Mama's Olovier chicken salad

Ingredients

6 boiled eggs

1.5 cup of low fat Mayonnaise

Fresh Dill (optional)

5 medium sized potatoes (I used around 20 little red potatoes)

1 jar of cucumber pickles

1 ready made whole rotisserie chicken (if you want you can cook your own chicken by seasoning two chicken breasts and putting it in the oven for 30-40 mins at 350 degrees)

S + P

Whole Wheat pita bread

Cost of groceries-> less than $20! (serves 4-5 persons)

Cut the potatoes into halves (you can leave the skin on) into a large pot of water. Put the pot on high heat so it can boil. Let the potatoes cook for 30-40mins (until soft). Cut up the boiled eggs into small pieces and then put it into a large bowl. Cut the pickles into small pieces as well (should make about 2 cups) and add to to the bowl. If you bought a whole rotisserie chicken, take all the meat off the bones and shred the chicken with your hands (it's a bit messy but its worth it!). If you cooked your own chicken, shred the chicken once it is cooked. Finely chop a handful of dill. Once the potatoes are cooked, cut them up into small pieces. Add all the ingredients  with the mayonnaise into the large bowl and mix it and mash it all up! 

Serve it with whole wheat pita break and sliced tomatoes and/or pickles. This is a perfect summer dish.

Got leftovers? Make a sandwich the next day! It tastes better when it's cold. 

- shivz

Bello Bella Fish Dish

I'M BACK! Stay tuned for more new EZ EATS recipes.

Ingredients

Fresh Spinach (a bag full)

2 fillets of Tilapia fish (any white fish will do)

2 Portobello mushrooms 

1.5 cup Brown/wild rice

1 Medium sized onion (diced)

1 Lemon

1 Garlic clove (diced)

Low sodium Soy Sauce (replacing salt)

Hoisin Sauce

Pepper

Sesame oil (optional)

Olive oil

Cost of groceries- less than $25! (serves 2 persons)

Marinade the tilapia fillets in 2 tbsps of soy sauce, fresh lemon juice, and pepper for 15 minutes. Preheat oven to 370 degrees. Then place the fish in the oven and let it cook for 25 minutes (until the fish is flaky). How to cook the rice ->1 cup of rice = 2 cups of water. Add the chopped onions into the water and rice. Add a pinch of salt. Let the rice simmer for 30-40 minutes. (Optional- when the rice is done put a tsp. of sesame oil in the rice). Next, cut the stems off portobello mushrooms. Slice the mushrooms in long narrow pieces. Mix the pieces mushrooms with 1 tbsp of soy sauce, 2 tbsp of hoisin sauce and the diced garlic.  Rinse and chop up the fresh spinach (remember->use a lot of spinach b/c it'll shrink when it is being cooked!) Add 2 tbsp. of olive oil and turn on the stove on medium heat.  Add the mushrooms to the pan. Let it simmer for 10 minutes (until it shrivels up). Then add the spinach. Mix it around until the spinach wilts and then you are done!

To make your dish look fancy, take a small bowl and put the rice in it (make sure its packed in). Then flip the bowl upside down onto your serving plate. Now you have a lovely rice dome.

EZ pz  ;  )

- shivz

Stringy Zingy Beans

Perfect healthy side dish!

Ingredients:

1 large bowl of String beans

2 large tomatoes (diced) or 1 large can diced tomatoes

2 garlic cloves (diced)

1 large onion

1 tsp. Tumeric

S + P

Olive Oil

Cost of groceries- less than $12! (serves 4 persons)

Fry the onions and garlic in a pan with olive oil until golden. Then add the string beans. Stir it around for a couple minutes and then add the tomatoes. Add the tumeric and S + P. Mix it all around for 15 minutes on low heat and voilà!!

- shivz

Musacha cha cha cha

Feel like a light healthy meal? Try this out!

Ingredients:

1 large eggplant

1 small can tomato paste

2 large tomatoes (diced) or 1 large can diced tomatoes

2 garlic cloves (diced)

1 onion (diced)

6 eggs

6 small potatoes 

Fresh Parsley (optional) (finely chopped)

1/2 cup of skim milk

S + P

Olive oil

Cost of groceries - less $20! (serves 3 persons)

Peel the eggplant's skin and slice the eggplant vertically. Fry the pieces in a large pan with olive oil and a pinch of salt. Fry till golden. After frying,  place the pieces of eggplant in your rectangular dish. Fry the onion and garlic in a pan until golden and then add tomatoes. Then add the tomato paste. Mix it around and mash up the tomatoes until smooth. Then pour the tomatoes on top of the eggplant. Beat the eggs with milk in a bowl. Pour the eggs on top of the tomatoes. Add the parsley on top of the eggs. Peel the potatoes and cut horizontally thinly (circular shape). Place the pieces of potato on top. Set oven to 375 degrees. Cook for 25-30 minutes.

