Tag: Lettuce

Salmon Bean Salad

Note: I was sent affiliate boxes from Sitka Salmon Share in order to write this post. Opinions are mine alone.

I’m excited to share this recipe for a yummy Salmon Bean Salad, but I’m even more excited to tell you about Sitka Salmon Share! This responsible caught seafood company is one you can feel good about purchasing their high quality products. (You can check out my other Sitka Seafood posts here as I post them, because there will be plenty more!)

What are Sitka Salmon Shares?

Sitka Salmon Share is a community supported fishery (CSF) seafood delivery that allows you to get great quality seafood delivered right to your door. You can choose from four different options (Premium Sitka Seafood Share, Sitka Seafood Share, Sitka Salmon Share, and Sitka White Fish Share), which range from 3 to 9-month intervals. Each share includes a specific selection of the species that Sitka harvests, such as wild Alaskan king salmon, sockeye salmon, Coho salmon, keta salmon, lingcod, black bass, sablefish (black cod), Pacific cod, yelloweye, rockfish, spot shrimp, Dungeness crab, albacore tuna, and halibut.

You can either pay for your share in full at the beginning of the season or spread out your payments through monthly installments. Prices range from $18 to $28 per pound, depending on the species you choose and the quantity you buy (with free shipping).

How Sitka Salmon Shares Works:

One of Sitka’s 20 fishermen-owners or partner fishermen then catch your fish. The fishermen meticulously catch and handle each fish with care virtually unheard of in the world of large factory boats and corporate-owned fish farms. The seafood is filleted and cut into portions of about half a pound to a little over a pound. Each fillet is then blast-frozen to -60 degrees Fahrenheit before being shipped to the Midwest where it is individually vacuum-sealed.
source: https://sitkasalmonshares.com/
Every month during fishing season, you will get a box of wild Alaskan seafood hand-delivered right to your door! In keeping with the company’s guiding principles, Sitka Salmon Shares returns 1 percent of all CSF-related revenue back to fisheries conservation and habitat protection efforts, and they pay to offset all carbon that is released in our Alaska-to-Midwest distribution system. The fishermen-owners receive a fairer wage for a day’s work, and the company works to make the entire system more transparent and accountable, from the moment your fish is caught to the moment you sit down with your friends and family to enjoy the best fish you’ve ever tasted. Also, the packaging is almost entirely recyclable, including the insulation!
https://sitkasalmonshares.com/

Discount code to receive $25 off your first Sitka Salmon Share Box:

To get the word out, I received two affiliate boxes to check out their products. Even better, Sitka has given  me a discount code to share with everyone so you can try out their delicious seafood as well! Use ICCTFish when registering for a Premium share and receive $25 off!
This recipe for Salmon Bean Salad is made with Sitka’s Coho salmon, which has such a wonderful flavor that it needs very little other components to make a delicious meal! It is a simple meal that delivers on flavor, and it is perfect for lunch or dinner!

Ingredients (serves 2):

Salad:
  • 1 lb coho salmon, like Sitka Coho Salmon, defrosted overnight in your fridge
  • salt and pepper, to taste
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 cups lettuce (I used Boston Bibb), washed and torn
  • 1 (14 oz) can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 dozen cherry or grape tomatoes
  • optional additional items: artichoke hearts, feta cheese, cucumbers, red onion, avocado

Vinaigrette:

  • 1/2 cup olive oil
  • the juice of 1 lemon
  • 1 tablespoon whole grain mustard
  • 1 teaspoon honey
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced or pressed
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano or Greek seasoning blend
  • 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper

Continue reading Salmon Bean Salad

Creamy Avocado Soup

My husband and I have had some fairly heavy (but delicious) food recently. So this weekend, I was in search of something a bit lighter for lunch that would still fill us up, like this creamy avocado soup.

This chilled Creamy Avocado Soup recipe from Cooking Light fit the bill! The soup is bulked up a bit with silken tofu, romaine lettuce, and peas to go along with the avocados.

In fact, it has half of your daily fiber and 9 grams of protein in one serving. And yet, it feels so light!

