Easy Grilled Vegetable Recipes

Ingredients:

1 16 oz. package organic fettucine noodles
1 pound fresh organic asparagus (try to obtain local, farm fresh!)
2 organic red peppers
2 organic avocados
One half organic onion
One quarter cup organic olive oil
One half cup organic balsamic vinegar
Fresh ground salt and pepper to taste

Bring one large pot of water and one smaller saucepan of water to a boil.  Meanwhile, chop asparagus into one-inch chunks.  Dice peppers and avocados.  To dice the avocado, carefully cut around the entire  circumference with a knife.  Twist the two halves in opposite directions until they come apart.  Squeeze the half holding the pit until the pit pops out.  (If you rinse the pit off, it makes a silly temporary cat toy.) 

Use a knife to cut long parallel lines into the avocado, then cut lines perpendicular to those.  Use a spoon to pop the cubes out of the skin.  Slice onion very thinly, then cut each thin slab in half and separate layers to create slivers.  Whip oil and vinegar together in a smaller bowl; adjust ratio of vinegar to increase tanginess if you like.  

When smaller saucepan of water boils, add asparagus and cook for only two minutes--no longer!  The water may not return to a boil, which is just fine.  You want the asparagus to be quite firm.  Drain asparagus, then place back in saucepan and cover to keep warm. 

Cook fettucine in large pot of water until it’s al dente; in other words, until it’s just  done and still firm--not overcooked and mushy.  Pasta is healthier if it’s not overcooked.  

Drain pasta, then place in large bowl.  Add vinaigrette to noodles and mix until noodles are thoroughly coated.  Whip up more vinaigrette to add if you like.  Add asparagus, peppers, avocado and onion.  Fold mixture until vegetables are evenly distributed throughout the pasta. 

If you want a little protein to accompany this dish, serve it with a light-colored organic or local semi-hard cheese on the side, such as raclette.  This dish also pairs nicely with white wine.  It easily serves six. 

This dish is addictive, so there won’t be any leftovers--which is a good thing, because the avocados won’t keep anyway!

Purchasing organic foods is a rapidly growing trend in the U.S. and all signs say that going organic is no passing fad. Today, a majority of Americans (74 percent) purchase organic food and beverages because they believe it is healthier-and safer-for themselves and their families. Recent evidence suggests that organically grown crops contain higher levels of vitamin C, polyphenols (naturally occurring antioxidants) and some minerals. Just as important to many families is the fact that organic fruits and vegetables are never grown with synthetic chemical fertilizers, pesticides or growth regulators. People feel safer without these chemicals in the produce they eat.

Growing your own organic produce has never been easier. In fact, organic growing can be as simple as planting seeds in a pot or two in the backyard or even on your kitchen windowsill. Before you know it, your own fresh and fragrant, homegrown vegetables and herbs will be ready for the dinner table. No compost piles or expert growing skills required--only seeds, soil, water and a little nurturing.

Here are a few easy tips on how to get started:

Windowsill Growing. You can begin growing your own organic food right on your kitchen windowsill. Seeds of Change offers a variety of options to get you growing, including 100% Certified Organic seeds grown by a network of family-owned, certified organic farmers. Start with a Windowsill Salad Kit-then graduate up to growing other vegetables like mouthwatering tomatoes or piquant peppers.

Hydrate! Remember to water, but don't soak your pots. Water from the top, but avoid wetting the foliage on your plant to minimize the chance of plant disease.

From Seed to Plate. For many gardeners, organic gardening begins with 100% organic seeds and ends with an organic feast. Regardless of how you begin, you will be enjoying the "fruits" of your labor in no time. Here's a great salad recipe you can make from a windowsill salad kit:

Greek Salad

Ingredients:

4 ounces Mesclun salad greens

1 cucumber; sliced into discs

4 ounces tomatoes; bite- sized pieces

1/2 red onion; thinly sliced

4 ounces pitted Kalamata olives; cut in half

2 ounces Feta cheese; crumbled

Freshly cracked black pepper to taste

Add all the ingredients into a mixing bowl; toss with oil and vinegar or Greek dressing such as Seeds of Change Greek Feta Vinaigrette.

