Healthy, Recipes

Summer Zucchini Skillet

This quick, one-pot ground turkey skillet with zucchini, corn, tomatoes, and black beans is great for weeknight dinner or meal prep!

INGREDIENTS

  • 14 ounces from 2 medium or 1 large zucchini, quartered and sliced 3/4 inch
  • 1 pound 93% lean ground turkey
  • 1/4 cup chopped onion
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
  • 3/4 cups corn kernels, fresh or frozen
  • 1 can diced tomato, drained 
  • 1 jalapeño, diced
  • 1 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tbsp chopped cilantro, plus more for garnish
  • 1 teaspoon honey 
  • 1 1/4 teaspoon cumin
  • 1 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/4 cup white wine or water
  • lime wedges, optional

INSTRUCTIONS

Spray a large skillet over high heat with oil and brown the turkey, season with 1 teaspoon salt and 1 teaspoon cumin.

Cook, breaking the meat up until the turkey is cooked through, about 5 minutes.

Push the meat to the side, add the onion and cook 1 minute.

Add the black beans, corn, tomato, jalapeño pepper, garlic, and stir with 1/4 cup wine/water.

Add the zucchini remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and cumin.

Mix and cover, cook low 4 to 5 minutes or until the zucchini is tender crisp.

Serve with lime wedges and more cilantro if desired.

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Early Riser, Healthy, Recipes

Zucchini Quiche Minis

While these crustless low carb quiches are small, they offer big flavor, and they are a cinch to make.

I just started doing Weight Watchers so I’ve been trying to create low carb and low point meals. I was pleasantly surprised how delicious these turned out and they’re only one point each!

Ingredients 

  • 2 small zucchini, finely chopped
  • 1 large onion, finely chopped
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 1 cup Parmesan cheese
  • 6 large eggs or substitute with egg beaters
  • ½ cup flour
  • ¼ cup fresh basil, finely chopped
  • 3 tablespoons Olive oil
  • 2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon honey
  • Salt and pepper 

Instructions 

Preheat the oven to 375°F. Coat two 24-hole nonstick mini muffin pans with cooking spray.

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl; spoon about 1 heaping tablespoon egg mixture into each prepared hole, making sure to stir mixture in bowl after filling each one.

Bake until bottoms are golden brown and quiche is cooked through, about 15 minutes. Remove pan from the oven and let quiche cool for a few minutes in pan; remove quiche to a wire rack to cool more (and repeat with remaining ingredients if necessary). 

Healthy, Recipes

KETO Taco Skillet

Perfect for Taco Tuesday!

This KETO Taco Skillet is everything you love about tacos but KETO friendly and cooked in one skillet!

I love creating recipes like this because there’s so many ways you can customize it to what you love. I used lean ground beef but you can use ground chicken or even turkey. For the veggies, you can easily switch any of them out like mushrooms instead of zucchini. The options are endless!

Ingredients 

  • 1 pound lean ground beef
  • 1 large yellow onion, diced
  • 1 bell pepper, diced
  • 1 can diced tomatoes with green chilis
  • 2 large zucchini, chopped
  • taco seasoning packet
  • 1 ½ cup shredded cheddar and jack cheese
  • Cilantro, to garnish

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. 

In a large pan, crumble and brown ground beef.

Drain excess fat, wipe skillet clean and set meat aside.

Add zucchini and cook for 2 minutes. 

Add onions, garlic and peppers, and cook until through.

Add the taco seasoning, and stir in one tablespoon water to evenly coat mixture (the liquid from the tomatoes will help). 

Add the canned tomatoes with the juices and stir. 

Mix well.

Cover with shredded cheese and place in the oven until the cheese is melted and bubbling. 

Sprinkle with cilantro. 

Serve alone, over a bed of lettuce, rice, or in a taco or burrito.

Recipes

Black Bean Tacos with Roasted Corn Salsa

Healthy tacos made with seasoned black beans, an easy corn salsa and a delicious cilantro pesto.

These Black Bean Tacos served in a tortilla or even a zucchini boat are so good that you definitely won’t miss the meat. It is a healthy meatless meal that not only tastes great, it’s budget-friendly too! 

I love making tacos! One of our favorite things about tacos is how versatile they are. There are literally hundreds of taco recipes out there to choose from.  It’s good to have variety! There is nothing boring about these tacos, the black beans are full of flavor and completely filling, the corn salsa adds a sweet twist and the cilantro pesto brings it all home! Trust me you will go back for seconds!

I’ve been trying to cut out carbs so instead of a tortilla, I made a zucchini boat as my vessel. You can even serve this on top of a salad. This recipe is that versatile!

