Crock Pot Venison Loin

Jeremy's dad gave us a venison loin, and this is the recipe I made with it.   It was tasty and slow cooking it removed the "gaminess" of the venison.  The meat was tender and just fell apart, and the gravy paired well with both the venison and our side of mashed potatoes.  You could serve the recipe with egg noodles or rice instead of potatoes.  I just used what I happened to have on hand. 

Crock Pot Venison Loin

Ingredients:
venison loin roast(s), 1-3 lbs (ours was 1 lb)
salt and pepper
flour
2 tablespoons butter
1 onion, chopped
1 garlic clove, chopped
1 cup chicken broth (or beef broth)
1 envelope Lipton Onion Soup Mix
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons red wine
1 can cream of celery soup (or cream of anything like mushroom)
1/2 teaspoon thyme
1/2 teaspoon rosemary
1 teaspoon garlic powder

Directions:
Salt and pepper the venison and dredge in flour.   In a heavy skillet, melt the butter and brown the meat on all sides.  Transfer to a slow cooker.   In the same skillet, saute the onions and garlic for just a couple minutes. Pour the broth in the skillet to deglaze pan and pour contents into the slow cooker.

Add all remaining ingredients into the crock pot.  (A larger loin might require up to an extra cup of water/broth).   Cook on low for 8-10 hours until meat is tender.   Serve over potatoes, noodles, rice, or whatever you like.

Shredded Pork and White Bean Chili

I used some of my leftover shredded pork to make this recipe.  The soup/stew/chili (whatever you want to call it) was very satisfying and heated up well the next day too.  I will try to post the recipe to the best of my recollection, but to be honest, I just threw random stuff in the pot that I happened to have on hand.

Anne's Shredded Pork and White Bean Chili

Ingredients:
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 large onion, diced
1 celery rib, sliced thin
2 carrots, peeled and sliced thin
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 tablespoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon oregano
pinch red pepper flakes
2 cups chicken broth
1 small can diced green chilies
1 can white chili beans
2 cups cooked shredded pork (or chicken)
salt and pepper, to taste
2 tablespoons chopped cilantro or parsley
Optional: sour cream, cheddar, jalapeno, cilantro, etc

Directions:
Heat oil in a large pot over medium-high heat.  Add onion, celery, and carrots, and cook until veggies are softened, about 3-5 minutes.  Stir in garlic until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in the cumin, oregano, and pepper flakes.  Add the broth, chiles, and beans, and bring to a boil.  Reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes.  Stir in the cooked shredded pork and chopped cilantro and simmer for 5 minutes until heated through.   Adjust seasoning as needed and serve with garnishes of your choice.

Slow Cooker Shredded Balsamic Pork

It's so nice when the Crockpot does all the work.  Plus, shredded pork has so many possibilities. On the first night, we just served it over rice.  The next night, I used a bunch in a White Bean Chili (see recipe).  I also used some leftover pork and made little lettuce wraps for a healthy lunch.  All delicious.

Slow Cooker Shredded Balsamic Pork 

Recipe found online somewhere

Ingredients:

2 pound boneless pork sirloin roast

salt and pepper, to taste

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes

1/3 cup chicken broth

1/3 cup balsamic vinegar

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

1 tablespoon honey

Directions:

Season the pork with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and red pepper flakes, and place it in the slow cooker.  

Whisk together all the other ingredients and pour over the pork.  Let cook for 3-4 hours on high or 6-8 hours on low.

Once the pork is tender, remove from the slow cooker and shred using two forks.  Return the shredded pork to the slow cooker and ladle sauce over the pork.  Serve on rice, buns, lettuce, whatever.

To make wraps, I used Boston lettuce leaves, added the shredded pork, and topped with cucumbers, yellow bell peppers, shredded carrots, and avocado.  

Grilled Rosemary Chicken Breasts

I wanted to use some fresh rosemary before I dried the rest of it, so I made this recipe.  Very tasty and juicy chicken.  I'd use this recipe again.