Ingredients:

  • 1 (12-oz.) pkg. silken tofu, drained
  • 2 cups water
  • 2 cups chopped romaine lettuce
  • 1 cup frozen green peas
  • 3 ripe avocados, peeled and chopped
  • 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
  • 3 tablespoons white wine vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 3/4 teaspoon black pepper, divided
  • 1/4 cup chopped tomato
  • 1/4 cup chopped yellow bell pepper
  • 2 tablespoons chopped scallions

Continue reading Creamy Avocado Soup

Chicken Mango and Pineapple Salad

A while back, I was given the chance to taste test some of the Cheesecake Factory‘s new menu items, which they do twice a year (who knew?) I was able to sample some cocktails and bites from across the menu. I, naturally, also wanted to try to make one of the recipes at home.

Cocktails included:

  • Cucumber Mojito – Gin and St. Germain with cucumber, basil and mint
  • Blood Orange Martini – Vodka, blood orange liqueur and blood orange juice
  • Irish Coffee Manhattan – Jameson Irish coffee served ice cold and straight up
  • Espresso Martini – Vodka with cold brew coffee

Other new menu options included:

  • Korean Fried Cauliflower – crispy cauliflower tossed in a sweet and spice sauce, topped with toasted sesame seeds and green onions
  • Chicken Taquitos – Crispy corn tortillas with grilled chicken, green chile, corn, onion, cilantro and cheese. served with avocado cream and salda verde
  • Skinnylicious Chicken Pot Pie – Sauteed chicken breast, potatoes, mushrooms, onions, peas and carrots in a light cream sauce, topped with puff pastry
  • Chicken Mango and Avocado Salad – Mixed greens, fresh pineapple, tomato, cucumber, red peppers, crispy wontons and almonds
  • Pasta Napoletana – Italian sausage, pepperoni, housemade meatballs, mushrooms, peppers, bacon, onions and garlic in a tomato sauce served over parmesan cream pasta
  • Seared Ahi Tuna – Served over white rice with sriracha aioli, stir-fried vegetables and wasabi butter sauce
  • Truffle-Honey Chicken – Fried chicken breast with truffle-honey, asparagus, and mashed potatoes
  • Chicken Riesling – Chicken breast, mushrooms, bacon, onions and garlic in a white wine Riesling cream sauce with buttered parmesan pasta
  • Carne Asada Steak Medallions – Certified Angus beef with sauteed peppers, onions and cilantro, served with a creamy ranchero sauce, fresh corn and white rice
  • Chicken Parmesan “Pizza Style” – Chicken breast coated with breadcrumbs, covered with marinara sauce and melted cheese. Topped with angel hair pasta in an alfredo cream sauce
  • Crispy Pineapple Chicken and Shrimp – Crispy chicken and shrimp with snow peas, mushrooms, onions, garlic, peppers and cilantro in a sweet and spice sauce, served with white rice

(The lighting in there is very dim so please excuse the quality of these photos)

The Cheesecake Factory has over 250 items on their menu, so there is sure to be something for everyone’s taste buds.

I tried my hand at recreating the salad we were served, with some adjustments to try to make it a bit more “home cook” friendly to make this Chicken Mango and Pineapple Salad.

Ingredients (serves 2):

  • 1 boneless, skinless chicken breast
  • 1 tablespoon teriyaki sauce (store bought, or recipe below)
  • 5 oz baby lettuce mix
  • 1/4 cup fresh pineapple chunks
  • 1/4 cup fresh mango, cut into chunks
  • 2 tablespoons julienned carrots
  • 2 tablespoons tortilla strips, plus more for garnish
  • 2 tablespoons grape tomatoes, halved
  • 1/2 red bell pepper, cut into thin strips
  • 1/4 cucumber, cut in half lengthwise and sliced thin
  • 1 tablespoon almond slivers, toasted
  • 1/2 tsp black sesame seeds
  • 1 teaspoon fresh mint, thinly sliced

Dressing

  •  1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon low sodium soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1 tablespoon minced ginger
  • 1/2 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • pinch of salt and pepper
  • juice of 1/2 an orange

Teriyaki Sauce (makes 1/2 cup – you’ll need ~1/4 cup for this recipe):

  • 1/4 cup low sodium soy sauce
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1/4 tsp ground ginger
  • 1/8 tsp garlic powder
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 2 tablespoons cold water

                                                                  

Continue reading Chicken Mango and Pineapple Salad

Grilled Caesar Salad

Note: I was sent a Coyote Outdoor Grill to participate in the #CoyoteChallenge. All opinions are mine alone.

If you’ve never had Grilled Caesar Salad before, you’re in for a treat! This variation on the classic adds a bit of smokiness from the grill. I added in some grilled tomatoes as well, because who doesn’t love tomatoes?

