Tampilkan postingan dengan label avocado. Tampilkan semua postingan
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Kamis, 19 Februari 2015

South Western Breakfast Skillet {Vegetarian}




The thing about breakfast skillets that makes them so darn amazing is that they are almost better for dinner than they are for breakfast. It's a conundrum I've yet come to understand. Something so amazingly perfect happens when you roast lightly salt and peppered potatoes, poblano peppers, scrambled eggs and cumin and chili spiced beans in a cast iron skillet. Enter salsa and avocado. 
The end. 













Whenever I start to talk about food with somebody, like I did today with a very lovely women from The Culinary Content Network, the subject of kitchen tools almost always comes up. You start sharing your favorite recipes, tips and tricks and suddenly you find yourself neck deep in kitchen gadgets you never knew you couldn't live without!


Put the wish list aside and focus on your hands down, all time, absolutely couldn't live without cooking and baking items.


go ahead, I'll give you a minute.............



We all have our go to gadgets, skillets and knives that we turn to when cooking up a good meal. There's no way I could pick just one but I can easily say that my cast iron skillets have been on my Top Three Favorite Kitchen Tools for pretty much, well  EVER!


In fact, my very first noteworthy kitchen tool was a cast iron skillet I was given as a gift in my very early 20's. I still have it and use it several times a week. The flavor and depth that it brings to all things edible is beyond compare. Even if it's a "One Pot Dish" I still always sauté my onions and other veggies in my cast iron skillet. The difference is noteworthy.












What are your favorite kitchen items, gadgets or appliances? 
 I need to know! 










TIME      30 MINUTES            SERVES      4-6


You Will Need

A good quality, cast iron skillet. Choose one depending on the size of your family. My first one was about 8 square inches and worked perfectly until child numero tres.  Like I said before, I still use it weekly to perfectly sauté onions & other veggies and to dry roast chili peppers! Works like a charm!~


1 medium size yellow onion, diced
1 large poblano pepper or green chile
1 large or 2 small red potatoes
2 cups cooked black beans (one can)
5 whole large eggs
1 cup Jack or Pepper Jack cheese, grated
2 teaspoons chili powder
1 teaspoon cumin
1/4 teaspoon salt
freshly cracked pepper to taste
Cilantro, chopped for garnish
1-2 Avocados, sliced (supplies your essential healthy fats and good HDL cholesterol)
1-2 tablespoon vegetable oil




Chop potatoes into small, 1" cubes. Dice onion and chop peppers, toss them all in a bowl with salt, pepper and the oil. Meanwhile, in a small sauce pot on medium-low heat combine beans, cumin, chili powder and 1/2 teaspoon salt (omit salt if using canned beans!!) Cook covered for 15-20 minutes stirring occasionally.


In a large cast iron skillet that has been preheated for a few minutes on a medium-high burner, add the potatoes, onions and peppers. Cook over moderate heat stirring once or twice, you want them to sit and brown a bit! Cook for about 10-12 minutes until a fork easily pierces the potatoes but they are still a bit firm.


Drain the beans and add them to the potato mixture. Stir to combine. Let cook 2-3 more minutes. Crack the eggs into the skillet. Using a spatula, gently push the contents around to combine and coat with the egg. Add the grated cheese and let sit.  Cook just 2-3 minutes until the egg is set. Don't overcook or your eggs will be dry.


Garnish with chopped cilantro, avocado and salsa as you please. 























Kamis, 31 Juli 2014

Veggie Burrito Bowl with Yellow Rice and Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette




Better than take out, this loaded burrito bowl is packed with flavor and good for you veggies in every color of the rainbow and fiber and protein from the cumin black beans. Did you know that eating beans and rice together makes it a complete protein?  Get choppin!









Very little cook time is needed for this healthy dinner making it my idea of a perfect summer meal. Leftovers mean I'm looking forward to lunch the next day in a big way. I love the crunch factor going on from the radishes, purple cabbage, carrots and yellow peppers which make this salad very filling and satisfying. The flavor is bursting in every bite from the cilantro lime vinaigrette, cumin black beans and the yellow rice. 

