Grilled Shrimp with Crunchy Asian Slaw Salad

I think part of me is still on vacation mode. I’m still living out of my suitcase. The smell of sunscreen is embedded into all of my clothes and I don’t mind. And I’m feeling the need to turn every piece of fruit in the house into some kind of frozen beverage.

Grilled Shrimp with Crunchy Asian Slaw Salad. Recipe posted at thetastyfork.com #easyrecipe #grillingrecipe #salad #healthy

I ate a lot of fish while in Florida…but obviously not enough. When I woke up on Monday, I started to day dream about dinner and grilling shrimp wouldn’t leave my mind. I love grilled shrimp for many reasons. It’s always cooks quick, has a  pretty presentation and shrimp stands up to just about any marinade.

Dinner doesn't get much easier than this! Grilled Shrimp with Crunchy Asian Slaw Salad. Recipe posted at thetastyfork.com

Besides wanting shrimp, a crunchy Asian salad sounded amazing. (I think I spent too much time in airport restaurants…every menu has their own signature Asian salad.) Most Asian salads are filled with calories — like fried chicken and heavy dressings. I gave the typical Asian salad a make over. It’s filled with cabbage, carrots, green onions, chopped almonds, fresh red pepper, orange slices, spinach and smashed ramen noodles. The dressing is simple. Just mix vinegar, extra virgin olive oil and some honey. I’d eat this salad any day of the week! It can be made ahead of time and the leftovers should hold for 3 days.

Grilled Shrimp with Crunchy Asian Slaw Salad. Recipe posted at thetastyfork.com #healthy #recipe #easyrecipe

To stick with the Asian theme, I came across a marinade which uses ingredients mainly found in the pantry. The fresh lime juice and soy sauce give the shrimp a lot of kick. Be sure to let the uncooked shrimp sit in the marinade for the full 20 minutes. That time will allow the flavors to really set into the shrimp. Considering grilling shrimp only takes 6 minutes, this meal will be on your table in less than 30 minutes.

Grilled Shrimp with Crunchy Asian Slaw Salad. Recipe posted at thetastyfork.com Perfect meal for a weeknight!

This Grilled Shrimp with Crunch Asian Slaw Salad was just what I needed to get my healthy eating back on track after a vacation. Eating a meal with lots of veggies and grilled shrimp tasted so much fresher than a restaurant version. My husband loved it, too. This recipe is definitely a keeper and I hope you’ll try it soon!

Zesty Grilled Shrimp with Crunchy Asian Slaw #easyrecipe

Grilled Shrimp with Crunchy Asian Slaw Salad

Ingredients

    For the shrimp:
  • 2 shallots, peeled and chopped
  • 1 (2-inch) piece fresh ginger, peeled and chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic, smashed
  • 3/4 cup soy sauce (low sodium, if desired)
  • 1/2 cup fresh lime juice (about 3 limes)
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 1/4 cup chopped green onions
  • 1/4 cup sesame oil
  • 1/4 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
  • 2 pounds large shrimp, uncooked & peeled
  • For the salad:
  • 1 package (3 oz) ramen noodle soup mix (any flavor)
  • 1 bag (16 oz) coleslaw mix (shredded cabbage and carrots)
  • 4 medium green onions, sliced
  • 1/4 cup chopped almonds
  • 1 medium red bell pepper, sliced
  • 2 seedless oranges, peeled, coarsely chopped
  • 1 cup coarsely chopped fresh baby spinach leaves
  • For the salad dressing:
  • 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/3 cup rice vinegar
  • 1.5 tbsp honey
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper

Instructions

  1. Place shallots, ginger, garlic, soy, lime juice, and honey in a blender and blend until smooth. Add the green onion and oil. Blend until combined. Season with black pepper, to taste. Place shrimp in a large bowl, pour the marinade over, and let marinate at room temperature for 20 minutes. Using skewers, grill shrimp over medium heat for 2-3 minutes per side. Remove from heat when shrimp are no longer opaque.
  2. For the salad, break up ramen noodles in bag before opening. Discard seasoning packet from soup package. Add noodles and all remaining salad ingredients. Whisk dressing ingredients into a small bowl. Pour over salad. Using tongs, toss salad until the dressing is evenly distributed.
  3. Serve grilled shrimp with salad. If you end up having leftovers, turn this salad meal into a taco! Heat up a corn tortilla and use the shrimp & slaw as a filling. It tastes great!
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Shrimp recipe was inspired by Bobby Flay.

meghan sig

 

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Buffalo Portobello Burgers with Grilled Pineapple Salsa

Ummm yum.

