Quinoa w/Spring Veg and Miso Dressing

31 Saturday Mar 2012

Posted by cosmohippiechef in dressing, quinoa, seasonal, vegan

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asparagus, gluten free, miso, peas, quinoa, seasonal, vegan, vegetables

Food:

Quinoa w/Spring Veg and Miso Dressing

3/4c. cooked quinoa

1/2c. petite peas, steamed, fresh or frozen

8 stalks fresh asparagus, steamed, chopped in half

1/4 avocado

gomashio, for seasoning

1. Combine all the ingredients in a good size bowl, sprinkle gomashio over the top.

Miso Dressing:

1/2c. fresh lime juice

1/4c. rice wine vinegar

3 tsp. sesame oil

1 tsp. chili oil

1 garlic clove, chopped

1 inch ginger, peeled and grated

2 scallions, chopped

2 T. + 2 tsp. miso paste

1/3c. olive oil (coconut oil would be nice to)

Directions:

1. All of the ingredients except the olive oil go into the food processor. Pulse until combined, scrape down sides. With the motor running add the olive oil. Store in the refrigerator. Serve over quinoa w/spring veg or anything else you would like.

Nutrition:

Quinoa- High protein, non-gluten grain from the Incas. It is a complete protein with significant amounts of lysine, helpful for repairing tissue. Like other whole grains, quinoa helps fight cancer, prevents heart disease and lowers the risk of type 2 diabetes. (Courtesy of ‘Clean Food’ by Terry Walters) (A staple in the Cosmo Hippie kitchen)

Asparagus- Many of the elements that build the liver, kidneys, skin, ligaments, and bones are found in green asparagus- WOW! Talk about a super food. Builds red blood cells and protects against cancer.

Peas- Peas might be lower in calcium and phosphorus than beans but provide similar levels of protein, carbohydrates, and fat. They are a good source of vitamin B and a variety of minerals. Green peas are a good source of vitamin C, K and carotenes.

Avocado- They reduce the risk of heart attack and stabilize blood sugars, they aid in blood tissue regeneration. Avocados are high in protein, phosphorus, magnesium, calcium and manganese.

Miso- Miso contains living enzymes that aid digestion and help maintain healthy intestinal flora. Miso is a rich source of minerals, it tones and cleanses the body of toxins and metals such as radiation and mercury! It also helps the body assimilate good cholesterol and break down the bad. (A staple in the Cosmo Hippie kitchen)

Love:

If you are a Cosmo Hippie Chef follower then you know I LOVE quinoa, when you eat a mostly vegetarian cuisine quinoa quickly becomes your best buddy. Bill-y and I even love it for breakfast. The great thing about this dish is that it is seasonal, so Spring I use peas and asparagus, in the Summer I use tomatoes and cucumbers, in the Winter I use baby bok choy and edamame- avocado always shows up for the party. This dish is easy, delish and you can see from the nutritional tid bits a power house in the healthy department. To health and happiness, ENJOY!

An Oldie But A Goodie- Beet, Spinach and Quinoa Salad

11 Sunday Mar 2012

Posted by cosmohippiechef in dressing, quinoa, salad, seasonal, Uncategorized

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Tags

beets, quinoa, salad, seasonal, spinach

Food:

Beet, Spinach and Quinoa Salad

*Update: This time I made my own homemade goat milk ricotta cheese to go on top.

Nutrition:

Beets: Beetroots are a great source of fiber, manganese and potassium. Beetroots have been shown to help disorders of the liver, mainly for their stimulating effects on the liver’s detoxification process. The pigment that gives beets their rich, purple-crimson color, betacyanin, is a powerful cancer-fighting agent.

Love:

This is one of mine and Billy’s favorite salads to have for lunch. Beets and spinach are spring veggies and since SLC is going to be feeling like spring this week I thought it was the perfect time to make this salad again. Enjoy!

P.S. Pictured below is the Tomato Vinaigrette that I make to go with this salad. This dressing is shaken not stirred.

Hummus Dressing

18 Saturday Feb 2012

Posted by cosmohippiechef in dips, DIY, dressing, salad, vegan

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garlic, gluten free, lemon, salad, vegan

Food:

Hummus Dressing- makes 1 1/4c.

