Recipe: Chevre, Rosemary Tomato, Hummus, and Sweet Bell Pepper Pita Pocket

Almost everytime I get home from work, I get a mad rush of hunger and am ready to grab anything within arm’s reach that’s quick to eat. Usually, that’s not something healthy and ever since the beach weather started, I’m feeling more aware about what I’m eating. When I’m really hungry, I’m struggling against my total lack of patience to eat something that’s good for me and instead lunge for the most decadent and gratifying fast bite. The last thing I want to do is cook and clean-up. Here’s something I was able to whip up just in time to keep me away from diving into my cookies. At least now I can dive a little slower into my cookies.
I love eating with my hands, it just seems so much more indulgent, like you’re savoring every bite. Usually that would be a sandwich if it’s [...]

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Recipe: Turkey Cheddar Burgers

I found a much more traditional recipe for Turkey Cheddar Burgers. I really love the flavor of sharp cheddar cheese in my sandwiches and with a turkey burger it’s perfect. These are even better with an oozing hot melty layer of cheddar within the turkey patty. I like my patties thin so that the focus is equally cheddar as it is turkey even though it doesn’t look as impressive. Since I don’t really like mayo, I use greek yogurt instead. I only use a tiny bit of the sauce and allow the tomato slices to create the wet texture in each bite.
Recipe Adapted From: Ruth Cousineau, Gourmet.com
Yield: 4 Servings
Time: Total 35 minutes
Ingredients:
For burgers
1 large shallot, finely chopped (1/4 cup)
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 1/2 lb ground turkey (not labeled “all breast meat”)
5 oz extra-sharp Cheddar, cut into 4 (1/2-inch-thick) slices
4 [...]

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Recipe: Meatball Souvlaki Pita Sandwich

I rarely eat beef but I like treat-size dishes like these meatballs. This easy recipe for Meatball Souvlaki Pita Sandwich is much lighter than the typical meatball sandwich. I love the refreshing tart yogurt sauce poured over the meatballs. It’s a perfect compliment to the savoriness of the meatballs and balances out the pepper and horse radish spice.
This is good for a weekend lunch or you could make extra meatballs and serve them up as appetizers with the yogurt sauce as the dip.
Recipe Adapted From: by Women’s Health Magazine, WomensHealthMag.com
Yield: 6 Servings
Time: Total 40 minutes
Ingredients:
For Meatballs:
1 egg
1/4 cup dried bread crumbs
1 teaspoon dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 pound lean ground beef
For Sandwiches:
1 cup plain low-fat yogurt
1/2 cup grated english cucumber
1 clove garlic, minced
2 tablespoons dried mint
salt
ground black pepper
6 pitas, preferably whole wheat
2 cups shredded lettuce
2 small tomatoes, chopped
6 thin [...]

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Recipe: Crispy Parmesan Biscuits

Hot buttermilk biscuits are an old comfort food favorite. It’s probably my second favorite “bread and butter” dish. They’re so simple and easy and go great with any meal of the day. Here’s a recipe for Crispy Parmesan Biscuits. The green onions and parmesan add a layer of salty savory flavor. The green onions part kind of reminds me of the chinese green onion pancakes – so aromatic. I love eating them while hot with some melted butter. You can also make little sandwiches with them – cheese and tomato or ham.
Recipe Adapted From: by Giada De Laurentiis, FoodNetwork.com
Yield: 12 Biscuits
Time: Total 20 minutes
Ingredients:
For Biscuits:
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup stone-ground cornmeal
1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 ounces (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
2 cups (5 1/2 ounces) grated Parmesan
1/2 cup finely chopped green onions
3/4 [...]

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Recipe: Grilled Cheese with Onion Jam, Taleggio, and Escarole

I
I can’t pass up a grilled cheese sandwich. There are so many different ones to try out. I think it was probably the second dish I learned to make. The first one was eggs and bacon – that story’s for later. Here’s a recipe for Grilled Cheese with Onion Jam, Taleggio, and Esccarole. I recommend using the Taleggio cheese and baguette slices. Taleggio is a soft, creamy cheese that has a sweet, fruity, mild, salty taste with a little tang. The flavor becomes more buttery and savory as you eat it. I prefer the fig jam, and only need a little bit for taste. It’s much easier to use a panini press, but the heavy pan does just fine too.
Recipe Adapted From: Andrea Albin, Gourmet.com
Yield: 2 Sandwiches
Time: Total 15 minutes
Ingredients:
4 (1/2-inch-thick) center slices sourdough bread (from a 9- to 10-inch round) [...]

