Easy Pasta Salad

By Nela McHugh ~ Simply for Life Cooking Expert

½ pkg. whole wheat or brown rice pasta (fusilli or bowties)
1 cup grated carrot
1 cup green or red onions, thinly sliced
1 cup cooked or raw veggies of choice such as red pepper and zucchini, chopped *
½ cup chopped parsley or your favorite fresh herb
1 cup goat or crumbled feta cheese
Your favorite homemade salad dressing

* Note: this would be a great recipe to use your leftover grilled or roasted veggies. 

Cook pasta according to package directions. Rinse with cold water. Meanwhile in a large bowl mix well the rest of the ingredients including the dressing. Add pasta and stir. This recipe makes 6 to 8 servings.

Spicy Caesar Salad Dressing

By Nela McHugh ~ Simply for Life Cooking Expert

2 tsp Dijon mustard
2 cloves garlic, minced     
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1 lemon, juiced
Dash of hot sauce
¼ cup Parmesan cheese, grated
½ cup olive oil

Add all ingredients except the oil to a food processor or blender. Turn the machine on and let it run for 15 to 20 seconds. As the machine is running, drizzle in the olive oil. This step is very important as it will make your dressing “creamy”. Let the machine run for another 15 seconds until the oil is incorporated.

SFL's Marinades and Rubs

By Nela McHugh ~ Simply for Life Cooking Expert

We know these mixtures flavor and tenderize meats but recently, food scientists have found that some marinades, herbs and spices can reduce as much as 99% the amount of carcinogenic compounds that form when meat is cooked at high temperatures.

Marinade the steaks as long as 2-3 days in advance, but if you forgot (which happens to us often) then you can use fresh pineapple or kiwi juice and a simple rub. The acidity in these juices will help speed up the tenderizing.

Quick Rub
For about 4 steaks:
¼ cup olive oil
¼ tsp each, salt and pepper
2-3 garlic cloves, minced or 1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp paprika
¼ tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
1 Tbsp oregano
2 kiwi or about ½ cup pineapple juice

Mix spices. Rub olive oil on meat then rub the spices. Squeeze the kiwi juice over the steaks and rub well. Let rest in the fridge for at least ½ hour.

Herb Marinade
4 garlic cloves
1 Tbsp fresh rosemary, chopped
1 Tbsp fresh oregano, chopped
¼ cup olive oil
¼ cup dry red wine
Salt and pepper to taste

Balsamic Oil Vinaigrette Dressing

By Nela McHugh ~ Simply for Life Cooking Expert

Use this dressing with green salads
 
½ cup of extra virgin olive oil
¼ cup balsamic vinegar
1 small garlic clove, minced
1 tsp mustard
2 tsp maple syrup
 
Mix all ingredients in a container such as a mason jar and shake. 
 
Creamy vinaigrette
Use this dressing with potato, coleslaw or pasta salads.
 
Same as above, just add about ½ to ¾ cup of plain yogurt. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. It may need a bit more sweet (maple syrup) or a pinch of salt and pepper. 

Simple Mexican Salsa

This recipe is from the February 2012 SFL eletter

Ingredients 
     4 ripe fresh tomatoes
    1 onion
    1 lime
    1 ripe jalapeno pepper (2 if you like it HOT!)
    1 bunch fresh cilantro
    ½ teaspoon salt

Directions:
Chop up the tomatoes to your preferred size. Dice the onion (if it is a large onion you may only want to use half). Chop up the cilantro and the pepper.  Put it all into a bowl and squeeze all of the juice from the lime on top. Add a bit of salt.  Stir it up.  Enjoy!

Serve with eggs, wraps, salads….experiment with adding black beans & avocado.