July 2, 2020
Mediterranean Orzo Salad
This herby orzo salad is a crowd favourite and full of green flavours, bursting with fresh dill and mint, feta cheese and tangy lemon. It may look like rice, orzo is actually a small pasta and often used in Mediterranean recipes. INGREDIENTS
- 1 ¼ cup dry orzo pasta
- 1 cup canned chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- ½ lemon, juice and zest (about 2 tablespoons juice)
- ¼ cup minced shallot or red onion
- ½ English cucumber (2 cups diced, or substitute a peeled standard cucumber)
- 2 roasted red peppers from a jar or ½ fresh red bell pepper (½ cup diced)
- 1/3 cup chopped dill, plus more for garnish
- 1/3 cup chopped mint
- 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
- 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 cup feta cheese crumbles
- 1/3 cup Kalamata olives, halved
- Black pepper
- Prepare the orzo according to the package instructions. Taste the orzo a few minutes before completion to ensure it’s ‘al dente’ (chewy, but with a little firmness in the centre). When it’s done, drain it and then rinse it under cold water until it comes to room temperature.
- Place the chickpeas in a bowl with the lemon zest, lemon juice, and 1/4-teaspoon kosher salt.
- Mince the red onion, and then place it in a bowl with water (this helps to remove the sharp onion taste). Dice the cucumber. Dice the roasted red pepper. Chop the herbs.
- Stir together the orzo, chickpeas and bowl of lemon juice, red onion, cucumber, red pepper, dill, mint, white wine vinegar, olive oil, Dijon mustard, oregano, feta crumbles, black olives, and several grinds of black pepper. Taste and if necessary, season with more kosher salt.
Chicken & Delicata Squash with Brown Butter Sage 2 servings | 50 minutes INGREDIENTS 3 tbsps Extra Virgin Olive Oil (divided) 1 tbsp Balsamic Glaze 1/2 tsp Dijon Mustard 1 tsp Maple Syrup 12 ozs Chicken Breast (bone-in, skin-on) Sea Salt & Black Pepper (to taste) 1 Delicata Squash (small, cut in half lengthwise, seeds removed, cut into wedges) 1 tbsp Butter 1/4 cup Fresh Sage METHOD Preheat the oven to 425oF (220oC). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Place an oven safe rack over top of one. In a small bowl, combine half the oil, balsamic glaze, mustard, and maple syrup. Place the chicken in a bowl and season with salt and pepper. Pour about half of the balsamic mixture over the chicken and coat well. Place the chicken on the baking sheet with the rack. Add the squash to the second baking sheet. Coat with the remaining oil and season with salt and pepper. Transfer the chicken to the oven and bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until cooked through. Halfway through baking, remove the chicken and brush the remaining balsamic mixture over top and return to the oven. Add the squash to the oven at this point too. In a small saucepan, melt the butter and add the sage. Stir often until the butter has browned and smells nutty, about three to four minutes. Divide the chicken and squash onto plates and drizzle the sage butter over the squash. Enjoy! NOTES Leftovers: Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to three days. Serving Size: One serving is about 1 1/2 cups of squash with 1 1/2 cups chicken (sliced). NUTRITION FACTS Amount per serving 618 calories 51gs protein 13gs carb 40gs fat
Classic Beef-Stuffed Peppers 4 servings | 45 minutes INGREDIENTS: 1 pound Ground Beef (93% lean or leaner) 4 medium red, yellow or green bell peppers 1/2 cup minced onion 2 teaspoons minced garlic 1 can (14-1/2 ounces) diced tomatoes with green peppers and onions, drained 1/2 cup cooked white or brown rice 3 tablespoons tomato paste 2 teaspoons dried parsley 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon black pepper Chopped fresh parsley (optional) METHOD: Coat a large baking dish with cooking spray; set aside. Preheat oven to 475°F. Cut tops off bell peppers; set tops aside. Using a paring knife, carefully remove the membranes and seeds from bell peppers. Arrange peppers about 2 inches apart in prepared baking dish. Place tops on empty peppers. Cover baking dish tightly with aluminum foil; bake 15 minutes. Remove from oven; cool slightly. Meanwhile, heat large nonstick skillet over medium heat until hot. Add Ground Beef, onion and garlic; cook 3 to 4 minutes, breaking beef into 1/2 inch crumbles and stirring occasionally. Stir in tomatoes, rice, tomato paste, dried parsley, salt and black pepper; cook 3 to 4 minutes until heated through, stirring occasionally. Remove pepper tops. Divide beef mixture evenly among peppers; replace tops. Bake in 475°F oven 17 to 22 minutes until instant-read thermometer inserted into center of beef mixture registers 160°F and bell peppers are tender. Garnish with parsley, if desired. Cook's Tip: Cooking times are for fresh or thoroughly thawed ground beef. Ground beef should be cooked to an internal temperature of 160°F. Color is not a reliable indicator of ground beef doneness. NUTRITION (per serving) Calories: 296 Fat: 3,4g Protein: 29g Carbohydrate: 25g Iron: 4,5g
One Pan Miso Honey Chicken Thighs with Squash 2 servings | 40 minutes INGREDIENTS 1 tbsp Miso Paste 1 tsp Raw Honey 1 Garlic (clove, large, minced) 3 tbsps Chicken Broth, Low Sodium Sea Salt & Black Pepper 1 lb Chicken Thighs with Skin (bone-in) 1 Delicata Squash (large, sliced, seeds removed) 1 tbsp Parsley (minced) METHOD Preheat the oven to 400oF (205oC). Heat a cast-iron pan over medium-high heat. Mix the miso paste, honey, garlic, chicken broth, salt, and pepper together. Add the chicken and squash to the marinade and toss well to coat. Sear the chicken thighs in the cast iron pan, skin-side down, until just browned, about two minutes. Remove the chicken from the pan. Add the squash and remaining marinade to the pan and place the chicken thighs on top. Bake in the oven for 30 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through and the squash is tender. Garnish with parsley and enjoy! NOTES Leftovers: Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to three days. Serving Size: One serving is approximately two chicken thighs and one cup of squash. Additional Toppings: Sesame seeds, hot sauce, and/or chopped green onions. Nutrition Facts Amount per serving 623 calories 57gs protein 15gs carb 35gs fat