Power Green Juice Smoothie

Serving: 3

Ingredients

1.   1 green apple

2.   1 pear

3.    1 cup of green grapes

4.   1 cup of frozen spinach

5.  1 tablespoon of chia seeds

6.   1/2 to 3/4 cups of almond milk (You can use vanilla or plain, whichever you prefer)

7.  1/2 cup of ice

Directions

1. Add all ingredients into a blender and blend until your desired texture. You can start off using less almond milk and see if you need to add more as you blend. 

Tuna Casserole (Gluten Free)

Serving: 6

Ingredients

1.    1 box of quinoa pasta (16oz)

2.    3 cans of tuna in water (5oz)

3.   1/2 cup of mayo

4.    2 cups of marinara sauce

5.    4 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese

6.    1 tablespoon of garlic powder

7.    1 tablespoon of onion powder

Directions

1. Pre-heat your oven to 375 degrees F

2. Place tuna and mayo in a mixing bowl. Mix well until it becomes a creamy texture.

2.  Cook your pasta in a large pot. Add your tuna, 2 cups of mozzarella cheese, marinara sauce, garlic powder and onion powder. 

3. On a medium-low heat, mix all of the ingredients until the cheese melts in the pasta. 

3.   Spray a 9x13 with non-stick cooking spray

4. Place your tuna mixture in the pan. Sprinkle the additional 2 cups of mozzarella cheese on top. 

5. Place in the oven for 25-30 minutes or until your cheese becomes golden. 

Ribeye Steak

Serving: 2 

Ingredients

1.    2lb steak

2.   1/4 cup of olive oil for marinade plus extra for frying

3.    1/8 cup of Worcestershire sauce

4.   2 tablespoons of minced garlic

5.    2 tablespoons of an all-seasoning blend

6.    1 teaspoon of honey

7.    1/4 cup of balsamic glaze

Directions

1. Pre-heat the oven to 400 degrees F. 

2.    In a bowl, mix 1/4 cup of olive oil, Worcestershire sauce, minced garlic, all-seasoning, honey and balsamic glaze

3. Put the steak in a Ziploc bag and add the marinade - place in the fridge. 

4. Marinate for 2 hours with the last 30-minutes at room temperature. By allowing your steak to get to room temperature, it will cook evenly - especially for a thicker cut. 

5. Coat a cast iron or oven-safe pan with olive oil at a high heat. 

6. Place your steak in the skillet and reduce to a medium-heat.

7. Cook on each side for 6 minutes or until each side begins to brown. The time will vary depending on the cut of your steak. 

8. For a thicker cut of steak, sear the sides for 30 seconds

9. Place the steak in the oven for 20 minutes. You will need less time for a thinner cut

10. Remove your steak from the oven and allow to rest on a cutting board for 10-15 minutes. 

**This is an important step as it allows your steak to retain its juices and flavor

Italian Stuffed Peppers

Serving: 3

Ingredients

1.    1 pack of meatless ground beef (12 oz)

I used the Trader Joe's brand Beef-less)

2.    1 cup of garlic marinara sauce

3.   1/4 cup of olive oil

4.    3 bell peppers (colors of your choice)

5.    1/2 cup of shredded parmesan cheese

6.    1 tablespoon of 21-seasoning or your favorite type of an all seasoning blend

7.   Basil to taste

Directions

1.  Pre-heat your oven to 350 degrees F

2.  Lightly coat your frying pan with olive oil. Add the meatless beef and seasoning. 

Fry until it begins to brown.