The dressing for this recipe is Greek-yogurt based, so its slightly tangy and perfect with the charred bits of romaine lettuce. I found the dressing recipe on myrecipes.com.

Ingredients:

For the dressing:

  • 3 tablespoons plain 2% reduced-fat Greek yogurt
  • 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
  • 4 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon water
  • 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 1/4 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 anchovy fillet, finely chopped (can omit to make vegetarian)
  • 1 small garlic clove, minced
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground pepper

For the salad:

  • 2 romaine hearts, halved lengthwise
  • salt and pepper, to taste
  • the juice of 1/2 lemon
  • cooking spray
  • ~20 cherry tomatoes
  • 4 slices of a French baguette
  • shaved Parmesan cheese, if desired

Continue reading Grilled Caesar Salad

Lemon Salmon Caesar Salad

This recipe is a staple in my house, I make it almost every week! This salad is a great way to get dinner on the table quickly while still delivering a healthy meal.

I found this recipe in the Cooking Light Real Family Food cookbook, but adapted it slightly.

The real star of this dish is the lemony Caesar dressing, which is so simple to make!

Ingredients:

  • the juice and zest of 1 lemon
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 5/8 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, divided
  • 5 1/2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
  • 1 1/3 cups (3/4-inch) cubed French bread
  • 4 (6 oz) salmon fillets
  • 7 cups coarsely chopped hearts of romaine lettuce (about 2 hearts)
  • 1/2 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1/3 cup shaved fresh Parmesan cheese

Continue reading Lemon Salmon Caesar Salad

Pulled Pork Lettuce Wraps

I am a carb fanatic — I’d eat pasta with some day-old bread every single day if I could. But on really hot summer days, sometimes you need something that feels lighter while still filling you up. Cooking Light’s Pulled Pork Lettuce Wraps are a nice filling meal that are perfect on warm days; pulled pork is wrapped in Boston Bibb lettuce rather than added to a roll. The result is a super yummy and crunchy dinner!

I use my slow cooker year-round and this adaptation is no exception. Slow Cookers are such a simple way to get an awesome meal on the table in no time. Plus, it gives your oven a break!

 

Ingredients:

  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 2 1/4 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 1 white onion, quartered
  • 1 (2 1/2-pound) boneless pork shoulder, trimmed
  • 1 tablespoon grated peeled fresh ginger
  • 2 tablespoons sherry
  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted chicken stock
  • 1 tablespoon gochujang (Korean chile paste) (gluten free is available)
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons low-sodium soy sauce (or coconut aminos to make gluten free)
  • 1/4 cup thinly sliced green onions
  • 30 Boston lettuce leaves (about 2 heads)
  • 1 cup thinly sliced radishes
  • Lime wedges (optional)

Continue reading Pulled Pork Lettuce Wraps

Seven Layer Dip Nachos

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #JustAddRotel #CollectiveBias

With the big tournament upon us, having yummy snacks to share with a crowd is a must! I love party appetizers that can be set on the coffee table in front of the TV and enjoyed as a group.

This recipe for Seven Layer Dip Nachos adds the ingredients of a seven-layer dip right on top of tortilla chips to make a convenient and super yummy loaded nachos recipe.

I went to my local Walmart to pick up the ingredients and was really excited to find a can of RO*TEL Mexican Lime & Cilantro Diced Tomatoes in the canned aisle.

I was planning on using Original or Mild RO*TEL Diced Tomatoes to make a quick and easy guacamole and pico de gallo (no dicing of tomatoes, woo hoo!), so having the flavors of lime and cilantro already combined in the diced tomatoes was an awesome find!

The Mexican Lime and Cilantro Diced Tomatoes mix vine-ripened tomatoes, with jalapeno peppers, garlic, cilantro, and lime juice, making it the perfect ingredient for this recipe!

These nachos are topped with seven layers of deliciousness: cheese, refried beans, guacamole, pico de gallo, lettuce, sour cream, and sliced olives. You may need to double the recipe though, they are super tasty!

