Recipe Obsessed

Lentil Chili #Recipe

2013-04-07T19:19:00.000-04:00

This chili is incredibly simple, yet incredibly delicious. It cooked quickly and can be dressed up with other veggies if you're adventurous. Our family likes it plain.

1 medium onion, diced
1 pound lentils
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon chili powder
salt and pepper to taste
1 can diced tomatoes, not drained
1 cup pasta sauce
5 cups water

Saute onions in a splash of olive oil for about 3-5 minutes in your cooking pot on medium low heat. Add all other ingredients, simmer about 20 minutes. Serve with chopped cilantro mixed in.

This quick and easy meal can be prepared very quickly for an easy weekday dinner.

Cucumber Carrot Couscous Salad #Recipe

2013-03-25T20:06:00.002-04:00

One of my favorite light sides consists of a vegetable mix with couscous. I prefer it chilled and with some fresh cucumber and herbs. Sometimes I add tomatoes (seeded) as well.

1 English cucumber, diced

2 medium carrots, peeled and diced

1 cup couscous, cooked

salt and pepper to taste

splash of olive oil

Mix all ingredients together and chill. Serve as a side or as a vegetarian salad.

Texas Caviar Dip #Recipe

2013-03-14T20:42:00.001-04:00

A friend of mine brought this for a party once, and since then it has been a favorite. The fresh herbs are key. Mix everything below well and chill before serving.

2 small cans sliced black olives, drained
1 can of shoepeg corn (10-11oz), drained
1-2 avocados, diced
2-3 small tomatoes, diced finely (or use a can of petit diced tomatoes - I prefer fresh)
1 can black eyed peas
3-4 sprigs fresh dill, finely chopped
3-4 sprigs fresh cilantro, chopped
6-8 leaves frech basil, finely chopped
1 curet of Italian seasoning

Lemon Roasted Cauliflower #Recipe

2012-11-25T17:57:00.001-05:00

I love a tasty vegetable side dish. One of my recent favorites involves the cauliflower.

I generally like it steamed with some seasoning salt. Lately, I've experimented with roasting it.

Good idea.

Rinse your cauliflower and cut into chunks, then toss in a bowl. I season it with salt and pepper, then squeeze fresh lemon all over it and drizzle with a bit of olive oil. Arrange it in a glass pan and bake at 400 degrees for a good 30 minutes. Enjoy as a side or plain!

Cilantro Lime Garlic Dipping Sauce & Marinade

2012-08-25T07:55:00.002-04:00

I am a sucker for fresh, homemade dressing. I use it as a marinade, over salad or for dipping crusty bread. This combination can be used for all three purposes. The bright green color gives it a vibrant and festive feel.

1 bunch of cilantro, rinsed
2 tablespoons olive oil
juice of 1 lime
1 clove fresh garlic or 2 tablespoons jarred minced garlic
splash of hot sauce

Blend all ingredients in a food processor or blender. Enjoy!

Seared Ahi Tuna & Bacon Salad Recipe

2012-06-30T08:50:00.001-04:00

It has been quite some time since I've posted a recipe. My work has gotten more hectic and my family and main blog have gotten all my attention in my spare time.

I have a backlog of delicious recipes to post...many photos to sort through, ingredients to type up and share. I will start with one of our family favorites: seared ahi tuna. I purchase sashimi grade tuna steaks frozen from a local gourmet shop that also happens to have an online presence - TKgourmet.com. I prefer the Yellowfin Saku AAA Grade Tuna Loins - delicious. My Ahi Poke salad recipe used this tuna raw and it was delicious.

What you will need:
sushi-grade tuna steak(s)
1 tablespoon sesame seeds
1/4 cup reduced sodium soy sauce
1 teaspoon sesame oil
juice from half a lime (too much lime juice and the tuna will "cook" mire like a ceviche)
salt and pepper to taste

I cheat on the lime juice and use frozen fresh lime juice as you can see in the photo below. Mix all of the above in a bowl. Pour on a shallow plate and roll the tuna in the mixture.

