White Bean, Asparagus & Tomato Salad

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Ingredients 

1/2 pound fresh asparagus, trimmed

1 cup cherry tomatoes, cut in halves
1 (14-ounce) can cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
1/4 cup chopped onion
1 tablespoon drained capers, mashed

1 garlic clove, minced
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoons white wine vinegar
1/2 tablespoon honey (OR brown sugar)
1 tablespoon spicy brown mustard
10 leaves fresh sage, finely chopped (OR 1/4 teaspoon dried)
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/8 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons shredded Pecorino Romano cheese
1 (5-ounce) bag mixed salad greens

***Use mini-food processor for making the dressing

Preparation
1. Snap off tough ends of asparagus; arrange asparagus in a steamer basket over boiling water. Cover and steam 2 minutes or until asparagus is crisp-tender. Plunge asparagus into ice water to stop the cooking process; drain. Cut asparagus into 1/2-inch pieces, and chill. Put into a large bowl.

2. Cut cherry tomatoes in half. Drain and rinse canned beans. Chop onion. Drain and smash capers with side of the knife. Put everything together in large bowl with asparagus.

3. Whisk together garlic, chopped fresh sage, olive oil, vinegar, honey, mustard, salt & pepper in a small bowl or pulse several times in a mini-food processor. Pour over asparagus, tomatoes, beans, onion, and capers, tossing to coat.
Adjust seasoning if necessary.

4.Cover and chill 1 hour. Serve the salad over salad greens; sprinkle with Romano cheese.   
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Nutritional info per 1 cup: makes 4 servings
    * Calories: 193
    * Fat: 9.5g    Carbs: 20g (fiber: 5g)    Protein: 7.5g

Tabbouleh

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Ingredients 
1 cup water
1/2 cup bulgur, dry
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 cup finely chopped flat-leaf parsley (1 bunch)
1/4 cup chopped fresh mint
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved or quartered (OR 2 medium tomatoes, diced)
1/4 English cucumber, diced
1/2 cup green onions, thinly sliced (1 bunch)
1/4 cup lemon juice
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 garlic clove, minced
1/4 teaspoon salt
Salt and Freshly ground pepper, to taste

***Use mini-food processor for chopping parsley, mint and making the dressing

Preparation
1. Combine water, salt and bulgur in a small saucepan. Bring to a full boil, remove from heat, cover and let stand until the water is absorbed and the bulgur is tender, 25 minutes or according to package directions. If any water remains, drain bulgur in a fine-mesh sieve. Transfer to a large bowl and let cool for 15 minutes.
2. Combine lemon juice, oil, garlic, salt and pepper in a small bowl.
Add parsley, mint, tomatoes, cucumber and green onions to the bulgur.
Add the dressing and toss.
Serve at room temperature or chill for at least 1 hour to serve cold.   

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Nutritional info per 1 cup: makes 4 servings
    * Calories: 160
    * Fat: 7.5g    Carbs: 21g (fiber: 3g)    Protein: 3g

Tomato Tart with Goat Cheese & Herbs

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Ingredients

Uncooked Pie Crust 9", refrigerated
Cherry Tomatoes, fresh, 3 cups whole
Olive Oil, 1-2 tsp
Thyme, fresh, 1 tsp (OR 1/4 tsp dry Thyme OR Herbs De Provence)
Salt & Black Pepper
Goat Cheese, 1/4 cup crumbled (2oz)

Preparation

1. Preheat oven 425F. Cover a baking sheet with aluminum foil and spay it with a non-stick spray. Place the cool pie dough on the foil and unroll it.
2. Put tomatoes on dough in one layer leaving 1" on edges. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, thyme and goat cheese crumbles. Fold the edges covering tomatoes and folding the dough to hold together. Drizzle the whole pie with olive oil all over, including the edges, and smooth oil on edges with a brush or fingers. Sprinkle edges with coarse salt for decoration, if desired.
3. Bake the pie in the middle of the oven for 35 minutes. Serve warm.    