- shivz 

Mediterranean Shell Pasta

Ingredients

Small shell pasta

1 garlic clove (crushed)

1 tbsp. Pesto

2 tbsp. Nonfat Cream Cheese

Feta cheese

Salt

Fresh spinach

Cost of groceries - less than $20! (serves 2 persons)

Boil the pasta for 15-20 mins until soft. Drain the water out of the pot. Put the pasta on the stove (low heat). Add 1 tsp of olive oil, 1 tbsp pesto, 2 tbsp cream cheese, garlic clove, and a handful of crushed feta cheese to the pasta. Mix it around till the cheese is melted. Add a pinch of salt. Add 2 handfuls of thinly sliced spinach to the pasta. Mix it around till the spinach is wilted.

- shivz & beets

VALENTINES DAY DINNER

A dinner you can make for your friends or lover

Red Red Wine Lamb

Ingredients

2 lamb shoulders

2 cups of dry red wine

1 tsp.  of rosemary powder

1 tsp. thyme

1/4 cup of melted butter

1 crushed garlic clove

S + P

Serves 2 persons

Set the oven to 375 F. Rub all the ingredients all over both lamb shoulders. Put the lamb in the oven and leave it to cook for 50 minutes. The last 20 minutes turn the heat to 400 F. Once its done it should be a bit red in the middle.

Yum Yum Yams

Ingredients

4 yams

1 small stick of butter

2 cup of low fat milk

2 tbsp. brown sugar

1 nutmeg grated (a pinch)

Serves 4 persons

Peel and cut the yams into fours. Boil the yams in water until they become soft. Drain the water out and keep the yams in the pot. Add you ingredients and mash it all up!

Tomato Love Soup

Ingredients

1 small onion (diced

2 garlic clove (chopped)

1 small can tomato paste

1 big can diced tomato, including juice

1 bay leaf

1 tsp. thyme

1 tsp. sugar

S + P

1/4 cup low fat milk

1 cup thick yogurt (Greek or Lebanese yogurt)

Serves 4 persons

Cook onion and garlic in a pan with olive oil until soft. Add tomato paste, sugar, thyme, bay leaf, diced tomatoes with juice and 2 cups of water. Put the stove to medium heat and let it simmer for 20 minutes. After remove it from the stove and let it cool for 10 minutes. Put it in the blender to puree and add your milk (you may need to do it in batches if there is not enough room in the blender). Add S + P. Serve it in a bowl and put a spoonful of yogurt right in the middle.

Beet Goat Cheese Salad

Ingredients

1 can of sliced beets

Mixed greens

Goat cheese

Balsamic vinegar

Olive Oil

1 tsp. sugar

1 crushed garlic clove

S + P

Serves 2 persons

Mix the sliced beets, mixed greens and goat cheese all together. Add the dressing (balsamic vinegar, olive oil, sugar, and garlic).

- shivz & beets  *HAPPY VALENTINES DAY*

Saucy Plum Poulet

Ingredients

2 Chicken legs

2 Chicken breasts

2 large Onions

1 small jar of plum sauce

1 pack of prunes

Fresh Broccoli

Brown Rice

S + P

Cost of groceries - less than $20! (serves 2 persons)

Chicken:

Chop onions and put in a large pan (if you don't have a large pan thats deep enough, use a pot). Add a bit of oil in the pan. Put the chicken in the pan. Add s + p. Turn on the stove to high heat. After 2 minutes turn down the heat to medium heat and cover the pan for 15 minutes. After 15 mins, add 1 1/2 cups of plum sauce and two handfulls of prunes. Turn down the heat to low heat and let it cook for 20 minutes. Then add broccoli and mix it into the chicken and sauce. Let it cook for 10 minutes and then it's finished!

Brown Rice:

Add 1 cup of Brown Rice in a pot. Add 2 cups of water and a pinch of salt into the pot. Cover the pot. Check your rice after 30 mins. If there is no more water left in the pot and the rice is fluffy, take it off the stove.  It's ready to be served!