Heat up your pan to a medium-high temperature before putting the tuna on. I dump the tuna, sauce and all in the pan. Cook about 5 minutes, depending on how pink you want the tuna. Since this was a high quality piece, I let it stay fairly red.

For the salad I picked fresh spinach and kale from my garden. Chopped up some warm bacon and cucumbers. Delicious.

Roasted Asparagus #Recipe

2012-03-31T20:38:00.004-04:00

I have always been rather fearful of asparagus. I never know just how to cook it, and usually end up chopping it raw into a salad. This time I experimented with roasting and was quite pleased.

1 bunch fresh asparagus, trimmed
cooking spray or butter
salt and pepper to taste
2 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Arrange the asparagus on a baking sheet and coat with cooking spray. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.

Bake asparagus 12 minutes in the preheated oven. Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Remove from heat, and stir in soy sauce and balsamic vinegar. Pour over the baked asparagus to serve.

Roasted Beets #Recipe

2012-03-03T10:35:00.002-05:00

I have been a long-time fan of beets, and I couldn't pass up these lovely bunches at the store. We juiced some, then roasted the rest. Delicious!

3-4 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup olive oil
salt and pepper to taste
tablespoon lime juice or vinegar
beets, scrubbed and cut

Scrub your beets with a veggie brush and cut off the greens.

Mix together all the other ingredients in a bowl.

Coat cut beets with your mixture, roast on 400 degrees for about 45 minutes or until done. Enjoy!

Green Juice Recipe {Kale Orange Apple}

2012-02-12T12:15:00.001-05:00

I have seen "green" juice everywhere and have wanted to try it. We recently discovered our blender had a juicer attachment and have put it to good use. It has been fun creating fresh juice recipe at home. The latest was a big hit. My four year old daughter drank a big glass and requested more.

Fresh kale, hard ribs removed
2 oranges
2 apples

Wash and cut your fruit. I leave the peel on the apple. Juice. Enjoy!

Fish, Parsnips and Bell Peppers #Recipe

2012-01-21T15:27:00.000-05:00

This recipe is totally stolen from my mother, who introduced me to the joys of parsnips. Thanks, mom!

It is very easy and fast to make - probably in under 20 minutes. Since it is just fish and veggies, it is low carb and light. The recipe below serves about 4.

2 parsnips, peeled and diced
1 large onion, diced in 1 inch pieces
2 medium tomato, diced in 1 inch pieces
2-3 bell peppers (the more colorful the better)Fish, P
lemon juice
4 fillets of white fish of your choice (I used tilapia)

Chop the veggies.

Brown onion, add remainder of vegetables and saute 2 minutes. Add lemon juice. Put in your fish directly over the vegetables and check your liquid levels - you should have some in the pan.

Add water or chicken stock if needed. Cover pan and saute until fish is opaque, no more than 5 minutes. Serve plain or with a side of butter bread.

Smoked Salmon & Spinach Rolls Recipe

2012-01-11T20:45:00.000-05:00

I made this tasty treat for the first time about 7 years ago, and it has been a go-to appetizer of lunch recipe since then. Keep as a wrap or cut into pin-wheel shapes, then enjoy!

smoked salmon
chive cream cheese
tortillas (I like spinach-flavored - fun color)
baby spinach leaves

Spread cream cheese on the tortilla. Top with spinach and salmon.

Roll them up, eat as is or cut into pin wheels. Super easy! I love these for lunch or an appetizer at a party.

Easy Mint Truffles #Recipe

2011-12-24T12:45:00.003-05:00

As a family of salt-loving eaters, I rarely bake. When I do, I want a quick and easy recipe. This recipe for mint chocolate truffles is so easy it doesn't even involve baking. You can get creative with different coatings and flavors.

10 ounce bag of chocolate of your choice
1/3 cup whipping cream
1/4 cup unsalted butter
sprinkles and powdered sugar for coating

Melt all ingredients in a sauce pan until well-blended. Pour into a bowl and let cool. I think a shallow bowl works best, and kept taking mine out of the fridge to mix.

Roll in a topping of your choice. This worked well with wet hands so the chocolate mixture didn't stick. Lay out on wax paper or a cutting board.