#Vegetarianrecipe Buffalo Portobello Burgers with Grilled Pineapple Salsa #summer #grilledrecipe

This is my 3rd recipe of Buffalo Flavored food this week. And I’m totally not sick of it yet. Buffalo flavored food gets a lot blog time during football season and man friendly posts. I’d had a fun time “healthifing” popular buffalo recipes, like Spicy Buffalo Chicken & Blue Cheese Potatoes and Quinoa Buffalo Chicken Salad. Today’s post is for all of my vegetarian friends! But for my fellow meat lover’s, don’t worry, this recipe is for you, too!

Buffalo Portobello Burgers with Grilled Pineapple Salsa. Probably two things you wouldn’t think to pair together…. But I guess I’m kinda of weird in that way. My love for combining buffalo sauce and pineapple comes from one of my favorite pizza places. The buffalo chicken pizza always has pineapple on it. Sweet with some heat is right up my alley.

Buffalo Portobello Burgers with Grilled Pineapple Salsa. Healthy burger recipe! Perfect for summer.

Using large portobello mushrooms in place of meat for a burger is something I try to do when I want a lighter meal. In this recipe, I used the same buffalo sauce marinade from Monday’s post. The salsa recipe is very basic, too. It’s the typical ingredients – tomatoes, onions, jalapenos, cilantro, avocado and lime juice. Slice up some pineapple and put that on the grill with the mushrooms. The mushrooms will shrink in size, so you’ll probably want 2 portobellos per person. Once the pineapple is grilled, cut it up and add it to the salsa. Serve salsa on top of the mushrooms and you have yourself an awesome veggie burger!

If you’re the type of person who isn’t into the whole veggie burger thing, I dare you to try this recipe. It has all of the flavors you’ll love — buffalo sauce, sweet & caramelized pineapple and fresh salsa. This recipe would be great for a week night since it comes together so quickly. I’d also serve this at a weekend cook out as a fun vegetarian option.

New spin on veggie burgers - Buffalo Portobello Burger with Grilled Pineapple Salsa. #healthy #burger #recipe

Be sure to come by the blog tomorrow! I’ll be in Florida but I have a special guest stopping by and posting an amazing dessert. (And no, there isn’t buffalo sauce in it!)

Buffalo Portobello Burgers with Grilled Pineapple Salsa

Ingredients

    For the Portobellos
  • 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
  • 4 tbsp hot sauce
  • 1 tbsp paprika
  • 1/4 tsp ground cayenne pepper
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/8 tsp ground white pepper
  • Pinch of salt
  • 8 portobellos, cleaned
  • For the salsa
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, quartered
  • 1 jalapeno, diced
  • 1/2 cup white onion, diced
  • 2 tbsp cilantro, chopped
  • 1 avocado, chopped
  • 1 lime, juiced
  • pinch of salt
  • 4 pineapple rings, cored
  • 4 burger buns
  • Hot sauce, optional

Instructions

  1. To make the marinade, combine olive oil & the next 6 ingredients. Place mushrooms in a resealable bag and pour in the marinade. Let it sit at room temperature for atleast 10 minutes.
  2. For the salsa, combine all ingredients except for the pineapple.
  3. Turn the grill to a medium heat. Place portobellos on grill, flesh side down. Add pineapple rings. Grill for 5 minutes. Flip portobellos and pineapple. Grill for 3 minutes. Toast buns on the grill. Remove everything from the grill. Let the portobellos sit for a few minutes. Chop pineapple and stir into the salsa.
  4. 2 portobellos per person. Serve on the toasted bun, topped with grilled pineapple salsa.
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meghan sig

 

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Spicy Buffalo Chicken and Blue Cheese Potatoes

I can hardly believe it’s June 3rd! I’ve been looking forward to this week for a looooong time. Back in February, a group of my girl friends planned a trip to Florida for one our friends who was diagnosed with cancer in 2012. She’s now in remission and we’re gonna have a “F-Cancer” Weekend. I can only imagine the amount of girly frozen drinks, glitter and giggling in my near future. It’s going to be fun!! Since I’ll be traveling on Friday, Julie from White Lights on Wednesday will be guest posting for me. You’re gonna love what she has to share with you!!

