Category Archives: Family Dinners

Hemp Seed Crusted Halibut with Garlic Aioli Pesto Sauce

Hemp Seed Crusted Halibut with Pesto Aioli Garic Sauce

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Ingredients:

Two 6 oz. fillet of Halibut
2 Tbsp. Olive Oil
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup dry vermouth
1 Tbsp. pesto sauce
1 Tbsp. hemp seed
1 Tbsp. Roasted Aioli Garlic Sauce
from Stonewall Kitchen

Hemp Seed, Dry Vermouth, Garlic Aioli Sauce

Directions:

Make sure halibut is well chilled.
Season halibut with salt. Put Garlic Aioli sauce over top and layer the pesto sauce over Aioli.
Top with hemp seed.
Place in fridge for 15 minutes to infuse flavors. (This can be done in morning and cooked when ready).
Place under broiler for 15 minutes, then add vermouth and let top brown for 5 minutes longer.

This pairs nicely with our Garlic Mashed Cauliflower.  Using cauliflower instead of potatoes is a nice replacement for a low carb lifestyle.

According to Shape Magazine, hemp seeds give you the complete nutritional power of hemp with their blend of omega-3 and omega-6 fats, high fiber content, and quality amino acid profile. Hemp seeds are also high in magnesium, a mineral that helps with relaxation, blood sugar control, blood pressure, and potentially osteoporosis, and that is generally low in women. Three tablespoons of hulled hemp seeds gives you 10 grams (g) of protein, 14g fat (mostly coming from omega-3 and omega-6 fats), and 2g fiber.
Best uses: Hemp seeds are very versatile and can be sprinkled on salad, mixed in with yogurt, or added to a smoothie.

Another hemp seed resource I found interesting.  Read more >>

Turkey/Chicken Sausage and Peppers

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Prep time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:
1 -2 packages of All-Natural spicy Italian uncured sausage – or organic turkey/chicken sausage or turkey sausage sliced ½ inch
(you can wait and slice after cooked).

Applegate Organic Turkey Sausage Recipe

3 (red, yellow, orange) bell peppers
2 Anaheim peppers for variety
(sliced peppers lengthwise approx 1/2 inch)
1 jalapeno remove seeds – sliced thinly
1 large onion sliced

Beautiful Organic Peppers
2 Tbsp. Roasted Garlic Aioli
from Stonewall Kitchen

Roasted Garlic Aioli Stonewall Kitchen

2 Tbsp. oilve oil
2 Tbsp. garlic powder
1 tsp salt kosher
1 Tbsp. fennel seed
1 tsp red crushed pepper
½ cup Marsala Wine

Directions:

Slice onions and add to the bottom of a roasting pan. Layer sliced peppers on top of onions. Place turkey sausage on top of vegetables. Add all other ingredients.
DO NOT STIR.

Cook in Preheated oven 350 degrees for 1 hour. DO NOT STIR YET. Cook an additional 10 minutes at 450 degrees to roast turkey sausage and vegetables for more crispness. STIR at the very end to infuse all flavors together.

This dish takes 5 minutes to prepare and is great to bring to parties or leave in refrigerator as a healthy go to meal or snack.

CMI-turkey-meat-balls

Turkey Meatballs With Carmelized Onions

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Izzy’s famous turkey meatballs with caramelized onions have been a savior at night instead of picking at something sweet  with loads of carbs. These meatballs have a simple sweetness from the caramelized onions and are very healthy. I love to eat them with salad as it is a very satisfying light and delicious lunch or dinner.

These meatballs are also great snacks especially in the afternoon when you need that  little pick me up and you’re craving something sweet.  I always think a “little go to snack” at your fingertips is key to a great nutritional food day and these turkey meatballs actually satisfy all those needs.

Please enjoy these meatballs as I have enjoyed sharing this recipe with all of you.

Ingredients:

2 lbs ground turkey
1 Tbsp. garlic powder
1 tsp kosher salt
1/2 cup of organic ketchup
1 egg organic
¼ cup chili sauce
¼ cup Parmesan cheese (or other non dairy substitutes)
1 cup hemp seeds
Olive oil to coat bottom of pan
2 baking pans or cookie sheets with at least ¼ inch rim

Organic Ketchup
Sweetened Chili Sauce

Caramelize Onions Ingredients:

1 large onion diced
3 Tbsp. olive oil
1 Tbsp. garlic powder
1 tsp kosher salt
¼ cup Sherry or Marsala wine

Caramelizing onions Instruction:

First begin by  caramelizing 1 large diced onion. Add oil to saute pan and heat well. Then add onions,  sea salt, ? garlic powder and cook over medium heat for approx. 10 to 15 minutes. When well browned, add ¼ cup of Sherry wine and ?simmer for approx. 3 minutes longer to absorb the Sherry flavor.  Cool off onion mixture.

