Salsa

Adapted from: Alton Brown

Yield: 6 cups

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12 Roma tomatoes, chopped 

8 garlic cloves, minced
1 can diced green chilies
1/2 cup onion, finely chopped
2 tbsp olive oil
1 lime, juiced
1/4 cup chili powder
2 tsp salt
1/4 cup dried cilantro or parsley, to taste
1/4 tsp cumin
Red pepper flakes

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Mix all ingredients and refrigerate for at least 2 hours to allow flavors to meld.

Best Marinara Sauce Ever

2 14.5 oz cans stewed tomatoes
1 6 oz can tomato paste
4 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
6 tbsp olive oil
1/3 cup finely diced onion

In a food processor, blender or in a pot using a stick blender, place Italian tomatoes, tomato paste, chopped parsley, minced garlic, oregano, salt, and pepper. Blend until smooth.

In a large skillet over medium heat saute the finely chopped onion in olive oil for 2 minutes. Add the blended tomato sauce.

Simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Pizza Rolls

1 recipe pizza crust
Marinara sauce
Pepperoni
Shredded Mozzarella cheese (I actually do make mozzarella, but I just don't have the recipe posted, yet.) :)

Prepare pizza crust and divide into walnut-sized balls (about 2 tablespoons). Roll out each ball and place a bit of cheese, about a teaspoon of sauce and a slice of pepperoni on each crust. Bring up edges and pinch together to make a ball. Place pinched sides down on baking tray.

Preheat oven to 375F and bake for about 10 minutes or until crust is lightly browned.

For a freezer mreal, place unbaked pizza rolls onto baking tray and freeze. Put rolls in a freezer bag until ready to use. Place frozen rolls on a baking sheet in the oven while it's preheating to allow them to thaw a bit. Then bake about 12-15 minutes.

Vegetable Frittata

I didn't measure any of the ingredients for this.  I just added what looked good.  So be creative and make this to your family's tastes!  Here's my best guess:

6 eggs

3/4 cup pureed spinach (I had it on hand but 10 oz frozen chopped spinach, thawed and throughly drained would work just as well.)  :)

2 tbsp olive oil
2 small potatoes, diced
1 tsp minced garlic
1/4 cup onion, diced
1/2 red pepper, chopped
1 cup mushrooms, sliced
1 tbsp canned green chilis (I had some open from a previous recipe.  My kids don't like it, so it was more for a bit of flavor.  So add more if you like.)
2 tsp oregano
1/4 cup olives, chopped (I think green would be fantastic!)
1 tomato, diced
grated cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 350'F.

Beat eggs and spinach together in a bowl.  Set aside.

In a large oven-safe skillet, heat olive oil over medium high heat.  Add potatoes, onions, garlic, a pinch of salt and saute for about 5-8 minutes.  Add red pepper, mushrooms, chilis and oregano.  Continue to saute until potatoes are tender about 10 minutes more.  Season with salt and pepper.  Add olives and mix together.  Level vegetables in pan and gently pour egg mixture over top.

Cook frittata for 30 minutes or until egg is set.  Top with tomato and cheese.  Serve with a side of pasta al olio and a green salad.

Chicken & Pepper Skillet

South Beach Diet Friendly (Phase 1)
Adapted from Food.com

1 tbsp olive oil
12 oz boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1/2-inch strips
2 garlic cloves, finely minced
3 bell peppers, cut into thin strips  (red, green, and yellow)
8 mushrooms, thickly sliced
1 medium onion, sliced
1 tsp ground cumin
1 1/2 tsp dried oregano
3 tbsp fresh lemon juice
2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
1/4 tsp salt
fresh ground black pepper
1 tomato, diced

In a large non-stick skillet, heat oil oven medium-high heat; add chicken and stir-fry until done and lightly browned, about 3 to 4 minutes.

Add garlic and cook 15 seconds, stirring constantly. Add bell pepper strips, mushrooms, sliced onion, cumin and oregano. Stir-fry for 2 to 3 minutes or until crisp tender.

Add lemon juice, parsley, salt and pepper; toss to combine well and serve topped with tomato.

Zucchini Tomato Pasta

When cooking vegetables, you want to salt each "layer" as you go.  About 1/8 tsp for each.

16 oz linguini
3 tbsp olive oil
1 onion, roughly chopped
1 tbsp minced garlic
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
2 zucchini, halved and sliced
3 roma tomatoes, chopped
12 fresh basil leaves
salt and pepper to taste
Parmesan cheese

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.  Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.