Healthified recipe for #chickenwing lovers! Spicy Buffalo Chicken and Blue Cheese Potatoes. Make it on your grill this summer! #thetastyfork #healthyrecipe #chicken

For the next few days, I’m going to be posting some of my favorite Buffalo flavored recipes. All with a healthy twist! Today I’m sharing with you an awesome grilled recipe. Spicy Grilled Chicken and Blue Cheese Potatoes. Yes, everything was cooked on the grill. It’s the perfect week night meal! This Buffalo Chicken meal can be on the table in less than 30 minutes and clean up is a sinch.

#healthy #recipe Perfect for the buffalo sauce lover! Spicy Buffalo Chicken with Blue Cheese Potatoes. Make everything on your #grill

The marinade for the sauce is a little olive oil, hot sauce, paprika, garlic powder and cayenne pepper. Let the chicken breasts sit in the marinade for 30 minutes. Grill for 20 minutes and then let it rest. For the potatoes, make a foil pouch and grill for 20-25 minutes. When the potatoes are cooked, stir in the healthifed blue cheese dressing. Top with green onions. There you have it. That’s all it takes to make this healthy meal!

30 minute meal! Spicy Buffalo Chicken & Blue Cheese Potatoes. #grillrecipe #chicken #healthyrecipe #thetastyfork

If you’re the type of person who loves buffalo wings but hate all of the calories, this meal is for you! It’s figure friendly and something you can make any night of the week.

Spicy Buffalo Chicken and Blue Cheese Potatoes

Ingredients

    For the chicken:
  • 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
  • 4 tbsp hot sauce
  • 1 tbsp paprika
  • 1/4 tsp ground cayenne pepper
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/8 tsp ground white pepper
  • Pinch of salt
  • 4-6 chicken breasts
  • For the Grilled Potatoes
  • 2 potatoes, cleaned and chopped
  • Cooking Spray
  • Salt & Pepper
  • 1/4 cup low fat cottage cheese
  • 1/4 cup low fat plain yogurt
  • 1/4 cup low fat blue cheese crumbles
  • Salt & Pepper
  • 1 green onion, sliced

Instructions

  1. To make the marinade, combine olive oil & the next 6 ingredients. Place chicken in a resealable bag and pour in the marinade. Work it into the chicken and let it sit at room temperature for 30 minutes.
  2. Grab a long piece of aluminum foil and cover it with cooking spray. Place chopped potatoes on the foil, sprinkle with salt & pepper and spray the tops of potatoes with cooking spray. Fold up the foil and seal all sides so no air escapes.
  3. In a small bowl, combine cottage cheese and yogurt using a hand mixer. Mix for 2-3 minutes. Fold in blue cheese, salt & pepper. Store in the refrigerator until ready to use.
  4. Grill chicken and potato packet for 20 minutes. Flip chicken and potato packet half way into cooking. Remove chicken and let it rest for 5 minutes. Place chopped potatoes into a large bowl. Pour half of the blue cheese sauce over the potatoes. Fold into the potatoes. Garnish with green onion sliced. Serve chicken and potatoes with additional blue cheese sauce on the side.
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meghan sig

 

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Clean Eating Chicken Salad

I LOVE chicken salad. I remember the first time I ever had it. My family and I were on a vacation white water rafting in Colorado. We were half way into our day on the river and stopped for lunch. The crew leaders made chicken salad with chunks of celery and onions. It was probably my favorite part of the trip. When we returned home, my Mom started making the recipe & it became a family favorite.

Summer Recipe Makeover - Clean Eating Chicken Salad #cleaneating #thetastyfork

Chicken salad sounds like it would be healthy but a majority of recipes are total calorie bombs. Filled with mayo and sour cream. Using dark meat from chicken. Huge portions of chicken salad on sourdough bread. All are wonderful things in their own right, but it makes me feel gross seeing the calorie content on chicken salad recipes. There was a time in my life when eating healthy all the time wasn’t something I thought too much about. But the older I get and more educated I am about food effects on the body, the more I strive to “healthify” my favorite recipes.

This chicken salad recipe would fall under the clean eating category. Clean eating is classified by eating foods as close as possible to their natural state. Avoid processed and packaged foods with preservatives and chemicals. A clean eating diet consists of fresh produce, lean meats, nuts and whole grains. Some books I’ve read allow limited dairy, some do not. The main dairy product I see widely accepted is Greek yogurt; reason being Greek yogurt is loaded with protein & that makes it ok.