2 scallions (green onions), chopped white and greens

1 garlic clove, chopped

1 lemon, zest and juice

1/4c. parsley, chopped

1/4c. tahini (I use Artisana Raw Tahini)

1/2c. canola oil or olive oil (I used a combo of both)

1 tsp. cumin

1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper

1/4 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. garlic salt

1/4 tsp. onion powder

1/4c. water

Directions:

1. Place the scallions, garlic, parsley, lemon juice and zest in the food processor, pulse to combine. Next add tahini, cumin, cayenne, salt, garlic salt and onion powder to the pulsed mixture and pulse again to combine.

2. With the motor running add the oil until combined. Turn off, scrape down sides. With the motor running again add the water. If you think you need more, add it until you get the desired consistency.

3. Taste for seasoning and then store in a container and refrigerate.

Nutrition:

Tahini- Tahini is a ground sesame seed paste, similar to peanut butter. It is a creamy, oily, and smooth nut butter rich in calcium and iron.

Lemon- Lemons are a good source of vitamin C, B6, potassium, folic acid, flavonoids and the important phytochemical limonene.

Parsley- Extremely rich in a number of nutrients including chlorophyll and carotenes. Parsley is a good source of vitamin C, folic acid and iron. It is also a good source of minerals including magnesium, calcium, potassium and zinc.

Olive oil- Healthy oils are important in the prevention and treatment of asthma, arthritis and cancer. Healthy oils are important for lowering systemic inflammation. Research has shown that women who regularly ingest olive oil have a smaller risk of breast cancer.

Love:

Lately I have been getting request from friends like, “can you develop an app for my phone of your blog, so that I can just click on it and it tell me what to make for dinner.” Maybe someday! Or “hey can you break down the nutrition stats for each recipe, example fats, carbs, protein, etc?” I wish! That takes more time than you think. But the other day I got a request that I thought was doable, my client Cindy is in love with this ‘hummus dressing’ from Trader Joe’s. Well, we don’t have a Trader Joe’s so she asked me if I could work on a recipe for her craving. I did just that, VOILA! Hummus Dressing. I think this will work just fine, just before I got started on the recipe I sent my friend Sadie in California a text that read “if you go to Trader Joe’s today can you look for ‘hummus dressing’ and take a picture of the ingredient label for me? Thanks.” My under cover mission worked and guess what? My version was much healthier and I was happy to finally meet one of these request.

Wild Salmon and Veggies- It’s What’s For Lunch

16 Monday Jan 2012

Posted by cosmohippiechef in dressing, Fish

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Tags

fish, miso, vegetables

Mmm...Lunch

Food:

Wild Salmon and Veggies

I made 8 lunch containers, 1 for Billy and me Mon-Thurs, I am going to just give the amounts for one container.

4 oz baked wild salmon (I baked the salmon in the oven for 20 minutes @400 degrees the salmon was a little room temp)

1/4c. forbidden rice

1/4c. steamed peas

1/4c. steamed edamame

1/4c. Sunbridge sunflower sprouts (they are a local grower here in Ut, they have great food items)

Dressing: Cilantro Miso Vinaigrette

1. Measure all the ingredients into your favorite lunch container with a lid. Place in the fridge until ready to eat.

2. When ready to eat, drizzle the dressing on the wild salmon and veggies and EAT!

Nutrition:

Wild Salmon- Omega 3 fatty acids, High Quality Protein, Essential Amino Acids, Vitamin A, Vitamin D, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B, Vitamin E, Appreciable amounts of calcium, iron, zinc, magnesium, and phosphorus (Courtesy of Wild for Salmon)

Peas- Peas are lower in calcium and phosphorus than beans but provide similar levels of protein, carbohydrates and fat. They are a good source of protein, B vitamins and a variety of minerals including phosphorus, manganese, magnesium, potasium and iron. (Courtesy of ‘The Encyclopedia of Healing Foods’ by Micheal Murray, N.D.)

Miso- Miso contains living enzymes that aid digestion and help maintain healthy intestinal flora. Miso is a rich of minerals. It tones and cleanses the body of toxins and metals such as radiation and mercury, and it helps the body assimilate good cholesterol and break down bad. (Staple in my house) (Courtesy of ‘Clean Food’ by Terry Waters)

Forbidden Rice Forbidden Rice is a black. During the Ming Dynasty in China, black rice was fed only to the emperors. It was referred to as “longevity rice” or “tribute rice” and was believed to ensure good health and a long life. Black rice is rich in antioxidants, low in fat and high in fiber. It is a nutritionally balanced food. In addition, its dark purple hue adds a wonderful color to any meal. (A new staple in my pantry)

Love:

Every week is a new challenge for me to create meal plans that are balanced and healthy, dinner seems to be the most indulgent meal of the day so I need lunch to pack a powerful nutritional punch. The last two weeks for lunches we have had the Azuki/Aduki Bean and Kabocha Squash which is a nutritional powerhouse but I was ready to switch things up, it didn’t hurt that I had a huge Wild Salmon fillet begging to get out of my freezer. This is a simple dish that can be made for lunch or dinner- you decide. ENJOY!

