Tag Archives: spinach
Strawberry avocado pasta salad from walmart
12 oz. Rotini
2 cups packed baby spinach
1 lb. strawberries sliced or chopped
4 mandarin oranges peeled, segmented
2 Avocados chopped
1 pear chopped
1 4 oz. pkg. macadamia nuts
Poppy Seed Dressing
1/2 cup canola oil
1/4 cup sugar
3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon lemon zest
1 tablespoon poppy seeds
2 teaspoon dry minced onion
1 teaspoon dried mustard
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
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Add all of the Poppy Seed Dressing Ingredients to a medium bowl or measuring cup and whisk together with a fork. Chill at least 30 minutes up to 24 hours.
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Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente – don’t overcook! Rinse and drain pasta in cool water. Add pasta to a large serving bowl and toss with a little of the dressing to keep it from sticking together.
Serving immediately/within one hour
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Add all of the salad ingredients to the pasta. Add desired amount of chilled dressing and gently toss to combine. Serve immediately or chill one hour.
Serving later
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Add strawberries and Mandarin oranges to pasta and toss with half of the dressing, cover and refrigerate. When ready to serve, add pears, avocados, spinach, macadamia nuts, and remaining dressing. Toss to combine. Serve immediately.
winter veggie torte from gardenandtable.net
I started with very thinly sliced sweet potato, then each layer a different veg, sprinkling grated cheese in between and ending with the sweet potato on top.
I used a 6 inch springform pan that was deep and allowed me to have many layers, just remember to press down in between, place the pan on a baking sheet so you won’t have drips in your oven when cooking and cover the top with foil. Roast at 425 for 20 minutes, then take the foil off and roast another 15 minutes until the top is golden. Let it rest for 30 minutes before you slice it into wedges.
Red lentil soup from Terry
2 tablespoon olive or avocado oil
1 large onion chopped
1 tablespoon of garlic ginger paste
2 tablespoon tomato paste (mine comes in a tube)
1 teaspoon cumin ground
1 teaspoon curry powder
Baby book choy, chopped (I just happened to have it)
1 cup red lentils
4 1/2 cups veg stock (or water)
1/2 can of coconut milk
Sauté veg and spices in oil until fragrant.
Add the lentils and liquid .
Lock lid and set to high pressure for 15 minutes. Natural pressure release
Instant pot creamy butternut squash risotto
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
2 tablespoons salted butter, melted
1 medium yellow onion, chopped
1 tablespoon crushed garlic
4 cups of butternut squash, peeled and largely diced
2 cups Arborio rice
4 1/2 cups vegetable broth
1/2 cup dry white wine
8 ounces Baby Bella mushrooms
1 – 2 teaspoons seasoned salt
1/4 teaspoon white pepper
1/2 tsp of black pepper
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp of Italian seasoning
1/4 teaspoon dried parsley
5 ounce bag baby spinach
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Add the butter and oil to the Instant Pot. Hit “Sauté” and “Adjust” so it’s on the “More” or “High” setting and wait until the butter has melted and it bubbles.
Add the onion and cook for about 2 minutes so it softens and just lightly browns. Add in the butternut squash and stir with the onions for another 1-2 minutes (the squash will be very hard, but don’t worry – it will completely soften up after pressure cooking). Next, add in the mushrooms, stir and cook for another minute. Finally, add the garlic, stir with everything else and cook for another 3 minutes.
Add in the white wine and once it bubbles, let it do so for another 2 minutes so some of the alcohol burns off. Add rice and stir. Add in the broth, seasoned salt, white pepper, black pepper, nutmeg, Italian seasoning and dried parsley. Stir well, deglazing the bottom of the pot and then place the spinach on top (but do NOT mix in with everything else – just let it rest on top. Also, it may look like a LOT of spinach is in there but you’ll be shocked at how it cooks down).
Secure the lid, hit “Manual” or “Pressure Cook” High Pressure for 6 minutes. Quick release when done and stir the spinach in with the risotto (when you do this, the spinach will have become nothing but little green strands).
Add in the grated Parmesan, stir and transfer to a serving bowl.
Autumn Crunch Pasta Salad
5 ounces fresh spinach half a 10 ounce bag1 and 1/2 cups dry small pasta
3/4 cup chopped celery
3/4 cup dried cranberries
1 can (15 ounces) can mandarin oranges
1 large Granny Smith Apple
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1/3 cup pecans, coarsely chopped*
Optional: Feta cheese
Dressing
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
- 2-4 tablespoons white sugar
- 1/8 teaspoon each: paprika & onion powder
- 4 tablespoons olive oil or vegetable oil
- 1/2 tablespoon poppyseeds
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Cook the pasta according to package directions.
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While the pasta is cooking, prepare the dressing. In a food processor or blender (I used my small Twister jar on the Blendtec) combine the apple cider vinegar, white wine vinegar, sugar, (adjust — more or less to personal preference, we like a less sweet dressing and use about 2 tablespoons) paprika, and onion powder. Pulse or blend for about 10 seconds. Slowly add in the oil and pulse until just combined. Stir in the poppyseeds. IF you don’t have a blender or food processor you can combine the ingredients in a bowl or mason jar and whisk (or shake jar) vigorously.