3. Add in the marinara sauce and stir until your mixture gets a little crispy (Approximately 10 minutes)

4. Once your mixture is done, set aside.

5. Slice your bell peppers in half and scoop out the inside. 

6. Spray your baking tray with non-stick cooking spray or lightly coat with olive oil.

7. Place your bell peppers skin side down.

8. Put your meatless mixture inside the bell pepper

9. Cook for 30 minutes. Take out and add parmesan cheese and basil. 

10. Cook for 5-10 minutes or until your parmesan cheese begins to golden. 

Tahini Broccolini

Serving: 5 | Prep Time: 15 minutes | Cook Time: 13 minutes

Ingredients

3 packs (8 oz) Broccolini 

2 tablespoons of lemon juice 

2 tablespoons of tahini

2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil

1 teaspoon of Honey

1/2 teaspoon of Crushed Garlic

Pine Nuts to taste

Directions

1. Pre-heat your oven to 425 degrees

2. Trim the ends off your broccoli

3. Take a large baking sheet and spray with cooking oil

4. Lay your broccoli on the baking sheet and place in the oven for 8 minutes. 

5. While your broccolini is cooking...take a small mixing bowl

6. Add your lemon juice, tahini, garlic, olive oil and honey. Mix well.

7. Add a tablespoon of water to dilute the dressing. 

8. Take the broccoli out of the oven, flip over and place back in the oven for 5 minutes

9. Take the broccoli out, drizzle your tahini dressing and sprinkle with pine nuts

Chicken Soup - Slow Cooker

Serving: 6-8 | Prep Time: 10 minutes | Cook Time: 7 hours minimum

6-Ingredient Chicken Soup! 

Ingredients

3/4 cup of Chicken Broth (Low Sodium)

8 piece pack of chicken

1 cup of chopped Dill 

1 cup of Carrots cut into 1/2" pieces

1 cup of Celery cut into 1/2" pieces

1 cup of Onions cut into 1/2" pieces

Directions

1. Add chicken broth to the bottom of the pot.

2. Add all listed ingredients into the pot. 

3. Add 4 cups of water or fill the rest of your crock pot with water. 

4. Cook on high for a minimum of 7 hours. 

Note: I personally leave my chicken soup to cook overnight so that the flavors settle in by the next day. The longer it cooks, the more flavor your soup will have! 

Pumpkin Spice Cake Pops

Serving: 3 Dozen | Prep Time: 1 hour minutes | Cook Time: 40 minutes

Ingredients

1. Vanilla Cake Mix (I used Duncan Hines)

2. 3 eggs

3. 1/3 cup of vegetable oil

4. 3 tablespoons of cream cheese frosting (I used Duncan Hines)

5. 1 cup of pure pumpkin

6. 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon

7. 24 oz of vanilla candy melts (I used Wilton Candy Melts)

Direction

1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees

2. Take a large bowl and add your cake mix, eggs, water and vegetable oil. Add the pumpkin and cinnamon. Mix well.

3. Pour the cake batter evenly into a 13 x 9" pan. 

4. Bake for 40 minutes. **Your cake box directions may say 28 minutes but I added 10 more minutes because of the pumpkin addition. The pumpkin needs more time to bake. 

5. Remove from the oven. Let cool for 30 minutes. 

6. When your cake is cool, place it in a bowl and crumble it. Add 3 tablespoons of cream cheese frosting. Mix well. 

7. Roll the cake into 1" balls. 

8. Place back in a tin and into a freezer for 20 minutes. 

9. Remove the cake balls from the freezer. 

10. Melt your candy melts! I melted mine in the microwave on defrost mode for 1 minute. You may also melt in a double boiler. 

11. Dip your cake balls into the candy melt. You can let them dry in a pan. 

**I purchased lollipop sticks and stuck them on a piece of styrofoam to evenly dry. 

Tip: Add a drop of vegetable oil when your candy melt begins to harden.

12. Once the candy melt is on your cake pop, feel free to add some sprinkles before they harden! 

Roasted Garlic Sweet Potato Flatbread

Serving: 3 |  Prep time:15 mins | Cook Time:52 mins | Total Time:1 hour, 7 minutes 

Ingredients

1. 1 medium Sweet Potato

2. 1/4 cup of Olive Oil

3. Ready-to-Bake Pizza Dough (I used the Trader Joe's pizza dough low fat brand)

4. 1/5 cups of Ricotta Cheese

5. 1/2 cups of shredded Mozzarella

6. 1 head of garlic

7. 1/2 a cup of Arugula

**You may need some flour to prevent for the ready-made dough. Please see our Seven Bites Rules regarding using additional ingredients. The flour does not enhance this dish -- it only allows the dough to be easier to lay out on the baking sheet. 

Directions:

1. Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees

2. Slice sweet potatoes into 1/8" slices. Place in a baking pan and brush some olive on both sides. Bake for 10 minutes. Flip over and bake for another 10-15 minutes depending on how quickly your potatoes cook.

