Showing posts with label onion. Show all posts
Showing posts with label onion. Show all posts

Sunday, December 2, 2012

Meatless Monday: Mini Frittatas with Asparagus and Hollandaise

I've been seeing a lot of variations on the frittatas made in muffin tins, so I decided to go ahead and try it last week when I had some spinach I needed to use up. I suddenly got a craving for Hollandaise sauce as well, which may not be the healthiest of sauces whatsoever, but it's one of my favorites, and I hadn't enjoyed it in a very long time. The outcome was quite lovely...

 
Mini Frittatas
(serves 3-6)

6 large eggs (you can double-up on the eggs to make them bigger)
1 cup baby spinach, rinsed and packed
1 cup chopped broccoli
1 medium onion, diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper
2 tbsp olive oil

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Saute the garlic and onion in a medium pan with 1 tbsp of the olive oil for about 5 minutes, or until fragrant. Beat the eggs, salt and pepper together in a large bowl. Add in the sauteed onion and garlic, along with the spinach and broccoli. Last, fold in the cheese, or else you could just add it to the muffin tins once you pour the mixture in them. 


Once combined, lightly grease the muffin tin cups with the rest of the olive oil, then pour some of the egg mixture into each until they are all equal. Add the cheese if you have not done so already. Bake in the oven for about 20 minutes, or until lightly browned on top. You can also use the toothpick method and stick one in the middle of one of the mini frittatas to see if it comes out clean. Once ready, the frittatas should pop out easily with a fork after you allow them to cool for a few minutes.


Steamed Asparagus with Hollandaise Sauce
(serves 4)

20 asparagus spears, trimmed
4 egg yolks 
1 tbsp lemon juice
1/2 cup butter, unsalted, or butter substitute
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1/4 tsp cayenne
  
For the asparagus: After rinsing and trimming the trunks of the spears, place in steam basket in large pot over about 1 inch of water. Bring water to high simmer, cover pot, and steam asparagus for about 5 minutes or until to desired tenderness. Alternatively, you can use a tabletop steamer for the same amount of time.
 
For the sauce: Melt the butter in a small sauce pan over low heat. Once melted, set aside, and place the egg yolks and lemon into blender. Blend on high setting until smooth, about 5-8 seconds. Add in the melted butter and seasonings, and blend again for another few seconds. Reheat in sauce pan if needed and serve over the asparagus.If allowed to cool down to much, the sauce may separate; just whisk and reheat again if needed when this happens.

All pretty easy, huh? It all tasted really yummy and gourmet...I was quite impressed with myself. You can throw in anything you want to the frittatas; I actually wished I'd had fresh tomatoes and/or bell peppers to add to them at the time. The Hollandaise complimented the frittatas very nicely, as well. Lily and Paul enjoyed it, too. Success!

Alongside some gouda

Like I said, and as many of you may know, Hollandaise sauce is in no way a healthy sauce. Butter is loaded with cholesterol and yolks are obviously fattening- or are they? Did you know egg yolks- albeit loaded with the "taboo" cholesterol -are actually more nutricious for you than the white part? The yolk holds all the nutrients, such as calcium, magnesium, iron, and vitamin C, just to name a few! In fact, eating an egg yolk everyday could work just like taking a multi-vitamin! So, forget that old adage of egg yolks being bad for you, and next time go ahead and eat it. I like mine nice and runny :)

P.S. If anyone knows of a healthier version of Hollandaise sauce that tastes just as good, let me know!

Now it's your turn to share your Meatless Monday dish below! Share your turkey-alternatives or other yummy Thanksgiving favorites. No rules, other than please only link-up meat-free recipes. No other un-related links or I will remove them. Sorry to sound so harsh, but let's keep it true to what it is, ok? Link up as much as you want, and feel free to spread the word with the button below. Thanks, and have a great week! 
          
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Monday, November 19, 2012

Meatless Monday: Yummy Side Dishes

This super-yummy potato side dish recipe from Little Mommy, Big Appetite was recently shared here a couple of weeks ago, and I just had to try it. She has so many delicious recipes to choose from, but this one is already a new favorite in my home now. I changed it up just a bit according to the ingredients I already had at hand, but I'm sure any way you make something with the words roasted, cheese, and potato in the name, it will turn out good!

I also came up with a new way to enjoy Brussel sprouts (well, there are other similar recipes out there, but this is my version) that I really liked and will be sure to try again. I normally just roast them with a little olive oil and salt and pepper, but this time I steamed and sauteed them. My Meatless Monday last week really felt like a gourmet meal, and I was joined by one of my besties who ate every bite up with Lily and I.



Cheese and Onion Roasted Potato Stacks
(serves 4)

Ingredients:

2-3 medium-size potatos, Russet or Idaho are good
1 small onion, grated or finely diced
4 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp parsley flake
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1/2 cup cream cheese
Grated cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Mix olive oil, onion, and seasonings in small bowl. Clean and peel potatoes, if desired, then slice width-wise as thinly as possible. Brush bottoms of muffin tin with a little olive oil (or you can use cooking spray). Place one slice of potato in 1 muffin tin cup, then drizzle a little of the onion-olive oil concoction on top. Next, place a dollop of cream cheese on top, just about 1 tsp in size. Repeat process until 4-5 potato slices are stacked up in each muffin tin cup, topping it off with a little of the olive oil mixture and no cream cheese.