Cilantro Miso Vinaigrette

06 Wednesday Apr 2011

Posted by cosmohippiechef in DIY, dressing, vegan

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

salad

I made this vinaigrette a couple weeks ago with organic basil for my Green Lentil Salad (not on the blog…yet) and it was amazing and so flavorful. So this week I was craving my favorite soup, The Soup (on the blog) and because that recipe is heavy in Asian flavors I thought why not try this dressing with cilantro?! I know that people either love cilantro or hate cilantro, so feel free to use basil or parsley. But for me this vinaigrette was spot on for my salads this week for lunches. I also thing this recipe would be great as a veggie dip, for you your kids or your picky significant other. Enjoy!

-Cilantro Miso Vinaigrette-

1/4 c. miso paste (I used Westbrae Natural Organic Mellow White Miso)
1/4 c. olive oil
1/4 c. apple cider vinegar
1 1/2 T. water
2 T. brown rice syrup (you could use honey or agave)
1/4 c. chopped green onions
1/4 c. cilantro leaves

1. In a food processor or blender, blend the miso, olive oil, apple cider vinegar, water and brown rice syrup until well blended.
2. Add the chopped green onions and cilantro and pulse lightly to blend.
3. Pour into container with tight fitting lid and refrigerate for just a few hours for flavors to develop.

*Miso: Contains living enzymes that aid in digestion and help maintain healthy gut flora. Miso is a rich source of minerals. It tones and cleanses the body of toxins and metals such as radiation and mercury, and it helps the body assimilate good cholesterol and break down the bad. Miso is a living food that gives recipes a salty, rich flavor. Good quality miso will be in the refrigerated section. NEVER bring miso to a boil as doing so destroys it’s living enzymes. (Information provided by: Terri Walters, author of ‘Clean Food’ cookbook)

*Cilantro: Helps eliminate the heavy metal build up of mercury and lead from the bones and tissues in the body.

Fish Taco Sauce

02 Saturday Apr 2011

Posted by cosmohippiechef in dips, dressing, Fish, vegan

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fish, vegan

Who doesn’t like the yummy white sauce that comes on fish tacos? Well I wanted to come up with a healthier version, so mine is mostly made with avocado. This sauce rocks! It’s even good as a chip dip, our friends Don and Kim eat it that way all the time. Make it for you fish tacos and I promise they will be a hit. Enjoy!

-Fish Taco Sauce-

1 whole and 1/2 avocado, cut in half and remove the seed
1 jalapeno, seeded and diced
1/2 green bell pepper, seeded and diced
1/2 purple onion, diced
1 lemon, juiced and zest
1 lime, juiced and zest
1/2 c. veganaise (this is a dairy free mayonnaise, I know that sounds weird but I swear it good!)
salt and pepper

1. Place the avocado, onion, bell pepper, jalapeno, lemon and lime juice and zest into the food processor. Pulse a few times to combine.
2. Next add the veganaise and mix well in the food processor until smooth. Add salt and pepper to taste.
3. Let sit the the fridge for a least 2 hours to develop the flavor.

Spinach, Beet and Quinoa Salad- It’s What’s for Lunch

29 Tuesday Mar 2011

Posted by cosmohippiechef in dressing, quinoa, salad

≈ 7 Comments

Tags

nuts, quinoa, salad, vegetables

We have been having some fun meals for lunches the last couple weeks Lentil Stew, Lentil Salad and now this one! We are starting to move out of winter vegetables and moving toward spring veggies. Bring on the beets, spinach, onions, radishes and so on. I can’t wait to get these vegetables going in my garden, I bought the seeds today!

-Spinach, Beet and Quinoa Salad-

2 c. fresh baby spinach

1/4 c. cooked quinoa

2/3 c. beets, roasted and diced

1/4 c. goat feta cheese

1/4 avocado, diced

1 T. walnuts, chopped coarsely

1 wedge of lemon

fresh ground pepper

*Tomato Vinaigrette

1. All of this in a bowl or travel container with a lid for easy lunch travel.

2. Top with Tomato Vinaigrette, or put into a container with lid for easy lunch travel.

3. Enjoy!

P.S. I also packed carrots and hummus on the side for an afternoon snack. Yum! (hummus recipe is on the blog)

Feeling Green Salad

20 Sunday Mar 2011

Posted by cosmohippiechef in dressing, salad

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salad

We eat alot of dark greens at our house, kale, collards, spinach, and arugula. So yesterday with lunch I wanted something a little lighter in the green department, so I was glad to find some bright crisp greens (butter lettuce, red leaf lettuce, sprouts, celery) in the fridge to whip up this salad for Billy and me. Light and bright and perfect for spring weather.

