Oddly, quesadillas are a food quite dear to my heart. It’s not as though they are a family favorite we used to have every week or a dish I always requested on my birthday. Nothing like that. My food memories with quesadillas come from a variety of places. Like how my grandma and I would order them as an appetizer, along with the chicken noodle soup she loves, if we were extra hungry during our weekly Friendly’s trips. Or how my stepmom would always make them for me, with extra sour cream, if my dad wasn’t home for the night. Or how they were the first meal Matt and I ever cooked together in his summer college dorm with tortillas and cheese picked up from the local convenience store, just excited to have a kitchen to cook in for the first time.

Whether or not you have loving food memories with quesadillas like I do, their cheesy goodness and ease of preparation is undeniable. I love seeking out interesting combinations for this great dish and when I stumbled upon a grilled pineapple and barbecue chicken version I knew I had to try it for myself. It certainly did not disappoint.

The beauty of barbecue sauce is you can veer this dish in any direction you prefer. Spicy, sweet, tangy, it’s up to you. The sweetness from the pineapple, the smokiness from the grill and the flavor from the barbecue sauce will have you chowing down silently, minus the moaning escaping from your lips between bites. And when you dip these into the grilled pineapple guacamole and some sour cream then take a bite? Well this meal might start sounding R-rated.

Grilled Pineapple and Barbecue Chicken Quesadillas

 

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Yield: 2 servings

Ingredients

• 2 sections of whole pineapple (see note), or 4 rings of pineapple
• 2 chicken breasts
• 4 tablespoons barbecue sauce
• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• 4 flour tortillas
• ½ cup shredded extra sharp cheddar cheese
• ½ cup shredded colby jack cheese
• ¼ of a red onion, thinly sliced
• Salt and pepper
• Sliced scallions, sour cream, guacamole and salsa for serving

Directions

1. Heat a grill or grill pan to medium-high heat and lightly coat with cooking spray. Grill the pineapple 2-3 minutes per side, or until light grill marks appear. Once grilled, cut the pineapple into ½”- 1” chunks.
2. Season both sides of the chicken breasts with salt and pepper. Lightly coat the same grill or grill pan over medium-high heat and grill the chicken breasts. Cook for 6-8 minutes per side or until it reaches an internal temperature of 160 degrees F. During the last couple minutes of cooking coat both sides of the chicken with barbecue sauce. Remove and cut into 1” pieces.
3. Heat a large skillet or griddle over medium heat and add the olive oil. Place 1 of the tortillas in the pan then top with ¼ cup of the cheddar cheese. Arrange half of the grilled pineapple chunks, half of the chicken pieces and half of the red onion on top. Drizzle with a little extra barbecue sauce if desired then top with ¼ cup of the colby jack cheese and a second tortilla.
4. Cook until the cheese has melted and the bottom tortilla has started to brown, about 6 minutes. Flip the quesadilla then cook until the other side lightly browns, about 4 minutes. Remove from the heat.
5. Cut into 6 wedges and serve with sour cream, guacamole, salsa and scallions.

Notes

If using fresh pineapple follow these instructions:
1. Cut off the top and bottom of the pineapple.
2. Sitting the pineapple upright, cut it in half, then into quarters.
3. Standing each quarter upright, cut it in half to make 2 wedges.
4. Standing each wedge upright, cut the point off down the entire length of each wedge to remove the thick core, about ½” - ¾” into the pineapple.
5. Still standing each wedge upright, cut the skin off each wedge.

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Lauren Uncategorized 0 Comments

It’s almost Super Bowl time! Get ready for over-the-top halftime performances, absurd commercials and mouthwatering bite-sized snacks. Oh, I mean, kickoffs, touchdowns and end zone victory dances! Rawr! Football! Sure, I loved getting up at unGodly hours on a Saturday morning to get in line half an hour before the gates opened at my college home football games. And there is something adrenaline pumping about cheering a team to victory in a roomful of people chanting for the same cause. But to call myself a football fan would be a wild stretch of the imagination, especially since I didn’t understand any of the rules until my first college football game. Other than the whole cross the finish line or kick it through a goalpost to score points part.

