Menu Plan

Monday
Jerk-Spiced Tilapia with Asparagus and Rice Pilaf
YIELD: 4
PREPARATION TIME: 15 minutes
COOKING TIME: 6 minutes
Details
The sun is blazing, the temperature is rising, and the barbeque is calling your name. Get outside and grill up a light and delicious meal full of protein and flavor. Aaaay! Caliente! (uuhhh, not quite since it's now snowing here in Fairbanks, but this recipe seemed perfect to help warm us up a bit!!!)
Ingredients
• 1 tsp / 5 ml thyme
• 1 tsp / 5 ml chili powder
• 2 cloves of garlic, pressed
• 1 tsp / 5 ml ground ginger
• 1/2 tsp / 2 1/2 ml nutmeg
• 1/2 tsp / 2 1/2 ml cinnamon
• 1 jalapeno pepper, cored, seeded, and finely chopped
• 1 tsp / 5 ml freshly ground black pepper
• Pinch of sea salt
• 1 Tbsp / 15 ml lime juice
• 2 Tbsp / 30 ml olive oil
• 1/2 tsp / 2 1/2 ml ground cloves
• 4 tilapia fillets
Preparation
Combine herbs and spices in a small bowl and mix well.
Coat tilapia fillets with olive oil. Pat both sides with spices.
Sauté each fillet until just cooked through, about 3 minutes on each side. Do not overcook!

Serve with wild rice and asparagus

Tuesday
Bubble and Squeak
This classic dish originally contained beef along with the left-over cooked potatoes and cabbage, though today people don't generally bother with the meat. The name is apparently due to the sounds that are emitted during cooking, the vegetables bubble as they are boiled and then squeak in the frying pan.
Serves 4
Butter - 25g (1 oz)
Onion 1, finely chopped
Potatoes - 450g (1 lb), ------ cooked and mashed
Cabbage - 225g (8 oz)
Beef - 4-8 slices, cooked ------ and finely chopped (optional)

Melt the butter in a large frying pan, add the onion and fry for a few minutes until softened, stirring frequently.Add the potatoes and cabbage. If you are including the beef, add this as well.
Fry over a medium heat for 15 minutes until brown then serve.

Wednesday
Butternut Squash With Pecans And Blue Cheese
4-1/2 lbs butternut squash
3 tablespoons olive oil
6 stalks fresh thyme or 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1 cup pecans
1 cups crumbled Roquefort or other blue cheese (we use Gorgonzola since blue cheese is not exactly Edward's fav)
Instructions:
Heat the oven to 425°F.
Halve the squash, leaving the skin on, and scoop out the seeds, then cut into 1-inch cubes; you don't need to be precise, just keep the pieces uniformly small.
Put into a roasting pan with the oil and strip about 4 stalks of thyme of their leaves, sprinkling over the butternut squash. If you can't get any fresh thyme, sprinkle over dried. Roast in the oven for about 30-45 minutes or until tender.
Once out of the oven, remove the squash to a bowl and scatter over the pecans and crumble over the cheese, tossing everything together gently.
Check the seasoning and add the last couple of stalks of thyme, torn into small sprigs, to decorate.
Serves 6-8

Serve with bread and salad.

Thursday
Eggplant Parmesan
Ingredients
2 lbs (about 2 large) eggplants
Kosher salt
1 28-oz can whole peeled tomatoes
1 clove garlic, peeled and minced
Olive oil
Freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup fine dry breadcrumbs
4 large eggs, beaten
1 1/2 lbs of fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced into 1/4 inch rounds
1 cup grated high quality Parmesan cheese
1 packed cup fresh basil leaves
Method
1 Cut eggplants lengthwise into 1/4 inch slices. Arrange one layer in the bottom of a large colander and sprinkle evenly with salt. Repeat with remaining eggplant, salting, until all eggplant is in the colander. Weigh down the slices with a couple of plates and let drain for 2 hours. The purpose of this step is to have the eggplant release some of its moisture before cooking.
2 While the eggplant is draining, prepare tomato sauce. Combine tomatoes, garlic and 1/3 cup olive oil in a food processor. Season with salt and pepper to tasted and set aside.
3 When eggplant has drained, press down on it to remove excess water, wipe off the excess salt, and lay the slices out on paper towels to remove all the moisture. In a wide, shallow bowl, combine flour and breadcrumbs. Mix well. Pour beaten eggs into another wide shallow bowl. Place a large, deep skillet over medium heat, and pour in a a half inch of olive oil. When oil is shimmering, dredge the eggplant slices first in the flour mixture, then in the beaten egg. Working in batches, slide coated eggplant into hot oil and fry until golden brown on both sides, turning once. Drain on paper towels.
4 Preheat the oven to 350°F. In the bottom of a 10x15 inch glass baking dish, spread 1 cup of tomato sauce. Top with one third of the eggplant slices. Top eggplant with half of the mozzarella slices. Sprinkle with one third of the Parmesan and half of the basil leaves.
5 Make a second layer of eggplant slices, topped by 1 cup of sauce, remaining mozzarella, half the remaining Parmesan, and all of the remaining basil. Add remaining eggplant, and top with the remaining tomato sauce and Parmesan.
6 Bake until cheese has melted and the top is slightly brown, about 30 minutes. Allow to rest at room temperature for about 10 minutes before serving.
Serves 8.

Serve with bread

Friday
Scallops Parmesan
Sauteed garlic and spinach mixed with lightly seasoned sea scallops. Scallops are topped with diced tomatoes, Parmesan and Italian blend cheeses and seasoned with salt and pepper.
Ingredients -
4 cloves Garlic, minced
2 teaspoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 (16 ounces) package Fresh Baby Spinach
1 pound Large Sea Scallops
Italian Seasoning
1 (15 ounces) can Diced Tomatoes
Parmesan Cheese, grated
Sea Salt
Fresh Ground Black Pepper
1/2 cup shredded Italian Cheese Blend

Preparation:
1. In large skillet, sauté garlic in 1-teaspoon olive oil over medium heat.
2. When garlic has browned, add spinach to skillet.
3. Sauté spinach until soft.
4. Remove spinach to colander and leave to drain.
5. Season scallops lightly with Italian seasoning.
6. Add remaining teaspoon olive oil to skillet.
7. Sauté scallops 2 minutes per side.
8. Add diced tomatoes and simmer 2 additional minutes.
9. Stir spinach back into skillet.
10. Add grated Parmesan, salt and pepper, and Italian cheese.
11. Heat until cheeses have melted.

Serve over spaghetti. Serve with steamed asparagus.


Saturday
Spanish braised beef cheeks with tomato bread
I've had this before and I absolutely loved it! Perfect for a cold winter day. It's the perfect comfort food! Tamara
Adapted from a recipe by Emma Knowles & Lisa Featherby published in the April 08 Australian Gourmet Traveller.
serves 4
If you aren’t able or willing to track down beef cheeks feel free to substitute in osso buco or large chunks of stewing steak. Smoky paprika adds a lovely complexity and is now available in the spice section of most supermarkets but I’m sure it would still be pretty tasty without it.
This is a great dish for entertaining as you can cook the cheeks in advance and then just reheat and serve with some crusty bread bought on your way home from work.
3T olive oil
2 red onions, peeled & diced
4 beef cheeks, approx 250g each
4 cloves garlic, peeled & smashed
400g can tomatoes
1T ground cumin
2T smoky paprika
1 1/2C (375mL) red wine
2C (500mL) chicken stock
3 bay leaves
large handful green olives
Tomato bread:
4 large slices sourdough
1 clove garlic, halved cross wise
handful cherry tomatoes, torn in half
extra virgin olive oil
Preheat the oven to 150C. Heat a large heavy based flame proof casserole dish over a medium low flame. Add oil and onions and cook covered stirring occasionally for approx 15mins or until onions are softened but not browned. Add cheeks, garlic, tomatoes, spices, wine, stock and bay leaves and bring to a simmer.
Cover and place in the oven for 4 hours, turning cheeks occasionally. Season and add olives and continue to cook for another 2 hours or until the meat is meltingly tender. If the sauce is too brothy, remove cheeks and set aside and simmer sauce until it reaches the desired consistency. Return cheeks and warm through.
For the tomato bread, lightly toast the sourdough slices on one side and rub the toasted side of each with the cut surface of the garlic. Smash halved tomatoes over the bread and drizzle with oil. Serve cheeks hot with bread for mopping up the juices passed separately.

white anchovy & parsley salad
The trick with this salad is making sure your parsley leaves aren’t too large and tough. Home grown would be preferable as they tend to be more delicate than commercial leaves. If you can only find tough old leaves, I’d recommend softer leaves like baby spinach.
1 bunch flat leaf parsley, leaves picked and torn
4 white anchovy fillets, halved lengthwise
1T sherry vinegar
3T extra virgin olive oil
Whisk together oil and vinegar and season well. Toss through parsley leaves and transfer to a serving bowl. Drape over anchovies and serve immediately.


Sunday
Homemade Rostisserie chicken with roasted potates with steamed brussel sprouts.
This recipe is super duper easy. I simply prepare a whole fryer by cleaning it out, and the I rub the exterior and interior of the chicken with olive oil. The top with spices (I tend to mix it up to whatever I feel like using that time to vary the end taste. Sometimes Garlic, Paprika, parsley, salt and pepper, other times I'll throw some dried ginger or even some cajun spices to make it a tad bit more spicy)
Use up the red potatoes by slicing in half and then drizzle olive oil on then. Top with some sea salt and freshly ground pepper and throw in the oven until the potatoes are fork tender and starting to get slightly toasted around the edges.