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Recipe: Gorgonzola or Chevre Chaud Honey Bruschetta

If you like grilled cheese sandwiches, you will love these. This recipe for Gorgonzola or Chevre Chaud Honey Bruschetta is something I love to eat all the time. These are bite-sized versions of the grilled cheese sandwich but the focus here is all on the cheese.
The melted gooey sweet and sharp cheese with a little crunch is absolutely irresistible. If you like stronger flavors, go with the Gorgonzola for a subdued blue cheese taste. To make Chevre Chaud , use Crottin de Chavignolcheese. This is very creamy with a little tart and slightly sharp and salty. You can serve this with vinaigarette salad to make a lunch meal.
Recipe Adapted From: Giada De Laurentiis, FoodNetwork.com
Yield: 6 Servings
Time: Total 1 hour 15 minutes
Ingredients:
36 slices (1/2-inch thick) baguette bread, about 1 loaf
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
8 ounces Gorgonzola, sliced (or Crottin de Chavignol)
3 tablespoons [...]

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Recipe: Lime Biryani Salad

There was this dish in India that surprised me. It wasn’t something I thought I’d like but I found myself making a bee-line to it for seconds whenever I could. This recipe for Lime Biryani Salad is pretty similar but not served hot. There’s so much satisfying flavor, texture and protein without using any meat. It’s almost like a no-rice fried rice dish but so much healthier. It’s full of iron, protein, and vitamin E. You could replace the chickpeas with fried tofu or anything really.
Recipe Adapted From: Maureen Callahan, R.D., WomensHealthMag.com
Yield: 4 Servings
Time: Total 30 minutes
Ingredients:
2 limes
1 c dry quinoa
1 1/4 c water
3 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
1 1/4 tsp curry seasoning
3/4 tsp salt
1 package (10 oz) shredded carrots
1 c no-salt-added canned chickpeas (garbanzo beans), rinsed and drained
1 1/2 c thinly sliced scallions
1/4 c sliced almonds, toasted
1/4 c dried currants or golden [...]

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Recipe: Vietnamese Pork Slaw Salad

Here’s a recipe you can literally toss and serve. This Vietnamese Pork Slaw Salad is delicious beyond any normal coleslaw salad. It has all the crunch and tangy sweet savory dressing I crave in a salad. It’s really easy to use shredded leftover pork or chicken. If you don’t have time to bake the pork strips, you can get a precooked portion from the store. Cilantro is a very traditional herb that’s always used in this dish, but I leave it out because I don’t like it’s particular strong flavor. The salad is just as yummy without it and incredibly healthy with tons of B vitamins.
Recipe Adapted From: Maureen Callahan, R.D., WomensHealthMag.com
Yield: 4 servings
Time: Total 15 minutes
Ingredients:
1 (12 oz) pork tenderloin
1/4 tsp salt
3 Tbsp lime juice
3 Tbsp sugar
1 clove garlic, minced
2 Tbsp fish sauce
6 c shredded coleslaw mix
1 1/4 c thinly sliced scallions
3/4 [...]

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Recipe: Herbed Polenta Fries

I think you can find two different groups of people – those who like steak fries, the thick cut, and others who like thin crispy fries. That’s about as far as I’ve gotten with this theory. I’ll have to get back to you on the rest.
French fries are so yummy but don’t encourage my girlish figure. So here is where the recipe for Herbed Polenta Fries come in.
These fries don’t skimp on flavor. There is parmigiano-reggiano, sage and rosemary mixed into the polenta. The fries become little pockets of flavor crisps. You could even add some parmigiano-reggiano over the fries after they’re broiled to make cheese fries.
Recipe Adapted From: Lillian Chou, Gourmet.com
Yield: 4 to 6 servings
Time: Total 1-1/2 Hours, 30 minutes active
Ingredients:
Olive oil for brushing
3 1/4 cups cold water
1 cup polenta (not quick-cooking)
1 teaspoon chopped sage
1 teaspoon chopped rosemary
1/2 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
2 tablespoons [...]

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Recipe: Oven-Baked Italian Turkey Melt

During the work week I’m always looking for a cheap fast yummy lunch that won’t make me fall asleep. If I eat something too heavy or filling, I end up wanting to snooze and can’t function the rest of the day. Here’s something that I can make in no time at all and is totally satisfying without turning me into a space cadet. This Oven-Baked Italian Turkey Melt with Dill Havarti has only 2 ingredients but is full of flavor from all the herbs and not too rich or heavy.
You can find a package of sliced Italian Turkey meat and the Dill Havarti at Trader Joe’s or any major supermarket. I recommend serving it with a side of mixed green salad with a vinagrette dressing.
Let me know what you think or if you have any recommendations. Click here to see more recipes.

Recipe:
Yield: 2 Servings
Time: Total [...]

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