STUFFED & FRIED ZUCCHINI FLOWERS (SQUASH BLOSSOMS)

Okay so these fried zucchini flowers are actually amazing!!! I learned about them on my recent trip down to Todos Santos, Mexico and they are now one of my favorite new things. Think fried artichokes but stuffed with whatever your palate desires. You dont need to dip them in anything because they are delicious and flavorful all by themselves. You just need to try them! TRUST ME!

INGREDIENTS:

Stuffing - You can honestly do whatever you want here. I did the following:

1-2 Cups of Chorizo (taken out of its casing and pre-cooked)
1 Cup of Quinoa (pre cooked and cooled)
1/2 Cup of Cubed Cheese (I used a soft white cheese)

Olive Oil
12-20 Zucchini Flowers (washed)
2 Eggs (whisked)
1-2 Cups of All Purpose Flour
Salt (as desired)

DIRECTIONS

Cook your quinoa and let it cool.

Take your Chorizo out of the casing and fry it up. Once finished set aside to cool.

Once cooled mix your Chorizo, quinoa and cheese together. This will be your stuffing. Open the center of the flower and add in your stuffing (1-2 TSP) and set aside till all flowers are stuffed.

Once you are ready to fry up the flowers add oil to a pan and let it heat up on medium heat.

Roll your stuffed flowers into your flour followed by your egg wash and again in your flour before plopping it in the oil. Once four or five of them are in your pan make sure you rotate them so they dont burn and allow those to cook until they are golden. (If you notice that they are cooking to quickly and getting burnt turn the heat to low)

Once ready remove the flowers from the the pan and set aside on a plate covered in paper towel to absorb excess oil.

Continue battering and cooking the rest of your flowers until you are done. Lightly salt the plate full of flowers before serving!

I hope you enjoyed this recipe as much as I do. If you have any comments please leave them below and I'll be happy to answer them as soon as I can! Happy cooking!!!

GLUTEN FREE MAC AND CHEESE BITES

I love me some good old mac & cheese!!!! Nothing says comfort food to me like a bowl of mac & cheese does. For me it always brings back childhood memories. Nowadays I find myself not eating so much of it because I am more calorie and health conscious but I'll admit these gluten free mac& cheese bites are great for any party that you may be throwing. They aren't difficult to make at all and kids love them for birthday parties. I'm totally going to add these to my Super Bowl menu this year! Enjoy

INGREDIENTS:

Rice Pasta (I substituted this for regular elbow pasta)
2 TBSP of Butter
2 TBSP of Quinoa Flour (I substituted this for flour)
1.5 Cups of Milk
2 OZ Cream Cheese
3/4 Cup of Sharp Cheddar Cheese
3/4 Cup of shredded Mozzarella (optional)
1 Packet of Kraft Dinner Powdered Cheese Sauce (optional)
Salt and Pepper (as desired)
1 Egg (whisked)

**You will also need a muffin tray that is sprayed with non stick cooking spray or buttered.

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees

Boil water to make your pasta. Salt the water and throw in your pasta.

In a sauce pan add in your butter. Allow to melt on medium low heat then throw in your quinoa flour. Whisk together until fully incorporated. .

Next add in your milk slowly stirring with your whisk the whole time.  Allow milk to come to a simmer before removing from heat and adding in all your cheeses! Whisk together until smooth.

By now your pasta should be ready to be drained. Drain and allow access water to drip off before returning to pot. Add your egg to the pot with the pasta followed by the cheese sauce. Mix together so pasta is evenly covered. You can add pepper and salt now if you wish (remember that the cheese and butter does add salt to the dish already so you dont need much)

Scoop out pasta into your muffin tray (remember it has to be buttered or sprayed with non stick for easy removal later).

Place in oven and allow to bake for 16-17 minutes or until golden on the top!

Remove from oven and allow to cool for 5 minutes before removing from muffin tin.

They are now ready to serve! Enjoy!!!

I hope you enjoyed this recipe as much as I do. If you have any comments please leave them below and I'll be happy to answer them as soon as I can! Happy cooking!!!