3. Slice the top of the garlic head. Place on a piece of tine foil. Drizzle 2 tablespoons of olive oil on the top of the garlic. Cover the garlic in tin foil and place in the oven for 35 minutes. 

4. While your garlic and sweet potatoes are cooking, leave the dough on your kitchen counter for 15 minutes so it's at room temperature. 

5. Once your garlic and sweet potatoes are out of the oven, pre-heat the oven to 425 degrees. On a 9x11 baking sheet. Brush a light layer of olive oil to prevent the dough from sticking. If the dough is difficult to spread, add some flour. 

6. Once your dough is evenly spread out on your baking sheet, spread the mozzarella cheese. Add spoonful scoops of ricotta cheese, spread the sliced potatoes and add the garlic cloves. 

7. Bake for 12 minutes. Take the pizza out and spread the arugula on the pizza. Bake for 5 minutes. 

Baked Honey Chicken

Serving: 2

Ingredients

3 tablespoons of Honey

1/3 cup of Italian Dressing (I used Wish-Bone's Light Italian Dressing)

1/3 cup of Breadcrumbs 

1 lb of boneless chicken thighs (Approximately 4 pieces)

Scallions - For garnish

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F

2. Place chicken in a plastic bag. 

3. Pour the italian dressing into the plastic bag and seal. Shake the bag well and place in the fridge for 10 minutes so that the dressing absorbs into the chicken. 

3. Place chicken in a baking dish. Coat the top of the chicken with breadcrumbs. 

4. Drizzle honey over chicken making sure that the honey is evenly dispersed.

5. Bake for 40 minutes.

6. When ready to serve garnish the chicken with diced scallions. 

Goat Cheese Sweet Potato Salad

Serving: 5

Ingredients

1.  Three Medium Sweet Potatoes

2. Five ounces of Goat Cheese  

**I used Silver Goat, Garlic & Herbs - You can purchase this at Trader Joe's.

3. Six cups of Arugula

4. 1/3 cup of Olive Oil

5. 1/2 teaspoon of ground Cinnamon

6. 1/4 cup of Lemon Juice

7. 1/2 cup of Pistachios

Directions

1. Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees F.

2. Peel and cut potatoes into 1 inch cubes

3. Place sweet potatoes into a large bowl. Add 2 tablespoons of olive oil and 1/4 teaspoon of ground cinnamon. Mix well. Add one more tablespoon of olive oil and another 1/4 teaspoon of ground cinnamon. Continue to mix until the olive oil and ground cinnamon are evenly coated on the sweet potatoes.

4. Spray or lightly coat a 9" x 13" pan with olive oil. 

5. Evenly distribute the potatoes on the pan and place in the oven for 20 minutes. Take the potatoes out, flip them over and place back in the oven for 15 minutes. Allow potatoes to cool.

6. In a large serving bowl, add arugula, pistachios, sweet potatoes and crumble the goat cheese. 

7. Dressing: In a small bowl, pour 1/4 cup of lemon juice and 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Mix well.

8. Lightly dress your salad. (Tip: Do not pour the entire dressing mixture at once. It's easier to add dressing than take out!). 

Almond Chicken Poppers

Serving: 4

Ingredients:

1. Two Skinless Boneless Chicken Breasts

2. 1 cup almond meal (Example: Trader Joe's Almond Meal)

3. 1 Egg

4. Red Chili Pepper Flakes to taste

5. Olive oil spray

6. All Purpose Seasoning to taste

Optional: Chives for garnish

Directions:

1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Cut chicken into bite size pieces.

3. In z bowl, whisk the egg

4. In a larger bowl, pour almond meal. Add in Red Chili Pepper Flakes and All Purpose Seasoning. Mix.

5. Place chicken in the bowl with the whisked egg and to coat.

6. Line a 9x13 pan with olive oil spray.

7. Coat the chicken in the almond mixture.

8. Place in the pan, spray the top with olive oil spray. Bake for 25 minutes.

9. Flip chicken and place back in the oven for 10 minutes.

Maple Glazed Garlic Roasted Carrots

 

  

    

Serving: 4

Ingredients

2 bunches of raw Dutch Carrots

2 tablespoons of pure Maple Syrup
1 tablespoon of olive oil
1 teaspoon of crushed garlic
Parmesan cheese to taste

Directions
1. Pre heat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Thoroughly wash carrots. Trim the top and set them aside.
3. In a small mixing bowl, add the maple syrup, olive oil and crushed garlic. Mix well.
4. Place the carrots in a baking pan and pour the syrup mixture. Lightly toss.
5. Place the carrots in the oven for 30 minutes. Remove from the oven. Flip the carrots and place back in the oven for 15 minutes.
6. Plate carrots. Garnish with finely chopped carrot greens and add parmesan to taste.