You could use saffron for the yellow rice if you have some on hand but it's pretty pricey and there's plenty of flavor going on in here already. I used much thriftier turmeric which happens to be super good for you and gives the rice a pretty yellow color.









Start with a big handful of chopped Romain lettuce. I like Romaine in my burrito bowls for the crunch factor in place of calorie loaded tortilla chips {my weakness!}








Then pack in your fav veggies and beans, be creative, try jicama, radish, purple cabbage, peppers, roasted poblanos, pickled jalapeños. If you don't care for cilantro try blending up some tomatillos with lime juice and evoo.















You Will Need

1 cup (or 1 can) black beans
1 tablespoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon salt
6 radishes
1 small yellow bell pepper
4 roma tomatoes
1 cup purple cabbage, sliced thinly
4 cups Romaine lettuce, chopped
2 large carrots, shredded
1 cup long grain white rice
1 tablespoon turmeric
2 large handfuls of fresh cilantro
3-4 limes, juiced
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1-2 teaspoons honey (eye it) optional


Putting it All Together

Cook rice according to package directions. As soon as it's done add turmeric and stir well to combine. Cover with lid till ready to use. 
If using dried beans soak over night in water, drain and add to a medium pot with 2 1/2 cups water. Bring to boil, cook covered for 15 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low, add cumin and salt and cook another 20 minutes. Remove from heat. If using canned beans, add turmeric (omit salt) cook on medium-low covered for 15 minutes. 
For the dressing, In a blender combine 2 large handfuls of fresh cilantro (don't worry about the stems), juice from 3-4 limes, evoo and honey. Blend until smooth.
Arrange salad, veggies, rice and beans in a bowl and drizzle with vinaigrette. 







You Might Also Like




Chinese Chicken Salad























One Pot Tex Mex Chicken and Rice with Bacon



























Red Chile Shredded Chicken Tacos







Rabu, 18 Juni 2014

PICOBLAT : What you need to bring to your next picnic! #PicnicGame






Somebody told me that today was the halfway marker of summer on the calendar. That someone has also has only lived in The Valley of the Sun for exactly 3.5 months. Ummm,  did the nickname "The Valley of the Sun" not clue you in? I was sorry to burst his shiny, happy yet clueless bubble but summer unofficially or not starts in mid April and ends at the very tail end of October here in Phoenix. Prepare yourself.






I did clue him into a little known secret that apparently is well kept by us Zonies. There is relief from the scorching heat only a stones throw away via the I-17. Prescott, Sedona, Flagstaff, Greer and other retreat from the heat towns are a minimum of a 2 hours drive North from Phoenix. And....... wait for it........... there are a handful of beautiful bodies of water known as creeks and lakes scattered amidst the desert mountains (puddles in comparison to the Midwestern lakes but we love them nonetheless).












































"Puddles" of water that are perfect for a day trip, beat the heat picnic getaway. We are masters of this scenario. We pack mostly healthy snacks to last all day long, plenty of water and fish bait to keep the kids entertained.

I have to say that as a Native Arizonan, I haven't shared some of my most favorite places to picnic or camp with the newbies because let's face it, tourists can cramp your style and solitude is nothing short of a blessing when you live a hectic life in the city. I will however share with you a picture or two of our latest stumble upon spot somewhere along the Mogollon Rim, pronounced,  /mʌɡɨˈjoʊn/ or /moʊɡəˈjoʊn/) or /mɒɡɒdʒɔːn


Did that help?


























So what do I bring on road trip picnics? Fruits, veggies, cheeses and PICOBLAT, of course. 

An acronym for 

P eppers
I talian dressing
C ilantro
O nion
B lack beans
L ime juice
A vocado
T omatoes


When put all together and let to marinade for a day equals the perfect picnic food.
No need for instructions on this, it's really super simple and you can add as much or as little as you prefer of each ingredient, although I do recommend going easy on the Italian dressing (house/creamy style) and heavy on the lime juice. Also, if you use canned black beans, you want to drain them first. I also add chopped jicama to this more often than not which adds the crunch factor.
















Need more ideas and inspiration for you summer picnicking? Check out these fabulous recipes perfect for summer noshing.




