Super Foods Side Dish

Quinoa and Edimame...two BIG buzz words in the health food market these days.  I purchased these about a month ago and there they sat...sitting in my food pantry and freezer.  I admit, I had NO IDEA how to use them! However, I've heard over and over the high protein benefits of these foods.

When a friend (and fellow Tastefully Simple consultant) shared a quinoa recipe with me yesterday, I decided today was the day to experiment!  The verdict...I'm HOOKED!  Not only did I enjoy the taste of this dish - I feel full yet not weighed down after dinner.  Best of all, I know my family is stocked full of protein as they all go their separate ways to various activities tonight.  And yes...EVERYONE ate it!  Of course I got comments such as "What is this, fish eggs?"  No, it's not caviar.  "Are these lima beans?"  It's soybeans.  But in the end, they ate them and that makes me feel good as a Mom. :)

Given I had no idea how to prepare these foods, I'm going to assume some of you don't either. 

#1 - What are these foods?
Quinoa - is like a grain, but is actually a seed.  I would compare it to brown rice with a bit more texture.
Edimame - fancy name for soybean.  You'll see it served at many Asian restaurants inside the pod.  Many people dip the pod in soy sauce and then bite out the seeds from the pod.

#2 - Soak & rinse the quinoa.
My online research showed to soak for a couple hours and then rinse several times.  I rinsed mine about 5-6 times.  When you drain the water, you'll see a soapy type reside strain off the top.  Takes several times of adding new water, then draining again before all the soapy reside is gone.

Super Foods Side Dish
1 Tbsp Tastefully Simple Roasted Garlic Infused Oil
1 cup uncooked quinoa, rinsed
1/2 tsp Tastefully Simple Seasoned Salt
1/2 cup broth (chicken or vegetable)
1/2 cup frozen edimame, shelled
1/4 cup Tastefully Simple Sesame Teriyaki Sauce

In a heated skillet (use one that has a lid), add oil and quinoa.  Toast on medium heat about 5-10 minutes.  Add broth and Seasoned Salt along with frozen edimame.  NOTE:  My cupboard was bare, so I actually substituted water! I'm sure broth would've added more flavor, but the water actually worked just fine.  Place lid on skillet and simmer for another 5-10 minutes until liquid is gone and edimame is softened.  Add Sesame Teriyaki Sauce, mix well and serve.

Breakfast Sandwiches

Those of you who follow Pinterest have probably seen the recipe using a muffin pan to bake eggs.  Pinterest is where I first viewed this idea and I think it's GENIUS!  I am not a Mom who gets up early to make her family a full scale breakfast.  I'll help them make oatmeal or frozen waffles, but mornings are just to chaotic for more than that in this home.

However, I do enjoy breakfast foods.  Therefore, every so often we have 'breakfast' for our evening meal.  This is one of my favorites, and thanks to the muffin pan idea they are SOOO easy to make!

Breakfast Sandwiches
1 pkg refrigerated biscuits (I use Pillsbury Grands Flaky Layers)
6 eggs
6 slices cheese
6 slices Canadian Bacon
Your favorite Tastefully Simple seasonings.

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.  Spray muffin pan with non-stick spray.  Crack eggs and place in muffin tin.  Sprinkle with your favorite Tastefully Simple Seasonings.  Everyone picks their favorite which generally means making a couple each using Spinach & Herb Seasoning, Seasoned Salt and Bacon Bacon.  Place biscuits on baking stone or cookie sheet.  Place both muffin tin and baking stone in the oven and bake for 15 minutes.  Half biscuit and place one slice of cheese and one slice of canadian bacon on bottom.  (I like to microwave these for 15 seconds to melt the cheese.)  Use knife to loosen egg from muffin pan if necessary and finish assembling sandwich.

Sizzlin Steak Fajitas

I've been told by a certain male in my household that I don't cook enough steak.  So, dear husband...this recipe was for you! 

What is it about the sizzle of fajitas that just makes your mouth water anytime a waiter at a restaurant walks by you with a plate?  With my attempts to duplicate this restaurant quality at home, I've found a couple tricks along the way that work well and settled upon the below recipe our family highly enjoys!

