Wholesome Vegetable Bake

hlthy2 Wholesome Vegetable Bake - This wholesome, healthy vegetable casserole is a little exotic with it’s flash of crimson red color! Convenient, canned tomatoes and beets, (or fresh if you have them), are the heart of this no fuss casserole, that also has some creamy cheese mixed in. Oven baked in only 20 Minutes, it’s perfect when you don’t have a lot of time.

Prep Time: 5-10 mins
Cook Time: 20 mins
Servings: 4-6
Main Ingredient: Tomatoes, Beets
Difficulty Level: 1

Ingredients to make Wholesome Vegetable Bake

2 Cans, sliced beets
2 Cans stewed tomatoes
1/2 cup grated cheese
2 cups bread crumbs
2 Olive Oil
salt and pepper to taste

Directions to make Wholesome Vegetable Bake

Step 1:Put 1/2 beets in bottom of greased baking dish. Add half the tomatoes then half the cheese in layers. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Add 1/2 bread crumbs. Dot with 1 tablespoon oil. Repeat layers.
Step 2:Bake in preheated 350 degree oven 20 minutes.

Image Source: stu_spivack

Stovetop Beef Stew

hthy Stovetop Beef Stew - This fix-it-and-forget-it beef stew recipe is a huge pot of healthy goodness. Big chunks of fresh veggies and meaty chuck steak are mixed with fragrant garlic and herbs and slowly simmered to a melt in your mouth tenderness. If you are lucky enough to have leftovers, this easy healthy dinner reheats very well for lunch the next day.

Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 125 mins
Servings: 6-8
Main Ingredient: Beef Chuck Steak
Difficulty Level: 1

Ingredients to make Stovetop Beef Stew

3 large New potatoes, cut in small chunks
3 pounds Chuck steak
1 cup Fresh string beans, cut in 1-1/2 inch cubes
2 cups Red onion, coarsely sliced
1/2 package Frozen baby green peas
10 milliliters Garlic, minced
1 small Bay leaf
1 cup Dry red wine
pn Basil
1 can 28oz Whole tomatoes, in puree
pn Thyme
pn Oregano
4 Carrots, peeled and cut in small chunks
salt and pepper to taste

** if you only have tomatoes in liquid, not puree, dump the liquid and add tomato paste, to get puree texture

Directions to make Stovetop Beef Stew

Step 1:Heat a large dutch oven until very hot and add the beef cubes. Sear; when browned all over add the red onions and garlic and saute for a minute or two with the beef. Add the wine and allow to cook on high heat for one minute, lower heat to just above a simmer, add the tomatoes and stir to incorporate the ingredients in the tomatoes.
Step 2:Add the rest of the ingredients, except the salt and pepper, give them a few good stirs and cook for about 2 hours, or until the beef is tender, stirring frequently.
Step 3:Check often to insure that there is liquid in the pot. If you see it drying out, add some water, 1/2 cup at a time. Cook with the pot partially covered for the entire time. Taste and adjust seasoning with herbs, salt and pepper and enjoy!

Image Source: avlxyz

Steamed Salmon Veggies and Black Beans

hlthy1 Steamed Salmon Veggies and Black Beans -This homemeade, healthy dinner recipe is so delicious, and so, so simple! Fresh, juicy salmon fillets, steamed, a pleasant array of colors, from the peppers, and some rich, black beans, adding to it’s wonderful colorful appearance. It also has it;s own sauce, recipe included, which tops this super quick and easy recipe perfectly. Another “Less Than 30 Minute Meal”!

Prep Time: 10-15 mins
Cook Time: 5-8 mins
Servings: 2
Main Ingredient: Salmon
Difficulty Level: 2

Ingredients to make Steamed Salmon Veggies and Black Beans

2 ea Salmon, fillets, skin removed, @ 4 oz, each
1 ea Pepper, red bell
1 ea Pepper, green bell
2 tb Bamboo shoots, shredded
2 ts Black Beans, fermented
12 ea Ginger, slivered, julienned
4 ts Scallion, white only, shredded
2 tb Soy Sauce
1 tb Chicken Stock
1 pn Pepper, white, ground
1 ds Oil, vegetable
1 ds Oil, sesame

