Simple Healthy Yummy

This is a quick meal that I feel I can improvise and experiment with, while keeping the basic goodness.  I'd like to try different beans and veggies.  Perhaps add some spices.  Those who know my cooking style know that this is HUGE that I may divert from an original recipe!!  I also like it hot the first time but enjoy it cold (with some chopped fresh mozzarella) for leftovers.  Hope you enjoy it, too!

Veggie & Couscous Salad
15 min prep time, serves 6

3 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
1 small shallot, chopped
1 cup broccoli florets
1 cup red bell pepper, chopped
1 can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1/4 cup raisins
1 1/2 cups low-sodium veggie or chicken broth
1 cup organic whole-wheat couscous (note: not QUITE the whole box!)
3 Tbsp lemon juice

In a 2-quart pot with a tight-fitting lid, heat oil.  Saute shallot, broccoli and bell pepper over high heat until they're softened, about 5 minutes, stirring frequently.

Add beans, raisins, stock and salt.  Cover and bring to a boil.  As soon as it boils, add couscous and stir to mix.  Remove pot from heat and cover tightly for 5 minutes. 

Uncover and fluff the mixture with a fork.  Toss with lemon juice, transfer to a portable container and chill.

Carmina's intro and sites

Lately, I've been cooking different recipes from these sites...

SELF - their recipes seem to be less complicated than other sites. I also get a weekly email from them with a recipe of the week - the simplicity and the pretty pics sometimes motivate me to try them. The last dish I cooked, Thai noodles with chicken, was nice and fresh tasting. Leftovers were great for lunch.


Food network - Ellie Krieger's site is usually my go-to site for inspiration. And if I'm planning to cook a specific dish/protein, I usually search it on the food network site with "Ellie Krieger." I enjoy watching her show once in a while (Robert finds her a little scary looking, but she's an RD and puts a healthy spin on recipes). Some of my favorites I've tried - carrot cupcakes with cream cheese icing, tabbouleh, noodles with lime peanut sauce...


Speaking of tabbouleh, I've been making it a lot lately. It works great as a lunch side for the week and it's super easy to cook bulgur and use it as a substitute for rice/couscous. Just put 1 cup in a bowl, add 1.5 cups boiling water, cover and it's done in 20 minutes. A lot like couscous, but it feels like you're treating your body really well, and it's super cheap when you buy it in bulk...

Kelli's veggies and weekly planners

First, I love that you're all using this! I'm so inspired!! Congrats, karen on your pact with Dan!

Second, I don't know if this fits anyone's recent interests/requests/pleas, but I've been intrigued by a concept I saw in Real Simple, in two different places: using long thin strips of zucchini and/or yellow squash from a vegetable peeler, plus olive oil, lemon juice, etc. to make a salad. i tried it first with zucchini, lemon juice, tomatoes, goat cheese, salt and pepper, and it was okay but I thought it could have been better. The second recipe I found and am about to try uses both kinds of squash with olive oil, lemon and shaved parmesan. I'm also thinking it might be pretty/tasty to use carrot or cucumber prepared the same way, or with dill, vinaigrette, etc. I'll keep you posted.

Here's a link to one of those recipes and another variation.

By the way, I meant to mention that as far as eating healthier is concerned, Nicole turned me on to this a long time ago, but I just finally started paying attention. It's a set of meal plans for a week's worth of food for each of three approaches to eating--convenience, home cooking, or grazing. (Again, from RS. They should pay me.):

Karen's Gourmet Treat

I have a very fancy, complicated recipe that is so worth the time. This is all I've been eating lately for dinner. Here is what you do.

1) walk to kitchen
2) open freezer
3) put edamame bag into microwave and turn on (must read detailed instructions on packet)
4) pour in bowl (sprinkle with some salt if you have the time)
5) put soy sauce into small bowl
6) put out extra bowl
7) sit in front of tv--turn on
8) enjoy healthy meal of soybeans! (at least it sounds healthy)

It's like dinner and an activity at the same time b/c eating them makes me somehow feel like I am DOING something. I like that.

It might be a not-so-good dinner, but it is better than eating an entire bag of chips.

I finish off the meal with some weight watchers ice cream and maybe a few turkey pepperonis that Kelli turned me onto.

bliss....

Jean's Chicken and Orzo

I had a yummy dinner last night and I think it might even be good cold. I adapted it from a recipe in Everyday Food May 2008.


Broil chicken breasts with a little salt and pepper.

While they’re in the oven, cook some orzo. Add broccoli florets for the last 2 minutes of the orzo cooking time. Drain and return to pot. Add some diced tomatoes, chopped Italian parsley, lemon juice and about a tablespoon of butter.

Chop up the chicken and toss in with the orzo mixture, or serve it on the side.


I’m sure other veggies would be good, too, especially asparagus.



The recipe in the magazine has you roll the chicken cutlets with brie, spinach and Dijon mustard…which is also very tasty but requires more ingredients.

Nicole's Favorites

Re: frozen meals - I'm a big fan of Lean Cuisin pizzas, and their sandwiches are pretty good too. They seem to be less like traditional frozen meals, which makes me like 'em more. As for eating fresh, steamed asparagus is a big hit at our house. I've also rediscovered the joys of hamburgers (from fresh beef, not the frozed patties) for Brian and a veggie burger for me. Easy and tastes like we've grilled out, even when it comes from the grill pan on the stove.

For those of you who are close by, be ready for some homegrown tomatoes in the coming weeks - Brian planted six tomato plants, and they're all huge! It means I'll soon have one of my favorite treats of the summer - yellow tomatoes. If you haven't ever tried them and you're a tomato fan, it's a must do.

Sarah's thoughts

In the summer we have been trying to eat WAY more fresh fruits and veggies. Often we'll have 2 veggies instead of a starch with our meat. Last night, we bought kabobs already made, but added marinade and then grilled zucchini (olive oil, s & p) on the side. It was delicious! I've also been dipping carrots and cucumbers in a low-fat dip or hummus for lunch.

My salads almost always consist of one nut/seed and some cheese and some fruit. I love Newman's own Balsamic Vinegrette or Olive Oil one, although easy to make one's own, I like Paul's for ease.

Some fav combos include:
-Goat cheese, walnut, grape (also pear and apple are good with goat)
-Blue cheese, pecan/walnut, apple/grape/pear
-Sunflower seed, craisins and mandarin orange