Simple Couscous Soup with Wagyu Meatballs

Simple Couscous Soup with Wagyu Meatballs

Ingredients

Wagyu Meatballs
1 lb ground wagyu beef
a few pinches garlic powder, salt, black pepper
Couscous
2 cups pearl couscous
Soup
4 tbsp olive oil
1 yellow onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
salt and black pepper, to taste
2 pinches ground allspice
1 cup celery, chopped
1 cup carrots, chopped
3 cups packed baby spinach
10 cups low salt vegetable broth
¼ cup chopped italian parsley

Directions

Meatballs

Pre heat the oven to 400ËšF with the rack in the middle. Line a baking sheet with tin foil. In a large bowl, combine the ground Wagyu and seasonings. Roll into 1 inch meatballs and place in a single layer on the baking sheet. Bake for 25 minutes. Set aside when done.

Couscous

NOTE: This step can be taken out, toasting couscous first gives it a bit more flavor.
Add the last tablespoon of olive oil to a frying pan on medium heat. Add the dry couscous. Stir and cook for 5 minutes until slightly toasted. Set aside.

Soup

Heat 3 tablespoons olive oil over medium heat. Once hot, add the chopped onions. Cook for a few minutes until translucent. With a spatula spoon mix in the garlic. Cook a few more minutes until fragrant. Add the carrots and celery, cook for 5 minutes until slightly softened. Mix in the salt, pepper and allspice. Add the broth to the mixture, raise heat to high and bring to a rolling boil.

Add the toasted couscous and baby spinach. Reduce heat to a lively simmer. Cover the pot and cook for 20 minutes adding the meatballs during the last 5 minutes. Top with the Italian parsley. Serve immediately with shaved parmesan cheese on the side.

~ Marla Meridith

Recipe: Vegan Mushroom Soup

Recipe: Vegan Mushroom Soup

Ingredients

4 tbsp olive oil
1 (1 1/2 cups) yellow onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, chopped
¾ cup celery, chopped
¾ cup carrots, chopped
1 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
6 cups vegetable broth
½ cup dry white wine
2 tbsp soy sauce or gluten free tamari
1 ½ lbs fresh mushrooms, sliced. Mix of Cremini and white button mushrooms.
½ lb Shitake mushrooms, sliced
1 (13.5 ounce can) full fat coconut milk
¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
1 tbsp sweet paprika
ground black pepper to taste

Directions

Heat the oil in a soup pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the onions and cook 3 minutes. Add the garlic, cook another 2 minutes. Mix in the celery and carrots. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring so the veggies don’t stick to the pot.

Stir in the broth, wine, lemon juice, soy sauce. Add the mushrooms. Bring to a boil then a simmer. Mix in the coconut milk. Continue to simmer for 15 minutes. Season to taste with black pepper.

Serve hot topped with some fresh chopped parsley.

~ Marla Meridith

Recipe: Quick Spaghetti with Fresh Tomato Sauce

Recipe: Quick Spaghetti with Fresh Tomato Sauce

Ingredients

1 ½ lbs ripe tomatoes
¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp sugar
freshly ground black pepper to taste
2 cloves garlic, minced
½ lb whole wheat spaghetti
¼ cup chopped fresh basil, plus more for topping
freshly grated parmesan for serving

Directions

While the pasta is cooking. Roughly chop 2/3 of the tomatoes. Over a large bowl, grate the rest of the tomatoes using the large holes of a box grater.

Combine the chopped and grated tomatoes, olive oil, lemon juice, salt, sugar, garlic and pepper in the large bowl. Let rest 10 minutes for the flavors to combine.

Cook the pasta according to package directions. Drain reserving 1/4 cup cooking liquid. Immediately place the pasta back into the pasta pot.

Add the tomato sauce into the pasta with the 1/4 cup reserved cooking liquid. Cook over medium heat until hot and the cooking liquid is absorbed. Mix in the 1/4 cup chopped basil during the last minute.

Serve immediately with more basil and parmesan cheese.

~ Marla Meridith

Recipe: Asian Cucumber Salad

Recipe: Asian Cucumber Salad

Ingredients

1 English cucumber (about 1 pound)
3 tbsp seasoned rice wine vinegar
2 tbsp toasted sesame oil
1 pinch garlic powder
1 tbsp low sodium soy sauce
1 tbsp sesame seeds
2 tbsp chopped pickled ginger
2 sliced green onions

Directions

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and serve immediately. Adjust any ingredients to taste.

~ Marla Meridith

Recipe: Boozy Frozen Lemonade

Recipe: Boozy Frozen Lemonade

Ingredients

½ cup tequila, vodka, gin or your favorite spirit
4 cups ice
lemon zest for topping

Directions

Combine the lemon simple syrup, liqueur and ice in a blender. Blend on the “smoothie” setting or until smooth.

Top with fresh lemon zest and serve immediately.

~ Marla Meridith

Recipe: Lemon Simple Syrup

Recipe: Lemon Simple Syrup

Ingredients

4 lemons (1/2 cup lemon juice)
½ cup granulated sugar
zest from one lemon

Directions

Zest one of the lemons. Carefully remove the yellow outer skin of the lemon with a knife.

Juice the lemons discarding seeds. If you do not have fresh lemons you can use bottled unsweetened lemon juice.

