Lazy Chicken Cacciatore

Photo Credit: Health is Wealth Photos.

Ingredients:

 

• 6 halves of chicken breasts 
• 1 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste
• ½ tsp. dried chili flakes
• 1 tbsp. dried oregano
• 1 large red onion
• 6 cloves of garlic
• 1 large can of diced tomatoes 
• 4 large carrots
• 2 green peppers
• 1 cup of mushrooms
• 3/4 cup of water

Photo Credit: Health is Wealth Photos.

Directions:
 

• Chop the onion and garlic into very small pieces, reserve.
• Dice the carrots, green peppers and mushrooms into thin pieces, reserve as well.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Rinse the chicken breasts and pat them dry with paper towel. Rub them with the olive oil then season each with salt, pepper, chili flakes and half of the oregano.
• Place the chicken breasts in a large roasting pan.
• In a large bowl, mix together the diced tomatoes, water and remaining oregano, while stirring, add the carrots, green peppers, mushrooms, onion and garlic.
• Pour over the chicken breasts making sure they're thoroughly coated.
• Place the roasting pan in the oven, uncovered, and cook for 45- 50 minutes.

Serve with pasta or rice.  A very nice alternative is to serve with extra wide egg noodles and warm crusty bread!

Bon appétit! 

Photo Credit: Health is Wealth Photos.



Lazy One Pot Italian Pasta



Photo Credit: Health is Wealth Photos.

This is the sort of casual food recipe that embodies simplicity without skimping on great flavours.  The fettuccini can be added dry, along with all the other ingredients.  After 10 minutes of cooking everything together it's all done, all at once, with only a single pot to clean up!     

Have this recipe up your sleeve for those times when you only have 20 minutes to get a meal on the table. The liquid reduces into a creamy sauce, the noodles absorb the great flavours they're simmering in and the result is colourful and hearty.

Ingredients:

• 12 ounces of fettuccini
• 12 ounces of cherry tomatoes
• 1 red onion
• 6 cloves garlic
• 1/2- 3/4 tsp. red-pepper flakes
• 2 sprigs basil
• 1 cup fresh spinach
• 2-3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 tsps. kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
• 4 1/2 cups water
• Fresh Parmesan cheese



Photo Credit: Health is Wealth Photos.

Directions:

• Grate the Parmesan cheese and reserve.
• Tear some of the basil leaves and reserve them for garnish.
• Take the cherry tomatoes and halve or quarter them depending on their size.
• Thinly slice the red onion, garlic.
• Add the tomatoes, red onion, spinach and garlic to a large, straight-sided skillet.
• Add the uncooked fettuccini, red pepper flakes, basil, oil, salt, red pepper flakes and water.
• Bring everything to a boil over high heat. stir and turn the fettuccini frequently with tongs.
• When the fettuccini is al dente and the boiling water has almost completely evaporated remove from heat, about 9 minutes.
• Season to taste with salt and pepper

Serve in bowls and garnish with the reserved basil leaves and the grated Parmesan cheese.

Bon appétit!


Photo Credit: Health is Wealth Photos.





Sensational Quinoa Salad

Photo Credit: Health is Wealth Photos.



This sensational quinoa salad is the perfect bring-to for summer barbeques, it's different, it's colourful and it's very of-the-moment.  This is just the kind of intense union of new and vibrant flavours that your guests will be reminiscing about long after the last bite.

You may wish to season this salad with finely chopped garlic or, optionally, garlic powder.

Ingredients:

• 4 cups water 
• 1 can of chickpeas (washed well)
• 1 cup white quinoa
• 1 1/2 large red onions
• 1 red bell pepper
• 1 yellow bell pepper
• 1 green pepper
• 1 cup spinach
• 2 avocados
• 1/2 cup green onions
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• Fresh ground black pepper
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 2 limes, juiced 
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro

Photo Credit: Health is Wealth Photos.

Directions:

• Chop the red onions, peppers and spinach in preparation
• Pit the avocado and chop it up, reserve
• Slice the cherry tomatoes in halves and chop the green onions as well, reserve
• In a large pot boil the water; add the white quinoa to it. Reduce the heat and cover the pot, simmer until the quinoa absorbs the water, about 15 minutes
• Remove the quinoa from the pot and set it aside
• Combine the red onions, cherry tomatoes, Chickpeas, the peppers and the chopped spinach in a bowl.
• Add the chopped avocado and a dash of sea salt plus a few grinding of black pepper
• Stir in the quinoa.
• In a small bowl whisk the olive oil and the juice of the limes together, pour the whisked dressing over the quinoa mixture
• Toss the salad gently to coat evenly
• Add the cilantro, stirring it gently in
• Cover the salad and refrigerate it for 4 hours, allowing the flavours to marinate 

Bon appétit!

Photo Credit: Health is Wealth Photos.

Baked Ravioli

Photo Credit: Health is Wealth Photos.

 

Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp. olive oil
• 1 ½ tbsp. garlic
• 1 tsp. thyme
• ½ tsp. oregano
• 1 can stewed tomatoes
• 1 can diced Italian-flavored tomatoes
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 2 pounds of frozen ravioli
• ¼ cup Parmesan cheese
• 1 cup of light shredded Mozzarella
• 1 cup of Cheddar cheese

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees
• Mince the garlic
• Heat a large sauce pan over medium heat and add olive oil to it
• Add the minced garlic and sauté with salt and pepper for about 1 minute
• Add thyme, oregano and all of the tomatoes
• Bring the sauce to a boil, reduce the heat to a simmer right after 
• With a spoon work the consistency of the tomato chunks, breaking them into smaller edible pieces
• If there are any tomato chunks you can't break apart with a spoon, ladle them out and use a blender for them, return these blended tomatoes to the sauce pan when finished  
• Return blended mixture to the sauce pan 
• Simmer for about 15 minutes
• While the tomatoes are simmering, add ravioli to a large pot of boiling water.  Boil until the ravioli floats to the top, it will compete cooking in the oven 
• Drain the pasta and toss with the tomato sauce in a large bowl
• Pour mixture into a 9" by 13" pan
• Top the pasta and tomato with a layer of Parmesan cheese, then a layer of mozzarella cheese
• Bake for 20 minutes, until pasta is golden.

