Cooking - for a new lifestyle (Our Test Kitchen)

MY  Mexican rice Mix all ingredients in an oversize bowl, set aside until serving. If using a green tomato this will be a semi dry mixture. Refrigerate if necessary for preparation way ahead of dinner. Ingredients: 4 or 5 cups of cooked, rinsed and cooled rice 1 can of salad bean mix or black turtle beans 1 can of drained corn (or equal in frozen corn) 2 stalks of celery diced 1-2 onions diced 1 red pepper diced 1 green tomato diced (you can use red if you prefer) Mix the following ingredients together in a sealable bowl or cup and refrigerate. Dressing: 1/4 cup fresh lime juice 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar 2 tablespoons packed brown sugar 2/3 cup canola oil 4 pickled jalepeno pepper rounds (due to spice problems here we used just dill pickle juice) 2 teaspoons chili powder 1 teaspoon cumin A nice alternative to potato or macaronni salad this summer. "Bon Appetit!"

In Italy, lentils are a traditional offering on New Year's tables as a symbol of prosperity and luck - their shape is thought to be reminiscent of coins. Preparation 10 min Cooking 25 min 250 calories per serving 1/2 cup green-brown lentils (dried), rinsed and drained 1 clove garlic, chopped or pressed 1/2 tsp salt 2 tomatoes, deseeded and diced 2 green onions/scallions, chopped 2 tbsp fresh dill, chopped 1 1/2 tbsp  Classic Vinaigrette  (Recipe) 1/8 tsp ground pepper Rinse and drain the lentils, then put them in pot. Chop or  press  the garlic, then add it to the pot. Add half of the salt, then add water to cover the surface of the lentils. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and  simmer , uncovered, until the lentils are just tender, 20 to 25 minutes. While the lentils are cooking, dice the tomatoes, discarding the seeds, then put them in a salad bowl. Chop the scallions and  dill , then add them to the bowl. Pour the  Classic Vinaigrette...

1 250ml container of cottage cheese (or ricotta if that is your preference) 1 jar of alfredo sauce (I used a no name version) 1/2 jar of 1/2 and 1/2 cream (I use the jar for measurement and get all the sauce that way) 1/2 cup of parmesan cheese 1 crown of broccolli cut small 3 green onions diced 1 tub of cherry tomatoes each sliced in half 1 tsp italian seasoning 1/2 tsp minced garlic Optional: green peppers, mushrooms Mix and heat on low in a crockpot. We added 1 bag of cleaned and peeled shrimp (mine were precooked). But diced chicken would work too. Pan fry to heat up and throw into sauce. I NEVER trust fish or chicken raw in a sauce. I left my sauce to heat for 1 hour in the crock pot on low. I served it over tri color spiral pasta with warm bread. A salad of spring greens or spinach would be very nice, with a light dressing to counter how heavy this sauce was. "Bon Appetit!"

Well, when you think of a side dish does celery come to mind??? Not for me. This is an item reserved for recipes and salads (and cheese whiz!) As my previous posts have done this week, I am using up bits and pieces of leftovers in my fridge, freezer and baking cupboards! So I was happy to find yet another recipe for this week that would accomplish doing this. 1/4 cup margarine 2 medium / large carrots chopped 1 cup frozen corn 1/2 cup of water or chicken stock 1 tsp garlic powder Sautee slowly until carrots are tender. Covered. **Add 1/4 cup of liquid if more is needed. 1 cup chopped onion 3 cups celery (mine was pretty beat up...the tail end of a head of celery) Add to the pan. Continue to sautee until celery is tender. Covered. 1 package of  sweetener **no sugar so I used a substitute (1/2 tsp sugar) 1/4 tsp thyme (we used italian spice) 1 tsp salt (omitted) 1/2 can of diced tomatoes (or 2 large tomatoes diced)some juice r...

From soscuisine.com 2 servings Preparation 15 minutes 220 calories per serving 2 tomatoes, Roma type, deseeded and diced 1 stalk celery, chopped 1/2 shallots, finely chopped 1 tbsp fresh mint, finely chopped 1-1/2 tbsp Classic Vinaigrette  http://www.soscuisine.com/en/recipes/view/classic-vinaigrette?gpr_id=707&sos_l=en 1 cup lentils (canned), rinsed and drained salt and ground pepper to taste Dice the tomatoes, discarding the seeds (I left them in), then put them in a salad bowl.  Coarsely chop the celery, finely chop the shallot and mint, then add them to the bowl.  Pour the Classic Vinaigrette over the salad (I used Italian dressing). Rinse and drain the lentils, then add them to the salad.  Toss well, adjusting the seasoning then serve.

