Roasted Vegetable Quesadillas

It has been so long...

Making these for dinner tonight and thought I'd post.

ROASTED VEGETABLE QUESADILLAS

2 c. sliced potatoes (I used yukon gold, but you can use whatever kind you wish)

1 zucchini, sliced

1 yellow squash, sliced

1/2 onion, sliced

2 T. olive oil

2 garlic cloves

1/2 t. oregano or one fresh sprig

1/2 t. salt

1/4 t. cracked pepper

whole wheat tortillas (I used the uncooked tortillas from Costco tonight)

shredded cheese

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.  Toss all vegetables with oil and seasonings.  Spread over a large baking sheet.  Roast in oven for 25-30 minutes, or until tender.  Remove from oven and put on tortilla.  Top with cheese and cover with another tortilla.  Heat on a griddle until cheese is melted.  Tip:  I scatter cheese on both tortillas so the vegetables are sandwiched in between.

Mixed Up

My week has been a little mixed up.  I haven't made the avocado rolls yet because my avocados aren't as ripe as I anticipated.  And the lasagna I was planning on making for a dinner party will have to wait.  Instead, I made stuffed jumbo shells and garlic bread last night.  I just followed the recipe on the box of the shells last night and added a touch of cream into my tomato sauce.  They were yummy.

HEYMAN ENCHILADAS

I didn't get a picture of the enchiladas a few nights ago, but these babies are the REAL DEAL!

My amazing friend Heather gave me this recipe in college and we would make them when we had people over for dinner.  They are hefty, filling, and they make a lot.

I changed the recipe a little for my vegetarian needs.

Thanks Heather for this yummy recipe that I have used for over 10 years!

6 chicken breasts, cooked and shredded (I USE 1 CAN OF BLACK BEANS INSTEAD)

1 (8 oz) pkg cream cheese

1 lb jack cheese, cut into cubes

1/2 c. salsa

1 pt sour cream

1 can cream of chicken soup OR recipe for white sauce, see below

8-10 flour tortillas

Another 1/2 c. salsa

1 c. shredded cheddar cheese

Mix together first four ingredients in a large bowl; set aside.  In a medium bowl, mix together sour cream and white sauce.  Spread 1/4 c. on the bottom of a 9x13" baking dish.  Place 1/4 c. of the chicken (OR black bean) mixture inside each tortilla; roll and place seam-side down in the dish.  Spread the other 1/2 c. of salsa on top of the tortillas, along with the rest of the sour cream mixture.  Sprinkle with cheddar cheese.  Cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes, until bubbly.

**The original recipe calls for 1 can of cream of chicken soup...you can use that or you can make your own white sauce like I do:

2 1/2 T butter

3 T. flour

1 c. water

1 small can of chiles

salt and pepper to taste

Melt butter in a small saucepan.  Add flour to make a thick paste.  Slowly add water and bring to a boil.  This sauce will thicken up quickly.  Remove from heat and stir in chiles, salt and pepper.

Thai Vegetable Pizza

This recipe originated from Rachael Ray but I have changed enough things in it to now call it my own.  

You may want to follow her recipe if you want to use chicken.  

She does a few random and complicated steps in hers though.

I have made Rachael's version of the pizza many times and I prefer mine over hers.  

You may like hers better though :)

Biggest prepared the kid pizza while I put together the Thai Pizza.  It is nice having a helper in the kitchen to save me some time.

1 pkg whole wheat pizza dough (I get mine at TJs)
1/2 c. plum sauce
1/2 t. red pepper flakes
2 c. shredded Jack cheese
1/2 orange bell pepper, thinly sliced
1 c. shredded red cabbage (very thin)
1/4 cucumber, cut into matchsticks or quarters
1 carrot, grated
4 scallions, chopped
1 c. bean sprouts
palmful of cilantro, chopped
1/4 c. chopped roasted peanuts

Peanut Sauce:
1 T. vegetable oil
2 T. soy sauce
1 rounded T. peanut butter
2 splashes Tabasco
2 T. honey
2 T. rice vinegar
squeeze of lime
salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.  Roll out pizza dough and form onto pizza stone.  Spread on plum sauce; sprinkle on red pepper; top with cheese and bell peppers.  Bake until golden and bubbly, 15 minutes.

I like to prepare all of the vegetables while the pizza is cooking.  Put them in a large bowl.
In a small bowl (I use a 2-cup glass measuring cup), whisk together all sauce ingredients until smooth.
Pour on vegetables and toss to coat.

When pizza comes out of the oven, top with tossed vegetables and scatter on peanuts.
I hope you say "mmmmmm" as many times as we did last night!

Week of February 27- March 4

My cleanse is over and I am back to the regular schedule.

MONDAY- Thai Vegetable Pizza and Cheese Pizza for the kids

TUEDAY- Heyman Enchiladas and Jaryn's Mexican Rice

WEDNESDAY- Avocado Egg Rolls, Wontons, and Brown Rice

THURSDAY- Lasagna, Salad, and Garlic Bread

FRIDAY- EAT OUT!!!

