October 25, 2011

Greek Salad Pita Sandwich

Vegetarian.

This lunch is super quick and very delicious! 

Ingredients
- Pitas
- Tomato (I like Roma tomatoes best)
- Red Onions
- Cucumber
- Feta Cheese
- Balsamic Vinaigrette
- Lettuce
- Greek Olives (optional: we did not use them because they are pricey)
Beverage Pairing 
For fun, we would pair this with a Greek wine, like Achaia Clauss Retsina


Recipe 

1. Cube the red onion, cucumber, and tomato and place into a bowl. 
2. Crumble desired amount of feta cheese into bowl. 
3. Coat in balsamic vinaigrette.
4. Toast or microwave pita so it is warm (it is easier to pull apart that way). Cut in half, and carefully, gently pull open the sides. 
5. Stuff with the ingredients of the bowl and lettuce. 
6. Enjoy!





The vegetable mixture can also be used for a regular salad or as the contents of a Greek pasta salad!

October 24, 2011

Vegetarian, Vegetable Stuffed Cheesy Manicotti


Vegetarian. Feeds Four. 

Ingredients: 

- Manicotti Pasta 
- Ricotta Cheese 
- Mozzarella Cheese
- Parmesan Cheese 
- Ground Soy Crumbles (fake meat! tonight we used Boca Crumbles and they were DELICIOUS)
- Marinara sauce 
- Flour
- Butter
- Soy Milk (or cow's milk if you don't have soy)
- 1.5 Zucchinis
- 1/5 Red Onion 


Beverage Pairing
A light red wine goes perfectly with this dinner. Our recommendation is Tempra Tantrum. This wine is a Tempranillo/Shiraz mix with ripe fruit flavors.  


Recipe: 

1. Boil water and put in desired number of manicotti shells once boiling. Take out a couple of minutes before the box recommends.
2. Dice up onion and zucchini. 
3. Coat a saucepan with olive oil. Place soy ground crumbles into saucepan, then place zucchini and onion. Saute over medium heat for 5-7 minutes.
4. In another sauce pan, on low to medium heat, put two teaspoons of butter, two teaspoons of flour and mix together until you have a yellow paste.
5. Slowly stir in the soy milk and bring to a slight boil.
6. Add in 1/2 cup or parmesan, and continue to stir as it melts.
7. Add in marinara sauce to your liking. Add in the ricotta cheese to your liking as well. The result will be a delightful pink sauce.
8. Lightly coat the bottom of the baking pan with your pink sauce. 
9. Add the soy crumbles and vegetable mix to the pink sauce.  
10.  Fill manicotti shells with the sauce/soy crumble/vegetable mixture and place next to one another in the baking pan. If the manicotti shells tear during cooking, simply fill them and fold them over in the pan. 
11. Cover with mozzarella cheese! The way we do it, it resembles lasagna!
12. Put in oven at 350 degrees for 20 minutes, until cheese is melted. 









Try it with a side of roasted brussels sprouts! 

Hummus Pita Sandwiches


 Vegan. Feeds Two.



Ingredients 
- 1/2 Red Pepper
- 1/2 Green Pepper 
- 1/3 Red Onion 
- 2 Small Zucchinis 
- 1 package of your favorite hummus
- 2 Pitas
Spices:
- Paprika*
- Onion Powder*
- Garlic Powder*
- Black Pepper*

Cookware 
- One sauce pan

Beverage Pairing 
Though we usually eat this for lunch, there is no reason not to pair it with some vino! We recommend a white wine. One of our favorites is Heliotrope Pinot Grigio.

October 23, 2011

Black Bean & Asparagus Enchiladas


Vegetarian. Feeds Four. 



Ingredients
  • 1/2 lb. asparagus (thinner is usually better)
  • 1 can black beans (drained, unrinsed)
  • 8 Corn tortillas 
  • 2-3 cups Mexican cheese (add mozzarella if you like)
  • 1 can enchilada sauce (red or green depending on your taste)
  • Spices: 
    Cookware

    • Large saucepan 
    • Baking pan  

    Beverage Pairing

    As with most mexican foods, we recommend pairing this recipe with margaritas! We were particularly thrilled to find out that Jose Cuervo has come out with a zero-calorie margarita mix! We've tried it and it tastes great (unlike Skinny Girl Margarita mix, which we've heard tastes like watery lime juice).