3 tbsp olive oil 3 large garlic cloves, minced 1 small onion, minced 1/4 tsp crushed hot red pepper 1 14-1/2 ounce can diced tomatoes, juices reserved 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar 1 tsp dried rosemary 2 cups cooked chickpeas (garbanzo beans) or 1 16-ounce can chickpeas, rinsed and drained 4 cups chicken stock or reduced-sodium canned broth 1/4 tsp salt, or to taste 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese 1/2 cup croutons In a large saucepan, heat the oil over medium heat.  Add the garlic, onion and hot pepper.  Cook, stirring often, until the onion is softened but not browned, about 5 minutes. Add the tomatoes with their juices, the vinegar and rosemary.  Increase the heat to high and boil until juice from the tomatoes thickens, about 5 minutes. Add the chickpeas, chicken stock and salt.  Cover and simmer 30 minutes, stirring occasionally and smashing some of the beans with the back of a spoon.  To serve, sprinkle with the cheese and the crou...

from www.soscuisine.com . . . my favourite site for menus and recipes . . .  1 red onion, coarsely chopped 1 yellow or red sweet pepper, coarsely chopped 1-1/2 potatoes, peeled 1 clove garlic, minced or pressed 1-1/2 tbsp canola oil 2/3 dried chili peppers, minced  I didn't use this ingredient . . . don't want to freak Hubby out too much 1-1/4 tsp dried oregano 1 cup canned diced tomatoes 2-3/4 cups chicken broth 1-1/3 cup frozen peas 1 cup red beans (canned), rinsed and drained 1/4 tsp Tabasco sauce, to taste Didn't use this ingredient . . . see note above . . . LOL 1 avocado, cubed (optional) Didn't use this ingredient 1/4 Cheddar cheese, grated (optional) 4 corn tortillas (optional) 4 tsp fresh cilantro (optional) I could not find fresh cilantro anywhere . . . sigh . . .  salt to taste Prepare the vegetables. Heat the oil in a pot.  Saute the onion over medium heat 3-4 minutes.  Lower the head and add the peppers, garlic and salt...

2 servings 2 tomatoes 2 bocconcini or fresh mozzarella 110g 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil 6 fresh basil leaves salt and pepper Cut the tomatoes into slices approximately 5mm thick and arrange them on a flat dish.  Sprinkle with salt and let stand for 15 minutes to allow excess liquids to drain off. Cut the bocconcini into slices with the same thickness as the tomatoes.  Arrange the cheese and tomato slices on a serving plate so that they alternate and overlap slightly. Garnish with small fresh basil leaves on top, drizzle with oil, season with salt and pepper.  Serve. (Hal liked it once he added ranch dressing . . . LOL . . . that man puts sauce on everything!)

This is the salad I was raving about earlier this week on Facebook.  I think I will be making it quite a lot this summer.  It is easy, delicious and very refreshing.  I bet lots of different veggies could be substituted in. For 2 servings: 1 leek 1-1/2 tbsp Classic Vinaigrette 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil 1 tbsp lemon juice, freshly squeezed salt and pepper to taste 4 button (white) mushrooms, sliced 1 tomato, sliced 1 carrot, shredded Prepare the leeks:  cut off the dark green tops and discard, slice the white and pale-green parts into large chunks, then boil or steam them for about 10 minutes, until soft.  Drain the leeks and let cool a few minutes. With a serrated knife, cut each chunk of the leeks into rounds about 1 cm thick and transfer them to a bowl.  Pour in the Classic Vinaigrette (I doubled the lemon/olive oil dressing and used that instead), then season with salt and pepper.  Blend gently and set aside. In a small bowl, ad...

Since I am doing Herbal Magic at the moment, I have been looking over their recipes. Mum and I tried this one Sunday and even though it says it serves four we managed to get several servings from it. INGREDIENTS 2 cups tomato, diced 1 cup celery, chopped ½ cup green onion, chopped 1 cup green pepper, chopped 2 garlic cloves, minced black pepper to taste cayenne pepper to taste 3 cups spinach leaves 1 cup (8 oz.) 1% cottage cheese 10 oz. tofu (medium-firm)* 8 oz. lean ground beef** ¼ cup (2 oz.)shredded mozzarella *If tofu isn't to your liking, you can replace it with another 8oz of ground beef **You can also replace the ground beef with ground chicken, though we do suggest adding some seasoning as you brown it. Preheat oven to 400°F. Brown beef in a skillet and add tomato, celery, onion, and green pepper. Season to taste with garlic, pepper, and cayenne, and let simmer. Wash spinach. Alternate layers of meat sauce, spinach, cottage cheese, and tofu. Top with cheese and bake fo...