Menu Plan

Monday
Eggplant sandwiches
Ingredients:
1 large peeled eggplant
3 leafs of lettuce
1 medium tomato, sliced
3 slices ham
3 slices of mozzarella cheese
1/4 tbs chicken boullion
2 tbs olive oil
Directions:Cut off ends of eggplant and cut lengthwise into 6 slices. Sprinkle slice with chicken boullion and grill in hot skillet (I used a George Forman Grill) with olive oil for about 3 minutes on each side, until tender. Arrange 1 eggplant slice on 3 plates and top each slice with 1 slice ham, 1 slice of cheese, 1 leaf lettuce and tomato. Top with remaining slices of eggplant to make sandwiches. Top with grated parmesan cheese. Serve with side salad. Makes 3 sandwiches.



Hot Pasta Salad
Ingredients
2 Tbl balsamic vinegar
2tsp olive oil
1/8tsp salt
1 med. green pepper, cut into 1/4" strips
1/2 med. red onion, cut in half lengthwise & thinly sliced (1cup)
1tsp poppy seeds
2cups hot cooked linguine (6oz uncooked1med tomato, cut into thin wedges
Directions1. In small bowl, combine vinegar, oil and salt. Set aside2. Spray 12" nonstick skillet with nonstick vegetable cooking spray. Heat skillet over medium heat. Add pepper, onion and poppy seed. Cook for 4-6 minutes, or until vegetables are tender, stirring frequently. Reduce heat to medium-low. Add linguine and tomato. Cook for 1-1-1/2 minutes, or until hot, stirring frequently. Add vinegar mixture. Toss to combine. Serve hot.



Tuesday
Tangy Cucumber and Avocado Salad
Submitted By: Jessie Welch
Prep Time: 15 Minutes
Ready In: 45 Minutes
Servings: 4
"A great, fresh-tasting picnic salad, it combines avocados, cucumbers, garlic, and green onions with chopped cilantro and the bright flavors of lemon and lime juice."
Ingredients:
2 medium cucumbers, cubed
2 avocados, cubed
4 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
1 clove garlic, minced
2 tablespoons minced green onions (optional)
1/4 teaspoon salt
black pepper to taste
1/4 large lemon
1 lime
Directions:
1. In a large bowl, combine cucumbers, avocados, and cilantro. Stir in garlic, onions, salt, and pepper. Squeeze lemon and lime over the top, and toss. Cover, and refrigerate at least 30 minutes.

Serve over romaine lettuce. Add white beans for protein.

Serve with whole wheat bread.



Wednesday
Apple-Apricot Pork Chops
Ingredients:
2 pounds pork filets or chops
1 cup chopped apple
1 cup chopped dried apricot
1 medium onion, chopped
2 ribs celery, sliced in 1/2-inch pieces
1/2 cup apple juice
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup dry sherry or dry white wine, or more apple juice
salt and pepper to taste
1 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons cold water

Preparation:Combine all ingredients; cover and cook on LOW for 7 to 9 hours, or 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 hours on HIGH. About 20 to 30 minutes before serving, pour liquid into a separate container to skim off excess fat. Stir in cornstarch mixture and return broth to slow cooker. Continue cooking on low until sauce is smooth and thickened.

Serves 4 to 6.



Winter Squash with Browned Butter and Rosemary
1 2-pound butternut squash,peeled, halved lengthwise, seeded, cut crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter
1 teaspoon minced fresh rosemary
Browned butter is butter cooked to a browner, nutty-tasting stage. It adds lots of flavor to the steamed squash.Steam squash until almost tender when pierced with fork, about 5 minutes. Cool squash slightly. Melt butter in large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Continue to cook until butter is golden brown and aromatic, about 2 minutes. Add squash and rosemary and toss until squash is tender, heated through and coated with browned butter, about 3 minutes. Season generously with salt and pepper.

Makes 4 to 6 servings.

Bon AppétitJanuary 2000



Thursday
Black Beans and Rice
Submitted By: Robyn Webb
Photo By: sarah
Prep Time: 5 Minutes
Cook Time: 25 Minutes
Ready In: 30 Minutes
Servings: 10
"White rice, garlic and onion is cooked in a nice vegetable stock for about 20 minutes. Black beans, cayenne and cumin are added to the pot, given a stir ...and that 's it. Black Beans and Rice for six."
Ingredients:
1 teaspoon olive oil
1 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
3/4 cup uncooked white rice
1 1/2 cups low sodium, low fat vegetable broth
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
3 1/2 cups canned black beans, drained
Directions:
1. In a stockpot over medium-high heat, heat the oil. Add the onion and garlic and saute for 4 minutes. Add the rice and saute for 2 minutes.
2. Add the vegetable broth, bring to a boil, cover and lower the heat and cook for 20 minutes. Add the spices and black beans.


Serve with salad



Friday
Grilled Teryaki Chicken and Pineapple Shish Kabobs

Serve over rice


Roasted Corn and Edamame Salad
SELF May 2007
Makes 4 servings
2 ears fresh corn, unhusked, or 1 1/4 cups cooked corn kernels
1/2 cup shelled edamame
1/4 cup chopped red onion
1/4 cup small-diced red bell pepper
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh cilantro
1 tablespoon light mayonnaise
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 1/2 teaspoons finely chopped or grated ginger
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Soak fresh corn in cold water about 30 minutes. Heat grill on high. Grill corn in husk, 10 to 15 minutes, turning once. Let cool. Remove husks. Cut corn from cob into a bowl; combine with remaining ingredients. Cover and chill in refrigerator until ready to serve.



Saturday
White Chicken Chili and rice

Sunday
MANICOTTI FLORENTINE
1 (8 oz.) pkg. manicotti shells

1 (10 oz.) pkg. frozen spinach

1 c. ricotta cheese

1 c. Mozzarella cheese, shredded

1/2 tsp. salt

Dash of pepper

1 jar spaghetti sauce

1/4 c. Parmesan cheese
Cook manicotti as directed on package and drain. Cook spinach as directed on package and drain. Combine rest of ingredients except Parmesan cheese and sauce. Stuff each manicotti shell. Place in a greased baking dish. Pour sauce over shells. Sprinkle with Parmesan, cover and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

Serve with salad and garlic bread

Menu Plan

Monday
Grilled steak with pineapple salsa
3 slices fresh pineapple
1 tbs honey
1 flat iron steak
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
Cooking spray
1 large green onion
1/2 cup refrigerated fresh salsa
1 tomato, chopped
1/2 onion, diced
bunch cilantro

Gingered Sugar Snap Peas
Prep time: 6 minutes
Cook time: 9 minutes
Ingredients
2 tsp olive oil
1 lb fresh sugar snap peas, trimmed
2 tsp grated peeled fresh ginger
1 garlic clove, minced
1 tsp coarsely chopped walnuts, toasted
1/4 tsp salt
1. Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add peas; cook 5 minutes or until crisp tender, stirring occasionally. 2. Add ginger and remaining ingredients; cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Yield: 5 servings. (serving size: about 3/4 cup)
Serve with grilled potatoes.

Tuesday
Tofu Korma Curry over rice.

Cabbage Upkari
Serves: 4
Cooking time (approx.): 12 minutes
Style: South Indian Vegetarian (Konkani)
1 medium green cabbage finely chopped / shredded
1 teaspoon(s) mustard seeds
4 green chillies slit
2 tablespoon(s) oil (ideally coconut oil)
2 tablespoon(s) grated coconut
2 teaspoon(s) lemon juice (optional)
salt to taste
Heat the oil in a heavy-bottomed pan on medium level till hot and crackle the mustard seeds. Drop in the slit green chillies and fry lightly. Add the shredded cabbage and mix in the salt. Cover and cook on low level for about 12 minute(s) or till the cabbage is cooked but green yet.
Mix in the grated coconut. Garnish with lemon juice (optional).

Wednesday
Use up Pozole with toasted tortillas

Thursday
Apple-Apricot Pork Chops
Scroll down to see more pork chop recipes.
Ingredients:
2 pounds pork filets or chops
1 cup chopped apple
1 cup chopped dried apricot
1 medium onion, chopped
2 ribs celery, sliced in 1/2-inch pieces
1/2 cup apple juice
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup dry sherry or dry white wine, or more apple juice
salt and pepper to taste
1 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons cold water
Preparation:Combine all ingredients; cover and cook on LOW for 7 to 9 hours, or 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 hours on HIGH. About 20 to 30 minutes before serving, pour liquid into a separate container to skim off excess fat. Stir in cornstarch mixture and return broth to slow cooker. Continue cooking on low until sauce is smooth and thickened. Serves 4 to 6.

Winter Squash with Browned Butter and Rosemary
1 2-pound butternut squash,peeled, halved lengthwise, seeded, cut crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter
1 teaspoon minced fresh rosemary
Browned butter is butter cooked to a browner, nutty-tasting stage. It adds lots of flavor to the steamed squash.
Steam squash until almost tender when pierced with fork, about 5 minutes. Cool squash slightly. Melt butter in large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Continue to cook until butter is golden brown and aromatic, about 2 minutes. Add squash and rosemary and toss until squash is tender, heated through and coated with browned butter, about 3 minutes. Season generously with salt and pepper.
Makes 4 to 6 servings.