Wine Pairing? Scout and Cellar GALLIVANT ROSÉ! Lively and refreshing with strawberry, red cherry and fresh melon balanced by limestone on a dry, well-textured frame with a clean finish. Click the link under the photo to order a bottle!

INGREDIENTS

Corn Salsa:

  • 1 can Roasted Corn, drained
  • 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
  • 3/4 cup thinly sliced radishes, cut into quarters
  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • Juice of 1 lime and zest

Cilantro Pesto:

  • 1 cup tightly packed cilantro leaves 
  • 1 small shallot
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • 1 tablespoon jalapeno pepper
  • 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • Salt & Pepper to taste

Black Beans:

  • 1 small yellow onion, diced
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 cans (14.5 ounces) black beans, drained
  • 1 cup fresh mild salsa
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1 and 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

INSTRUCTIONS

Corn Salsa:

Combine all ingredients. Stir, adjust seasoning to taste, and set aside to marinate while preparing the rest of the tacos.

Cilantro Pesto

Add all the ingredients except the olive oil and pulse in a blender until combined. Once it is all combined, add olive oil and pulse a few times quickly until combined. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Set aside to marinate while preparing the rest of the tacos.

Black Beans:

Heat a skillet over medium heat. Add1 tablespoon olive oil. Add in the chopped onion and saute for 3 minutes over medium high heat. Add in the garlic and stir for another 30 seconds. Add in the black beans, salsa, chili powder and cumin. Simmer mixture for about 5 -10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Slightly mash half of the beans if desired. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Putting it all together!

Warm tortillas or a zucchini boat, and add a generous amount of the black beans mixture topped by the corn topping, and a spoonful of the pesto. 

Add the rest of your favorite taco toppings like cheese, guacamole or sour cream.

http://www.scoutandcellar.com/whiskawaykitchen
Blogs, Recipes

DELICIOUS RATATOUILLE

It’s ratatouille season! 

Ratatouille is a classic summer French style stew, it’s fun to say and even has an adorable Disney movie named after it!

Ratatouille is packed with summer vegetables: tomatoes, eggplant, zucchini and bell peppers and it’s pretty easy to make!

With a little imagination, there are endless ways to serve ratatouille. For Sunday dinner, toss it with pasta or alongside grilled chicken or fish. Or for an easy weeknight dinner, serve with a dollop of goat cheese or with a fried egg on top. It’s even tasty straight from the fridge as a snack (it’s delicious cold)! Seriously the possibilities are limitless! 

For the tomatoes, I love the brand Pomi! They only have one ingredient: TOMATOES! You can find Pomi chopped tomatoes in the canned vegetable aisle. Pomi is usually on the top shelf. 

Looking for wine to pair with Ratatouille? Scout & Cellar 2018 VEINTE MALBEC, Lush and fruit-forward with blueberry, black plum and wildberry jam balanced by mocha on a fresh, well-structured frame with round tannins and a lingering finish. DELICIOUS!

INGREDIENTS

  • 26.46 oz Pomi Chopped Tomatoes
  • 14.5 oz Diced Tomatoes, drained
  • 1 medium eggplant, diced into cubes
  • 1 large red, orange, or yellow bell pepper, cut into ¾ squares
  • 2 medium zucchini , diced into ½-inch cubes
  • 5 tablespoons + 1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil, divided
  • ¾ teaspoon fine sea salt, divided, more to taste
  • 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic, pressed or minced
  • ¼ cup chopped fresh basil
  • ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes, more or less to taste
  • ¼ teaspoon dried oregano
  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit 

Line two large, rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper for easy clean-up, if desired.

On one baking sheet, toss the diced eggplant with 2 tablespoons of the olive oil until lightly coated. Arrange the eggplant in a single layer across the pan, sprinkle with ¼ teaspoon of the salt, and set aside.

On the other baking sheet, toss the bell pepper, and zucchini 1 tablespoon of olive oil and ¼ teaspoon salt. Arrange the vegetables in a single layer. 

Place the eggplant pan on the middle rack and the other vegetables on the top rack. Set the timer for 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, warm 2 tablespoons of the olive oil in a large Dutch oven or soup pot over medium heat. 

Add the onion and ¼ teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is tender and caramelizing on the edges, about 8 to 10 minutes.

Add the garlic, stir, and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. 

Add the tomatoes, and use a wooden spoon to stir any browned bits stuck to the bottom of the pan into the mixture. Reduce the heat to medium-low, or as necessary to maintain a gentle simmer.