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Nutritional info per ¼ tart: makes 4 servings
    * Calories: 294
    * Fat: 17g    Carbs: 32g (fiber: 1g)    Protein: 4g

Barley Soup with Turkey & Butternut Squash

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Ingredients:
1/2 cup barley, dry (+2 cups of water for cooking)
2 Turkey legs, cooked, cut into bite-size pieces
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 large onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 small butternut squash, fresh, cut into pieces
1 tablespoon tomato paste
Salt and ground pepper
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
1 cans (14.5 ounces) reduced-sodium beef broth
2-3 cups of water
2-3 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley for garnish

Preparation
1. In a small pot, put dry barley and water and cook it for 30 minutes. Drain the water, rinse barley.
2. Meanwhile, clean the turkey meat of bone, cut it into pieces. Clean and cut butternut squash. Chop onion and mince garlic.
3. In a pot, heat olive oil. Add onion and garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes. Add butternut squash and cook for 5 minutes stirring often. Add turkey, oregano, salt, pepper and tomato paste. Mix everything and cook for half a minute or so.
Add cooked barley, chicken broth and 2-3 cups water; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, partially covered, for 15 minutes. Add more water to thin soup, as needed. Season with more salt and pepper, if necessary.
4. Ladle into bowls; sprinkle with parsley or any fresh herbs.
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Nutritional info per 1.5 cup: makes 6 servings
    * Calories: 167
    * Fat: 5g Carbs: 17g (fiber: 3.6g) Protein: 13g

Roasted Apples & Onions

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Ingredients
1 large Apple, fresh, cored and cut into bite-size pieces
1/2 large Onion, raw, cut into bite-size pieces
1/3 cup fresh (or frozen) whole Cranberries
1 tbsp. Olive Oil
1 tbsp. Lemon juice
1/4 tsp Coriander seed
1/4 tsp Caraway Seed
freshly ground black Pepper

Preparation
1. Preheat oven F400.
2. Cut onions and apples. Drizzle with lemon juice and olive oil. Place on a baking sheet. Sprinkle with spices. Add fresh cranberries.
3. Bake for 30 minutes.

I'd recommend it served with shredded Pecorino Romano, Gruyere or Swiss cheese.    
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Nutritional info per 1 cup: makes 2 servings
    * Calories: 117
    * Fat: 4g Carbs: 22g (fiber: 4.6g) Protein: 1g

Sweet Potato & Bean Chili

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Ingredients:
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 jalapeno pepper, fresh, seeded and diced
1 medium sweet potato, diced
1/2 large onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 teaspoons chili powder
1 teaspoons ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon curry powder (OR ground chipotle chile)
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup water
1 15-ounce can beans (red, black, kidney or any other), drained and rinsed
1 14-ounce can diced tomatoes (no salt added)
2 teaspoons lime juice
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley (OR cilantro)

Preparation
1. Heat oil in a large pan (or Dutch oven) over medium-high heat. Add chopped jalapeno pepper, cook for 1 minute. Add sweet potato and onion and cook, stirring often, until the onion is beginning to soften, about 5 minutes. Add garlic, chili powder, cumin, curry (OR chipotle) and salt and cook, stirring constantly, for 30 seconds. Add water and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to maintain a gentle simmer and cook until the sweet potato is almost tender,  for about 5-7 minutes.
2. Add beans, tomatoes and lime juice; increase heat to high and return to a simmer, stirring often. Reduce heat and simmer until slightly reduced, 5-7 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in parsley (or cilantro).

I'd recommend it served over baked spaghetti squash, cooked pasta, rice, couscous, quinoa or any other grains, in a corn taco shell, inside of cooked half of an acorn squash or with a piece of corn bread.                        
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Nutritional info per 1 cup: makes 4 servings
    * Calories: 202
    * Fat: 4g Carbs: 33g (fiber: 9g) Protein: 10g

Panini Ham & Cheese Sandwich with Pears

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Ingredients
Bread, Sourdough, 2 slices (2.5 oz)
Swiss cheese, 2 slices (1 oz)
Ham, 2 pieces (2 oz)
Pears, fresh, 1/4 pear (1.5oz) , thinly sliced
Pepper, black, freshly ground
Yellow Mustard, 1 tsp

Equipment:
panini press, non-stick cooking spray

Preparation
1. Heat the panini maker, spray it with non-stick spray if necessary.
2. Arrange a sandwich with all the ingredients and cook it pressed in the panini maker for 3-5 minutes.

