Category: Fresh Recipes

Quinoa and Arugula Salad with Mediterranean Chicken

Quinoa and Arugula Salad with Mediterreanean Chicken jpg

One of my favorite things about Spring is switching from stick-to-your-ribs comfort meals  to lighter, garden fresh recipes. I love making a meal out of grain salads and earthy greens topped with grilled or roasted herb chicken. Hints of lemon run through this Quinoa and Arugula Salad with Mediterranean Chicken dish, making for a bright and flavorful Spring recipe. It becomes so much more than a salad when you combine all of these ingredients.  A little bit of parmesan cheese, crunchy sunflower kernels and heart healthy avocado top the recipe and each bring there own unique flavors.

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Quinoa and Arugula Salad with Mediterranean Chicken

Quinoa and Arugula Salad with Mediterranean Chicken

Ingredients

  • FOR SALAD
  • 1 c quinoa
  • 4 c arugula
  • 1 c grape tomato, sliced
  • 1 avocado, sliced
  • 1/3 c Parmesan cheese, shredded
  • 2 tbsp sunflower kernels
  • FOR DRESSING
  • 1 tbsp basil, chopped
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1/4 c olive oil
  • Sea salt
  • FOR CHICKEN
  • 1 lb chicken breast tenders
  • 1/3 c olive oil
  • 1 tbsp lemon zest
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 tsp dried basil
  • 1 tsp garlic, minced
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 1/2 tsp dried thyme
  • Sea salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Cook quinoa according to package directions. Transfer to a bowl and chill 1 hour.
  2. Preheat oven to 400. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  3. In a medium bowl, combine chicken and marinade ingredients. Toss to coat.
  4. Pour chicken onto baking sheet. Bake 30 minutes.
  5. In a large bowl combine ingredients for salad dressing. Add arugula, tomatoes and quinoa. Stir to coat. Transfer to serving dish, sprinkle with Parmesan cheese, sunflower kernels and avocado.
  6. Place chicken on salad. Serve.
http://freshandfit.org/quinoa-and-arugula-salad-with-mediterranean-chicken/

 

Roasted Vegetables with Herb Butter Sauce

Roasted Vegetables with Herb Butter Sauce JPG

Easter is a holiday that evokes thoughts of colorful and bright food with fresh flavors. In today’s recipe, I created a simple and wholesome side dish of roasted vegetables with a creamy and tangy herb dressing. I wanted to make something different from he traditional potato salad. Cabbage, carrots, and potatoes are hearty and have the most wonderful flavor when roasted with a light char. This recipe for roasted vegetables with herb butter sauce will look gorgeous on your Easter table.

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Roasted Vegetables with Herb Butter Sauce

Roasted Vegetables with Herb Butter Sauce

Ingredients

  • 1 head of cabbage
  • 1 bunch of carrots (5-6 medium carrots), sliced lengthwise
  • 1 lb baby red potatoes, quartered
  • FOR SAUCE
  • 1/3 c olive oil
  • 1/3 c grass-fed butter, melter
  • 2 tbsp Dijon mustard
  • 1 tsp minced garlic
  • 2 tbsp chives, finely chopped
  • 1 tsp dried dill
  • Sea salt and black pepper to taste.

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400. In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, garlic, butter, dill and chives. Reserve 1/3 cup of sauce for after roasting.
  2. Slice cabbage to about 1 inch thickness. Place in a large bowl.
  3. Prepare carrots and potatoes. Add to bowl with cabbage.
  4. Pour sauce over vegetables. Use hands to mix and coat vegetables.
  5. Place vegetables on baking sheet. Season with salt and pepper.
  6. Bake 30 minutes. Turn broiler to 550 and broil 5 minutes or until vegetables are lightly charred. pour reserved sauce over vegetables right before serving.
http://freshandfit.org/roasted-vegetables-with-herb-butter-sauce/

 

 

Tortilla Chili Verde

Tortilla Verde Chili 1

I love a meal that can be stretched and reheated throughout the week. Sunday is an ideal day to prepare a big batch of chili to have during the start of a new week. Having a healthy recipe on hand keeps me from ordering out and starts the week off on the right foot. Another fantastic aspect of this recipe is that you only use one pot for super quick cleanup.