SATURDAY- Warm Lentil Salad

SUNDAY- Vegetarian Taco Soup and Corn Bread

Week 1, Day 7

Today I enjoyed leftover gazpacho for lunch.

For dinner, I made roasted vegetables and brown rice for me and Lover Boy.

The kids enjoyed brown rice, roasted carrots, and Cheez-It Chicken.  

Cheez-It Chicken is something that my mom used to make all the time when we were little.  Our kids LOVE it!

When I make roasted vegetables, I chop up my vegetables evenly in size and toss them on a baking sheet with olive oil, coarse salt, and cracked pepper.

Tonight we had:

-sweet potatoes

-carrots

-onions (my favorite when they are roasted)

-zucchini

-asparagus

I cooked the sweet potatoes, carrots, and onions at 425 degrees for 15 minutes, then added the zucchini and asparagus to the pan and cooked them for another 10 minutes.  The zucchini and asparagus are softer, so they don't need as much cooking time.

My Mom's Cheez-It Chicken

I am not going to use measurements because this recipe depends on how many chicken tenders each person in your family will eat.  Biggest ate 2 tonight, Bigger ate 1, and Big ate 1/2 of one.  I dip each chicken tender in sour cream and then in Cheez-It crumbs.  Then I lay them in a greased baking dish and drizzle with a little melted butter.  Bake at 350 degrees for about 20-25 minutes.

A good tip: Crush or process a box of Cheez-Its to get crumbs.  Save remaining crumbs in an airtight bag in the freezer for the next time you want to make Cheez-It Chicken!

Week 1, Day 5

Antioxidant Smoothie

for breakfast

Trail Mix

snack

Quinoa Salad

for lunch

This week does not call for quinoa; however, I am adding it in today to get some extra substance.

I had a salad similar to this a couple days ago at Whole Foods, but I altered it a little and made my own version at home...which I think is actually better than theirs.  So here we go...

Jaryn's Tricolor Quinoa Salad

1 1/2 c. tricolor quinoa (I got a bag from Trader Joe's)

3 c. water

1 mango, peeled and diced

1 avocado, diced

1/2 red bell pepper, diced

1/4 c. slivered almonds

1/4 c. cilantro, rinsed and chopped fine

1/4 c. unsweetened coconut chips (or shredded coconut)

3 T. thinly sliced red onion

2 splashes balsamic vinegar

1 lime

Cook quinoa and water according to package (I do it in a rice cooker).  Meanwhile, prepare remaining ingredients.  Toss cooked quinoa and remaining ingredients in a large bowl.  Squeeze over with lime juice.  This is SO amazing!  Enjoy my new recipe.

Ashley Lisonbee's Chilled Gazpacho (minus the bread)

for dinner

Week 1, Day 4

Mango-Coconut Water Smoothie

for breakfast

Trail Mix

snack

Kale Slaw with Red Cabbage and Carrots

for lunch

Cuties, Strawberries, Raspberries, and Marcona Almonds 

for dinner

Week 1, Day 3

grapefruit, carrot, ginger juice 

for breakfast

trail mix

snack

quinoa salad from Whole Foods

for lunch

 acai bowl from Whole Foods

for lunch

butternut squash and apple soup

for dinner

Week 1, Day 2

The day consisted of:

Grapefruit, Carrot, and Ginger Juice

for breakfast

Cranberry Pumpkin Seed Trail Mix

as a snack throughout the day

 Avocado with Bell Pepper and Tomatoes

for lunch

(This was DELICIOUS!!)

Sweet Potato, Apple, and Celery Salad

for dinner

(This was also very tasty, but I had to add some brown rice to give me a little more substance...I was starting to feel tired and weak by the end of the day.)

Antioxidant Smoothie

with dinner

P.S.

When my sister made the soup, she didn't really like it.

I decided to omit the apple, turmeric, cinnamon, cardamom, and cloves.  It was delicious!

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Cleanse 2012

Hello everyone!  

It has been three months since Tiny was born.  I have had more than enough time off.  

My sister Jessica told me about a Martha Stewart cleanse and I am starting it today.  

I may alter it a little to make sure I have enough milk for Tiny.

The cleanse is found HERE

Today I have eaten:

-1/2 grapefruit

-handful of almonds

-orange berry smoothie 

-dried fruit and nut bites 

And I am making this for dinner:

-Butternut Squash and Apple Soup

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, chopped
• 1 inch fresh ginger, grated (2 tablespoons)
• 1/2 teaspoons turmeric
• 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/8 teaspoon cardamom
• Dash ground cloves
• 2 carrots, peeled and chopped
• 1 tart apple, peeled, quartered, and chopped
• 4 cups chopped butternut squash
• Coarse salt and pepper

Directions

1. Heat olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and garlic and cook until tender, 6 to 8 minutes. Add ginger, turmeric, cinnamon, cardamom, and cloves and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add carrots, apple, squash, and 3 cups water. Bring to a boil; cover partially and reduce to a simmer. Season with salt and pepper.
2. Cook until vegetables are tender, about 20 minutes. Let cool slightly.
3. Working in batches, puree until smooth in a blender. Adjust seasoning, if necessary.

I'll let you know how it goes...