Archive for ‘Side Dish’

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November 26, 2012

Trottin’ Like Turkeys

I didn’t really know what to expect this Thanksgiving but after my conductor gobbled at EVERY stop on my train ride back to Connecticut, I had a good feeling. (No, I was not able to nap because of his outlandish noises but I give the guy credit for being all festive I guess.) After years of putting on the hoopla for my grandmother and uncle’s sake, my parents, sister and I didn’t really know what to make of the holiday without them. We originally planned on going north to Vermont, avoiding tradition altogether, when our good friends–or should I just call them family at this point–invited us to join them for dinner. It was pretty perfect and after my dad being sick and all, it was nice to not have the added stress the holiday can present. Plus, since we stayed local, I was able to run in the annual Turkey Trot with my favorite running pal! Doesn’t get much better than that. 

With my half so close (one week from today…ahhhh!) and Mandi training for one, as well, we decided to turn the five mile race into 10. You know those crazy people running to the race? That was us. Surprisingly enough, it was a great idea. It felt good to get such a nice warm-up in before getting our Turkey Trot on and as Mandi put it, pushing through the last five with so many people around kept us moving toward that finish line. I mean, everyone from our towns were there, we didn’t want to embarrass ourselves after all. All of that running lent for a guilt-free Thanksgiving, which was two plates full of turkey, slaw and roasted veggies for me! My simple, seasonal broccoli slaw salad was awesome, if I do say so myself (recipe below). The perfect crunch to pair with the whole turkey and mashed potato bit with a sweet tang from chopped apple chunks and the occasional dried cranberry…I may have singlehandedly ate half of that bowl. 

Ingredients
12-ounce package of broccoli slaw
1 Granny Smith apple, chopped
1 carrot, shredded
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup walnuts, chopped
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 Stevia packet
Salt and pepper, to taste

Since my family loves leftovers–who doesn’t!–we ended up making our own bird and a few favorite side dishes the following night. It was weird not having Mike around to devour a plate or two of grub with me. The man I’m most thankful for couldn’t celebrate this year because of work (stupid football!) but don’t you worry, I brought him back a huge container of his favorite Thanksgiving things to show him how grateful I am to have him. I mean, come on, no Thanksgiving? That’s just plain wrong and he deserved some turkey. As you can see, the slaw made another appearance. You know a recipe is good when you make it two days in a row. Oh and in my opinion, avocado trumps gravy any day. Yum!

I have so much to be thankful for this year although, as you know, it’s been a bit of a crazy one. It was a bit strange not having Grandma Ginger and Uncle Ricky across from me Thursday night, but as I toasted to all that I am thankful for and clinked my wine glass with my dad, I couldn’t help but focus on the positive. I’m living in arguably the best city on Earth with the guy I fell in love with when I was 17-years-old. I have a dream of a job that I look forward to every single day. I am surrounded by the most incredible, supportive friends and family anyone could ask for. After quite the scare, my dad is well and even starting to run again. I cannot wait to jog alongside him as I compete in my second half marathon. Let the carboloading begin!
What dish did you contribute to your Thanksgiving dinner?

Sprinkled with Love,
Lauren

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November 18, 2012

Another Chili Recipe…With a Pumpkin Twist

There’s nothing better than a big bowl of chili to accompany football watching (/noshing) on a cold Sunday afternoon. Hearty, delicious and beyond easy to make. One batch, dinner for a week. Or if you live with two boys, like me, a meal and a half total. Tops. Let’s just say Mike isn’t shy when it comes to seconds or thirds of this stuff and I don’t blame him. Although I’m a fan of old-fashioned chili, I wanted to add a little pizazz to the norm so experimented with pumpkin. I couldn’t help but think–or should I say dream–of this warm concoction during my Tough Mudder a few weeks back so after completing all of those obstacles, I tackled this kitchen feat. It hit the spot. I was cold and knew a hefty serving of spicy goodness would do me well, heating me up from the inside out and lending a hand in my recovery. Protein, check. Carbs, check. Veggie-packed sweetness with a kick of jalapeño…check, check and check. Adding pumpkin for depth and texture was a fabulous idea, if I do say so myself. Watch out, healthy chili recipes! This one will knock your socks off.

Ingredients
1 small yellow onion
2 green bell peppers
1 small jalapeño
2 Roma tomatoes
1.5 pounds ground turkey
28 oz. can of tomato purée
15 oz. can of pumpkin purée
1 cup dried black beans (soaked and cooked)
1 large garlic clove
1 cup frozen corn
1 cup water
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
Salt and pepper to taste
Dash of cinnamon and cayenne pepper
Sliced avocado to top, duh.