Grilled Rosemary Chicken Breasts
Recipe adapted from one found on allrecipes 
Serves 2

Ingredients:
4 garlic cloves, minced
1&1/2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon minced fresh rosemary
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
2 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves

Directions:
In a small bowl, whisk together all the marinade ingredients. Pour into a large resealable plastic bag, saving ~1/8 cup for basting.  Add the chicken to the bag and massage marinade into chicken. Refrigerate if not using immediately.  When ready to grill, let bag sit at room temperature for 30 minutes.

Place chicken on preheated grill over medium-high heat and cook for 4-5 minutes.  Turn over, and use the reserved marinade to baste the top of the chicken breasts.  Grill another 5 minutes until cooked through. 

Basil-Honey Dressing

This dressing is fabulous.  Sweet and herblicious without being overpowering.  I currently have an excess of basil in my garden, so this was a delicious way to use it.  I used it on a salad I threw together, but I think it would be good tossed with pasta or veggies or even as meat marinade.

Basil-Honey Dressing
Found online at webpage: Shockingly Delicious

Ingredients:
1/2 cup packed fresh basil leaves (I probably used more)
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1/3 cup olive oil
pinch salt

Directions:
Blend it all together with blender, food processor, immersion blender, whatever.  Serve.   Keeps for 1 week stored covered in the fridge.

Lemon-Thyme Cod with Garlic Potatoes

The grocery store had cod fillets on sale, so I found this recipe which also used fresh thyme from my herb garden.  It was good enough to make again I thought, but next time I'd only use one baking potato instead of two.

Lemon-Herb Cod with Crispy Garlic Potatoes

from The Complete Cooking for Two Cookbook

Serves 2

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon olive oil

2 russet potatoes, sliced 1/4" thick

2 garlic cloves, minced

salt and pepper

2 (6-8oz) skinless cod fillets

1 tablespoon butter, cut into 4 pieces

2 sprigs fresh thyme

1/2 lemon, thinly sliced

Directions:

Coat a baking dish with cooking spray or oil.  Toss potatoes with olive oil, garlic, salt, and pepper.  Shingle potatoes in the baking dish in 2 long piles.  Roast at 425º for 30-35 minutes until spotty brown and just tender.

Pat cod dry with paper towels and season with salt and pepper.  Place 1 fillet over each pile of potatoes.  Top with butter pieces, thyme sprigs, and lemon slices.  Roast for about 15 minutes until fish flakes easily and reaches 140º.  Slide spatula under potatoes and fish to transfer to plates.

Butterfinger Freezer Dessert

This is just a yummy cool summertime dessert that everyone seems to love.  It's easy and it's no-bake.  Win-win.  I brought it to my family's Father's Day get-together.

Butterfinger Freezer Dessert

Ingredients:
2 cups crushed graham crackers
1 cup crushed saltine crackers
1/2 cup butter, melted
2 packages (3.4oz each) instant vanilla pudding mix
2 cups cold milk
1 quart butter pecan ice cream, softened
1 carton (8 oz) whipped topping, thawed
1 Butterfinger candy bar, chopped

Directions:
In a medium bowl, combine the cracker crumbs and melted butter.  Pat 3/4 of the mixture into a 13x9" baking pan.  Save the other 1/4 for the topping.  Refrigerate pan.

In a large bowl, whisk together the milk and pudding mix for 2 minutes until pudding thickens.  Stir in the softened ice cream until blended.  Spread over the chilled crust.  Spoon the whipped topping over the pudding layer and spread evenly.

Combine the candy bar and 1/4 cup cracker mixture and sprinkle evenly over the whipped topping.  Cover and freeze for at least 2 hours.

Toffee Bits Triangles

I had some leftover chocolate chips and toffee bits, so I found this recipe online to use them up with other standard pantry ingredients I already had on hand.  I made a half-batch since that's what I had for ingredients, and they turned out pretty good. Maybe more than good.  I ate way too many.

Toffee Bits Triangles
from Hershey's online recipe

Ingredients:
1 cup butter, softened
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 egg yolk
2 cups flour
8 oz pkg (1&1/3 cups) Heath Bits 'o Brickle Toffee Bits
12 oz pkg (2 cups) chocolate chips

Directions:
Beat butter and sugar in large bowl on medium speed. Add vanilla and egg yolk and beat until well mixed.  Stir in flour and 1 cup of the toffee bits.