 

Sizzlin Steak Fajitas
Ingredients
1 Tbsp Tastefully Simple Roasted Garlic Oil
1 onion
1 green or red bell pepper
1 flat iron steak (1 - 1 1/2 lbs)
flour tortillas (I use burrito size, but you can use smaller)
Your favoite toppings (cheese, avacado, tomato, lettuce, etc.)
Tastefully Simple Seasonings:  Seasoned Salt, Garlic Pepper, Wahoo Chili, and Fiesta Party Dip



Directions
Season the steak with Garlic Pepper and Seasoned Salt and grill 7-8 minutes (turning 1/2 way through and seasoning other side).  You want to get the nice grill marks and crispiness out the outside - the inside will still be pink.  Remove from grill and let steak rest for at least 10 minutes while you cook the vegetables.  This allows the juices to redistribute into the meat.

Heat oil in skillet over medium heat.  Slice onion and bell pepper and add to skillet.  Sprinkle with Garlic Pepper, Wahoo Chili and Fiesta Party Dip.  Note:  The fiesta will add the heat factor, so use it based on how spicy you like your flavor.  Once onions have carmelized, slice steak diagonally into thin strips against the grain and add into skillet.  Continue to stir and cook until steak is done to your liking.  Heat tortillas (I microwave for about 30 seconds), stack your meat, veggies, and toppings & enjoy!

Panini Perfection

I've said it before and I'll say it again....our Balsamic & Basil Dipping Oil is adds PERFECTION to a panini sandwich!  One of my hosts also told me last week that the Burger & Brat Mustard is fabulous on a turkey and cheese sandwich.  I've had a craving for one ever since.  So...today while the kids were searching out some new books at the library, I decided to thumb through some cooking magazines for recipe ideas.  I came across some gourmet panini recipes.  As I glanced through the ingredient listing, I knew there was no way I was going to that much work.  And why bother when I can shop from my own shelves!  Definitely one of the best things about being a Tastefully Simple consultant.  I stopped by the local grocery store on the way home, picked up a couple ingredients and here was the delicious result...

Turkey & Pear Panini
1 loaf nice artisan bread (I used HyVee Baking Stone - Asiago)
cheese slices (I used smoked gouda - would highly recommend!)
1-2 tsp of Tastefully Simple Burger & Brat Mustard
1 pear, peeled and sliced
sliced turkey (I used HyVee Honey Mesquite)
2 Tbsp Tastefully Simple Balsamic & Basil Dipping Oil

Slice bread into serving size pieces and cut in half.  Spead small amount of Burger & Brat Mustard on bread, top with slice of cheese, turkey, and sliced pear.  Brush top and bottom of bread with Balsamic & Basil Dipping Oil.  Place on panini press or yes...I still use my George Forman grill :)  Cook until bread is golden brown. 

Note:  If you don't have a panini press or tossed out your GF grill back in the 90's, then use a skillet and something as simple as a brick covered in foil to press down the sandwich.

My kids weren't so sure about fruit on a sandwich, but my oldest gave it a try and agreed it was good.  The other two...well, at least they picked it off and ate it separately.  Hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we did!

Creamy Ham & Veggie Pasta

Earlier this year, I made a mixed vegetable dish that included mushrooms.  I fully expected the kids would pick around them, but to my surprise...they instead announced they like mushrooms again.  (We went through about a 2 year span where all of a sudden they didn't like them anymore.)  So when I found mushrooms on sale this week, I decided to pull out this Creamy Ham & Veggie Pasta recipe which I love.  I must give credit to Julie Trusler (an AMAZING cook from my home town) who's recipe in her cookbook "JT's - Volume 1" was the inspiration - I simply tweaked to our liking and incorporated items I have on hand.  Now with many dishes, you can omit mushrooms and not really impact the dish.  However, I strongly encourage you to include them with this one.  Really adds a ton of flavor to the meal!

Creamy Ham & Broccoli Pasta
8 oz rotini pasta
1 Tbsp butter
2 Tbsp Tastefully Simple Roasted Garlic Infused Oil
8 oz. white button mushrooms, sliced
2 tsp Tastefully Simple Garlic Garlic
1 cup diced ham
8 oz. (about 1/2 bag freezer bag) of chopped broccoli, cooked
1/2 pint of heavy whipping cream (splurge and get the real stuff here!)
1/2 cup grated parmesan or romano cheese

Cook pasta in water until al dente.  While pasta is cooking, make sauce.  Melt butter in skillet (using a combination of both butter and oil will bring out a fuller flavor to the mushrooms).  Add oil and sliced mushrooms; saute until golden brown.  Add garlic, ham, broccoli, cream and cheese.  Cook for few minutes to thicken sauce.  Add cooked pasta, toss and heat through.