In a large pot, heat a tablespoon or so of olive oil over medium heat. Chop up and toss the onion, bell peppers, jalapeño, tomatoes and garlic into the pot. Stir until the onion is cooked through before mixing in the turkey. Once the turkey is browned, add pumpkin, tomato purée and water. Bring to a boil, combining beans, corn and spices. Simmer for 15-30 minutes and serve. Yep, it’s that simple. Want to add in other veggies? Go for it! Remember this recipe? I like chili. Can you tell? Warning: leftovers are just plain amazing.
What’s your twist on the traditional chili recipe?

Sprinkled with Love,
Lauren

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September 11, 2012

Southwestern Shredded Chicken Salad

I’ve been embracing my domestic side, as you may of noticed. Last week, I was craving a Southwestern-style chopped salad for dinner and threw together this flavorful meal in no time at all. Not only did it satisfy my taste buds’ yearning for something spicy, it also filled me and Mike up with two meals-worth remaining for leftovers! Talk about a two-for-one deal, or should I say two-for-two? I don’t know what was better, the look on Mike’s face when he came home from a long day of work with this meal set up on our balcony (with a side of cut up watermelon–our favorite!) or having this protein-packed bagged lunch the following two days. I’ll settle for a tie.

Ingredients
1/2 jalapeño
1 plump tomato
1 large carrot
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
1 red bell pepper
1/2 teaspoon minced onion flakes
1/2 teaspoon cumin
2 cloves of garlic
1/2 cup of dry black beans, soaked
3/4 lb of chicken cutlets
2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
Dash of cayenne pepper and paprika
Coconut oil to cook the chicken and drizzle over salad
Ground pepper, sea salt (or liquid aminos/nooch!) to taste

To start off, let me explain my reasoning for the dried black beans. They are cheap. Plus, by refraining from the easy, peasy canned version, you save yourself from all that added sodium. I also think they taste BETTER, more organic and natural! Simply follow the instructions and prep them in big batches to add a punch of protein to your favorite soups, salads, etc. (Get ready because on my post-grad, newly-employed-but-still-relying-on-my-parents-to-be-fed budget this whole “affordable” theme will remain consistent on da blog…embrace it.)

Back to the recipe. I started by cooking the chicken breasts in a coconut oiled pan and one clove of minced garlic.Would it have tasted better and more flavorful if I had marinated the chicken? Obviously but who has time for that? Not me that night but in my defense, the coconut oil and garlic worked swimmingly with the cilantro and spiciness later on. Ok I’m getting ahead of myself…

While the chicken is cooking, shred your carrot, chop up the cilantro, garlic and jalapeño and dice the red pepper and tomato. Drain the beans and combine all the ingredients in a large bowl. When the chicken is done, shred it with your hands and add in the spices–cumin, minced onion, cayenne pepper for more heat, salt/pepper, etc. I then drizzled a little extra coconut oil, alongside the apple cider vinegar (both have amazing nutritional benefits!) over the salad before chilling in the fridge/serving. 

This photo kills me. Sometimes a photo really is worth a thousand words! Mike was hungry so getting him to sit still and look at the camera for all of five seconds was no easy feat. I also reminded him to chew his food, not inhale it…ahem, twice. I feel like I’m talking about a toddler. I swear he is 24-years-old, not four.

Sprinkled with Love,
Lauren

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July 6, 2012

Summer Quinoa Salad with Jicama and Black Eyed Peas

Happy belated 4th of July! I had all intentions of posting this last night, however Mike and I decided to go see Ted instead. Oops! If it’s any consolation, the movie was hilarious. Anyway, I hope you stuffed yourself with borderline too much grilled cuisine, sported lots of red, white and blue and, of course, enjoyed some good fireworks to celebrate our great country’s birthday. I certainly did, with the exception that I wore pink instead of red (I can honestly day I do not own a single article of clothing that is red…not a fan) and my town firework show was nothing to write home about. Regardless, it was still a relaxing cheat day for me—the annual parade took priority over gym time—and I lent a hand with some of the tasty, healthy cuisine at my family party. Shrimp kabobs, guacamole and a summer quinoa salad to name a few. 

