Kale, Herb & Avocado Couscous Salad!

Hey Everyone!

Looks like St. Patrick's Day food but REALLLLLY good! haha

Happy Meatless Monday! I hope you all stuck with the plan today and are planning on trying something new tomorrow for TRY NEW TUESDAY!!! Joe keeps complaining that I am not filling him up every night so I have been trying to make more fibrous foods to keep him full! I also am working on making kale more tasty and this recipe is delicious and boyfriend approved! I hope you all enjoy it and continue on your week 1 plan! xxxCourt

6 Servings (About 1 Cup) - 218 Calories & 6 WW PointsPlus

Ingredients:
Sauce -

• 1/2 Cup Chopped Kale
• 1/4 Bunch of Chopped Cilantro
• 1/4 Bunch of Chopped Parsley
• 1/4 Medium Chopped Onion
• 1/2 Large Diced Avocado
• 2 Cloves Pressed/Grated Garlic
• 1/4 Chopped Green Bell Pepper
• 1 tsp Mustard
• 1 Lime Juiced & Zested
• 1 Lemon Juiced
• 2 tsp EVOO (Extra Virgin Olive Oil)
• 1/4 tsp Black Pepper
• 1/2 tsp Seasoning Salt
• 1 tsp Italian Seasoning
• Optional - 1/2 - 1 Jalapeno 

Salad -

• 1 Cup Couscous (Whole Wheat if Possible)
• 1 Cup Low-Sodium Chicken/Veggie Stock
• 8 Cherry Tomatoes 
• 1/4 Cup of Corn
• 1/8 Cup Toasted Plain Slivered Almonds

Steps:

1. Place all of the "Sauce" ingredients in food processor or blender and blend until smooth and VERY green! (it is a little frightening haha)
2. Bring 1 cup of broth to boil and once it starts to boil add couscous to it and stir then cover and take off the heat. Let sit for 10 minutes and fluff with a fork when its done.
3. Cut cherry tomatoes into thirds (or halves but I prefer thirds) and along with the corn mix into the couscous.
4. To toast almonds place in saute pan on med/high heat until golden brown and fragrant and fold into or sprinkle on with some parm. cheese on top of the couscous (optional of course (: ).
5. Mix in the sauce and chill for a minimum of 30 minutes and then serve and enjoy!!

**This sauce would also taste good on other types of pasta!

Happy Creating!

Roasted Asparagus!

YUM!!!!!

Happy Saturday Peeps!!

Today I want to talk about one of my favorite veggies of all time, ASPARAGUS! It is absolutely delicious and extremely healthy for you. It is filled with tons of vitamins and minerals most importantly it contains something called "glutathione that helps break down carcinogens and other harmful compounds like free radicals which can help prevent certain cancers(1)"! Growing up my parents were steamers. That is their preferred way to cook veggies. I however do not like mine as mushy and prefer a more al dente texture! So I pretty much grill or roast ALL of my veggies! It adds so much more flavor and is way healthier because you don't have to dip your broccoli, asparagus  ect. in mayo or butter! I promise this recipe will NOT disappoint and not to mention its so simple and easy to do. I even got Joe eating some veggies and LIKING them that he never would even try before! xxxCourt

P.S. Most people do not store their asparagus correctly, look out below for tips on how to make it last as long as possible in your fridge!

Serves 3 (10 Spears of asparagus per serving) - 68 Calories & 2 WW PointsPlus

Ingredients:

• 30 Spears of asparagus

  

  Step 2 & also how you should store your asparagus!

• 1/2 tbsp EVOO (extra virgin olive oil)
• 1/4 tsp Seasoning salt
• 1/8 tsp Black pepper
• OPTIONAL: 1 Clove of pressed garlic (or finely chopped)

Steps:

1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees (or grill if you are cooking outdoors!)
2. Prep all of your asparagus by snapping them in half (see picture demonstration by the lovely Joseph David)                             *They will snap where they are meant to be snapped and if you are in a rush and have a bunch of asparagus then snap one from each bunch and chop the rest where the one snapped. **To store your asparagus chop off about 1/2 inch of bottom when you get home from the store and place in a cup of water (like flowers) they will even grow a little. Make sure you check the water if they are going to be in there long and refill if necessary! 
3. Place all asparagus on a cookie sheet tray lined with tin foil for an easy clean up! 
4. Drizzle EVOO on top and toss using your fingers to evenly coat all of the asparagus.

   

   Step 6: I should of used foil, oops!

5. Sprinkle salt, pepper and garlic clove on top of the asparagus and toss again with hands to even coat all of the veggies.
6. Make sure all of asparagus are laying flat on the sheet tray (not too over crowded) and place in the oven or on the grill.
7. Cook 15-20 minutes or until desired char color has been achieved (15 minutes makes for more firm asparagus and 20 is a little more cooked).
8. Plate up right away and serve alone or with a wedge or two of fresh lemon!
9. ENJOY!

You can pretty much swap out asparagus with lots of different veggies for this recipe. I have done corn, broccoli, cauliflower, ect. GET CREATIVE! Make veggies more fun and tasty because they should be in almost every meal that you eat!  

Happy Creating!

***Site Sources: (1) - http://www.eatingwell.com/blogs/health_blog/5_powerful_health_benefits_of_asparagus_you_probably_didn_t_know

Veggie Burgers

The are much more yummy then store bought veggie burgers and cheaper too, I promise!

Hey All! Tomorrow starts Meatless Monday so I thought I would share with you my home made 195 cal/burger and only 5WW PointsPlus, Enjoy! xxxCourt
veggie burgers! These are to die for!! Not to mention

Black & Kidney Bean Burgers:

Ingredients:

• 15oz Can Black Beans (no added salt/low sodium/or soak regular beans overnight to soften)
• 15oz Can Kidney Beans (no added salt/low sodium/or soak regular beans overnight to soften)
• 1 Bell Pepper (Any Color)
• 1 Onion (Any Color)
• 5 Cloves Garlic
• 2 Eggs
• 1 Tsp Paprika
• 1/2 Tsp Seasoning Salt (I use Morton's)
• 1 Tsp Oregano
• 1 Tsp Hot Sauce
• 3/4 Cup Bread Crumbs (I use Panko)

Steps:

1. Drain & RINSE beans.
2. Using a fork or potato masher, mash beans in medium sized bowl until mostly mashed.
3. Very finely chop (or pulse in food processor) bell pepper, onion & garlic and add to beans.
4. In small separate bowl mix together eggs, and all of the seasonings except the bread crumbs.
5. Add eggs and seasonings to beans and fold in together.
6. Add bread crumbs and mix together until well mixed (I like to use my hands (: ).
7. Create 8 even sized patties (I used 1/4 cup scooper) and place on parchment paper on cookie sheet.
8. Freeze for 30 minutes individually on sheet tray before stacking together in ziploc baggie.

To Cook:

• In pan on stove top heat up 1 tbsp of oil (I use EVOO) on medium heat and cook 5-6 minutes per side and enjoy! 

I like to serve these on whole wheat "skinny" buns with a slice of pepper jack and avocado! So Yummy!

Happy Cooking.