QUINOA EGG 'FRIED RICE'

Fried rice is one of my favorite Asian dishes but I was looking for a healthier alternative for rice when I realized Quinoa would makes a great substitute for any rice dish. Quinoa is a very good complex carb which is made up of part protein, part carb making it take longer for your body to digest and therefore keeps you full longer. I have never made fried rice before so I looked up a couple recipes to help me and this is what I came up with. Enjoy

INGREDIENTS:

1 Cup Of Quinoa
2 Cups of Water
1.5 TBSP Teriyaki Sauce
2.5 TBSP of Soy Sauce
2/4 TBSP of Sesame Oil
1 TBSP of Olive Oil
1 Small Onion (Chopped)
2 Carrots (Peeled and Chopped)
2 Cloves of Garlic (Minced)
2 Green Onions (Chopped)
2 Eggs (whisked lightly)
1/2 Cup of Frozen Peas (thawed)
1/2 Cup of Frozen Corn (thawed)

DIRECTIONS:

Add the water to a pot and bring to a boil. Once boiling add in your quinoa, lower the heat to a simmer and cover for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes fluff the quinoa and remove from heat. Allow to cool.

In a bowl combine teriyaki sauce, soy sauce and sesame oil, mix and set aside.

Add your oil to a wok and allow to heat up on medium heat before throwing in your onions and carrots. Stir and let saute for two minutes.

Next add in your green onions and garlic - continue to saute.

Once the vegetables are nicely cooked add in your quinoa followed by the sauce mix. Stir until fully incorporated.

Next make a well/hole in the middle of the wok and add in your eggs. Allow to cook a little before scrambling.

Lastly add in your peas and corn. Mix till they are fully incorporated and warm through before plating and serving.

I hope you enjoyed this recipe as much as I do. If you have any comments please leave them below and I'll be happy to answer them as soon as I can! Happy cooking!!!

TOMATO, CUCUMBER & FETA SALAD WITH A TWIST - VEGETARIAN

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Salads are great if you are trying to lose weight. This is a extended take on a Greek Salad but with a much less complicated dressing. Its super easy to make and can be customized however you like however this salad allows you to get a vast amount of healthy minerals and nutrients you body needs to be provided while dieting.  Enjoy!!

Yields 2 Salad Servings

INGREDIENTS:

Salad
2 Vine Ripe Tomato (chopped) - anti inflammatory properties
1/2 An English Cucumber (chopped) - hydrate
1/2 a Cup of Feta (Chopped) - optional - calcium
1/4 Cup of Red Onion (Chopped Finely) - calcium, magnesium, potassium, manganese and vitamins C
Hand full of Fresh Basil (chopped roughly) - High in vitamin K - essential to building strong bones and preventing heart disease
1/2 an Avocado (chopped) - good fats and oils
1/4-1/2 a Cup of berries (I used blackberries and blue berries) - antioxidants
1-2 TBSP of Hemp hearts - protein, fatty acids, iron and vitamin E
1 TBSP of Pine Nuts (Garnish) - protein and oils

Dressing
2-3 TBSP of Olive Oil
1-2 TBSP of Balsamic Vinegar
Salt and Pepper (as desired)

DIRECTIONS

Place all ingredients for the salad in a bowl, mix dressing ingredients in a cup and drizzle on top of your salad. Serve.

I hope you enjoyed this recipe as much as I do. If you have any comments please leave them below and I'll be happy to answer them as soon as I can! Happy cooking!!!

MUSHROOMS ON TOAST

Mushrooms are a great source of Vitamin D and Iron! They are also low in calories which is great if you are watching your weight! I really like mushrooms on toast its not only delicious but a great way to boost your immune system if you are feeling run down. Mushrooms also can boost your metabolism because they have Vitamin B which is vital for turning food (carbohydrates) into fuel (glucose), which the body needs/burns to produce energy. Not to mention they taste good! Enjoy!!!

Yields 2 Pieces of Mushrooms on Toast

INGREDIENTS:

4 Cups of Mushrooms (I used a mix of Shiitake (remember to take the stems off) and Oyster mushrooms)
1-2 TBSP of Olive Oil
1/4 Cup of Fresh Sage - chopped
1/4 Cup of Fresh Thyme - chopped
2 Cloves of Garlic - minced or pressed
Salt and Pepper - as desired
Bread (Gluten free or Vegan Crackers can be used too)
 

DIRECTIONS:

Olive oil the pan and let it heat up on medium heat. Throw in your mushrooms and let that saute. The water will come out of the mushrooms.

Once the water comes out it will start to evaporate. When the water is nearly gone, throw in your garlic, sage, thyme and salt and pepper. The mushrooms will start to absorb the flavors at this point.

Continue to cook for another 10-15 minutes on medium heat. As they start to get golden brown you can reduce the heat.

Put you bread in the toaster and do your thing.

Spread the mushrooms on the toast and drizzle some of the juices from the pan on top and enjoy!

I hope you enjoyed this recipe as much as I do. If you have any comments please leave them below and I'll be happy to answer them as soon as I can! Happy cooking!!!