Bon AppétitJanuary 2000

Friday
Parmesan-Crusted Tilapia
By: Melissa Kirk
From: Every Day with Rachael Ray It takes only five ingredients to make this tender fish dish!
Ingredients:
¾ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
2 teaspoons paprika
1 tablespoon chopped flat-leaf parsley
4 tilapia fillets (about 1 pound total)
1 lemon, cut into wedges
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 400°. In a shallow dish, combine the cheese with the paprika and parsley and season with salt and pepper. Drizzle the fish with olive oil and dredge in the cheese mixture. Place on a foil-lined baking sheet and bake until the fish is opaque in the thickest part, 10 to 12 minutes. Serve the fish with the lemon wedges.

Serve with steamed brussel sprouts and rice

Saturday
Mushroom and Swiss Chicken
Prep Time: 25 Minutes
Cook Time: 45 Minutes
Ready In: 1 Hour 10 Minutes
Servings: 4
"Cajun seasoning and garlic add lots of zest to chicken baked with Swiss cheese and mushrooms."
Ingredients:
4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts
2 cloves crushed garlic
3 tablespoons olive oil
3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon Cajun-style seasoning
1 cup chopped green onion
1 (8 ounce) package sliced fresh mushrooms
4 slices Swiss cheese
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. Combine oil and garlic in a 9x13 inch baking dish. Add chicken breasts and coat well with the oil and garlic. Sprinkle with the vinegar and Cajun seasoning.
3. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 30 minutes.
4. Remove chicken from oven and cover with green onion and mushrooms; then add a few more sprinkles of oil and vinegar and return dish to oven for 15 to 20 minutes more. Remove from oven and immediately place 1 slice of cheese on top of each chicken breast; cheese will melt. Serve immediately.

Serve with rice

Sunday
Boston pork butt on the grill.
Serve with grilled potatoes and summer squash.

Menu Plan

Monday
Herb Stuffed Pork Tenderloin
Serves 4
Hands on time: 20 minutes
Total time: 50 minutes

Ingredients:
14oz pork tenderloin, trimmed
2 tsp olive oil
1 clove garlic, minced
1 1/2 cups fresh spinach leaves
1/4 tsp sea salt
Coarsely ground black pepper, to taste
2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
2 tbsp Dijon mustard
2 sprigs rosemary

Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 425F. Trim any fat from pork. Using a sharp knife, cut meat in half lengthwise, cutting to, but not through, to the other side.
Spread the meat flat. Place tenderloin between 2 sheets of plastic wrap and pound lightly with the flat side of a meat mallet.
2. Heat oil in a pan over medium heat. Add garlic, spinach, salt and pepper. Stir until spinach is wilted. Remove and roughly chop.
3. In a bowl, mix together vinegar, Dijon and rosemary. Spread mixture evenly over tenderloin. Spoon spinach evenly along the long, inner edge of the pork.
4. Roll up tenderloin, starting at the spinach end. Tie meat with string, first at center, then at 1 inch intervals.
5. Bake at 425F for 25 to 30 minutes, or until meat thermometer registers 160F. Let stand 5 minutes. Remove strings, cut pork into 1/4 inch thick slices and serve.

Skinny scalloped potatoes
Serves 6
Hands on time: 15 minutes
Total time: 60 minutes
2 tsp whole wheat flour
1 cup skim milk
1/4 cup low fat, reduced sodium chicken broth
Pinch sea salt
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
2 lbs Yukon gold potatoes, peeled and sliced thinly, divided
1/2 cup chives, chopped, divided.
1. Preheat oven to 425F
2. Place flour in a medium saucepan over low heat. Gradually add milk, stirring with a whisk until blended. Stir in broth, salt and pepper, and bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Reduce heat and simmer until mixture thickens, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat.
3. Layer 1/3 of potato slices in the bottom of an 11 x 7 inch covered baking dish. Top with 1/2 of carrot slices and a sprinkle of chives. Repeat layers, ending with potato slice. Pour milk mixture over potato mixture and top with remaining chives.
4. Cover dish with lid and bake for 45 minutes.

Tuesday
Palek Paneer with rice

Aunas and Ambo
Serves: 4 Style: South Indian Vegetarian (Konkani)
4 cups mixed fruits
chopped (pineapple, mango, apple and green or black grapes depending on availability)
4 tablespoons grated coconut
2 dry red chilli(es)
1 teaspoon(s) mustard seeds
2 tablespoon(s) sugar or as per taste salt to taste
Mix the sugar into the chopped fruits and keep aside.
Grind the coconut with the red chilli(es) and a little water. When almost done, add the mustard seeds. Grind for a few more seconds till the mustard seeds are crushed.
Add the coconut paste to the fruits with salt and mix well.
Serve cold or at room temperature.

Wednesday
Grilled marinated ahi tuna with grilled asparagus and rice

Thursday
Use up ready made Pozole. Serve with toasted tortillas

Friday
Grilled steak with pineapple salsa
3 slices fresh pineapple
1 tbs honey
1 flat iron steak
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
Cooking spray
1 large green onion
1/2 cup refrigerated fresh salsa
1 tomato, chopped
1/2 onion, diced
bunch cilantro

Gingered Sugar Snap Peas
Prep time: 6 minutes
Cook time: 9 minutes
2 tsp olive oil
1 lb fresh sugar snap peas, trimmed
2 tsp grated peeled fresh ginger
1 garlic clove, minced
1 tsp coarsely chopped walnuts, toasted
1/4 tsp salt

1. Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add peas; cook 5 minutes or until crisp tender, stirring occasionally.
2. Add ginger and remaining ingredients; cook 1 minute, stirring constantly.
Yield: 5 servings. (serving size: about 3/4 cup)

Serve with grilled potatoes.

Saturday
Quick white bean & Spinach Ravioli
1/4 cup frozen chopped spinach
1/2 cup cannellini beans
1/2 cup reduced fat ricotta cheese
2 tbsp shredded reduced fat mozzarella cheese
1/4 tsp kosher salt
32 wonton wrappers
1 cup tomato sauce

1. Fill a medium saucepan with hot water, cover and bring to a boil.
2. While water is heating, defrost the frozen spinach in a microwave oven. Once thawed, squeeze, as much water as you can out of the spinach and place spinach in the bowl of a food processor. Add the beans, cheese and salt. Process the bean and cheese mixture until smooth, approximately 1 minute. You should have approximately 3/ cup of ravioli filling.
3. Fill a small bowl with warm water. Lay out 16 wonton wrappers. Dip your finger in the water and moisten edges of each wrapper. Place 1 tsp of bean and cheese filling in center of each square. From the leftover 16 wrappers, take another wrapper, place it on top of filling, and seal by pressing firmly along edges of ravioli. Repeat until all wrappers or filling are used up.
4. Gently place ravioli in boiling water and cook for approximately 2 minutes. The ravioli is ready when you can see the green of the filing through the wrappers. White pasta cooks, warm tomato sauce in a small saucepan. Drain pasta, place 4 ravioli on each plate, and top with 1/4 cup of sauce.

Serve with Salad and bread with olive oil.

DESSERT
Cranberry Orange Cheesecake pears
Ingredients
2 bosc pears
1 cinnamon sticks
1 cup each of 100% cranberry juice and 100% orange juice
1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise

Cheesecake stuffing
1/2 cup light cream cheese, at room temperature
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp dried ground ginger
1/4 tsp almond extract
1/6 tsp dried, unsweetened cranberries
1/4 cup unsalted, sliced almonds, toasted

Instructions:
1 Peel pears. Trim bottoms so that they sit flat. Using a small spoon or a melon baller, scoop out and discard cores. Place pears in a very large, wide, heavy bottomed saucepan. Add cinnamon sticks and juices. Scrape out seeds from vanilla bean and stir in; add scraped bean husks, too.

2. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat. Cover and simmer, occasionally turning pears over carefully to ensure even cooking, until almost tender but still a little firm, about 20 to 25 minutes.

3. In a bowl, stir cream cheese with vanilla extract, ginger and almond extract until mixed. If the mixture is too thick to stir easily, add a few spoonfuls of hot pear cooking liquid. Stir in cranberries and almonds.

4. Carefully spoon pears onto a large platter. Cover and refrigerate to cool completely. Boil remaining pear liquid in pan, stirring often, until it reduces to 1/4 cup. The sauce will foam and bubble toward the end of cooking, so be sure to stir often. Remove from heat and discard cinnamon sticks and vanilla husks.

5. To serve, fill pears with cream cheese mixture. Place on plates and spoon sauce over the top.


Sunday
Cornish Hen with Grape & Pistachio Quinoa
Serves 4
1 Cornish Game hen
1 tsp fresh ground black pepper
1 tsp cinnamon, ground
1 tsp coriander, ground
2 tsp ginger, ground
1/4 sea salt
1/4 tsp nutmeg, ground
2 1/4 tsp olive oil
1/2 cup chicken broth
1/2 cup quinoa
1/2 cup seedless grapes, halved (red, green or combination)
1 1/2 tbsp unsalted roasted pistachios, shelled and chopped
2 green onions, white and light green parts only, thinly slice.

1. Preheat oven to 450F. Arrange hen, cavity down on a rimmed baking sheet. Set aside
2. In a small bowl, combine pepper, cinnamon, coriander, ginger, salt and nutmeg. Set aside 1 tsp spice mixture. Combine remaining spice mixture with oil to make a paste. Rub paste over hens, dividing it evenly. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes, until thickest part of thigh registers 170F with a meat thermometer. Loosely cover hens with foil and let rest for 10 minutes.
3. Meanwhile after rinsing quinoa to remove saponins. In a medium saucepan over medium high heat, bring broth and reserved 1 tsp spice mixture to a boil. Stir in quinoa, cover, turn off heat and set aside for 5 minutes.
4 Stir grapes, pistachios and green onions into quinoa. Transer quinoa to a serving bowl or plates and serve alongside hens.

