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Food, Savory

Broccoli Sausage Pasta

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Seems I’ve been so busy this summer that I’ve let my blog go for far, far too long. I apologize to those who actually read my blog and have been looking for recipes. My greatest apologies, I’ll bake some cookies once I get the chance to make it up for you. Fresh from the oven to you. But until then, I’ll give you a quick update on my summer festivities.

 I just spent a week with friends up at a cabin in Moosehead, Maine. I have to say, it was fabulous. We saw moose (even if it was from aboard slightly sinking and very old pontoon boat), I took my first spin on a jet ski (very unsuccessful I might add), and willingly jumped into a lake (I always avoid the fish, they’re creepy!). And to top it all off, our group of a dozen of us fit into a cabin that was more than enough room for us. What a find!!

 Now that I’m back home, I figured out I need to cook for myself, not a slew of 12 people. So I opted for a “big” meal that was (shocker!) pasta based

Broccoli Sausage Pasta

1/4 cup onion, diced
1/4 cup green peppers, diced
1 cup chopped fresh broccoli
olive oil
1/2 pound of ground Italian sweet sausage
1 tablespoon butter
grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
&
1/2 box of linguine, cooked and drained

 In a medium sauce pan, heat enough olive oil to slightly coat the pan. Add onions and pepper, cooking on medium-heat until onions are translucent or about 6 to 8 minutes. Add chopped broccoli and cook for another 5 to 7 minutes. Add sweet sausage and another tablespoon of olive oil and cook through and until browned. Once meat is browned, add the butter and then toss in the pasta. Continue cooking for another 3 minutes, or until butter is melted and pasta is thoroughly coated and has soaked up the sauce. Top with Parmesan cheese and enjoy!

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Food, Savory

Red Wine Pasta Lovin’

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I was told the other night that Italians should be loud and cook lots of pasta. Apparently the stereotype is still out there and follows me around, especially when I’m at the bar and other Italians are around. Some people think it’s fun to see us talk at loud volumes to each other.

In light of this revelation, I decided to go into stereotype full swing and make pasta. Seriously, what is more Italian than pasta, right? Also, since I never eat pasta, it seemed appropriate to finally make some to add to my recipe box.

Red Wine Pasta

Need:
1/3 box of cooked pasta
1 chicken breast, halved
2 beefsteak tomatoes, diced
1/4 of a sweet onion, diced
1/4 cup of red wine
3 tablespoons of olive oil
cayenne pepper
garlic powder
black pepper

Heavily season chicken with garlic powder, cayenne, and black pepper. Heat olive oil in medium-sized pan on medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook, flipping halfway, until chicken is cooked through. Add diced onion and cook for five to seven minutes. Deglaze pan with red wine and cook on medium high heat. Add tomatoes and cook until tomatoes are softened and wine has almost completely cooked down. Add cooked pasta and cook for another three minutes, mixing pasta into the dish. Take off heat and let sit for a few minutes so that pasta can absorb some of the sauce. Serve and enjoy.

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Food, Savory

Avocado Fries

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A stop at the soon-to-be-closing local creperie and a scan of Pinterest led us two ladies to create what we believe is a fabulous idea in the world of it-appears-fried-but-is-baked goodness. Don’t get me wrong, avocado fries are a fabulous idea, but when you’re craving French fries, well, I suppose it’s the next best thing.

It was also way easier than I thought it would be.

Avocado Fries

Gather:
1 ripe avocado
1 egg
1 cup of flour
1 cup of Italian seasoning bread crumbs
1 teaspoon of cayenne powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon chili powder

Preheat the oven to 350 F. In one bowl, mix the breadcrumbs with cayenne, garlic powder, cumin, and chili powder. In another bowl, place flour. In a third bowl, crack the egg and beat it. Slice ripe avocado into eight to ten slices. Dredge each piece in flour, then the egg wash, then the breadcrumbs.

Place pieces on a wire rack that is set on a cookie sheet. It will keep the breadcrumbs from getting all over the stove and allow the avocado to bake. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until breadcrumbs are golden brown.

Serve and enjoy.

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Food, Savory

Black Bean and Tomato Lunch

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It’s simple math, really. A low bank account, a healthy diet, and a sale on black beans results in a quick lunch with a lot of fiber. I also ended up with a pretty full belly with just one can of black beans (315 calories). Threw in some spices, a tomato, and a splash of shredded cheese and you’ve got yourself a lunch. It also inspired another dish with avocado, but I’ll save that for another day.

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Black Bean and Tomato

Need:
1 16-oz can of low sodium black beans
1 Roma tomato
A sprinkle of shredded cheddar cheese
2 teaspoons of chili powder
2 teaspoons of garlic powder
2 teaspoons of cumin
2 teaspoons of cayenne
2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup water

In a saucepan on medium heat, warm extra virgin olive oil. Drain and rinse black beans, add to pan. Cook for 5 five minutes, add water and spices. Cook down until water has been soaked up by the beans and beans are thoroughly heated.

Take off the heat. Top with shredded cheese and a diced Roma tomato.

I refrigerated it at this point so I could take it to work, but you can eat it heated right after cooking. Enjoy.

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