Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Broccoli Mushroom Feta Edamame


Aw, stop it already, we know we're just too good at the whole recipe naming thing. A great combination of flavors, and you can use it to turn into the Cucumber Hummus Bite.

Broccoli Mushroom Feta Edamame
broccoli
mushrooms
edamame
feta
olive oil (optional)

1. Combine everything on a plate. Cover with another plate.
2. Microwave on high for 120 seconds, or until broccoli is bright green and cooked through, mushrooms have softened, and feta has melted.

Cucumber Hummus Bite



Cucumber and hummus are just made for each other. Aren't they adorable? And the baby broccoli floret, c'mon, you have to admit he is cute - not to mention delicious!

Is it weird to anthropomorphize food and talk about eating it in the same sentence?

Cucumber Hummus Bite
1 sliced cucumber
1 dab of hummus
1 sliced mushroom with feta (microwaved)
1 cute broccoli floret (make sure it's cute - if not, the results will be rather disappointing)

1. Spread cucumber with hummus.
2. Gently embed a mushroom slice and broccoli into the hummus.
3. Bite, chew and swallow.

Hummus Pita Wrap


Sometimes the simple things are the best. (Simplicity is such a nice excuse to be lazy, isn't it?)

Hummus Pita Wrap
1 whole wheat pita
hummus
feta cheese
baby spinach
lettuce
cucumber slices
tomato slices
onions

1. Spread hummus on pita.
2. Top with the other ingredients.
3. Fold in half.

Monday, September 27, 2010

Tropical Sunrise Drink



On a hot day, what could possibly beat a construction-worker-vest-colored drink with a cheesy name?

Tropical Sunrise Drink
ice
cranberry juice
passionfruit guava juice
segmented orange and grapefruit

1. Get a cup of ice.
2. Dispense 1 second of each juice.
3. Garnish with orange and grapefruit segments.
4. Pretend you are on a beach in Hawaii, sit back, and watch your worries fade into the sunset.

Broccoli Chicken Salad



This salad was almost too big for the plate.

Broccoli Chicken Salad
1 plate of mixed greens
cucumbers
broccoli, steamed
red bell peppers
northern beans
1 baked chicken thigh, shredded
Asian Sesame Ginger Dressing (recipe follows)

1. Combine everything on a plate.

Asian Sesame Ginger Dressing
1 Tbsp sesame oil
1 Tbsp old-fashioned peanut butter
1 Tbsp Hoisin Sauce
3 turns of ground black pepper (in the soup station)
1/4 tsp soy sauce
1 tsp onion powder (3 shakes)
1/8 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp honey (optional; I didn't put it b/c peanut butter was sweet enough)

Saturday, September 25, 2010

Rainbow Pinwheel Sandwiches


Great as an appetizer or lunch, and embarrassingly easy to make. Feel free to mix and match wrap flavors, cheeses, meats, and veggies; you really can't go wrong with any combo.

Rainbow Pinwheel Sandwiches
1 tortilla sheet
sour cream (optional)
cheddar, swiss, or american cheese
sliced turkey or ham
mixed greens or lettuce
bacon (optional)

1. Spread sour cream on tortilla, if using.
2. Layer on: cheese, sliced meat, greens.
3. Roll up sandwiches -- not too tightly or too loosely. Stick 5 toothpicks in the roll, spaced evenly apart. Cut out the ends and cut the roll into five sandwiches.

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Local Dinner: Mile High Apple Pie with Vanilla Ice Cream


Words cannot describe the scrumptiousness of this dessert.

Sunday, September 19, 2010

Russian Dressing Salad



The color of this dressing is reminiscent of that pink color used in Dr. Seuss' Cat in the Hat storybooks.

Russian Dressing Salad

Dressing:
2 Tbsp sour cream
2 Tbsp ketchup
1 Tbsp olive oil
2 tsp raspberry vinaigrette
sprinkling of black pepper

Salad:
lettuce
cucumbers
onions
kidney beans
tomatoes

Mix the dressing together in a small cup and drizzle over salad.

Friday, September 17, 2010

Salmon with Arugula and Mashed Sweet Potato



We owe a lot to the Ratty on this one - didn't do much except put a few things together, but hey, you gotta treat that salmon with respect.

Salmon with Arugula and Mashed Sweet Potato
1 sweet potato
1 piece of salmon
arugula (from the agnolotti with lemon dish)

1. Peel the sweet potato into a bowl, and mash with a fork.
2. Plate the sweet potato, salmon, and arugula in that order.

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Spinach Pie "Wrap" Quesadilla



The "secret" ingredient? Raisins! Yes, they're good for you and yes, they're usually found in granola, but if you're up for something a little different (and dare we say delicious) give this one a try -- the sweetness of dried grapes goes fabulously with the savoriness of melted provolone and hot spinach in a lightly toasted wrap.

Spinach Pie "Wrap" Quesadilla.

