Pierogies & Fries

I was feeling pretty creative last night so I came up with this awesome dish. Easy and fun to make, this will be a winner with everyone!

Ingredients:- 1 package store bought pierogies (I used Feta, Spinach & Potato filling)
- 4 potatoes, peeled and sliced into long strips, like fries
- 2 cups frozen peas
- vegetable or canola oil
- bread crumbs, Italian style
- 1 tablespoon flour
- 1/2 cup feta cheese
- salt
- pepper

To Make:
Begin by dredging the fries in the flower and breadcrumb mixture. Add a bit of salt and pepper and a dash of water.

In a hot pan, add enough oil so it's about 1/2 inch deep. Heat the oil and gently add the fries in batches. Cook on each side about 10-12 minutes or until golden brown.

In a separate pan, drizzle slightly with oil and heat then slowly add in the pierogies. These will need to cook about 6-7 minutes on each side as well until golden brown. Once the pierogies are cooked, add in the peas. Season with salt, pepper and crushed red pepper to taste. The peas need about 5 minutes to cook.

To plate:
Arrange 3-4 pierogies on a plate, top with peas and place a section of the fries over top. Top with fresh feta cheese.

Serve while hot.

Grilled Tofu + Peas

Light, yet still filling and flavorful, this dish is one of my favorites. It's less than 10 mintues to make, healthy and hearty and I just love it.

Ingredients:

- 1/4 pack of firm tofu - drained and cubed
- 1 cup frozen peas
- 1/4 large onion, diced
- 3 garlic cloves, smashed and chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon rice wine vinigar
- 1 teaspoon spicy stir-fry sauce
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- salt
- pepper

To Make:

In a small pan, heat the olive oil and add the tofu, onions and garlic and season with salt and pepper. Cook over medium high heat for about 4 minutes. Don't mix until after 4 minutes because you want the bottom of the tofu to brown. Mix together, add the peas, rice wine vinigar and spicy stir fry sauce and let cook for another 3-4 minutes until the peas are cooked.

Serve immediatly.

Tomato Potato Soup

Yes, it rhymes but this soup will knock your socks off. It's hearty enough to fill you up yet it won't literally stick to your ribs... perfect combination. Try it out... it won't disappoint. Oh, and feel free to add in any other ingredients that you may just have lying around your kitchen!


Ingredients:
- 5 peeled and cubed potatoes
- 2 carrots, chopped
- 4 celery stalks, chopped
- 1/2 large onion, chopped
- 6 garlic cloves, smashed and chopped
- 1 can tomato sauce
- 2 cups water
- 1/4 vegetable bullion cube
- 1/2 can tomato paste
- olive oil
- 1 teaspoon rice wine vinegar
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
- crushed red pepper
- paprika
- dried parsley
- dried oregano
- salt
- pepper

To Make:
In a large pot, liberally drizzle with olive oil and add in the potatoes, season with salt. Cook for about 5 minutes on medium high heat. Next, add in the onions, carrots, garlic and celery. Add more olive oil, salt and pepper. Mix together. Let this cook for another 5-7 minutes, until the veggies just start getting tender.

In the meantime, place the vegetable bullion into the 2 cups of water and place in microwave for 3 minutes. Add this mixture into the pot and mix together.

Let this cook for another 10 minutes on high heat until the veggies start getting tender. Add in the can of PLAIN tomato sauce and the tomato paste. Mix together.

Season with 1 tablespoon of the following: crushed red pepper, paprika, dried oregano, black pepper and dried parsley. Mix together. Slowly add in the Parmesan cheese.

Cover and let this cook for about 25 minutes or until the veggies are nice and tender. Taste and determine if this needs more salt.

Serve as is or over rice.

Garbanzo Bean & Ham Omelet

If you made the Tangy Salmon & Garbanzo Bean Hash for dinner, changes are you will have some of that "hash" left over... throw in some ham and you've got a delicious omelet!

Ingredients:
- 3 egg yokes
- 1 egg
- 2 tablespoons of the garbanzo bean mixture
- bacon, turkey bacon or ham
- 1/4 cup mozzarella cheese
- salt
- pepper


To Make:
Drizzle a pan with oil or spray and heat on medium heat. Add the garbanzo bean mixture and the ham. Saute for 2 minutes.

Whisk the eggs together, add salt and pepper and add into the pan. Cook for 3 minutes, add the cheese over top, then fold the sides together and flip over. Cook for another 2 minutes then remove from stove, slice down the middle and serve immediately.

This omelet can easily serve 2 people.

Tangy Salmon with Garbanzo Bean Hash

This dish is very creative, simple and quick to make and it looks so gourmet... you can impress anyone with this masterpiece.

Ingredients:
- 2, 4 ounce salmon fillets
- 1 can garbanzo beans
- 1/2 onion, chopped
- 3 celery stalks, minced
- 10 garlic cloves, smashed and chopped
- handful of fresh cilantro
- 2 teaspoons rice wine vinegar
- 2 teaspoons soy sauce
- 3 tablespoons spicy hoisin sauce
- olive oil
- garlic powder
- crushed red pepper flakes
- salt
- pepper

To Make:
In a large saute pan, drizzle with olive oil and saute the onions, garlic and celery about 10 minutes on medium low heat. Season with salt and pepper.

Drain and wash the garbanzo beans, set aside.

In a glass bowl, combine 2 tablespoons of olive oil with the soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, hoisin sauce and cilantro. Season with garlic powder, salt and pepper. Whisk together until combined.

Drizzle a grill pan with oil and heat on high for about 2 minutes so that the oil is hot. Place the salmon fillets onto the hot grill and lightly brush the sauce over top. Continue basting the fillets with sauce on both sides. Cook the salmon about 5-7 minutes all-together, flipping in between.

White the salmon is cooking, add the garbanzo beans to the onion and celery mixture. Mix together, add more salt and pepper and a dash of crushed red pepper. Add more olive oil if needed.

To Plate:
Lay the garbanzo mixture on the bottom of the plate and place a salmon fillet on top. Serve immediately.

Fresh Blueberry Muffins!

These make the PERFECT winter snack because they are so fun and adorable and "springy" that it brings joy to your winter table.

Ingredients:
- 2 cups bran flakes
- 1 1/4 cups flower
- 1/2 tsp. baking powder
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup apple sauce
- 2 tablespoons Cinnamon
- 1 1/4 cup skim or soy milk
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 2 egg whites
- 1 package FRESH blueberries

To Make:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Combine wet ingredients together for 4-5 minutes until bran flakes become soft. Mix together with the rest of the ingredients and spray a 6- muffin pan. Scoop the mixture into the muffin pan.

Bake for 20-25 minutes. Let cool and serve.

Fruity Cocktails

What could be better in the middle of winter, to make yourself something that reminds you of the joys of summer? FRUITY COCKTAILS!

Ingredients
- Vodka
- Freshly squeezed orange juice
- Hawaiian punch
- Splash of store bought orange juice
- 1 splenda

To Make
Combine all ingredients in a shaker, measurements according to your liking. Shake well with ice, pour and enjoy!