Need a quick, healthy lunch or light dinner idea? Then try this recipe for Southwestern Tofu Wraps. The fresh cilantro and lime juice add fresh flavor and liven up the tofu (which is normally bland). To bump up the Southwestern flavors, I also added 1/4 teaspoon each of cumin and chili powder to the tofu mixture. For extra crunch, I substituted shredded cabbage and carrots (plain cole slaw mix) for the sliced lettuce leaves. Garnish with your favorite salsa. Enjoy!

Note: Be sure to drain the tofu really well or the tofu mixture will be watery.

Southwestern Tofu Wraps
-recipe from Bon Appétit Magazine

Makes 4 servings 

4 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
8 ounces firm tofu, drained, patted dry, crumbled
1/2 cup chopped red onion
1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1 garlic clove, minced
4 7- to 8-inch-diameter flour tortillas
2 cups thinly sliced lettuce leaves
1 cup spicy tomato salsa

Whisk 3 tablespoons lime juice and oil in medium bowl. Add tofu, onion, cilantro and garlic and toss to blend. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Let marinate 20 minutes.

Preheat oven to 350°F. Wrap tortillas in foil. Place in oven until heated through, about 10 minutes. Meanwhile, toss lettuce with 1 tablespoon lime juice in small bowl.

Place 1 tortilla on each of 4 plates. Place layer of lettuce down center of each tortilla. Top with tofu mixture, dividing equally. Spoon 1 1/2 tablespoons salsa over each. Roll up tortillas. Serve, passing remaining salsa separately.

Tags: Bon Appetit Magazine, cilantro, light dinner, lime, lunch, salsa, Southwestern Tofu Wraps, tofu, tortilla, vegetarian

Sure, take-out is great but recipes like this one for Spicy Green Beans with Pork make it a cinch to whip up at home: tender pieces of stir-fried pork and green beans in a tasty Asian-flavored sauce. It’s a perfect weeknight meal!

As with any stirfry, it’s important to have all the ingredients prepped, measured out and ready to go when you start cooking. You could even cut the pork and trim the green beans the day before so that when it’s dinner time the next day, all you have to do is heat up the pan and start cooking. The tip on freezing the pork for 30 minutes does make it easier to slice but don’t sweat it if you want to skip that step (just cut the pork as thinly as you can).

For the sauce, I skipped the chicken stock and substituted water because I didn’t want to open a can of chicken broth for only 1/4 cup. Also, I used Lee Kum Kee brand Black Bean Garlic Sauce for the spicy bean sauce. If you don’t have any sake on hand or don’t feel like buying it, dry sherry would be a good substitute. Serve the stir fry with steamed rice. Enjoy!

Spicy Green Beans with Pork
-recipe from Family Fun Magazine (October 2008)

The green beans in this classic Chinese dish take on the flavors of ginger, chili, and garlic. And the spice is just right — not too hot for most kids but a bit of a kick for Mom and Dad. Makes about 5 cups.

1 pound pork tenderloin
3 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons rice wine (sake)
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 cup chicken stock (or water)
1 tablespoon spicy bean sauce
1 tablespoon hoisin sauce
1 1/2 teaspoons chili garlic sauce
1 1/2 teaspoons sugar
1 teaspoon sesame oil
2 teaspoons cornstarch
1/4 cup peanut or vegetable oil
1 pound green beans, trimmed and snapped in half
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 (1-inch) piece of fresh ginger, peeled and minced
4 green onions, thinly sliced
1/4 cup toasted white sesame seeds

Shave the pork into thin strips. (Tip: first partially freeze it for 30 to 90 minutes.) In a small bowl, toss the shaved pork with 2 tablespoons of soy sauce, 1 tablespoon of rice wine, and the pepper. Marinate the pork at room temperature while assembling the rest of the ingredients.

In a separate bowl, combine the remaining tablespoon of soy sauce, the remaining tablespoon of rice wine, the stock, spicy bean sauce, hoisin, chili garlic sauce, sugar, sesame oil, and cornstarch, and set aside.

Heat a wok or large frying pan over medium-high heat and add the oil. When the oil is hot, add the beans and stir-fry them until they begin to brown or blister, about 10 minutes. Remove the beans from the pan using a slotted spoon and pour off all but 2 tablespoons of the oil.

Return the pan to the heat and add the pork, garlic, and ginger. Stir-fry the mixture until the pork is no longer pink, about 3 minutes. Add the green onions and cook for 1 minute.