Swiss Chard Recipe
Ingredients
1 large bunch of fresh Swiss chard
1 small clove garlic, sliced
2 Tbsp olive oil
2 Tbsp water
Pinch of dried crushed red pepper
1 teaspoon butter
Salt
Method
1 Rinse out the Swiss chard leaves thoroughly. Remove the toughest third of the stalk, discard or save for another recipe (such as this Swiss chard ribs with cream and pasta). Roughly chop the leaves into inch-wide strips.
2 Heat a saucepan on a medium heat setting, add olive oil, a few small slices of garlic and the crushed red pepper. Sauté for about a minute. Add the chopped Swiss chard leaves. Cover. Check after about 5 minutes. If it looks dry, add a couple tablespoons of water. Flip the leaves over in the pan, so that what was on the bottom, is now on the top. Cover again. Check for doneness after another 5 minutes (remove a piece and taste it). Add salt to taste, and a small amount of butter. Remove the swiss chard to a serving dish.

Menu Plan

Monday
Chicken and Sweet Potato StewFrom Eating Well
Ingredients
6 bone-in chicken thighs, trimmed of skin and fat
2 pounds sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into spears
1/2 pound white button mushrooms, thinly sliced
6 large shallots, peeled and halved
4 cloves garlic, peeled
1 cup dry white wine
2 teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary or 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary, crushed
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1 1/2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
Directions
Place chicken, sweet potatoes, mushrooms, shallots, garlic, wine, rosemary, salt and pepper in a 6-quart slow cooker; stir to combine.
Put the lid on and cook on low until the potatoes are tender, about 5 hours.
Before serving, remove bones from the chicken, if desired, and stir in vinegar.
Serves 6.
285 calories; 6 g fat; 50 mg cholesterol; 35 g carbohydrate; 17 g protein; 5 g fiber; 519 mg sodium



Tuesday
Butternut Squash with Pecans and Blue Cheese
Recipe courtesy Nigella Lawson, 2007
This has many strings to its bow: it serves as a vegetarian alternative to the Christmas/Thanksgiving turkey; it gussies up a plate of cold leftover turkey; it adds the right balance of mellow warmth and tang to any plain wintry dish; it is a good whole meal on days when you just feel fleshed-out.
Prep Time: 20 min
Cook Time: 45 min
Level: Easy
Serves: 6 to 8 servings
Ingredients
4-pounds 8-ounces butternut squash
3 tablespoons olive oil
6 stalks fresh thyme or 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1 cup pecans
1 cup crumbled Roquefort or other blue cheese
Directions
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
Halve the squash, leaving the skin on, and scoop out the seeds, then cut into 1-inch cubes; you don't need to be precise just keep the pieces uniformly small.
Put into a roasting tin with the oil and strip about 4 stalks thyme of their leaves, sprinkling over the butternut squash. If you can't get any fresh thyme, sprinkle over dried.
Roast in the oven for about 30 to 45 minutes or until tender.
Once out of the oven, remove the squash to a bowl and scatter over the pecans and crumble over the cheese tossing everything together gently. Check the seasoning and add the last couple of stalks of thyme torn into small sprigs to decorate.


Serve along with rice and salad.



Wednesday
Grilled Pork chops, red onion and pineapple shish kabob

Serve with rice and edamame.



Thursday
Grilled chicken salad

Serve with toasted bread



Friday
Turkey burgers, fries, grilled zucchini



Saturday
Lengua burritos with mexican rice and frijoles.



Sunday
Easy Tilapia with Wine and Tomatoes
Prep Time: 10 Minutes
Cook Time: 15 Minutes
Ready In: 25 Minutes
Servings: 4
"This is a super quick, super easy recipe that is sure to please. Tilapia fillets are easy to cook on the grill in a foil bag."
Ingredients:
4 (4 ounce) fillets tilapia
salt and pepper to taste
4 tablespoons butter
3 cloves garlic, pressed
4 fresh basil leaves, chopped
1 large tomato, chopped
1 cup white wine
Directions:
1. Preheat a grill for medium-high heat.
2. Place the tilapia fillets side by side on a large piece of aluminum foil. Season each one with salt and pepper. Place one tablespoon of butter on top of each piece of fish, and sprinkle garlic, basil and tomato. Pour the wine over everything. Fold foil up around fish, and seal into a packet. Place packet on a cookie sheet for ease in transportation to and from the grill.
3. Place foil packet on the preheated grill, and cook for 15 minutes, or until fish flakes easily with a fork. Open the packet carefully so as not to get burned from the steam, and serve.

Serve with pasta and steamed veggies.

How To Make Thick, Strained Yogurt

The thick, strained yogurt used in Greek cooking may not be available in your local market. Learn to make your own using commercial or homemade full-fat, low-fat, and even fat-free yogurt. It's not only great for preparing Greek foods, but you'll love it for other uses as well!
Note: This substitute for authentic Greek yogurt is also called "yogurt cheese."

Difficulty: Easy
Time Required: 2-3 hours or overnight
Here's How:
Line a medium-large bowl with a piece of cheesecloth or a clean white dish towel.
Dump a container of plain (unflavored), yogurt into the center of the cloth.
Bring the four corners of the cloth together and lift the yogurt.
Over the bowl or sink, twist the corners to squeeze out the liquid (it will drain through the cloth). Continue squeezing, putting the yogurt under pressure, to force the liquid out.
When the majority of the surface liquid has been drained, it will start to drip more slowly. Tie off the top of the cloth just above the mass of yogurt with string.
Place the cloth containing the yogurt in a strainer or colander, and place the strainer or colander in a bowl where it doesn't touch the bottom (so that the liquid can continue to drain).
Place the bowl containing the strainer/colander in the refrigerator and allow to drain for 2-3 hours.
After draining, take the cloth containing the yogurt and put it in the sink (do not remove the string).
Place the palms of your hands on the bag and press down to force out any remaining liquid.
Remove the string, open the cloth, and using a spatula, put the yogurt in a bowl for use.
Note: How thick is thick? The yogurt should be at least as thick as sour cream.

Menu plan

Monday
Japanese Tofu Salad (didn't try this last week due to a horrible sore in my mouth)
Prep Time: 35 Minutes
Cook Time: 5 Minutes
Ready In: 1 Hour 40 Minutes
Servings: 4
"Pressed tofu is tossed together with tomato, onion, and cilantro in an Asian-inspired vinaigrette providing a simple way of incorporating tofu into your diet. You can certainly play around with this recipe, adding whatever you like, I garnish mine with lime wedges."
Ingredients:
1 (14 ounce) package firm tofu, drained
3 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon mirin (sweetened rice wine)
2 teaspoons sesame oil, or to taste
1 tablespoon rice vinegar
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon minced fresh ginger
1 large tomato, seeded and chopped
1 small red onion, thinly sliced
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
1 tablespoon sesame seeds
Directions:
1. Place tofu between two plates, and weigh down with a heavy book. Allow tofu to drain for 1 hour, pouring out the expelled liquid every 20 minutes.
2. Whisk together the soy sauce, mirin, sesame oil, and rice vinegar in a small bowl. Heat the oil in a small pan over medium heat, stir in the garlic and ginger, and gently cook until lightly golden; stir into the soy sauce mixture.
3. Cut tofu into bite-sized pieces, and toss together with the tomato, onion, and cilantro. Pour in the dressing and toss to coat. Garnish with a sprinkle of sesame seeds.

Serve with toasted bread

Tuesday

Greek Souvlaki Recipe
This is posted in response to a request for "skewer" recipes. A real coincidence as this was being prepared on the food network by Nick Makris from Nick's Diner in Regina Sask - it looked SO GOOD I just had to post it. Use pork or lamb - serving with pita bread is optional but tzatziki is a must! Prep time includes a minimum of 2 hours for marinating.
2¼ hours
2 hours prep
SERVES 4
1 1/2 lbs boneless leg of lamb or lamb shoulder or pork loin, cut into 1 inch cubes
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/3 cup red wine vinegar
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 onion, finely chopped
1 tablespoon dried Greek oregano
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
1 1/2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint coarse salt freshly cracked black pepper

Combine olive oil, red wine vinegar, garlic, onion, oregano, parsley, mint and black pepper in a bowl& mix well. Add meat, toss to coat, cover and refrigerate; marinate for a minimum of 2 hours but overnight for best results. If using wooden skewers soak them in water overnight or for at least 2 hours. Preheat the grill to medium high. Thread meat evenly onto 4 skewers& season with salt and pepper. Grill skewers 4 to 5 minutes per side for medium or cook a few minutes longer if you prefer well done (6 to 7 minutes). Serve with tzatziki sauce and pita bread.

Tzatziki
Prep Time:
15 minutes
Ingredients:
16 ounces (2 cups) of thick Greek yogurt
4 to 10 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
1/2 cup of diced or grated cucumber (Kirby or "English")
1 tablespoon of olive oil
2 teaspoons of lemon juice
Preparation: Prepare all ingredients in advance. Combine oil and lemon juice in a medium mixing bowl. Fold the yogurt in slowly, making sure it mixes completely with the oil. Add the garlic, according to taste, and the cucumber. Stir until evenly distributed. Garnish with a bit of green and serve well chilled. Yield: about 2 1/2 cups Add mint or dill: Slight variations include 1-2 tablespoons of finely chopped fresh dill and/or fresh mint. Tasty additions! Shopping Tip: The thick, full-fat yogurts available at Greek, Middle Eastern, and specialty food markets - or a commercial full-fat strained yogurt - will give the best results. You can also make your own strained yogurt using full-fat, low-fat, or fat-free commercial yogurt.