4 servings 1 tsp canola oil 1-1/2 slices whole wheat bread, stale or day-old 2 cups My Mother's Tomato Sauce (below) 40 g mortadella sausage or ham, finely chopped 1 tbsp marjoram, fresh, finely chopped 1 large egg 400 g lean ground beef salt and pepper to taste 3 tbsp bread crumbs These meatballs can be either baked in the oven or fried.  If using baking method preheat the oven to 400F and lightly oil a baking dish.  If frying, prehead peanut oil to 350F in an electric fryer or large skillet. But the bread slices in a small bowl then cover them with water.  Let soak 20-30 minutes. Meanwhile, make tomato sauce. Drain the bread well in a sieve, then squeeze it to remove most of the liquid.  Finely chop the bread and add it to a bowl.  Finely chop the mortadella and marjoram, then add them to the bowl.  Add the egg and ground beef, followed by salt and pepper. Using your hands, blend the mixture together until it is just combined well....

I made this soscuisine.com recipe up the other night. It is supposed to make 4 servings but it actually seems to be enough to feed a small banquet. Hal didn't like it, but Hal doesn't like zucchini or eggplant. I loved it. The recipe won't freeze well and I didn't want it to go to waste, so I took the leftover ratatouille and some red quinoa to Ladies Day Out. All the ladies seemed to enjoy it. So, here goes . . . 2 tbsp olive oil 1 onion, finely chopped 2 cloves garlic, pressed 1 cup green beans, cut into 2 cm pieces 2 zucchini, diced into 1.5 cm squares 1 eggplant, small, diced into 1.5 cm squares 1 yellow or red pepper, cut into 1.5 cm squares 1 carrot, cut into 1.5 cm squares salt and pepper to taste 300 g firm tofu, cubed 1-1/4 cup canned diced tomatoes 1 tsp Herbs aux Provence 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper Heat oil over medium heat in a saucepan. Saute the crushed garlic and chopped onion, taking care not to burn. Cook 4-5 minutes until the onion ...

Makes 2 servings Prep 10 minutes / Cooking 20 minutes 280 calories per serving 1 leek, white and light green parts only, cleaned 1 tbsp olive oil, plus more for drizzling 1/2 tsp dried oregano salt to taste ground pepper to taste 2 slices country bread, lightly toasted 45 g brie cheese, thinly sliced 1 tomato, Roma type, thinly sliced Prepare the leeks.  Cut off the dark green tops then thinly slice the white and pale-gree parts crosswise. Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat.  Add the leeks and oregano, then season with salt and pepper.  Cook, stirring frequently, until the leeks are very tender and just beginning to brown, 15 to 20 minutes. Arrange the toasted bread slices on a baking sheet.  Distributing the ingredietns equally, layer the bread slices with the cheese, cooked leeks, and sliced tomatoes.  Drizzle with olive oil, then add salt and pepper to taste. Broil at 10 cm from the heat until the cheese has melted and the t...

My adaptation. In a large pot bring to a boil: I diced green pepper 1/2 bunch of celery ~large chunks 1 onion ~sliced 1 can tomato juice/vegetable cocktail 1 can diced tomatoes pepper chilli flakes to taste Bring to a good boil and let rest. Add some fresh basil. If this step can be done the day before the flavours intensify. In a large stock pot bring 8 cups water, to a boil with: 5 potatoes ~peeled and cubed 6 boneless skinless chicken thighs ~ cut each into 3 strips 1 bag mini carrots 1/4 bunch of celery ~chopped lots of pepper Cook until potatoes are JUST cooked and drain (reserve liquid for soup stock in another recipe). In a large casserole (or crock pot), pour 1/2 of tomato mixture. Pour potato/chicken mixture on top and finish with the rest of the tomato mixture. Bake at 300 for 1 hour covered. Top with your favourite cheese and broil until cheese is melted. Serve with warm bread on a cold day. "Bon Appetit!"