This chili made with grass-fed ground beef, green salsa and fresh vegetables covers all the bases for a healthy recipe. Instead of using oil, I begin cooking the ground beef first and then add in my veggies which will cook in the juices from the meat. You could also use ground turkey or chicken if you prefer.

The secret ingredient in this recipe is corn tortillas. The tortillas are added to the chili and then simmered for 20 minutes. This breaks the tortillas down completely and they become a part of the broth adding a nice roasted corn background, much like tortilla soup.

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Tortilla Chili Verde

Tortilla Chili Verde

Ingredients

  • 1 lb grass fed beef
  • 1 c white onion, finely chopped
  • 1 bell pepper, diced
  • 1 jalapeño
  • 1 can pinto beans, drained
  • 1 16 oz jar of green salsa
  • 24 oz low sodium chicken broth
  • 1 tbsp garlic, minced
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 2 tbsp ground cumin
  • 1 tsp sea salt
  • 2 corn tortillas, torn into large pieces
  • 1 c cilantro, chopped
  • 1 avocado, diced

Instructions

  1. In a large pot or Dutch oven, begin to brown ground beef over medium heat.
  2. After 5 minutes, add onion, bell pepper, jalapeño, garlic, onion powder, salt and cumin. Use a wood spoon to break up ground beef and stir well. Cover and cook 5 minutes longer.
  3. Remove lid and add chicken broth and salsa. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and add tortillas. Simmer 20 minutes.
  4. Stir in beans. Continue to simmer for a thicker chili or serve.
  5. Garnish with cilantro and chopped avocado.
http://freshandfit.org/tortilla-chili-verde/

 

Lavender Coconut Yogurt Bark with White Chocolate

Lavender Coconut Yogurt Bark 1 With Spring approaching, I want to share this yummy and aromatic Lavender Coconut Yogurt Bark. Bark candies are traditionally made with just chocolate, but I created a frozen yogurt bar this past summer and I thought, why not combine these two for one delicious dessert?!

Lavender Coconut Bark Image 2

This bark is lower in sugar than traditional bark from the use of the Greek yogurt, but still has that decadent flavor using melted white chocolate. Lavender is such a beautiful herb to use in dessert recipes. It is aromatic and adds a freshness to dishes, perfect for springtime recipes.

Lavender Coconut Bark with White Chocolate

The bark is finished with fresh lemon zest, extra coconut and white chocolate chips. Pop these babies in the freezer and you will have a springtime treat in no time.This chilled treat melts quickly, so enjoy it like you would ice cream.

 

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Coconut Lavender Yogurt Bark with White Chocolate

Coconut Lavender Yogurt Bark with White Chocolate

Ingredients

  • 2 cups Greek yogurt
  • 1 cup unsweetened coconut flakes, divided
  • 1/2 c + 1/4c mini white chocolate chips
  • 2 tsp lavender buds, divided
  • 1 tbsp lemon zest
  • 2 tbsp coconut oil

Instructions

  1. Melt coconut oil in microwave until melted.
  2. Add 1 tsp lavender, stir.
  3. In a mixing bowl add Greek yogurt. Stir in half of coconut flakes to combine.
  4. In a small bowl melt 1/2 cup of white chocolate chips until melted working in 30 second increments. Stir coconut oil/lavender in with melted white chocolate chips.
  5. Pour white chocolate mixture in with Greek yogurt stirring quickly as you pour.
  6. Pour into an 8x13 pan. Scatter the rest of the coconut top. Sprinkle the rest of lavender buds and the lemon zest. Gently press toppings into yogurt.
  7. Freeze 2 hours. Use a butter knife to break up into pieces of bark. Store in an airtight container in freezer.
http://freshandfit.org/lavender-coconut-yogurt-bark-with-white-chocolate/