 

Ingredients:

  • 1 (10 oz) bag corn tortilla chips
  • 6 oz shredded Mexican blend cheese (or a mixture of Monterey Jack and cheddar cheeses)
  • 1 (10 oz) can RO*TEL Mexican Lime and Cilantro Diced Tomatoes, drained, divided
  • 1/2 medium sized red onion, diced, divided (about 4 tablespoons)
  • 1 large ripe avocado, diced
  • the juice of 1 lime, divided
  • 1 tablespoon finely chopped jalapeno
  • 2 teaspoons cilantro, chopped, divided
  • 1 (16 oz) can refried beans
  • 1 cup thinly sliced lettuce (I used green leaf)
  • 1/4 cup sour cream
  • 1 (2.25 oz) can sliced olives

Continue reading Seven Layer Dip Nachos

Autumn Apple Salad with Cinnamon Honey Dijon Dressing

It’s September which means apples are right in their prime season! Although apples are available year-round, most apples ripen in the August-October time frame. I’ve had a craving for apples ever since September began so I was so excited when I was contacted recently about trying an apple variety called SweeTango that I’ve never had before.

SweeTango apples a variety bred at the University of Minnesota and are a cross between  the Honeycrisp and Zestar! varieties.  The apples are crisp and sweet with a hint of citrus, honey, and spice and have a nice crunchy and juicy texture that’s perfect to eat raw. They have a beautiful coloring too — SweeTango is a blush apple with deep red coloration over a yellow breaking background. The variety first hit store shelves in limited quantities in 2009, and has since grown to achieve distribution across the U.S. and Canada. 

Photo Courtesy of SweeTango

I received two SweeTango apples in the mail and couldn’t wait to try them! One I saved for me to just enjoy on its own and the other went into one of the most delicious salads I’ve ever had, Autumn Apple Salad with Cinnamon Honey Dijon Dressing! This salad is packed with a bunch of different textures and flavors which is what I really love about it. But the true star of the salad is the SweeTango apple!

Photo Courtesy of SweeTango

Ingredients:

Salad:

  • 2 cups red leaf lettuce, torn
  • 2 cups spinach leaves, torn
  • 1/2 cup thinly sliced fennel bulb
  • 1/2 cup walnuts, toasted
  • 2 tablespoons salted pumpkin seeds (pepitas)
  • 2 tablespoons dried cherries
  • 2 tablespoons golden raisins
  • the juice of 1 lemon
  • 1 SweeTango apple, thinly sliced

Dressing:

  • 4 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
  • 2 teaspoons honey
  • 1 tablespoon minced shallot
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • a pinch of salt and pepper

Continue reading Autumn Apple Salad with Cinnamon Honey Dijon Dressing

Open-Faced Salmon and Avocado BLTs

Salmon, avocado, and bacon… what’s not to love? This recipe is perfect for nights that you just need to whip something up quickly with little effort. Although I will warn you, it’s not exactly an easy meal to eat. It can get quite messy because it is open-faced!

 

Ingredients:

  • 4 (1-ounce) slices diagonally cut ciabatta or rustic Italian bread
  • 4 center-cut bacon slices
  • 4 (4-ounce) sustainable salmon fillets, skinned (about 3/4 inch thick)
  • 1/4 cup canola mayonnaise
  • 2 tablespoons water
  • 1 tablespoon minced fresh chives, divided
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
  • 4 Bibb (Boston, butterhead) lettuce leaves
  • 4 (1/2-inch-thick) slices tomato, halved
  • 1/2 peeled ripe avocado, cut into 8 slices
  • 4 lemon wedges

Continue reading Open-Faced Salmon and Avocado BLTs

Salmon Salad with Roasted Cherry Tomatoes

For some reason I really haven’t mastered the whole crispy skin thing for fish. Which is kind of ridiculous. I eat/prepare salmon probably once a week on average. Anyways, even when I fail at achieving crispy skin, I still thoroughly enjoy my salmon dish. And this is another one of those cases. This recipe should result in crispy skin. And. Well. It just didn’t, but it’s absolutely delicious anyways!

Ingredients (serves 4):

  • 1 pint cherry tomatoes (I used heirloom)
  • 2 teaspoons plus 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil, divided
  • salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 4 (6 ounce) salmon fillets, skin-on
  • 1/2 cup fresh lime juice (about 4 limes)
  • 4 oz mixed baby lettuce leaves

Continue reading Salmon Salad with Roasted Cherry Tomatoes

Fish Tacos with Lime-Cilantro Crema

It’s funny how you can go years, even decades, thinking that you don’t like a certain food only to find you can’t get enough of it when you’re older. Fish tacos is one of those foods for me. They pack a ton of flavor but are a healthier option than other proteins (as long as the fish isn’t fried, that is). I also love how quickly you can cook them up, perfect for a weeknight dinner! Cooking Light always has the best taco recipes so I naturally went in search of a fish taco recipe there. I found this recipe in the myrecipes.com new cookbook: Myrecipes’ America’s Favorite Food Cookbook, which you can win by entering below!