1 whole-wheat flour tortilla
lots of baby spinach (about 2 generous "grabs" with the tongs)
1 slice provolone cheese
1/4 cup shredded cheese
3 Tbsp raisins

1. Place provolone cheese on tortilla. Pile on the spinach, shredded cheese, and raisins.
2. Fold carefully into a "wrap" -- it will be rather puffy but the spinach will wilt down.
3. Place in a pre-heated panini press and let it do its thing for 5 min, or until golden brown grill marks appear.
4. Slice in half and enjoy.

Friday, September 10, 2010

Broccoli Tuna Melt Salad



This hot/cold salad was inspired by Meeting St's gigantic Broccoli Tuna Melt sandwich. I never manage to eat those sandwiches properly anyway, so this "deconstructed" version of the sandwich lets you mix everything together and eat with a fork, like a salad.

Broccoli Tuna Melt Salad

2-3 lettuce leaves
3 slices tomato
1 scoop tuna salad
5-6 broccoli florets
6-7 mushroom slices
1/4 cup shredded cheese
3 onion rings
1 slice thick honey wheat bread

1. Arrange lettuce and tuna salad on a plate. Cut tomato slices in half and arrange around tuna salad.
2. Microwave broccoli and mushroom on a plate with 1 Tbsp basil infused olive oil and 1 Tbsp water (2 min, cover with another plate, on high).
3. Sprinkle cheese over cooked broccoli and microwave another 30 seconds or until melted.
4. Arrange broccoli/mushroom/cheese mixture over tuna salad.
5. Slice onion rings in half and cube the bread into 6-7 "croutons." Arrange over top and enjoy.

Tuna Edamame Salad



Tired of the same old salad dressings? Love asparagus? Love creamy stuff? Then try drizzling a ladle of creamy asparagus soup on your mixed greens!

Tuna Edamame Salad
1 plate of mixed greens
1/4 cup feta cheese
1/4 cup tuna
1/4 cup edamame
1 ladle of creamy asparagus soup

1. Assemble salad and drizzle soup on top.

Monday, September 6, 2010

Tilapia on Spinach with White Space


Ah... white space. Try it at on your plate at the Ratty and you may find that your chewing becomes ever so slightly more thoughtful, and your conversations become a tad bit more....refined.

Tilapia on Spinach
1 Tilapia filet
bowlful of baby spinach (packed tightly)
2 Tbsp Basil infused olive oil
1 Tbsp vegan bean stew
1-2 Tbsp Tilapia provencal chopped tomatoes & capers

1. Cook the spinach. Pack the baby spinach into a bowl and drizzle olive oil on top. Cover with a small plate and microwave on high for 2 minutes. Remove from microwave CAREFULLY (use napkins as "pot-holders")
2. Arrange spinach in a neat pile in center of plate.
3. Put tilapia filet on top of cooked spinach
4. Garnish with vegan bean stew and tilapia provencal veggies. Buon appetito!

Saturday, September 4, 2010

Creamy Edamame Pasta Salad



You know how you sometimes get into a habit of doing things the same way every day? I always get into "breakfast habits" -- soymilk-cereal-fruit, soymilk-cereal-fruit, soymilk-cereal...

Or "lunch habits" -- sandwich, sandwich, sandwich...

Or "dinner habits" -- pasta and marinara, pasta and marinara, pasta and... cream of asparagus soup? Add in some edamame for protein and veggies for vitamins.

Creamy Edamame Pasta Salad

whole wheat penne
spoonful of edamame (green soybeans)
spoonful of diced tomatoes (burrito bar)
spoonful of scallions
small spoonful of raisins
spoonful of sliced zucchini (salad bar)
1 ladle of Cream of Asparagus soup
salt & pepper

1. Gather pasta and veggies on a plate.
2. Spoon soup on top.
3. Mix with a fork and add salt/pepper to taste.

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Savory Waffle Sandwiches



While these were good, during the time it takes to split the waffle open and make the sandwich, the waffle crust goes from satisfyingly crispy to disappointingly soggy. Still, the flavors were pretty good, and it's worth a try if you are a waffle fan. The good news is we have a secret genius idea for maintaining the crispy crust of a waffle sandwich...stay tuned!

Savory Waffle Sandwiches
1/2 spoonful of waffle batter
1 lettuce
1/4 cup tuna salad
1 slice swiss cheese
1/4 cup garbanzo bean salad (pre-made at the V-dub...plain garbanzo beans with some dressing and roasted red peppers work too)

1. Pour waffle batter into half of the waffle iron.
2. Make waffle.
3. Cut in half, and split each half into two without burning off fingers.
4. Fill with fillings.

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Almost Seven Layer Dip



...Because it's six layers, unless you count the plate. Just layer it in the mug, invert, remove the mug, and viola! A happy little cylinder of food. But in the recent sweltering atmosphere of the Ratty, if you don't attack the dip immediately it will collapse into an amorphous blob. Still delicious, nonetheless.

Almost Seven Layer Dip
diced tomatoes
guacamole
pinto beans
scallions
shredded cheese
sour cream

1. Layer the tomatoes, guacamole, pinto beans, scallions, cheese, and sour cream in a mug, in that order. It helps to alternate layers of "mortar" with...uh...bricks?
2. Invert mug onto a plate.
3. Remove mug carefully.
4. Serve with crackers or chips or toasted pita bread or cucumbers.