Serve warm with fresh arugula.                        
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Nutritional info: makes 1 sandwich
    * Calories: 407
    * Fat: 13g Carbs: 49g (fiber: 2.6g) Protein: 27g

Sirniki (Farmer Cheese Pancakes)

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Ingredients:
Farmer Cheese, two 7.5oz-packages (450g total)
Granulated Sugar, 2 tbsp
Flour, white, all-purpose, 1/2 cup + 1/2 cup for dredging
Egg, 1 jumbo (or 1 large+1 egg white) raw
Vanilla Extract, 1 tsp
Oil for cooking (2-3 tbsp) 

Equipment: 
frying pan

Cooking Instructions:
1. Mix all the ingredients except oil. Put 1/2 cup of flour in a shallow dish. Form 8 cutlet-shape flat cakes (1/2"-thick) and dredge every one in flour.
2. Heat oil in a frying pan. Cook cakes at low-medium heat for 3 minutes on each side (just like pancakes) till golden brown.

Serve warm with Greek yogurt, honey, jams, sour cream, milk, sweetened condensed milk.
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Nutritional info per one cake: makes 8 cakes
    * Calories: 174
    * Fat: 9g Carbs: 12g (fiber: 0.3g) Protein: 10g

Mushroom Baked Risotto

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Ingredients:

Portabella Mushrooms, 1 large (130-150g), cut into 1/8"-pieces
Olive Oil, 1 tbsp
Garlic, 1 clove (minced)
Rosemary, 1/4 tsp (chopped)
Onions, raw, 1/4 large (chopped)
White Wine, 2 fl oz (remove)
Arborio / Risotto Rice (uncooked), 1/2 cup
Water, tap, 1/2 cup (4 fl oz)
Chicken Broth 99% Fat Free, low sodium, 14oz can (2 cups)
Pecorino Romano Cheese, 2 tbsp (finely shredded)

Equipment: 1 or 2 clay pots with lids (or baking dish)

 

Cooking Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 400F.

2. Mince garlic clove through press. Chop rosemary and onion. Cut mushroom into small pieces.

3. Heat olive oil in a frying pan. Add garlic and onion and cook for 1 minute. Add rosemary and mushrooms and cook uncovered for 5-10 minutes till there is no liquid in frying pan and mushrooms got light brown.

4. Add white wine and cook for 30 seconds. Add uncooked arborio rice. Mix well.

5. Add rice-mushroom mixture into clay pot (or devide it between two) or any other kind of baking dish. Pour chicken broth and water. Cover with lid.

6. Bake for 25 minutes in the oven.

7. Take it out of the oven. Fluff with folk and add freshly grated cheese. Mix again and serve immediately.

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Nutritional info per 1 cup: Makes 2 cups

    * Calories: 293

    * Fat: 8g Carbs: 45g (fiber: 1.5g) Protein: 8g

Banana baked with Ham and Gruyere

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Ingredients:
Banana, ripen, 2 medium (80g each)
Ham, 4 thin slices, 2 oz (preferably low sodium)
Light Sour Cream, 4 tbsp
Gruyere Cheese, 1/3 cup, shredded
Black Pepper, ground
Paprika

Equipment:
2 baking dishes
cooking spray 

Cooking Instructions:
1. Preheat the oven to 400°F. Grease the baking dishes.
2. Peel bananas, cut them in half crosswise and cut each half lengthwise. Wrap each piece in slices of ham and arrange in two baking dishes. Grind some black pepper on top.
3. Add sour cream and spread it over the wrapped bananas. Put shredded cheese on top and sprinkle with paprika.
4.  Bake in the oven for 20 minutes. Serve warm with a piece of toasted bread.