Press mixture into a 15x10" jelly roll pan (I recommend lining it with parchment paper for easier cleanup).  Bake at 350º for 16-20 minutes or until light brown.  

Immediately sprinkle chocolate chips over top while still hot.  Wait 5 minutes to allow chips to melt, then spread chocolate evenly.  Sprinkle remaining toffee bits over top.  Cool completely.  Cut into squares, then triangles.

Butterscotch Pudding Pretzel Cookies

I decided to try a different cookie recipe and thought these sounded interesting.  I liked the combination of the salty pretzel with the sweet cookie with butterscotch and toffee bits.  I made half the batch with chocolate chips added in and half without.  I preferred the addition of the chocolate chips.

Butterscotch Pudding Pretzel Cookies
Makes 4 dozen cookies

Ingredients:
2&1/2 cups flour
1/2 tablespoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 box (4-serving size) butterscotch instant pudding mix
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups mini pretzel twists, coarsely crushed
1 cup butterscotch chips
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup milk chocolate toffee bits

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350º

In a large bowl, beat softened butter and sugars on medium speed until fluffy.  Beat in dry pudding mix, then beat in eggs, one at a time, until smooth.  Stir in vanilla.   In a separate bowl, mix together the flour, soda, and salt, then beat into the cookie batter on low speed.  Stir in the crushed pretzels, butterscotch chips, chocolate chips, and toffee bits.

Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheet.  Bake at 350º for 9-11 minutes until lightly brown.  Cool 2 minutes, then transfer to cooling rack to cool completely.

Chicken Adobo and Zucchini Fritters with Cilantro-Lime Sauce

Happy Cinco de Mayo!  Jeremy wanted tacos to celebrate the Mexican holiday, but we have tacos often, so I decided to go another route.  The Chicken Adobo was tasty, just on the edge of being too spicy for me and left my lips tingling a bit from the chipotles. The rice was a nice counter-balance to that.  I realized I forgot to cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces but the recipe still worked with them as whole thighs. The zucchini fritters were good.  I liked them more than Jeremy did.  They could have used a little more seasoning overall, but the Cilantro-Lime Sauce did it a big favor.

Chicken Adobo

Recipe from America's Test Kitchen: The Best Mexican Recipes

Serves 4

Ingredients:

3 tablespoons minced canned chipotle chile in adobo sauce

3 garlic cloves, minced

2 teaspoons dried oregano

1/2 tablespoon instant espresso powder (I left this out)

salt and pepper

1&1/2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs, trimmed and cut into 2-inch pieces

2 tablespoons vegetable oil (I used grapeseed oil)

1 onion, chopped

1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes, run in food processor until smooth

3 tablespoons molasses

1 tablespoon minced fresh cilantro or parsley

Rice (cook according to package instructions)

Directions:

Combine chipotles, garlic, oregano, espresso powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in large bowl.   Pat chicken dry with paper towels, then coat completely with chipotle mixture.  Set aside.

Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until just smoking.  Sear chicken until golden brown on both sides, about 3 minutes per side; transfer to a plate.

Heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil in the skillet over medium heat until shimmering.  Add onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.  Stir in molasses and tomatoes, and return chicken to the skillet along with any accumulated juices.    Cover, reduce heat, and simmer until chicken is fully cooked and sauce has thickened, about 10 minutes.  Season with salt and pepper to taste.  Serve chicken over rice and spoon sauce over everything.  Sprinkle with cilantro.