Melitzanes me Feta
The classic combination of baked eggplant, tomato, and herbs is enhanced by the addition of feta cheese to create a delicious meatless appetizer, side dish, or meatless or main dish.
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Ingredients: 2 pounds of eggplants (long slender type)
olive oil for frying
5 tablespoons of fresh chopped basil
5 cloves of garlic, minced
1 pound of ripe tomatoes, diced
1/2 pound of feta cheese, crumbled
sea salt
freshly ground black pepper

Preparation: Wash the eggplants and remove stems. Cut lengthwise into 1/2 inch slices. Fry lightly (until soft and gently browned) in 1/4 inch of oil. Preheat the oven to 355°F (180°C). Layer the eggplant in the bottom of a baking dish. Combine the tomatoes, basil, garlic, and salt and pepper to taste, in a bowl, and spoon the mixture over the eggplant. Top with feta cheese, and bake at 355°F (180°C) for 45 minutes. Serve hot, warm, or at room temperature.



Wednesday
Poached Halibut with Oven-Roasted Vegetables & Mint Tea Broth
From Clean Eating Magazine
Serves 4
Hands-on time: 5 minutes
Total time: 35 minutes

INGREDIENTS:
Olive oil cooking spray
Sea salt and ground black pepper, to taste
1 baby eggplant, sliced into 1/4-inch rounds
1 pint grape tomatoes
4 cloves garlic, whole
1 small zucchini, sliced into 1/4-inch rounds
2 cups low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth
2 high-quality mint tea bags
1/2 bunch basil
4 6-oz halibut fillets
1/4 cup pine nuts, toasted
7 to 8 basil leaves, cut into thin strips, for garnish
INSTRUCTIONS:
Preheat oven to 400°F. Prepare 2 sheet pans by misting them with cooking spray, then sprinkle with salt. Arrange eggplant slices in a single layer on half of 1 sheet pan, and place tomatoes and garlic on other half. Spray tops lightly with cooking spray and season with salt and pepper. Place pan in oven for 10 to 12 minutes. Flip eggplant slices and toss tomatoes. (Tomatoes will blister as they cook.) Continue to cook for 5 to 7 more minutes. Remove pan from oven and place tomatoes on top of eggplant to flavor eggplant and keep slices moist.
Keep oven at same temperature. On second sheet pan, lay zucchini slices in a single layer. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and mist lightly with cooking spray. Place pan in oven for 10 to 12 minutes. Flip zucchini and cook for 5 more minutes.
While vegetables are in oven, pour broth into a 10-inch skillet and bring to a boil. Add tea bags and basil and season with salt. Allow to simmer for 7 minutes, then remove tea bags. When vegetables are close to being ready, bring broth to a simmer and place fish in skillet. Cover with parchment paper. Poach fish until it is white and a toothpick inserts very easily, about 12 minutes. Place fish on a plate and strain broth into a small bowl; adjust seasoning if necessary.
To serve, divide vegetables into 4 shallow bowls, place fish on top, then pour broth over fish. Garnish with pine nuts and basil leaves.

Toasted Pine Nut Couscous

Yield Makes 4 servings
Ingredients
1/4 cup pine nuts
2 1/4 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth or water
1/2 cup small pieces dried tomatoes (not oil-packed)
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1 2/3 cups (10 oz.) couscous
2 tablespoons minced parsley
Salt

Preparation
1. In a 2 to 3 quart pan over medium-high heat, stir pine nuts until golden, about 2 minutes; remove from pan.
2. In the same pan, bring the broth, tomatoes, garlic, and cumin to a boil over high heat. Stir in the couscous, cover, remove from heat, and let stand 5 minutes. Add the pine nuts and parsley, and fluff with a fork. If desired, season to taste with salt.

Thursday

Tofu, Red Onions, Walnuts, and Blue Cheese

PREP TIME 15 Min
COOK TIME 20 Min
READY IN 35 Min

"I threw this together after wondering if blue cheese and tofu would go together well. The results were delicious! Non-blue cheese lovers can omit the cheese and still have a tasty dish." Ingredients:
1/2 cup uncooked long grain white rice
1 cup water
1/4 cup chopped walnuts
1-1/2 teaspoons butter
1/2 large red onion, sliced, separated into rings
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 cup vegetable broth
1/4 teaspoon dried sage
1/4 teaspoon dried tarragon
salt and pepper to taste
1-1/2 teaspoons olive oil
1/2 (14 ounce) package firm tofu, drained and cut into 1/2 inch strips
1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese

Directions: You have scaled this recipe's ingredients to yield a new amount (3). The directions below still refer to the original recipe yield (6). 1. Bring the rice and water to a boil in a pot. Cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer 20 minutes. 2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Place the walnuts on a baking dish, and bake 10 minutes, stirring frequently, until lightly toasted. Remove from heat. 3. Melt the butter in a skillet over medium heat, and cook the onion until tender. Mix in garlic, and cook 1 minute. Stir in the broth, and season with sage, tarragon, salt, and pepper. Continue cooking 10 minutes, stirring often. 4. Heat the oil in a separate skillet. Dredge the tofu in the toasted walnuts, and cook in the skillet about 4 minutes on each side, until lightly browned. Mix any remaining walnuts and the onion and broth mixture into the skillet. Cook until heated through. Serve over rice, and top with blue cheese.

Thursday
GRILLED GINGERED CORNISH HENS
2 rock Cornish hens, split in half
1 tbsp. grated fresh ginger (or 1 tsp. ground ginger)
1/2 c. dry white wine
1 med. onion, chopped
1/2 c. soy sauce
Marinate hens at room temperature for 1 hour in onion, ginger, wine and soy sauce. Grill on low flame, 5" from heat with cover on grill. Baste and turn hens several times until golden brown.

Serve with grilled rosemary new potatoes and steamed broccoli

Friday
Homemade pizza (I keep meaning to make this and each time we get sidetracked.)

Saturday
Rosemary Garlic Pork Tenderloin
Prep time: 8 minutes
Cook time: 23 minutes
Other: 2 hours, 15 minutes
Ingredients
1/4 cup minced fresh rosemary
1/4 cup minced garlic
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 tsp kosher salt
1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
2 pork tenderloins, trimmed
1. Combine first 5 ingredients in a small bowl, mixing well to make a paste.
2. Make several 1 inch slits in pork and stuff each slit with 1 teaspoon rosemary paste. Spread any remaining rosemary paste onto top and side pork. Cover and chill 2 hours.
3. Prepare grill
4. Place pork on grill rack coated with cooking spray. Grill pork 23 minutes or until a thermometer registers 155 turning once. Remove pork from grill; cover and let stand 15 minutes.
Note: While pork stands, it's internal temperature should reach 160.

Serve with new potatoes and grilled asparagus.

Menu Plan

Spanish braised beef cheeks with tomato bread
serves 4
Adapted from a recipe by Emma Knowles & Lisa Featherby published in the April 08 Australian Gourmet Traveller.
If you aren’t able or willing to track down beef cheeks feel free to substitute in osso buco or large chunks of stewing steak. Smoky paprika adds a lovely complexity and is now available in the spice section of most supermarkets but I’m sure it would still be pretty tasty without it.
This is a great dish for entertaining as you can cook the cheeks in advance and then just reheat and serve with some crusty bread bought on your way home from work.
3T olive oil
2 red onions, peeled & diced
4 beef cheeks, approx 250g each
4 cloves garlic, peeled & smashed
400g can tomatoes
1T ground cumin
2T smoky paprika
1 1/2C (375mL) red wine
2C (500mL) chicken stock
3 bay leaves
large handful green olives
for the tomato bread:
4 large slices sourdough
1 clove garlic, halved cross wise
handful cherry tomatoes, torn in half
extra virgin olive oil
Preheat the oven to 150C. Heat a large heavy based flame proof casserole dish over a medium low flame. Add oil and onions and cook covered stirring occasionally for approx 15mins or until onions are softened but not browned. Add cheeks, garlic, tomatoes, spices, wine, stock and bay leaves and bring to a simmer.
Cover and place in the oven for 4 hours, turning cheeks occasionally. Season and add olives and continue to cook for another 2 hours or until the meat is meltingly tender. If the sauce is too brothy, remove cheeks and set aside and simmer sauce until it reaches the desired consistency. Return cheeks and warm through.
For the tomato bread, lightly toast the sourdough slices on one side and rub the toasted side of each with the cut surface of the garlic. Smash halved tomatoes over the bread and drizzle with oil. Serve cheeks hot with bread for mopping up the juices passed separately.

Serve with pasta.

Parsley and anchovy salad
2 red shallots, thinly sliced
2 anchovy fillets, coarsely torn
1 cup coarsely chopped flat-leaf parsley leaves
½ lemon, juice and finely grated rind only
60 ml (¼ cup) extra-virgin olive oil

Monday
Greek Grilled Chicken Salad
Grill chicken breasts that have been marinated in olive oil, lemon juice and rosemary.
Handful of cherry or grape tomatoes
Kalamata olives
feta cheese
green onions

Serve with flat bread and hummus.

