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The Mexican Protein Plate

The Mexican Protein. The perfect healthy meal for breakfast, lunch, or dinner! Spinach or lettuce Brown rice Black beans (Trader Joes Cuban style) Egg whites, scrambled Avocado Grilled Chicken Breast Salsa or Pico de Gallo

Gourmet Hot Dog with Avocado and Basil Aoili

This is our dinner tonight! Hawaiian roll bun, grilled Chicken Apple Sausage or hot dog Avocado Arugula Tomatoes, chopped Pesto mayo (1 part pesto to 1 part light mayo) Fried onion pieces. (I got mixed up and put the fried onion pieces on the wrong hot dog on the show).

Lemon, Tomato, and Artichoke Halibut

Adding more fish to your dinner time repertoire is always a good idea! There are so many awesome flavors in this rich lemony sauce. Halibut, or your favorite white fish 1 lemon, juiced and zested 2/3 C dry white wine 1/2 C butter 1 TB garlic Grape Tomatoes Parsley, chopped Artichoke hearts in oil and drained Capers, drained S&P Grill or Traeger your fish with a little EVOO and S&P. Don’t overcook. Blister tomatoes in a little EVOO. Add garlic and sauté on medium-low heat. Add artichoke hearts and cook through. Add butter then wine, lemon juice, and cook on medium- high for 10 minutes or so. Add parsley and lemon zest at the end. Cover fish in sauce and serve warm!

Ahi Tuna Stack

My present to you on this beautiful Friday morning. This Ahi Tuna Stack looks gourmet but it’s actually so easy! Frozen brown rice, (TJs has the best) Avocado, smashed Ahi tuna, chopped into small pieces Green onions, sliced 3 dashes Soy sauce 2 dashes Toasted Sesame Oil Pepper Fried onion pieces (TJs or Frenchs) Sriracha Use a food stacker / pastry form / food ring mold found on Amazon or any cooking store for around $10. You can make your own too! Stack brown rice and push down. Layer avocado with S&P on top of rice. Mix tuna chunks with soy, green onion, sesame oil, and pepper. Stack on top of avocado. Push down on stack as you pull up food stacker. Top with fried onions, more soy sauce, and Sriracha. ETC. This is perfect as an appetizer or serving a crowd too. Later on platter or plate and serve with serving spoons.

Orange Salsa Verde Salmon

This is my new favorite salmon recipe, hands down! It’s a spin on a salmon that I’ve seen Giada do. Healthy, citrusy, and amazingly delicious! Salsa: 2 large oranges 1/4 C EVOO 1/4 C Fresh lemon juice 1/2 C Chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley 2 scallions, finely sliced 3 TB chopped fresh mint leaves 2 TB capers, rinsed and drained 2 TB orange zest 1 tsp lemon zest 1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper METHOD: Combine all salsa ingredients. For oranges, cut off skin and cut into segments between each membrane. For salmon, coat in olive oil and salt and pepper. Leave out until room temperature and BBQ or #traeger on a high heat until crisp on outside and medium rare inside. (You can also bake or sear salmon.)

Pumpkin Lasagna

Happy first day of October. This Pumpkin Lasagna is a favorite fall dish at our house. It’s even better the next day. Ingredients: One box Oven Ready lasagna noodles 2 15 oz cans Pumpkin Puree 2 C Ricotta Cheese 1/2 TB Cinnamon 1/4 tsp Vanilla 1 egg 1 large Sweet Yellow Onion (finely chopped) 1 TB garlic 1 tube Jimmy Dean Sage Sausage 2 C Mozzarella 2 C Parmesan Basil BÉCHAMELSAUCE Jarred White or Vodka Sauce Dash of Fresh Nutmeg 3/4 C Parmesan S&P Method: Heat 1 TB EVOO in a medium pot over medium heat. Add the onion and sauté until translucent, 6 to 7 minutes. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, 2 more minutes. Add the sausage and cook until brown, breaking it up. Combine Pumpkin Puree, Egg, Ricotta Cheese, cinnamon, and vanilla. In a medium sauce pan combine all Béchamel ingredients and warm through. Build your lasagna in a 9-by-13-inch baking dish: Start with a layer of Béchamel sauce, then top with a layer of noodles. Layer pumpkin mixture, sausage, cheese (1/2 mozzarella 1/2 Parmesan), noodles,…