Meanwhile, heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.  Add onion, garlic, red pepper, salt and saute until soft and golden.  Add more oil if needed and stir in zucchini and salt.  Saute about 5 minutes or until soft.  Add tomato, salt and cook just until warm.  Chop basil and add to vegetables.

Plate pasta and top with vegetables and freshly grated parmesan cheese.

Vegetable Enchiladas

Compliments of Simple Healthy Tasty

Makes 20-24 enchiladas (2 pans)

Filling

4-5 cups cooked beans

2-3 cups cooked brown rice

2+ cups of corn

3 carrots, diced finely

1 medium zucchini, chopped

1 large onion chopped

1-2 4 oz cans of diced green chilies

1-2 4 oz cans sliced mushrooms or fresh sliced

1-2 cups tomatoes, chopped or canned

1 tsp cumin

1 tsp sea salt

1 tsp chili powder

1 tsp Mexican seasoning (optional)

½ tsp garlic powder (optional)

2 tbsp olive oil

Enchilada Sauce

6 tbsp chili powder

2/3 cup whole wheat flour

4 tsp vinegar

2 tsp each:

garlic powder, oregano, sea salt

8 cups water

“Cheese” Sauce

½ cup whole wheat flour

½ cup nutritional yeast a.k.a. brewers yeast

1 tsp sea salt

1 tsp garlic powder

2 cups water

2 tsp mustard powder

4 tbsp coconut oil

20-24 tortillas

olives, sliced

green onions, sliced

guacamole

salsa

fresh tomatoes

shredded lettuce

Mix all filling ingredients together in large frying pan and saute just until vegetables are crisp tender.

Prepare enchilada sauce by mixing all ingredients in a large saucepan and simmer over low heat until thickened.  Do not cut back on the chili powder in the sauce.  It isn’t hot tasting, but it is necessary to give the sauce color and flavor.

For “cheese” sauce, in large saucepan, combine flour, yeast, salt and garlic powder.  Add water and mix thoroughly over medium heat until thick and bubbly.  Remove from heat and add mustard and coconut oil.

Spread a layer of enchilada sauce in the bottom of two 9”x13” pans.  Fill your tortillas with a good helping of filling, roll and place in the pans.  After the pans are full pour the remaining enchilada sauce over them.   Then pour cheese sauce on top.  Sprinkle with sliced olives and green onions.  Cover and bake at 350° for 20 minutes or until bubbly.  If freezing one, cover and put in freezer.  Top with guacamole, salsa, fresh tomatoes, and shredded lettuce.

Seven Layer Tortilla Pie

Adapted from Allrecipes

Makes 6 servings

2 15 oz cans refried beans
1 cup salsa, divided
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped
15 oz black beans, rinsed and drained
½ cup tomatoes, chopped
7 8-inch flour tortillas
2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
1 cup salsa
½ cup sour cream

Preheat oven to 400°.

In a large bowl, mix refried beans, ¾ cup salsa and garlic.

In a separate bowl, mix ¼ cup salsa, cilantro, black beans and tomatoes.

Place one tortilla in a pie plate or tart dish. Spread ¾ cup refried bean mixture over tortilla to within ½” of edge. Top with ¼ cup cheese, and cover with another tortilla. Spread with 2/3 cup black bean mixture, and top with ¼ cup cheese. Repeat layering twice. Cover with remaining tortilla, and spread with remaining pinto bean mixture and cheese.

Cover with foil, and bake for about 40 minutes. Cut into wedges, and serve with salsa and sour cream.

Kid Friendly Burritos

Makes 8 burritos

8 burrito-size flour tortillas
3 green onions, sliced
1 large tomato, diced
10 oz black olives, drained and sliced
6 torn lettuce leaves
1 ripe avocado, sliced
16 oz refried beans
2 tsp dried onion flakes
½ tsp dried, minced garlic
1 tsp salt
½ tsp ground cumin
1 tsp chili powder
¼ tsp dried oregano
2 tsp water
16 oz shredded Cheddar cheese
8 oz sour cream
Guacamole

In a large serving dish, arrange green onions, tomato, olives, lettuce and avocado. Set aside.

Empty refried beans into a microwave-safe bowl. Season with onion flakes, garlic, salt, cumin, chili powder and oregano. Stir in water, cover, and cook in microwave, on high, for about 2 minutes.

