Tag: summer days

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Greek Tortellini Salad

If you’ve been following my blog, you’ll know I’m all about healthy and easy recipes that taste delicious.  With school starting around the corner, remote learning set for us and as new Kindergarten parents, I’m trying to stay ahead of the game and put together meals that take less than 30 minutes so I can focus on my family.
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When Taste Republic and I partnered together to create some delicious recipes with their fresh, gluten free pastas, I knew I was going to hit the spot with all of my cooking goals (it took me about 20 minutes to make this one – also because I kept having to add ingredients that were “disappearing”).  I have been having so much fun trying out all the different ones that they have and their 4 cheese tortellini is one of my favorites!
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The tortellinis are so delicious, light, and filling.  You can taste how fresh they are and they cook in just 5 minutes!  I did add a few twists to this salad which take it to a whole new level.
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Here’s what you need to make this Greek Tortellini Salad:

Cheese Tortellini – fresh gluten free tortellini made by Taste Republic works so well with this recipe but if you don’t have access, you can use any fresh or frozen tortellini.
Grape or Cherry Tomatoes
Cucumbers
Olives
Chickpeas 
Avocados
Fresh Basil – yep, this takes the flavor up to a whole other level
Feta Cheese
Greek Salad Dressing – I added quite a few seasonings and some red chili flakes to mine to give it an additional layer of flavor
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If you have little helpers in the kitchen like I do who eat most of my ingredients as I’m cooking (they call it quality control), then I suggest increasing the quantity.  I’ve lost pretty much every single veggie in this salad to my little munchkins and it makes my heart full that they love eating this salad as much as I do.
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This Greek Tortellini Salad is great to eat right away or even if you refrigerate it and have it at a later time.  It can keep in the fridge for up to 2 days, but if you are planning on eating it later, I recommend adding the feta right before you are ready to eat it.
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A perfect salad for the summer, you can make this for about any event!  Serve it for lunch or dinner, take it on a picnic, as a side for a barbecue, or even some backyard camping!

Check out Taste Republic for a store near you to enjoy their amazing fresh, gluten free pastas.

From our kitchen to yours, I hope you enjoy this delicious salad!

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Paneer Cabbage Cups

Paneer Cabbage Cups are a light and healthy dish that is packed with a burst of flavor and texture in each bite.  The spicy jalapeño, a pop of lemon, the crunch of the cabbage and the creaminess of the paneer and avocados.  And if you know me, the vibrant colors of all the different veggies bring this together in the most perfect way.  You just can’t go wrong!  Continue reading “Paneer Cabbage Cups” →

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Tropical Fruit Smoothie

This is the most perfect afternoon drink on a hot summer day.  We’ve had temps in the high 90’s and low 100’s lately so we’ve been making ice cold drinks to stay cool.  One of our favorite is this Tropical Fruit Smoothie.  Though we can’t be in the tropics, the girls and I decided to bring the flavors of the tropics home.  Continue reading “Tropical Fruit Smoothie” →

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Fresco Carpaccio

So, traditionally, a carpaccio is an appetizer made of thinly sliced meat.  I decided to take the technique and make my own summer version of that.  The sharp tang of lemon, the fresh fruit, and the crunch of toasted pistachios on top are an amazing combination.  This Fresco Carpaccio is great as an appetizer for any dinner or party you are hosting, or just follow what I did and make a plate for yourself, and enjoy it in the sun!
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Yum
I really didn’t want to stop eating it!  Hubby and I finished it within minutes and this has become another of our favorite summer recipe.
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The best part, this is so healthy for you with not too many calories or fat, there’s no cooking involved, and it takes 10 minutes to make (I’m not counting how long you have to wait for it to marinate).
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Notes:
I highly recommend marinating this as the flavor of the dressing will be sharper and will help breakdown the raw taste of the zucchini since you are not cooking it.

I used a mandolin for this but if you don’t have one, no worries.  Use a potato peeler and make thin ribbons of the zucchini and cucumbers.

What fruits and veggies will you use?  Share your pictures!

From my kitchen to yours, enjoy this carpaccio as much as we did!

Ingredients:  
1 zucchini
1 cucumber
1 avocado
1 lemon, zested and juiced
¼ c Avocado Oil
2 Tbsp pistachios
Salt to taste
Pepper to taste

Directions:  
1.  In a large bowl, mix together lemon zest and lemon juice.  Whisk to mix well.
2.  Add in oil and whisk 2-3 minutes until oil and lemon juice have emulsified.
3.  Add in salt and pepper and whisk one last time to mix.  Set aside.
4.  Trim the ends of the zucchini and cucumber.  Using slicer or peeler, make very thin ribbons.
5.  Add zucchini and cucumber ribbons to dressing and toss to coat each ribbon equally.
6.  Cover bowl and marinate in fridge for 30 minutes.
7.  Meanwhile, on a med flame, heat up a small skillet.  Add in the pistachios and toast 3-5 minutes until they are nice and crunchy.
8.  Give the toasted pistachios a rough chop and set aside.
9.  Pull zucchini and cucumber out of fridge.
10.  Thinly slice avocado.
11.  In a plate, line up each fruit with one slightly on top of the previous one.  If you have any dressing left, drizzle a little on top.  Garnish with toasted pistachios.

Enjoy!

Sapna3 Comments

Grilled Veggie and Couscous Salad Yum

The weather has been so nice lately and we love spending the days in our backyard as much as possible.  The evenings have also been amazing so we have been grilling and BBQ’ing more often. Continue reading “Grilled Veggie and Couscous Salad Yum “ →

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Grilled Pineapple Peach Salsa

I wanted to do something this Father’s Day and so instead of the typical “Best Dad Ever” shirts or another mug with pictures on it, I chose to create beautiful memories for the girls and their amazing Dad.  I took the family to go peach picking at a local farm one fine weekend and boy did the girls have fun!  We definitely made memories!  We also ended up with a ton of peaches because the girls had so much fun picking them right off the tree, they didn’t want to stop! Continue reading “Grilled Pineapple Peach Salsa” →