Tuesday
Japanese Tofu Salad
Prep Time: 35 Minutes
Cook Time: 5 Minutes
Ready In: 1 Hour 40 Minutes
Servings: 4
"Pressed tofu is tossed together with tomato, onion, and cilantro in an Asian-inspired vinaigrette providing a simple way of incorporating tofu into your diet. You can certainly play around with this recipe, adding whatever you like, I garnish mine with lime wedges."
Ingredients:
1 (14 ounce) package firm tofu, drained
3 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon mirin (sweetened rice wine)
2 teaspoons sesame oil, or to taste
1 tablespoon rice vinegar
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon minced fresh ginger
1 large tomato, seeded and chopped
1 small red onion, thinly sliced
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
1 tablespoon sesame seeds
Directions:
1. Place tofu between two plates, and weigh down with a heavy book. Allow tofu to drain for 1 hour, pouring out the expelled liquid every 20 minutes.
2. Whisk together the soy sauce, mirin, sesame oil, and rice vinegar in a small bowl. Heat the oil in a small pan over medium heat, stir in the garlic and ginger, and gently cook until lightly golden; stir into the soy sauce mixture.
3. Cut tofu into bite-sized pieces, and toss together with the tomato, onion, and cilantro. Pour in the dressing and toss to coat. Garnish with a sprinkle of sesame seeds.

Serve with toasted bread

Wednesday
Slow Cooker Chicken Alfredo
Prep Time: 15 Minutes
Cook Time: 4 Hours
Ready In: 4 Hours 15 Minutes
Servings: 3
"Try this recipe for super easy chicken made with tasty Alfredo sauce, Swiss cheese and Parmesan cheese. It is very good served over egg noodles or rice."
Ingredients:
2 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves -cubed
1 (16 ounce) jar Alfredo pasta sauce
2 slices Swiss cheese
1 tablespoon and 1-1/2 teaspoons grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
salt and pepper to taste
Directions:
1. In the crock of a slow cooker, stir together the chicken cubes and Alfredo sauce. Cover, and cook on Low for 2 hours. Add Parmesan cheese and Swiss cheese; cover and cook for another 30 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through. Season with garlic powder, salt and pepper and stir in cheeses before serving.

Serve with noodles and steamed broccoli

Thursday
Tofu, Red Onions, Walnuts, and Blue Cheese
Prep Time: 15 Minutes
Cook Time: 20 Minutes
Ready In: 35 Minutes
Servings: 3
"I threw this together after wondering if blue cheese and tofu would go together well. The results were delicious! Non-blue cheese lovers can omit the cheese and still have a tasty dish."
Ingredients:
1/2 cup uncooked long grain white rice
1 cup water
1/4 cup chopped walnuts
1-1/2 teaspoons butter
1/2 large red onion, sliced, separated into rings
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 cup vegetable broth
1/4 teaspoon dried sage
1/4 teaspoon dried tarragon
salt and pepper to taste
1-1/2 teaspoons olive oil
1/2 (14 ounce) package firm tofu, drained and cut into 1/2 inch strips
1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese
Directions:
You have scaled this recipe's ingredients to yield a new amount (3). The directions below still refer to the original recipe yield (6).
1. Bring the rice and water to a boil in a pot. Cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer 20 minutes.
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Place the walnuts on a baking dish, and bake 10 minutes, stirring frequently, until lightly toasted. Remove from heat.
3. Melt the butter in a skillet over medium heat, and cook the onion until tender. Mix in garlic, and cook 1 minute. Stir in the broth, and season with sage, tarragon, salt, and pepper. Continue cooking 10 minutes, stirring often.
4. Heat the oil in a separate skillet. Dredge the tofu in the toasted walnuts, and cook in the skillet about 4 minutes on each side, until lightly browned. Mix any remaining walnuts and the onion and broth mixture into the skillet. Cook until heated through. Serve over rice, and top with blue cheese.

Friday
Homemade pizza
Goat cheese, bell peppers, onions and mushrooms.

Saturday
Greek Souvlaki Recipe
This is posted in response to a request for "skewer" recipes. A real coincidence as this was being prepared on the food network by Nick Makris from Nick's Diner in Regina Sask - it looked SO GOOD I just had to post it. Use pork or lamb - serving with pita bread is optional but tzatziki is a must! Prep time includes a minimum of 2 hours for marinating.
2¼ hours 2 hours prep
SERVES 4
1 1/2 lbs boneless leg of lamb or lamb shoulder or pork loin, cut into 1 inch cubes
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/3 cup red wine vinegar
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 onion, finely chopped
1 tablespoon dried Greek oregano
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
1 1/2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint
coarse salt
freshly cracked black pepper
Combine olive oil, red wine vinegar, garlic, onion, oregano, parsley, mint and black pepper in a bowl& mix well.
Add meat, toss to coat, cover and refrigerate; marinate for a minimum of 2 hours but overnight for best results.
If using wooden skewers soak them in water overnight or for at least 2 hours.
Preheat the grill to medium high.
Thread meat evenly onto 4 skewers& season with salt and pepper.
Grill skewers 4 to 5 minutes per side for medium or cook a few minutes longer if you prefer well done (6 to 7 minutes).
Serve with tzatziki sauce and pita bread.

Tzatziki
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Ingredients:
16 ounces (2 cups) of thick Greek yogurt
4 to 10 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
1/2 cup of diced or grated cucumber (Kirby or "English")
1 tablespoon of olive oil
2 teaspoons of lemon juice
Preparation:
Prepare all ingredients in advance. Combine oil and lemon juice in a medium mixing bowl. Fold the yogurt in slowly, making sure it mixes completely with the oil. Add the garlic, according to taste, and the cucumber. Stir until evenly distributed. Garnish with a bit of green and serve well chilled.
Yield: about 2 1/2 cups
Add mint or dill: Slight variations include 1-2 tablespoons of finely chopped fresh dill and/or fresh mint. Tasty additions!
Shopping Tip:
The thick, full-fat yogurts available at Greek, Middle Eastern, and specialty food markets - or a commercial full-fat strained yogurt - will give the best results. You can also make your own strained yogurt using full-fat, low-fat, or fat-free commercial yogurt.

Melitzanes me Feta
The classic combination of baked eggplant, tomato, and herbs is enhanced by the addition of feta cheese to create a delicious meatless appetizer, side dish, or meatless or main dish.
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Ingredients:
2 pounds of eggplants (long slender type)
olive oil for frying
5 tablespoons of fresh chopped basil
5 cloves of garlic, minced
1 pound of ripe tomatoes, diced
1/2 pound of feta cheese, crumbled
sea salt
freshly ground black pepper
Preparation:
Wash the eggplants and remove stems. Cut lengthwise into 1/2 inch slices. Fry lightly (until soft and gently browned) in 1/4 inch of oil.
Preheat the oven to 355°F (180°C).
Layer the eggplant in the bottom of a baking dish. Combine the tomatoes, basil, garlic, and salt and pepper to taste, in a bowl, and spoon the mixture over the eggplant. Top with feta cheese, and bake at 355°F (180°C) for 45 minutes.
Serve hot, warm, or at room temperature.

Menu plan

Monday
Slow cooker pesto chicken with layered sweet potatoes (going to try this again! Last Monday I never ended up making this)
The Ingredients.
serves 4.
For the pesto:1/4 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons lemon or lime juice
4 garlic cloves
2 cups fresh basil
2 tablespoons pinenuts, or walnuts, or sunflower seeds
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon salt
4 chicken thighs, or breast halves
sliced mozzarella cheese (I used string cheese!)
aluminum foil or parchment paper
4 small sweet potatoes, washed well, skin on
The Directions.
I used a 6 quart slow cooker. In a food processor or blender, combine the ingredients for your pesto. When liquidy, taste. If you need to add more citrus or salt or pepper, do so now.In the bottom of a large slow cooker, arrange your chicken pieces. Mine were still frozen. Layer on slices of mozzarella cheese. Pour pesto evenly on top. Cover with a layer of foil or parchment paper. Scrub sweet potatoes well, prick with a fork, and lay them on top of the paper or foil. Cover and cook on low for 6-7 hours, or on high for 4-5. If your chicken is frozen it will take a bit longer. If you're using fresh chicken, and your sweet potatoes are quite large, you may choose to swap layers, and put the sweet potatoes on the bottom. Newer slow cookers cook from the sides as well as from the bottom, but some people swear the stuff on the bottom cooks faster. Carefully remove the sweet potatoes with tongs, and remove foil or parchment. The steam that comes out will be quite hot, keep small children away.

THIS WAS OH SO YUMMY!! Thanks to Stephanie at a Year of Slow Cooking! http://crockpot365.blogspot.com/

Tuesday
Vegetarian Recipe: Tofu Stir Fry
Ingredients:
1 lb firm or extra firm tofu
1 tablespoon canola oil
3 to 4 scallions (or other green spring onion such as ramps or Egyptian onion), thinly sliced
1 good-sized bunch bok choy (stalks and leaves), sliced crosswise and rinsed
2 cloves garlic, minced
3 to 4 tablespoons natural, good-quality stir-fry sauce, or to taste
2 - 4 tblsp olive oil
1/4 cup coarsely chopped peanuts, optional
Directions:
Cut the tofu into 1/2-inch-thick slices. Blot well between clean tea-towels or several layers of paper towel, then cut into 1/2-inch dice.
Heat the oil in a stir-fry pan or wide skillet. Add the tofu and stir-fry over medium-high heat until golden on most sides.
Add the bok choy, scallions, garlic, stir-fry sauce, and about 2 tablespoons of water. Quickly stir together, then stir-fry for another 3 to 4 minutes, just until the bok choy and its leaves are wilted.
Stir in the optional peanuts and serve at once.

