Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Mediterranean Hummus Pizza

I can't remember where I saw the idea for using hummus instead of tomato or garlic sauce on a pizza but it sounded so good! I used tomatoes and peppers from my garden but feel free to mix it up. The tomato and basil flavored feta was amazing and really kicked it up a notch.

Sun-dried Tomatoes

I always love sun-dried tomatoes when I get them on an entree at a restaurant but considered them too expensive to buy. I never knew how easy they are to make yourself! I used 13 tomatoes from my garden and made almost 2 cups of these flavorful bites. I've used them on Mediterranean Hummus Pizza, a toasted sandwich with mozzarella, feta, lettuce, and avocado, and chicken pasta with tomato sauce.

Thursday, August 25, 2011

BBQ Chicken and Black Bean Burrito

This has just enough BBQ flavor without being overly sweet. It's chock full of protein! So quick and easy, too.

Chickpea Burgers

I was nervous about starting the Ripped in 30 meal plan because the calorie allowance was pretty low, but I soon realized that Jillian Michaels didn't let me down on great tasting meals, just like those in her cookbook! These remind me so much of falafel but without the added fat and calories from frying.

Blueberry Tart

I loved making this tart with local Michigan blueberries! It was so much simpler than I imagined it would be and tasted great. I used lemon juice and zest instead of the listed orange, but it came out just a little too tart so I suggest sticking to orange.

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Chicken Mole

This week I wanted to experiment with savory chocolate recipes. I love the pairing of dark chocolate and cinnamon. Chocolate gives this classic South American dish a rich depth that complements the spices perfectly. It isn't sweet at all but still feels very indulgent.