Add the reserved sauce and green beans, mix well, and cook until the sauce begins to thicken, about one minute. Finally, sprinkle with the sesame seeds before serving. 
 

Tags: Asian, black bean sauce, chili-garlic sauce, ginger, hoisin sauce, pork tenderloin, Quick Cooking, sake, soy sauce, spicy green beans with pork, stir-fry, stirfry, take-out

One of the beautiful things about summer is the abundance of fresh-tasting recipes like this one for Blue Cheese-Grilled Chicken over Balsamic Tomatoes. It’s super easy to make and a great way to feature those sweet, vine-ripened tomatoes.

If you don’t like blue cheese, a good substitute would be slices of fresh mozzarella. Serve the grilled chicken with summery side dishes like Sagaponak Corn Pudding and Green Beans Vinaigrette. Enjoy!

Blue Cheese-Grilled Chicken over Balsamic Tomatoes
-recipe from Chicken and Egg: A Memoir of Suburban Homesteading with 125 Recipes by Janice Cole

I love the simplicity of this dish. It contains only a few ingredients, but it’s bursting with flavor. Choose your ingredients carefully, starting with great-tasting free-range chicken and mellow blue cheese, such as Maytag. The tomatoes should be sweet, tangy, and juicy because the tomato juice mingles with the balsamic vinegar, creating a light sauce for the chicken. Serves 4.

4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves (about 1 1/2 pounds)
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
2 large garlic cloves, minced
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese
12 tomato slices (about 2 tomatoes)

Preheat the grill to medium. Brush the chicken with the olive oil. Scatter the garlic over the chicken breasts and sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon each of the salt and pepper. Brush 1 tablespoon of the balsamic vinegar over the chicken.

Oil the grill grate. Grill the chicken, covered, for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the chicken is no longer pink in the center, sprinkling the blue cheese over the chicken during the last 2 minutes of cooking.

Meanwhile, arrange the tomatoes on a platter and sprinkle with the remaining 1/4 teaspoon each of the salt and pepper. Drizzle with the remaining 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar. Serve the chicken over the tomatoes.

Tags: balsamic vinegar, blue cheese, grilled chicken, Quick Cooking, tomatoes

At least once a week I make a meaty pasta dish to have in the fridge for husband to take for lunch or to have on hand for a quick dinner on busy days. This recipe for Sesame Noodles with Chicken is in the rotation.

I added some shredded cabbage and carrots (coleslaw mix) to the noodles for more veggies. Although you may not use all the dressing when you first toss the noodles with it, don’t throw it out because the noodles soak up the dressing as they sit so you may end up needing to add more. Enjoy!

Sesame Noodles with Chicken
-recipe from Fine Cooking Magazine

 This Chinese-restaurant favorite becomes a main dish with the addition of browned chicken tenders. For more color and flavor, add some thinly sliced red pepper or grated carrots. Serves six.
 
Kosher salt
1 lb. dried plain or whole-grain spaghetti
6 Tbs. Asian sesame oil
4 medium cloves garlic, peeled
2/3 cup creamy peanut butter
1/2 cup less-sodium ginger-flavored soy sauce
6 Tbs. rice vinegar
1/4 cup light or dark brown sugar
1-1/2 lb. chicken tenders
2 tsp. peanut oil
Freshly ground black pepper
6 scallions, thinly sliced on the diagonal

Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the spaghetti and cook according to package directions until the pasta is al dente. Drain in a colander and rinse under cold running water until cool. Transfer the pasta to a large bowl, and toss with 1 Tbs. of the sesame oil.

In a food processor, pulse the garlic until roughly chopped. Add the remaining 5 Tbs. sesame oil, and the peanut butter, soy sauce, vinegar, brown sugar, and 1-1/2 tsp. salt. Process until smooth, stopping as necessary to scrape down the bowl, about 30 seconds. Set aside.

Trim off any exposed tendon ends from the wide tips of the tenders, if necessary. Season the tenders with 3/4 tsp. salt and 1/2 tsp. pepper. Heat the peanut oil in a in a 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until hot. Cook the tenders until well browned on both sides and just cooked through, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer the chicken to a cutting board and slice crosswise into 1/2-inch pieces. Add the chicken to the spaghetti along with half of the scallions.

Pour about 1-1/4 cups of the dressing over the pasta and chicken and toss to coat. Add more dressing to taste—you may not need to use it all. Transfer to a serving platter, sprinkle with the remaining scallions, and serve.