Green Turkey Chili #Recipe

2011-12-16T05:58:00.000-05:00

This is a favorite of mine. It is one of those quick and delicious meals I can throw together in under 20 minutes on a weeknight. It is also pretty healthy. Your green salsa is the key. I love the Pace's Salsa Verde but it is very spicy so I mixed in a milder green salsa to tone down the kick.

1 large onion, chopped
1 pound ground turkey
2 cans of white beans, rinsed (I used cannellini prefer Northern beans)
2 jars of green salsa
1 tablespoon cumin
1-2 cups of water or broth depending on how thick you like your chili.
splash of olive oil

Chop onion, saute with a splash of olive oil for about 2 minutes. Add in turkey and cumin and cook through. Pour in beans, salsa and let simmer. Add water or broth to your liking to thin the mixture.

Sausage, Mushroom, Cabbage & Potato One-Pot #Recipe

2011-12-07T20:32:00.000-05:00

I love easy, one pot dishes. This is a favorite for the whole family. If you are going for meatless, just skip the sausage and add some extra spices.

1 cup mushrooms, diced (optional, I added because ours were about to walk out the door)
1 large onion, chopped
1 pound andouille sausage, or your favorite sausage of choice (I like it a bit spicy)
1 medium cabbage, cut into 1-2 inch chunks
4-6 medium red potatoes, diced with skin on
1 jar of tomato sauce
1 small chili pepper, minced
splash of Worscheshire sauce
salt and pepper to taste

Saute your onion, seasonings and chili if using in a large stock pot.

Chop the cabbage. It may look like a lot but it simmers down pretty well.

Dump the sausage, potatoes, cabbage, mushrooms and pasta sauce into the pot.

Simmer on medium low heat until everything is cooked through.

Serve and enjoy. Just writing this post makes me want to make it again.

Ham, Cheddar, Corn and Potato Chowder #Recipe

2011-11-30T20:46:00.000-05:00

I have made this chowder multiple times over the years. Lay low on the cheese for a lighter version or dump it in and enjoy the gooey goodness.

1 medium onion, finely chopped
8 medium potatoes, peeled and diced
4 stalks of celery, diced
4 large carrots, diced
1 can of corn
1-2 cups of 1% milk (or heavy cream if you're going for the fatty version)
4 ounces cheddar cheese (or 8 ounces if you're going for deadly tasty)
8 ounce package of Canadian bacon or smoked ham, diced

Boil your potatoes in a large stock pot, drain mostly, then mash with a potato masher and set aside. In a separate pan saute onion, celery, and carrots until tender but not cooked through. Add milk to your potatoes, then toss in the veggie mixture and the ham. Simmer on medium until it starts to bubble. Add your cheese last, then continue simmering until the vegetables are done. Serve plain or with buttered bread and enjoy!

How to Seed a Pomegranate #tip

2011-11-21T20:52:00.000-05:00

Did you know it was Pomegranate season? I look forward to it all year long! We purchase them in bulk and eat probably one a day. My husband and I always joke that whoever has to do the seeding needs to go pull out their ratty old sweatshirt. It isn't pretty. Juice squirts across the kitchen. Heaven forbid a seed drops on the ground and you step on it - huge mess!

My mom taught me this tip a while ago. Cut your pomegranate. Fill a bowl with water. Seed it in the water. The seeds sink. The white pulp floats. Let dry in a colander. Enjoy!!

Creamy Acorn Squash Soup #Recipe

2011-11-19T09:58:00.000-05:00

This creamy, delicious soup is very easy to make. You can roast your squash in the oven at 350 degrees, or zap it in the microwave for 10 minutes. In each case, have about 1 inch of water in your roasting pan.

Also, since you puree the soup, don't worry about dicing the onion and garlic too finely.

1 acorn squash
1 1/4 cup broth
1 medium onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, diced

2-4 ounces cream cheese, depending on how creamy you want it
splash of olive oil
salt and pepper to taste
dash (or 10) of Cajun seasoning for a little kick

Cut squash in half, scoop out seeds, place flat-side down in a microwave safe dish in 2 tablespoons of water and zap for 6-10 minutes until soft. I find a watermelon baller works well to scoop out seeds and gunk.