Cookie Dough Cupcakes

Serving: 20 cupcakes

Ingredients:

2 1/2 cups of flour

2 sticks of margarine

2 1/4 cups of sugar

4 eggs

1 cup of 2% milk

1 1/2 tablespoons of vanilla

12 pieces of pre cut cookie dough

Direction:

1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees

2. Cream 2 sticks of margarine and mix in 2 1/4 cups of sugar until fluffy. 

3. Add 4 eggs (one at a time), constantly beating the batter.

4. Add 1 cup of milk and vanilla. 

5. Add the flour to the mixture. 

6. Evenly spread the batter into the cupcake holders. 

7. Place a piece of cookie dough in the center of each cupcake. 

8. Bake for 30 minutes. 

9. Cool for 25 minutes before serving. 

How Far We've Come...

We know you've missed us! It's been a while since we've posted recipes, but we will be back this month with new easy recipes. We started this food blog in 2012, and it's crazy how far we've come. From food styling to food photography, we are thrilled with the positive feedback we've receive over the years. To take a look back, below are UPDATED photos of our FIRST recipe.

~Cookie Dough Cupcakes~

Ingredients:

2 1/2 cups of flour

2 sticks of margarine

2 1/4 cups of sugar

4 eggs

1 cup of 2% milk

1 1/2 tablespoons of vanilla

12 pieces of pre cut cookie dough

Direction:

1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees

2. Cream 2 sticks of margarine and mix in 2 1/4 cups of sugar until fluffy. 

3. Add 4 eggs (one at a time), constantly beating the batter.

4. Add 1 cup of milk and vanilla. 

5. Add the flour to the mixture. 

6. Evenly spread the batter into the cupcake holders. 

7. Place a piece of cookie dough in the center of each cupcake. 

8. Bake for 30 minutes. 

9. Cool for 25 minutes before serving. 

Sautéed Mushrooms and Onions Hot Dog

Serving: 7

Ingredients

1 (14 oz) package of Hot Dogs

1 (8 oz) package of sliced 'Baby Bella' mushrooms

1 small brown onion

1/4 teaspoon of crushed garlic 

3 tablespoons of olive oil

1 (12 oz) package of Frankfurter rolls

Mustard to taste

Directions
1. Dice the brown onion.
2. Lightly coat the skillet with olive oil. Place the diced onions in a skillet and sauté on a medium heat until they begin to brown.
3. Add sliced mushrooms and crushed garlic to the skillet. Sauté until the mixture is golden brown.
4. Option 1: Coat a separate skillet with cooking spray and add the hot dogs. On a medium-high heat, cook the hot dogs and constantly turn them in order that they evenly cook.
Option 2: Place the hot dogs on the grill perpendicular to the grate and 1 inch apart. Turn them every 1-2 minutes in order that they cook evenly.
(Your hot dogs will be ready once the outside begins to crack)
5. Open your hot dog buns face down either on a grill or skillet and toast for 30 seconds.
6. Place your hotdogs in the bun and add the mushroom and onion mixture.
7. For extra flavoring add mustard to taste. 

Skinny Goat Cheese Pesto Wraps

Serving: 6

Ingredients

1/3 cup of goat cheese ( I used Tnuva Goat Cheese)

1/4 cup of Pesto Sauce

1 Avocado

1/3 cup of chopped onion

Salt to taste

Pepper to taste

6 whole wheat tortilla wraps

Directions

1. In a small bowl mash the avocado. Add salt and pepper to taste.

2. In a separate bowl, mix the goat cheese and pesto sauce until it becomes a creamy texture. 

3. Spray a large frying pan with cooking spray. Place a tortilla wrap in the pan. Spread the goat cheese-pesto mixture, and then the mashed avocado evenly. Fold the tortilla in half. 