Spread a thin layer of beans on half a tortilla. Sprinkle with cheese, and desired toppings. Spread sour cream and guacamole on other half of tortilla. Roll up and serve.

Black Bean Flautas

Compliments of Simple Healthy Tasty

3 16 oz cans black beans un-drained OR
6 cups cooked black beans with vegetable broth added

3 tsp chili powder
1 tsp cumin
1 clove garlic, minced
1 bay leaf
½ red bell pepper, finely chopped (optional)
salt and any other seasonings you would like
12 or more whole wheat flour tortillas

6 green onions, sliced
tomatoes, chopped
salsa
shredded romaine lettuce (optional)

In a medium-large saucepan, combine beans, chili powder, cumin, garlic, bay leaf, salt and seasonings. Simmer about 10 minutes. Remove bay leaf. Drain off a little liquid; reserving. Mash beans with potato masher; add liquid as needed for desired consistency.

Preheat oven to 400°. Spread bean mixture on tortillas and top with green onions and tomatoes. Roll into tight roll and place on cookie sheet seam side down. Bake until browned, about 15 minutes. Spread olive oil on flautas for a crispier, greasy flavor! Use any leftover bean mix for dipping or mix with salsa for dipping.

7 Layer Bean Dip

Thank you Mom for yet another delicious recipe!

2 10 oz cans refried beans

3 avocados, mashed or 8 oz avocado dip

1 cup sour cream

½ cup mayonnaise

½ pkg taco seasoning

3 med tomatoes, chopped

½ cup olives, sliced

Green onions, sliced

Cheddar cheese, shredded

Spread beans in 9”x13” pan.  Spread avocados on beans.  Mix sour cream, mayo and seasoning together then spread on avocado.  Sprinkle tomatoes and olives on sour cream mixture.  Top with onions and cheese.  Serve with chips. 

Authentic Napton Pizza

I got this recipe from Forno Bravo. The real Napton pizza recipe. We finally got the real flour the other day, so now we are trying to get the perfect Pizza Napoletana. We've tried it twice now and the first time did the dough pretty well, and the second time got the sauce. Now we just need to get them both to turn out at the same time. We have enough flour for about 200 pizzas, so we should be able to get it right at some point! I learned (even though it actually says IN the recipe not to use a rolling pin) that you don't want to use a rolling pin. It really makes it come out wrong. And I also learned that having a pizza peel is a VERY helpful thing with an oven this hot. Good luck!

Dough
500 gr Molino Caputo Tipo 00 flour
325 gr warm water
2 tsp salt
2 tsp active dry yeast

Sauce
1 can (28 oz) San Marzano tomatoes
¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper
½ tsp of salt
1 tsp of oregano

Mix water and yeast together in large mixing bowl. Let proof 10 minutes. Add salt and flour. Mix slowly for 2 minutes, fast for 5 minutes and slow again for 2 minutes.

Cover dough and let rise 1½ -2 hours or until doubled in bulk. Punch down, knead out bubbles and cut into 4-5 portions. Form into balls and let rest for 1 hour.

Flip dough over so soft bottom faces up. Gently shape the ball into a flat disk, then pull and stretch with fingers. Try to keep working in a circle to keep the thickness of the dough consistent, avoiding thick and thin spots. At the point where it cannot get thinner without making a hole, put your pizza on a floured work surface, and use your fingertips to work out the thick spots by pushing the dough to the outside. Make dough about as thick as a credit card and about 10" in diameter. (The more you handle the dough, the tougher it becomes. Don't use a rolling pin, which is hard on the dough and will give you a thin, but tough pizza. By not being over-handled, the pizza will be both crisp and delicate.)

Preheat oven to highest setting (525º-550º). Place pizza stone in oven while heating. In a saucepan, mash tomatoes with potato masher. Add remaining sauce ingredients, mix until combined and heat until heated through. Place pizza dough on a flour-dusted pizza peel. Spread just enough sauce to lightly cover base (dough should show through), a handful of chopped, fresh mozzarella and a drizzle of olive oil in circular pattern.

Place in oven. Turn pizza 180º after about 90 seconds. Bake another 45-90 seconds. The perfect pizza is bubbling on top with completely melted (and possibly slightly browned) cheese, has a brown outer crust. The crust is crunchy on the outside and soft and delicate on the inside. Throw on some fresh basil and sprinkle with more olive oil.