Directions to make Steamed Salmon Veggies and Black Beans

Step 1:If fillets are thicker than 1/2 to 5/8 inch, carefully cut in half horizontally (as you would an English muffin). Trim each into a neat 4-inch square. Cut off tops and bottoms of peppers to leave a band about 2 inches wide; remove seeds and ribs. Cut two 4-inch long rectangular pieces from each. Cut into 1/8-inch julienne, leaving pieces grouped in a neat rectangle.
Step 2:Place salmon on an oiled steamer tray or plate. Use a cleaver or knife blade to transfer pepper rectangles to fish, completely covering each fillet. Scatter bamboo shoots over the fish, then sprinkle with black beans, ginger and scallions.
Step 3:In small bowl, stir together soy sauce, chicken stock, white pepper, vegetable oil and sesame oil. Pour mixture over. Steam in covered steamer (making sure that water boils steadily but does not boil away) until just cooked through and opaque, 5 to 8 minutes (timing varies according to thickness of fish). Carefully transfer to serving plate, spoon sauce around and serve immediately.

Image Source: Daniel Panev

Grilled Salmon and Fruit Salad

hly_slm Grilled Salmon and Fruit Salad - This marvelous mix of fruit, vegetables, and grilled salmon recipe is naturally sweet and secretly simple. A dark green medley of salad greens, tossed with crisp cucumbers, and crimson red strawberries, topped with still warm grilled salmon fillets. A homemade sweet and sassy juice mixture, recipe included, tops this quick, easy healthy salad.

Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 10 mins
Servings: 2
Main Ingredient: Salmon, Salad Greens, Fruit
Difficulty Level: 1

Ingredients to make Grilled Salmon and Fruit Salad

1/4 c. frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed
1 T. + 1-1/2 tsp. white wine vinegar or cider vinegar
1 T. chopped fresh basil OR 1 tsp. dried basil leaves
1-1/2 tsp. olive oil
1 (8-oz.) salmon fillet (about 1-in. thick)
4 c. torn mixed greens
3/4 c. sliced strawberries
10-12 thin cucumber slices, cut into halves
1/8 tsp. coarsely ground black pepper

Directions to make Grilled Salmon and Fruit Salad

Step 1:Whish together the first 4 ingredients. Set aside 2 T. juice mixture. Reserve remaining mixture to use as salad dressing.
Step 2:Preheat grill for direct grilling. Grill salmon, skin side down, over medium coals 5 minutes. Turn and grill 5 minutes or until fish flakes easily with a fork, brushing frequently with 2 T. juice concentrate mixture.
Step 3:Cool slightly. Toss together greens, strawberries and cucumber slices. Place on 2 serving plates. Remove skin from salmon. Break salmon into chunks. Arrange salmon on greens mixture. Drizzle with reserved juice concentrate mixture. Sprinkle with pepper.

Image Source: ohdearbarb

Best Saucy Chicken

hlthy Best Saucy Chicken - This tangy, stir fried, sauced chicken recipe is foolproof, and Low Cal! With Oriental inspirations, we made this homemade version, and took out all the sodium and fat,but not the fantastic flavor! This healthy chicken recipe is a quick and easy, Low Cal dinner recipe, we guarantee you will love.

Prep Time: 5-10 mins
Cook Time: 10 mins
Servings: 4
Main Ingredient: Chicken Breast
Difficulty Level: 2

Ingredients to make Best Saucy Chicken

1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into strips
2 cup cooked white rice, kept hot
Rind of a small orange sliced into thin strips
1 1/2 Tbsp cornstarch
3/4 cup canned chicken broth, reduced-sodium
2 Tbsp sugar
1 Tbsp white wine vinegar
2 tsp peanut oil
1/2 tsp ground ginger
2 medium garlic cloves, minced
2 Tbsp low-sodium soy sauce
2 medium scallions, chopped
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes, or 1 dried chili pepper, minced
1 tbsp sesame seeds

Directions to make Best Saucy Chicken

Step 1:Stir fry chicken strips, in oil in a skillet. In a bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, broth, sugar, cornstarch, ginger, and vinegar, then set aside.
Step 2:Now mix in the sauce and let simmer until the chicken is cooked all the way through and the sauce starts to get thick, this should take approximately 3-4 minutes. On a plate, serve chicken and sauce over rice and garnish with a sprinkle of sesame seeds.
Step 3:**For added nutritional value, substitute the white rice with brown rice

Image Source: avlxyz

Healthy Produce Hint

September 15, 2009 by Firehouse Chef  
Filed under Easy, Easy Healthy Recipes, healthy

htyScrub the skins on potatoes, carrots, apples, and peaches and eat them as part of a healthful diet. Peeling off the skin removes antioxidants and bioflavinoids known for their health benefits of protecting against heart disease and cancer.

