Cara’s Yummy Recipes

Ingredients

• 1 onion, chopped fine
• 1 red bell pepper, stemmed, seeded and cut into 1/2 inch pieces
• 2 teaspoons canola oil
• salt and pepper
• 5 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tablespoon paprika
• 2 teaspooons ground coriander
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 6 cups vegetable broth
• 1 pound red potatoes, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
• 1 cup quinoa, rinsed and dried
• 1 large ear corn, husks and silks removed, kernels cut from cob or 1 cup frozen corn
• 2 tomatoes, cored and chopped coarse
• 1 cup frozen peas
• 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, minced
• 1 avocado, halved, pitted and cut into 1/2 inch pieces

Directions

Combine onion, bell pepper, oil and 1/8 teaspoon salt in Dutch oven.  Cover and cook over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until softened 8 to 10 minutes.  Stir in garlic, paprika, coriander and cumin and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.  Sitr in broth and potatoes and bring to a boil.  Reduce to gentle simmer and cook for 10 minutes. 

Stir in quinoa and continue to simmer for 8 minutes.  Sitr in corn and continue to simmer until potatoes and quinoa are just tender, 5 to 7 minutes.  Sit in tomatoes and peas and let heat through, about 2 minutes. 

Off heat, stir in cilantro and season with salt and pepper to taste.  Garnish bowls with avocado before serving.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 pounds salmon filets
• 6 tablespoons butter, divided
• 1/4 cup white wine
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons tarragon vinegar; alternatively use 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar and 2 teaspoons dried tarragon
• 2 tablespoons capers, drained

Directions

Cut the salmon filets into desired serving sizes.  Melt 1/2 of the butter in a saute pan over medium-high heat.  Cook the salmon pieces only until they flake (do not overcook!), turning as necessary.  Put on serving plate.  Keep warm.  De-glaze the pan with wine, lemon juice and vinegar.  Remove from heat and cool slightly; whisk in remaining butter.  Stir in capers and spoon over warm fish.

Ingredients

• 2 cups warm water (115 degrees)
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 package active yeast
• 7 cups flour
• 2 eggs, room temperature
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1/4 cup canola oil

Directions

Dissolve yeast and sugar in warm water (~115 degrees).  Stir in mixer bowl.  Add 3 1/2 cups flour and eggs, beat well.  Add oil and salt, beat well.  Add remaining 3 1/2 cups flour, beat well.  Let rest 10 minutes.

Put dough on floured surface and work in as much flour as you need so it isn’t sticky.  Put in a greased bowl, cover with greased saran wrap.  Let rise until double, about 2 hours.  Punch down.  Can be refrigerated at this point.

Shape into rolls.  Bake plain or use for cinnamon rolls, orange rolls, or cabbage rolls.

Ingredients

• 1.5 cups dry quinoa, rinsed
• 1 tbsp coconut oil (other other cooking oil)
• 1 medium cucumber, diced
• 1 cup cherry or grape tomatoes, quartered
• 1/2 cup olives, minced
• 1/2 cup basil, finely chopped
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• sea salt to taste
• goat or feta cheese crumbles (optional)

Directions

Rinse quinoa and add 3 cups of water to either a rice cooker or sauce pan on a stovetop.  Cook for 25 minutes or until all the water has been absorbed.

Dice the cucumber, tomatoes, olives, and basil, and add to a large mixing bowl.

Once the quinoa is cooked, fluff and add to the bowl of vegetables.

Whisk together oil, lemon juice, and sea salt and pour dressing over quinoa mixture. 

Let flavors marinate for 5-10 minutes before serving.  Top with goat cheese or feta crumbles for garnish.

Ingredients

• 1 (1-pound) package uncooked ziti (short tube-shaped pasta)
• 1 pound hot turkey Italian sausage links
• 1 cup chopped onion
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 2 (14.5-ounce) cans petite-diced tomatoes, undrained
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh basil
• Cooking spray
• 1 cup (4 ounces) shredded fresh mozzarella cheese
• 1 cup (4 ounces) grated fresh Parmesan cheese

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°.

