Lemon rice

Wow.  You know that moment when you want a rice dish but don't want just rice?  Let me introduce you to lemon rice.  It. Is. Bomb.  As in good.  As in every time I make it, I've forgotten just how good it is.  Below are are my steps but as always, feel free to make it your own with flavor enhancements….

2 T butter
2 T olive oil

Let butter and olive oil melt together over medium heat.  Into the oil mixture add

1 shallot, chopped.

Sautee the shallot and add the zest of one (1) lemon.  When shallot is soft, add 1 (one) cup of rice, tossing in the mixture to pick up the flavor.  Add the juice of the zested lemon (or a white wine).

Add 2 cups broth (veggie or chicken would work best because of the light flavor from the lemon), bring to boil, reduce heat, and cook to your preferred rice texture.  You can finish with thyme (or other lemony herbs) if you have FRESH on hand.

Voila.  No pictures for this because rice on a plate looks boring.  :/

Apple cobbler

I love dessert.  Seriously love it.  And I want something quick and easy often.

Apple mix:
2 honey crisp apples
Butter
Cinnamon (to taste)
Nutmeg (dash)
Maple syrup (2 tablespoons)

Cobbler:
3/4 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
Cinnamon (dash)
Nutmeg (dash)
More butter

I sauteed the chopped up apples in the melted butter with cinnamon, nutmeg and maple syrup.  While that was cooking, I mixed the cobbler together.  Pour the apples into ramekins, top with the cobbler mix and bake at 400 for about 20 minutes.  I need ice cream.

Poached egg & ravioli

This is my latest food addiction:

Spinach/artichoke ravioli
Soppressata
Poached egg

And it's so easy if you have all of those! I get pre-made ravioli and prepare it as directed.  For the soppressata, I use Applegate Farms (raised without the use of antibiotics).  Julienne the soppressata, toss in diced onions/garlic and let it all cook together.  When the ravioli is done, toss in pan with the meat/onion mix and let the flavors meld.  In the boiling water, drop an egg to poach (3 minutes for the perfectly poached egg).  Plate the ravioli mix and top with the egg and some freshly grated parmesan.

So good.

Dessert

My new favorite dessert - and kind of not bad for me either!

Watermelon
Olive oil
Feta cheese

Mint leaves (torn)

Dash of salt

Yep.  That's all.  Build it and eat it and LOVE it.  

STFD!

Tonight's dinner is brought to you by the letters STFD - Shut The Front Door!  It was so good.  I haven't blogged for a bit due to a high protein diet I've been on but thought I'd blog about my new eating regime.  High proteins, low carbs, still delicious!  (and vegetarian - NOT vegan)

Black beans make a great starting point for a Southwest style patty.  Or mash.  See below.  Mix it up.  Cook it up.  Eat it up.  Try it again.  Make it your own.

1 can black beans, minced down
1 diced white onion
2 anaheim peppers (I would add jalepeno's but didn't have them - go as spicy as you want.  Anaheims aren't that spicy, at least to me)
Salt/pepper to taste
3 egg whites (voila!  protein!)
Shredded cheese - I used Monterey Jack but cheddar would work as well
Crushed tortilla chips

Mix all that together and cook in just a bit of olive oil.  Serve with your favorite SW-inspired foods - tortillas, avocado, cheese, rice or ???

I ate mine soft taco style with flour tortillas (the last of my allowed carbs for the week), more cheese thrown on top and an avocado, the fruit of the Gods.  The pictures may not give them the proper justice.  So freaking good!!

Shrimp Salad

It's been awhile since I posted but I have been cooking.  This recipe is one of my FAVORITE salad recipes and it's easy to make modifications to for special needs - low carbs, low spice, etc.

1 pound raw deveined shrimp
Cherry tomatoes
Jalepeno pepper
Yellow pepper
Anaheim pepper
Cooked pasta (screwball pasta works great)
Lemon juice
Olive oil
Avocado
Salt/pepper
Cilantro

Boil water, cook shrimp until pink (pretty quick, so pay attention).  Combine halved tomatoes, diced peppers, pasta and chopped cilantro.  Add the shrimp.  Mix olive oil/lemon juice/salt/pepper for a quick dressing, pour over shrimp mixture and combine.  Dice avocado RIGHT before serving and toss into salad.  Enjoy!

note: less (or more) spice, adjust jalepeno; carb free just leave out pasta, which I did in the pictures.

Parmesan Chicken

I am on a roll with successful recipe ideas.  Quick - someone get me a cooking show!

I wanted to prepare my chicken with less of a Tex-Mex flair and more Italian.  To my Italian friends and Italian food lovers, I am not Italian.  So this is my spin on a classic.
Shred some parmesan cheese and combine with panko.  I get it - panko is NOT Italian but it adds a nice crust.  I added pepper, garlic powder and dried oregano.  No salt because the parm was bringing the salt factor.  I did a quick egg dip of a chicken cutlet, dredged in the panko and tossed in a pre-heated pan of olive oil and garlic.  I like cooking with cutlets because they cook faster than a full breast and I am impatient.
I served mine with some sauteed onion and more grated parm on top.

Now I just need to figure out dessert...