Haven’t tried a new recipe for a while. But last week, I had the opportunity to make something new and it was a hit. If it wasn’t a hit, trust me, I wouldn’t be blogging about i

Dinner consisted of:

-Appetizers: pita chips (homemade of course, here’s the recipe), roasted garlic, and salsa from Sabra!

 

-Salmon with Snap Peas, Yellow Peppers and Dill Pistachio Pistou, Smoked Couscous, Spinach and Almonds

The spinach was a nice addition too. #healthy

The Salmon with Snap Peas, Yellow Peppers and Dill Pistachio Pistou is want I want to share with you. Not only did the plate look amazing but it was a pretty flavourful meal too!

Here’s the recipe: (courtesy of Epicurious)

1/3 cup chopped fresh dill

1/3 cup finely chopped green onions

1/2 cup shelled or natural pistachios or almonds (I used whole almonds)

1/4 cup olive oil

2 yellow peppers cut into 1/2 inch strips

1 package of sugar snap peas, trimmed, strings removed

1 garlic clove, minced

1/4 cup water

4 – 6 ounce salmon filets

DIRECTIONS:

Mix dill, green onions, pistachios, (or almonds) and 1/4 cup oil in medium bowl. Season to taste with salt and pepper. DO AHEAD: Pistou can be made 2 hours ahead. Let stand at room temperature.

1.Heat 1/2 tablespoon oil in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add peppers and sauté until beginning to soften, about 2 minutes. Add snap peas, garlic, and 1/4 cup water;  sprinkle with salt. Sauté until vegetables are just tender and water evaporates, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to a serving dish.

2. Heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil in a skillet over medium-high heat.

3. Sprinkle salmon with salt and pepper. Place salmon, skin side down, in skillet; cook until skin is crisp, about 3 minutes. Turn salmon and cook until almost opaque in center, about 3 minutes longer.

4. Arrange salmon fillets over vegetables on platter. Spoon some pistou down center of each fillet and serve, passing remaining pistou alongside.

NOTE: This recipe was rated 5 stars out of 5 stars and they were right – it’s certainly worth 5 stars!!

Happy Cooking!!

I made kale chips a few times last year but seeing as I’m on this no carb diet..I’ve kicked it up a notch and have been making Kale Chips on a regular basis. I will be honest with you…I MISS real potato chips and I miss my relationship with popcorn. However I know that eating Kale Chips is a much healthier option for me and my body is saying thank you in a different way!!

First step: Please go to a Farmers’ Market and buy your kale. Any Farmers’ Market will do. The stuff at the grocery store is OK but not nearly as beautiful as the kale you will see at a Farmers’ Market.

2. Step Two: Wash the Kale and dry it really really well. Seriously..this is important. PS I’m not good at this step and rushing thru it but I really shouldn’t it.

3. Step Three: Take scissors and clip the leaves from the stem. This was a brilliant tip I picked up somewhere and makes your life A LOT easier when making Kale Chips

4. Step Three: Lay the kale on a baking pan. Sprinkle with salt  and drizzle with olive oil. Someone on twitter (oops I forgot who this was) suggested I try sesame oil and tamari sauce. I did and I liked it but I think I prefer just the salt and the olive oil recipe

5. Step Four: Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 8 minutes. Open the door and move the leaves around with a spatula. Close the door and continue to bake for another 3-5 minutes.

6. FINAL PRODUCT:

I’m already to watch the last few days of the Olympics..I’ve got my snacks and my low carb beer. What more could I ask for? LOL

 

Do you make a particular “meal” every single week? No matter what? That’s not usually the case for me. I’m the type of person who wakes up and says “what do I feel like eating today” vs “today is Monday, which means tonites pasta nite”.

However I have make an exception for Friday nite. For the last few years, I have been making this dish every Friday nite. No. Matter. What. I love this dish: it’s healthy, easy to make and  cheap as beans (no pun intended).

I make a dish called “cholent” which is basically a bean stew that  many Jewish households make every Sabbath. My version is a little different as it’s a vegetarian version. For the official definition of cholent please click on this wikepdia link. I should add that I did not grow up with this dish. I was only introduced to it as an adult but quickly fell in love with it.

Here’s my recipe.

VEGETARIAN CHOLENT

1 cup of mixed beans (kidney, navy, barley)

1 can of pizza sauce (that’s right, pizza sauce)

4-5 cups of water

salt and pepper (generous amounts….don’t be shy)

2 fried onions

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Rinse beans and drain well.

2. Place all ingredients into a crockpot

3. 24 hours later you will have an awesome healthy meal that will feed four people easily

Note: feel free to add a smokey bbq sauce or any other sauce that you might have hanging around your fridge.

One more piece of advice: If you don’t have a crockpot, please consider buying a cheap one. It’s SO worth it. There is nothing like making a meal in ONE POT that you can leave on the counter and find out that the next day, your meal is ready. Trust me.

Happy Cooking.