THAI STYLE CHICKEN IN LETTUCE LEAVES - Fayetteville Pilates and Barre - recipedoodle Wednesday

My family and I loved these Chicken Lettuce "wraps".
Fresh tasting, with a delicious burst of mint, spicy ginger and cool cucumber. The flavors blended beautifully.
Placing everything out in the bowls, made it fun for the kids to put together, and even the adults enjoyed playing with their food.

THAI STYLE CHICKEN IN LETTUCE LEAVES

3 tablespoons rice vinegar
1/4 cup sugar
4 teaspoons garlic, minced
2 teaspoons crushed red pepper
1/4 cup soy sauce
2 teaspoons finely grated fresh ginger
1 1/2 teaspoons Asian sesame oil
4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts
1 cucumber, peeled and cut into 1/4 inch dice
1 red pepper, stem and seeds removed, sliced
1/4 cup mint leaves
1/4 cup cilantro leaves
2 tablespoons roasted peanuts
1 head of butter lettuce
2 tablespoons water

In a small saucepan, mix the vinegar with the sugar and cook over moderate heat, stirring, until the sugar dissolves. Add 1 teaspoon of the garlic and the crushed red pepper and let cool.
In a large bowl, mix 2 tablespoons of the sweet seasoned vinegar with the remaining 3 teaspoons of garlic and the soy sauce, ginger and sesame oil. Set aside 2 tablespoons of this soy marinade. Add the chicken and the remaining marinade in the bowl and refrigerate for at least an hour or overnight.
Heat the broiler. Remove the chicken from the marinade and let it drain, slice thinly, then broil for about 3 to 4 minutes per side until browned and cooked through. Transfer the chicken to a platter and let it rest for 5 minutes.
In a medium bowl, toss the cucumber with the remaining sweet seasoned vinegar. Put the red pepper, mint, cilantro and peanuts in separate bowls. Arrange the lettuce leaves in a basket.
Add the water to the reserved 2 tablespoons of soy marinade.
Wrap the chicken and garnishes in lettuce leaves, and pass the soy marinade and cucumber salad separately.
Enjoy!

EDAMAME SALAD and BLACK BEAN AND QUINOA SALAD and LIMA BEAN AND SPINACH SALAD

Lovely, healthy side salads - perfect for the seasonal transition.

EDAMAME SALAD

1 12 ounce bag of frozen edamame
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
2 tablespoons shredded basil leaves
2 tablespoons olive oil
freshly ground black pepper to taste

Cook the edamame according to package directions. Drain and cool.
Place the cooled edamame in a bowl, add cranberries, feta cheese, basil, olive oil and pepper. Gently stir to combine. Serve chilled.
Enjoy!

Recipe adapted from About You Magazine, July 2013
www.aymag.com/Recipes/‎

BLACK BEAN AND QUINOA SALAD

1 cup uncooked quinoa
2 cups water
1 can (15 ounces) black beans, drained
1 can (15 ounces) corn, drained
1/2 red bell pepper, diced
1 teaspoon pickled jalapeños, diced
2 green onions, chopped
1/2 cup cilantro, chopped
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 limes, juiced
2 chipotles in adobo sauce, minced
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
1 teaspoon hot sauce
salt and pepper to taste

Cook the quinoa in water for 15 to 20 minutes. Mix the quinoa, black beans, corn, red pepper, jalapeño, green onion and cilantro in a large bowl. Mix the olive oil, lime juice, chipotle, cumin, coriander, hot sauce and salt and pepper in a small bowl. Toss the salad in the dressing.
Enjoy!

LIMA BEAN AND SPINACH SALAD
SALAT IZ FASOLI I SHPINATA

1 cup frozen lima beans
10 ounces fresh spinach
3/4 cup walnut pieces
3 cloves of garlic
3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/4 cup chopped parsley
1/4 teaspoon ground coriander
pinch of dried red pepper flakes
fresh lemon juice to taste
salt and freshly ground black pepper

Cook lima beans in a pot of boiling water, until heated through, about 5 minutes. Drain the beans, place in a bowl. Cook the spinach in boiling, salted water until cooked through. Cool until manageable, then squeeze the spinach to remove any excess water.
Combine the spinach, walnuts, garlic, vinegar and olive oil in a food processor and process until smooth.
Gently stir the spinach mixture into the beans along with the parsley, coriander, and dried red pepper flakes. Season with lemon juice, salt and pepper. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour before serving.
Enjoy!