Cook pasta according to package directions, omitting salt and fat. Drain the pasta, and set aside.

Remove casings from sausage. Cook sausage, onion, and garlic in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat until browned, stirring to crumble. Add the tomato paste, salt, pepper, and tomatoes, and bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Combine cooked pasta, sausage mixture, and basil. Place half of the pasta mixture in a 4-quart casserole coated with cooking spray. Top with half of mozzarella and half of Parmesan. Repeat layers. Bake at 350° for 25 minutes or until bubbly.

Ingredients

• 1 onion, diced
• 2 celery sticks, chopped
• 2 carrots, chopped
• 1 yellow squash, chopped
• 1/2 green bell pepper, diced
• 1 can diced tomatoes
• 1-2 cans chicken broth
• 1-2 chicken breasts, boiled and cut up
• Salt, pepper and chili flakes to taste
• Jalapenos, diced (optional)

Directions

Saute vegetables.  Add diced tomatoes and chicken broth.  Cover and simmer for 20 minutes.  Add chicken.  Add salt, pepper and chili flakes to taste.

Ingredients

• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• 2 onions, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, diced
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 1 can (15 ounce) diced tomatoes
• 2 cans (14-19 ounces each) cannellini or white beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 cup ditalini or other small pasta
• 4 cups chopped spinach
• fresh ground black pepper
• bay leaves

Directions

Heat the oil in a large sauce pan over medium heat.  Add the onions and garlic; cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes or until onions are soft.  Add broth, tomatoes (with juice), beans, pasta and bay leaves; cook, stirring occasionally, for 15 minutes, or until the pasta is all dente.  Add the spinach; cook, stirring occasionally, for 3 minutes, or until the spinach is wilted.  Remove bay leaves and season to taste with pepper.

Ingredients

• 1 pound chicken breasts
• salt, pepper, savory and olive oil
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 4 green onions, sliced
• 2 wide strips lemon zest (use a vegetable peeler)
• Coarse salt and ground pepper
• 1 pound asparagus, trimmed and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• 1/2 cup frozen peas
• 1 cup couscous
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

Directions

Pat dry chicken breasts and sprinkle with salt, pepper and savory.  Brush on olive oil.  Grill until cooked, then cut into 1/2 inch cubes. 

In a medium saucepan, melt butter over medium-high. Add green onion and cook, stirring constantly, until softened, about 3 minutes. Add lemon zest and 1 1/4 cups water and season with salt and pepper. Cover pan and bring liquid to a boil, then add asparagus and peas. Return to a boil and stir in couscous. Add chicken and remove pan from heat; cover and let sit 7 minutes. Add lemon juice and parsley and season with salt and pepper. Fluff couscous with a fork and serve.

Ingredients

• 1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
• 1/3 cup pitted Kalamata olives
• 4 ounces feta cheese, coarsely crumbled (1 cup)
• 1/2 cup fresh mint leaves
• 2 to 3 tablespoons olive oil
• Coarse salt and ground pepper
• 1 1/2 pounds thin chicken cutlets (about

Directions

In a medium bowl, combine tomatoes, olives, feta, mint, and 1 tablespoon oil. Season with salt and pepper; set aside.

Heat a grill pan over high; brush lightly with oil. Season cutlets with salt and pepper. Cook, working in batches as necessary, until chicken is cooked through, 1 to 2 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate, and cover with aluminum foil to keep warm. Top chicken with tomato mixture, and serve.

Ingredients

• 2 dozen pretzel rods
• 4 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped
• red white and blue sprinkles

Directions

Place 4 ounces chopped semisweet chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water. Stir occasionally until melted; remove from heat. Using a pastry brush, coat the upper third of each pretzel rod in chocolate. Cover with sprinkles; stand pretzels upright in a glass. Place in the refrigerator until firm, about 5 minutes.