Tags: Asian, chicken tenders, Chinese, Pasta, peanut butter, rice vinegar, Sesame Noodles with Chicken, sesame oil, soy wauce, spaghetti

I love grilling recipes and am always looking for new ways to grill a meal. These Skirt Steak Fajitas are super easy and delicious! The steak is rubbed with a spice mixture which I then let marinate for a few hours before grilling it. Set out your favorite fajita makings (salsa, guacamole, etc.) and you’ve got a great dinner!

Skirt Steak Fajitas
-recipe from Williams-Sonoma.com
Adapted from Williams-Sonoma On the Grill, by Willie Cooper (Oxmoor House, 2009).

Skirt steak is the best choice for quick marinating and grilling. It is well marbled, which makes it very flavorful, and slightly stringy, which makes it chewy—so be sure to slice it across the grain.

Serves 8.

1/4 cup olive oil 
1 small yellow onion, minced 
2 garlic cloves, minced 
3 Tbs. red wine vinegar  
1 tsp. chili powder 
1 tsp. ground cumin 
1 tsp. freshly ground pepper 
2 skirt steaks, about 4 lb. total, trimmed 
Salt, to taste 
8 large flour tortillas 
1/4 cup minced fresh cilantro  
2 cups guacamole
1 head lettuce, shredded  
1 cup fresh salsa  
1 cup pico de gallo salsa  
1 1/2 cups shredded Monterey jack cheese  
1/2 cup crema or sour cream  

In a bowl, whisk together the olive oil, onion, garlic, vinegar, chili powder, cumin and pepper.

Cut each steak crosswise into 3 or 4 pieces. There will be thicker pieces and thinner end pieces. Place the meat in a disposable aluminum roasting pan and generously season with salt. Pour the marinade over the meat and turn to coat well. Let stand for 5 to 10 minutes. Alternatively, dip the steaks in the marinade just before grilling.

Prepare a hot fire in a grill. Brush and oil the grill grate.

Remove the steaks from the marinade and pat dry with paper towels; discard the marinade. Grill the skirt steaks directly over high heat, turning once, 3 to 4 minutes per side for medium-rare, or until done to your liking. Meanwhile, wrap the tortillas in aluminum foil and place them on the side of the grill to warm.

Transfer the steak to a carving board, cover loosely with foil and let rest for 5 minutes. Slice the steaks across the grain into strips, toss with any accumulated juices from the carving board and mound onto a platter. Garnish with the cilantro and serve immediately with the tortillas, guacamole, lettuce, fresh salsa, pico de gallo, cheese and crema in separate dishes alongside.

Tags: Beef, grilling, guacamole, Mexican, pico de gallo, skirt steak fajitas, tacos

This recipe for Herb-Marinated Pork Tenderloins is a definite go-to entertaining recipe. It’s easy, delicious and doesn’t break the bank! The marinade gives the pork great herb/citrus flavor (just be sure to let it marinate for at least 3 hours…longer is even better).

I grilled the tenderloins instead of searing and roasting them in the oven. Serve with summery side dishes like Mediterranean Rice Salad or Green Bean, Red Onion and Roast Potato Salad with Rosemary Vinaigrette. Enjoy!

Herb-Marinated Pork Tenderloins
-recipe from Ina Garten, foodnetwork.com

Makes 6 servings.

1 lemon, zest grated
3/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (4 to 6 lemons)
Good olive oil
2 tablespoons minced garlic (6 cloves)
1 1/2 tablespoons minced fresh rosemary leaves
1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme leaves
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
Kosher salt
3 pork tenderloins (about 1 pound each)
Freshly ground black pepper

Combine the lemon zest, lemon juice, 1/2 cup olive oil, garlic, rosemary, thyme, mustard, and 2 teaspoons salt in a sturdy 1-gallon resealable plastic bag. Add the pork tenderloins and turn to coat with the marinade. Squeeze out the air and seal the bag. Marinate the pork in the refrigerator for at least 3 hours but preferably overnight.

