Side Salad Dinner

Like summer tapas. 

The possibilities are endless, here are a few to get you started. 

Brussels Sprouts with Dried Cherries and Pistachios

Brussels Sprouts

Olive Oil

Balsamic Vinegar

Dried Cherries

Pistachios

Coat the Brussels sprouts  with olive oil and roast at 425 for 10 minutes. Toss with remaining ingredients.

 

Sesame Cucumber Salad

Cucumbers (thinly sliced

Sesame Seeds

Sesame Oil

Truffle Salt

Toss all ingredients 

 

Sweet Potato Quinoa Salad

Quinoa 
Sweet Potato
Chicken Broth
Cinnamon
Honey
Put desired amount of quinoa and chopped sweet potato in a pot add chicken broth until covered. Bring to boil and cook until quinoa is sprouted and sweet potato is soft. Drizzle with honey and cinnamon to taste. Serve hot.

 

If you have enough of them who needs a main dish?

March Against Monstanto!!

http://www.march-against-monsanto.com

Ok so I'm going to get a little bit political here, but this is important stuff concerning our food supply and the future of our food.  

I assume (but may be very incorrect) that most people know of the company Monsanto? 


Why march? Why pick on Monsanto?

• Research studies have shown that Monsanto’s genetically-modified foods can lead to serious health conditions such as the development of cancer tumors, infertility and birth defects.
• In the United States, the FDA, the agency tasked with ensuring food safety for the population, is steered by ex-Monsanto executives, and we feel that’s a questionable conflict of interests and explains the lack of government-led research on the long-term effects of GM products.
• Recently, the U.S. Congress and president collectively passed the nicknamed “Monsanto Protection Act” that, among other things, bans courts from halting the sale of Monsanto’s genetically-modified seeds.
• For too long, Monsanto has been the benefactor of corporate subsidies and political favoritism. Organic and small farmers suffer losses while Monsanto continues to forge its monopoly over the world’s food supply, including exclusive patenting rights over seeds and genetic makeup.
• Monsanto's GM seeds are harmful to the environment; for example, scientists have indicated they have contributed to Colony Collapse Disorder among the world's bee population.

What else can you do if you can't march tomorrow?

Support Community Agriculture such as farmer's markets, local produce delivery and food co-ops. 

Plant a Garden-Don't have space? Vertical gardening, community gardens and box gardens are great options. 

Support Alternative Media- The mainstream media controls 95% of the information  that we see, from television to newspapers, to magazines.

Activism can start with very small daily choices!!

Happy Memorial Weekend, Bretta =))

Mini caprese salad

It is almost tomato season here. 

Yeah!!!

If you have had fresh from the garden tomatoes I don't need to say anymore. 

If you haven't, you should. 

Heirloom tomatoes are far superior, in my oh so humble opinion. 

If you don't know about heirloom tomatoes, you should do some research and try them out. Absolutely worth it. 

Here are a couple sites to get you started. 

This one.  

Or this one.  

 

I know they taste like candy on their own, but I can't very well put heirloom tomatoes down as a recipe.

Or can't I?

Heirloom Tomatoes

Heirloom Tomatoes

Eat them. 

Ok I can put it down as a recipe.  

But it sucks. 

So here is a ever so slightly more involved one.  

And much fancier sounding. 

Which can earn you points when bringing things places or cook for guests. 

Or discerning family members.

Mini Caprese Salad

Mini Heirloom Tomatoes

Fresh Mozzarella Cheese

Rosemary Olive Oil

High Quality Finishing Salt

Hot Sauce (optional) I use Trader Joe's brand sriracha sauce. So good on so many things.

Layer all ingredients into bite size piles. 

Enjoy!

Avocado Toast =)

I can't take credit for this delicious breakfast or lunch treat....this from the menu of our amazing local coffee shop Java on Sherman! We love eating it at Java and making it on our home turf. 

Avocado Toast Recipe:

2 pieces of whole wheat toast
1 Tablespoon butter
1 avocado
Salt and pepper

Toast bread to a light golden brown and spread generously with butter. Lay slices of avocado over toasted bread then salt and pepper to taste (I love lots of pepper for this recipe!). 

This is a close friend to Grandpa's Favorite Sandwich posted in April by Erin, so you know if must be a hit if both families love it! 

Green Goodness, 
Bretta

Kale Breakfast Pizza

If I get kale in the meal I feel like I've done some simple form of nutrition which will make everything else ok. 

I made this the other day and it was a huge hit. 

But really, how can you go wrong with pizza for breakfast? I used a Trader Joe's   whole wheat pizza dough but, as always, you could make your own. 

Kale Breakfast Pizza

Pizza Dough

Rosemary Olive Oil

Kale

Shredded Cheese

Scrambled Eggs

Lightly spread olive oil on crust, heap with kale and a light sprinkling of cheese. 

Cook at 550 or as high as your oven will go for 3-5 minutes. 

In the meantime slightly scramble eggs on stove, not fully cooked but starting to form. 

Take pizza out and top with scrambled eggs and another sprinkling of cheese. 

Bake again until brown and bubbly. 

 

Popeye Was Right =)

SPINACH ROCKS!!! I use spinach in everything! Salads, soups, eggs, chili, pancakes, smoothies, whatever I can cram the green stuff in without too much notice. 

After the family has had its fill with fresh spinach, I freeze the rest!  I have found this is the easiest way to use it daily.  If you chop it right out of the freezer, it can be as small as an herb in a few minutes. 

I think spinach has a mild enough flavor that most people don't even notice the extra added gem except for the color! The Irish would agree more green the better. =))

I am what I am, 
Bretta