Jessica's Eggplant with Goat Cheese and Strawberry Salad!

For Eggplant:
1 eggplant, sliced
8 oz. goat cheese with honey
handful of basil leaves, sliced
1 T. lemon zest
1/4 c. walnuts, toasted and chopped
balsamic vinaigrette
Mix goat cheese, basil, lemon, and walnuts. Grill eggplant and spread goat cheese on top.

For Salad:
6 c. baby greens
1 pt. strawberries
4 oz. crumbled goat cheese
1/2 c walnuts, toasted
raspberry vinaigrette

Black Bean Burgers!

15 oz. black beans, rinsed
1/2 c. oats
1 egg
1 slice of red onion
1 hot pepper, seeded
1/4 c. cilantro
1 T. olive oil
4 hamburger buns
2 avocados
pico de gallo

Puree beans, oats, egg, onion, pepper, and cilantro.  Scoop 1/4 of mixture onto a griddle sprayed with olive oil and fry until crisp on each side.  Place each black bean patty on a hamburger bun and top with sliced avocado and pico de gallo.  Garnish with cilantro.

Pico de Gallo!

2 lbs. tomatoes, diced
1/2 c. red onion, diced
2 jalapenos or hot peppers, seeded and diced
1/2 c. cilantro leaves, chopped
4 limes, juiced

Mix veggies together and serve with tortilla chips.

Caprese Salad!

1 c. arugula
2 oz. mozzarella, diced
1/2 tomato, diced
3 basil leaves, torn

For dressing, whisk:
1 T. olive oil
2 t. red wine vinegar
1 t. water
1 t. black pepper

Garden Salad with Roasted Red Pepper Dressing!

4 c. baby spinach
1 head broccoli, cut into florets
1 pt. cherry tomatoes
8 oz. button mushrooms, sliced
1 red bell pepper, seeded and sliced
15 oz. chickpeas, rinsed
1/4 c. sunflower seeds

For dressing, puree:
2 roasted red peppers
2 T. olive oil
1 T. red wine vinegar
3 basil leaves, torn
1 garlic clove, miced
1 t. black pepper

Grilled Caprese Sandwich!

1 whole wheat demi baguette, cut in half
4 oz. mozzarella, sliced
1 large tomato, sliced
4 large basil leaves

Layer mozzarella, tomato, and basil on the baguette.  Grill on a panini press until crust is crispy and cheese is melted.

Grilled Peaches with Frozen Yogurt!

1 peach, halved and pitted
1 t. brown sugar
1/2 c. vanilla frozen yogurt
2 sprigs of mint

Sprinkle peaches with brown sugar and grill for a few minutes or until soft and caramelized.  Top with a scoop of frozen yogurt and a sprig of mint.

Fig Pizza!

1 large pizza crust
4 oz. crumbled goat cheese
4 figs, sliced
2 slices of red onion, rings separated
1/2 c. arugula leaves

Preheat oven to 450 degrees with a pizza stone inside.  Layer goat cheese, figs, onion, and arugula on pizza crust.  Bake pizza on the stone for 10 minutes or until crust starts to brown.  Cool and cut into slices.

Deviled Eggs!

12 large eggs
1/4 c. mayonnaise
1 T. horseradish dijon mustard
1 t. sriracha
1 t. black pepper

Bring eggs to a boil in a large saucepan of water with the lid on.  Once boiling, continue to cook for 10 minutes.  Turn off the heat and rinse in cold water.  Place eggs in the refrigerator to cool.  Once cooled, peel each egg and slice lengthwise.  Remove yolks and puree with mayo, mustard, and sriracha.  Spoon yolk mixture into the tip of a plastic bag.  Cut the corner off the plastic bag and pipe the mixture into the center of each egg.  Season with black pepper or paprika.

Green Beans with Feta!

1 lb. green beans, trimmed
1 T. olive oil
1 t. red wine vinegar
1 t. black pepper
1/2 c. feta

Toss green beans with oil, vinegar, and pepper.  Broil for 15 minutes or until feta starts to brown.

Watermelon and Feta Salad!

1 small watermelon, diced
1/2 c. crumbled feta
handful of fresh mint leaves, torn

Sausage and Corn Quinoa!