For many people, making healthy recipes seems too difficult and time consuming...

But with some advance planning and some basic knowledge of nutrition, it is easy to create a week's worth of healthy meals that you and your family will love. The key to creating delicious and healthy meals for the family is planning ...and lot's of it!

Planning ahead of time an entire week of healthy recipe meals is the best way to create dishes you can be proud of, while keeping cost and time commitment to a minimum.  So below are amazing tips you can use to make healthy meals all the time.

Healthy Recipe Tip #1:

Using convenient appliances such as slow cookers and microwaves can be a huge time saver when planning and preparing meals.  There are many delicious and healthy recipes that can be started in the morning and left to cook all day in a crock pot or slow cooker.  These are great choices for working families.

In addition, making the meals ahead of time on the weekend and heating them in the microwave is a great way to stretch both your food and your time.  There are many microwavable healthy meals you can make at home, and single serving microwave safe containers allow every member of the family to eat on their own schedule.

When planning the meals for the week, it is a good idea to create a chart listing each day's menu and each days' schedule. Here's a smart tip...plan the quickest and easiest to prepare meals for the busiest days of the week.

Healthy Recipe Tip #2:

Get your family involved in creating the week's meal plan by asking for their input and noting everyone's favorite foods. It is still very important to eat healthy meals, so that (of course) does not mean eating pizza every night or having ice cream for dinner.  But involving your spouse and children in healthy recipe planning, you'll help to increase their interest in healthy eating right away.

It is also a good idea to get your entire family involved in the preparation of the meals.  Even children too young to cook can help out by setting out the dishes, chopping vegetables, clearing the table and washing the dishes.

Healthy Recipe Tip #3:

Cooking large quantities of healthy food recipes - and freezing the leftovers - is a easy way to save time.  Cooking large amounts of stews, soups, pasta, chili and casseroles can be a huge time saver.  Making double and even triple batches of these staple foods, and freezing the leftovers for later use, is a great way to save both time and money.

When freezing leftovers, however, it is important to label the containers carefully, using freezer tape and a permanent marker.  Try to keep the oldest foods near the top to avoid having to throw away expired items.

Stocking up on meats when they are on sale is another great way to use that valuable freezer space.  Stocking up on such easily frozen foods as chicken, turkey, ground beef, steaks, roasts and chops is a great way to make your food dollar stretch as far as possible while still allowing you and your family to enjoy delicious healthy meals every day.

Healthy Recipe Tip #4:

Keeping a well stocked pantry is as important as keeping a well stocked freezer.  Stocking the pantry with a good supply of staple items like canned vegetables, canned fruits, soup stocks and the like will make healthy recipe preparation much faster and easier.

Stocking the pantry can save you money as well as time.  Grocery stores are always running sales, and these sales are a great time to stock up.  Buying several cases of canned vegetables when they are on sale, for instance can save lots of money and provide the basic ingredients for many nutritious, easy to prepare meals.

Examples of great staples to stock up on include whole grain cereals, pastas, tomato sauce, baked beans, canned salmon, tuna and whole grain breads.  It is easy to combine these staples into many great meals on a moment's notice.
healthy recipe

I hope you found these healthy recipe tips easy as pie!

If you're looking for something to liven up your meal, artichokes offer a terrific, tasty solution. This culinary favorite is fun to eat, can be quick to prepare and completes a "green serving" of the 5 a Day the Color Way regimen.

Besides being delicious, artichokes are naturally low in sodium and have no fat or cholesterol. They're a rich source of vitamin C, folate and dietary fiber.

There are several ways to enjoy artichokes; they can be steamed, boiled, grilled, sautéed or roasted. But for anyone who is short on time, artichokes have a speedy cooking time in the microwave, making them a wonderful quick-meal solution.

To Microwave: Place one rinsed and trimmed artichoke upside down in a glass bowl with 1/2 cup of water, 1/2 teaspoon each of lemon juice and oil. Cover with plastic wrap and cook on high 7 to 10 minutes. Time can vary depending on size of artichoke.