Low Carb Lunch Salad

hly Low Carb Lunch Salad - This creamy, crunchy, healthy lunch salad recipe is just perfect in every way. Overflowing with deliously, nutritious fresh veggies, toasted nuts, and a tangy, creamy dressing, that is homemade. Also a sensational side dish, especially in warm weather. If you like broccoli, this quick easy recipe is just for you!

Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 0 mins
Servings: 6
Main Ingredient: Broccoli
Difficulty Level: 1

Ingredients to make Low Carb Lunch Salad

Low-fat salad dressing (or mayonnaise) 1/4 cup 60 mL
Light sour cream 1/4 cup 60 mL
Chopped fresh dill (or 1 tsp., 5 mL, dill 4 tsp. 20 mL
weed)
Dijon mustard 2 tsp. 10 mL

Broccoli florets 4 cups 1 L
Grated light sharp Cheddar cheese 1 cup 250 mL
Chopped pecans, toasted 1 cup 250 mL
Dried cranberries 2 tbsp. 30 mL

Directions to make Low Carb Lunch Salad

Step 1:Combine first 4 ingredients in large bowl. Add remaining 4 ingredients. Toss well. Chill for about 1 hour until cold.

Image Source: Nikchick

Cheese Sauced Sirloin

stk_chs Cheese Sauced Sirloin - This phenomenal, melt-in-your-mouth, low carb sirloin steak recipe, is too good to be true! If you are looking to cut carbs, but still enjoy steak and a steak and cheese meal, this is a “Must Try”. Adapted from a philly steak sandwich, this saucy healthy beef recipe is so good, you won’t even be thinking about bread! A very easy, and quick recipe.

Prep Time: 5-10 mins
Cook Time: 15-25 mins
Servings: 4
Main Ingredient: Sirloin Steak, Cheese
Difficulty Level: 1

Ingredients to make Cheese Sauced Sirloin

2 lbs. good sirloin chopped up
1 8-oz package low fat cream cheese
8-oz provelone cheese
1 red pepper
1 portabella mushroom
1 onion
2 cloves of garlic
Olive oil
Lots of seasonings

Directions to make Cheese Sauced Sirloin

Step 1:Heat up skillet. Pour olive oil into pan. Saute red pepper, portabella, onion, and garlic Add salt, pepper, and any other seasonings that you like (We suggest garlic powder, paprika, and onion powder)
Step 2:Add sirloin and cook to your preferred doneness. Cut up cream cheese and provel into chunks. Add the cheeses and stir until you have made a sauce. Serve in bowls.

Image Source: stu_spivack

Kids and Hidden Vegetables

July 30, 2009 by Firehouse Chef  
Filed under Tips and Tricks

veg_spagMix pureed vegetables in with spaghetti sauce as a way to make sure that your picky eater eats the vegetables she needs to grow. Most kids love spaghetti and they won’t taste the other vegetables in the tomato sauce.

Chunky Spinach Broccoli Spread

spin_broc Chunky Spinach Broccoli Spread - This subtly spiced, vegetarian spinach and broccoli spread/dip recipe is perfect for entertaining. It’s so hefty, hearty, and healthy its more a salsa, than a spread, and you can relax and enjoy this homemeade recipe, as an appetizer, while dinner is grilling, or as a snack for quick afternoon visits.

Prep Time: 5 mins
Cook Time: 45-60 mins
Main Ingredient: Spinach, Broccoli
Difficulty Level: 1

Ingredients to make Chunky Spinach Broccoli Spread

1/4 c Extra-virgin olive oil
1 ts Whole cumin seeds
1/2 ts Crushed red pepper flakes
2 tb Fresh lime juice
1/2 ts Salt
1/4 ts Black pepper
1 lb Broccoli,cut into 1/4 inch pieces,stem included
1/4 lb Fresh spinach
1/2 c Water
2 tb Grated coconut

Directions to make Chunky Spinach Broccoli Spread

Step 1:Heat oil in non-stick frying pan over medium-low heat. Add cumin & pepper flakes & fry for 1/2 minute. Stir in lime juice, salt, pepper, vegetables & water.
Step 2:Cover & simmer until the vegetables are reduced to a chunky puree (45 to 60 minutes). Stir occasionally.
Step 3:Serve with an assortment of crakers or tortilla chips.

Image Source: sanctumsolitude

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