jamie's minestrone

Ingredients

• Servings: 8
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 3 cloves garlic, chopped
• 2 onions, chopped
• 2 cups chopped celery
• 5 carrots, sliced
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 2 cups water
• 4 cups tomato sauce
• 1/2 cup red (optional)
• 1 cup canned kidney beans, drained
• 1 (15 ounce) can green beans
• 2 cups baby spinach, rinsed
• 3 zucchinis, quartered and sliced
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1/2 cup seashell pasta
• 2 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese for topping
• 1 tablespoon olive oil

Recipe

Preparation Time: 35 mins Cook Time: 50 mins Ready Time: 1 hr 25 mins


• in a large stock pot, over medium-low heat, heat olive oil and saute garlic for 2 to 3 minutes. add onion and saute for 4 to 5 minutes. add celery and carrots, saute for 1 to 2 minutes.
• add chicken broth, water and tomato sauce, bring to boil, stirring frequently. if desired add red at this point. reduce heat to low and add kidney beans, green beans, spinach leaves, zucchini, oregano, basil, salt and pepper. simmer for 30 to 40 minutes, the longer the better.
• fill a medium saucepan with water and bring to a boil. add macaroni and cook until tender. drain water and set aside.
• once pasta is cooked and soup is heated through place 2 tablespoons cooked pasta into individual serving bowls. ladle soup on top of pasta and sprinkle parmesan cheese on top. spray with olive oil and serve.

sesame pasta chicken salad

Ingredients

• Servings: 10
• 1/4 cup sesame seeds
• 1 (16 ounce) package bow tie pasta
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1/3 cup light soy sauce
• 1/3 cup rice vinegar
• 1 teaspoon sesame oil
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 3 cups shredded, cooked chicken breast meat
• 1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 1/3 cup chopped green onion

Recipe

Preparation Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 10 mins Ready Time: 30 mins


• heat a skillet over medium-high heat. add sesame seeds, and cook stirring frequently until lightly toasted. remove from heat, and set aside.
• bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. add pasta, and cook for 8 to 10 minutes, or until al dente. drain pasta, and rinse under cold water until cool. transfer to a large bowl.
• in a jar with a tight-fitting lid, combine vegetable oil, soy sauce, vinegar, sesame oil, sugar, sesame seeds, ginger, and pepper. shake well.
• pour sesame dressing over pasta, and toss to coat evenly. gently mix in chicken, cilantro, and green onions.

Sneaky Mommy's Chocolate Zucchini Cake

Ingredients

• Servings: 1
• 2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
• 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 3/4 cup apple juice concentrate, thawed
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup milk
• 2 cups shredded, unpeeled zucchini
• 1/2 cup shredded carrot
• 1 cup chopped raisins
• 1/3 cup chopped dates

Recipe

Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 35 mins Ready Time: 3 hrs 5 mins


• preheat oven to 350 degrees f (175 degrees c). grease a 9x13 inch baking dish. whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, cinnamon, baking powder, and cloves in a bowl; set aside.
• beat together the eggs, sugar, applesauce, vegetable oil, apple juice concentrate, and vanilla extract in a mixing bowl until smooth. stir in the dry mixture alternately with the milk, then add the zucchini, carrot, raisins, and dates; stir until just moistened. pour into the prepared baking dish.
• bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean, 35 to 45 minutes. cool in the pan set over a wire rack.

Applesauce Cinnamon Gelatin Salad

Ingredients

• Servings: 6
• 1/3 cup cinnamon red hot candies
• 1 1/2 cups boiling water
• 1 (3 ounce) package lemon flavored jell-o® mix
• 1 1/2 cups applesauce

Recipe

Preparation Time: 10 mins Ready Time: 3 hrs 10 mins


• in a large bowl, dissolve candies in boiling water. add gelatin and stir until dissolved. stir in applesauce and a few ice cubes and chill for 3 hours, or until set. serve cold with whipped cream.

tangy pear and blue cheese salad

Ingredients

• Servings: 6
• 1/3 cup ketchup
• 1/2 cup distilled vinegar
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1 cup canola oil
• 2 heads romaine lettuce, chopped
• 4 ounces crumbled blue cheese
• 2 pears - peeled, cored and chopped
• 1/2 cup toasted chopped walnuts
• 1/2 red onion, chopped

Recipe

Preparation Time: 20 mins Ready Time: 20 mins


• in a small bowl, mix ketchup, vinegar, sugar, and salt. gradually pour in oil, stirring constantly, until well blended.
• in a large serving bowl, toss together lettuce, blue cheese, pears, walnuts, and red onion. pour dressing over salad, and toss well to coat.

Quinoa Tuna Salad

Ingredients

• Servings: 6
• 1/4 cup quinoa
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 (15 ounce) can garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 (15 ounce) can black olives, drained and sliced
• 1 (14.5 ounce) can whole kernel corn, drained
• 2 (6 ounce) cans tuna, drained
• 1 cup chopped fresh spinach
• 1 cup diced fresh tomatoes
• 2 tablespoons olive oil, or more if needed
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro, or more to taste

Recipe

Preparation Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 15 mins Ready Time: 2 hrs 35 mins


• bring quinoa and water to a boil in a saucepan. reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until the quinoa is tender and the water has been absorbed, about 15 to 20 minutes. set aside to cool.
• combine garbanzo beans, black olives, corn, tuna, spinach, tomatoes, olive oil, and cilantro in a large bowl; stir to coat. stir in quinoa. refrigerate salad to allow flavors to blend, 2 hours to overnight. serve chilled.

seattle nicoise

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 3/4 pound chunked (not thin sliced), alaska-style smoked salmon
• 1 cup bottled salad dressing
• sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
• 4 ounces pickled green beans, cut in thirds
• 1 1/2 pounds new potatoes, red or yellow, scrubbed
• 3 medium tomatoes, quartered
• 5 eggs, hard cooked and peeled, then quartered
• 1/2 cup nicoise or other small, black, pitted olives

Recipe

Preparation Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 20 mins Ready Time: 40 mins


• break the salmon into large but still bite-sized chunks and set aside.
• boil the new potatoes for about 15 minutes in salted water, till they are just cooked through (you can run a sharp knife through one) but not falling apart.
• drain completely, and then cut into bite-sized chunks. place in a large bowl and pour half of the dressing over them.
• add the egg wedges, beans, olives, tomatoes and salmon chunks. drizzle vinaigrette to taste, then salt and pepper as desired. gently stir together and serve warm.