When shopping for artichokes, select ones that squeak with a squeeze of the leaves for freshness and pick artichokes with thorned petals, as those varieties have a bigger, meatier heart. Just trim the thorns with scissors when ready to prepare. The "jumbo"-sized artichoke is a culinary favorite and can be found in your local market throughout the year.

Artichokes will keep for about a week in a plastic bag stored in your refrigerator. Their peak seasons are spring and fall, but new varieties developed by Ocean Mist are available year-round.

To eat, pull the base of each petal through your front teeth to strip off the "meat," then discard the rest. The artichoke's center "heart" is often considered the tastiest part and the prize of your work. The stem is an extension of the heart and also completely edible and delicious.

Artichokes' sweet, mild flavor make them a marvelous partner for dips and sauces, such as this quick-to-make Balsamic Mint Dressing.

Artichokes with Balsamic Mint Dressing

Recipe courtesy of Ocean Mist

4 extra large or jumbo artichokes

1/2 cup packed fresh mint leaves

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

1/3 cup balsamic vinegar

3 tablespoons honey

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Rinse artichokes under running water. Cut off stem and top quarter of artichoke. Trim tips of petals with kitchen scissors, if desired. Pour 3 inches of water in large pot. Add artichokes and simmer, covered, until a petal pulls out easily, about 45 minutes, depending on size. Drain artichokes upside down on paper towels. Using a large spoon, scoop out and discard the soft inner leaves and fuzzy choke. Arrange artichokes in serving bowl, cup side up. In a blender or food processor, blend remaining ingredients. Pour balsamic honey mixture into the centers of the artichokes. Serve warm, at room temperature or chilled.

Makes 8 shared appetizer servings.

Ingredients:       

Two hard-boiled organic or local eggs (optional if you’re vegan or too impatient)
Organic bacon bits alternative
2 organic hearts of romaine
Organic shredded cheese or cheese alternative (your choice; either yellow or orange cheeses are great)
2 vegetarian breaded chicken patties
2 organic tomatoes
1 organic red pepper
Organic croutons

Bring a small saucepan of water to a boil.  Meanwhile, thoroughly rinse romaine hearts, then pat them dry with a towel. 

Tear off any brown areas to compost them, then bunch the romaine with your hand and cut it into horizontal slices, working from the tip to the butt.  Repeat for second heart of romaine.  Compost the butts. 

Dice tomatoes and red peppers.  Compost the tomato core and red pepper cap and innards.  While you’re chopping, reflect upon a quote from Thich Nhat Hanh:  “We have to eat happy eggs from happy chickens.” 

When the water boils, gently drop in eggs.  Boil for three minutes or until they’re hard-boiled.  Meanwhile, spread the sliced romaine hearts evenly between two plates.  (This serves two, in case you haven’t already guessed.) 

Cook the vegetarian chicken patties according to package directions, either in the microwave if you’re super hungry and need to eat soon, or in the oven if you want them to be more crunchy.  (Of course, if you cook them in the oven, make that the first step before boiling the eggs.)  Cut the patties into slices when they’re done, then arrange the slices on each plate of romaine. 

Rinse the eggs under cold water until they’re cool enough to handle.  Chop the eggs, or use an egg slicer and pretend it’s your least favorite politician’s head. 

Sprinkle organic bacon bits alternative, cheese or cheese alternative, red peppers, tomatoes and croutons evenly onto each salad.  Actually, don’t do it evenly--sneak just a few more goodies onto your salad. 

You can use pre-packaged organic croutons, or you may be able to find crunchy organic or local baguette chips that you can crumble onto the salad.  And if you’re in a pinch, you can simply crumble some organic crackers or tortilla chips that you may already have on hand. 

The organic produce you use in this hearty salad is as limitless as your imagination.  You can also try diced cucumber, shredded carrots, sugar snap peas--the list goes on and on. 

This organic salad is really great with organic thousand island dressing.  Or try mixing organic ranch and organic French dressing!  Chow down!