Place on center rack in oven and bake for about 25 minutes. Remove tray from oven, and sprinkle grated cheese on top of each potato stack, plus a little extra parsley. Put back in oven, and broil for 5 minutes more, or until cheese is melted to your taste. Allow to cool for about 5 minutes before serving. Enjoy!



Brussel Sprouts with Toasted Almonds and Lemon
(serves 4-6)

Ingredients

1 lb Brussel sprouts, cleaned and trimmed
1/4 cup sliced almonds
3 tbsp butter or oil
3 tbsp lemon juice
Salt and pepper to taste

Cut Brussel sprouts into quarters, like in the picture below. Fill a large frying pan's bottom with water, just enough so that the bottom is covered and is only about 1 cm deep. Place sprouts in pan, cover, and cook on medium-low for about 5-7 minutes, or until tender.  Meanwhile, you can toast the almond slices on the "Medium" setting in your toaster oven, or on a baking tray in your oven at 350 degrees until lightly browned (about 5-7 minutes).


Drain sprouts, then melt butter in pan. Put sprouts back in and saute for about 3-5 minutes. Add in the lemon juice and almonds, plus salt and pepper to taste, and stir until well-covered. Serve right away and enjoy the delicate flavor combination. 

Mommy's and Lily's plates

Potato stack cut open

If these sides don't entice you, then I don't know what will! We ate it all up and nobody complained. The cream cheese was such a nice touch to the potato stacks, I can't wait to make these again. I had three servings of the Brussel sprouts! We also had some rice pilaf from a package of Near East brand sides. I normally avoid pre-packaged foods like that, but Near East is pretty all natural to my knowledge and doesn't contain anything artificial. 

Hopefully picky eaters in your household won't have any problem with these tasty sides. Even babies over 6 months can enjoy some of the potatoes mashed-up and some extra-mushy brussel sprouts. I hope your family likes these as much as we did :)

We all know brussel sprouts are super-good for us, but they are also one of those classic ick foods we all remember mom and dad forcing upon us as kids. I have actually always enjoyed them, probably because my mom would steam and butter them until they were like buttery mush in my mouth. Yet, most kids don't like them, but that shouldn't be. They are so yummy and versatile- you can steam them, roast them, bake them, add the to soups and stews, mash them up, chop them up...really, there is just so much you can do!

They are chock full of vitamins and nutrients like vitamin K, vitamin C, manganese, and folate. They support a healthy immune system, fight cancer-causing free radicals, and also support a healthy heart and digestive system. They are in season now, so remember to have them with Thanksgiving this year!

Now it's your turn to share your Meatless Monday dish below! Share your turkey-alternatives or other yummy Thanksgiving favorites. No rules, other than please only link-up meat-free recipes. No other un-related links or I will remove them. Sorry to sound so harsh, but let's keep it true to what it is, ok? Link up as much as you want, and feel free to spread the word with the button below. Thanks, and have a great week! 
          
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Have a Happy Thanksgiving, everyone, and be safe wherever you are! Thanks for linking-up and supporting my blog, I greatly appreciate it ALWAYS. Btw, if you missed it Friday and are still looking for an alternative to a full-sized turkey for your main course this year, here is an easy and tasty turkey loaf recipe. I'll be away for the holidays, so I may not post again today after this, but I'll do my best if I can find the time. :)



 
  

Monday, September 24, 2012

Meatless Monday: Asparagus Baked Eggs with Golden Yukons

Asparagus may not be in season here in NJ, but after viewing this lovely recipe on Miki's Scrapbook (adorable blog, check her out!), I just had to try it! I paired this simply delicious and easy baked dish with some equally simple to make sauteed Yukon potatoes, and dinner was served! It was a big hit with the whole family, and I think yours would enjoy it as well :) Lily and Paul are not usually the biggest asparagus fans, but they both ate this up, and especially enjoyed the potatoes covered in crunchy, flavorful garlic.


Asparagus Baked Eggs with Golden Yukons
(serves 2-4)

For the asparagus:

12-20 asparagus spears, trimmed and rinsed
2 large eggs
1-2 tbsp bread crumbs (depending on how crusty you want it to be)
1-2 tbsp grated Parmessan cheese
Salt and pepper to taste
1 tbsp olive oil

Preheat oven to broil. Spread some of the olive oil onto bottom of ramekin or baking pan, then the rest onto the spears. Lay spears onto the ramekin or pan, then carefully crack eggs over top, keeping yolks in tact. Next, sprinkle the bread crumbs, cheese, salt, and pepper on top of that, then place in oven on center rack. Bake for about 10 minutes, or until eggs are set and topping is lightly browned. Serve right away, cracking the yolks if desired.



