Pico de Gallo with Avocado

Lets talk a little about the goodness that is pico de gallo.

Pico de gallo is so simple and can go on pretty much anything you want. And who doesn't love a versatile food?!!!!? You could throw it on some tortilla chips, or over some fish, even in your breakfast scramble.  Craving quesadillas....throw some pico de gallo in it or on top as a garnish.

What you Need:
- 1 large tomato (diced)
- 1/2 white onion (diced)
- Fresh cilantro (broken up)
- 1/2 avocado (diced)
- lemon or lime juice
- salt and pepper (to taste)
- pinch of cumin
- pinch of ground red pepper (optional)
-1 jalapeno (diced and also optional)

What to Do:
- dice up the onion and place in bowl
- dice up tomato and throw into bowl
- chop up cilantro and toss that in the bowl
- mix it all together
- dice up the avocado (and the jalapeno if using one) and put it in the bowl
- throw in the cumin, salt, pepper, and red pepper, mix again until well blended
- squeeze the juice of 1/2 lemon on top (or lime)

Verdict: We love this as an afternoon snack! My children go to town with this, as long as I omit the jalapeno

Black Beans: Sloppy Joe Style

Everyone MUST make this dish at least once in their lives.....

I think my husbands heart skipped a beat when he ate these last night for dinner.

What you need:

- 1 TBL olive oil
- 1/2 yellow onion, chopped
- 1/2 green bell pepper, chopped
- 1 can diced tomatoes, with the juice
- 1/2 C bbq sauce (I used "bulls-eye" Kansas City style)
- 1/4 C Ketchup
- 1 TBL Honey
- 1 TBL Apple Cider Vinegar
- 1 TBL yellow mustard
- 2 can black beans, rinsed and drained
- whole wheat english muffins, toasted
- tomato and lettuce as garnish

What to Do:


- In skillet saute onions until soft
- Throw in the chopped green bell pepper and cook until soft about 5-7 min
- Stir in diced tomatoes, bbq sauce, ketchup, honey, apple cider vinegar and yellow mustard.  Let cook for about 12 min or until the sauce starts to really thicken.
- Stir in the 2 cans of black beans until well coated and cook for about 8 minutes.
- Toast english muffins and scoop sloppy joe mixture over the top.

I  served this with one sad looking tomato, lettuce and some sweet potato french fries.

Verdict:  This is the meal that my husband decided that he REALLY enjoyed vegetarian meals.


p.s. you can find a version of this here

Pesto Shrimp Panini

If you know whats good for you, you will make this tonight.

Your tummy will thank you later

What You Need:
 
- a bunch of fresh basil
- handful of pinenuts
- 1 clove of garlic, minced
- olive oil
- 1/4 C fresh grated parmesan cheese
- 2 slices wheat bread
- yellow onion (just a couple slices)
- tomato (sliced)
- gruyere cheese
- shrimp

What To Do:
Pesto
 -place basil, pinenuts, garlic, olive oil, and parmesan cheese into food processor (I use the Magic Bullet)
 - blend until smooth and set aside
The Rest
 - Cook up the shrimp until pink and go ahead and grill your onions.
 - Get slice of bread and spread pesto on inside.  Place shrimp, then gruyere cheese, followed by the tomato and grilled onions and finished off with a couple more slices of gruyere and some more parmesan.
 - Grill until cheese is nice and melted

This sad picture does not due it's justice. Everyone will thank you, I will thank you.

Verdict: 4th's please???!!! This was divine!

Quinoa: Southwestern Style

I'll be the first to admit that I wasn't to sure about trying Quinoa for the first time.  In fact, I didn't even know how to pronounce it which made it sort of embarrassing difficult to ask the clerk at the local grocery store.

 "Excuse me kind service clerk, do you have "ki-no-ah", errr, "kee-no-ah", umm...."that grainy stuff?"

Luckily for me I was able to figure out the correct pronunciation and therefore come home with a big ol' bag of the stuff.

There are many recipes for Quinoa, but I have to say one of my favorites is Quinoa Southwestern Style.

Quinoa Southwestern Style

What You Need:
- 1 C Quinoa
- 1 can black beans (drained and rinsed)
- 1 avocado (diced)
- 2 tomatoes (diced)
- 1/2 yellow onion (chopped)
- 1 C frozen corn
- cumin (to taste)
- dried oregano (to taste)
- salt and pepper (to taste)
- 1 TBL olive oil

What To Do:
- In sauce pan cook Quinoa according to packaging
- In skillet heat up 1 TBL olive oil.  Throw in chopped yellow onion and let cook for 5-7 min or until soft.
- Toss in the rinsed black beans, and the frozen corn.   Cook, stirring occasionally, over medium heat 5-7 min.
-Throw in the diced tomatoes and avocado and stir until warm and all is mixed together.  Sprinkle in cumin and oregano to your desired taste.
-Once the quinoa has cooked go ahead and throw that into the black bean mixture and stir stir stir until well blended.
- Serve with shredded cheese (for the kids) and hot sauce (for the husband)

Verdict:  My whole family LOVED this meal. 

Practically Vegetarian Mission Statement

Mission Statement

To provide delicious vegetarain meals that everyone will love.....this includes, but is not limited to:

my meat lovin' husband
my 3 children
your mom

...........eh, what the heck...... my mom too.