Broccoli and Bacon Pizza Bread

Broccoli is a veggie that I have grown to love. It was not always a loving relationship between me and the leafy tree-like vegetable. Like most kids, I would have my stare-down show-down at the dinner table whenever it was served as a side. But luckily my parents never forced it on me. They always nudged me to try new things, but it was never a huge issue if I didn't choose to partake.

Believe it or not, I was a SUPER picky eater when I was little. In fact for the longest time [just ask mi madre] all I ate was peanut butter crackers, butter noodles, olives, and pickles. Not all together [I hope]. But nonetheless, that's all I ate. I was a total salt feen...well was is an incorrect statement. Still have a ginormous salt-tooth, but I have certainly expanded my horizons when it comes to my daily diet.

Now as an adult and the "cook" for our family, I try to sneak in veggies whenever possible. Eating healthier doesn't mean you have to choke down yucky veggies that you dread -- with the right seasoning and marriage of flavors, any veggie can be quite deelightful.

Broccoli and Bacon Pizza Bread
serves 4
adapted from Rachael Ray Magazine 

• 2 ciabatta loaves [6-8 inches], sliced in half lengthwise [making 4 open pizzas]
• 2 cups skim-ricotta cheese
• 2 tbsp pesto
• 2 cups cooked broccoli florets, roughly chopped
• 3 slices bacon, cooked & chopped
• 1 tbsp chili garlic sauce  
• 1 cup shredded cheese [I used Monetray Jack}
• 1/2 cup parmesan cheese
• 4-5 tbsp of EVOO
• salt + pepper to taste

begin by combining ricotta, parmesan cheese, and pesto in a small bowl. season with salt + pepper.

1. pre-heat oven to 375 degrees. lay out bread halves on a foil lined baking sheet. spread each half with 1-2 tbsps of pizza sauce. set aside.  
2. meanwhile, in a large saute pan heat EVOO over med-high heat and add chili garlic sauce. swirl until ingredients are combined. add broccoli and saute until broccoli is tender, crispy, and a little golden brown. remove from heat.
3. evenly distribute broccoli and bacon over pizza sauce on bread. top with shredded cheese. bake in the oven until cheese is melted and bread is crispy-crunchy, about 8-10 minutes.

This pizza is crispy, crunchy and so full of flavor.

Plus it was ready in about 20 minutes.  

Perfect for a yummy weeknight meal.

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Hope you and yours enjoy it as much as we did!  

Cheesy Quinoa + Broccoli Bake

A new twist on a classic. That's what I love to do! Take something traditional like mac + cheese for instance, and make it something totally new--but based on the same principle. In this case I swapped the elbow macaroni for tri-colored quinoa [yum!], added bacon + broccoli, and made my own spicy cheese sauce from scratch. No easy-mac, mystery powdered cheese here. Nope, no-siree! Don't get me wrong, back in the day ['which was a Wednesday'-DC] I ate my fair share of easy-mac. Usually in college, after coming home from the bars easy-mac was just that...easy! A little water, a little powder [hmmm] and ding- it's ready! It did its job...now easy-mac has gone and grow'd up! It's time for a healthier, fresher take on a yummy classic. Let's go!


Cheesy Quinoa + Broccoli Bake 

• Cheese Sauce
• 1 tbsp flour 
• 1 1/2 tbsp butter 
• 2/3 cup milk [Almond Milk works great!]
• 2 tbsp plain cream cheese
• 1 tbsp chili garlic sauce
• 1 tsp nutmeg
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella [skim] cheese 
• 2 cups quinoa, cooked
• 2 cups broccoli florets, cooked + chopped
• 3-4 strips of bacon, cooked + chopped 
• 3/4 cup shredded mozzarella

