Roasted Brown Sugar Sweet Potatoes with Coarse Salt and Nutmeg (v, gf)

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If you have read my other posts, it’s no big secret that I adore sweet potatoes. With undying, eat-them-two-to-three-times-a-week adoration. They’re incredibly nutritious, they’re versatile, they’re filling, and they’re beyond delectable. Craveable, even… which leads me to this post.

snack ti-yme

I had NEVER TRIED sweet potatoes (say whaaaa!!!???) until I met my husband. My mother-in-law, Jane Ann, makes them in holiday casseroles and as dinner sides all the time and she opened my sad, beta carotene-deficient eyes to the wonderful vegetable. My life is now divided into time BSP and ASP.

These days, when I want a sweet and salty, deeply flavorful snack that is still going to do something good for my body, I make these. If you can wait about an hour to snack, I swear: give these a shot and they will kill any craving you have. They have all the warm, homey trappings of comfort food, and they won’t break the calorie bank. From the bottom of my orange, starchy little heart, here are:

ROASTED BROWN SUGAR SWEET POTATOES WITH COARSE SALT AND NUTMEG

Ingredients:

  • 1-2 large sweet potatoes, cut into 1/4-1/2 inch cubes (at least 1 pound)
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 tsp brown sugar
  • a few shakes of cinnamon (1/4 tsp or so)
  • freshly grated nutmeg (same- 1/4 tsp or so)
  • a large pinch of kosher salt (about 1/2 tsp) Read More

Curried Barley “Risotto” With Shrimp

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I like to make this barley risotto fake-out when I want to make a one pot, complete meal that tastes indulgent but isn’t. Usually, I make the dish with shrimp and asparagus and no curry powder, but this time I had broccoli on hand and a Eureka! curry powder moment, which turned into the dish I’m posting. Curry powder is most definitely a polarizing spice, so by all means, omit it if you’re not a fan.

the rirruto

It was quite delish, and is very easy to make. Once you know the proportions of water and barley and the cooking times (all of which will remain the same, regardless of fillings), you can substitute other veggies and protein for the shrimp and broccoli (see bottom of post for tried-and-true combos).

CURRIED BARLEY “RISOTTO” WITH SHRIMP

Ingredients:

  • 1 lb raw shrimp, peeled and deveined
  • 1 Steamfresh bag of broccoli cuts
  • 2 small or 1 large onion(s), cut into large dice
  • 1 1/4 cups Quaker medium pearled barley
  • 3 tbsp canola or olive oil, divided
  •  3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 1/2 tsp dried thyme
  • 5 1/2 cups stock, or water + 5 tsps cooking base or bouillon
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 tsp curry powder, optional
  • a few generous grinds black pepper

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Quickie: Mexican Chicken & Quinoa Protein Bowl (gf)

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Whipped this up the other night when I was craving taco-style flavors but needed to enjoy them in a healthy way. It’s quite simple, and you could substitute other veggies or a different grain to fit what you have available in your pantry. This made quite a bit of food, so remember that the recipe can be halved easily. Enjoy!!

nutritious and delicious

MEXICAN CHICKEN & QUINOA PROTEIN BOWL

Ingredients:

  • 1- 1 1/2 lbs chicken breasts
  • 2 tbsp canola oil
  • 3 tbsp homemade or store-bought taco seasoning 
  • 1 green bell pepper, diced
  • 1 large onion, diced
  • 1 can pinto beans, drained
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 4 cups quinoa, cooked according to package directions (I used Bob’s Red Mill)
  • Salsas, cilantro, sour cream or greek yogurt to top Read More

Chicken and Rice (gf)

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Okay, so this is my more nutritious and virtually fat-free version of a home style favorite, chicken and rice (I’m always after comforting, rich-tasting dishes that won’t burst our belts). This has everything you need in one bowl- lean meat, healthy carbs, lots of veggies, and a TON of flavor. And as with traditional homey dishes, it just tastes better and better when served left over.
For times when you need to make a healthy, complete meal that can be stretched for days, this is a great bet!

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CHICKEN AND RICE
Ingredients:

  •  1 package boneless, skinless chicken thighs, trimmed of fat (1-1 1/2 lbs)
  •  1 leek, well-cleaned and white/light green parts chopped into rings
  • 3 cups carrots, small dice
  • 3 cups onion, small dice
  • 3 cups celery, small dice
    OR two large containers produce department pre-chopped mirepoix or soup starter, equalling 5-6 cups of veggies
  • 1 tbsp reduced sodium chicken base (or 1-2 tsp bouillon if you don’t have base)
  • 3 c water
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 tsp dried thyme
  • Cracked black pepper
  • 2 cups milk, divided
  • 3 tbsp flour
  • 1 bunch parsley, finely chopped
  • 2 bags Steamfresh fully-cooked frozen brown rice…. MAN, I love those things

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Healthier Banana-Nut Pancakes with Blackberry Syrup (v)

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It’s Saturday morning again, my favorite time of the week!! In our house, Saturday morning means a big workout and a big meal, preferably with eggs and something sweet.
Dave is training for his first marathon and I swam laps in a ridiculously crowded pool this morning, so we needed some healthy but rewarding carbs after our workouts. This is a favorite recipe of mine: it’s fast, healthy, can be made ahead, and the fruit and nuts can be swapped out for lots of other combinations.