Today we are celebrating International Picnic Day by bringing you a basket packed with goodies from A to Z, in the style of the picnic game! Drop by the Sunday Supper Movement to see the whole picnic spread out on our virtual blanket.

I'm going on a picnic and I'm bringing...
Asian Chicken Salad from Try Anything Once Culinary
Beautiful Beet Salad from Small Wallet, Big Appetite
Chicken Muffuletta from Marlene Baird
Double Chocolate Chip Cookie Cups from The Dinner-Mom
Elote from Peaceful Cooking
Fennel Slaw from FoodieTots
Greek Farro Salad from That Skinny Chick Can Bake
Honey Porter Glazed Chicken and Vegetable Skewers from Hezzi-D's Books and Cooks
Italian Pasta Salad from Casa de Crews
Japanese Plum Sushi from NinjaBaking.com
Kudos Kitchen Kolaches from Kudos Kitchen by Renee
Lemon Yogurt Bundt Cake from In The Kitchen With KP
Molasses Lovers Baked Beans from Cindy's Recipes and Writings
Northern Bean Salad with Egg and Prosciutto from Family Foodie
Orzo Salad from The Not So Cheesy Kitchen
PICOBLAT from Simply Healthy Family

Minggu, 15 Juni 2014

Red Chile Shredded Chicken Tacos. How to win over your man's stomachand steal his heart #SundaySupper








I had all intentions of writing a mushy gushy, what a great guy my husband is post for Father's Day. That is until I calmly excused myself from the dinner table and stated that I needed to make sure my Sunday Suppers Father's Day post was up to par and ready to post and said dear husband stated, "You still need to finish it? What have you been doing in there all afternoon?"  The nerve.


I suppose I'll forgive him (shhh, don't tell him that ;) seeing as that he's a pretty amazing guy and an even more amazing dad to our 4 rug rats (teenager included). I'll skip all the mushy gushy and just post 2 of my favorite pictures/moments of my love being the wonderful father that he is.






Daddy's little girl. Period. With 3 older brothers, this little girl is no short of spoiled. And while I may spoil her with an extra pair of shoes (or 3) and the all too necessary accessories every 4 year old needs, her daddy spoils her rotten with every last bit of his adoring affection and attention. 









I mentioned those 3 older brothers right? Well, here they are in all of their glory. Amen. (roll of the eyes as exaggerated as possible). This is how we do Christmas at our house. Classy huh? Nonetheless, boys have some crazy, deeply embedded and apparently unbreakable need to roll around on the floor and wrestle with each other that I will never, ever, ever understand. Which is why I'm glad they have a father who is every bit as goofy and immature ummmm, playful and physical as my boys are.


My poor couch.....




P.S. This all started because cocky teenager below (not so difficultly) provoked a contest to see who was more awesome...... in boy standards.  *sigh










So why did I choose these Red Chile Chicken Tacos for Father's Day? Well, this is the very first meal that I made for my sweetie when we were dating 13 years ago and I'm pretty sure it's why he asked me to marry him. All I know is he came over for dinner, devoured about a dozen (seriously) of these tacos, a few cold Corona's and the next day, from out of town with his buddies, I received a dozen of the most gorgeous long stem roses I've ever seen and a sweet love note (tacos mentioned).


Men. If you want to win them over, its their stomachs you must appease.











I'm telling you, this is my secret, signature recipe. Quite honestly, it should have been the very first recipe I posted here on Simply Healthy Family seeing as that I was asked often by friends and family for the recipe and got tired of jotting it down and even secretly making it for a girlfriend of mine for her fiancé and passing it off as her own (and she's Hispanic! :)



These are pretty fabulous not only because they are tasty but because they could not be easier to make. I've waited 13 years to share these with the world and I couldn't be more excited. 