1. start by rinsing  your quinoa [2-3 times] and cooking it by following the directions on the box. 
2. meanwhile pre-heat the oven to 375 degrees. start making your cheese sauce by starting with the classic "roux" [butter, flour, milk].
3. begin in a small sauce pan by melting the butter over med-high heat. once butter is melted, slowly start whisking in flour. once flour and butter have created a thick paste, slowly whisk in milk. bring to a low-boil and continue whisking occasionally. once mixture has thickened, start adding mozzarella cheese. continue stirring and add nutmeg, chili garlic sauce, and cream cheese. continue stirring until blended well, smooth + dreamy! [it's slightly pink...I know!]
4. in a large bowl combine, broccoli, bacon, quinoa, and cheese sauce. add salt + pepper to taste. 
5. spoon quinoa mixture into a large casserole dish that has been greased with olive oil spray. sprinkle remaining mozzarella cheese on top. bake for 15-20 minutes, or until cheese is melty and quinoa is bubbling. 

roux [rue] is that you?

oh hey dreamy cheese sauce. 

vegetarian? peskatarian? skip the bacon. more for me!

cheesy, melty, healthy[er] twist on a classic. 

be easy. 

Vegetable Fried Rice

sometimes [not often] I have happy accidents in the kitchen. yesterday I was trying to come up with something [without going to the store] to have on hand for my husband and I to have for lunches. I had veggie burgers, a couple of ready rice options, frozen broccoli, and eggs. with some quick thinking and my "go-to" ingredients, I came up with a delicious and fast fried rice recipe.

and it goes a little something like this...

Vegetable Fried Rice 

• 2 veggie burgers
• 3 cups frozen broccoli
• 1 package Uncle Ben's Ready Rice -- Teriyaki Style , cooked 
• 2 eggs
• 4 tbsp EVOO, separated
• 1 tbsp chili garlic sauce 
• 2 tbsp honey
• 2 tbsp soy sauce, separated
• 1 tbsp minced ginger
• 1 tbsp cornstarch mixed in 1/2 cup [cool] water

1. heat 2 tbsp EVOO, chili garlic sauce, honey, and ginger over med-heat in a large pan.
2. blend mixture with whisk. 
3. when it begins to bubble--add cornstarch liquid and whisk together until well blended. 
4. then add broccoli and toss in sauce. 
5. reduce heat and cover. let cook [stirring occasionally] for 8-10 minutes, or until broccoli is no longer frozen and cooked through. 
6. empty cooked broccoli mixture into a separate bowl.
7. return pan to high heat.
8. add remaining EVOO and veggie burgers to pan.
9. sprinkle 1 tbsp of soy sauce over veggie burgers.
10. break apart veggie burgers into small chunks as you cook them. 
11. when veggie burgers are browned, add rice to pan. 
12. saute until rice begins to brown and crisp a bit.
13. push rice + veggie burger mixture to one side of the pan, and scramble eggs in free pan space. 
14. once eggs are scrambled, fold into rice mixture.
15. add broccoli mixture to rice mixture and saute together. 
16. remove from heat and serve it up! 

thinking of switching up your daily lunch routine? 

check out these great sandwich solutions I spotted on Pinterest! 

xoxo 

Sando's Sesame Stir-Fry

For a day that started out cold, gray, and foggy...

it sure turned into something beautiful!

Tonight's dinner was both inspired by my craving for my favorite Chinese food [[beef + broccoli]] and a recent recipe I saw in Cooking Light. 

Sando's Sesame Stir-Fry

[using my short-cuts you can have this prepared and on the table in 20mins. seriously.]

Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp minced ginger
• 1 tbsp chili garlic sauce
• 2 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tbsp honey
• 1 tbsp toasted sesame oil
• 1 tbsp EVOO
• 1 lb pre-sliced beef [flank or skirt steak work best]
• 8 green onions, cut into 1 inch pieces [white and light green parts only]
• 1 bag frozen broccoli florets, steamed
• 1 tbsp sesame seeds

Directions:

1. Combine first 5 ingredients in a small bowl. 
2. Heat EVOO in large pan [or wok] over high heat.
3. Add beef to pan. Cook until desired temperature. [about 3 mins for med.rare]
4. Remove beef from pan.
5. Add onions and steamed broccoli. Cook for about 3 more minutes.
6. Add beef back to pan. Pour soy sauce mixture and toss. 
7. Turn off heat and let simmer. 
8. Serve alone or over Uncle Ben's 90-second Jasmine rice. [yummy!!]  
9. Sprinkle with sesame seeds. 

yeah. it was good!!!