San-J Sauces

When this packaged arrived from San-J I couldn't contain my excitement. 3 delicious gluten free sauces and a tote bag! and a basting brush! and a cutting board! and the best, a mini USB in the shape of a tamari sauce bottle!  How cool is this company!?

Needless to say I couldn't wait to dive in.  All three of the sauces I cooked with are gluten free certified and non-gmo verified.  They all come with suggestions on the bottle as to what pairs best with each sauce.

I used the Mongolian sauce to make a quick chicken stir-fry with broccoli and green beans over rice. It was so nice to have a sauce waiting for me in the pantry.  It meant I didn't need to get out all the measuring cups and spoons and assemble ingredients which is a total life saver on a weeknight.

The Thai peanut sauce went great with shrimp; the sauce has a little kick to it.  I made shrimp avocado burritos with mixed greens and cilantro lime rice.  I also used this as a dipping sauce later in the week for chicken spring rolls.

I used the orange sauce for a steak and mixed vegetable ramen noodle bowl.  I stir fried the steak and veggies in the orange sauce then tossed in the cooked noodles and topped it all with a hearty shake of sesame seeds.

I am so excited to have these sauces in my condiment stash right now.  I can't wait to continue to use them to add great flavor to more meals.

I received this product for free from Moms Meet (momsmeet.com), May Media Group LLC, who received it directly from the manufacturer. As a Moms Meet blogger, I agree to use this product and post my honest opinion on my blog. The opinions posted are my own.

Zucchini Parmesan Sliders

These zucchini parmesan sliders will revolutionize your game day snacking this football season.  Since it involves a vegetable you can pretend this is a healthy alternative.  Sure it's breaded, fried, covered with cheese, and on a bun, but it's zucchini! So yea....totally healthy.

Zucchini Parmesan Sliders

Ingredients
1 zucchini, cut into 12 1/2 in rounds
1 cup bread crumbs
1 cup flour
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
1 egg
12 dinner rolls
1 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella (I just cut slices off a block)
1 cup marinara sauce
12 basil leaves
salt and pepper

1. Get all set up with flour in one bowl, then a bowl for bread crumbs and Parmesan, then one more for the egg, beaten.  Coat the zucchini in flour, then egg, then bread crumbs.
2. Heat some oil in a skillet over medium-high heat and cook zucchini 2-3 minutes on each side.
3. Preheat broiler.  Take the bottom half of your rolls and the top half of the rolls and place them on 2 separate baking sheets.  Top each half with some cheese and sauce.  Put zucchini rounds on the bottom bun.  Place a basil leaf on the top halves.  Place baking sheets under the broiler until cheese is melted.

 These. Were. So. Damn. Good.

Eggplant Wrapped Ricotta Gnocchi

It's vacation time! That means Ottolenghi get's pulled of the shelf.  This is one of those recipes that you make when you have the day off.

Eggplant Wrapped Ricotta Gnocchi
Adapted from Ottolenghi

Ingredients
1 cup ricotta
2 egg yolks
4 1/2 tbsp flour
1 1/2 oz grated Parmesan cheese
1 tbsp chopped parsley
1 tbsp chopped basil
1/4 tsp grated nutmeg
1/2 tsp salt
pepper

1 small/medium eggplant
1/2 cup olive oil

1 stick butter
20 sage leaves, chopped

1. Mix first set of ingredients in a bowl and let set in the fridge for at least 4 hours or overnight.
2. Trim the top and bottom off the eggplant. Thinly slice eggplant lengthwise, about 1/4 inch slices. You will need about 8-12 slices to wrap your gnocchi.
3. Lay eggplant on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.  Brush eggplant with olive oil and bake at 350 for 10-15 minutes.
4. Now we make the gnocchi!  Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Wet your hands and make gnocchi about 3 tablespoons large and sort of a barrel shape.  Carefully drop dumplings into water and cook until they float to the top.  Use a slotted spoon to remove gnocchi from the pot.  Place on paper towel lined plate to drain excess water. Brush with remaining olive oil.
5. Once eggplant and gnocchi are cooled, wrap each gnocchi with a strip of eggplant.  Place in a small greased casserole dish. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and bake at 350 for 8-10 minutes.
6. In a small saucepan melt butter with sage leaves and salt (if using unsalted butter).  Pour butter over cooked eggplant wrapped gnocchi.

This is a lovely and delicate meal.  It's definitely not going to feed a crowd like my usual recipes so just keep that in mind.  This is a great romantic meal for 2.

I love making fancy lil meals on my vacation! Victory!

Lasagna Burger

It is still technically summer for another couple of days so I thought I could throw one more burger recipe your way.  I was pretty psyched about sharing this lasagna burger recipe with you guys because...well...obviously lasagna + burger = heaven.