Wednesday
Honey-Ginger Grilled Salmon
Prep Time: 10 Minutes
Cook Time: 15 Minutes
Ready In: 40 Minutes
Servings: 2
"This recipe is simple to make, yet impressive. The spicy, sweet, and salty marinade gives the fish a taste that my family goes nuts for! If it's too cold out to grill it, you also may broil it."
Ingredients:
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
2 tablespoons and 2 teaspoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons and 2 teaspoons orange juice
2 tablespoons honey
1/2 green onion, chopped
3/4 pound salmon fillet
Directions:
You have scaled this recipe's ingredients to yield a new amount (2). The directions below still refer to the original recipe yield (4).
1. In a large self-closing plastic bag, combine ginger, garlic, soy sauce, orange juice, honey, and green onion; mix well. Place salmon in bag and seal tightly. Turn bag gently to distribute marinade. Refrigerate for 15 to 30 minutes.
2. Preheat an outdoor grill for medium heat and lightly oil grate.
3. Remove salmon from marinade, shake off excess, and discard remaining marinade. Grill for 12 to 15 minutes per inch of thickness, or until the fish flakes easily with a fork.

Serve with grilled zuchinni and steamed rice

Thursday
STRAWBERRY SPINACH SALAD
Printed from COOKS.COM
12 oz. fresh spinach
2 tsp. toasted pecans
4 c. safflower oil
2 tsp. salad vinegar
2 tbsp. green onions, minced
1 tsp. saltDash Tabasco
1 pt. strawberries, sliced
Wash, trim and dry spinach. Cool in refrigerator. Mix all ingredients except toasted pecan and strawberries. Mix well and refrigerate. When you are ready to serve the salad, tear spinach into bite size pieces and toss the spinach with the dressing. Add strawberries and gently toss again. Put your salad into a salad bowl and top with sesame seeds.

Serve with pita bread with hummus

Friday
Homemade pizza

Saturday
stuffed peppers

Menu plan

Monday


The Ingredients.
serves 4.
For the pesto:
1/4 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons lemon or lime juice
4 garlic cloves
2 cups fresh basil
2 tablespoons pinenuts, or walnuts, or sunflower seeds
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon salt
4 chicken thighs, or breast halvessliced mozzarella cheese (I used string cheese!)
aluminum foil or parchment paper
4 small sweet potatoes, washed well, skin on
The Directions.
I used a 6 quart slow cooker. In a food processor or blender, combine the ingredients for your pesto. When liquidy, taste. If you need to add more citrus or salt or pepper, do so now.In the bottom of a large slow cooker, arrange your chicken pieces. Mine were still frozen. Layer on slices of mozzarella cheese. Pour pesto evenly on top. Cover with a layer of foil or parchment paper. Scrub sweet potatoes well, prick with a fork, and lay them on top of the paper or foil. Cover and cook on low for 6-7 hours, or on high for 4-5. If your chicken is frozen it will take a bit longer. If you're using fresh chicken, and your sweet potatoes are quite large, you may choose to swap layers, and put the sweet potatoes on the bottom. Newer slow cookers cook from the sides as well as from the bottom, but some people swear the stuff on the bottom cooks faster. Carefully remove the sweet potatoes with tongs, and remove foil or parchment. The steam that comes out will be quite hot, keep small children away.



Tuesday

Eggplant Sandwiches
Photo By: Allrecipes
Prep Time: 20 Minutes
Cook Time: 10 Minutes
Ready In: 30 Minutes
Servings: 2
"Roasted eggplant in a French roll with feta cheese, basil and garlic mayonnaise. This was my favorite sandwich of all time, adapted from a cafe at the University of California, Irvine."
Ingredients:
1 small eggplant, halved and sliced
1 tablespoon olive oil, or as needed
1/4 cup mayonnaise
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 (6 inch) French sandwich rolls
1 small tomato, sliced
1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil leaves
Directions:
1. Preheat your oven's broiler. Brush eggplant slices with olive oil, and place them on a baking sheet or broiling pan. Place the pan about 6 inches from the heat source. Cook under the broiler for 10 minutes, or until tender and toasted.
2. Split the French rolls lengthwise, and toast. In a cup or small bowl, stir together the mayonnaise and garlic. Spread this mixture on the toasted bread. Fill the rolls with eggplant slices, tomato, feta cheese and basil leaves.



Quinoa Salad with Dried Fruit and Nuts
Prep Time: 20 Minutes
Cook Time: 20 Minutes
Ready In: 2 Hours
Servings: 4
Ingredients:
1/2 cup and 1 tablespoon and 2 teaspoons quinoa
1/8 teaspoon salt
1-1/3 cups and 1 tablespoon water
3/8 bunch green onions, chopped
1/4 cup and 2 teaspoons chopped celery
3 tablespoons and 1/2 teaspoon raisins
3/8 pinch cayenne pepper
1-1/4 teaspoons vegetable oil
1-1/4 teaspoons distilled white vinegar
2-1/2 teaspoons lemon juice
2-1/2 teaspoons sesame oil
2 tablespoons and 1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh cilantro
1/4 cup and 2 teaspoons chopped pecans
Directions:
1. Bring the quinoa, salt, and water to a boil in a saucepan. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until the quinoa is tender, 20 to 25 minutes. Once done, scrape into a large bowl, and allow to cool for 20 minutes. Stir in the green onions, celery, raisins, cayenne pepper, vegetable oil, vinegar, lemon juice, and sesame oil. Allow to stand at room temperature for 1 hour to allow the flavors to blend. Stir in the cilantro and pecans before serving.

Wednesday
Tofu vegan stir fry
*use up frozen asian veggies along with the edamame. Serve with rice

Thursday
Gai Pad Graprow
Ingredients
1 lb boneless chicken thighs, coarsely chopped, or cut into small bite-size pieces
4-6 cloves garlic, finely chopped
2-3 shallots, thinly sliced (or substitute with 1/2 cup sliced onion)
2-3 tbsp peanut oil for stir-frying
2 tsp black soy sauce (the semi-sweet kind, siew dohm)
1-2 tbsp Thai fish sauce (nam bplah), to taste (Golden Boy brand is recommended)
1 cup fresh Thai holy basil (bai gka-prow), or substitute with: 1/4 cup dried holy basil, soaked to soften plus 1/2 to 1 cup fresh Thai sweet basil (bai horapa)
2 small kaffir lime leaves (bai ma-gkrood), very finely slivered (optional)
5-10 Thai chillies (prik kee noo), chopped and pounded with a mortar and pestle; or 2-3 fresh jalapeno or fresno peppers, cut into large slivers
Dash of ground white pepper
Preparation
Prepare the ingredients as indicated. Leave the fresh basil leaves whole; the flowers may also be used. The dried holy basil will soften when soaked in tap water for 10-15 minutes. Pull off and discard the hard stems. Drain.
Heat a wok until the surface is smoking hot. Swirl in the oil to coat the wok surface. Wait a few seconds for the oil to heat, then stir in the garlic, followed a few seconds later with shallots. Stir another few seconds before adding the chicken. Stir-fry a minute or two, or until most of the chicken has started to change color on the outside and is no longer pink.
Toss in the chillies, slivered kaffir lime leaves and reconstituted dried holy basil (if using). Sprinkle black soy sauce over the mixture and stir-fry another 15-20 seconds. Then add fresh basil leaves and fish sauce to taste. Stir and mix well. Stir-fry another half a minute, or until the basil is wilted and the chicken is cooked through. Sprinkle with white pepper. Stir and transfer to a serving dish, or spoon directly over individual plates of plain steamed rice.

Friday
Fish Tacos
Ingredients
1 lb of very fresh fish fillets - (Good fish for tacos are firm fish like swordfish or shark)
Salt and pepper
Olive oil
1 doz corn tortillas (3 tortillas per person)
Vegetable oil or butter (optional, depending on how you heat your tortillas)
Salsa - (See Mango Salsa Recipe.)
1 ripe Avocado
Cabbage (or iceberg lettuce)
Cider vinegar
Salt
Method
1 Prepare the salsa. Either use store bought or make your own. (See above link for Mango Salsa, which is especially good with fish.)
2 Prepare the cabbage and avocado. Thinly slice cabbage. Put in a small serving bowl. Sprinkle with cider vinegar (about a Tbsp) and salt (about a tsp). Mix in the vinegar and salt. Peel avocado and remove seed. Chop and reserve for later.
3 Heat the tortillas. Unless you have made fresh tortillas from scratch, you will need to soften them somehow. One way to easily soften and heat a tortilla to simply heat it in the microwave for 20-25 seconds on high heat, on top of a napkin or paper towel to absorb the moisture that is released. We often will heat two tortillas at once in the microwave, heating them for a total of 40 seconds.
Another way is to heat a well seasoned (black) large cast iron skillet to medium heat. Add a teaspoon of oil to the pan or spread a half a teaspoon of butter on one side of one tortilla. Place tortilla in the pan (butter side down if you are using butter). As the tortilla sizzles, flip the tortilla with a spatula so that the other side gets some of the oil or butter from the pan. Continue to flip every 10-30 seconds until the tortillas begins to develop air pockets, about a minute. If the pan begins to smoke, lower the temperature. You can skip the butter or oil if you wish and just heat the tortillas up on the skillet without them. We have found that the flavor of packaged tortillas benefits from heating them with a bit of oil.
Remove the tortilla from the pan and place it folded on a plate. If the pan is large enough you can prepare two or more tortillas at once. Continue until all the tortillas (estimate 3 per person) are cooked. Set aside.
4 Cook the fish. Soak the fish fillets in cold water for at least one minute. Pat dry with a paper towel. Heat a large stick-free skillet to medium high heat. Add a couple of teaspoons of olive oil to the skillet. Place fish on skillet. Cooking time depends on the thickness of the fillets. A thin fillet may take only one minute on each side to cook. A thicker fillet may take a couple of minutes. Fish should be still barely translucent when cooked. Break off a piece and test if you are not sure. Do not overcook the fish. Remove from pan when done to a separate plate. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
5 Assembly. I think tacos are best when you assemble them yourself. Place the plate of tortillas, the plate of fish, the salsa, the cabbage, and the avocados on the table and let everyone assemble their own.
Serves four.


