Tuesday, August 25, 2015

Chicken Alfredo pasta

Ingredients
1/2 box of rotini pasta
2 chicken breasts, cubed and cooked
1/3 lb ground sausage, browned
1 jar Alfredo sauce
1/2 jar marinara sauce
Italian seasoning
Onion powder
Garlic powder
Parmesan cheese

Directions:

1) Boil pasta
2) Cube and cook chicken breasts, salt and pepper to taste; brown sausage. 
3) mix sauce together: 1 jar white sauce, 1/2 jar red sauce, Italian seasoning, onion powder, and garlic powder. 
4) Assemble by layering pasta, then chicken and sausage, then sauce, then top with shredded Parmesan cheese
5) Bake in oven for 15 minutes, or until heated through and cheese is melted. 

Tuesday, August 4, 2015

Red Lentils and Spinach in Masala Sauce


Ingredients

  • Masala Paste:
  • 1½ teaspoons cumin seeds
  • 1½ teaspoon coriander seeds
  • 2" piece ginger, peeled and cut into pieces
  • a dash of red pepper flakes
  • 1 tablespoons smoked paprika
  • 1 tablespoon garam marsala
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 tablespoons peanut or other nut oil
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • ⅓ cup packed cilantro leaves

  • ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
  • 1 tablespoon coconut oil
  • 1 small yellow onion, diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • ⅓ cup masala paste
  • 1 can stewed tomatoes
  • 1 can coconut milk
  • 2 cups red lentils
  • 4 cups water (for lentils)
  • 2 handfuls spinach, chopped
  • 1 teaspoon garam masala
  • a couple dashes of lemon juice

Directions

  1. Put 2 cups dry red lentils in rice cooker and add 4 cups water. Set to white rice cycle and let that cook while preparing the masala sauce.
  2. To make paste, toast cumin and coriander seeds in skillet until fragrant. Use a mortar and pestle (or a spice grinder) to grind spices. (I use my food processor.)
  3. In a small food processor, add ginger and pulse until broken into small pieces. Add red pepper flakes, smoked paprika, cumin, coriander, garam masala, and salt. Give a couple pulse to incorporate. Next, add nut oil, tomato paste, and cilantro leaves. Pulse until paste forms and everything is well incorporated. Set aside.
  4. Heat a skillet over medium heat. Melt coconut oil and add diced onion, cooking until translucent, 4-5 minutes. Add in minced garlic and cook for one more minute.
  5. Stir in masala paste and cook for 1-2 minutes, then stir in stewed tomatoes and coconut milk. Stir together and bring to a boil.
  6. Add in lentils and reduce heat to medium low. Simmer, stirring often, until mixture cooks down to the texture you want. About 5-10 minutes.
  7. Stir in remaining 1 tsp garam masala and a couple dashes of lemon juice. Add additional salt, if needed.
  8. Add chopped spinach and simmer until wilted, a couple minutes.
  9. Serve over rice.

Adapted from Naturally Ella