Recipe adapted from "Please to the Table, the Russia Cookbook", Anya von Bremzen and John Welchman

CANNELLINI BEAN DIP WITH PIQUILLO PEPPERS

It seems these past couple of weeks have been a time of non-stop reveling, feasting, fun, family and friends.
Starting with Christmas Eve Eve dinner, Christmas Eve appetizers, and of course Christmas Day and Boxing Day. A quick trip out of town after all the Christmas festivities was abbreviated by an irresistible invitation for a festive German dinner, home cooked by dear friends, followed by my husbands birthday celebration, New Years Eve and New Years Day - whew!!
I made this dip for my husband and I to enjoy, while he watched football and the kids and I were taking down the Christmas tree. I love that it is light and healthy - we dipped with celery sticks while the kids enjoyed the toasted baguette.

CANNELLINI BEAN DIP WITH PIQUILLO PEPPERS

1 shallot, chopped
1 garlic clove, coarsely chopped
2 anchovy fillets
1 (15 ounce) can of cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
juice from 1 lemon
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/3 can of piquillo peppers, drained and finely chopped
2 tablespoons of chopped parsley

In a food processor, combine shallots, garlic and anchovies and pulse until finely chopped. Add beans, lemon juice, cumin and olive oil, process until creamy, scraping down the sides as needed.
Scrape mixture into a bowl, add salt and pepper and fold in piquillo peppers and parsley.
Enjoy!

Recipe adapted from Oprah Magazine, December 2013
www.oprah.com/food.html‎

ARTICHOKE SPREAD

There is something truly marvelous about a Friday afternoon, when it is pleasant enough to be outside, but not yet too hot, the entire weekend ahead to be enjoyed. Gathering together friends for a quick catch up and a glass of wine before dispersing to the various activities the evening has to offer.
Even though there is currently not a Friday in sight, I just finished up this flavorful artichoke spread, left over from the last happy hour, recalling memories of the relaxing wonderful time, and the excellent start to a busy, fun weekend.

ARTICHOKE SPREAD

1 bulb garlic
1 tablespoon olive oil, plus more for drizzling
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 14 ounce can of artichoke hearts
1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
1 teaspoon fresh oregano, chopped
roasted carrots and bread to serve

To roast garlic, heat oven to 350F. Trim off the top of the garlic bulb to expose the cloves. Peel away the excess skin from the sides of the bulb. Place the garlic bulb in a shallow baking pan and lightly drizzle the top of it with olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cover with foil and bake for 40 minutes until cloves are soft and lightly brown on top. Squeeze the cloves to remove the soft garlic from the bulb.
Place the garlic, 1 tablespoon of olive oil, artichoke hearts, parsley, oregano, salt and pepper in a food processor. Process until smooth. Re-season to taste.
Enjoy!

Recipe adapted from Shape, April 2004
www.shape.com/healthy-eating/healthy-recipes

CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER SMOOTHIE

During one of my many visits to Crystal Bridges, I dined in their wonderful restaurant, Eleven, then, allowed my guest to leisurely enjoy the magnificent art collection, while I retired to a comfy chair to lose myself in my book.
However, through the din, I distinctly overheard several different people ask what a "smoothie" was, after they read the nearby coffee bar menu. I was rather surprised, and wondered if Smoothies were a relatively new development. Upon researching the history of this blended beverage, I learned that they were originally sold in Health Food stores in the 1930's, inspired by concoctions from Brazil, and, it would seem, increased in popularity throughout the decades in direct relation to an emphasis on healthy eating (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smoothie).
My Daughter loved this Chocolate Peanut Butter version, and by adding skim milk and fat free Greek yogurt in combination with the fruits, it stays true to its healthy origins.

CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER SMOOTHIE

1/2 cup milk
2 tablespoons chocolate syrup
2 tablespoons peanut butter
1 frozen sliced ripe banana (I would recommend peeling and slicing before freezing)
1/4 cup frozen raspberries
1/4 cup Greek yogurt

Place all of the ingredients in a blender, process until smooth.
Enjoy!

Recipe adapted from Cooking Light, July 2003
www.cookinglight.com/static/pdfs/2003annualindex.pdf

SALMON WITH MAPLE SYRUP AND TOASTED ALMONDS

My husband and I have been trying to eat a little healthier, which for us, includes incorporating fish at least twice a week into our meals. This was easy to prepare, and was very moist and delicious - in fact, Rolf said it was my best salmon yet. I will definitely make this again!

SALMON WITH MAPLE SYRUP AND TOASTED ALMONDS

6 (6 ounce) salmon fillets
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup maple syrup
3 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon dijon mustard
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
4 teaspoons sliced almonds, toasted

Heat oven to 425F.
Place fillets in a 13 by 9 inch baking dish coated with cooking spray. Combine sugar, syrup, soy sauce, mustard, and black pepper. Pour maple syrup mixture over fillets.
Cover with foil, bake for 10 minutes. Remove foil, sprinkle the fillets with almonds. Bake an additional 10 minutes or until fish flakes easily when tested with a fork. Serve with maple syrup mixture.
Enjoy!

Recipe adapted from Cooking Light
www.cookinglight.com/