Quinoa & Kale Salad

1 Large Bunch of Kale - Stems removed and leaves shredded

2 Large Carrots - Shredded

1/4 Red Onion - Small Dice

1 Fresno Chili - Seeded & Small Dice

1 Can Garbanzo Beans - Drained & Rinsed

1/2 Cup Dried Cranberries - Reconstituted in warm water & drained

1/4 Cup Sunflower Seeds

1 tbsp Salt (reserve)

1 Cup Quinoa

2 Cups Vegetable Broth

Vinaigrette:
3/4 Cup Orange Juice
2 tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar
2 Garlic Cloves - Fine Dice
1" Ginger - Grated
2 tbsp Dijon Mustard
1 tsp Sesame Oil
1 tbsp Salt
1/2 tbsp Pepper
1 tsp Cayenne Pepper
1 tsp Cumin
2 tbsp EVOO
1 Cup Water

In a large bowl combine kale, carrots, onion, chili, garbanzo beans, cranberries, sunflower seeds.  Stir to combine.

In a pot over high heat add the quinoa and vegetable broth.  Bring to a bowl, cover and reduce to simmer for 10-15 minutes or until the liquid is evaporated.

In a saucepan over med/high heat add the orange juice, vinegar, garlic, ginger, mustard, sesame oil, 1 tbsp salt, pepper, cayenne pepper, cumin, evoo & water.  Bring to a boil, then simmer for about 5-10 minutes or until it reduces slightly and get's thicker. Stir and cool for about 10 minutes to reduce heat.

Add the quinoa to the kale salad mixture and combine.  Pour over the vinaigrette and mix to combine.  Taste for seasoning and add in the 1 tbsp of salt if necessary or adjust other seasonings as necessary.

This is a super food, healthy salad and made to feed a family or just for a week's worth of lunches.

Asian Meatballs - 2

20 oz. Ground Turkey

20 oz. Ground Pork

1 Med. Onion - Rough Chop

4 Garlic Cloves

1 tbsp Ginger - Grated

1 Cup Mushrooms - Rough Chop

1/4 Cup Parsley - Leaves & Stems

1/4 Cup Chicken Stock

2 Roasted Piquillo Peppers - Small Dice (use roasted red peppers if you don't have Piquillo)

2 tbsp Quinoa

1 Cup Bread Crumbs

2 tsp Salt

1 tsp Pepper

1 Egg - Beaten

For Sauce:

2 tbsp Sugar

3 tbsp Low Sodium Soy Sauce

2 tbsp EVOO

2 tbsp Dijon Mustard

1 tsp Sambal

1/2 Cup Water

In a small food processor add in the onion and garlic and puree.  Add to a large bowl.  Next blend up the mushrooms and parsley and add to the bowl.  In the bowl, add the piquillo peppers and chicken stock.  Mix to combine everything.  Add in the quinoa, bread crumbs, salt, pepper and egg.  Mix to combine.  Add in the turkey and pork and mix to combine (don't over mix).

Using a small scoop (about 1" in diameter) scoop the meatballs onto a large baking sheet (w/ sides) lined w/ parchment paper and sprayed w/ cooking spray.  When all the meatballs are on the baking sheet roll each into a ball.  Run your hands periodically under water to stop the meatballs from sticking. You should get about 80 meatballs.

Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for about 15 minutes.  Mine didn't brown so when I took them out of the oven, I let them cool for about 10 minutes then put them in a sauté pan over med/high heat to brown about 2 minutes, stirring so as not to burn.

While the meatballs are in the oven, in a sauce pot add the sugar, soy sauce, evoo, mustard, sambal and water.  If you don't have sambal, you can substitute chili paste or about 1/4 tsp of chili flakes.  Stir to combine and dissolve the sugar.  Cook over med/high heat until the mixture starts to reduce and thicken.

When the meatballs are out of the oven (or the pan), let cool for about 5 minutes.  Add the meatballs to a large bowl and pour the sauce over them and stir to combine.   Garnish w/ sliced green onions and sesame seeds.

Perfect to serve as an appetizer or in a spicy asian noodle dish or soup.  Enjoy.

Banana Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies

1 Cup Butter- Room Temp

1 Cup Brown Sugar

1/2 Cup White Sugar

2 Eggs - Room Temp / Beaten

2 tsp Vanilla Extract

1 Overripe Banana - Mashed

1 tsp Coconut Oil

1/4 tsp Cinnamon

1 1/4 Cup All Purpose Flour

3/4 Cup Whole Wheat Flour

1/2 tsp Baking Soda

1 tsp Salt

3 Cups Quick Oats

1 Cup Dark Chocolate Chips

In a large bowl, cream together butter, brown sugar & sugar.  In a small bowl beat together the eggs.  Slowly beat in the eggs to the sugar mixture and add in the vanilla, banana, coconut oil and cinnamon.  Beat to combine.

In a medium bowl combine the all purpose flour, whole wheat flour, baking soda, salt and quick oats. Stir to combine.

Gradually fold in the dry mixture into the wet mixture in 3 batches.  When combined add in the chocolate chips and stir to combine.

Line cookie sheets with parchment paper and spray with cooking spray.  Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Using a small 1" cookie scoop, scoop the cookie dough onto the sheets.  Place in the freezer for 5-10 minutes before putting into oven for 12-15 minutes (depending on your oven) or until the bottom is golden brown.

Remove to a cooling rack and Enjoy.

Parmesan Herb Bread

2 Onions - Sliced
2 tbsp EVOO
3/4 Cup Sour Cream
1/2 Cup Vegetable Oil
2 Eggs - Beaten
1 3/4 Cups Flour
1/2 Cup Parmesan Cheese - Grated
1 tbsp Sugar
1 tsp Rosemary - Chopped
1 tsp Thyme- Chopped
1 1/2 tsp Baking Powder
1 tsp Lemon Zest
1/2 tsp Salt
1/2 tsp Pepper
1/4 tsp Baking Soda

Over med/low heat in a large pan, caramelize onions for about 30 minutes.  In a bowl, whisk sour cream, vegetable oil and eggs.  In a separate bowl whisk together flour, parmesan, sugar, rosemary, thyme, baking powder lemon zest, salt, pepper and baking soda.

Add in the onions and fold the wet ingredients into the dry and mix to combine.

Pour mixture into a 9x5" loaf pan that has been lined with parchment paper on the bottom and all sides (let the sides hang out a little longer to make it easier to remove) and sprayed with cooking spray.

Cook in a preheated 350 degree oven for about 40-50 minutes or until a toothpick comes out of the center clean.  Let cool about 1 hour then remove.  Enjoy.

Prosciutto Wrapped Roasted Asparagus

1 Bunch Asparagus - Ends Trimmed

1 Garlic Clove - Minced

1 tbsp Dijon Mustard

2 + 1 tbsp Parmentino Cheese - Grated (substitute Parmesan if necessary)

1/2 tsp Black Pepper

4 Slices Prosciutto - Thinly Sliced

EVOO

In a large pot of boiling, salted water add the asparagus and cook for about 2 minutes.  Remove and plunge into an ice bath to stop the cooking and lock in the vibrant, green color.

Lay the slices of prosciutto out on a cutting board.  Spread the dijon evenly and sprinkle with 2 tbsp of the parmentino cheese, garlic and black pepper.

In 4 even bunches add the asparagus to the end of the proscuitto and roll up.  Sprinkle EVOO on a baking sheet and place the asparagus on and place in a preheated 450 degree oven and bake for about 10 minutes (turning after 5 minutes).

Place on a serving dish and sprinkle with remaining parmentino cheese.  Enjoy.