*****

Zucchini Fritters with Cilantro-Lime Sauce

Recipe from America's Test Kitchen: The Best Mexican Recipes

Serves 4 (3 fritters per serving)

Ingredients:

1&1/2 lbs zucchini, shredded with large holes of a cheese grater

salt and pepper

6 ounces Monterey Jack cheese, shredded (1&1/2 cups)

2 large eggs, lightly beaten

2 jalapeño peppers, seeded and minced

2 scallions, minced

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1 teaspoon ground coriander

1 garlic clove, minced

2 tablespoons minced fresh cilantro

1/4 cup flour

2-4 tablespooons vegetable oil (I used grapeseed oil)

Sauce:

1/2 cup sour cream

2 tablespoons olive oil

1/4 cup minced fresh cilantro

1 teaspoon grated lime zest

1 tablespoon fresh lime juice

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

Directions:

Whisk together the sauce ingredients in a small bowl; cover and refrigerate until ready to eat.

Toss zucchini with 1 teaspoon salt and let drain in a fine-mesh strainer for 10 minutes.  Wrap zucchini in a clean dish towel and wring out excess liquid.  Transfer to a large bowl and stir in the shredded cheese, eggs, jalapeños, scallions, oregano, coriander, garlic, 1/4 teaspoon pepper, and cilantro.  Sprinkle flour over mixture and stir to incorporate.

Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large skillet over medium heat until shimmering.  Drop 1/4 cup portions of batter into skillet and use the back of a flipper to press into ~3-inch-wide fritters.  You should be able to fit 6 fritters in one pan.  Cook until well browned and slightly crispy, about 5 minutes per side.  Repeat with remaining batter.  Season with salt and pepper to taste.  Serve warm with the cilantro-lime sauce.

Dulce de Leche Banana Cream Pie

I decided to try a new recipe for Easter.  It was good, but there was a little too much caramel which was too runny in the bottom layer, making a mess in the pie plate.  I was surprised that it never set because I had refrigerated the pie for a full 24 hours.  It still tasted good though, and it was really easy to prepare.  I much prefer my other Banana Cream Pie recipe which is more of a Banana Pudding Cream Pie and I'd stick with that next time.  Still, here is the recipe for all the caramel lovers.  The only changes I made to the original recipe were using a pre-made graham cracker crust and store-bought whipped cream to save time, and those changes are reflected in the directions.

Dulce de Leche Banana Cream Pie
Adapted from Food Network Channel website

Ingredients:
1 graham cracker crust
4 oz cream cheese, at room temperature
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) butter, at room temperature
2 tablespoons powdered sugar
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 (8 oz) tub of Cool Whip
1 cup store-bought dulce de leche (Caramel Sweetened Condensed Milk)
3 medium bananas, sliced
1/2 cup chopped roasted unsalted peanuts (for garnish)

Directions:
Using a hand-held mixer, whip the cream and butter at medium speed until fluffy.  Add the powdered sugar and cinnamon, and whip at low speed until just combined.  Fold in the whipped cream.

Spread the dulce de leche over the crust and top with the sliced bananas, forming 2 layers of bananas if necessary.  Spread the whipped topping mixture over the top.  Refrigerate until set, at least 2 hours.
To serve, top the pie with a border of chopped peanuts.  Warm some dulce de leche in the microwave until melted and drizzle over the pie.

Roasted Kohlrabi Chips

I made these as a healthy Superbowl snack because I had some leftover kohlrabi bulbs I needed to use up.  They were okay for a vegetable.  I think they would be perfectly fine as a side dish to a meal, but it wasn't a craveable snack item to me (like potato chips).  The burnt crispy ones actually tasted the best.  Jeremy agreed.

Roasted Kohlrabi

Ingredients:
4 kohlrabi bulbs, peeled
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 clove garlic, minced
salt and pepper
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Directions:
Cut the kohlrabi into 1/4" thick slices and then cut in half.  

In a medium bowl, combine the olive oil, garlic, and salt and pepper to taste.  Toss the kohlrabi slices in the olive oil mixture until well coated.  Spread kohlrabi on a baking sheet.

Bake at 450º for 15-20 minutes until browned, stirring occasionally.  Remove from oven and sprinkle the Parmesan cheese over the Kohlrabi.  Return to oven and bake another 5 minutes.

Shrimp & Kohlrabi Tortilla Soup

I'm pretty sure I haven't cooked with kohlrabi before.  In this recipe, the kohlrabi strips take the place of traditional tortilla strips as the crunchy aspect.   I liked the soup, especially the shrimp and avocados.  Next time, I'd cut back on the broth by a cup or two because it slightly watered down the soup.  Still tasty though--and really fast to make for a quick lunch.  The prep takes longer than the actual cooking.