Ingredients
1 cup uncooked quinoa
1 red bell pepper
1 large tomato
1/2 of a jicama
1 can of black eyed peas, rinsed and drained
1/2 loosely packed cup of basil
Juice of one lemon
Drizzle of olive oil
1 tablespoon red wine vinegarCayenne pepper, black pepper and sea salt to taste

I love making different renditions of a light, cold quinoa dish for summer parties (remember my grad party?). It’s a versatile side that pairs wonderfully with burgers, grilled veggies and the like, but also tastes great on top of a bed of greens as leftovers. After snagging a jicama the other day at Whole Foods, I wanted to let the sweet crispness shine and think this salad allowed just that. Start by cooking the quinoa, following the directions on the box. Typically you bring two cups of water to a boil, add in the cup of quinoa, reduce the heat and cover until the water is fully absorbed. While that is cooking, get started on chopping the tomato, bell pepper, jicama and basil. Combine in a large bowl. Open a can of black eyed peas, thoroughly rinse and drain before adding them to the veggies. Once the quinoa is done and cooled, add that to the mix.

Now for the dressing. Squeeze the juice from one lemon (add a little zest, too, while you’re at it), drizzle a little olive oil, alongside the red wine vinegar, over the salad. Mix thoroughly. Season with salt, cayenne and cracked black pepper. Cover and chill before serving. Clean, light and refreshing, yet filling. Perfect for a hot summer day! This may be my new go-to beach food.
What was your favorite 4th of July dish? 

Sprinkled with Love,
Lauren

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July 3, 2012

Cauliflower-Crusted White Pizza

Long before I made the decision to go gluten-free, I came across a cauliflower pizza crust recipe. I was intrigued, loving the idea of a thin, crispy crust without the carbs or guilt and I, of course, pinned it right away for future reference. Earlier this summer, I finally got around to tackling the recipe with my foodie/fitness side-kick, Amanda, and let me tell you, it was out of this world. We made it dairy-free with a “white sauce” (a variation seen here) out of cannellini beans, roasted tomatoes, garlic and fresh herbs. Then, to amp up the veggie content/overall “wow” factor, we topped it with sweet caramelized onions and thinly sliced eggplant.

Crust Ingredients
(Inspired by Eat. Drink. Smile.)
2 cups cooked, riced cauliflower
2 beaten eggs
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
Crushed red pepper and a pinch of salt

To start, shred roughly half a large head of cauliflower by cutting the florets into large chunks and pulsing in a food processor. Don’t over pulse or it will end up pureed! Transfer the riced cauliflower into a microwave-safe bowl and pop it in the microwave for 8 minutes or so. While that’s cooking, spray a large cookie sheet or pizza pan with cooking spray and preheat the oven to 450°F. We used a Silpat, one of my new favorite kitchen accessories, so there was no grease necessary or mess to clean up! If you’re a roasting fiend like me, you need one!

Allow the cauliflower meal to cool before combining with the egg and spices. If you feel inclined, you may add your favorite shredded cheese but because of my sensitivity, we skipped out on the dairy. Once the mixture is ready, spread it evenly on your pan into your desired shape. Lightly spray the crust before baking so it will get crispy and place in the oven for about 15 minutes.

When the crust is golden brown, remove it from the oven and get creative with your toppings! Our roasted eggplant disks with caramelized onions and bean paste was two thumbs up but I would love to experiment next time. And there will be a next time, trust me. What about a Mexican twist with a homemade, chunky salsa, corn, black beans, roasted hot peppers and ground turkey? Or how does a wilted arugula salad-topped pizza sound with a balsamic reduction? I’m curious if I could easily make a gluten-free pie crust out of this concept. Mmm…this will not be the last time you see a cauliflower-crusted pizza recipe up here. Return the pizza to the oven under a broiler for 5 minutes (or less if you’re not cheese). Time to dig in. No need to keep track of how many slices you eat here! PS: This recipe could easily be used to make pizza popper appetizers! How cute and bikini-conscious of a host are you?
Have you ever made cauliflower crust? Thoughts?

Sprinkled with Love,
Lauren

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June 27, 2012

Cannellini Bean “White Sauce”

Guess what just happened? Something big. HUGE. Something my dad and I have been talking about for years now. On December 2, I will be participating in the Strip at Night Half Marathon! We officially signed up (and payed the pricy fee…) over breakfast this morning. I cannot be more excited. With the start outside of Mandalay Bay, finish at The Mirage and live bands rocking out alongside the entire course, could there be anything more exciting? Oh yeah, I should also mention people getting hitched mid-race, the plethora of running Elvises on top of the usual strip chaos and the fact that it will be just 14 days before I turn 23. Woah. I’m giddy to have another goal to work toward. And, I mean, come on, Vegas? I feel like a screaming teenybopper watching a Justin Bieber concert. My dad’s commitment, after all he’s recently been through, is so inspiring. Although he doesn’t think he’ll be able to complete the full 13.1 (he’s done this Vegas race twice before), just running the first few miles side-by-side with him will make me happy.   