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Drain the pasta once it’s cooked through and immediately toss a few tablespoons of the dressing with the pasta. This helps the pasta soak in the dressing and the flavor.
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Chill the dressed pasta in the fridge.
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Meanwhile, combine the (washed and de-stemmed) spinach with the chopped celery in a large bowl. Add in the cranberries and a can of drained mandarine oranges.
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If desired peel the apple (We like to leave on the peel!) and then slice into thin slices. Toss with lemon juice and then add to the salad.
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Pour dressing over the salad and toss. Add in the completely cooled pasta and toss with the rest of the salad.
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If you want to toast the pecans, place them in a single layer in a dry saucepan (don’t add anything) over medium heat. Stir constantly until the nuts are barely fragrant — just a couple of minutes. Watch carefully as the nuts are VERY easily scorched/burned.
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Alternatively, you can candy the pecans if desired. Check the link in the last paragraph of the blog text for how to candy pecans. *UPDATE: we’ve found we like this salad even more with the pecans coarsely chopped- you’ll get more in each bite! 🙂
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Top the salad with the pecans and (if desired) feta cheese.
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Enjoy immediately.
Mandarin Pasta Spinach Salad with Teriyaki Dressing from lecremedelacrumb.com
- 8 ounces bowtie pasta noodles
- 4 cups spinach leaves
½ cup craisins- ⅓ cup cashews or Pine Nuts
- 1 4-ounce can mandarin oranges, drained
- ¼ cup cilantro leaves, roughly chopped
dressing
- ⅓ cup teriyaki sauce (the thicker, the better!)
- ⅓ cup rice wine vinegar (may sub apple cider vinegar)
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder (if you have it)
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- ½ cup oil (such as vegetable oil, canola oil, olive oil)
- Cook pasta according to package instructions, drain and rinse with cold water. Set aside.
- While pasta is boiling, prepare the dressing. In a jar combine all dressing ingredients. Cover and shake to combine. Chill until ready to use.
- In a large bowl toss together pasta, spinach, raisins, nuts, mandarin oranges, and cilantro. Just before serving pour dressing over salad, toss, and serve.
Best Ever Strawberry Spinach Salad from theslowroasteditalian.com
Candied Pecan Ingredients
1 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoons packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup pecan halves
pinch salt
Dressing Ingredients
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1/4 cup extra light tasting olive oil
1/4 cup white wine vinegar
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon paprika
Salad Ingredients
10 ounces fresh baby spinach – rinsed, dried and torn into bite-size pieces
1/4 small red onion sliced
1 quart fresh strawberries, hulled and quartered
1/2 cup fresh blueberries
1/2 avocado, cut into bite sized pieces
1/2 (5 ounce) package blue cheese crumbles
Place a silpat mat or a sheet of parchment paper on the counter top to dry the pecans.
In a small skillet over medium heat melt butter. Add pecans, sugar and salt. Stir until pecans are well coated. Stir until the sugar caramelizes, about 3-5 minutes.
Spread onto silpat or parchment paper. Separate pecans. Allow to cool.
Meanwhile: in a pint size mason jar combine dressing ingredients. Seal and shake until well combined. Set aside on the counter.
In a large bowl combine the spinach, onions, strawberries and blueberries. Pour about 1/2 of dressing over salad, and toss. Top with avocado, cheese and candied nuts. Serve remaining dressing on the side.
Refrigerate for 15 minutes before serving (or serve immediately).
Serve with the remaining dressing on the side. Enjoy!
Zuppa Toscana
1 large onion, diced
- Cook the sausage and red pepper flakes in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat until crumbly, browned, and no longer pink, 10 to 15 minutes. Drain and set aside.
- Stir in the onions and garlic; cook until onions are soft and translucent, about 5 minutes.
- Pour the broth into the Dutch oven with the bacon and onion mixture; bring to a boil over high heat. Add the potatoes, and boil until fork tender, about 20 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium and stir in the heavy cream and the cooked sausage; heat through. Mix the spinach into the soup just before serving.
15-Minute Lazy Noodles from woksoflife.com
12 oz. dried wheat noodles (almost any noodle will do––even spaghetti)
1-2 tablespoons vegetable or canola oil
1 pound ground fake meat
1 onion, thinly sliced
2 cloves garlic, sliced
2 large handfuls of baby spinach
salt and pepper
3 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon dark soy sauce
2 teaspoons sesame oil
1 teaspoon honey
2 teaspoons chili oil (optional)
Bring a pot of water to a boil for the noodles. Meanwhile, heat the wok over high heat, and and add a tablespoon or two of oil. Add the ground meat, and stir-fry until browned and slightly crispy.
Add the onion and garlic, and continue to cook over high heat until the onions are slightly softened and browned at the edges. Stir in the spinach until it’s just wilted. Season with salt and pepper.
Meanwhile, cook the noodles according to the package directions. Add to a bowl, along with the soy sauce, dark soy sauce, sesame oil, honey, and chili oil (if using). Toss with the onion, meat, and spinach mixture. Serve!