Don’t worry, I get just as excited about the Super Bowl as the rest of you and even though some of you diehard footballs fans won’t admit it, you’re excited about the same part I am: the food. When you get through all the sticky wings, cheesy pizza and gooey potato skins you are left with the fundamentals of a victorious Super Bowl feast. The chips and dip. There are countless dips out there, but one of the most addictive ones in my house is guacamole. Creamy avocados, tangy lime juice, crunchy red onions and a slight kick. However this guacamole has something yours does not: sweet, smokey grilled pineapple chunks.

Adding some sweetness and extra acidity, the grilled pineapple chunks bring a unique flavor profile to your average guacamole. Guacamole is already amazing on it’s own so imagine what this grilled pineapple guacamole will do to your tastebuds. Fireworks? Symphonies? Family members raising you to their shoulders and chanting your name? How about you try it and find out.

Grilled Pineapple Guacamole

 

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Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients

• 2 sections of whole pineapple (see note), or 4 rings of pineapple
• 2 ripened avocados
• ¼ cup finely chopped red onion
• Juice from 1 lime
• ½ teaspoon lemon juice
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
• Pinch of ground chili powder (optional)
• Salt and pepper

Directions

1. Heat a grill or grill pan to medium-high heat and lightly coat with cooking spray. Grill the pineapple 2-3 minutes per side, or until light grill marks appear. Once grilled, cut the pineapple into ½”- 1” chunks.
2. Meanwhile scoop the avocado out into a medium mixing bowl. Add the onion, lime juice, lemon juice, salt, garlic powder and chili powder. Using a sharp knife, cut through the avocado in the bowl until it is a small dice.
3. Use a spoon to make sure all the ingredients are combined, add the grilled pineapple chunks and stir once more until just combined. If you like your guacamole more smooth than chunky then mash the avocados more.
4. Serve fresh with chips.

Notes

If using fresh pineapple follow these instructions:
1. Cut off the top and bottom of the pineapple.
2. Sitting the pineapple upright, cut it in half, then into quarters.
3. Standing each quarter upright, cut it in half to make 2 wedges.
4. Standing each wedge upright, cut the point off down the entire length of each wedge to remove the thick core, about ½” - ¾” into the pineapple.
5. Still standing each wedge upright, cut the skin off each wedge.

3.2.1263

Lauren Uncategorized 0 Comments

Hang onto your hats folks, we’re in for a whirlwind! My excitement over this soup is bursting out of me and it cannot be contained. The best thing for you to do is to hold on, take it all in and then get cooking. I first cooked this soup a couple years ago, but every time I make it I wonder to myself why I wait so long in between whipping it up.

I love creamy vegetable soups, but they are usually laden with heavy cream and high fat milk. A creamy soup that is low in calories and fat, but high in nutrition and flavor? Definitely a win. But a soup that also has added protein? Now that is the ultimate trifecta! A tasty tender trifecta.

Roasted cauliflower and garlic soup topped with kale chips and a balsamic drizzle. No, you don’t have to go to some fancy farm-to-table restaurant to enjoy this cozy dish; you can make it in your kitchen right this minute. Cauliflower is roasted to add depth to its flavor and tenderize it. Roasting the garlic mellows it and causes it to develop a creamy texture. While the vegetables are roasting a light roux is created then mixed with onions, carrots, celery and seasonings.

The sautéed vegetables brown and release their inner juices just before being combined with rich vegetable stock and white wine. The roasted vegetables are added to the pot and everything is pureed to a rustic creaminess. Nonfat plain Greek yogurt lends to the creaminess and provides a very subtle tang. Finally the soup is topped with kale chips for crunch and an easy balsamic drizzle for continued depth of flavor. Go make this. Now. I’ll be running to the kitchen for more leftovers before I pass out from excitement.