3/4 c. quinoa
1 1/2 c. chicken broth
2 T. olive oil
12 oz. jalapeno chicken sausages, sliced
1 onion, diced
1 large zucchini, diced
1 red belle pepper, diced
2 1/2 c. corn kernels
1 t. cumin
1 t. black pepper
1 t. thyme
2 T. lemon juice

Simmer quinoa and broth in a small saucepan for 15 minutes.  While quinoa cooks, brown sausage in a large skillet with 1 T. olive oil.  Remove from pan and saute onion, zucchini, and belle pepper with another 1 T. of olive oil.  Once vegetables have softened, add corn and seasonings.  Toss with browned sausage, cooked quinoa, and lemon juice.

Chicken Salad Lettuce Wraps!

14 oz. chicken breast tenders
1 lime, juiced
1/2 t. black pepper
1 t. curry powder
1 c. red grapes, halved
3 stalks celery, diced
1/2 c. plain yogurt
1/4 c. sliced almonds, toasted
10 large red leaf lettuce leaves

Coat chicken in lime juice and black pepper and broil on a greased sheet pan for 15 minutes or until cooked. Cool chicken and toss with curry, grapes, celery, and yogurt.  Top with toasted almonds and serve with lettuce leaves to make wraps.

Mediterranean Quinoa!

1 c. quinoa
2 c. chicken broth
1 t. Italian seasoning
2 c. baby spinach
1/4 c. basil and mint leaves, torn
15 oz. artichoke hearts, diced
8 oz. sliced black olives
15 oz. chickpeas
1 pt. cherry tomatoes, halved
1 t. black pepper
1 c. crumbled feta

Simmer quinoa in broth and seasoning for 15 minutes or until translucent.  Add spinach, basil, and mint and cook for a minute more or until spinach is wilted.  Stir in artichokes, olives, chickpeas, and tomatoes.  Season with black pepper and top with crumbled feta.

Pesto Peach Chicken Wraps!

3/4 lb. chicken breasts
1/4 t. black pepper
1 c. basil leaves
1 clove garlic, minced
1 T. lemon juice
2 T. olive oil
2 celery stalks, diced
1 or 2 peaches, pitted and diced
4 large red leaf lettuce leaves, spines removed
4 large whole wheat tortillas
1/4 c. sliced almonds, toasted

Dice chicken and season with black pepper.  Broil on a greased sheet pan in a toaster oven for 15-20 minutes.  Meanwhile, puree basil, garlic, lemon juice, and olive oil in a food processor to make pesto.  Toss cooked and cooled chicken with celery, peaches, and pesto.  Place a large lettuce leaf on top of each tortilla and spoon chicken mixture in the center.  Sprinkle with almonds, tuck in the sides of the tortilla and roll up.  Cut in half and serve.

Breakfast Sandwiches!

1 English muffin
1 slice of jalapeno jack cheese
1 slice of tomato
1 egg
1/4 t. black pepper
1 slice of Canadian bacon
1 handful of baby spinach leaves

Toast the English muffin halves in a toaster oven.  Once browned, add a slice of cheese to one half and a slice of tomato to the other half.  Toast for another minute or until cheese melts.  In a small greased skilled, crack the egg and season with pepper.  Cover and cook until yolk is set as desired.  In a separate skillet, brown the slice of Canadian bacon on both sides.  Add spinach to the skillet and cook toss until wilted.  Top the cheese and tomato muffins with the egg, Canadian bacon, and spinach and press together to make a sandwich.

Pesto Fettuccine with Tofu and Peas!

8 oz. fettuccine
12 oz. frozen peas
12 oz. tofu, drained and cubed
1 c. basil leaves
2 T. olive oil
2 T. water

Boil fettuccine until almost al dente.  Add peas for a minute more and drain.  Meanwhile, bake tofu on a greased baking sheet at 350 degrees for 45 minutes, or until golden.  Puree basil, olive oil, and water in a food processor to make pesto.  Toss fettuccine and peas with pesto and baked tofu.  Add a cup of pasta water to thin the pesto sauce as needed.  Garnish with a basil leaf.

Mom's Chinese Chicken Salad!

1/4 c. olive oil
1T.  soy sauce
1/2 t. ground ginger
2 T.  cider vinegar
2 T. sugar
1/4 t. salt and pepper
1 head of Romaine lettuce, chopped
3 c. cooked chicken breast
2 green onions, sliced
1/3 c. chopped cashews
1/4 c. toasted sesame seeds
1 c. chow mein noodles

Whisk first six ingredients for dressing.  Add remaining ingredients and toss to coat.