Dinner

Dinner

Dinner, Lunch, Recipes, Vegan, Vegetarian

Balela Salad

Ladies and gentlemen, I bring you: a healthy Middle Eastern dish!

I’ve been addicted to Trader Joe’s Balela Salad (Middle Eastern chickpea & black bean salad) for a while now. Balela is savory and tangy with a gratifying bite. Plus, thanks to the amazing plant-based protein and fiber, it’s quite filling. I’m pretty sure you guys are going to be hooked like I am!

It’s amazing on it’s own, but if you are following the Rabbit Food Pyramid, you can add some lettuce and tuck it into a whole wheat pita pocket, or serve over a bed of lettuce and quinoa!

Love my new bunny bowl that Brett gave me for Christmas! It’s so photogenic : )

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Balela Salad
Serves 1
1/2 cup chickpeas, cooked (I use Eden Organic – No Salt Added Chickpeas)
1/4 cup black beans, cooked (I use 365 Organic No Salt Added Black Beans)
1/4 cup chopped fresh tomato
3 Tbsp lemon juice
1 Tbsp olive oil
1/2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
2 cloves garlic
2 Tbsp cup chopped red onion
2 Tbsp chopped fresh parsley
1 Tbsp chopped fresh mint
Pinch of cayenne
Salt & Pepper to taste

Rinse and strain cooked chickpeas and black beans. Chop, tomato, garlic, red onion, parsley, and mint. Combine together with the chickpeas, beans, lemon juice, olive oil, and apple cider vinegar. Add cayenne, salt and pepper to taste. Store in a covered container in the refrigerator.
Note: This dish is best after the chickpeas have marinated for several hours of overnight.
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Make your meal RFFMBT Pyramid approved:
Serve over a bed of lettuce and quinoa
or
Add lettuce and tuck it all into a whole grain pita pocket!

The Rabbit Food Pyramid Breakdown
Produce: tomato, garlic, red onion, parsley, mint (1 cup of lettuce if desired)
Whole Grain: None (1/2 cup of cooked quinoa – or 1/2 whole wheat pita pocket if desired)
Protein: chickpeas & black beans
Plant Based Fat: olive oil
Free Extras: lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, cayenne, salt & pepper

… I love rabbit food!

| 8 Comments
Dinner, Recipes, Vegetarian

Happy Healthy Halloween!

I have to start this post off with the FUNNIEST ad spot I have EVER seen.

I’m pretty sure all of my fellow health foodies will love this!!! Brought to you by Crest & Oral-B this ad titled “Halloween Treats Gone Wrong” explores the possibility of an candy-less Halloween by giving a group of children only healthy candy featuring vegetable-flavored gummies, Nori pops and tofu ghost-mallows.
Their reactions… absolutely PRICELESS!

Kid’s say the darndest things don’t they?

I literally laughed until I cried while watching this and then immediately had to show it to all of my family members. I hope you laugh as hard as I did! By the way, my favorite description is “tastes like poopie piñata!”

To continue my Healthy Halloween (that tastes way better than the ‘treats’ described in a that video), I recycled my Southwest Quinoa Stuffed Peppers recipe and turned the bell peppers into Jack-O-Lanterns! You could also fill these adorable Jack-O-Lantern stuffed peppers with my Tofu & Wild Rice or anything else you would like!

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Jack-O-Lantern Stuffed Peppers
Serves 4-5

4-5 orange bell peppers
1 cup dry quinoa + 2 cups water
1 15oz can unsweetened corn kernels
1 15oz can low sodium black beans
1 4oz can diced green chiles
1/2 cup diced tomatoes
1/2 yellow onion
1/2 cup shredded pepper jack cheese
1 Tbsp Southwest/Fajita seasoning (I used Mccormick Salt-Free Southwest)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bring quinoa and water to a boil, then reduce to low heat and cover for 10-15 minutes until water is absorbed. Cut tops off of bell peppers, remove seeds and “meat” from inside. With a small sharp knife, carve a traditional Jack-O-Lantern face into the bell pepper. Rinse and strain the beans and corn. Once quinoa has finished cooking combine with corn, beans, green chilies, tomatoes, onion, pepper jack cheese, and fajita seasoning. Scoop the quinoa mixture into the bell peppers. Transfer stuffed bell peppers (without lids) to a baking dish lined with foil and bake for 25-30 minutes.

Note: 1 cup of southwest quinoa mixture = 1 serving. Use this measurement when making wraps or individual stuffed bell peppers.

I’m off to construct my costume for tomorrow. I hope you have a healthy, happy, and safe Halloween!
xo

| 7 Comments
Dinner, Lunch, Recipes, Vegan, Vegetarian

Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Sorry for the lack of posts this week! I just arrived home from a wonderful wedding weekend in Kansas. I had the best time celebrating Jocelyn & Ryan and eating my way through Kansas and Missouri with new friends!

Jocelyn-&-RyanCongratulations to the blushing bride and groom! (Photo credit: Farfum)

Jocelyn-&-Ryan-WeddingWith Jocelyn and her gorgeous bridesmaids! Ashley, Nicole, Jocelyn, & me!

Jocelyn-&-Ryan-Wedding1Highlight of the night before the wedding: getting photo-bombed by the camo convention at the bar! I want need a ghillie suit!