Moving on. Last night I waited for Amanda to get out of work and headed to the gym so we could complete a quick arm circuit together. She then surprised my family with a wonderful meal of ground turkey stuffed peppers and a chickpea salad. Isn’t that just the sweetest? I hope to snag her recipes to share with you all soon. In the meantime, however, I wanted to give you a peak at my cannellini bean “white sauce.” Amanda and I put together a similar sauce a few weeks back for our cauliflower crust so I wanted to give you the recipe before I post our pizza. It’s a cinch. In a food processor simply pulse together (to your desired consistency) a can of cannellini beans, 1/2 cup fresh basil, 1/2 cup fresh parsley, 2 roasted garlic cloves, a small roasted tomato and a tablespoon of olive oil. Season with a little salt and pepper. DONE. How easy is that? I cooked up a spaghetti squash the other night for dinner, mixed in some of the “white sauce” and topped it with some roasted asparagus, as well as a sprinkle of nooch. It was glorious. I put the leftover sauce in the fridge, which has created a delightful hummus-like veggie dipper. What a pleasant surprise.
Do you have a dream race you’ve been wanting to complete?

Sprinkled with Love,
Lauren

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May 14, 2012

Tequila Lime Shrimp and Quinoa Black Bean & Grilled Corn Salad

Ok, so I got sidetracked with the two recipes I promised you all last week! I’ve been lollygagging ever since graduation (post tomorrow on that!). Oops? Don’t hate…I’m getting used to life as an unemployed, recent grad. Here you go:

Tequila Lime Shrimp
3 garlic cloves
1 jalapeño
1/4 cup tequila
1/2 red bell pepper, chopped
1/2 cup lime juice (and zest)
1/4 cup cilantro, chopped
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 tablespoon chili powder
2 pounds of shrimp, shelled and deveined

Directions: Similar to the chicken from my last post, I marinaded these babies overnight to ensure a powerful punch of flavor and boy, did they deliver! Every last shrimp was snarfed down in a matter of minutes. So let’s get started. After removing the shells and veins, place the shrimp in a large resealable plastic bag with all the ingredients EXCEPT for the lime juice—the acidity will actually start cooking them so wait to add that until right before you throw it on the grill! Refrigerate for a few hours or overnight. After the shrimp have soaked up all the glorious juices, spear them onto skewers (next time I’ll be adding veggies and maybe some pineapple to the kabobs?) and place them on the grill until pink. Easy enough, right? Yum.

Quinoa Black Bean & Grilled Corn Salad
1 cup dry quinoa
3 ears of corn, grilled
2 cans black beans
1/2 cup cilantro
2 beef steak tomatoes
2 scallions1 avocado
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 teaspoons cumin
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon jalapeño, minced
Salt, pepper and lime juice to taste 

Directions: This recipe is super easy to make in advance (just add the avocado right before serving), not to mention you can basically alter it anyway you see fit for fab results. Start by cooking the quinoa and grilling your corn. Allow for the corn to cool before cutting the kernels off the husks! Roughly chop the tomatoes, fresh cilantro and scallions. Combine the cooled quinoa and corn with everything else (rinse and drain the beans, chop the veggies, mince the and jalapeño, etc.). Serve cold. Don’t forget to add in the avocado! The lime should keep it from browning after serving.

Can’t wait to recreate these!

Sprinkled with Love,
Lauren

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August 3, 2011

Yep, Another Salad Recipe Coming At Ya!

So I bet you’re probably getting sick of all my salad posts right about now. I’m sorry…I really am but when the humidity is so thick you can cut the air with a knife, the only thing that gets my taste buds goin’ are crisp greens. Why not soak up all the fresh ingredients you can get while they are in season, right? While skimming through the recipes on one of my favorite blogs, With Style & Grace, I came across this Chickpea and Basil Salad and stopped dead in my tracks. You all know by now that I adore chickpeas. Add in my favorite herb, basil, and you’ve got yourself a winner in my book. So needless to say, I made it (with minor changes) shortly after my discovery, spooned some over mixed greens and loved it. Best thing about it? It is ridiculously easy. Perfect after a rough day of lounging by a pool…

Ingredients
1 can of chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1/2 a carton of cherry tomatoes, halved
1 english cucumber, quartered
1 1/2 red bell peppers, diced (1 would do just fine!)
3 scallions, diced
3 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped
Juice from 2 small lemons
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
3 tablespoons olive oil
Pinch of garlic powder, salt and pepper
Optional toppings: crumbed cheeses (i.e. goat or feta) and/or slices of avocado

The directions are super tedious so get your thinking caps on. Just kidding! All you have to do is chop, dice and cut everything up before combining it all into a large bowl. Whisk together the vinaigrette and drizzle over the veggie/bean mix. Season and let marinate before topping a salad, pasta or eating as is. Enjoy!
What’s your favorite herb?