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Nutritional info: 1 dish
    * Calories: 248
    * Fat: 10g Carbs: 23g (fiber: 2g) Protein: 18g

Quinoa Chili

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Ingredients:
Quinoa, dry, 1/2 cup
Water, tap, 1 cup
Salt, a dash
Kidney Beans Dark Red, 1 cup (with juice)
Jalapeno pepper, seeded and chopped (OR a pinch of Cayenne pepper)
Curry powder, 1/2 tsp
Cinnamon, ground, 1/8 tsp
Cumin, ground, 1/8 tsp
Chili powder, 1/4 tsp
Tomato, medium, diced
Green Onions, fresh, 2-4 tbsp, chopped

Cooking Instructions:
Put quinoa, water and a dash of salt in a pot and cook for 15 minutes.
In another pot put beans and spices together, add 1/4 cup of water and simmer it for 10 minutes till beans are thick. Add cooked quinoa. Mix together.
Cut tomato and green onions in small pieces. Put it on top of chili and serve warm.

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Nutritional info: 2 servings (1 cup)
    * Calories: 286
    * Fat: 3g Carbs: 51g (fiber: 10g) Protein: 16g

Pico De Gallo

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Ingredients
  1 large tomato (1.25 cups diced)
  1/4 medium onion (1/4 cup finely chopped)
  1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley (or cilantro)
  1 jalapeño pepper, stemmed, seeded and finely chopped
  1/2 lime (or lemon), zested and juiced
  1/2 teaspoon sugar
  1/4 teaspoon salt
* Freshly ground black pepper to taste

Preparation
1. Chop tomato, onion, jalapeno pepper and parsley. Add everything into a bowl.
2. Zest half of lime and squeeze its juice over the vegetables.
3. Season with salt, sugar and black pepper. Mix well.
4. Chill for an hour. Serve with grilled fish or seafood.
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Nutritional info: 2 servings (1 cup)
    * Calories: 39
    * Fat: 0.5g Carbs: 9g (fiber: 2g) Protein: 1g

Egg Salad

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Ingredients
6 Eggs, large, hard boiled (2 whole ones and 4 egg whites)
Dijon Mustard, 1 tbsp.
Greek yogurt, plain, 0% fat, 1 tbsp.
Mayonnaise with Olive Oil, 1 tbsp.
Green Onions, Fresh, 1/4 cup chopped
Black Pepper, fresh ground, to taste
   *Paprika, a dash, for decoration


Preparation
1. Boil the eggs. Cool them and separate yokes and egg whites out of four eggs. Discard the yokes.
2. Cut 2 whole eggs and 4 egg whites into pieces.
3. Chop fresh green onion.
4. In a bowl, mix together mustard, mayo and yogurt. Add the cut eggs and onions, black pepper to the dressing. Mix carefully.
5. Chill the salad for an hour. Serve cool on top of finely cut fresh spinach.
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Nutritional info: 2 servings (1 cup)
    * Calories: 171
    * Fat: 7g Carbs: 4g (fiber: 0g) Protein: 18g

Asparagus, Artichoke and Mushroom Saute

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Ingredients
       Olive Oil, 1 tbsp
       Garlic, 1 clove, chopped
       Onions,1/4 cup, chopped
       Portabella Mushrooms, 1 large (6oz) or any kind of fresh mushrooms
       Asparagus, fresh, 1/2 lb
       Artichokes, frozen, 1/2 cup (4 oz), thawed
       Cherry tomatoes, 1 cup, halved
       Salt, 1/2 tsp
       Pepper, black, ground 1/4 tsp
       Balsamic vinegar, 1 tablespoon
*shredded cheese of your choice for garnish (optional) g)

Preparation
1. Thaw  frozen artichokes.
2. Chop garlic and onions finely. Heat up olive oil in a pan, add garlic and onions and fry at low-medium heat for 2 minutes.
3. Cut mushroom in big pieces, add to the pan and fry for 2 minutes.
4. Cut asparagus in 2"-long pieces, add it to pan. Put artichokes. And cook everything till asparagus is done but still crunchy.
5. Halve tomatoes, add them to saute. Turn the heat off.
6. Sprinkle balsamic vinegar over the vegetables. Add salt and pepper, mix veges.
7. Serve warm topped with shredded cheese of your choice.
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Nutritional info: 4 servings (1 cup)
    * Calories: 80
    * Fat: 4g Carbs: 10g (fiber: 4g) Protein: 4g