May 26, 2020

Recipe: Vegan Toasted Barley with Broccoli Salad

Ingredients

4 tbsp olive oil, divided

½ cup pearl barley, rinsed

Kosher salt

2 cups broccoli florets

2 cloves garlic, chopped small

2 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice

1 red onion, finely chopped

freshly ground black pepper

3 tbsp white wine vinegar (or more to taste)

½ cup chopped fresh cilantro

½ cup chopped toasted pecans

Directions

Toast the pecans: heat a small skillet over medium heat. Cook the pecans for a few minutes until slightly brown and fragrant. Transfer to a bowl to cool.

Toast the barley: In a 10 inch skillet, add 1 tablespoon of the olive oil. Over medium heat, add the barley to the skillet. Toast 5 minutes. Add 3 cups of water to the skillet, bring to a boil then simmer for 25-30 minutes until the barley is tender.

Heat the remainder of the oil in another 10 inch skillet over medium heat. Sauté the onion for 3 minutes. Mix in the garlic, broccoli and lemon juice. Cook 8-10 minutes until the broccoli is bright green. Transfer this mixture to a large serving bowl.

Add the cooked broccoli to the bowl with the broccoli mixture. Mix in the vinegar, cliantro and pecans. Serve warm or chilled.

~ Marla Meridith

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April 20, 2020

Recipe: Very Veggie Lasagna

Ingredients

1 lb brown rice lasagna pasta

1 (10 oz) package frozen, chopped spinach

1 (16 oz) container 4% milkfat cottage cheese

1 (15 oz) container ricotta cheese (non fat or whole milk)

2 tbsp olive oil

½ yellow onion, diced

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 yellow zucchini, sliced into 1/2 inch pieces

1 green zucchini, sliced into 1/2 inch pieces

1 bell pepper (any color)

25 oz whole white mushrooms, sliced

1 32 oz jar your favorite tomato sauce

Kosher salt & pepper

1 chopped fresh Italian parsley, divided

2 cups shredded mozzarela and cheddar cheese

Directions

Cook pasta to package directions. Drain then rinse in cold water.

Thaw the spinach in the microwave. Squeeze out excess water and place in a large bowl. Mix with the ricotta and cottage cheese. Season with some salt and pepper.

Add olive oil to a large skillet. Sauté the onions and garlic over medium heat for 3 minutes. Add the zucchini and bell peppers. Cook for 3 minutes. Add the mushrooms, cook for 5 minutes or until the veggies soften. Mix the veggies as they cook. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper.

Stir the tomato sauce into the skillet and 1/4 cup parsley. Bring to a boil then simmer for 10 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 375˚ Fahrenheit with the rack in the middle.

Start with a thin layer of sauce in a 9X13 inch casserole baking dish. Add a layer of cooked lasagna noodles. On top of the pasta add a layer of the ricotta/cottage cheese mixture, then a layer of sauce and the noodles again. Continue layering finishing with a layer of the pasta then finally the sauce. Sprinkle the mozzarella and cheddar cheese over the sauce.

Bake the lasagna for 35 minutes then broil on low for 5 minutes, or until cheese is golden brown. Top with 1/4 cup chopped parsley. Serve while hot.

~ Marla Meridith

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April 1, 2020

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!

Lemon Shallot Vinaigrette

Lemon Honey Salad Dressing

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

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February 3, 2020

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

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February 3, 2020

One-Pot American Beef Goulash

One-Pot American Beef Goulash: An easy and delicious pasta recipe for the entire family!

Ingredients

2 pounds lean ground beef

2 large yellow onions, chopped

3 cloves garlic, chopped

3 cups water

one (29 ounce) can) tomato sauce

one (28-ounce) can small diced tomatoes

splash of dry red wine

1/4 cup half and half

3 bay leaves

3 tbs soy sauce

1 tsp Kosher salt

2 tbs chopped fresh parsley, plus extra for serving

2 cups elbow macaroni, uncooked

—serve with

Freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Directions

In a Dutch oven, saute the ground beef over medium-high heat until no pink remains. Break up the meat while sauteeing. Spoon off any grease.

Add the onions and garlic to the pot and saute until they are tender and fragrant, about 5 minutes. Add 3 cups water, along with the tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, red wine, half and half, bay leaves, soy sauce, salt and parsley. Stir well.

Place a lid on the pot and allow this mixture to cook for 15 to 20 minutes. Add the elbow macaroni, stir well, return the lid to the pot, simmer for about 30 minutes.

Ingredients

1 head garlic

4 bone-in, skin on chicken thighs

4 drumsticks

1 tbsp vegetable or canola oil

3/4 cup distilled white vinegar

3/4 cup soy sauce (not low sodium)

1 cup water

1 tbsp light or dark brown sugar

5 dried bay leaves

freshly ground black pepper to taste

salt to taste

1 (1lb) bag white rice

garnish with

chopped green onions

freshly chopped cilantro

Directions

Cut entire head of garlic in half through the center “equator” , it’s OK if some bulbs detach. You don’t need those.

Heat the oil in a large Dutch Oven over medium heat. Place the 8 chicken pieces in the pan with the skin side down. Cook for 5 minutes until golden brown, then flip with tongs and cook the other side for about 5 minutes until golden brown. Transfer the chicken to a clean plate.

Add the vinegar, soy sauce, water, sugar, bay leaves and garlic too the pot. Bring to a simmer then turn down to low, stir so the sugar dissolves. Season with pepper.

Return the chicken to the pot skin side up. Cover and cook the chicken carefully and gently. Adjust the heat to maintain barely a simmer. Turning pieces once during cooking time. The dish is done cooking when the chicken is very tender and pulling away from bone. It should not be falling apart. Cook for 35–40 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper before serving.

While the chicken is cooking, cook the rice to package directions.

Serve the chicken over the rice and tip with chopped green onion and chopped cilantro. Spoon any extra sauce over the chicken and rice.

~ Marla Meridith

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November 10, 2019

Recipe: Vegan Raspberry Steel Cut Oatmeal

Ingredients

Directions

~ Marla Meridith

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November 10, 2019

Recipe: Greek Salad with Salmon and Creamy Feta Dressing