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Remove the tenderloins from the marinade and discard the marinade but leave the herbs that cling to the meat. Sprinkle the tenderloins generously with salt and pepper. Heat 3 tablespoons olive oil in a large oven-proof saute pan over medium-high heat. Sear the pork tenderloins on all sides until golden brown. Place the saute pan in the oven and roast the tenderloins for 10 to 15 minutes or until the meat registers 137 degrees F at the thickest part. Transfer the tenderloins to a platter and cover tightly with aluminum foil. Allow to rest for 10 minutes. Carve in 1/2-inch-thick diagonal slices. The thickest part of the tenderloin will be quite pink (it’s just fine!) and the thinnest part will be well done. Season with salt and pepper and serve warm, or at room temperature with the juices that collect in the platter.

Tags: Barefoot Contessa, dijon, herb-marinated, Ina Garten, lemon juice, pork tenderloin, rosemary, thyme

This Asian-inspired recipe for fresh tuna is quick and perfect for a weeknight dinner. The mild-tasting, firm-fleshed fish is basted with an easy-to-make teriyaki sauce and topped with a flavorful cilantro and green onion salad. Serve with steamed rice and stir-fried veggies. Enjoy!

Note: I used ahi tuna (frozen then thawed) that I bought at Trader Joe’s.  

Tuna Teriyaki with Scallion Salad
-recipe from Fine Cooking Magazine 

Tip: If your scallions are large and strong-flavored, slice them as thinly as you can and soak them in ice water for 10 to 15 minutes. Dry the scallions on paper towels before making the salad.

Serves four.

6 Tbs. soy sauce
3 Tbs. firmly packed dark brown sugar
1 tsp. finely grated fresh ginger
1 medium clove garlic, finely chopped
1 tsp. Asian sesame oil
4 6-oz. tuna steaks, 1 inch thick
1/8 tsp. ground cayenne
8 slender scallions, dark green parts only, trimmed and thinly sliced diagonally (about 3/4 cup)
1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves
2 Tbs. rice vinegar

Make the teriyaki sauce:
Bring the soy sauce, brown sugar, ginger, and garlic to a boil over medium-high heat in a small saucepan. Boil until the mixture has thickened slightly, about 2 minutes. Stir in 1/2 tsp. of the sesame oil.

Broil the tuna:
Position an oven rack 5 to 6 inches from the broiler element and heat the broiler to high. Line the bottom of a broiler pan with foil and replace the perforated top part of the pan. Season the tuna on both sides with the cayenne and arrange on the broiler pan. Broil the tuna for 2 minutes, brush generously with the teriyaki sauce, and broil until the glaze sets, about 2 minutes longer.

Turn the tuna over with a spatula and broil for 2 minutes, brush generously with the teriyaki sauce, and broil until the tuna is pale pink in the center or to desired doneness (cut into a piece to check), about 2 minutes longer. Brush with any remaining teriyaki sauce.

Meanwhile, stir together the scallions, cilantro, vinegar, and the remaining 1/2 tsp. sesame oil. Transfer the tuna to serving plates, top with the scallion salad, and serve.

Tags: Asian, fish, fresh cilantro, fresh ginger, green onions, homemade teriyaki, scallion salad, scallions, Seafood, sesame oil, soy sauce, teriyaki, tuna, tuna steaks

I’m always on the look out for new grilling recipes. These Southwest Grilled Chicken and Avocado Melts are easy to make and perfect for the summer season. Serve with black beans, and a salad dressed with Southwestern Vinaigrette. Enjoy!

Southwest Grilled Chicken and Avocado Melts
-recipe from Sunset Magazine

Even within the same variety, chiles can vary greatly in heat. If you like yours mild, pull out the inner membrane when seeding them; that’s where a lot of the heat-producing capsaicin is concentrated.

2 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided
4 Anaheim or poblano chiles
4 boned, skinned chicken breast halves (about 8 oz. each)
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon cayenne
1 teaspoon kosher salt
Lime wedges
1 avocado, peeled, pitted, and sliced
1 cup shredded jack cheese

Prepare a grill for high heat (450° to 550°; you can hold your hand 5 in. above cooking grate only 2 to 4 seconds). Rub 1 tbsp. oil over chiles. Cook chiles, turning often, until skins are browned. Put chiles in a bowl, cover, and let cool. Seed chiles and rub off skins.

Meanwhile, rub remaining 1 tbsp. oil over chicken. Combine cumin, cayenne, and salt and sprinkle evenly over each breast. Grill chicken, turning once, until browned and cooked through, about 10 minutes total.

Squeeze a little lime over chicken, then top each breast with a few avocado slices, a reserved chile, and about 1/4 cup cheese. Grill, covered, until cheese melts, about 4 minutes.