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BANANA-NUT PANCAKES WITH BLACKBERRY SYRUP
Ingredients:

  • 1 c oats
  • 1 c whole wheat flour (or 2/3 c whole wheat flour and 1/3 c vanilla protein powder)
  • 1 tbsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tbsp agave syrup or honey
  • 1 1/4 c soy milk, almond milk, or skim milk
  • 1/4-1/2 c chopped nuts (I used walnuts and almonds)
  • 1 banana, diced
  • Canola oil
  • 1/3-1/2 c frozen blackberries
  • 1/3-1/2 c sugar-free syrup of your choice

Directions:
In a medium bowl, mix the first eight ingredients until well combined. Note on the oats: for a smoother pancake, you can grind the oats into a flour in a food processor. I usually do this, but skipped it today so I could eat 45 seconds sooner. Once the batter is formed (it will be chunky), fold in the bananas.

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Tomato-Artichoke Rotini with Crab (pes)

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Today was another busy one- we’re working on putting an offer in what hopefully becomes our first house! After a full day of work, emailing our realtor, and stalking the home (twice), this is the quick and satisfying dinner I whipped up.
In other words: are you tired? Are you hungry? Do you have a can of crabmeat sitting around that you don’t know what to do with? Make this.

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TOMATO-ARTICHOKE ROTINI WITH CRAB

Ingredients:

  • 1 15-oz can crabmeat, or a 12 oz container lump crab
  • 1 carton Santa Sweets grape tomatoes
  • 1 can quartered artichoke hearts, in water
  • 10 oz whole wheat rotini
  • a few cloves minced garlic, optional
  • 1 tsp capers, optional
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • Grated Parmesan

Directions:
Bring a large pot of salted water to boil for the rotini. While you wait for it, heat a large sauté pan on medium-low heat and add the olive oil. When the oil is hot, add the container of the (rinsed) grape tomatoes. Let those cook, stirring occasionally, for about five minutes to break down a bit.
While the tomatoes cook, finely chop the parsley, drain the can of artichokes and the can of crabmeat, and mince the garlic if you’re using it. Some folks live by the no garlic near crabmeat rule; I prefer the garlic in everything rule, and I don’t feel garlic overpowers the delicate crab flavor here.

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Lotsa Chicken Casserole

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Surprise, surprise… another busy night and the need for a quick dinner. After speaking to my mother on my way home, I was compelled to make her tuna casserole; upon arriving home, I realized I had ingredients for a new spin on this old favorite. Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you: lotsa chicken casserole! Behold the chickeny goodness:

LOTSA CHICKEN CASSEROLE

(uber adapted from Anne Rivas)

Ingredients:

  • 2 cans Trader Joe’s white meat chicken, rinsed and drained
  • 1 can healthy request cream of celery
  • 1 can healthy request cream of mushroom
  • 2 cups frozen peas and corn, slightly thawed (I used about 2 cups). You could just as easily use other veggies here; spinach and artichokes sound delish!
  • 10 oz whole wheat egg noodles
  • Milk
  • Cracked black pepper
  • Parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 350. Bring a large pot of water to boil; add noodles and cook for about 6-8 minutes, until quite al dente. *Under-cooking the noodles a bit here is no sin, as they’ll be baked later, and no one likes mushy noodles. Read More

Sweet Potato & Black Bean Burrito Filling (v, gf)

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I came across this wonderful recipe on one lovely life, a really sweet little blog. It had been a long day and I had a mish-mash of seemingly unrelated ingredients in my pantry; the opportunity to use some sweet potatoes that had been hanging out in the potato bin since Christmas (! ugh, SO lazy) seemed like a good one. Plus, this is a mix and roast recipe that creates leftovers. Doubly good!

I tend to go for highly seasoned foods, and have been trying to cut out meat where I can- I feel so much lighter and more energetic when I turn down the meat content and up the veggies. This recipe fit the fast and meatless bill perfectly! Here it is:

SWEET POTATO AND BLACK BEAN BURRITO FILLING

(adapted from One Lovely Life)

Ingredients

  • 1 large sweet potato, diced. I left the skin on to retain more nutrients. You may peel if your heart so desires.
  • 1 medium onion, diced
  • 2-3 Tbsp taco seasoning (I used Ortega reduced sodium). Amount will depend on taste and how large your veggies are. You may use homemade seasoning if you’re an overachiever.
  • 3 tbsp canola oil. *you may use another oil, but I like to use a neutral oil with highly flavorful seasonings and high roasting temps.
  • 1 (14.5oz) can black beans, drained and rinsed
  • Tortillas or tortilla chips
  • Any toppings you’d like to add. I opted for Trader Joe’s Salsa Verde and Chobani plain, nonfat Greek yogurt in place of sour cream.

Directions: Preheat the oven to 375. Dice your sweet potato and onion; try to keep the dice of each fairly similar in size. This makes for a prettier dish and even roasting.

In a large bowl, toss all ingredients. Stir to coat well with oil and seasoning. Spread mixture out on a large baking sheet.
Roast for 30 minutes, stirring 15 minutes in, adding more olive oil if necessary. I used the 3 tbsp of oil as to avoid this.
Toss black beans and roasted vegetables and serve with chips or in tortillas. Trader Joe’s baked blue corn tortilla chips were DELISH with this filling, and added visual interest; the salsa verde, creamy white yogurt and blue chips made quite a pretty bowl of chow. The subtle sweetness of the roasted onions and sweet potato, paired with the smoky seasoning and black beans gives an unexpected punch of flavor. Top with what you wish, and enjoy! Here are my leftovers at work the next day:

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Makes 4 servings for 4 hungry people.