Shrimp & Kohlrabi Tortilla Soup
from Inspiralize Everything
Serves 4 to 6

Ingredients:
1 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 small onion, diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 large jalapeno, seeded and diced
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
6 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1 (15oz) can fire-roasted diced tomatoes
1 (15 oz) can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 pound medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 avocado, sliced
juice of 2 small limes
1 cup roughly chopped cilantro leaves
1 medium kohlrabi, peeled and spiralized into thin, short strips (or use a cheese grater)
salt and pepper

Directions:
Heat the olive oil in a large stock pot over medium-high heat.  Add the onions and cook for about 3 minutes until softened.  Add in the garlic and jalapeno and cook another 30 seconds.  Stir in the chili powder, oregano, cumin, and paprika.

Add the broth, tomatoes, and beans to the pot.  Increase heat to high and bring to boil.  Reduce heat to low and add the shrimp, avocado, and lime juice.  Simmer for 5 minutes until the shrimp are pink and cooked through.

Stir in the cilantro and kohlrabi noodles, season with salt and pepper to taste, and simmer for 1 minute.  Ladle the soup into bowls and serve.

Nutrition:  384 calories, 15g fiber, 36g protein

Blueberry Phyllo Turnovers

I was craving something sweet and I knew I had blueberries and phyllo sheets taking up space in the freezer.  I decided to google search the combo, and found a few recipes online for strudels and turnovers.  This is my version.  Try to stop yourself from eating more than one.  Wow, they're good-- especially still warm from the oven with a little whipped cream.  Yum.

Blueberry Phyllo Turnovers
Makes 8-10 Turnovers

Ingredients:
3 cups fresh or frozen blueberries
1 tablespoon honey
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon lemon juice
2 teaspoons arrowroot or cornstarch
1/2 box (1 roll) Phyllo Dough, defrosted
4 tablespoons butter, melted  (or cooking spray if you wanna be healthy)
sugar for sprinkling (optional)

Directions:
In a medium saucepan over medium heat, add the blueberries, honey, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, lemon juice, and cornstarch.  Cook until blueberries are bubbling, then reduce to low and simmer a couple minutes.  Remove from the heat and let cool completely.

Place a single phyllo sheet on a clean counter and brush the phyllo with melted butter (or spray with cooking spray for a healthier version). Place another phyllo sheet directly on top of the first and brush that with butter too.  Repeat until there are 4 stacked sheets (the top one doesn't need butter).  Use a knife or pizza cutter to cut the stacked sheets in half lengthwise so you have two long rectangles.   Each long rectangle will make 1 turnover.  (Note: Keep phyllo sheets you are not working with under plastic and a damp towel so they don't rip and crumble as you work with them.) 

Place 2 tablespoons of the blueberry mixture on the far end of one of the rectangles, keeping a 1-inch border of phyllo around it.  Fold the dough at a 45º angle to create a triangle over the blueberries.  Repeat again, and continue to fold into triangles, enclosing the blueberries in the dough.  Place seam-side down on a baking sheet lined with parchment or a Silpat mat.   Repeat steps for the remaining dough until you run out of sheets or blueberries.

If desired, brush the tops of the turnovers with melted butter or cooking spray and sprinkle with sugar.   Bake at 375º for about 15 minutes until golden brown.   Let cool on a wire rack for at least 5-10 minutes before serving.

Venison Chili

We had some ground venison in our freezer to use, so I thawed it out to make this chili recipe I found online.  I liked it.  I couldn't detect any gaminess from the venison.  I would have assumed it was ground beef.   The chili had just enough heat for my taste and it was hearty and perfect for a cold winter evening.  I served it with a cornbread muffin.  Yum.

