Tuesday, February 19, 2013

3 Ingredient Blender silk




I want to say the simplicity of this is what makes it so good but it's not. The taste and texture are what make it perfect. The simplicity is just a bonus. My friend pours this on top of a baked cake and lets it set up there. I poured it into tiny cups as a cute individual serving of silk.
Because this doesn't have any additional sweetener be careful with the chocolate you use, go a little lighter than what you like to eat.

12 oz. chocolate, milk are dark
  1 c. milk
4 eggs

Place the chocolate chips in the blender. Scald the milk and pour over the chips. Blend on medium speed for a couple minutes. Scrape the bottom to make sure the chips are stuck there. Add the eggs and blend on high for about 10 minutes, until steam starts to form in the top. 

Pour into cups or on top of a baked cake and chill for at least 4 hours.

Monday, February 18, 2013

Chimichurri Quinoa Bowl

 

1 large bunch cilantro, leaves picked from the stems
1 sprig fresh oregano
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 c. olive oil
3 Tbsp red wine vinegar
4 cloves garlic
2 shallots
1/4 c. pickled jalapeno slices
black pepper

6 oz. fresh baby spinach, chopped
 2 chicken breasts

3 c. cooked quinoa, hot

Pre-heat the oven to 400. 

Combine 2 Tbsp. olive oil, vinegar, salt, garlic cloves, shallots, jalapeno slices, and black pepper in a blender. Pulse until mostly smooth and vegetables are chopped. Add the cilantro and oregano and blend until well chopped but not smooth, scraping down the sides as needed.

Trim the chicken and cut in half lengthwise. Top each of the four chicken pieces with and eighth of the cilantro mix. Bake at 400 until the chicken is cook through and bits of the cilantro start to brown.
Remove from oven and slice.

Meanwhile, add remaining olive oil to the remaining chimichurri sauce. Add the sauce to a large frying pan along with the spinach. Cook the spinach over medium heat until dark brown, stirring constantly. 

Layer in bowls 3/4 c. cooked quinoa, a quarter of the spinach, and 1 piece of chicken.

Enjoy!



Quinoa and Greens


I love quinoa, it's tasty and nutritious. The other day for dinner, thanks to "Iowa girl Eats" via pinterest, I made a quinoa dinner we all loved. I highly recommend it. But then I started thinking of other quinoa bowl varieties that would be good.



2 1/2 c. Water
2 Chicken bouillon cubes
1 c. Quinoa

Unsalted butter or olive oil
2 large chicken breasts
Season salt

1 1/2 c. Water
1 chicken bouillon cube
1 Tbsp. cornstarch

Unsalted butter or olive oil
2 c. Broccoli florets, chopped into small pieces
4 c. Fresh baby spinach
2 c. Fresh or frozen green beans, cut into half inch pieces
1 c. Small pieces of zucchini, optional
1/2 onion, chopped
1 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
Dash salt

Bring the water to a boil, add the chicken bouillon and quinoa. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium, cover and simmer. Cook about 20 minutes, remove the lid and simmer until the liquid is absorbed and quinoa is tender.

Meanwhile, trim the chicken of fat and cut in half lengthwise. Sprinkle with season salt and cook in oil until browned on both sides and cooked through. Set aside and keep warm.
Immediately add 1 cup of water and bouillon cube to the pan while it's still hot. Stir to lift up the fond from the bottom of the pan. Combine the cornstarch and remaining water. Whisk into the hot liquid and stir until slightly thickened. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed. Pour into a bowl.

Add more butter to the pan. Saute the onion until slightly tender. Add the broccoli, green beans, spinach, and zucchini if using. Lightly salt and cook, stirring, until the vegetables are cooked to desired doneness. Add the garlic and cook 1 - 2 minutes longer. 

Layer in bowls cooked quinoa, green veggies, sliced chicken, and drizzle with chicken glaze.