4. On a medium-low heat melt the tortilla until both sides become golden brown. 

Garlic Lemon Chicken

We were very excited to work with Joy of Kosher and use Grow & Behold's, Sara's Spring Chicken to make this recipe as their products are known to be of the highest quality. In addition to being Glatt Kosher, Grow & Behold's birds are pasture raised. As soon as the birds are large enough to be moved outside, they spend their entire lives on grass. They live in spacious, movable pens that are moved each day allowing them to access a growing salad bar of natural food. The birds are also fed a special blend of non-GMO food, which enhances its flavors, giving it a fresh and pure taste. When making this recipe, we highly recommend you to order your chicken from Grow & Behold. 

You can also find this recipe on Joy of Kosher's website.

Serving: 5

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 2 hours and 30 minutes

[Kosher for Passover]

Ingredients:

1 Whole Chicken (2.5-3.5 lb)

10 Lemons

2 cans of Chicken Broth (10.5 oz, each)

1/2 cup of Thyme

1 tablespoon of Crushed Garlic

1/4 cup of olive oil

Pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

2. Place your chicken on a baking rack inside the roasting pan. 

3. Pat the chicken dry.  Using a pastry brush, generously brush the inside and outside of the chicken with olive oil. 

4. Lightly sprinkle pepper inside and outside of the chicken. 

5. Thinly slice 1 lemon and place about 4-5 of those slices inside the cavity of the chicken. [The cavity is the hollow space of the chicken]. 

6. Add 1/4 tablespoon of thyme inside the cavity.

7. Coat the bottom of your roasting pan with 1 tablespoon of olive oil and line with an additional thinly sliced lemon. 

8. Using your pastry brush, lightly coat the chicken with crushed garlic. 

9. In a large measuring cup squeeze 1 cup of lemon juice. Add 1 can of chicken broth. Mix well. 

10. Pour mixture of chicken. 

11. Place in the oven for 15 minutes.

12. Lower oven temperature to 250 degrees and cook for 1 hour. 

13. Remove the chicken from the over. Take the second can of chicken broth and pour over the chicken.

14. Thinly slice an additional lemon and place on top and around the chicken. Add 1/4 cup of thyme and add on top and around the chicken as well.  (you can leave the thyme on the stem if you would like).  

15. Place back in the oven for 45 minutes. 

16. Remove the chicken from the oven and tightly cover in order that the chicken doesn't dry out. Place back in the oven for an additional 30 minutes. 

Mediterranean Tuna Salad

Serving: 3

Ingredients:

1 can of White Albacore Tuna with oil. (10 oz)

1/4 cup of chopped Spring Onions

1/4 cup of chopped Red Onion

1/4 cup of chopped Red Bell Pepper

1/4 cup of sliced Green olives

2 1/2 tablespoons of Lemon Juice

3 teaspoons of Paprika 

Directions:

1. In a bowl, add the tuna (do not remove the oil), spring onion, red onion, red bell pepper, and green olives. Mix well.

2. Once combined, add the lemon juice and paprika. Mix well. 

3. Serve cold and enjoy! 

Mishloach Manot Giveaway

Chocolate Works and Seven Bites have teamed up this Purim and are giving away a FREE Mishloach Manot!

How to Enter?

1. "Like" Chocolate Works on Facebook
2. "Like" Seven Bites on Facebook
3. Let us know that you've entered by commenting on this post on our Facebook Page. Click here

4. All entries must be in by 2/26/2015 at 5:00 pm. 

The winner will be chosen at random and announced Thursday evening.

~Good Luck~

Chocolate Mousse Trifle

Serving: 4 glass mini trifle bowls

Ingredients: 

10.7 oz package of red velvet Oreo's

3 bananas

8 oz. of cream cheese

11.5 oz. of dark chocolate chips

8 oz. of cool whip

7 oz. of whip cream

Raspberries to top it off! 

Directions:

1. Crush up the oreos until they are a crumb-like texture. Divide and press evenly into each trifle bowl

2. Thinly slice each banana. Evenly lay out the banana slices on top of the oreo layer 

3. Melt the chocolate chips in the microwave for about 30-45 seconds

4. Place the cream cheese in a separate bowl. Add the melted chocolate to the cream cheese and mix together using an electric mixer

5. Fold in the cool whip to the cream cheese and place mixture on top of the banana layer

6. Add a nice even layer of whip cream to the top, and a few raspberries to finish off your dessert!