 

 

Ingredients

Crema:

  • 1/4 cup thinly sliced green onions
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
  • 3 tablespoons fat-free mayonnaise
  • 3 tablespoons reduced-fat sour cream
  • 1 teaspoon grated lime rind  (I just used the zest of one lime)
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons fresh lime juice (I used the juice of one lime)
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 garlic clove, minced

Tacos:

  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon ground coriander
  • 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 1/2 pounds red snapper fillets
  • Cooking spray
  • 8 (6-inch) corn tortillas
  • 2 cups shredded cabbage (or romaine lettuce)

Continue reading Fish Tacos with Lime-Cilantro Crema

Egg BLT with Avocado

When I came across this recipe, my first thought was “why don’t people make Egg BLTs more often”? Why is this not a common brunch menu choice? Egg sounds like a logical upgrade to a traditional BLT. The addition of avocado to this just takes it over the top. I found this recipe on myrecipes.com and switched it around a bit, but the general idea is the same.
Ingredients (makes two servings):
1/2 cup halved grape tomatoes
1/2 avocado, diced
1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil
1 garlic clove, minced
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste
1 teaspoon red wine vinegar, divided
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons mayonnaise
2 pieces of ciabatta bread (or 2 ciabatta rolls)
1 cup firmly packed arugula
4 thick bacon slices, cooked

I bought one of those “bake at home” ciabatta breads that you pop in the oven for about 10 minutes. I thought some “freshly baked” bread would be nice with this dish. You can use whatever bread you happen to find if ciabatta is not available.
Cook the bacon according to package directions. Transfer to a paper towel to drain excess fat.
Combine the tomatoes, avocado,  basil, garlic, olive oil, red wine vinegar, salt and pepper in a bowl.
Cook eggs over easy (or whatever style you prefer). To cook them over easy, heat a saute pan over low heat and spray with cooking spray. Crack one egg into the pan. Season with salt and pepper if desired (I honestly don’t think you need it ) and cook until the whites become opaque. To make sure the yolk cooks slightly, I add a top to the saute pan. Repeat with the second egg.
Now it’s all assembly. Spread 1 teaspoon mayonnaise on a slice of bread.
Add 1/2  cup arugula.
2 bacon slices (I tore them in half to fit nicely)
and the egg.
Top with the tomato avocado mixture.
This is the fanciest BLT I’ve ever seen.
It was fantastic too. I kept saying over and over again how yummy each bite was!
This recipe is so great because you can substitute whatever you want. Mess up the egg? Stick a scrambled egg on there instead. Hate arugula? Substitute baby spinach leaves. I suggest adding some extra sliced basil on top of the whole dish to add some extra freshness!

Garlicky Meatball Pasta with Avocado-Butter Lettuce Salad

Despite having an Italian mother, I have never made meatballs before. I’m almost embarrassed to admit it. Whelp, at the age of 26, I believe it is time to finally get my hands dirty and make some meatballs. One of Cooking Light’s 40 Fast Menus in Under 40 Minutes had a recipe for meatballs, so I used it as my base for this recipe.
For the Pasta:
9 ounces refrigerated fettuccine
12 ounces ground sirloin
2 sausages, removed from their casings
1/2 cup panko
1/3 cup chopped fresh basil
2 garlic cloves, minced
3/8 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 large egg, lightly beaten
2 teaspoons olive oil
1 3/4 cups lower-sodium marinara sauce
1 ounce Parmesan cheese, grated
For the Salad:
1 cup chopped  red onion
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
3 cups torn butter lettuce
1 cup sliced avocado