Clean Eating Chicken Salad. #cleaneating made easy! #chickensalad #healthyrecipe #thetastyfork

To make Clean Eating Chicken Salad, you’ll need two cooked chicken breasts (cut into cubes), celery, onion, red grapes and Greek yogurt. Mix all ingredients in a large bowl and season with sea salt & pepper. I could eat it just like this but I turned it into a sandwich with a 100% whole wheat pita. An easy mistake of clean eating is not looking at labels. Many breads will say 100% whole wheat on the package but when you read the list of ingredients and refined white flour is on the list, put back the bread and find something else. Across the board, you want to eat food with fewer ingredients & recognize all of the ingredients you’re eating. If you can’t pronounce something listed, don’t eat it.

Have I rambled enough for you yet?? I guess my point of this little post today is know what you’re putting into your body. I created a healthy chicken salad recipe because I can’t live my life with out eating it! Greek yogurt is an easy & tasty substitute for mayonnaise. There is a nice crunch to this salad from the celery and onion. My favorite part are the red grapes! It gives this chicken salad an element of sweetness perfect for the summer months. By using chicken breast meat, this recipe is loaded with protein and very little fat.

#cleaneating chicken salad on whole wheat pita. #healthyrecipe

What are our favorite recipes you can’t live with out? Do any of them need a healthified makeover? Let me know in the comments and I might be able to help! I’m not a clean eating expert…just trying to apply some simple steps to every day life. :)

Clean Eating Chicken Salad

Ingredients

  • 2 cooked skinless, boneless chicken breasts - cut into cubes
  • 2 celery stalks, chopped
  • 1/4 red onion, chopped
  • 1/2 cup red seedless grapes, quartered
  • 1/2 cup Greek yogurt
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
  • dash of sea salt
  • 2 100% whole-wheat pita halves (optional)
  • 4 romaine lettuce leaves (optional)

Instructions

  1. In a large bowl, mix all of the salad ingredients. Chicken salad can be eaten as is or eat as a pita sandwich. Recipe serves 4.
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meghan sig

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Deviled Egg Potato Salad

I can not believe it’s almost June! Where in the world is 2013 going? I mean, I’m not even used to writing 2013 yet. It puts a smile on my face knowing we have a full summer ahead of us! What do you look forward to over the summer months? For me, I love Chicago Street Festivals, alfresco dining at my favorite restaurants and being able to walk to my favorite fro-yo spot. I also enjoy a good cook out! When it comes to a cook out, I think I get the most excited about the side dishes. Don’t get me wrong, I love some meat on the grill. But I never overlook what to eat with what’s being grilled. Potato salad & deviled eggs are probably my favorite summer side dishes. So why not combine to two??

Combine picnic favorites with this side dish. Deviled Egg Potato Salad. #summer #potatosalad Recipe at The Tasty Fork

I created this Deviled Egg Potato Salad last summer. It’s the best potato salad I’ve ever eaten. It’s loaded with crunchy veggies, like celery, red peppers and onion. The dressing is tangy from the Dijon mustard and apple cider vinegar. And I just love egg in my potato salad. My Grandma would always add egg to her potato salad, so it’s something I grew up eating. Garnishing the potato salad with parsley & paprika gives the salad a pop of color.

The best potato salad! Deviled Egg Potato Salad. Get the #recipe at The Tasty Fork #potatosalad #summer

Deviled Egg Potato Salad pairs nicely with just about anything you put on the grill. Burgers, brats, hot dogs, chicken or pork could all use a side of this potato salad.  If you like getting compliments and hearing, “yummm, this is soo good!” then you’ll want to make Deviled Egg Potato Salad. Pin it now so you’ll have the recipe on hand. :)

Deviled Egg Potato Salad

Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup mayonnaise
  • 3 tablespoons cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 3 pounds cooked small (2-inch) boiling potatoes, cooled to room temperature and quartered
  • 5 hard-boiled large eggs, sliced
  • 1/2 sweet onion, chopped
  • 3 celery stalks, sliced
  • 1 red pepper, chopped
  • 2 tbsp parlsey, chopped
  • Paprika to taste

Instructions

  1. In a large bowl, combine mayo and the next 5 ingredients. Stir until smooth.
  2. Add potatoes, 4 of the sliced eggs, onion, celery and red pepper. Fold into the dressing. Garnish the top of the potato salad with the remaining egg, parsley and paprika.
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meghan sig

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Thai Chicken Noodle Salad

Last Friday, we went out to dinner to a local Thai restaurant not too far from our home. It’s BYOB which is always a perk! The food was great. Service was interesting…. We had two different servers, both didn’t have a handle on what we ordered. It just felt kind of chaotic. In the end, we’ll probably order carry out from them so we don’t have to deal with the service again. Or I can make this Thai Chicken Noodle Salad instead. It was pretty amazing!

