White Rice for Serving (I use cauliflower rice)

A/N French Fries for Serving (I use jicama fries)

FOR THE MARINADE:

2 Tbs Soy Sauce

1/8 tsp Cumin, ground

1/2 tsp Dried Oregano

1 Tbs Apple Cider Vinegar (or Red Wine, White Wine or Sherry Vinegars)

FOR THE STIR FRY SAUCE:

4 Tbs Soy Sauce

1 Tbs Apple Cider Vinegar (or Red Wine Vinegar)

1 tsp Corn Starch (optional for sauce thickener)

DIRECTIONS:

Marinade Steak:

Place sliced or cubed steak in a bowl and toss with the soy sauce, ground cumin, oregano and vinegar.

Allow to sit a few minutes while you prepare the rest of the ingredients.

Prepare Sauce:

Stir together the soy sauce, vinegar and corn starch if using and

Set aside

Stir Fry Steak and Veggies:

Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a large pan, large skillet or a wok, over medium-high to high heat. Add the steak, and cook stir frying until browned and seared, 5-6 minutes. Remove from the pan onto plate and set aside. Do not overcrowd pan. You may have to do this in batches with remaining beef.

Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in the same pan, then add the red onion and cook for about 2-5 minutes, until softened and then remove from the pan and set aside.

Heat 1 tablespoon of oil and add the green onions and saute 20-30 seconds then add the tomato, garlic, and aji amarillo paste, and cook for another 2-5 minutes, until the tomatoes have released some of their juices, but are still intact.

Add the sauce to the pan and stir to combine, let cook for aproximately 1 minute.

Return the steak and accumulated juices, and the onions to the pan and sprinkle over the cilantro. Toss gently to coat everything in the sauce.

Serve hot with rice and fries. Some recipes call for stirring the fries into the sauce as well – feel free to do this or serve fries on the side with the rice as well.

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Filed under Comfort Cuisine, Fall/Winter Favorites, International Inspirations, What's for Dinner?

Italian Seafood Stew

INGREDIENTS:

8 tsp Olive Oil

1/4 tsp Red Pepper Flakes

1/2 cup Scallions, cut into 1″ pieces

1 cup Fennel, diced

1 cup Green Bell Peppers, diced

28 oz Diced Tomatoes, canned

1/2 lb Shrimp, halved lenth-wise

1/2 lb Bay Scallops

1/2 lb Tilapia, diced

1 1/2 tsp Salt

1/2 tsp Black Pepper, ground

1/2 lb Lump Crabmeat

1/2 cup Fresh Basil, cut into fine strips

DIRECTIONS:

In a saucepan, sweat the red pepper flakes in olive oil for about 30 seconds.

Add the scallions, fennel, and green pepper, and continue to sweat for about 3 to 4 minutes over moderate heat.

Add the tomatoes, including the juice, and bring to a boil.

Simmer for about 8 minutes until all vegetables are tender.

Combine the halved shrimp and diced tilapia with the scallops in a bowl and season with salt and pepper; mix very carefully.

Add the seasoned seafood to the simmering tomatoes, bring to a near boil, and cook gently for 3 to 4 minutes.

Add the crabmeat and basil, stir very carefully, and heat through.

Divide stew into 4 equal portions (about 2 cups per serving), garnish with basil leaves, and serve hot.

340 calories per serving

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Filed under Fish Favorites, Healthy Lunches, Summer Favorites, What's for Dinner?

Salmon with Pan Steamed Bok Choy

INGREDIENTS:

4 ea (6 oz) Salmon Fillets

3 cloves Garlic, sliced thin, divided

2 tsp Fresh ginger, peeled and minced

2 ea Scallions, trimmed and chopped

2 Tbs Light Soy Sauce

1 Tbs Cold Water

1 Tbs Toasted Sesame Seeds

2 tsp Dry Chili Paste

5 1/2 cups Bok Choy, chopped

2 cups Chicken Stock

DIRECTIONS:

Carefully place the salmon fillets in a re-sealable plastic bag.

Combine half of the garlic with the ginger, scallions, soy sauce, water, sesame seeds and chili paste in a blender and puree until smooth.

Add the puree with the salmon in the re-sealable plastic bag and marinade them for about 30 minutes.

Take the salmon fillets out of the plastic bag and arrange them in an oven proof dish. Pour the marinade over them and bake at 450 degrees for about 8 minutes, or until the salmon begins to flake with gentle pressure.

While the salmon is cooking, add the chicken stock and remaining garlic to a wok or skillet and bring to a boil. Add the bok choy, cover with a lid, and then pan steam until the bok choy is tender and chicken stock is nearly evaporated.

Serve the salmon hot on top of the bok choy.

400 calories per serving.

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Filed under Asian Cuisine, Fish Favorites, Healthy Lunches, Summer Favorites, What's for Dinner?

Surf and Turf in Creamy Cajun Sauce

INGREDIENTS: (serves 2)

1 tsp Olive Oil

5 oz Steak

10.5 oz Cauliflower

1/2 Tbs Butter

1/4 cup Vegetable Broth

1 cup Almond Milk

1/2 tsp Cajun Seasonings

1 tsp Dijon Mustard

1 clove Garlic

2 Tbs Parmesan Cheese, reduced fat

1 tsp Lemon Juice

tt Parsley, sprinkled

DIRECTIONS:

Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat, add the steaks and sear until lightly browned on both sides and cooked to the desired level of doneness, before setting aside.

Reduce the heat to medium, add the butter and let it melt before adding the shrimp and cooking until just pink on both sides, about 1-2 minutes per side, and set aside.

In a separate small pot, add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about a minute

Add the vegetable broth and deglaze the pan by scraping up the brown bits from the bottom with a wooden spoon as the broth sizzles.

Add the almond milk, mix in the dijon mustard and cajun seasoning, bring to a low boil and let simmer for a minute.

Mix in the lemon juice, parsley and shrimp and then set aside.

Place cauliflower florets (uncooked) into a blender or food processor. Once riced, add to the frying pan and steam with a small amount of water.

Place the rice then add steak and creamy shrimp sauce and serve!

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Filed under Fall/Winter Favorites, Sauces, Summer Favorites, What's for Dinner?