Sprinkled with Love,
Lauren 

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July 26, 2011

Black-Eyed Pea Salad

It has been hot, hot, hot the past few days and the only things I’ve been able to eat are light salads or fruit. Not too shabby of a diet, if I do say so myself, especially since I’ve been living in a bikini! To change up my typical veggie-topped spinach salad for dinner, I decided to create my own Black-Eyed Pea Salad the other night. It was the perfect summer meal with fresh, seasonal ingredients, plus super filling!

Ingredients
3 tomatoes
3 corn on the cobs
3 cans of black-eyed peas
A bunch of green onions
1/2 of a red bell pepper
1/2 of a jalapeño
1 cucumber
1 garlic clove, minced
Juice from half of a lemon
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1/4 cup olive oil

First things first, get your grill fired up. After shucking off the husks, lightly brush each ear of corn with olive oil and place on the grill rack. (You can soak your corn for 2 to 4 hours prior to grilling if preferred. I got lazy and listened to my stomach instead of my head (oops?), although I honestly can’t tell a difference between soaked and not-soaked grilled corn.) 

While the corn gets all toasty and lightly charred, begin preparing the other ingredients. FYI: The order in which you do so doesn’t matter. Open the cans of black-eyed peas, rinse and drain thoroughly. Blot with a paper towel until dry, if necessary.

Once the corn is ready, remove it from the grill and set aside to cool down. Dice up the tomatoes and bell pepper. Slice and quarter the cucumbers. Chop the jalapeño and mince the clove of garlic.

Carefully cut the corn off the cob and combine all the ingredients together! Whisk the dressing (the red wine vinegar, lemon juice and olive oil) before drizzling over the salad. Mix everything thoroughly and chill before serving. 

As you can see, I topped mine with avocado slices! So colorful, so good. Bon appétit!
Do you get sick of the same old salad? How do you change ‘em up for a new and improved meal?

Sprinkled with Love,
Lauren

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June 28, 2011

Watermelon and Feta Salad

I have saved this post for about two weeks now and trust me when I say it’s been tough to control my excitement. Why have I waited to share with you all? To be honest, I’ve been extremely busy — is there a post I don’t complain about my schedule? I apologize, I’m trying to keep the whining to a minimum — with my little sister graduating this past weekend (more on that to come!). Between entertaining family, cleaning, lending a hand in the party preparation, etc., I had my hands full. My lame excuses aside, I knew that timing was important when delivering these gorgeous, mouth-watering photos and instructions. With festive soirées to attend this holiday weekend, a salad like this provides seasonal flavors, gorgeous colors and the nutritional benefits to keep you looking simply SMASHING in that tiny bikini. So move over plain Jane garden salads lacking pizzazz, or worse —
the caesar doused iceberg lettuce. Woman’s Day Watermelon and Feta Salad is just as delightful as it sounds. The bite of peppery arugula paired with the sweetness of ripe watermelon and salty feta makes this recipe the perfect summer dish I will be making often the next few months. 

Ingredients
Dressing:
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp white wine vinegar
Zest and juice of 1 lime
Freshly ground pepper and a pinch of kosher salt
Salad:
1/4 small red onion, thinly sliced
1-lb piece seedless watermelon (I guestimated — I love watermelon!)
1/2 English cucumber, thinly sliced and cut in half
3 cups baby arugula
3 oz feta cheese

To start, whisk together the dressing ingredients.


Slice up the red onion and add to the dressing. Set aside, occasionally mixing while you prepare the rest of the salad (for 10-15 minutes).



While those flavors combine for a light yet flavorful dressing, get your knife and cutting board ready. Thinly slice up half of the cucumber.

In a large bowl, add in the arugula and cucumber. Next, tackle the watermelon. Remove the rind and cut into inch-thick, triangular wedges. 

Snack on the funky-looking/broken pieces (insert obnoxious emoticon here). Yum! Ok, ok don’t fill up, you have a salad to eat. Moving on…add in the feta and drizzle with the dressing/onion mixture.

Gently toss and serve! So pretty…and tasty.

As you can see, judging by the shoveling of food, Mike enjoyed it! Before I head off to bed…I’m working on a Q&A page and would appreciate your input. Sprinkled with Love needs some sprucing up!
Anything you’d like to ask yours truly? Personal…food-related…fitness schtuff? Come on…don’t be scared!

Sprinkled with Love,
Lauren

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