Once 15 minutes are up, remove both pans from the oven, stir, and redistribute the contents of each evenly across the pans. This time, place the eggplant on the top rack and other vegetables on the middle rack.

Bake until the eggplant is nice and golden on the edges, about 10 more minutes (the eggplant will be done sooner than the rest). Remove the eggplant from the oven, and carefully stir the eggplant into the simmering tomato sauce.

Let the zucchini and bell pepper pan continue to bake until the peppers are caramelized, about 5 to 10 more minutes. Then, transfer the contents of the pan into the simmering sauce. Continue simmering for 5 more minutes to give the flavors time to combine.

Remove the pot from the heat. Stir in 1 teaspoon olive oil, the fresh basil, dried orengo and red pepper flakes. 

Season to taste with additional salt and black pepper.

Serve in bowls, with additional chopped basil, or black pepper on top (all optional). 

Like all stews, this ratatouille’s flavor improves as it cools. It’s even better reheated the next day. Ratatouille keeps well in the refrigerator, covered, for 4 days, or for several months in the freezer.

http://www.scoutandcellar.com/whiskawaykitchen

Recipes

Zucchini Taco Boats

Looking for an alternative to your Taco Tuesday?

These Zucchini Taco boats are made with fresh zucchini stuffed with seasoned ground beef, bell peppers, and topped with cheese and salsa. But the filling could literally be anything, from chicken and corn, to meatballs with tomato sauce! 

They are low carb and keto diet friendly. 

Start with 3 or 4 small zucchini. 

I used a small cookie scoop to scoop out the middle of the zucchini, but you can also use a small spoon. I got a little close to the edge on one of them, but don’t worry about it. The meat filling will cover it up. I love using the insides of the zucchini I scooped out to add filler, so place the insides to the side.  

Pour 1/2 cup of your favorite salsa in a baking dish- I used Pace. Lay the boats on top of the salsa and sprinkle each with salt. 

Now it’s time to make the filling.  Heat a pan over medium-heat and cook the meat. You can use any ground meat, I used ground beef.  Once the meat is cooked, transfer to a bowl and set aside. Wipe out the same pan and add a drizzle of EVOO.

Sauté the insides of the zucchini. Make sure to cook it down to reduce the liquid. Then add bell peppers,- any color,  I used red and yellow. Sprinkle it with chili powder, cumin, and salt. Stir together and cook for about two minutes. Add the red onion and garlic. It should start to smell like it’s almost Taco time! 

Continue to cook until vegetables are softened and water has absorbed. Lastly, add the meat back to the pan, and stir together. Once it is combined, it’s time to fill up the boats. Go ahead and fill those babies up- don’t be shy! Let the meat spill over if you need to.

I love cheese and, what’s a taco if it doesn’t have any cheese on it? Cover the filled boats with shredded cheese. I used Cheddar but Monterrey Jack or a Mexican blend would work great, too. 

Place the baking dish in the 400°F preheated oven and cook for 20-25 minutes. 

This recipe  is great if you’re looking for a low-carb option for tacos, or need to get more veggies into your diet. Try them out for Taco Tuesday and enjoy!

INGREDIENTS

  • 4 Zucchini
  • 1lb Ground Beef
  • 1/2 cup Mixed Red & Yellow Bell Peppers, finely diced
  • 1/2 cup Red Onion, diced
  • 2 Cloves Garlic, minced  
  • 1 tablespoon Chili Powder
  • 2 teaspoons Cumin 
  • 1/2 teaspoon Salt
  • 8 ounces Cheddar Cheese, shredded
  • 1/2 cup Salsa

INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat oven to 400°F

Prepare your zucchini, cut each zucchini in half lengthwise. Use a measuring spoon (teaspoon) to hollow out the zucchini forming a boat… save the insides and set aside. 

Pour salsa into a baking dish.

Place the zucchini boats in the same baking dish and sprinkle a small amount of salt over them.

In a skillet over medium-high heat, brown the ground beef. Once cooked, transfer to a bowl. Wipe out the same pan and add a drizzle of EVOO.

Add the inside of the zucchini, water will release. Let it cook down to reduce the liquid, then add bell peppers, chili powder, cumin, and salt. Stir together and cook for about two minutes. Then add the red onion and garlic.

Continue to cook until vegetables are softened and water has absorbed. Add the meat back to the pan, stir together. 

Once combined, fill each zucchini boat with the beef and vegetable mixture.

Top the zucchini boats with cheddar cheese.

Bake for 25 minutes or until zucchini has softened and cheese is melted.

Serve hot!