For the Yukons:

4 medium Yukon potatoes
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 medium Vidalia onion, diced
2 tbsp olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste

Cut the Yukons into quarters, and then slice into thin slices. Heat 1 tbsp of the olive oil in a medium pan over low heat. Add two-thirds of the garlic and onion to the pan and heat until fragrant. Raise heat to medium-low, the add the potato slices, layering them on top of garlic and onion. Drizzle remaining olive oil on top, and add the rest of the garlic and onion. Cook over low heat, stirring, for about 5 minutes, then cover. Cook for about 10 minutes until potatoes are tender, then uncover and cook, frying until slices are lightly browned. Serve alongside the asparagus baked eggs.




Clearly, I had way too much fun taking pictures of this beautiful dish

Although eggs are used, this is still a meat-free dish, albeit not animal product-free. Use cage-free, organic eggs to keep it in line with eating a diet bettering the environment for Meatless Monday. Also use organic Parmessan if you can find it! (organic everything for that matter).


Now it's your turn to share your Meatless Monday dish below! No rules, other than please only link-up meat-free recipes. No other un-related links or I will remove them. Sorry to sound so harsh, but let's keep it true to what it is, ok? Link up as much as you want, and feel free to spread the word with the button below. Thanks, and have a great week! 

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Sunday, August 5, 2012

Meatless Monday: Return of the Meatless Monday Recipe Link-up


Yes, that's right. I'm bringing it back. Hopefully it will be more successful this time. Hopefully I will find more time to dedicate to it. If not, well then at least I'll know I gave it a second shot!

I wasn't sure what recipe to choose for the Meatless Monday Recipe Link-up's return...What could I post to really wow everyone? What can I post that everyone will like? What can I post that even regular meat-eaters will enjoy? 

I pondered this as I went through some updates on my site, and as I was doing so, I realized I had a lot of great vegetarian recipes that I really love. Some that I make quite often, others that I only made once or twice, but would like to try again. That's when the idea struck me- post some of my favorites for those who may not have seen them! After all, I have many new followers who definitely probably didn't get a moment to go through my entire blog (yet), so wouldn't it make sense to highlight some of what I consider to be the better ones? Or, most popular ones?

Plus...it's way easier than whipping up some new, amazing vegetarian entree that I don't really have time to make right now. 

Like I have mentioned, we are hosting a big family BBQ next weekend and I have been focused on cleaning the house and preparing for that. (Why oh why did I think it was a good idea to host it????). I am still taking suggestions for awesome recipes for that, btw! Link one up or tell me in the comments!

Now, without further ado, my 
Top Five Favorite Meatless Monday Recipes



I love kale. And I love feta. Finding a recipe with that combination? I was in Heaven! It's my favorite because:

  1. Kale is a superfood that is packed with vitamins and nutrients that are super good for you
  2. Feta is the best cheese ever! (in my humble opinion)
  3. It takes less than 30 minutes to prepare
  4. Lily loved it too! 





These babies are always a hit when I make them. Very versatile and a great way to get the picky-eater in your life to eat their veggies. My favorite because:
  1. Very easy to make
  2. You can change up the recipe every time 
  3. Flavorful and full of veggie goodness
  4. Goes as a great side dish or main course



Mouth-wateringly delicious and perfect for those cozy days at home during sweater weather, this is one I have only made once, but I can't wait to try again. My favorite because:
  1. Full of vitamins, especially A and C
  2. Sweet and spicy- my favorite combination!
  3. Aesthetically pleasing
  4. Makes me think of being home for the holidays

 

I found this delightful recipe in my favorite recipe resource, Eating Well Magazine. I made them for Thanksgiving last year and I couldn't stop eating them. They are a sure crowd-pleaser. My favorite because:
  1. Sweet and savory
  2. A unique combination that really surprised me
  3. Very quick and easy to make
  4. Great for social gatherings, holidays, or just because






The. Absolute. Best. Pizza. EVER! I get excited just thinking about this one...it's my fave because:
  1. Uses so many yummy ingredients: kale, caramelized onions, broccoli, cheese, basil...
  2. Truly made from scratch, even the dough
  3. Full of green goodness
  4. How can you beat homemade pizza?
This post also received the most views of all my posts ever, largely due to it being promoted on TakePart.com's Facebook and Twitter pages when it was featured as a Meatless Monday recipe using kale. A proud moment in my blogging career :)))


And one bonus...





I made this one a "bonus" because it's a new recipe I just very recently tried. I don't think I have quite perfected it (the potatoes are never quite soft enough), but it tastes so incredible, I just had to feature it. I got the original recipe it is largely based off of from My Sweet and Savory. It's a favorite because:
  1. Layered. Veggies.
  2. Introduced me to my new favorite condiment: garlic vinegar
  3. Uses fresh veggies I wouldn't normally use
  4. Fun and easy to make

So there you have it. Five Six of my best meat-free recipes for your enjoyment, and hopefully dinner. Tell me which is your favorite, and now share your own! No rules, other than please only link-up meat-free recipes. No other un-related links or I will remove them. Sorry to sound so harsh, but let's keep it true to what it is, ok?

Link up as much as you want, and feel free to spread the word with the button below. Thanks, and have a great week!


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