A pressure cooker (or a big pot of boiling water)
4 big (boneless, skinless) chicken breasts
2 cans El Pato
3 cups Canola oil for frying tortillas + 3 tablespoons for frying onions and chicken
20 corn tortillas
1 small yellow onion, diced
handful of cilantro
Avocado, shredded cheese and sour cream for garnish
Ice Cold Cerveza

Throw chicken breasts into a hot pressure cooker, secure lid and bring to 2nd ring. Reduce heat to low and cook 10 minutes if frozen, 7 if thawed. Let pressure come down by removing from heat.   Boil chicken for 15-18 minutes if you don't have a pressure cooker. Remove chicken breasts and place in a Kitchen Aide Mixer (or similar) with the cookie dough attachment. (see my post here on this neat little trick on how to shred chicken in 30 seconds).  
Pour chicken broth from pressure cooker into a bowl and set aside. Wipe out the pot with a paper towel and return to medium-high heat. Add 3 tablespoons oil to pot, let heat for a few minutes then add chopped onion. Cook for 5 minutes until golden brown and translucent. Add shredded chicken to pot and toss to coat. Let sit for 5 minutes, toss and cook a few minutes more. Pour in El Pato chile sauce and toss to coat. Cook a few minutes till heated through.  Meanwhile, in a small sauce pot, heat 1/2 of the oil over medium high heat. Using tongs and a fork, carefully place tortillas, one at a time into the pot of oil. Using the tong and fork shape them into tacos. Remove from oil when golden brown and crispy. Place on a pile of paper towels to drain. Scoop chicken into taco shells, garnish as you please. 






Check out what other bloggers are making their men for Father's Day!





Manly Starters:
Manly Mains:
Manly Desserts:
Wine Pairings for Man Food #SundaySupper byENOFYLZ Wine Blog

Sunday Supper Movement Join the #SundaySupper conversation on twitter on Sunday!
We tweet throughout the day and share recipes from all over the world. Our weekly chat starts at 7:00 pm ET. Follow the #SundaySupper hashtag and remember to include it in your tweets to join in the chat. Check out our#SundaySupper Pinterest board for more fabulous recipes and food photos.
Would you like to join the Sunday Supper Movement? It’s easy. You can sign up by clicking here: Sunday Supper Movement.

Senin, 24 Maret 2014

Guacamole Chicken Pitas with Almonds and Dried Apricots




























Imagine this. You live in one of the most picturesque,  climate friendly, supreme outdoor frolicking places to live. Ever.  Now, imagine you have crazy annoying, ridiculous allergies. To everything pollen, grass and nature related and to dogs and to watermelon. Congratulations, you are now me in a nut suit. I  love  nature. I love dogs and oh, by the way, I love watermelon. Karma confuse me?

I have spent a small fortune on allergy medicine in my life and 90% of it has been in the last 3 months! What gives?!@  Spring in the Valley of the Sun is Heaven on Earth and I am plundering around sneezing, blowing my nose and puffy faced while trying to take in deep breaths of the fragrant orange blossoms I so love. Not attractive, nor fair.


So I thought it would be a great idea to make a picnic lunch to take to the boys Cub Scout Spring Camp this week. I put aside the fact that my allergies to pretty much everything outdoors would make me miserable and quite possibly go into anapylactic shock I but also chose, once again to ignore the fact that I'm slightly allergic to avocados. What cruel world do I live in?!  Avocados! Really?!



So, naturally I made Guacamole Chicken Pitas.


I'm building up a tolerance.


It could totally work.............

maybe.










Simple, fresh ingredients you can throw together for lunch or a picnic.





Freshly grated carrots naturally sweeten the mixture and balance out the tang of the sugar free yogurt.







Guacamole Chicken Pitas with Dried Apricots



SERVES    6         TIME    10 MINUTES



Ingredients


1/2 of a Whole Roasted Chicken
2 stalks celery, diced
1/2 cup dried apricots (or raisons), chopped
1/4 cup green onions, chopped
1 whole carrot, grated
1/2 cup slivered almonds
1/4 cup cilantro (or parsley) chopped
1 cup fat free, plain yogurt
1 whole avocado
1 lemon, juiced
pinch of salt
dash of pepper
 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
cayenne pepper if you please

6 Pita pockets.





Chop chicken, throw into medium sized bowl. Add remaining ingredients, stir to combine. Spoon into pita pockets. Enjoy!






Serve with fresh fruit!






