If you follow me on Instagram, you may have noticed one of my fav lunch spots: Zinc Cafe. My best friend Taryn and I ALWAYS get the roasted brussels sprouts when we’re there. We are completely hooked! The last time I was at Zinc I asked the chef what the Brussels sprouts were prepared with and he said “just a little olive oil, salt, and pepper!” I actually couldn’t believe it because they’re so flavorful, so I had to take to my own kitchen to recreate my fav lunch for you guys. The roasted Brussels Sprouts at Zinc are always chilled and tossed with cannellini beans, which is totally to die for. I decided to serve my roasted Brussels and beans over some fluffy quinoa to make this a perfectly portioned lunch or dinner for anyone following the Rabbit Food Pyramid guidelines for weight loss or maintenance!
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Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Serves 1

2 cups Brussels sprouts, halved
1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1/4 tsp ground sea salt
1/8 tsp ground black pepper

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cut brussels sprouts in half and coat with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Place the Brussels sprouts cut side down on a rimmed baking sheet and transfer to the oven. Bake for 25-30 minutes stirring occasionally (2-3 times) until browned and crispy. Remove from oven and serve immediately

Make it a Rabbit Food approved meal:
Serve Roasted Brussels Sprouts over
1/2 cup cooked cannellini beans
1/2 cup cooked quinoa

The Rabbit Food Pyramid Breakdown
Produce: Brussels sprouts
Whole Grain: quinoa
Protein: cannellini beans
Plant Based Fat: olive oil

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| 6 Comments
Dinner, Recipes, Snacks, Treats, Vegan

Date & Olive Tapenade

Ok my little bun buns, here it is. The tapenade you’ve all been waiting for! The salty sweet spread I have been bragging about for days. My favorite thing from the Natural Delights Medjool Dates Summit. The recipe I have been craving twenty four seven. DATE OLIVE TAPENADE! Vegan, gluten-free, no added salt, and no added sugar! 100% om nom nom worthy. Spread it on top of a crostini with a slather of goat cheese, and you will be in heaven! You must make this for your next party. Best appetizer. The end. Enjoy!

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Date & Olive Tapenade
Recipe By: Bob Nidiffer

1 cup chopped Medjool dates
1/3 cup water
1/3 cup pitted Kalamata olives, chopped
2 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
1 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
1 Tbsp drained capers, chopped
1 tsp fresh thyme, chopped
Optional: 1/2 cup chopped walnuts – I actually loved it without them!

Goat Cheese
1 log soft goat cheese

Crostini
1 whole grain or French baguette
Olive oil cooking spray

Combine chopped dates and 1/3 cup water in a saucepan. Cook over medium-high heat until liquid evaporates and dates are soft, about 5 minutes. Transfer dates to a food processor. Mix in olives, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, capers, and chopped thyme and process into a spread.
Optional: Fol chopped walnuts into the date & olive spread.
Crostini: Preheat oven to 350. Slice baguette into thin slices and place on a cooking sheet. Generously spray the bread with a coat of olive oil cooking spray. Bake for 12-15 minutes or until golden and crispy.
Note: Can be made up to 3 days ahead. Cover and refrigerate, but bring to room temperature along with cheese before serving.

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The Rabbit Food Pyramid Breakdown
Produce: dates (fruit)
Whole Grain: baguette (50g serving)
Protein: goat cheese (1/4 cup serving)
Plant Based Fat: olives & olive oil (2 Tbsp serving of tapenade)

| 11 Comments
Dinner, Lunch, Recipes, Vegetarian

Portobello Pizza

Hoppy Monday all!
Last week I had the opportunity to attend the Bard Valley Natural Delights Medjool Date Summit in yuma, AZ! I had incredible time learning about the harvesting process and taste testing delectable recipes that I MUST share with you guys! I also met some new friends that I already miss since departing on Friday! Wahhhh. I’ll be giving you guys a full rundown of the blogger summit later this week. I cannot wait to tell you about my trip!

Today’s recipe is a Portobello Mushroom Pizza!
Loaded with veggies, this pizza is low-carb, gluten-free, and super filling!
Bon Appétit!
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Portobello Pizza
Serves 1

2 large portobello mushrooms
1 tomato
1/4 cup reduced fat mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup chopped onion
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 tsp lemon juice
1/2 tsp minced garlic
pinch of salt
pinch of pepper

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Chop onion and mince garlic. Pour olive oil into a saucepan over medium high heat and add onions and garlic. Cook onions and garlic until they are slightly browned. Dice tomato and add to the saucepan along with salt, pepper, and lemon juice. Bring the sauce to a simmer and cook for 3-5 minutes. Remove gills from the portobello mushrooms by scraping with a spoon. Place portobellos on a baking sheet coated with nonstick cooking spray. Pour the sauce into each portobello and top with cheese. Bake for 12 minutes. After 12 minutes, set oven to broil for 30 seconds to 1 minute to brown the cheese. Remove from the oven and enjoy!
Tip: I suggest lining your baking sheet with foil and coating the foil with nonstick cooking spray for an easier cleanup. The portobello mushrooms tend to get pretty juicy will cooking!

In a hurry? You can always use organic tomato sauce in place of the homemade sauce! I would recommend about 2 Tbps of store-bought sauce per portobello pizza.

Vegan? Use a vegan cheese substitute such as Daiya Mozzarella Style Shreds!

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The Rabbit Food Pyramid Breakdown
Produce: portobello mushrooms, tomato, onion, garlic
Whole Grain: none
Protein: reduced fat mozzarella cheese
Plant Based Fat: olive oil

| 15 Comments

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