Take out Fake out! Thai Chicken Rice Noodle Salad. Recipe at The Tasty Fork #summersalad #salad #recipe #thai #easyrecipe

There are so many things I love about this noodle salad. It can be served hot or cold. So you can make it and eat it warm. Leftovers can be eaten warm or cold. It tastes great both ways. To cut a corner, I used a rotisserie chicken from the grocery store. Not having the extra step of cooking chicken is a total time saver. Especially when you’re super hungry or busy during the week. There are a lot of fresh vegetables in this dish – purple cabbage, jalapeno slices, red peppers, green onions and cilantro. The sauce is super easy too! (Pantry ingredients!!) The rice noodles cook up quick. I bought Thai Kitchen’s Rice Noodles. You can find these noodles in the Asian section of a grocery store.

Easy Salad Recipe - Thai Chicken Rice Noodle Salad. Take Out Fake Out #Recipe. #thetastyfork #thai #salad

Thai Chicken Noodle Salad recipe makes a lot…. like tons! It’s perfect if you have a few mouths to feed or if you love leftovers. It can be made ahead and eaten through out the week, too. It’s a quick & easy recipe which competes with anything you can order from a Thai restaurant…and a lot healthier for you! I know I’ll be making this Thai Chicken Noodle Salad a lot this summer. I hope you will do the same!

Thai Chicken Rice Noodle Salad. Great alternative to take-out. Recipe at The Tasty Fork. #summersalad #thainoodle #salad #thai #recipe

Thai Chicken Noodle Salad

Ingredients

  • 1 rotisserie chicken
  • Salt
  • 8.8 oz box of thin rice noodles (I used Thai Kitchen brand)
  • 3 tbsp sesame oil
  • 1 red pepper, sliced thin
  • 4 green onions, sliced on an angle
  • 2 jalapenos, sliced thin (I left in the ribs and seeds)
  • 1 inch ginger root, minced
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 tbsp fish sauce
  • 3 tbsp low sodium soy sauce
  • 1/2 cup chicken stock
  • 2 cups shredded purple cabbage
  • 1 cup chopped cilantro
  • Sriracha, to taste (optional)

Instructions

  1. Discard chicken skin. Remove chicken from the bones and shred with your hands.
  2. Bring a large pot filled with water to a boil. Salt the water. Cook noodles according to directions. When done cooking, drain and rinse noodles with cold water. Set aside.
  3. In a wok, heat sesame oil over high heat. Add red pepper, onions, jalapenos, ginger and garlic. Stir-fry for 3 minutes. Add fish sauce, soy sauce and stock. Fold in chicken. Heat the chicken through. Add noodles; mix until well combined. Remove wok from heat. Stir in cabbage and cilantro.
  4. Dinner is ready! Can be stored in an airtight container for up to 4-5 days. Serve with Sriracha, if you need additional spice.
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Easy Dessert: Red, White & Blue Crock Pot Cobbler

Memorial Day is the official kick  off to summer. Kids are getting out of school. Vacation plans are becoming realities. Every weekend is booked with get togethers with your friends and family. If you’re like me, I need a good variety of of amazing recipes. I’m the type of girl who could never show up to a party with a recipe I’ve already shared in the past. I came up with an easy dessert which would be a hit anytime of the year…but I love it since it’s a summer cobbler and no oven is required. This easy treat can me made in the crock pot.

Perfect 4th of July Dessert. Red, White and Blue Crock Pot Cobbler. #Easy #Dessert #Recipe at The Tasty Fork. #MemorialDay #FourthofJuly

I try not use my oven once the weather is in summer mode. I hate how hot it makes our place and even standing in the  kitchen makes me sweat. YUCK! Being able to make a cobbler in a slow cooker is a godsend on a hot summer day! And this Red, White & Blue Crock Pot Cobbler would be an easy option for picnic or cook out. It’s easy to assemble, loaded with fruit and can be cooked in just 2 hours with no effort. It even has a crispy cobbler topping. (that’s the best part about a cobbler, right??!!)

The Tasty Fork #Recipe - Red, White & Blue Crock Pot Cobbler. Perfect Summer Dessert for #Memorial #Day and #FourthofJuly #easydessert #crockpot #slowcooker #dessert

So what makes this cobbler so patriotic?? Red berries like cherries and raspberries. White from gala and granny smith apples. Blue is for blueberries. Topping with a scoop of ice cream makes this easy dessert creamy and disappear from serving bowls.