2 servings Preparation 5 min / Cooking 15 min 450 calories per serving 160 g tortiglioni or pene 2/3 cup Bolognese Meat Sauce (recipe below) 2 tbsp pasta cooking water 2 tbsp Parmesan cheese salt and pepper to taste Cook the pasta according to package directions.  While the pasta is cooking , heat the meat sauce (which has bee prepared in advance) in a saucepan over low heat.  Add the specified amount of pasta cooking water to dilute the sauce a bit, and warm up just a few minutes.  Put the drained tortiglioni back in to the pasta cooking pot, add the sauce and mix well.  Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and serve in warmed dishes. Bolognese Meat Sauce Makes 750 ml (3 cups) Preparation 30 min / Cooking 1 hour 1 onion, finely chopped 1 carrot, finely chopped 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped 1/2 stalk celery, finely chopped 1 slice bacon, finely chopped 1/2 tbsp butter, unsalted 1 tbsp olive oil 360 g ground beef, lean or medium-lean 1/3 cup milk, 2% ...

We needed a vegetable last night and this one popped into my head at the last second. It is fast and Judy says she loves this....so, add another veggie to her "like" list. 1 green tomato (we used plum)sliced into rings 1 tsp oil 1/4 tsp garlic 1/4 tsp italian seasoning S&P ***for each person eating In a hot fry pan add oil and garlic. On med setting place rings of tomato into oil. Sprinkle with seasoning. When tender (about 1/2 cooked through) flip and repeat seasoning. Do not cook until mushy. About 3-4 minutes per side max! This was so easy and she said it had the texture and somewhat tase of an onion ring. Next time she wants to try breading them first! "Bon Appetit!"

Tomato and Feta Cheese Salad 2 tomatoes, sliced 50 g feta cheese, crumbled 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil 6 black olives 2 tsp dried oregano ground pepper to taste Cut the tomatoes crosswise into slices approx. 5 mm thick and arrange them in a shallow dish. Crumble the feta cheese over the tomatoes.  Drizzle with oil.  Add the olives and sprinkle with oregano.  Season with freshly ground pepper.  It is not necessary to add any salt, since the feta cheese is already rather salty.  Serve at room temperature.  Serves 2. Hal & I both LOVED this salad.

Simple.  Refreshing. 2 tomatoes 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil salt and pepper to taste 3/4 tsp dried oregano Cut the tomatoes lengthwise into quarters or slice them crosswise.  Put them in a bowl, pour in the olive oil, then season with salt and pepper.  Sprinkle with oregano and toss. Makes 2 servings. www.soscuisine .com

Supper was delicious tonight -- we both LOVED it . . . and I love trying new recipes.  Can you tell? Lettuce and Tomato Salad 1 tomato 2/3 curly leaf lettuce 2 radishes 1 green onion Salt and pepper Cut the tomatoes into segments and place them in a salad bowl.  Add lettuce leaves.  Finely slice radish and green onion then add them to the bowl.  Pour in 2 tbsp Classic Vinaigrette.  Add salt and pepper to taste.  Toss and serve. Pasta with Sausage and Cauliflower ½ onion, coarsely chopped 1-1/4 cups cauliflower, cut into small florets 1/2 tbsp olive oil 2 Italian sausages ¼ dried chilli peppers, minced ¾ cup chicken broth, warm 2 cups penne rigate or other short pasta Salt and pepper 2 tbsp parmesan Keep the serving dishes in the oven at the lowest setting so they are warm when you serve.  Put a colander in the sink to drain the cooked pasta so that it will be ready when needed.  Prepare vegetables.  Heat the oil in a frying pan over m...

Barley is a source of B-complex vitamins and a good source of soluble fibre, the kind that helps to reduce blood cholesterol levels. I thought the salad was okay . .. but not exciting. My fellow testers seemed to feel the same way. 1 cup pearl barley 1 cup tightly packed fresh basil leaves 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese 1/4 cup olive oil 1/2 tsp salt 1/2 tsp pepper 2 cloves garlic, minced 4 cups cherry tomatoes, halved 2 cups corn kernels, cooked Bring large pot of water to boil; add barley. Reduce heat, cover and simmer, stirring occasionally, for about 50 minutes or until tender. Drain; chill under cold running water and drain again. Meanwhile, in food processor or blender, puree basil, Parmesan, oil, salt and pepper ; stir in garlic. Toss with barley. add tomatoes and corn; toss again. Cover and refrigerate for up to 2 days. Source: CanadianLiving.com