Bon appétit!

Parmesan Zucchini Sticks

Photo Credit: Health is Wealth Photos.

Ingredients:
 

• 2 medium zucchinis
• ⅓ cup Parmesan cheese
• 1 egg
• 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning

 

Instructions:

• Peel the zucchini.
• Cut each zucchini in half along their width, then cut each of those halves lengthwise into quarters.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• Combine the Italian seasoning, and Parmesan cheese in a bowl.
• In another bowl whisk together the water and egg.
• Dip the zucchini pieces in the egg mixture first, then the parmesen cheese mixture until they are thoroughly coating.
• Place the zucchini on a greased baking sheet. Bake in oven for 20-25 minutes or until tender and golden brown, turning once. Serve with ranch dressing.

Photo Credit: Health is Wealth Photos.

Curried Chicken

Photo Credit: Health is Wealth Photos.

Ingredients:

• 3 tbsps. olive oil
• 1 small onion
• 2 cloves garlic
• 3 tbsps. curry powder
• 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp. paprika
• 1 bay leaf
• 1/2 tsp. grated fresh ginger root
• 1/2 tsp. white sugar
• salt to taste
• 2 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
• 1 tbsp. tomato paste
• 1 cup plain yogurt
• 3/4 cup coconut milk
• 1/2 lemon, juiced
• 1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper

 

 

 

Photo Credit: Health is Wealth Photos.

Photo Credit: Health is Wealth Photos.

Directions:

• Chop the onion, and mince the garlic cloves. 
• Heat a skillet over medium heat and add olive oil. Sautee the onion until it is lightly browned.
• Add the garlic, curry powder, cinnamon, paprika, bay leaf, ginger, sugar and salt and stir them in.
• Continue to stir for 2 minutes.
• Cut the chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces.
• Add  in the chicken pieces, tomato paste, yogurt, and coconut milk.
• Bring to a boil then reduce the heat, and simmer for 20 to 25 minutes.
• Remove the bay leaf, and stir in lemon juice and cayenne pepper.
• Simmer for 5 more minutes.

Photo Credit: Health is Wealth Photos.

Balsamic Tomatoes

Photo Credit: Health is Wealth Photos.

 

Ingredients:

 

• 2 pounds of cherry tomatoes
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tbsps. balsamic vinegar
• 2 tbsps. olive oil
• Kosher salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 1 tbsp. chopped oregano leaves

 

Directions:

 

• Preheat the oven to 375°F.
• Mince the garlic cloves.
• Slice the tomatoes and place them on a large rimmed baking sheet.
• Toss them with the olive oil, vinegar and garlic.
• Season with salt and pepper and place in the oven.
• Roast for 20 to 25 minutes, until the tomatoes are tender.
• Remove from the oven and place in a serving dish, stir in the oregano.

 

Photo Credit: Health is Wealth Photos.

Mutter Paneer -- Indian Cheese Curry

 

Mutter Paneer is a classic vegetarian dish from northern India. Mutter refers to peas and paneer is a farmer's cheese. These ingredients are combined in a tomato-based sauce and seasoned with garam masala.

 

Serve with basmati rice and any Indian-type bread such as naan, paratha, poori or roti.

 

Ingredients:

• Paneer cheese (about 250 grams)
• 1 medium onion
• 3 tomatoes
• 1 cup frozen peas
• 2 garlic cloves
• 1/2 tsp. ground ginger
• 1 tsp. ground coriander
• 1 1/2 tsps. garam masala
• 1 tsp. turmeric
• 1 tsp. ground cumin
• 1 tsp. ground black pepper
• 1 tsp. salt
• oil, for frying
• cilantro, chopped (to garnish) 

Directions:

• Cut the paneer cheese into bite-sized cubes.
• Chop up the onions and tomatoes and mince the garlic cloves finely. Reserve.
• Heat a deep-walled frying pan and add a bit of cooking oil to it, brown the paneer taking care to turn the cubes over frequently.
• Reserve the paneer once they are nicely browned. 
• Add the chopped onions to the pan once the paneer has been removed.
• Cook the onions until golden then add the garlic and spices.
• Cook for a few more minutes then add the tomatoes and 1/2 a cup of water.
• Simmer for 5 minutes, return the paneer to the pan and also the peas, cover the pan, reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes.
• Reduce the liquid in the pan until it is a desired thickness (if too watery simmer a bit longer and check frequently).

 

Bon appétit!



Spinach Chips

Photo Credit: Health is Wealth Photos.

You might consider adding garlic powder to the salt and pepper seasoning to really liven up these healthy snacks!

 

 

Ingredients:

• 2 cups of baby spinach leaves
• 1 tbsp. olive oil
• Salt & pepper as seasoning

Photo Credit: Health is Wealth Photos.

 

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
• Gently toss the spinach leaves and olive oil together in a bowl until the leaves are all coated.
• Place the spinach leaves on a baking sheet with parchment paper so that they do not overlap one another. You may work in batches or use more than one baking sheet to accommodate all the spinach.
• Season the leaves with salt and pepper; garlic powder may additionally be used..
• Bake in oven for about 12 minutes, turn off the oven but leave the baking sheets in for a few minutes longer.
• Remove the pan and let the spinach sit for about 5 minutes to let the leaves crisp up.

Photo Credit: Health is Wealth Photos.