Black Bean and Mango Salsa

Easy, Tangy, Sweet and Salty!  The perfect combination for a summer salsa!

1 can of black beans (rinsed and drained)

1 large mango (cut into tiny bite sized pieces)

1 large shallot, finely chopped

Juice of 2 limes

1/4 cup cilantro, chopped

1 tablespoon of tiger sauce

salt and pepper

Mix ingredients and enjoy with your favorite tortilla chip!

Pan Fried Noodles with Fiddlehead Ferns, Sugar Snap Peas and Broccoli

So a new fun veggie I am getting used to cooking with is the fiddlehead fern.  Such a fun interesting vegetable, only found in Wegmans of course!  It's a a dark green crunchy vegetable that is good sauteed with garlic or can be a new addition to any stir fry!

For two:

Handful of fiddlehead ferns (cut ends)

Handful of sugar snap peas

1 head of broccoli (cut in bite sized pieces)

1 package of Thai Noodles (I find that these are the best noodles to use for pan frying)

3 garlic cloves minced

hot pepper flakes

1/4 cup soy sauce

1/2 cup orange juice

sesame oil

canola oil

soy sauce

Combine orange juice, soy sauce, garlic and hot pepper flakes.  Saute veggies in 1/2 teaspoon of sesame oil, and 1/2 teaspoon of canola oil and 1 minced garlic clove in a wok. Add some sauce, heat through.

Boil noodles as directed.  Once done cooking, remove veggies from wok.  Add more sesame oil and canola oil in wok.  When hot, add noodles, toss until browned.  Add veggies, toss with orange garlic sauce.  Enjoy :)

Grilled Pita Pizzas

A fun fresh tasty meal that can be made in only 15 minutes!

For 2:

3 whole wheat pitas 

4 medium tomatoes 

2 medium garlic cloves minced

small handful of fresh basil (tear with fingers!)

salt and pepper

fresh mozzarella

fresh gated parmesan

Dice tomatoes into very small pieces, I like to toss the seeds/juice to avoid a watery pizza.  Mix tomatoes, garlic, basil salt and pepper.  I like to marinate flavors together for at least 15-20 minutes,  but you don't need to.  On a cookie sheet, flatten pitas and add a few spoonfuls of tomato mixture on top.  Add cheeses and grill to your liking.  Enjoy :)

Fennel and Blood Orange Salad

Recipe for 2:

1/4 fennel bulb; very thinly sliced

1 blood orange; peeled

Greens

Pitted kalamata olives (optional)

Dressing:

1/4 cup white balsamic vinegar

3 tablespoons of orange juice

1/2 cup olive oil

1 small shallot; chopped

salt

pepper

Mix all ingredients and let sit for at least 1 hour.

Arrange greens on a plate, add fennel, oranges (and olives).  Add dressing. Enjoy :)

Chinese Broccoli Slaw

1 package of ramen noodles

3/4 cup butter

1 package of broccoli slaw

1/4 cup peanuts

1/4 cup sunflower seeds

3-4 green onions, chopped 

1/4 cup soy sauce

3/4 cup canola oil

1/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup apple cider vinegar

Crush ramen noodles in package.  Melt butter in a frying pan, when melted, add noodles.  Fry until golden brown and heated through.

In a bowl make dressing.  Mix soy sauce, canola oil, sugar and vinegar together.   In a separate bowl, add slaw and dressing.  Add noodles, peanuts, sunflower seeds and chopped onions before serving.

Enjoy :)

Spinach, Ricotta and Caramelized Onion Pizza

2 Pizza Doughs (room temperature)

sun dried tomatoes

1-2 cups baby spinach

2 small cooking onions - thinly sliced 

(saute in pan until browned and cooked through)

1 cup ricotta cheese

fresh mozzarella cheese

Parmesan cheese

provolone cheese

2 cloves minced garlic

tomato pizza sauce 

(I made ahead of time, just need tomatoes, garlic, fresh basil, oregano, onions)

capers

Pre-heat oven to 425 degrees.

Pizza #1  Spinach, Ricotta, Caramelized Onion

Assemble:

Roll out dough, spread pizza sauce evenly and top sauce with minced garlic.  Add fresh baby spinach leaves.  On top layer, caramelized onions and sun-dried tomatoes.  Add some fresh thin slices of mozzarella and dollop 1 tsp. of ricotta over the pizza.  

Pizza #2 Capers and Caramelized Onion

Assemble:

Roll out dough, spread pizza sauce evenly and top sauce with minced garlic.  Layer capers, caramelized onions, sun-dried tomatoes, provolone cheese and Parmesan cheese.

Bake for 20-25 minutes, until brown and dough is crisp!

Let cool for 5 minutes before slicing.  Enjoy :)