Roast Cauliflower and Garlic Soup with Crispy Kale Chips and a Balsamic Drizzle

 

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Yield: 8 servings

Ingredients

• 2 heads cauliflower
• 4 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 heads garlic
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 4 stalks celery, chopped
• 2 large yellow onions, chopped
• 2 carrots, peeled and chopped
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon pepper
• ½ teaspoon italian seasoning
• ¼ teaspoon paprika
• ¼ teaspoon oregano
• ⅛ teaspoon chili powder
• 1 cup white wine
• 1 cup water
• 4 cups vegetable broth
• 12 ounces fat free plain Greek yogurt
• Salt and pepper
• 1 batch crispy kale chips
• ¼ cup balsamic vinegar

Directions

for the soup

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Line a large baking sheet with tinfoil and set aside.
3. Cut the cauliflower into similar sized florets and evenly place on the baking sheet. Toss the cauliflower with 2 tablespoons of olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
4. Cut the tops off both heads of garlic so that almost all the cloves are exposed. Place each head of garlic in a little square of tinfoil and curve up the sides. Lightly drizzle the garlic heads with olive oil then season with salt and pepper. Seal up the tinfoil to make little packets of the garlic heads.
5. Place the cauliflower and garlic packets in the oven. Let the cauliflower roast for 25 minutes then remove from the oven. Let the garlic continue to roast for another 10 minutes.
6. While the cauliflower and garlic are roasting, heat a large pot over medium-high heat. Add two tablespoons of olive oil and the flour and whisk to combine. Continue to whisk until the mixture is light brown in color, about 5 minutes.
7. Add the celery, onion and carrot. Stir to combine and cook until the onions have started to brown and the vegetables have started to soften.
8. Add the salt, pepper, italian seasoning, paprika, oregano and chili powder, stirring to combine. Add the wine and water. Bring to a slow boil then cook for 5 minutes.
9. When the heads of garlic have cooled, squeeze out the garlic cloves and add them to the soup along with the vegetable broth. Cook for 10 more minutes.
10. Add the cauliflower and cook for 5 more minutes. Using a food processor or immersion blender puree the soup until smooth. Add the greek yogurt and puree until smooth. Taste and season with salt and pepper as desired.

for the garnish

1. Heat the balsamic vinegar in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Continue to heat until it has reduced to a 2-3 tablespoons.
2. Top each bowl of soup with kale chips and a drizzle of the balsamic reduction.

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Recipe adapted from The Novice Chef.

Lauren Uncategorized 2 Comments

“Cauliflower is really trendy right now,” the woman bagging my groceries told me last week, “it’s the new kale.” She then proceeded to bag the kale I was also buying and told me that I was right on trend. Well, of course that’s the only reason I was buying these vegetables along with the other eight or so types of vegetables I was buying! To be trendy, obviously. Nothing to do with the fact that both cauliflower and kale are in season right now, nothing at all.

To be honest most of the buzz about food trends confuses me. Certain trends I understand, such as bacon on everything. Yes it has been overdone, but bacon is amazingly delicious and I love that people started pushing the limits for what dishes are acceptable for including bacon. Without this trend you wouldn’t be able to find bacon maple donuts and bacon kettle corn in every US city. Then where would we be? Cupcakes on the other hand? Cupcakes have always been delicious and I don’t think anyone has ever doubted that. What did we get out of the cupcake trend other than an over-saturation of some good, but mostly bad, cupcake shops? Cauliflower and kale are both in season right now, provide a lot of fabulous health benefits as well as taste yummy when cooked just right so of course it makes sense that they are (or were? or will be?) trendy.