Red, White & Blue Crock Pot Cobbler. Recipe from The Tasty Fork. #EasyDessert #Recipe #fourthofjuly #memorialday #crockpot #slowcooker #dessert

I love the tartness of the berries, crispy cobbler topping and how the ice cream melts into the warm cobbler. By cooking it in the crock pot, this easy dessert is the perfect summer treat! Give it a try at your next cook out, Memorial Day or 4th of July!

Easy Dessert: Red, White & Blue Crock Pot Cobbler

Ingredients

    For the topping:
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup light brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup white sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1 pinch salt
  • 1/2 cup butter, cut into pieces
  • 1 cup chopped pecans
  • For the cobbler:
  • 1/3 cup white sugar, or to taste
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 4 apples - peeled, cored and chopped (I used 2 Gala and 2 Granny Smith)
  • 2 cups of frozen mixed berries (I used cherries and blueberries)
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • Garnish with ice cream or frozen yogurt

Instructions

  1. For the topping - Mix flour, brown sugar, 1/2 cup of white sugar, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt together in a bowl. Combine butter with the flour mixture using fingers or a fork until coarse crumbs form. Stir in pecans and set aside.
  2. Whisk together 1/3 cup sugar, cornstarch, ginger, and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon. Place the apples in a slow cooker, stir in the cornstarch mixture; toss with lemon juice. Sprinkle the pecan crumb topping on top. Cover and cook on High for 2 hours or Low for 4 hours, until apples are tender. Partially uncover the slow cooker to allow the topping to harden, about 1 hour. Serve with ice cream or frozen yogurt.
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Asian Chicken Burrito with Sriracha Peanut Butter Sauce

Ever wonder what to do when you have one piece of chicken left in a package? If you live with more than one person, looking at one chicken breast and trying to figure out dinner can be a challenge. I guess you could freeze it, but I dare you to look into your fridge and see how many frozen pieces of chicken you already have. For me, I have probably about 6. I don’t need to make it 7. And I’m glad I didn’t take the easy route… because I came up with Asian Chicken Burritos with Sriracha Peanut Butter Sauce. And turned one chicken breast into 4 meals.

Asian burritos at home! Asian Chicken Burritos with Sriracha Peanut Butter Sauce. Recipe @ The Tasty Fork #east #chicken #recipe #asianburrito

Kauai Honeymoon. Photo belongs to The Tasty Fork

I went to Hawaii in January 2012. It was wonderful. Beautiful. Breathtakingly beautiful. We spent a majority of our time on Kauai, the garden island. Since I’m constantly thinking about food, months before we left for our trip, I had already scouted out places to eat. And I’m talking about places were the locals go. I looked like a tourist by taking over 700 photos, but I didn’t want to eat like one.

Kilauea Fish Market in Kauai. Hidden gem!!

I did my research and found a local place called Kilauea Fish Market which was off of the beaten path. They’re known for their huge burritos stuffed with local produce and brown rice…and some of the best ahi tuna you can find in all of Kauai. This picture doesn’t give it justice.

Kilauea Fish Market - Ahi Burrito. Best burrito ever

So here I am, over a year later, still thinking about a burrito I had in Hawaii. I’m crazy, I know. I have no idea when I’ll get back to Kauai. The next best thing I can do is try to recreate what I ate in my own home.

Let’s start with the meat of this dish. I chopped up the one lonely chicken breast into bite sized pieces and cooked it in a skillet with fresh garlic and ginger. I made a marinade of soy sauce, sriracha, honey and orange juice. It wasn’t spicy at all and really paired nicely with the ginger & garlic. You can really taste the orange juice and soy. I loved it.

1 piece of chicken - 4 Burritos. Asian Chicken Burritos with Sriracha Peanut Butter Sauce #easy #chicken #recipe #burrito #thetastyfork

I think I was able to stretch this recipe into 4 servings by adding an 8 oz package of sliced mushrooms to the skillet. Anytime you can go the extra mile with meal by adding vegetables, I’m all for it. Of course, its not a burrito with out some rice, so I took the easy route and used 90 second microwaveable brown rice. (Might be the best invention ever.) Brown rice goes on to a large spinach tortilla first, then chicken and mushrooms, top with fresh veggies like carrots, cucumbers, cilantro, purple cabbage and red peppers. Then it’s time for the best part – Sriracha Peanut Butter Sauce. You guys, I can’t even get over this stuff. It might sound strange at first, but just trust me.

