Spicy Polenta Croutons

 Serving: 10 (as a crouton for an appetizer)

Ingredients
1.  1 (2oz) pack of polenta 
2.  1 teaspoon of red chili pepper flakes

3.   1/3 cup of olive oil

4.  1 1/2 tablespoons of nutritional yeast

5.   1 tablespoon of chopped garlic

Salt and Pepper to taste

Directions

1.  Pre-heat your oven to 400 degrees F

2. Slice your polenta into 1/2" cubes

3. In a small mixing cup, add chili pepper flakes, olive oil, nutritional yeast, chopped garlic and salt and pepper to taste. Mix well!

4. In a large mixing bowl, place cubed pieces of polenta. Add olive oil mixture and make sure the polenta is evenly coated. 

5.  Spray a large baking pan (I used 2 9x13" pans). Lay out the polenta making sure they are flat on the pan.

6. Place in the oven for 35 minutes. At the half way mark, take out and flip the polenta over so that both sides get crispy. 

Roasted Basil Garlic Asparagus

 

Serving: 4 

Ingredients

1.   1 bunch of asparagus

2.   2 teaspoons of crushed garlic

3.   2 tablespoons of finely chopped fresh basil

4.   2 tablespoons of olive oil

Salt & Pepper to taste

Directions

1.  Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees F

2.   Cut the ends of your asparagus

3.  Place the asparagus in a baking pan

4.  In a small bowl, mix basil, olive oil and crushed garlic. 

5.  Pour mixture over asparagus and add salt and pepper to taste

6.  Place in the oven for 30 minutes 

Beef and Broccoli Stir-Fry

 

Serving 2

Ingredients:

1. 1 lb stir-fry beef

2. 2 heads of broccoli cut into bite sized pieces

3. 1/3 cup toasted sesame oil

4. 1/3 cup soyaki sauce or your favorite soy sauce marinade (I used Trader Joes Soyaki)

5. Sesame seeds to garnish

6. Roughly 1/4 cup olive oil

Directions:

1. Sauté the broccoli until it's fully cooked through. Set aside.

2. Pour the toasted sesame oil and soyaki sauce in a pan on a medium heat. When it starts to simmer add in the steak. 

3. Once the steak is cooked to your liking add in the broccoli. Mix well in order for the sauce to be fully immersed in the beef and broccoli mixture. 

4. Once the stir-fry is plated, top off with some sesame seeds. 

Cucumber and Tomato Dill Salad

 

Serving: 2 

Ingredients
1.   4 Persian Cucumbers
2.   1/4 cup of finely chopped dill
3.    2 beefsteak tomatoes

4.   1/3 cup of thinly slice red onion

5.   2 tablespoons of olive oil

6. 2 tablespoons of lemon juice

Salt & Pepper to taste

Directions

1.  Chop up tomatoes into 1" pieces

2.  Thinly slice your cucumbers

3.  In a salad bowl, place your cucumbers, dill, tomatoes and red onion. 

4. In a small cup, pour olive oil and lemon juice with some salt and pepper to tase. Mix well and pour onto your salad. 

Apple Goat Cheese Salad

 

Serving: 2 

Ingredients

1.   3 cups of spring mix lettuce

2.   1 honey crisp apple

3.   1 avocado

4.  1/2 cup of pecans

5.  2oz of goat cheese ( I used Chevre Garlic & Herb)

6.  Your favorite vinaigrette dressing to taste (I used Brianna's Champagne Vinaigrette)

Directions

1. Add all ingredients into a bowl. Top off with some dressing and toss!