Cooking time: 30-40 mins

- shivz & beets

Veggie Lettuce Wraps

Ingredients

Iceberg lettuce

1 large Onion

1 Garlic clove

2 large Carrots

3 Celery stems

1 can Water chesnuts

1 pack plain firm Tofu (you can replace it with chicken or shrimps)

2 bell peppers (any color)

4 tbsp. Teriyaki sauce

4 tbsp. Soya sauce

1 tsp. Chili paste (optional)

1 pack instant Noodles 

Cost of groceries - $15! (serves 2-3 persons)

Cut celery, carrots, water chesnuts, bell pepper, tofu, onions and garlic into small cubes. Fry the onions and garlic in a large pan with olive oil (until golden). Add all the cut up vegetables and tofu into the pan. Add the teryaki sauce, soya sauce and chili paste (optional). Mix it all together. Put it on medium heat. Cook for 10 minutes and then remove from the stove. Crush the instant noodles (it works better if you crush it while it's still in the packet and then pour it into your pan). Mix the raw noodles into the pan. Wash the lettuce and take it apart into individual leaves (try not to rip it because you will use it as your wrap!). To serve, place the cooked vegetables, tofu and noodles into the center of your lettuce leaf. Wrap it up and LETTUCE EAT!

- shivz & beets

Midnight Dip

Ingredients

1 container Cream cheese

1 Onion (chopped finely)

1 small Garlic clove (chopped finely)

1 Cucumber

1 can Artichokes (cut each into fours)

Plain Yogurt

S + P

Hot Sauce (optional)

Fry onions and garlic in a pan (until golden). Put half a container of cream cheese in the pan. Put the artichokes in the pan. Add S + P and your hot sauce (optional) Mix all together. Once the cream cheese softens and becomes creamy, remove from the stove. Put the dip in a large bowl. Add one cup of yogurt to the bowl. Grate the peeled cucumber into the bowl. Mix it all together.

(Try this! - > Warm up pita bread in the oven for dipping)

EZ and Delicious

- shivz & beets

Baked Halibut in Orange Juice

Ingredients
2 Onions (peeled and sliced)
2 Tomatoes (chopped)
1 tbsp. Curry powder
1/2 cup Orange Juice
1 Pound fresh Halibut
1 tablespoon Canola oil
S + P

Cost of groceries - less than $20! (serves 2 persons)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
Place onions in an 8" by 8" baking pan and then add tomatoes, curry powder, salt and orange juice
Rub fish with oil and salt and pepper and place on top of the vegetables.
Bake for 20-30 minutes or until the fish flakes and is just cooked through
(you can substitute Halibut with Tilapia or any other kind of white fish for that matter ;))

-shiva & beets

Pesto - Side Dishes -

Basil Pesto

Ingredients
1 large bunch of basil
1 cup parmesan cheese, grated
1 cup pine nuts
1/2 cup olive oil
Sea salt

Puree the parsley, cheese, pine nuts and oil in a food processor until smooth. Season with salt.
Add a splash or two more of oil if needed to help the mixture puree.
(You can store pesto in a small jar in the fridge for up to 3 weeks)

Sun-dried Tomato Pesto

Ingredients
1 cup sun-dried tomatoes
1/2 cup pine nuts
1/2 cup grated Grana Padano Parmesan cheese
1 small bunch parsley
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil

Puree everything together in a food processor until smooth.

-shivz & beets

Baked Salmon with Dijon and Mayo

Ingredients
2 Salmon Filets (small-medium sized)
1 tbsp Mayonnaise (regular or light)
1 tbsp Dijon Mustard
1/2 tsp. S+P
1/2 tsp. Garlic Powder

Cost of groceries - less than $15! (serves 2 persons)

Preheat your oven to 350°F.
Rinse fish and pat them dry with paper towel
Slightly grease baking pan with olive oil
Arrange the fish in an appropriately sized baking pan
Season each fish fillet with S+ P and garlic powder (do this on both sides of the fillet
With a knife, apply mayonnaise and Dijon mustard all over the fillets (make sure you only do this on ONE side of the fish)
Bake for 20-30 minutes, until the fish is just cooked through and flakes easily when tested with a knife

It's healthy, good and super EZ!

-shivz & beets

Red Hot Penne Pasta

Ingredients

1 box of Penne Pasta

2 cloves of Garlic (finely chopped)
1 medium onion (finely chopped)
1 can (medium) Diced Tomatoes
4 tbsp. Balsamic Vinegar
1 Red Hot Pepper (hot green pepper works too!) finely chopped
A handful Red Pepper Flakes

Cost of groceries - less than $20! (serves 2 persons)

Sauce:

Over medium heat, cook garlic and onions until golden
Add red pepper 
Add balsamic vinegar
Add whole can of diced tomatoes (with its water)
Add red pepper flakes (a good handful)

Stir it all together!