Meanwhile, saute your onions and garlic in a splash of olive oil. Add seasoning of choice (I used some Creole seasoning salt) and once the onions are done, add your squash and broth.

Cook on medium heat until bubbling, add cream cheese. Let cool, then blend with a hand mixer. Serve and enjoy!

Sour Cream Cornbread #Recipe

2011-11-14T20:29:00.001-05:00

Several years ago while visiting my best friend's family in Connecticut, I was served this corn bread. It melted in my mouth. I asked what the recipe called for only to have the host state "you don't want to know." She was wrong - despite being a health nut, I did want to know, and I have made it many times since then (once it won second place at a chili cook-off!). I did make this a teeny, tiny bit healthier by eliminating one of the sticks of butter and adding light sour cream. I will be making this for several Thanksgiving events this fall.

4 eggs
1 stick unsalted butter
2 containers of cornbread mix
16 ounces sour cream
1 or 2 cans of corn (I used 1 here but have done 2 before for a crunchier taste)

Mix everything. Bake at 375 degrees until a fork comes out clean. Cool, then serve. Enjoy!

Spiced Roasted Pumpkin Seeds #Recipe

2011-11-09T19:24:00.000-05:00

We had fun gutting a pie pumpkin this past weekend and wanted to quickly roast some seeds. I found this recipe online and modified it slightly.

1 1/2 tablespoons butter
dash or two of salt
1 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
1 cup raw whole pumpkin seeds

We used a toaster oven to roast ours and it cut the suggested time by half.

Mix your butter or margarine, salt, Worcestershire sauce and pumpkin seeds together in a dish. Bake at 350 in the oven for 15-20 minutes or in a toaster oven for about 15 minutes. Let cool and enjoy! I personally like to sprinkle them on some vanilla ice cream!

Lemon Garlic Whole Chicken in a Crock Pot #Recipe

2011-11-07T20:04:00.002-05:00

My friend Michelle mentioned this recipe a while back and I was sold. Chicken + garlic + lemon + crockpot = yum! I let my chicken soak in a salty brine before cooking it in the crock pot.

1 whole chicken, rinsed
1 lemon
4-8 cloves of garlic
salt and pepper to taste
water or chicken broth

Rinse your whole chicken, trim any excess fat or skin.

Soak in a big bowl of cold, salty water for several hours.

Drain, rinse and add to crock pot. Stuff with peeled garlic cloves and lemon sliced in half. I poured in about 1-2 inches of broth to the crock pot.

Cook on low for about 4-6 hours, until the chicken falls off the bone. I enjoy using this as an addition to soup or pasta.

French Silk Pie #Recipe

2011-10-30T15:19:00.002-04:00

I do not bake very frequently and when I do, I generally want an easy recipe. I was hunting around for chocolate pies and stumbled upon a homemade knock-off version of Baker's Square french silk pie. Suddenly memories of picking one up every Sunday after church with my family came flooding back.

I had to make it, even after the health nut in me read the ingredients list. It was worth it and simply, gloriously delicious. This is a no-bake recipe and sets very quickly in the fridge.

1 cup unsalted butter (2 sticks)
1 1/2 cup sugar
2 ounces unsweetened chocolate, melted
2 teaspoons vanilla
4 whole eggs
Whipped cream

Pie crust, cooked

I used a Pillsbury refrigerated crust and baked it according to package directions. Set aside to cool. Beat sugar and butter until completely combined. Add chocolate and vanilla. Add eggs, two at a time, beating 5 minutes after each addition. Pour into cooled pie crust.

Chill 2 hours or until firm. Before serving, top with whipped cream and a little grated chocolate.

Fish, Parsley and Tomato Stew #Recipe

2011-10-18T19:56:00.005-04:00

I was chatting on the phone with my mom the other day when she mentioned a delicious new recipe she had tried for fish stew. I knew I had to try it as I listened to her rattle off the ingredients. Here is the recipe I ended up with after some modifications.

