Recipe: Warm Quinoa with pine nuts, olives and tomatoes

warmquinoaIngredients: 1/4 white onion small dice
1 large tomato, diced
1 cup black olives, sliced
1 cup parsley, chopped
1/4 cup pine nuts
1 tablespoon No-Salt seasoning
1/2 teaspoon cayenne (omit if you don’t like spice)
1 teaspoon black pepper
2 cups water for quinoa
Water for water sautéing

Directions: In medium size pan, on medium high heat water sauté the onion for 2-4 minutes until soft.
Turn up heat to high, add 2 cups water and bring to boil then add quinoa and seasonings. Stir until boiling again, turn down to simmer, cover and cook for 5-6 minutes.
Add tomatoes, olives and parsley.
Mix through.
Remove from heat and add pine nuts.
Serve warm as side dish.
Leftovers are great reheated or use cold on green salad. E
njoy!

Recipe: Polenta Artichoke Bake

c92e845087e911e38b820e7db094518e_8Healthy and easy recipe – great for families and individuals because you’ll want leftovers!

(Serves 4)

Ingredients:
1-12 oz white beans, drained and rinsed
1-14 oz can diced tomatoes 1-20 oz spaghetti sauce (any flavor works)
1 yellow onion, diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 cup celery,
1/2 inch slice
3 cups fresh frozen artichoke hearts
2 tablespoons organic no-salt seasoning
1 tablespoon black pepper
2 tablespoons Italian seasoning
1 package polenta, cut into 8-1 inch rounds
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (add more/less depending on your love of heat)

Directions:
In large pot, on medium-high heat, water saute garlic and onion for 5 minutes.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Add celery and artichoke hearts and saute 3 more minutes.
Add diced tomatoes, spaghetti sauce, spices and beans, mix thoroughly and heat through for at least 15 minutes.
In 9×11 baking dish, place polenta rounds in two rows of 4.
Carefully pour sauce over the polenta, spread evenly.
Bake 20-30 minutes, or until bubbling on top.
Garnish with fresh basil Serve warm with green salad on the side.
Enjoy!

I’ll see you at the table!

 

Restaurant Review: Tin Fish – California

tinfish

Restaurant review: After a few hours playing at the beach, a calamari sandwich and green salad hits the spot for lunch. Kids #menu offers some great options like popcorn shrimp or burger with crisscut fries, juice box and applesauce. The other adults enjoyed oyster poorboy and grilled swordfish sandwich. Really tasty entrees in sunny outdoor #venue. I’m missing the beach and ready to go back again!

Restaurant Review: Pawit’s Royal Thai Cuisine – Utah

pawits-thai

Restaurant review: Finally made it to Pawit’s Royal Thai Cuisine in Holladay, Utah. Fantastic fresh Thai dishes! We enjoyed curry puffs and sticky rice with peanut sauce for appetizers. Their house green salad was huge and a whole sliced mango (I saved some for dessert). The Tom Kha soup is on the sweet side, but lots of veggies. The Spicy Tofu dish is fantastic… Plenty of veggies and the sauce has some kick! If you want the “real” Sriracha, ask for it on the side… Use sparingly, unless you like your taste buds fried. Great restaurant for date night, family meals out or business lunch. Kind and helpful wait staff. Make sure to check out the bathroom…