Meanwhile, mix turkey, salt, garlic powder, egg and ketchup together. Add spices, cheese and hemp seeds along with chili sauce and caramelized onions.  Placemixture back in refrigerator for 15 minutes to get it firm enough to roll into meatballs.

Coat bottom of baking pans with oil. Roll meatball approx 1 to 2 inch rounds and bake at 350 degrees for one hour.

Makes approximately 35 mini meatballs.

I make a batch a week and leave it in my refrigerator and when I feel hungry I grab a few meatballs.  They are a nice boost of protein.  Enjoy your new found shack and your children will love these too!

Macaroni & Cheese w/ Butternut Squash Sauce

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Many of us are making New Year’s resolutions to either eat healthier or loose weight. Here is a great  alternative to keeping your  favorite comfort food on your list of great meals leaving out the extra calories. Plus getting that extra boost of vegetables.

Although this is not a dairy free recipe, since we are using cheese; the milk and butter have been eliminated making this a very low calorie option. I promise your family will not notice the difference in the pasta or the sauce. This recipe was inspired by Clinton Kelly from the Chew, alternatively, I eliminated the yogurt, milk and butter to reduce the calories and the dairy content.

Butternut Squash Mac & Cheese

Ingredients:

1 med butternut squash

1 ½ cup vegetable broth warmed

Dash of cayenne pepper

1 cup shredded Parmesan or Asiago cheese

1 Tbsp. kosher salt

Dash of nutmeg

1 Tbsp. Sriracha Sauce

Dash of black pepper

1 Tbsp. garlic powder

I box of quinoa pasta “Rotelle” or Elbow

Butternut SquashButternut Squash Cut

Cut squash in half. Place in a baking dish cut side down. Fill ¼ inch of water on the bottom. Bake at 375 degrees until soft, approx. 45 to 65 minutes.

Quinoa Elbow Pasta

Begin to prepare pasta 30 minutes after you begin baking the squash to be sure the pasta is hot but not overcooked.

After squash is soft remove any seeds and scoop from the skin. First warm the broth. This will help bring the sauce to blend easier.

Blend all the ingredients including squash in a Vitamix or food processor. Make sure to start mixing slowly since ingredients will be warm. This is your cheese sauce. Blend sauce to a smooth, velvety consistency. Add more vegetable broth if you would like a lighter consistency. Place sauce on stovetop to keep warm until pasta is done.

Quinoa pasta takes approx. 13 to 15 minutes to cook. Drain pasta allow it to retain some water. Place pasta back in pan and add the butternut cheese sauce. I like to add extra shredded cheese for more flavor and texture while I toss the pasta with the sauce.

   The cheese sauce is delicious recipe. The spiciness from the Sriracha and cayenne helps kick up the flavor.

Chicken with Oven Roasted Cherry Tomatoes

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This chicken dish is a delicious meal that falls off the bone. It is only 2 steps. A guaranteed favorite for a family dinner. Chicken thighs seem to have a much more robust flavor with the oven roasted tomatoes. You can roast the tomatoes the day before and just assemble it when you are ready for your meal. The oven roasted tomatoes bring a sweetness to any dish. Enjoy everyone!

4 -6 chicken thighs
2 lbs. cherry tomatoes (approx 30)
½ cup olive oil
1 Tbsp. sea salt coarse
1 Tbsp. garlic powder
½ cup sake cooking
1 cup vegetable or chicken broth

Place tomatoes in roasting pan @425. Add 1 tsp salt and ¼ c of olive oil. Roast for about 30 minutes.

roasted tomatoes1
While tomatoes are roasting:

Place chicken skin side down in hot sauté pan with remainder of olive oil. Season chicken with salt and garlic powder.

Allow chicken to brown until crispy over high heat approx. 7 minutes per side. Lower the heat: Add sake. After 2 minutes, add the broth. Cover and cook over low heat for 20 minutes.

roasted chicken2

Add roasted tomatoes and cook another 5 minutes.
Serve over rice or pasta. Great with any side dish.

Garnish with Fresh Basil.

roasted chicken3