In a bowl, mix peanut butter, sriracha, apple cider vinegar, soy sauce and brown sugar. Microwave it for 60 seconds. I grabbed a piece of cucumber and dipped it in to the sauce. The soy sauce cuts into the peanut butter taste, so it isn’t too sweet. And the sriracha really brings some heat. I added more to my burrito but I’m a spice freak. Drizzle this sauce all over the top of the ingredients, roll up the burrito and serve. And serve some on the side. The sauce might be gone before you finish the burrito

Asian Chicken Burritos with Sriracha Peanut Butter Sauce #thetastyfork #easy #chicken #recipe

In general, I rarely have met a burrito I didn’t like. Sadly, my favorite burrito stand resides in Hawaii. However, by taking my everyday ingredients, trying to use up one last piece of chicken and wanting an Asian flair in my dinner, I came up with a very satisfying burrito. And considering I’m not a leftovers girl, it speaks volumes that I ate this easy Asian chicken burrito for dinner 2 nights in a row! I hope you’ll give it a try and tell me all about it.

Asian Chicken Burrito with Sriracha Peanut Butter Sauce

Ingredients

    Burrito Filling:
  • 1 tbsp sesame oil
  • 1 chicken breast, cut into bite sized pieces
  • 3 green onions, chopped
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 1 tbsp fresh ginger, minced
  • 2 tbsp soy sauce
  • 1/4 cup orange juice
  • 1 tbsp sriracha
  • 2 tsp honey
  • 8 oz package sliced mushrooms
  • Peanut Butter Sriracha Sauce:
  • 1.5 tbsp brown sugar
  • 2 tbsp soy sauce
  • 1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
  • 1-2 tbsp sriracha
  • splash apple cider vinegar
  • Burrito Toppings:
  • 1 package microwaveable brown rice (90 second kind)
  • 1 red pepper, cut into thin strips
  • 2 carrots, shredded
  • 1/2 cucumber, skin & seeds removed
  • 1/2 purple cabbage, shredded
  • Cilantro sprigs
  • 4 large spinach tortillas

Instructions

  1. In a large skillet at a medium heat, pour sesame oil. When it's warm, add chicken, green onions, garlic and ginger. Cook and stir until chicken is done, about 8 minutes. In a small bowl, combine soy sauce, OJ, sriracha and honey. Pour into skillet and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and stir in mushrooms. Cook until mushrooms are soft.
  2. Make peanut butter sriracha sauce by mixing all ingredients into a bowl. Place bowl in the microwave for 1 minute. Stir until smooth. Set aside.
  3. To make burrito, place 2 tbsp brown rice in the middle of the tortilla. Top with chicken and mushroom mixture. Place vegetables and cilantro on top. Drizzle peanut butter sriracha sauce over burrito filling. Roll tortilla to form burrito. Cut in half and serve with additional peanut butter sriracha sauce. (Repeat steps with the remaining 3 tortillas.)
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meghan sig

Vegetarian Recipe: Orzo Salad with Spinach & Chickpeas

Earlier this week on The Tasty Fork Facebook page, I asked what kind of recipes you’d like to see on the blog. One of the responses was from my bloggy friend, Lisa. She asked for more vegetarian recipes. I got to thinking I haven’t posted one in a while, so why not! The weather is starting to warm up, people want to use fresh ingredients and not be standing over a hot stove just to get a meal on the table. This Orzo salad recipe is a vegetarian’s delight and will make the meat people in your life happy. It’s so colorful, how can you not smile at it??

#Vegetarian #Recipe - Orzo Salad with Spinach & Chickpeas. Light & fast meal! #thetastyfork

I don’t know about you but I’ve been eating lighter meals these days. I start off my day with some Greek yogurt and granola, lunch is usually a fruity protein smoothie and then something sensible for dinner. (I sound like one of those dieting ads!) I don’t know what it is but once the sun starts to shine, I’m not AS hungry. That’s why I hardly ever diet in the winter, I know whatever I put on during the colder months will come right off once I can be active outside again.

I’ve said before on this blog, if I post a salad recipe, it needs to be approved from my husband. He’s not going to be satisfied with some girly little salad. So to dress things up and make it more hearty, this salad is filled with orzo pasta, sun-dried tomatoes, chickpeas, spinach and reduced fat feta cheese. The salad dressing is easy – just lemon juice and olive oil. There is no chopping of vegetables, the orzo cooks up in 10 minutes, the lemon juice dressing is super fresh tasting…. I can go on and on about what a great and easy vegetarian salad this is!