Venison Chili
Serves 4

Ingredients:
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 onion, chopped
1 green bell pepper, seeded and chopped
2 tablespoons chili powder
1/2 tablespoon cumin
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 pound ground venison
1 (~15oz) can kidney beans, drained and rinsed (or any red chili bean)
1 (~15oz) can diced tomatoes, undrained
1 (~15oz) can tomato puree
shredded cheese, sour cream, scallions, or whatever you like

Directions:
Heat oil in a large stock pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat.  Add onions, bell pepper, chili powder, cumin, cayenne pepper, salt, and pepper.  Cook until veggies are soft, about 5 minutes.  Stir in garlic and cook for 30 seconds.

Add venison and cook, breaking up clumps with a spoon, until the venison is no longer pink, about 5 minutes.

Stir in the beans, tomatoes, and tomato puree.  Lower heat to a simmer, cover, and cook for 30 minutes.   Remove lid and continue to simmer another 30 minutes.  Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Serve with whatever toppings you like with your chili.

Cucumber, Avocado, and Strawberry Salad

I've been a spiralizing maniac lately.  The cookbook named this as a salsa to use as a dip for chips, but I decided to add feta and walnuts and make a nice lunchtime salad out of it and ditch the chips.  I added a greek yogurt on the side for some protein, and it was a completely delicious and satisfying lunch.   I liked the combo of crunchiness from the cucumber noodles and walnuts along with the creaminess of the avocado and feta.  The strawberries added a lovely sweet note.

Cucumber, Avocado, and Strawberry Salad
adapted from Inspiralized
Makes 2 salads

Ingredients:
1 large seedless cucumber
1&1/2 cups hulled and chopped strawberries
1 ripe avocado, diced
1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro
1 small jalapeno, seeded and minced
1/3 cup finely chopped red onion
1 tablespoon honey
juice of 1 lime
salt and pepper
2 tablespoons crumbled feta cheese
2 tablespoons chopped walnuts

Directions:
Spiralize the cucumber and trim into small strands.  Pat with paper towels to absorb excess moisture.

In a large bowl, combine the cucumber noodles, strawberries, avocado, cilantro, jalapeno, and onion.
In a small bowl, whisk together the lime juice and honey, and season with a little salt and pepper.

Pour the dressing over the salad and toss to coat.   Divide salad between two plates and top with feta and walnuts.   Serve.

Shrimp and Zoodles with Roasted Red Bell Pepper Sauce

The original recipe was for seared scallops, but shrimp are more affordable and I had them on hand, so I made that slight alteration to the cookbook.  It tasted really good.  I got a little kick to the sauce from the red pepper flakes.

Zucchini Noodles with Roasted Red Bell Pepper Sauce
Recipe from Inspiralize Everything
Serves 2

Ingredients:
2 red bell peppers
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/4 cup diced onion
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/3 cup low-sodium chicken broth
2 medium zucchini, spiralized into spaghetti noodles
6 large scallops (or substitute shrimp or whatever)
salt and pepper
1 tablespoon fresh parsley, for garnish

Directions:
Slice off the tops and bottoms of the peppers, cut them in half lengthwise, and remove the seeds.  Place them cut-side up on a baking sheet coated with baking spray.  Roast at 425º for 25 minutes.  Transfer to a food processor and pulse until mostly smooth.  Set aside.

Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a skillet over medium heat.  Add the garlic, onion, and red pepper flakes, and saute until the onion is soft, about 5 minutes.  Stir in the bell pepper puree and the oregano, and then add the broth.  Cook for 5 to 7 minutes or until the mixture thickens.  Reduce heat to low and simmer to allow the flavors to develop.

Meanwhile, heat a separate skillet over medium-high heat.  Add the zucchini noodles and cook for 3 to 5 minutes or until al dente.  Add noodles to the bell pepper sauce and toss to coat.

Add 1/2- 1 tablespoon oil to the empty skillet and heat over medium high.  Season the scallops (or shrimp) with salt and pepper and add to the heated skillet.  Cook for 2 minutes per side or until opaque and cooked through.

Divide the sauced noodles between two plates and top with the seared scallops.  Garnish with parsley.

