Suchanobrainer! This

Black Bean and Corn Salad

Each week I ask myself what I'll do with our CSA drop. Last week we had an abundance of corn and some left over from the week before. We got tired of corn on the cob and I needed a good way to go through the cobs, so I tried this recipe. I also boiled all of our corn and have it in the fridge on stand-by for the next batch. If I don't use I'll cut off the cob and freeze.



This recipe is EXCELLENT!! I changed a few things:

• added two avocados
• omitted the cayenne (my mom was in town and doesn't like spicy stuff)
• used half the salt
• added extra lime juice using about two fresh limes  - it's a must to use fresh limes
• Next time I'm going to add Mango and think this would be the perfect addition

The best part about this salad is it's versatility. You can eat it as is, as a dip with some tortilla chips, throw some in a burrito or taco. Throw in some romaine (a great chance to also use up your chard and kale) add some cheese and sour cream and voila you've got yourself a Chipotle burrito bowl!

If you are a meat eater, I'd bake up some Tilapia and just before it was finished would add heaping spoonfuls of the mixture. You could use this mix with chicken or pork.. the options are endless.

This will definitely be a constant in our fridge for the remainder of the summer. Enjoy!

Dal Soup

One of my favorite new cooking shows to nap to is the Spice Goddess. She prepares easy, healthy Indian dishes that take about 30 minutes or less - can not go wrong with that. Made this one today, was so delish with warm Naan.

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  2 tablespoons grapeseed oil or olive oil
  1 tablespoon chopped fresh garlic 
     (I used 5 large cloves chopped)
  2 tablespoons garam masala
  1 tablespoon cumin seeds
  1 teaspoon turmeric
  1 cup chopped tomatoes
  1 cup brown lentils
  5 cups water (I used 6 since I added the bouillon base)
    * I also added one tablespoon of Better Than Bouillon -  Vegetable Base 
• Pinch salt and freshly ground black pepper
• Few fresh cilantro sprigs, for garnish

Heat the oil in a skillet over medium-high heat until it begins to get hot. Add the garlic, garam masala, cumin seeds, and turmeric and cook for 20 seconds. Add the tomatoes and cook for 2 minutes. Add the lentils and water and bring to a boil. Turn the heat to low and cook until the lentils are tender, about 30 minutes. Serve in a bowl and garnish with fresh cilantro sprigs.

Mango Guacamole - So Good!

We always cruise the salsa and guacamole at Whole Foods before picking up our produce. I thought I'd grab a container of the mango guac until I saw the price, $6.00. Seriously? 6 bucks for a small teeny container of mango guacamole, come on!!

I refuse to pay that for something I could watch Anthony take down in 3 bites (he could too). I made my own version tonight, I just took the ingredient list from their package and went from there. Tastes the same to me (probably better) and at a fraction of the cost , and enough for the entire family!

3 Avocados
2 On the Vine Tomatoes
1 Mango
1 Lime Juiced
Cilantro - to taste
Kosher / Sea Salt - to taste

Mash the avocados with a fork (I like mine a bit chunky). Dice tomatoes and mango, throw in. Squeeze in lime juice. Mix. Add cilantro and salt to taste. Mix and chill. Serve with the Red Hot Blues by Garden of Eden for a lil spice.

Pfff.. 6 bucks

Watermelon Sorbet - No Maker Needed!

I found a few tricks to being prego and happy over the summer; make sure to stay active, fit and most importantly.. cool. Air conditioning doesn't always do the trick for me and I find that I have to chill from the inside out. I also scored a "new" ice cream making while garage sale-ing one weekend and ventured into ice cream making. Most ice cream recipes are rich, heavy and loaded with sugar and fat, not exactly what I'm looking for in this heat. Don't get me wrong, a scoop here or there is marvelous, just not something that I want to weigh down with during a hot summer day. Thus began my quest for sugar free, healthy alternatives. I stumbled across this blog and the Sugar Free Watermelon Sorbet recipe and haven't stopped making it.

I currently have 3 ziploc bags of chopped watermelon hanging out in the freezer so that I can make this in a jiffy, trust me, once you try this you will too!

This is the most refreshing, perfectly sweet sorbet and of course super easy to make. Enjoy!

(I use 1/2 the amount of honey and if I use Agave a bit less than what's listed)

http://www.nourishingmeals.com/2009/08/sugar-free-watermelon-sorbet.html

Matcha Green Tea Smoothie

I stumbled upon this recipe in my quest for all things cold and chilly to consume. I can handle being 8 months prego in this weather as long as I have something cold to eat or am dunked in water (or both). Being cooped up inside with windows closed and the AC on makes me feel all, well, cooped up.

I digress, back to Matcha - who knew, maybe you did? New to me... Here's some info on the health benefits and here's a nice lil recipe for a quick good-for-you smoothie.

I didn't change much, added another 1/2 banana and 4 strawberries, used 1/2 organic whole milk and 1/2 almond milk. I see green tea ice cream in my future! Enjoy!

Click for recipe

Easy Cheese Danish Baby!

With being laid off and prego, Dominic and I have been kickin' it. Our schedules have been to wake, eat, whip up something to pack, hop on the bike and we're off by 9:30 am running errands and enjoying the great outdoors. We eventually land at the beach, have a quick picnic, swim and soak in the sun.

By the time we head home, Dom is wiped out (me too). Upon reaching our front door, he's fast asleep - I sneakily bring him to his bed and rest on the couch for a good ol' fashion nap (pretty heavenly I must say)!

The point of my story is.. I've been DVR'ing the Barefoot Contessa. I originally started taping her b/c her voice is soothing with minimal excitement. It's easy to nap too (so is golf). Whilst I was drifting off into a sweet afternoon slumber, the Contessa hit me up with a Cheese Danish recipe. I didn't think much of it and nodded off. I'm convinced that her voice, her monotone soothing chatter of the cheese danish and all of its delights, made it into my dreams, spun around a bit in my head and began this ridiculous craving that I had for one.

With my brother and his girlfriend in town, it was a perfect excuse to make them and OHHHH are they wonderful!! I didn't change a thing. They are the easiest thing I think I've ever made and most excellent right out of the oven with a cup of coffee.

Enjoy!!!

p.s. I took this pic right as they came out of the oven, they're pretty too!

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/easy-cheese-danish-recipe/index.html