Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Portabella with Spicy Kale

I made this for lunch yesterday and we both LOVED it!  I will most definitely make it again-this is a keeper at a little over 200 calories for the entire meal. 

 
Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Portabella
2 large portabella mushrooms, stems chopped & reserved
2 wedges The Laughing Cow Light Creamy Swiss cheese
1½ tablespoons Frank’s RedHot Original Cayenne Pepper Sauce
3 ounces skinless chicken breast, cooked & finely chopped
¼ cup onion, finely chopped
1 tablespoon reduced-fat Parmesan, grated

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Lay a large piece of heavy-duty foil on a baking sheet & spray with EVOO. Place mushroom caps on the sheet with rounded sides down.  In a mixing bowl, stir cheese wedges with hot sauce until smooth. Stir in chopped onion, mushroom stems, and chicken.  Spoon mixture into mushroom caps and sprinkle with Parmesan.  Cover with another large piece of foil folding the edges together making a well sealed packet.  Bake for 25 minutes (mushrooms should be soft and tender). 

Spicy Kale
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 bunches dinosaur kale, washed, chopped & deveined
1 large clove garlic, chopped
½ cup onion, chopped
1 tomato, chopped or 1cup 5 Minute Fresh Salsa
1 can Garbanzo Beans, low sodium washed & drained
1 tablespoon cumin

Heat olive oil in skillet. Once skillet is hot, add kale & sauté until it begins to wilt, and then add garlic, onion, tomato/salsa, garbanzo beans, & cumin. Sauté for approximately 7 more minutes.

5 Minute Fresh Salsa

This is so simple to make and tastes better than anything you can buy at the store!  Best of all you control the ingredients--how hot & spicy do you like it?   

4 roma tomatoes, quartered
1 small onion, peeled & halved
2 cloves garlic, peeled
1 cup fresh cilantro leaves
1 tablespoon cumin
1 tablespoon chipotles in adobo
 

Place all ingredients into the Vita-mix container in the order listed. Select variable 1, turn machine on and slowly increase speed to variable 4.  Blend for 20-30 seconds using the tamper to press ingredients into blades. Do not over mix--leave chunky.  Enjoy with whole grain chips or on chicken or fish---the possibilities are endless! 

Garden Pea Soup

Fast food that's fresh! Delicious, healthy alternatives to fast food are quick and easy to prepare in the Vitamix.  Just gather, prepare and process and fresh whole foods become nutrient-rich meals in a matter of minutes!

5½ cups vegetable broth
4 small potatoes, scrubbed & quartered
1 cup fresh sweet peas or ½ package frozen sweet peas
½ shallot or small onion, peeled
¼ inch piece of lemon peel

Cook potatoes, peas and shallot with 4 cups broth in saucepan until potatoes are tender. Place cooked ingredients, remaining broth, and lemon peel into the Vita-mix container in the order listed. Select variable 1, turn machine on and quickly increase speed to variable 10 then High.  Blend for 30-45 seconds. Enjoy!

Nacho Dip

Nacho Dip...you will not feel guilty for eating!

2 cups raw cashews
2 small red bell peppers
1 jalapeño with about half of the seeds
2-4 cloves garlic, peeled
1/3 red onion, peeled
¼ cup lemon juice
¼ cup nutritional yeast
¼ cup tahini
2 teaspoons salt
½ to 1 cup water, to smooth texture
 
Place all ingredients into the Vita-mix container in the order listed. Select variable 1, turn machine on and quickly increase speed to variable 10 then High.  Blend for 45 seconds. Enjoy

Real Tomato Ketchup

The way ketchup should be!

2 cups chopped ripe tomatoes
6 tablespoons sun-dried tomato powder
1½ teaspoon evaporated cane juice
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 tablespoon tamarind paste or 2 teaspoons additional lemon juice
¾ teaspoon salt
Pinch freshly ground white pepper

Place all ingredients into the Vita-mix container in the order listed. Select variable 1, turn machine on and quickly increase speed to variable 10 then High.  Blend for 30-45 seconds.   Ketchup will keep for up to 1 week when stored in a sealed glass jar in the refrigerator. Enjoy!

Savory Basil Soup

1 cup filtered water
1 bunch fresh basil
2 large ripe tomatoes, quartered
1 bell pepper, seeded & stemmed
2 garlic cloves, peeled
3 cups chopped savory cabbage
3 sliced green onions
½ cup dulce leaves
½ avocado, cubed, pitted & peeled

Place water, basil, tomatoes, bell pepper, and garlic into the Vita-mix container in the order listed. Select variable 1, turn machine on and quickly increase speed to variable 10 then High.  Blend for 30-45 seconds. Pour into a large bowl and mix in remaining ingredients.  Enjoy!

Creamy Spicy Avocado Dip

3 ripe avocados, peeled & pitted
2 teaspoons chopped fresh garlic
2 teaspoons cumin powder
2 tablespoon freshly squeezed lime juice
1 teaspoon Himalayan sea salt
½ cup fresh cilantro leaves

Place all ingredients into the Vita-mix container in the order listed. Select variable 1, turn machine on and quickly increase speed to variable 10 then High.  Blend for 30 seconds using tamper to press ingredients into blades.  Enjoy with fresh veggies!

Holiday Squash Soup

2 cups vegetable broth
½ buttercup or butternut squash, cooked & peeled or 2 cups cooked squash or pumpkin
¼ small onion, peeled
¼ medium apple, cored
¼ teaspoon nutmeg
¼ teaspoon dried sage
¼ teaspoon dried rosemary
1/8 teaspoon white pepper
½ teaspoon salt

Place all ingredients into the Vita-mix container in the order listed. Select variable 1, turn machine on and quickly increase speed to variable 10 then High.  Blend for 6-7 minutes until steam escapes from the vent lid. Enjoy!

Heart Healthy Spicy Tomato Cream Sauce

Using a baked sweet potato instead of cream gives this sauce a rich taste WITHOUT the fat!

2 cups 1% milk
½ medium, baked sweet potato
2 roma tomatoes, quartered
½ teaspoon Kosher salt
1 garlic clove, peeled
½ teaspoon dried basil
½ teaspoon dried oregano
½ cup sun dried tomatoes
¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/8 teaspoon white pepper
1 tablespoon potato starch dissolved in ¼ cup cold water

Place all ingredients, except water and potato starch mixture, into the Vita-mix container in the order listed. Select variable 1, turn machine on and quickly increase speed to variable 10 then High.  Blend for 6 minutes until heavy steam escapes from vent lid.  Remove the lid plug and pour potato starch mixture through the opening. Blend for an additional 45 seconds.  Enjoy with whole wheat pasta and turkey meatballs--that’s the way we like it!

Italian Herb Dressing

Spice up your salad with this light dressing or use it as a marinade for on soft vegetables. 

1 cup Zucchini, peeled and chopped
¼ cup Lemon Juice, freshly squeezed
2 tablespoons Flaxseed Oil
2 teaspoons Agave
1¼ teaspoons Italian Seasoning
1 teaspoon Onion Powder
1 teaspoon Flaxseeds
¾ teaspoon Salt (I don’t usually add this because we have cut out salt from our diet)
1 Garlic Clove
Pinch Powdered Mustard

Place all ingredients into the Vita-mix container in the order listed. Select variable 1, turn machine on and quickly increase speed to variable 10 then High.  Blend for 30-45 seconds.  This dressing will keep for up to four days when stored in a sealed glass jar in the refrigerator. Enjoy