Chili and Cornbread Parfait

Cornbread Croutons Buy prepared cornbread. (Dan’s is great) Cut bread into chunks and drizzle with EVOO and salt. Bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes For parfait layer: Chili Cornbread Croutons Shredded Cheese Chili Cornbread Croutons Top with- cheese, sour cream, guacamole, jalapeño peppers, and one more cornbread crouton Chili Con Carne 2 pounds extra lean ground chuck 1 large onion, diced 1 red or green bell pepper, stemmed, seeded, and diced 3 cloves garlic, minced 2 cartons mushrooms 2 15-ounce can diced tomatoes, or diced tomatoes with chiles 2 cups beef stock, plus more as needed 1 bouillon cube or 1 TB paste 1 bottle dark beer 1/2 cup canned tomato sauce, or 2 tablespoons tomato paste 2 tablespoons chili powder, or more to taste 1 tablespoon ground cumin, or more to taste 1 teaspoon oregano 2 15-ounce cans chili beans with sauce 1 tablespoon chocolate chips Optional for serving: Chopped fresh cilantro, grated cheese, sliced green onions, sour cream, tortilla chips, Mexican hot sauce Smoke the meat and vegetables for 1 hour (optional). Break the meat up into small…

Spicy grilled shrimp

My sister made us the most delicious salad today at her new home. Her grilled shrimp were amazing! Skewer raw shrimp Sprinkle with Tajin Grill for 3 minutes on each side and baste with- Butter Tajin Garlic powder Cayenne pepper Black pepper Brush remaining butter sauce on shrimp after grilling. ETC. My favorite part of the salad besides the grilled veggies and feta was the brown rice she added right on the salad. So good!

Goat Cheese, Mango, and Steak Salad

Steak, Goat cheese, and Mango Salad One of my goals on here is to help you become more comfortable with inviting friends to “life at your table”. Wether it’s a diet coke and peanuts during a play date or neighbors over for dinner, invite someone over. I promise it will be worth the effort! This salad can be done ahead of time and looks fancier then it is. Red leaf and butter lettuce Avocado, sliced Asparagus, roasted and chopped Mango relish- Store bought pineapple salsa with fresh mango and cilantro (tastes homemade) Grilled shrimp, steak, or chicken Goat cheese log Macadamia nuts, chopped or ground in blender Asian Soy dressing- combine 1/2 C EVOO 2 Limes, juiced 1/3 C Red wine vinegar 2-3 TB Soy sauce 1 TB garlic 2 green onions, chopped Dash of sugar Dash of Sesame oil Ground pepper Macadamia Goat cheese patty – Squish goat cheese into disk shape. Coat in ground macadamia nuts. Put patty in toaster oven or high heat in oven for 1-2 minutes. (Nuts burn easily so keep watch). Pineapple mango salsa-…

Cheese Filled Meatballs with Creamy Polenta

I will never eat noodles with meatballs again. This meal is like a dream come true and I’ve eaten it three nights in a row as proof. POLENTA Traditional Italian Polenta (pre-cooked polenta in the log form found at most grocery stores) Milk 1/2-3/4 C Parmesan cheese S&P TOMATO SAUCE 28 oz canned tomatoes 1-2 TB sugar 1 TB Italian spices 1 jar tomato sauce MEATBALL 2 lb extra lean ground beef (96% lean) 3/4 C crumbled Caramelized onion cheddar cheese (Trader Joes) 1/2 Yellow onion, grated with zester 2 TB garlic 3 slices wheat bread, soaked in milk and crumbled 2 TB Worcestershire sauce 2 TB Italian spices (basil, oregano) S&P Heat polenta in sauce pan and add milk as needed to thin out. Add Parmesan until melted through and S&P. Heat canned tomatoes, sugar, and spices and reduce by half. Add jarred tomato sauce and continue to warm through. Combine all meatball ingredients and form into 1 1/2 inch balls. In a sauté pan sear meatballs in EVOO on a couple of sides. Add meatballs to tomato sauce…