tomatoes

Southwest Quinoa Stuffed Peppers

Motivation Monday: “Never let success get to your head. Never let failure get to your heart.”

I have been traveling so much recently. I can’t wait to update you guys on what I’ve been doing and what is happening in the blogosphere! I’m gathering all of my photos from my recent adventures and will post them later this week.

I love upcycling old recipes. There are so many simple ways to alter old recipes and make them into something completely different.
Let’s start with my Southwest Quinoa Collard Wrap recipe. Subtract the collard greens and add whole bell peppers, throw in some pepperjack cheese, green chiles, and tomatoes, and turn those avocado slices into some guacamole. Voilà, a new dish is born!

I suggest pre-making a batch of Southwest Quinoa so you can make stuffed peppers and collard wraps all week!
Helpful Hint: 1 cup of cooked southwest quinoa = 1 serving.
1 Tbsp of Quick Guacamole + 1 serving of plant based fat.
Use these measurements when making wraps or individual stuffed bell peppers.

Southwest Quinoa Stuffed Peppers
Southwest Quinoa Stuffed Peppers
Southwest Quinoa Stuffed Peppers
Southwestern Quinoa Stuffed Peppers
Serves 4-5

4-5 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)

Quick Guacammole
1 ripe avocado
1 small jalapeño
1 Tbsp lime juice

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 and remove seeds and “meat” from inside. 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.
For the Guacamole: Remove the avocado “meat” from its skin and transfer to a bowl. Dice jalapeño into small pieces. Add jalapeño and lime juice to the avocado and mash with a fork. Serve one tablespoon of guacamole on top of each stuffed bell pepper after they are cooked.
Note: 1 cup of southwest quinoa mixture = 1 serving. Use this measurement when making wraps or individual stuffed bell peppers.

Southwest Quinoa Stuffed Peppers
The Rabbit Food Pyramid Breakdown
Produce: bell pepper, green chilies, tomatoes, onion, and jalapeño
Whole Grain: quinoa and corn
Protein: beans and pepper jack cheese
Plant Based Fat: avocado

California Summer Wrap

Motivation Monday:Be stronger than your excuses.

Since it’s getting hot out, I’ve been craving lettuce wraps of all kinds.
Try this filling wrap for a picnic in the sun or a beach day!
My favorite type of greens to use for wraps are collard greens, but I was actually out when I made this wrap. Of course any leafy green will work! Greens = delish!

California Summer Wrap
California Summer Wrap

California Summer Wrap
Serves 1

3oz tempeh
1/4 cup cooked quinoa – chilled
1/4 avocado
1 lettuce leaf (romaine, iceberg, or collard)
1/4 cup chopped onions
1/4 cup chopped cherry tomatoes
1 Tbsp lemon juice
pinch of salt
pinch of pepper

Cook quinoa to package instructions and chill in the refrigerator beforehand. Cut tempeh into long thin strips and cook to package instructions on stovetop. Cut cherry tomatoes in half and chop onions. Combine tomatoes and onions with quinoa. Add lemon juice, salt, and pepper to the mixture and gently stir together. Pour the mixture into one washed lettuce leaf  and top with tempeh and avocado slices. Roll up into a wrap, cut in half,  and enjoy.

California Summer Wrap

The Rabbit Food Pyramid Breakdown
Produce: lettuce leaf, onions, and tomatoes
Whole Grain: quinoa
Protein: tempeh
Plant Based Fat: avocado

What is your favorite green to use for lettuce wraps?

Personal Pan Pizza

You read that right. Personal Pan Pizza. P³ for short.
If you want to get really tricky… Perfectly Portioned Personal Pan Pizza! P⁵
Healthy, simple, no baking required, personal sized, delicious.

Mhmmm, no baking and waiting for your pizza!
This baby is made on the stove top in about 5 minutes!

Personal Pan Pizza
Personal Pan Pizza
Personal Pan Pizza

Personal Pan Pizza
Serves 1

¼ cup whole-wheat flour
1 egg white
2 Tbsp almond milk
2 Tbsp tomato sauce
2 Tbsp reduced fat shredded mozzarella cheese
½ tsp oregano
pinch of salt
pinch of pepper

Combine whole-wheat flour, egg white, almond milk, oregano, salt, and pepper and mix well. Spray a small nonstick pan over medium heat. Pour the batter into the pan and spread evenly. Cook over medium heat for about two minutes, or until the bottom is firm and the top has solidified. Spread with tomato sauce and top with cheese. Cover with lid and cook for about 3 more minutes until cheese has melted. Transfer to a plate, slice, and enjoy!

For a vegan option: You can use egg replacer to the equivalent of one egg white and vegan cheese such as Daiya.

The past week has been a whirlwind! I surprised my friend Jocelyn (the bride-to-be) in Iowa for her bridal shower and bachelorette! Updates on all of my travels coming soon!
xo

Mediterranean Toast

It’s Mediterranean Toast Tuesday!
This is like a little slice of heaven Greece!


Mediterranean Toast
Serves 1

1 slice whole-grain bread
1/4 cup chopped cherry tomatoes
1/4 cup chopped cucumber
1/4 Hass Avocado
2 Tbsp hummus
squeeze of fresh lemon juice

Toast the bread. Chop the tomatoes and cucumber. Cut the avocado and remove 1/4 of the “meat” from the skin and chop into cubes. Spread the toast with hummus and  top with tomatoes, cucumber, and avocado. Finish it off with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice and enjoy.

The Rabbit Food Pyramid Breakdown
Produce: cucumber & tomato
Whole Grain: slice of bread
Protein: hummus
Plant Based Fat: avocado