Tags: Anaheim chiles, Anaheim pepper, avocado, Chicken, grilling, jack cheese, Monterey Jack cheese, poblano chiles, poblano peppers, Southwest, Southwest Grilled Chicken and Avocado Melts

This recipe for pollo guisado is super easy and very tasty. The spicy, shredded chicken is a great filling for both tacos and enchiladas. Yum!

Because good tomatoes aren’t in season yet, I used 6 whole canned tomatoes which equaled the same amount of 3 medium fresh tomatoes. The recipe calls for 1/4 cup of chipotle in adobo sauce. This is the sauce that the chipotle peppers are packed in. Instead of scooping out the sauce, I used one whole chipotle pepper and pureed that with the tomatoes. The mixture was pretty spicy but still good. For a milder sauce, use less chipotle pepper or just use the adobo sauce like the recipe says. This recipe could easily be doubled or tripled to feed a crowd. Enjoy!

Pollo Guisado
-recipe from Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives Cookbook by Guy Fieri
(adapted recipe from Maria’s Taco Xpress in Austin, TX)

The pollo guisado chicken is a little bit sweet, spicy, tender. It’s crazy good. Makes 4-6 servings.

2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste
3 medium tomatoes, diced
1/4 cup canned chipotle en adobo sauce
3/4 teaspoon ground cumin
3/4 teaspoon garlic powder
3/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus more to taste
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 onion, diced
Serving suggestions: crisp taco shells, shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, and shredded Cheddar cheese.

Put the chicken in a saucepan with salted water to just cover. Bring to a simmer and cook until just cooked through, about 25 minutes. Let cool; shred the chicken.

Put the tomatoes, chipotle sauce, cumin, garlic powder, 3/4 teaspoon pepper, 3/4 teaspoon salt, and 1 cup water in a blender. Puree until smooth.

Heat the vegetable oil in a saucepan over medium heat, add the onion, and cook until the onion is golden, about 7 minutes. Add the chipotle mixture and bring to a simmer. Then add the chicken and simmer until the sauce thickens and the chicken is tender, about 15 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Serve the pollo guisado in crisp taco shells with lettuce, tomato, and cheese.

Tags: Chicken, chipotle en adobo sauce, enchiladas, pollo guisado, shredded chicken, tacos

We love fried rice in our house. Not only do you get all the food groups in one dish (protein, carbs, veggies), it’s also super quick and easy to make.

I used ground turkey instead of ground pork and it worked great! It’s important to use cold leftover rice because freshly-made rice will turn into a mushy mess…and nobody wants to eat that! Serve with your favorite Asian hot sauce. Enjoy!

Pork (or Turkey) Fried Rice
-recipe from Martha Stewart Everyday Food

Keep leftover rice on hand to whip up this one-pot dish. It’s an economical, tasty supper that’s faster than takeout. Leftover cooked rice is perfect in this dish because it won’t stick together in the skillet. For a lighter version, substitute ground turkey for the pork. Serves 4.

2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 eggs, lightly beaten
2 tablespoons plus 1/4 teaspoon soy sauce
1 garlic clove, minced
1 tablespoon minced peeled fresh ginger
1 bunch scallions, white and green parts separated and thinly sliced
1/2 pound ground pork
2 carrots, shredded
1/2 cup frozen peas
2 cups cooked white rice (about 3/4 cup uncooked rice)
2 tablespoons rice vinegar

In a wok or large nonstick skillet, heat 1 tablespoon oil over high. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, lightly beat eggs with 1/4 teaspoon soy sauce to combine. Add eggs to wok and swirl to coat bottom of pan. Cook, without stirring, until almost set, 1 minute, then fold in thirds with a spatula. Transfer cooked eggs to a work surface and cut into 1/2-inch pieces.

Add 1 tablespoon oil to wok and swirl to coat. Add garlic, ginger, and scallion whites and cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, 30 seconds. Add pork and cook, breaking up meat with a wooden spoon, until just cooked through, about 3 minutes. Add carrots, peas, and rice and stir to combine. Add cooked egg, 2 tablespoons soy sauce, and vinegar and cook, stirring constantly, until rice is coated, about 1 minute. Let cook, undisturbed, until warm, about 1 minute. Top with scallion greens and serve.

Tags: carrots, egg, fried rice, ginger, green onions, ground pork, Martha Stewart Everyday Food, peas, pork, scallions, soy sauce, turkey