Merguez Pasta with Sundried Tomatoes & Goat Cheese

if you havent had merguez sausage, you havent lived. 

YOU NEED:

1 cup boiled pasta

2 merguez sausages 

1 small chopped onion

a handful chopped sundried tomatoes

2 cloves garlic 

a bit of olive oil

salt pepper to taste

goat cheese

OPTION:

chopped olives

chopped basil

chopped spinach

red pepper flakes for spice

1. boil pasta 

2. slice or squeeze out of casing for merguez, fry and add in chopped onion garlic and tomatoes, simmer with a bit of olive oil, add basil, add spinach and seasoning if necessary

3. serve sauce on pasta once thickened, add goat cheese and some fresh basil on top

Baked Fajitas

Skip frying and bake this instead.

YOU NEED: 

1 cooked chicken breasts, in slices

1 onion, sliced

1 red pepper, sliced

1 green pepper sliced

juice of 1 lime

3 tablespoons oil

2 packets fajita seasoning

1. toss together

2. bake, optionally add cheese on top

3. 30 minutes or so

Creamy Pasta with Sundried Tomatoes & Asparagus

 

YOU NEED:

1 cup boiled pasta

1 handful chopped sundried tomatoes. olives and bacon bits welcome

1 tbs butter

1/4 cup milk or sour cream

salt, pepper, garlic

a bunch cooked asparagus

1 shallot if needed

finely chopped parsley or basil

1. blanch asparagus for 5 mins

2, boil pasta

3. melt butter in a pan, add garllic, shallots, then asparagus.

4. add milk or cream, pasta, herbs. let simmer

5. serve with parmesan

Leek, Bacon & Mushroom Quiche

Easy & Delicious quiche. You can omit bacon, it's just as good!

YOU NEED:

1 leek

1 onion

bacon or not

mushrooms

all chopped.

cheese: gruyere, swiss, or emmental, or mixed

3 eggs

1/2 cup milk

some nutmeg, salt, pepper

any other herbs you want... thyme, parsley, oregano...

1 pie crust

sautee bacon, add in leeks, onions, then mushrooms

blind bake crust according to directions, usually 10 mins

add filling.beaten eggs,  sprinkle with more cheese

bake for 30 mins or so.

Sesame Ginger Salad with Grilled Fish

This is an awesome salad and makes a full meal. 

YOU NEED

1 filet white fish.... snapper, halibut, cod, catfish.

a bed of mixed lettuce

sauteed shiitake mushrooms

avocado slices

some green onion

DRESSING:

small piece of ginger, grated

2 cloves minced garlic

2 tablespoons soy sauce

1 tablespoon sesame oil and 1 veg oil

salt, pepper

Marinated Greek Salad

Very easy, but you have to eat it the next day!

YOU NEED:

1 cup boiled pasta

50 grams or so feta cheese

1 chopped bell pepper

1 chopped cucumber

a handful sliced kalamata olies

a bunch of cherry tomatoes

MARINADE:

1/4 cup olive oil

1/4 cup lemon juice

a bit of red wine or balsamic vinegar

oregano

4 cloves garlic

salt, pepper

assemble and eat the next day!

Blood Orange & Avocado Salad

YOU NEED:

salad:

a bed of lettuce... spinach, mesclun mix, whatever

1 blood orange, peeled and sliced

chunks of tofu or cheese

unsalted peanuts

1 avocado, sliced

dressing:

1 tbs olive oil 1 tbs sesame oil

2 tbs lime juice

salt, pepper, brown sugar, garlic powder to taste.

Cream of Cauliflower Soup

YOU NEED:

4.5 L    vegetable stock

1.5 kg  cauliflower, chopped

375 g   onion, chopped fine

300 g    butter

300 g   flour

1.5  L   milk, hot

750 ml 35%  cream, hot

Salt      to taste

White pepper, to taste

Method:

1.       Bring the stock to a boil in a heavy saucepot.

2.      Add cauliflower and onions.

3.      Simmer until the vegetables are tender.  Do not overcook.

4.      Melt the butter in a saucepan and add the flour to make a roux.  Cook the roux a few minutes, but do not let it colour.  Cool the roux slightly.

5.      Beat the roux into the soup.  Simmer until no starch taste remains.

6.      Blend the soup until smooth. 

7.      Heat together the milk and cream.  Add to the soup to bring it to a proper consistency. 

8.      Heat the soup again, but do not let it boil.

9.      Season to taste.

YUM CAULI.

Ballantine Chicken

Easy, just stuffed chicken!

YOU NEED:

boneless chicken thighs or breasts

oil

filling

1. pound chicken with mallet to flatten it. 

2. make a filling.

3. roll, tie with string

FILLING?

Sauteed garlic spinach with goat cheese and toasted pine nuts

Sausage & Herbs

Feta & Garlic Sauteed Vegetables

Swiss Cheese & Ham

Fried Mushrooms, Cheese & Bacon

Broccoli & Cheddar

Tomato, Mozzarella, Basil

Avocado & Tomato Salad with Goat Cheese & Pine Nuts

whip this up for a fabulous salad.