Lasagna Burgers

Ingredients
burger patties
mozzarella
ricotta
fresh basil
marinara sauce
butter
garlic powder
Italian seasonings
burger buns

1. Butter your buns and season with garlic powder and Italian seasonings.
2. Grill burgers to your liking, melt mozzarella on top for the last few minutes. Toast buns on grill.
3. To assemble: spread ricotta on bottom bun, top with burger and torn basil leaves, spread sauce on top bun and devour!

Seriously there is no way you aren't drooling.  Just go make this for dinner. Now!

Yes, it is every bit as delicious as it sounds and looks.  Why are you still sitting here reading this when you could be eating a lasagna burger!?

Vegetable Baked Ziti

I know, again with the zucchini!  But let me tell you I had 2 zucchini that were so massive they made multiple dishes.  I still have 1/3 of a zucchini in the fridge that I haven't decided what I'm doing with yet.  Any suggestions?

Remember when I said I couldn't stop buying corn?  Yep, here it is again.

Vegetable Baked Ziti

Ingredients

1 lb pasta, ziti perhaps?

1 cup ricotta

2 cups mozzarella cheese, grated

1 cup grated parmesan cheese

4 cups tomato sauce 

2 ears of corn, for the kernals

2 cups zucchini

2 cups kale

2 tbsp oil

salt and pepper

1. Bring a pot of water to boil, cook pasta according to package directions.

2. Preheat oven to 350. Heat oil in a large saute pan, add vegetables and cook until vegetables are tender.

3. Mix ricotta, 1 cup of mozzarella, parmesan cheese, salt and pepper in a large bowl. Add in pasta, vegetables, and tomato sauce. Dump it all into a 13x9 in pan.  Top with remaining mozzarella cheese.  Bake for 20 minutes until cheese is melted.

If you put enough vegetables in your cheese-carb pan, you can feel a little better about yourself.  Enjoy!

Zucchini Oatmeal Coconut Chocolate Chip Cookies

I tried to shorten the name of these cookies, but I just needed you to know all the fun stuff that's waiting inside!

Zucchini Oatmeal Coconut Chocolate Chip Cookies
From Two Peas and Their Pod

Ingredients
1 cup flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
4 tbsp vegetable oil
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup shredded zucchini
2 cups old fashioned oats
1/2 cup coconut flakes
3/4 cup chocolate chips

1.  Preheat oven to 350.  Combine oil and sugars until smooth add egg and vanilla.  Slowly add in flour, baking soda, and salt. Fold in zucchini, oats, coconut, and chocolate chips.
2.  Drop heaping tablespoons of dough 2 inches apart on a parchment (or silpat) lined baking sheet.
3.  Bake 10-12 minutes until golden around the edges. Cool on wire racks.

The zucchini makes these cookies extra moist and chewy which is just the best way a cookie can be.

You can totally eat these cookies for breakfast because hello, vegetables and oats, totally a great way to start your day.

Grilled Pork Burgers

These zesty burgers have bacon inside! Bacon! Inside the burger! Yea, get excited because there are some chilies in there too along with fancy cheese on top.

Grilled Pork Burgers
Adapted from Food52

Ingredients
1 1/2 tsp cumin
3 tbsp olive oil
1/2 cup diced onion
1 tbsp minced garlic
1 tbsp thyme leaves
1 tbsp diced green chilies
2 lb ground pork
3 oz smoked bacon, chopped
2 tbsp chopped parsley
6 slices Manchego cheese
burger buns

1. Heat oil in a small pan, cook onions until softened.  Add chilies, garlic, thyme, cumin, and salt and pepper. Cook until another minute or 2.  Set aside to cool.
2. In a large bowl mix pork, bacon, cooled onion mixture, parsley, and salt and pepper.  Portion into 6 oz burgers,  I was able to make 6 because my pork packages were a little bigger than 1 lb each.
3.  Grill burgers 3-4 minutes on each side.  Top with Manchego cheese and grill until melted. Toast up those buns and eat up!

This is a really tasty alternative to your run of the mill burger that you probably need a break from by the summer's end anyway.

Miso Sesame Farro Salad

Want to bring something to your Labor Day BBQ that isn't covered in mayonnaise or riddled with bacon bits?

I've got you covered.

Miso Sesame Farro Salad

Ingredients
1 tbsp sesame seeds
2 tbsp miso paste
2 tbsp sesame oil
1/2 cup rice vinegar
6 tbsp vegetable oil
2 tsp honey
salt

8.8 oz uncooked farro (I used this package from Trader Joe's)
1 cup shredded carrot
1 cup shredded zucchini
1 cup greens, sliced thinly (I used a kale/spinach combo)
sesame seeds for garnish

1. Whisk first set of ingredients in a bowl or large measuring cup to make the dressing.
2. Cook farro according to package directions. Drain and allow to cool for a bit.
3. Mix cooled farro, vegetables, and dressing in a large bowl.

This is such a tasty and healthy alternative to the usual BBQ fare.

I was so excited to try farro for the first time!  If you haven't tried it yet it's super simple to prepare (at least the bag I got at Trader Joe's was) and has a nice nutty flavor and texture to it.