rice with plums & feta

in an effort to use some items that definitely needed to be used - over ripe plums & leftover brown rice - i put on my thinking cap and developed this simple recipe.  the dish's mild, fresh flavor with the pungent punch of feta made for a delicious side dish to our pesto chicken last night.

here's what you'll need:

1 small onion, thinly sliced
2 plums (or 4 small sugar plums), sliced
2 cups cooked brown rice (i used "minute rice")
1-2 oz crumbled feta
1/4 cup prunes, chopped
salt & pepper
olive oil

1. in a pan, saute onions in a bit of olive oil until caramelized.
2. add plums and saute a minute longer.  season with salt & pepper.
3. add in rice & prunes and toss (rice will become a lovely blush color).
4. toss in feta and mix rice until feta begins to melt.  season with more salt & pepper.

the subtle flavors of the rice and sweet plums & prunes are beautifully balanced by the feta.  as i mentioned, we enjoyed our rice with chicken, but it would work well with fish or shrimp as well.

no plums?  why not try another stone fruit, like peaches or cherries?  no prunes?  how about raisins or dried cranberries?  no feta?  try another pungent cheese like parmesan or bleu.  get creative and keep it simple.  cooking is supposed to be fun!.

cherries

i have been loving the fresh cherries that have been available the past few weeks.  they are so sweet and delicious.  i've been snacking on them ever since they came into season.  i know some people avoid cherries because of the work involved to remove the pits, but believe me, this time of year it's so worth it.  my favorite way is to enjoy them fresh, but there are lots of other simple ways to celebrate this lovely little fruit. 

new to cherries?  check out the basics - like how to check for ripeness, how to store, etc. {here}

i <3 cheesecake.  and no-bake is even better.  how i wish i had a slice of this cherry-topped delight right now!  recipe {here}

cherries aren't only for dessert.  they make for a great sweet/savory side, too.  check out this recipe for cherry couscous salad {here}.  yum!

so, if you haven't been enjoying this seasonal treat, get yourself to the grocery store or farmers' market asap!  (pretty-please-with-a-cherry-on-top)

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healthy snack-attacks

i am a snacker.  and i eat several times throughout the day.  i find that if i go more than 3-4 hours (sometimes 2-3 hours) without food, my stomach starts rumbling, and i find my mind wandering toward "what can i eat?"

as i sit here with my cut up apple, munching away, i thought i'd share some of my all-time favorite (healthy) snacks with you. 

- fruit - my "go-tos" are apples, oranges and grapes, but i also love all the fresh berries that are available this time of year.  i just got some cherries that are to-die-for!

- yogurt - i love yogurt because you can dress it up so many different ways.  sometimes i top it with bananas, raisins and cinnamon, other times granola (or cereal) and pb.  anyway you make it, yogurt is yummy and super good for you.

- cheese & olives - lately i've been enjoying string cheese and olives.  this small savory snack is really satisfying.

- nuts - i personally adore pecans, though almonds are super good too.  for a sweet treat i mix a few tbsp of pecans with some raisins and a dash of cinnamon - eat it all together and it tastes like an oatmeal raisin cookie - no joke!

- hummus & crackers - this is a great option if you're craving something crunchy.  plus hummus comes in so many flavors & varieties, you're bound to find one that suits your fancy.  (also, try hummus with apples or carrot sticks for an even healthier version.)

me & my apple snack

so there you have it.  my list of go-to snacks.  but before i release you back into the snacking wilderness, there are a few other things to keep in mind.

portion control - because i eat/snack throughout the day, i am conscious of portion control.  i never sit down with the whole box of crackers and container of hummus.  instead, i plate up a small portion and then sit and enjoy it.

thirsty? - i am so guilty of this.  thinking i'm hungry when i'm actually thirsty.  keep hydrated and listen for your true hunger so that you don't overdo it.

slow it down - if you're going with small meals/snacks to satisfy you, it's really important to eat slowly and chew thoroughly.  if you rush through your mini-meals, they won't even register, and you'll just leave yourself feeling unsatisfied.  take your time to taste your food : )

so, mavens, what healthy, wholesome snacks do you love?.

quinoa with chicken sausage & veggies

last night for dinner, i was in the mood for something simple and fresh.  i had some zucchini and onion, found some quinoa (say keen-wa) in the pantry and took out some sundried tomato chicken sausage to defrost.

here's what you'll need (but feel free to improvise and use what you have handy)
serves 2

1/2 large zucchini
1/2 large onion
1/2 cup frozen peas
1 cup quinoa
2 cups water
5 oz chicken sausage (links)
garden greens
red curry
fresh rosemary
olive oil
salt & pepper

1. saute veggies in a bit of olive oil until golden brown.  season with salt & pepper.

2. bring 2 cups water to a boil in a medium pot.  add a few dashes of red curry.  add quinoa to boiling water, stir and reduce to simmer.  cook for 20 minutes or until water is absorb.

3. set veggies aside.  prep pan for chicken sausage by adding a bit of olive oil.  over medium heat, sear the chicken sausage on both sides to create a nicely browned crust.  add 1/4 cup water  to pan and cover.  allow sausage to continue cooking until cooked through (5+ minutes).

4. while chicken cooks, defrost peas in microwave.

5. once chicken is done, slice it into coins and toss it with veggies (zucchini, onion, peas) and rosemary.

when all is ready, serve quinoa topped with chicken sausage and veggies over a bed of garden greens. 

we topped ours with fresh tomato sauce and a bit of sharp provolone to add some zing!

other combos to consider:
- use a red pepper sausage and top with salsa and sour cream
- use an italian sausage and top with grated parmesan, herbs and olive oil
- try other veggies - peppers, carrots, shallots, broccoli, the sky's the limit!

bon appetit!.