I will get to cauliflower later this week, but for now let’s dive into these kale chips. Crunchy, salty and with a hint of spice these kale chips are everything you desire in a snack. Except that they are extraordinarily low in calories and good for you. And not good for you like, “these potato chips were baked not fried so they’re super healthy!” Actually good for you. The best part, other than their addictive crunchy texture, is that they take twenty minutes to make and 99% of that is them sitting in the oven. Kale will always be in season during the winter, which makes it forever a winter trend in my mind so time to start snacking trendy!

Crispy Baked Kale Chips

 

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Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients

• 1 bunch kale
• Olive oil or cooking spray
• Salt, pepper and garlic powder to taste

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 275 degrees F.
2. Wash the kale then dry completely.
3. Cut the thick rib out of the kale then roughly cut the kale into 1" - 1.5" pieces.
4. Lay the kale pieces in one layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Lightly spray with olive oil or cooking spray then toss to evenly coat. Do not oversaturate the kale pieces or they won't get crispy.
5. Sprinkle kale pieces with salt, pepper and garlic powder. Toss to coat.
6. Bake for 20 minutes.

3.2.1263

Lauren Uncategorized 2 Comments

This is not your momma’s meat sauce. Well it might be, but the possibility of that is highly unlikely. This is certainly not a marinara sauce with some meat casually tossed in. This is a rich, creamy and satisfying beef bolognese sauce. There are a couple differences between this deliciousness and your average meat sauce. The beef bolognese here before you includes rehydrated porcini mushrooms along with their soaking liquid, which becomes a light mushroom stock. We learned from the mushroom overload cheddar burgers posted earlier this week that these babies are mushroom gold when adding a decadent earthiness to beef.

Second is that the milk added cuts the acid of the tomato base and brings a great creaminess to the sauce without overloading it with fat like a traditional cream sauce. Finally, all the different steps- the processing, the sauteing, the eating-with-a-spoon-but-someone-needs-to-taste-test-it-ing- may seem like a lot of work, but once you ravishingly start into that first bite of bolognese coated pasta it will all be worth it. The original recipe calls for using a meatball mixture, typically consisting of beef, pork and veal, but feel free to use whatever you prefer. Or is readily available in your grocery store as was my case.

Beef Bolognese Sauce

 

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Yield: 6 servings

Ingredients

• ½ cup water
• ½ ounce dried porcini mushrooms
• 1¼ cups white wine
• 1 small carrot, peeled and cut into ½ inch pieces
• ⅓ cup finely chopped onion
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1¼ pounds ground beef
• 1½ cups whole milk
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes
• Salt and pepper

Directions

1. Microwave the water until hot. Add the dried mushrooms and let rehydrate for 10 minutes. Using a fine mesh strainer set over a small bowl drain the mushrooms making sure to reserve the liquid. Set aside.
2. In a small skillet over medium heat cook the wine until it has reduced to about 2 tablespoons, about 20 minutes. Set aside.
3. While the wine is reducing use a food processor to finely grind the rehydrated porcini mushrooms. Add the carrot and pulse until the carrot pieces are smaller than a chop, but larger than a mince. Add the onion and pulse until combined.
4. Heat a large pot over medium high heat. Melt the butter then stir in the mushroom, carrot and onion mixture. Cook until the vegetables are soft.
5. Add the sugar and minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Add the ground beef and cook for 1 minute, making sure to break apart the meat with a wooden spoon. Stir in the milk and continue breaking apart the meat. Once the milk begins to bubble, reduce to medium low heat.
6. Continue to cook the ground meat, making sure to break up the meat often, for 20 minutes. Once the meat has begun to sizzle, stir in the tomato paste to combine. Add the can of crushed tomatoes, reserved mushroom liquid, ¼ teaspoon salt and ⅛ teaspoon pepper.
7. Cook for another 15 minutes then stir in the reduced wine. Cook for a couple more minutes then remove from the heat. Serve hot over pasta or store in the fridge for 2 days or the freezer for 2 months.

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Lauren Uncategorized 0 Comments