Nutritional Info:  239 calories, 14 g protein, 5 g fiber

Chicken Cacciatore over Rutabaga Noodles

I'm trying to eat healthier, so I decided to give spiralized rutabaga a try instead of traditional pasta.  The rutabaga has fewer calories, more fiber, more vitamins/minerals, and no gluten.  And it was actually pretty tasty in this dish.  Did it taste exactly like pasta? No, of course not, but it was a close enough substitute that still tasted good and filled me up.  The chicken and veggie sauce was the real star of this recipe.  Delicious.   My only notes: 2 small rutabagas would be plenty for 4 servings, and I'd be careful not to over-salt the noodles before baking.

Chicken Cacciatore over Rutabaga Noodles
from Inspiralize Everything 
Serves 4

Ingredients:
3 small rutabagas, peeled and spiralized into thin spaghetti strands
cooking spray
1 teaspoon garlic powder
salt and pepper
1/2 cup almond flour
1&1/4 lbs skin-on, bone-in chicken thighs
2 carrots, diced
1 large red bell pepper, diced
1 medium onion, diced
2 large garlic gloves, minced
1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/2 cup dry white wine
1 (28-oz) can diced tomatoes
1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
1&1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil (optional)

Directions:
Lay the rutabaga noodles on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper (I needed two sheets for all the noodles) and spray them with cooking spray.  Sprinkle with garlic powder and a little salt and pepper.  Bake at 425º for 20 minutes or until al dente.

Meanwhile, season the almond flour with a little salt and pepper and dredge the chicken in the flour, pressing to adhere.  Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and coat with cooking spray.  Add the chicken and cook until browned on the outside, about 5 minutes per side (it won't be cooked through yet).  Transfer to a plate and set aside.

To the skillet, add the carrots, bell pepper, onion, garlic, rosemary, and red pepper flakes.  Season with salt and pepper.  Cook for 5 minutes until the veggies are softened.  Add the wine and simmer until reduced by half, about 5 minutes.  Add the tomatoes and their juices, broth, and oregano.

Return the chicken to the skillet, nestling them into the veggies, and spoon some sauce over the top.  Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 20-30 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through.

Transfer the chicken to a plate and add the cooked rutabaga noodles to the skillet, tossing to coat.  Cook for about 2 minutes or until the flavors are melded.  

Divide the rutabaga noodles and veggies among 4 plates and top with the chicken.  Garnish with fresh basil if on hand and serve.

Blueberry Sweet Potato Waffles

Apparently, I'm on a sweet potato craze.  Actually, I had some blueberries in my fridge on the edge of being thrown away, so when I saw this recipe in the cookbook, I thought it would be a good way to prevent them from going to waste.  I hate throwing away produce.  The flavor of these waffles was surprisingly good even if the shape didn't turn out as perfectly as the cookbook photo.  I added a couple turkey sausage links for protein, and I was completely full and satisfied.  My batch of spiralized sweet potatoes made 4 small waffles.  I saved 2 for tomorrow morning.

Blueberry Sweet Potato Waffles
from Inspiralized Cookbook
Makes 2 large waffles or 4 small waffles

Ingredients:
1 medium sweet potato, peeled and spiralized into noodles
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup fresh blueberries (plus extra for serving, if desired)
1 tablespoon pure maple syrup

Directions:
Place the sweet potato noodles in a large bowl and toss with the cinnamon.   Heat a large skillet over medium heat and coat with cooking spray.  Once heated, add the sweet potato noodles and cook, covered, for 5-7 minutes until the potatoes have completely softened.

Meanwhile, preheat a waffle iron.  In the large bowl, whisk the egg and vanilla.  Stir in the blueberries and cooked sweet potato noodles.

Coat the waffle iron with cooking spray and carefully pour in half the noodle mixture, making sure to fill all the cavities.  Cook the waffle until done, transfer to a plate, and repeat for the last half of the mixture.   Drizzle a little maple syrup over each waffle and serve.