Because this is a very simple sauce, I’d suggest going for a premium high-quality marinara sauce.
Bring a pot of water to a boil. While waiting for the water to boil, combine the beef, sausage meat, panko, basil, garlic, salt, pepper, and egg in a medium sized bowl. The original recipe did not have the sausage included, but I thought it would add some extra flavor (I used these awesome sausages from Martin‘s in Reading Terminal- Mozzarella and Basil Sausages, amazing right?)
Shape the mixture into small meatballs. The recipe says to make 16. I ended up with 10. I wasn’t very good at the whole eyeballing-the-right-size-thing.
By now the water should be boiling. Cook the pasta according to directions. Drain over a bowl to reserve 1/3 cup pasta water.
Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the meatballs and cook until browned on all sides, about 5 minutes. (stir to flip the meatballs so they brown evenly)
Reduce the heat to medium low and add the sauce and 1/3 cup pasta water.
Cover and cook for 11 minutes or until the meatballs are cooked through.
While waiting for the sauce to cook, combine the red onion, olive oil, lime juice, salt and pepper in a bowl. Let stand for 10 minutes.
Add lettuce and avocado; toss gently.
When the sauce is finished cooking, mix in the pasta and cook until heated through, about 2 minutes.
Serve the pasta topped with some Parmesan cheese and the salad on the side.
I love how simple this recipe is but still packs a bunch of flavor! My normal tomato sauce takes forever to make, so I’m pretty excited to have a quick sauce when I need it.
Oh. And the meatballs? Fan-tastic. I could eat these all day.
The salad was really delicious as well! There was a bit too many onions for my liking, so I might limit the amount next time I make this.
I seem to forget how yummy simple recipes can be, something I need to remember as vegetables and fruits come back in season.

Lamb Wraps with Tzatziki Sauce

I love a good gyro. I never considered even trying to make one because, this may come as a surprise, but I don’t have a spit in my tiny apartment. I know, a huge oversight. So I was really excited to find this recipe for Lamb Wraps with Tzatziki Sauce, (no spit required), especially because it takes 25 minutes to make. Woo hoo! (If I haven’t convinced you to pick up the Cooking Light Fresh Foods Superfast  cookbook yet, you must not be reading my posts this week).

Ingredients:

Lamb Wrap:

  • Cooking spray
  • 2 lamb sausages (or 1/2 lb ground lamb)
  • 1/2 cup chopped onions
  • Pepper and salt, to taste
  • 1 cup shredded romaine lettuce
  • 2 pocketless pitas or other flat bread

Tzatziki sauce:

  • 1/4 cup plain reduced fat Greek yogurt
  • 1/2 a cucumber, seeded, peeled, and finely chopped
  • 1/2 tablespoon chopped fresh mint
  • the juice from 1/2 a lemon
  • Salt, to taste
  • 1 garlic clove finely minced

Continue reading Lamb Wraps with Tzatziki Sauce

Black Bean Tostadas

Tostada normally refers to any meal in which a tortilla is deep fried or toasted. They were originally in response to tortillas that had started to get stale but could still be eaten. The toasted or fried tortilla is topped with beans, cheese, sour cream, lettuce, onions, salsa and then topped off with chicken or pork. Today, you can find all types of tostadas: seafood, vegetarian, vegan, etc.I found a recipe for a quick tostada in the Cooking Light Fresh Foods Superfast  cookbook and altered it a bit to remove most pre-made products (I don’t usually get to supermarkets). The result was still a quick and really delicious weeknight meal.

Ingredients:
1 can of black beans
5 tablespoons fresh salsa
3 tablespoons chopped cilantro
1/8 cup reduced-fat sour cream
1/8 cup chopped cilantro
2 tablespoons water
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
2 8-inch flour tortillas
Cooking spray
3/4 cup shredded Romaine lettuce
1/2 an avocado, sliced

Preheat the broiler.
Drain and rinse the black beans. Add to a saute pan coated in cooking spray. Heat on medium heat, pressing on the black beans so they mush a bit.
Add the salsa. If you do not have time to make your own salsa, you can pick up fresh salsa at the supermarket or specialty grocery stores. Add the chopped cilantro and stir.
Cook for 2 minutes until heated through. Remove from heat. Combine the sour cream, cilantro, water and pepper in a separate bowl.
Shred the lettuce and slice the avocado.
When the broiler is preheated. Spray the tortillas on each side with cooking spray and add two tortillas to a cookie sheet. Broil for two minutes or until charred. Mine puffed up a bit in the oven, so I just pushed down the center to make room for the beans.
Add the beans evenly to each tortilla.
Top with lettuce.
Drizzle with the sour cream mixture.
Top with avocado.
This was so satisfying! I loved the crunch of the tortilla to contrast the creaminess of the filling.

If the salsa is pre-made or store bought, this is a really quick meal, about 15-20 minutes from start to finish.

I loved the flavor, but this could certainly handle a little bit of heat, maybe some chopped jalapeno mixed in with the salsa.

After a bite or two, I went back to the salsa and added another tablespoon to my tostada to give it a bit more flavor. If you like salsa, I suggest doing this.

This could easily be altered to use chopped beef or sauteed chicken if you’d like. However, it was absolutely delicious with the black beans.

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