YOU NEED:

1 avocado, sliced or chunked

1 or 2 tomatoes, sliced

crumbled goat cheese

pine nuts [can be toasted]

OPTIONAL:

olives

fresh basil

feta instead of goat cheese

DRESSING:

balsamic & olive oil (1:3 ratio) salt, pepper

Asparagus Pasta Salad

Make asparagus wonderful! Dress up your pasta salad. 

YOU NEED:

1 bunch asparagus, cooked, then chopped into parts

1 cup pasta

1 tomato, chunked

some breadcrumbs

lemon juice, olive oil, salt, pepper, breadcrumbs

EXCITING?

garlic, minced

goat cheese, feta, or parmesan

canned salmon or tuna

chicken

beef & soy sauce or sesame oil instead of olive oil, some ginger and cilantro for an asian twist

fresh chopped basil

pecans, peanuts, pine nuts, or walnuts

lamb & some cumin and parsley for a middle eastern take. you can also sub couscous or bulghur. 

Arugula, Pine Nut & Sweet Potato Salad

An easy and delicious salad.

YOU NEED:

1 sweet potato, peeled, sliced, and cooked [boiling is easiest]

A handful arugula

some pine nuts, toasted or not

olive oil

lemon juice

white wine vinegar

salt, pepper

OPTIONAL:

goat or feta cheese

grilled chicken breast, for a full meal

grilled tofu, keeping it vegan

garlic. is always optional.

sliced onion. 

ASSEMBLE!

Fennel, Blood Orange & Goat Cheese Salad

Fennel can be gross, but also delicious if you pair it right. 

YOU NEED:

some lettuce

fennel, chopped into thin strips

1 blood orange, sliced

thinly slivered red or green onion

goat cheese

VINAIGRETTE: suggest red wine or balsamic vinaigrette. salt and pepper

Beligian Endive & Ham Gratin

Omit ham for vegetarian. still delicious.

YOU NEED:

a greased baking dish, or parchment paper

belgian endives, cut in half

ham

lots of CHEESE. gruyere, swiss, mozza, parmesan, but preferably a mix. 

lemon juice, salt, pepper, olive oil. 

1. line baking dish in parchment paper,

2, cut endives in half, toss with lemon juice, salt, pepper, olive oil.

3. wrap in ham.

4. put in baking dish, smother in cheese. 

5. bake for 30 mins until browned. 

6. good, seasoned with fresh parsley.

Tomato, Basil & Walnut Salad

I guess it's sort of a vegan caprese. Still delicious!

YOU NEED:

tomatoes, diced

a handful chopped walnuts

a handful fresh basil, chopped

salt, pepper, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, garlic

OPTIONAL: onion, feta cheese, arugula or spinach, or mozzarella.

Chunky Mango Avocado Salad

An easy salad with so many health benefits!

SALAD:

1 red pepper, chopped

1 tomato, chopped

1 red onion, chopped

some black beans or chickpeas

1 mango, chopped

1 avocado, chopped

fresh cilantro

DRESSING:

3 tbs olive oil, 1 tbs lime juice, salt, pepper, a bit of cayenne, 1 clove garlic

Arugula Pesto & Tomato Pasta Salad

SLOPPY ARUGULA PESTO:

1 cup roughly chopped arugula

1.4 cup olive oil

4 tbs lemon juice

2 cloves minced garlic

salt

pepper

a handful parmesan cheese, grated

1. boil pasta, drain, cool

2. add cherry tomatoes [roasted, or not] to cold pasta, mix with arugula pesto

Tomato, Arugula & Anchovy Salad

Easy and delicious,healthy too!

YOU NEED:

1 large tomato, sliced

a handful arugula, chopped

a handful basil, chopped

3 chopped achovy slices

lemon juice

olive oil

salt, pepper

Chickpea Meditteranean Salad

Ahh this is an amazing twist on greek salad. 

YOU NEED:

lettuce, as a bed. 

1 can chickpeas, drained

1 cucumber, peeled and diced

1 red onion

a few chopped sundried tomatoes, or 1 fresh tomato, cubed

some olives, chopped

feta cheese, crumbled

VINAIGRETTE:

juice of 1 lemon

3 tbs lemon juice

salt, pepper

1 large clove garlic

oregano

        

Cherry, Chicken Salad with Minted Goat Cheese Dressing

Easily omit chicken if vegetarian. 

DRESSING:

2 tbs crumbled goat cheese

2 tbs low fat sour cream

2 tbs lemon juice

salt, pepper

chopped mint

SALAD: 

butter greens or mixed greens

sour cherries, sliced or halved

OPTIONAL:

red onion, slivered

walnuts or pecans, crumbled

CHICKEN:

plain, or marinated in lemon juice, garlic, olive oil, cumin, paprika and sumac before cooking