-Feeling Green Salad- Serves 2

4 c. butter lettuce and red leaf lettuce, chopped
1/2 cucumber, peeled, seeded and diced
1/2 c. sprouts, micro greens, alfalfa, broccoli
1/2 avocado, sliced or diced
1/4 c. leafy celery, chopped

-Dressing-

3 T. apple cider vinegar
2 T. olive oil
1 T. Dijon mustard
2 t. agave
salt and pepper
Bragg’s seasoning (optional)

1. Divide the salad fixings between to bowls. Season with a little salt and pepper.
2. Whisk the apple cider vinegar and olive oil together in a bowl, then whisk the rest of the ingredients in with the olive oil/vinegar mixture. Season with salt and pepper.
3. Dress the salad with the dressing and serve. Enjoy!

Tomato Vinaigrette

19 Saturday Feb 2011

Posted by cosmohippiechef in dressing, vegan

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tomatoes, vegan

This is one of my go to dressings for salad, marinades or whatever you want. It’s great when your craving tomatoes in the winter, you can use organic tomato sauce or your own canned tomatoes, pureed and strained. It’s easy, throw all the ingredients into a jar and shake. Enjoy!

-Tomato Vinaigrette-

1/4 c. fresh lemon juice

1/4 c. balsamic vinegar

1/2 c. olive oil

1/4 t. dry thyme, basil, oregano

1/2 t. garlic salt

1/2 t. salt

1/4 t. onion powder

1/4 t. fresh ground pepper

1/4 c. tomato sauce

*optional- fresh chopped garlic

1. Pour all the ingredients into a jar with tight-fitting lid. Place the lid on the jar and shake all the ingredients together until well blended.

2. Refrigerate for at least one hour. Ready to use!

In the summer when fresh herbs are available you could swap them for the dry herbs.

P.S. I use my mortar and pestle to grind all the herbs, salt and pepper and onion powder together before adding them to the other ingredients.

Broccoli Romaine Salad

21 Monday Jun 2010

Posted by cosmohippiechef in dressing, salad

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broccoli, salad, vegan

This recipe is one that my husband request all the time, I came up with it a few summers ago and it makes a great lunch. Sometimes I add shrimp to it, but you could also make this into a dinner item and add grilled chicken or grilled fish.

-Salad- serves 6 lunch containers or a large side dish for dinner or a get together

1 head of red or green leaf romaine lettuce, rinsed and chopped

1 bunch of red or green kale, stemmed, rinsed and chopped

2 c. broccoli

2 c. whole wheat pasta shells

1 c. sliced almonds

*grated Parmesan, optional

-Dressing-

1 head of roasted garlic (bake a whole bulb of garlic with the top cut off drizzled with a little olive oil and some salt, wrapped in tin foil in the oven for 40-45 minutes @ 400 degrees)

1/2-3/4c. veganaise

1/2 lemon, juiced

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. garlic salt

1/2 tsp. ground pepper

1 tsp. ground mustard

2 tsp. anchovy paste, or anchovies packed in oil (if you don’t have it don’t worry about it)

1/2 tsp. onion powder

1/4 c. white wine vinegar

1. Divide the lettuce and the kale into the containers (if making for lunch) or in big bowl if making for dinner.

2. Cook the pasta according to the directions in salted water, in the last few minutes add the broccoli and cook the rest of the time. (Maybe 2-3 minutes at the most). Drain ,rinse under cool water, and set to the side. When cooled completely divide the pasta and the broccoli between the lunch containers or the big bowl.

3. Next divide the almonds between the containers, or add to the bowl. This would be the time to add the Parmesan if using maybe 1 T. per container or about 1/2 c. if making it in the big bowl for dinner or get together.

4. Salt and pepper each container or bowl just a little.

5. For the dressing: all of those ingredients go into the food processor or blender, blend until well mixed and then divide between six little containers. If making for dinner or get together I would wait and dress the salad just before you serve it. Enjoy!

I make this at the beginning of the week and it’s good till Friday.