1 large waffle + 1/2 Tablespoon Syrup= 150 calories, 4g protein, 13g sugar, 3g fat

Chocolate Chip Sweet Potato Muffins

I saw this recipe in a cookbook and decided to put my new Spiralizer to work.  I wanted a sweet yet somewhat healthy treat in the house to help prevent me from eating the cookies and ice cream that Jeremy likes to keep around.  I didn't expect the muffins to taste much like muffins since there was no flour in the recipe, but they did!  An extremely moist muffin.  The sweet potato, coconut, honey, and chocolate chips all provided more than enough sweetness.  I made a double batch because I got 2 cups of potato from my sweet potato.

Chocolate Chip Sweet Potato Muffins
from Inspiralized Cookbook
Makes 6 muffins

Ingredients:
1 small sweet potato, peeled and spiralized into spaghetti strands
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2 tablespoons coconut flakes
salt
1 large egg plus 1 egg white
2 tablespoons honey
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 -1/3 cup chocolate chips

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 375º  Lightly coat a muffin tin with cooking spray.

Throw the sweet potato strands into a food processor and pulse a few times until it resembles rice.

In a medium bowl, combine the sweet potato, cinnamon, baking soda, coconut flakes, and a pinch of salt.  Mix in the egg, egg white, honey, and vanilla.  Fold in the chocolate chips.

Spoon the mixture into the muffin tins, filling 3/4 full.  Bake 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.   Let cool 5 minutes on a rack.

Store in an airtight container.

Veggie and Rice Stuffed Peppers

I saw this recipe from Thug Kitchen and wanted to give it a try as part of my attempt to eat healthier.  Veggies stuffed in a veggie--why not? The original recipe can be found at Thug Kitchen if you want the funny foul-mouthed version.  It called for grilling, but it's too cold and snowy to grill, so I baked mine in the oven instead and then sprinkled on some optional feta and crumbled cooked bacon and broiled it for a couple minutes longer.   I liked the salty addition of the bacon and feta and I'm glad I did that.  Overall, the flavor was good.  I was completely full.  Jeremy wished there had been more meat (of course).   I have a lot of leftover bean and rice filling because I only used 2 large peppers, so I might put that in a tortilla or lettuce wrap for lunch the next couple days.

Veggie and Rice Stuffed Peppers
Recipe adapted from Thug Kitchen
Makes 8 half peppers or 4 whole peppers

Ingredients:
4 large bell peppers
1 cup brown Basmati or other long-grain brown rice
1 large tomato
1 large carrot
1 zucchini
1 medium onion
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 teaspoons dried oregano
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
2 cups water
1 tablespoon sherry vinegar (or red wine vinegar)
4 cloves garlic
juice of 1 lemon
salt and pepper to taste

Bean mixture:
1 can (15oz) any white creamy bean (I used Great Northern Beans)
2 tablespoons chopped onion
2 tablespoons sherry vinegar (or red wine vinegar)
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano

crumbled cooked bacon (optional)
crumbled feta cheese (optional)

Directions:
In a food processor, puree the tomato into pulpy juice (makes about 1 cup) and set aside in a small bowl.  Chop the carrot, zucchini, and onion into dime-sized pieces.  Set aside 2 tablespoons of the chopped onion for the bean mixture.  

In a big pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat.  Add the rest of the chopped onion (except the 2 tablespoons) and cook about 5 minutes.  Add the carrot, zucchini, oregano, thyme, and paprika and cook for 1 minute.   Add the rice, pureed tomato, water, and a pinch of salt, and bring it to a boil.  Reduce heat, cover the pot, and simmer for 30-40 minutes until water is absorbed and rice is done.

Meanwhile, into the dirty food processor, throw the beans, 2 tablespoons onion, olive oil, vinegar, and oregano.  Process until mostly smooth.

Chop the bell peppers in half (or just chop off the top to stuff deeper) and scrape out the seeds.  Add a couple heaping spoonfuls of the bean mixture into the bottom of each pepper and spread around.  Add spoonfuls of the cooked rice until it is packed in and mounded on top.   Grill at medium-low for 10-15 minutes.  Or-- put the peppers in a glass baking dish and bake at 375º for 30-40 minutes.  If desired, sprinkle some feta cheese and/or bacon on top of the peppers after they have cooked and return to the oven.  Broil for a couple minutes to soften the feta.  Serve warm.