Rabu, 19 Februari 2014

Huevos Rancheros el Fresco {recipe makeover} #giveaway



My very inquisitive 8 year old son just asked me if I knew who "Texel's" {pet guinea pig} parents were. In true mom of the year form I immediately replied, "Not exactly but I'm guessing maybe a Zebra and a Goldfish." To which 'J' gives me an 'Are you crazy' look. So, of course I guessed again. "Maybe a goat and a butterfly?" 'J' spins on his heels, shaking his head and head out of the room. So I have to yell after him, "I got it! His parents must have been a monkey and an alligator!" My 7 year old 'N' who has been sitting at the table shaking his head "You're weird." 'J' from the end of the hallway, "It's all true, you are!"




I'm o.k. with that. Some might call it 'weird', but I prefer calling it,  thinking outside the box. If you will.





Which is what I did when recreating one of my longest standing favorite meals into a healthier one. Wether it be brunch or dinner, Huevos Rancheros hits the spot every time. Every. Time. In fact, we either have Huevoes Rancheros or Crepes aka 'Skinny Pancakes' every Christmas morning as a tradition. Once or twice a year as a special treat I make these for no special reason whatsoever. Like tonight.


As you might know, if you actually follow along here at Simply Healthy Family, I am a (grandfathered in) Native Arizonan. I grew up with beans and home made tortillas, chile verde and spicy foods galore at the dinner table. My mom used to carry a small bottle of home ground chile/cayenne powder with her at all times to sprinkle on her foods when we ate out. Spagetti, cottage cheese, peanut butter, nothing was safe from a hot kick in the ass.






El Pato, has long been one of my 'go to' chile sauces. I always use it for huevos rancheros and it the the very secret undercover ingredient to my famous shredded chicken tacos. It's how I finagled my husband into marrying me! Shhhhh, our little secret.






As a matter of fact, now that I think of it El Pato may have been the reason why I started this blog. Again, my signature dish to this day (still not on this blog ;) is my shredded chicken tacos. I was asked over and over again by friends, cousins, sisters and my own mom to send them the recipe. As I grew tired of typing the recipe over and over again I decided to start a blog to organize and save my favorite recipes. Aaaaaand here I am today. This has been a place to share my love for healthy, quality foods and also a journal of sorts.

Thank you for listening. My children are being moderately hateful to each other right now so I think I need to wrap this up.. for the sake of the children. The lambs.




These cute little cast iron skillets were perfect for serving individual Huevos Rancheros. They are very sturdy for their size and the craftsmanship was lovely. They come pre-seasoned and are perfect for those of you who love the taste of cast iron cooked foods that can not be replicated but don't need a full size pan to do the job. 




Want a duo? How about one of these square griddles plus a nice oval one for Au Gratins? 
Enter to win below!











Repeat afar me:  I will not use canned beans in this recipe. Slow cooked beans in chile powder, cumin, salt, onions and garlic are a must. Period. The end.






Using a spoon, make a little dent in the beans to cradle the egg.







More queso, of course. While we all like the ooey, gooey-ness of shredded cheese incorporated into the beans and chiles, a good crumbly queso fresco is essential, Essential to topping off an authentic Mexican meal. I like Oaxaca, and Queso Fresca.







Instead of tortillas, I prefer to get my crunch factor from purple cabbage. Contary to popular belief, purple cabbage is actually sweet and pairs perfectly with spicy foods like huevos rancheros. Don't even get me started on it's nutritional content!



Ingredients

2 medium sized poblano peppers (they are mild)
1 cup slow cooked pinto beans in:
1 tablespoon chile powder
1/2 tablespoon cumin
1 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup diced white onions
1/2 cup shredded Jack cheese
4 eggs; Organic, free range of course
El Pato salsa de chile fresca, to taste

garnishes:
shredded purple cabbage
chopped cilantro
crumbly queso fresca
sliced avocado



Pre heat oven to 450F

Slice poblano's in half, length wise, remove veins and seeds, discard
Place poblano's in cast iron skillet, open side up and roast for 10-15 minutes.
Remove from oven. Spoon cooked beans into poblano peppers and drizzle El Pato over beans. Sprinkle onions on beans. Top with jack cheese. Using a spoon make a small indent into beans and carefully crack eggs into hole.