NOTE:  Leftovers make a great lunch the next day too!

Lemon Peppercorn Scallops

I think it's a bit fascinating how our bodies crave different types of food depending upon the season.  During the summer when the heat turns up a notch I find myself wanting more salads and lighter meals.  Yesterday I ventured to the grocery store with thoughts of shrimp in mind, but when the selection didn't look so great, I noticed they had some fresh scallops.  (Well, as fresh as we can get here in the mid-west - ha!)

Being that I've only cooked scallops once, I'm definitely not a pro!  However, the first attempt (posted on this blog on 6/22/11 - Baked Scallops) was a success, so I thought I'd give it another shot. 

Tastefully Simple just released our 'Returning Favorite' products for June & July.  These are items we've had before and clients requested back.  Two of them - Meyer Lemon Infused Oil and Green Tea Peppercorn Seasoning - pair together quite nicely and are a combination I generally use on tilapia.  (Meyer lemons are kind of like a cross between a mandarin orange and regular lemon, so have a great citrus flavor.)

I really wanted to make a sauce similar to a local hibachi restaurant nearby, but that didn't meet my standards.  I went with a nice panko bread crumb topping instead.  The fact I'm posting the recipe on this blog should tell you we all enjoyed the meal!  (I will admit my two youngest smothered them in tartar sauce.  However, the rest of us enjoyed the true flavor.)

Lemon Peppercorn Scallops
2 Tbsp Tastefully Simple Meyer Lemon Infused Oil
1 1/2 Tbsp Tastefully Simple Green Tea Peppercorn Seasoning
1 pound (about a dozen) scallops
1/2 cup panko bread crumbs
1 Tbsp butter, melted

Heat oil in skillet.  Rinse and pat dry scallops.  Note:  you'll want to get them good and dry to avoid the oil popping at you when you add them to the skillet.  Place scallops in oil and sprinkle with Green Tea Peppercorn Seasoning.  Cook about 8-10 minutes until golden brown.  Combine melted butter and bread crumbs then add to skillet.  Give everything a good stir and cook minute or two more to combine the flavors.

We just ate this as prepared above, but it would work well as a pasta dish also.

Hawaiian Ham & Swiss Sandwiches

Added a Tastefully Simple touch to this recipe, and it came out DELISH!  Original recipe was from www.Heatherlikesfood.com.  It called for adding poppy seeds into the sauce that goes over the rolls, but I knew I'd get nothing but complaints from my family about these...and more importantly - I forgot to buy them at the store - ha!  I think the onion flavor on the rolls was plenty & there enough other sweetness to this recipe that I don't think you need them.  As I noted within the ingredients listing, I think you can get away using half the amount of butter.  Next time I plan to only use 4 Tbsp melted butter as using the full amount did make the bottom roll a little soggy.  They were very tasty though and extremely easy!

Good 'make ahead' recipe for busy spring schedules.

Ingredients

• 12 King's Hawaiian Sweet Rolls
• 12 slices Honey Ham
• 12 slices Swiss Cheese
• 1/4 C Mayonnaise
• 1 1/2 Tbsp Dijon Mustard
• 8 Tbsp butter, melted  ( NOTE:  I will use 1/2 this next time - I don't think you need this much)
• 1 tsp Tastefully Simple Onion Onion
• 1/2 tsp Tastefully Simple Merlot Sauce
• 1/4 C brown sugar

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400°
2. On a rimmed baking sheet or 9x13 dish, place bottom half of dinner rolls and top with 1 slice of ham and 1 slice of swiss cheese. Spread about 1 tsp of mayonnaise on each top-half of roll and place on top of ham and cheese. 
3. In a small bowl combine the mustard, melted butter, brown sugar, Onion Onion and Merlot Sauce. Mix until combined and evenly pour over the assembled rolls. Cover with foil and refrigerate until ready to bake.
4. Bake covered with foil for 10 minutes, remove the foil and bake for an additional 5-10 minutes or until the tops are browned, and cheese is good and melted.