6 Tbsp olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
2-4 garlic cloves, minced
2/3 cup fresh parsley, chopped
1 medium tomato, chopped
2 tsp of tomato paste
8 ounces of clam juice
2/3 cup dry white wine
1.5 to 2 pounds fish fillets (you can use halibut, cod, sole, red snapper or sea bass), cut into 2-inch pieces
1/2 cup water if you would like your stew more liquid
Touch of dry oregano, Tabasco sauce and thyme
Salt and pepper to taste

Heat olive oil in heavy large pot and add chopped onion and garlic and sauté 4 minutes. Add parsley and stir 2 minutes. Plop in your chopped tomato, tomato paste and cook 2-5 more minutes.

Add clam juice, dry white wine, and fish (I used halibut and really loved it) and simmer until fish is cooked through, less than 10 minutes. Top off with seasoning and any additional water if needed. I felt my stew needed a good cup of water to give it more liquids but maybe I had simply simmered the juices too long.

Salt and pepper to taste. I served this stew with roasted garlic bread at a dinner party. I will definitely be making it again!

Eggplant, Zucchini, Spinach and Mushroom Lasagna #Recipe

2011-10-17T09:56:00.002-04:00

This is a twist on my favorite lasagna recipe that typically includes ground turkey. I used eggplants and zucchini instead. It turned out pretty well and also froze well. Overall this is a pretty healthy recipe if you stick with part-skim cheese. Enjoy!

1 medium onion, chopped

2-3 cloves garlic, minced

1 medium egglant, washed and sliced

1 package frozen chopped spinach, thawed

1 container mushrooms, chopped

1 large jar of pasta sauce

lasagna noodles

16oz part-skim ricotta cheese

bag of shredded Mozzarella cheese

1 raw egg

salt and pepper to taste

Saute your onions and garlic in a splash of olive oil or cooking spray. After about 3 minutes I add the mushrooms, spinach and zucchini.

As your veggies simmer, slice your eggplant.

Then in a separate bowl make a cheese mixture that consists of the entire container of ricotta cheese, egg and half of the bag of shredded Mozzarella cheese.

Layer your pan with a thin layer of pasta sauce, noodles, ricotta, veggies, eggplant. Repeat till you've used your ingredients.

When I run out, I top with the rest of the shredded cheese and some pasta sauce. We love pasta sauce! Bake at 350 degrees until bubbling, or for approximately 45 minutes.

Three Bean Salad with Red Peppers #Recipe

2011-10-07T15:26:00.000-04:00

This is a favorite summer salad we make often. You can try it with different beans, add celery and different colored bell peppers for a bright, festive look. Here I used the following:

garbanzo beans

black beans

red kidney beans

1 medium red bell pepper, coarsely chopped

half a medium onion, finely chopped

1/4 cup olive oil

1/4 cup salad vinegar

salt and pepper to taste

Rinse your beans.

Chop bell pepper, onion and celery (if using, I forgot to add the celery here!).

Mix equal parts olive oil and salad vinegar. I add salt and freshly ground pepper.

Whisk your dressing until it thickens a bit.

Combine all ingredients and enjoy! I serve at room temperature or slightly chilled. If you keep it too cold, the dressing congeals too much.

Fresh Ahi Poke and Avocado #Recipe

2011-09-12T19:28:00.000-04:00

We recently picked up some sushi grade yellowfin tuna and I just had to try to create an ahi poke dish. This is one of two recipes I tried. Ahi poke is my favorite appetizer when we go out for sushi. We loved this and I'm probably making more this week.

6 ounces sashimi grade tuna steak, diced
1/4 to 1/2 cup diced cucumber, seeds removed
1 avocados - peeled, pitted and diced
2-3 tablespoons finely chopped green onion
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds
1 1/2 teaspoons lime juice
1 teaspoon sesame oil
1/4 cup soy sauce

Combine the ahi, cucumber, avocado, green onion, red pepper flakes and sesame seeds. Pour in the lime juice, sesame oil and soy sauce, and stir carefully to blend so you don't mash the avocado. Chill until ready to serve.