In a small saucepan bring the lemon juice and sugar to a boil over medium-high heat. Continue to simmer for 10 minutes so the syrup can thicken a bit. Mix in the zest.

Transfer the lemon syrup to a heat proof bowl. Let the mixture sit at room temperature for 20 minutes until cool. Strain out all of the zest. Store in the fridge in a clean airtight glass jar until ready to use.

~ Marla Meridith

Recipe: Rustic Roasted Beet & Sweet Potato Salad

Recipe: Rustic Roasted Beet & Sweet Potato Salad

Ingredients

1 bunch beets
2 sweet potatoes
2 tbsp canola or grapeseed oil
½ tsp ground cinnamon
½ tsp garlic salt
½ tsp ground black pepper
2 tbsp pure maple syrup
1 avocado
6 cups baby spinach leaves
Toppings
Maple Citrus Roasted Pecanshttps://marlameridith.com/recipe/maple-citrus-roasted-pecans/
Salad Dressings: Try one of these!

Directions

Pre heat the oven to 375 degrees F with the racks in the middle. Prepare a cookie sheet with parchment paper or oven proof silicone liner.

Slice the beets and sweet potatoes into 1/2 inch thick sticks. Place on the baking sheet in a single layer.

Drizzle with the oil and maple syrup. Using clean hands, toss with the cinnamon, garlic salt and pepper.

Bake for about 40-45 minutes until slightly browned, caramelized and very tender.

Plate spinach leaves with roasted beets and sweet potatoes. Top with avocado and maple pecans. Serve with lemon juice and olive oil or my Lemon Shallot Vinaigrette or Lemon Honey Salad Dressing.

~ Marla Meridith

Recipe: Apple Cider Mojitos

The flavors of fall and winter combine in this quenching and delicious Apple Cider Mojitos cocktail. A great recipe for entertaining and holiday parties.

2 cocktails

–cinnamon brown sugar simple syrup
1 cup light brown sugar
2 cinnamon sticks
1 cup water
–Apple Cider Mojito
1/2 lemon
3 sprigs fresh mint
1/4 cup apple cider
1/4 cup cinnamon brown sugar simple syrup
1/4 cup gold rum
splash of club soda
–for garnish
fresh mint, apple slices, pomegranate and cinnamon

–Cinnamon Brown Sugar Simple Syrup
In a small saucepan over medium heat bring the water and sugar to a boil. Stir so the sugar dissolves. Add the cinnamon sticks. Remove the pot from the heat and let the mixture cool to room temperature, the flavors from the cinnamon sticks will infuse the simple syrup. Once cooled discard the cinnamon sticks. Pour into a mason jar and store in the refrigerator until ready to use. This simple syrup can be stored in the fridge for up to a month.
–Apple Cider Mojito
Add the lemon and mint to a cocktail shaker. Using a muddler, press out the juices from the lime and mint.
Add the apple cider, simple syrup, rum and a handful of ice to the shaker.
Cover and shake until the cocktail is well combined.
Fill a rocks glass halfway with crushed ice. Pour the cocktail into the glass and top with club soda and the garnishes.

~ Marla Meridith

Recipe: Pumpkin Dutch Baby with Caramelized Apples

Ingredients

Directions

~ Marla Meridith

Recipe: Skillet Salmon with Bacon and Lentils

This gluten-free, healthy Skillet Salmon with Bacon & Lentils is protein packed and completely delicious! Perfect for family dinners and for entertaining guests.

4-5 servings

–for the lentils
4 slices thick cut bacon, chopped small + extra for garnish
1 tbsp olive oil
1/2 yellow onion, diced
2 carrots, peeled & chopped small
2 celery stalks, chopped small
2 cloves garlic, chopped
2 sprigs fresh rosemary
3 1/2 cups low sodium chicken broth
1 cup French green lentils
1/4 cup Sherry vinegar
splash of dry Marsala wine
1 tbsp Dijon mustard
season to taste with salt and pepper
–for the salmon
4-5 (4 ounce) boneless salmon filets, skin on
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp unsalted butter
chopped parsley and crispy bacon for garnish

Add the bacon to the a 12 inch cast iron skillet and cook over medium heat until the fat renders about 7 minutes and bacon is lightly browned. Add the olive oil, onion, carrots and celery. Cook about 5 minutes until the vegetables soften. Add the garlic, rosemary, broth and lentils. Bring to a boil then reduce to a simmer. Stir in the vinegar, wine, mustard salt and pepper. Cook for 25-30 minutes until the lentils are tender, stirring occasionally. Add more broth if needed to soften the lentils, season to taste with salt and pepper.
Ten minutes before the lentils are done cooking. Cook the salmon.
Pre-heat a 10 inch cast iron with the butter and oil over medium high heat. Season the filets with some salt and pepper. Cook skin side down for minutes then flip and cook just a few minutes more until the salmon is done to your liking.
Once the lentils have soaked up all of the cooking liquid, place the salmon on the top and serve immediately.
Garnish with crispy bacon and fresh parsley.

~ Marla Meridith

Recipe: Chickpea Stuffed Acorn Squash

Ingredients

Directions

~ Marla Meridith

Recipe: Sparkling Pear Champagne Cocktail

Ingredients

Directions

~ Marla Meridith