Mango Salsa Recipe
Ingredients
1 ripe mango, peeled, pitted, and diced (about 1 1/2 cup) (See: How to Cut a Mango)
1/2 medium red onion, finely chopped
1 Jalapeño chile, minced (include ribs and seeds for a hotter taste if desired)
1 small cucumber, peeled and diced (about 1 cup)
3 Tbsp fresh cilantro leaves, chopped
3 Tbsp fresh lime juiceSalt and pepper to taste
Also good with diced red bell pepper and jicama.
Method
Combine all of the ingredients in a bowl. Season to taste with salt and pepper. If the salsa ends up being a little too hot or acidic for your taste, you can temper it by adding some diced avocado.

Recipe: Lengua with Mushroom Sauce

Posted on Apr 23, 2009 under Recipes - Food No Comment
Lengua – OxTail.
Ingredients :
1 ox tongue (about 1.1 kilos)
2 tbsp. of vinegar
1 whole garlic
1 whole onion
6 peppercorns
1 bay leaf
1/2 carrot a few stalks of leek
1 can condensed mushroom soup
1/4 c. + 2 tbsp. of butter
1 onion, chopped
1/2 k. of potatoes
1/2 c. of milk
salt and pepper
1 tsp. of finely chopped fresh parsley
1 onion, sliced
4 button mushrooms, chopped
How to :
Scrape the ox tongue with a knife. Rinse well under running water. Place in a glass bowl and cover with water. Add 2 tbsp. of vinegar. With your hands, “wash” the tongue in the warer-vinegar solution. Rinse well. Place the ox tongue in a casserole and cover with water. Pierce garlic in several places with a sharp pointed knife. Add garlic, onion, carrot, leeks, peppercorns and bay leaf to the tongue. Set over medium heat and bring to a soft boil, removing scum as it rises. Lower heat, cover and simmer until tender, about 4 hours.
While simmering the meat, prepare the mashed potatoes. Using a brush, scrub the potatoes under the tap, making sure that no soil remains. Place the potatoes in a saucepan and cover with water. Add 1 tsp. of salt. Set over high heat and bring to a boil. Lower heat, cover and simmer until tender. To test for doneness, insert a pointed knife at the thickest part of the potatoes. Drain the potatoes and transfer to a glass bowl. Cut the potatoes into small pieces. Mash with a fork (I did not remove the skin). Add 2 tbsp. of butter and mix well. Season with salt and pepper. Pour in 1/2 c. of milk in a thin stream. Blend well. Stir in the chopped parsley. Cover the bowl with a cling wrap.
When the tongue is tender, transfer it to a plate and cool completely. Remove the skin and slice crosswise into 1/4? thick slices. Set aside. Strain the broth.
Over medium-high heat, melt 1 tbsp. of butter in a skillet. Brown the chopped onion. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Set aside.
Increase heat to high and melt the remaining butter in the skillet. Add the sliced lengua and brown them in batches, removing them as they brown and adding more butter if necessary. Saute the sliced onion in the skillet. Add the chopped mushrooms. Dilute the mushroom soup with the meat broth. Use equal parts of soup and broth for a regular sauce; reduce the amount of broth by half for a thicker sauce. Pour diluted soup into the skillet. Lower heat to medium and bring to a soft boil, stirring to make sure that no lumps remain. Return the tongue slices to the skillet and heat through.
Serving suggestion:
Spoon the mashed potatoes at the center of the serving plate (see photo above). Top with the browned onion bits. Arrange the meat slices on both sides of the mashed potatoes. Pour the sauce over the meat. Serve hot.

Menu plan

Monday
Quinoa with Chickpeas and Tomatoes

Prep Time: 20 Minutes
Cook Time: 20 Minutes
Ready In: 40 Minutes
Servings: 6
"This delicious recipe was presented to me by a vegan friend. The lime juice gives the quinoa a fresh flavor that can't be beat!"
Ingredients:
1 cup quinoa
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 3/4 cups water
1 cup canned garbanzo beans (chickpeas),
drained
1 tomato, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
3 tablespoons lime juice
4 teaspoons olive oil
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1 pinch salt and pepper to taste
1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh parsley
Directions:
1. Place the quinoa in a fine mesh strainer, and rinse under cold, running water until the water no longer foams. Bring the quinoa, salt, and water to a boil in a saucepan. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until the quinoa is tender, 20 to 25 minutes.
2. Once done, stir in the garbanzo beans, tomatoes, garlic, lime juice, and olive oil. Season with cumin, salt, and pepper. Sprinkle with chopped fresh parsley to serve.

Tuesday
Blue Stuffed Buffalo Burger
Prep Time: 15 Minutes
Cook Time: 10 Minutes
Ready In: 25 Minutes
Servings: 1
"Ground buffalo is stuffed with blue cheese in this exotic burger."
Ingredients:
1/4 pound ground buffalo
1/4 teaspoon salt
ground black pepper to taste
1 tablespoon crumbled blue cheese
1 whole wheat hamburger buns, split and
toasted
1 tablespoon mayonnaise
1 leaf Bibb lettuce
1/8 red onion, cut in 1/2-inch slices
1 slice tomato
Directions:
You have scaled this recipe's ingredients to yield a new amount (1). The directions below still refer to the original recipe yield (8).
1. Preheat an outdoor grill for medium-high heat and lightly oil the grate.
2. Season the ground buffalo with salt and pepper; form into 8 balls. Press a cavity in each ball with your thumb pressing halfway into each ball; place a tablespoon of blue cheese into the hole and seal the meat around the cheese. Press each ball into a patty shape.
3. Cook the burgers on the preheated grill until cooked to your desired degree of doneness, 4 to 6 minutes per side for well done. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read 160 degrees F (70 degrees C). Spread the toasted buns with mayonnaise. Place a burger patty onto each bun bottom, then place a lettuce leaf, onion rings, and tomato slice onto each sandwich. Top with the remaining buns to serve.

Minty Cucumber Salad
Prep Time: 10 Minutes
Ready In: 10 Minutes
Servings: 3
"This refreshing sensation of crunchy cucumbers offers a mild hint of orange and mint flavors that are perfect for spring. Katherine Hee of Colchester, Vermont shared it."
Ingredients:
2 medium cucumbers, peeled, halved, seeded and sliced
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/4 cup minced fresh mint
2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon grated orange peel
Directions:
1. Place cucumbers in a bowl. In a small bowl, whisk together the vinegar and oil. Add the mint, parsley, sugar and orange peel; pour over cucumbers. Cover and refrigerate for at least 3 hours, stirring several times.

Wednesday
Grilled Lime Cilantro Ahi with Honey Glaze
Prep Time: 20 Minutes
Cook Time: 10 Minutes
Ready In: 2 Hours 30 Minutes
Servings: 2
"Delicious lime-cilantro marinated ahi, grilled and glazed with a mouthwatering honey glaze."
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons lime juice
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
1 clove garlic, minced
1-1/2 teaspoons minced fresh ginger root
2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
1/2 pound yellowfin tuna fillets
2 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon chopped cilantro
Directions:
You have scaled this recipe's ingredients to yield a new amount (2). The directions below still refer to the original recipe yield (4).
1. In a medium bowl, mix together 1/4 cup olive oil, lime juice, balsamic vinegar, garlic, ginger, and 1/4 cup cilantro. Add tuna fillets, and turn to coat evenly. Let marinate for several hours in the refrigerator.
2. Preheat an outdoor grill for high heat and lightly oil grate. In a small bowl, mix together honey, 2 tablespoons olive oil, and 2 tablespoons cilantro; set aside.
3. When grill is hot, reduce heat to low, and place tuna fillets on grate. Close lid, and cook for 1 to 2 minutes. Flip fillets over carefully, and close lid again for another minute to sear fish. Open lid, and continue cooking until barely done, basting frequently with marinade. When fish is almost cooked through, brush the honey glaze over both sides of fish, and remove from grill.

Serve with rice and grilled veggies

Thursday
Slow Cooker Adobo Chicken
Prep Time: 30 Minutes
Cook Time: 8 Hours
Ready In: 8 Hours 30 Minutes
Servings: 6
"An easy slow cooker recipe with soy sauce, garlic, and onion. Do not be put off by the vinegar -- it tenderizes the chicken and loses its potent flavor in the cooking."
Ingredients:
1 small sweet onion, sliced
8 cloves garlic, crushed
3/4 cup low sodium soy sauce
1/2 cup vinegar
1 (3 pound) whole chicken, cut into pieces
Directions:
1. Place chicken in a slow cooker. In a small bowl mix the onion, garlic, soy sauce, and vinegar, and pour over the chicken. Cook on Low for 6 to 8 hours.

Ginataang Talong
Philippine eggplant
(Adapted from David-Perez' book)
1 onion
1 cup coconut cream
salt and pepper to taste
talong - eggplantsRoast eggplants in oven or over gas flame. Peel and chop fine. Peel onions and slice crosswise very fine. Heat oil in pan, add onions and fry until translucent. Add eggplants, stir for a couple of minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Remove from heat, add coconut cream, let sit several minutes to develop the flavours.

Serve with rice

Friday
Homemade spinach & feta pizza

Some recipes I've found over time