Bake at 450F for 12-15 minutes. DO NOT overcook or eggs will be leathery. Eggs may look undone but 12 minutes is plenty time to cook them through.

Remove from oven. Garnish. Enjoy.






a Rafflecopter giveaway

Senin, 30 Desember 2013

South Western Soft Tacos with Roasted Butternut Squash {12 Weeks of Winter Squash}








These vegetarian soft tacos are stuffed with the flavors of the South West and are just the thing to warm up your tummies on cold winter nights. They are full of good for you veggies and beans to get you back on track after all of the Holiday feasts and treats.











Winding down from all of the Christmas craziness festivities and celebrations means that me and my honey get to chill in the evenings for a few days and enjoy watching the kids play with their gifts. Relaxing for me means simple dinners that will warm and comfort us through the Winter Break so we can and hang out afterwards and play with our new games and snuggle up to watch our new movies.






 I'm a little glad that Christmas is over so we can just relax and spend time together for a couple of weeks before we get on with our normal routines. Don't get me wrong, I love Christmas but all of the running around and the sweets overload had to stop! Everyone was strung out on chocolate and candy canes and hopped up on egg nog for a solid month it seemed. With 4 kids there was a party every single day for a week and a half and family parties and get togethers every night.

Blessed. We are truly blessed. That's truly how I feel…… when I wasn't not exhausted from running from school to school with specified goodies, from store to store with requested side dishes to share and from city to city for gathering after gathering of our ginormous extended family.

Blessed.




Boring tacos just won't do during the winter Holiday season. Winter squash is in abundance after all and I fully intend on getting the most out of it until mid February when we are all sick of it and looking forward to the early spring harvest here in the Sonoran desert.





Of all the winter squashes out there, butternut squash is probably my fav. It's the most creamy, sweet and flavorful of the squashes IMHO and requires little to no added ingredients to be just perfect. Simple, natural, delicious. It's name says it all, butternut. That's pretty much what it tastes like a la mode, buttery and nutty. It is also very versatile. Roast it with some apple cider and cinnamon and you have a sweet side dish to your pork. Add chili powder, paprika and caramelized onions and you have a spicy side for your roast chicken. Blend it up with a bit of cream, spices and garlic, BAM my favorite hot and creamy comfort soup.





Last but not least, it makes a perfect vegetarian 'filler' for burritos or tacos. I'm not a big meat eater at all and much prefer hearty, healthy veggies instead.  Not only is it healthier and cheaper to sub veggies for meat as much as possible but very convenient. I pick up a few squash, sweet potatoes and sturdy greens at the store and when I'm looking for a last minute weeknight dinner I go to my  pantry and grab a squash, some beans, an onion and have a casserole, burritos or these tacos on the table in no time.





SERVES     6          TIME    30 MINUTES
Ingredients 
6-8 whole grain soft taco size tortillas 
1 cup (or 1 can) black beans, rinsed and cooked 
1 teaspoon cumin 
1 teaspoon chili powder 
1 teaspoon smoked paprika 
1 teaspoon salt, divided

1 teaspoon olive oil 
1 small butternut squash 
1 small red bell pepper, seeded and sliced into thin strips 
1 cup grated pepper jack cheese 
Arugula (or baby spinach) 
Avocado, sliced 
Roasted or Chipotle Salsa (my fav's, use your fav)
1 small handful cilantro, chopped



Preheat oven to 400F 

Peel and cube the squash, lightly toss with oil, sprinkle with salt, paprika and chili powder and roast at 400F on a stone baking sheet for 20 minutes till done but firm.  Read my post with step by step photos and tips for cutting and preparing squash here.
In a small sauce pot over medium-low heat cook beans with cumin and salt for 15-20 minutes till warmed through. 
Place tortilla on plate, layer with cheese, squash, beans, arugula, cilantro and avocado. Spoon on roasted salsa.




This is my post for week numero 9 of #12 Weeks of Winter Squash hosted by my peeps Heather and Joanna. Got some yummy winter squash recipes to share? It's not too late to join!










HAPPY HAPPY HOLIDAYS! I HOPE YOU AND YOUR FAMILY ARE TOGETHER AND YOUR LIFE IS FILLED WITH BLESSINGS!