Fast & Easy Recipe! Perfect for Summer - Orzo Salad with Spinach & Chickpeas #vegetarian #recipe #thetastyfork

We ate the Orzo Salad as a main entree but it would also be a great side salad. Perfect for a picnic! Personally, I loved how easy it came together and plan on making it again on the nights when I don’t have a lot of time but still want a well rounded meal. Pin this vegetarian recipe – you’ll want it to remember it for those busy work nights and you don’t want to cook! :)

Summer Salad - Orzo Salad with Spinach & Chickpeas. #vegetarian #recipe #thetastyfork

Vegetarian Recipe: Orzo Salad with Spinach & Chickpeas

Ingredients

  • 1/2 lb uncooked orzo (it looks like rice. use whole grain if you can find it!)
  • 3-4 cups baby spinach
  • 1/4 cup julienned sun-dried tomatoes (the ones that aren't in oil. They come packaged in a resealable bag.)
  • 1 (15 oz) can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
  • 1/2 cup reduced feta cheese, crumbled
  • 1 lemon, juiced
  • 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • Fresh ground pepper, to taste

Instructions

  1. Cook orzo according to directions. Al dente is usually around 9 to 10 minutes. Drain and rinse with cold water. Drain again. Pour orzo into a large mixing bowl. Add the rest of the ingredients and toss until well combined. Taste and add fresh cracked pepper, if needed. Serve right away or can be stored in the refrigerator for 2 days in an air-tight container.
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Slow Cooked Ginger & Soy Beef Short Ribs

Isn’t it great when you can have an amazing home cooked meal with very little effort?? And it’s even better when the recipe is comforting. I made beef short ribs in a slow cooker and I loved it. It was the perfect meal after a busy day.

Slow Cooked Beef Short Ribs Ginger & Soy Sauce #slowcooker #crockpot #recipe #thetastyfork

Most times, cooking short ribs means lots of oven time…sometimes up to 4 hours. I don’t know about you, but I certainly don’t have time for that! Short Ribs are very dense and when they’re cooked just right, it’s the most fork tender rib you’ll ever find. Seriously, when I was ready to eat these Ginger & Soy Beef Short Ribs, I didn’t need a knife. Just by digging in with a fork, the meat tore apart.

The marinade are mostly pantry items, including soy sauce, beef broth, brown sugar, garlic and ginger. I added a few spices, like coriander (which you could use cilantro if you don’t want to buy a new spice) and Chinese five spice (again, if you don’t have it – you can use fennel seed or omit it). It’s cooked for 5 hours with the short ribs and then strained and simmered until only half of the liquid remains. It will be a thin sauce that’s perfect to drizzle over the short ribs and 90 second rice.

Slow Cooked Ginger & Soy Beef Short Ribs #slowcooker #recipe #crockpot #thetastyfork #easyrecipe

It’s recipes like this this one make me really happy! I loved how easy it was to prepare such a fancy meal. And the short ribs were amazingly tender and the sauce had a lot of zing from the ginger. And of course, the 90 second microwavable rice guaranteed I didn’t have to scrape a pot of burnt rice. :)  I hope you’ll like it too!

Slow Cooked Ginger & Soy Beef Short Ribs

Ingredients

  • 8 short ribs
  • Salt & Pepper
  • 2 tsp sesame oil
  • 1 cup beef broth
  • 2 tbsp low sodium soy sauce
  • 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
  • 1 inch ginger, peeled and sliced
  • 2 garlic cloves, smashed
  • 1 tsp dried coriander (or cilantro)
  • 1 tsp Chinese 5 spice (or dried fennel)
  • 2 tbsp brown sugar
  • 2 packages of 90 second brown rice
  • Green onions, for garnish

Instructions

  1. Take the 8 short ribs and sprinkle with salt & pepper. In a warm skillet, add sesame oil. Brown short ribs on the meaty side. In the slow cooker, mix together the rest of the ingredients (expect rice & green onions.) Place short ribs in the slow cooker, meaty side down. Cook on low for 6 hours.
  2. When the ribs are fork tender, remove from the slow cooker. Strain liquid in the slow cooker into a sauce pan. Boil 5 to 10 minutes or until reduced by about half.
  3. Microwave rice according to directions (usually 90 seconds!). Serve under short ribs with sauce and green onions.
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meghan sig