Penne:

Boil water in a pot and add a pinch of salt

Add the uncooked penne in the water

Cover the pot

Check if the pasta is cooked by tasting one (if it's a bit chewy, it's done)

Drain the water once the pasta is cooked

Over low heat, add the sauce to the penne and stir all the contents together!

-shivz & beets

Comfort Chicken

Ingredients

2 Chicken Legs with Skin and Bones

1 tsp. Turmeric

1 White Onion  (thin slices)

1/2 tsp. Salt

1 cup Brown Rice

Cost of groceries - less than $12! (serves 2 persons)

Chicken:

Add 1 cup of water in a large pot. Add the chicken legs, turmeric, salt and onions into the pot. Mix it all together. (This method of cooking is great for a healthy diet (no frying!)) Put the pot on the stove and set to High heat. Cover the pot. Let the water boil with the chicken. Turn the heat down just a bit (Medium-High) after 20 mins (should still be boiling!). Keep the pot covered. After 45-50 mins your chicken should be tasty and juicy!

Cooking time : 45-50 mins

Rice: 

Add 1 cup of Brown Rice in a pot. Add 2 cups of water and a pinch of salt into the pot. Cover the pot. Check your rice after 30 mins. If there is no more water left in the pot and the rice is fluffy, take it off the stove.  It's ready to be served!

Cooking time: 30-40 mins

(Add Plain Yogurt on the side to make your dish even more tastier!)

-shivz & beets

EZ Banana Bread

Ingredients

3 or 4 ripe bananas (smashed)

1/3 cup melted butter

1 cup sugar (can easily reduce to 3/4 cup)

1 egg, beaten

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1 tsp. baking soda

Pinch of salt

1 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour

1 cup choco chips or crushed walnuts (optional)

No need for a mixer for this recipe! Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). With a wooden spoon, mix butter into the mashed bananas in a large mixing bowl. Mix in the sugar, egg, and vanilla. Sprinkle the baking soda and salt over the mixture and mix in. Add the flour last, mix. Pour mixture into a buttered 4x8 inch loaf pan. Bake for 1 hour. Cool on a rack. Remove from pan and slice to serve.

-shivz & beets

Pomegranate Pear Salad

Ingredients 

Mixed Greens

Pomegranate Seeds

1 Pear (cut into cubes)

Goat Cheese

Cost of groceries - less than $12 (serves 3 persons)

Dressing:

Balsamic Vinegar

Olive Oil

1 tsp. Sugar

1 Garlic Clove (crushed)

This salad goes well with chicken and red meat. 

Want a light meal? Try adding chicken to your salad!

-shivz & beets

Honey Citrus Glaze Chicken and Green Lentil Dish

Honey Citrus Glaze Chicken

Ingredients

Two Chicken Legs with Skin and Bones

Sauce:

1/2 Container of Minute Maid Frozen Orange Juice Concentrate

5 tbsp. Honey

Salt + Pepper (S + P)

Green Lentil

Ingredients

1 cup Dry Green Lentil ->Pressed for time? Use Canned Cooked Green Lentil

10 oz. (medium bag) Fresh Spinach

1 container Fresh Mushrooms (type optional)

1 large White Onion

2 Garlic Cloves

S + P

1 tsp. Cumin

5 tbsp. Balsamic Vinegar

Red Pepper Flakes (optional)

Cost of groceries - less than $20.00!

Sauce:

Heat pan on high with honey and orange minute made 

Add a pinch of S + P

Lower heat and stir ingredients until smooth. Remove from heat

Chicken:

Preheat oven to 375 F.

Rinse chicken with water and pat it dry with paper towel

Heat olive oil in pan on high (about 1/4 cup)

Place chicken legs in pan. Turn on both sides until golden/brown

Remove pan from stove when both sides of the chicken are thoroughly golden

Place chicken legs in a Pyrex and pour sauce all over chicken legs

Cook in oven for 45 mins (without aluminum cover)

Green Lentil:

Boil lentil with 3 cups of water in a pot (1cup of lentil = 3 cups of water)

Add 2 pinches of salt

Water should dissolve in 35-40 mins

Once dissolved, add balsamic vinegar and S + P

In a pan, saute onions and garlic with olive oil (until golden)

Add onions and garlic into the lentil pot and stir

Cut up spinach into small pieces (removing stems) and slice mushrooms vertically (like how they are on pizzas!)

Add spinach and mushrooms to pot and stir until cooked 

Add cumin

Add red pepper flakes (optional)

EZ right?!

-shivz & beets