Quinoa Mac and Cheese Recipe

Quinoa Mac and Cheese Recipe

1 cup uncooked quinoa, rinsed and drained 

vegetables of your choice- I used onion, zucchini and tomato

garlic, salt, pepper and other seasonings

1 cup cheese of your choice (I used a mix of mozzarella, cheddar, and parmesan)

1/2 cup milk

1 egg

olive oil, water (or stock)

Saute your vegetables in a little olive oil, salt and pepper until partially translucent.

Add the quinoa and toast for 5 minutes or so until opaque. Add your liquid- I used water but you could use chicken or vegetable stock for more flavor. The amount of liquid is double your quinoa- so 2 cups of water to 1 cup quinoa. Add additional seasoning- dried herbs, red pepper flakes, etc. Lower the heat and let it simmer for 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until most of the liquid is absorbed. In a bowl, whisk together the milk, egg, and grated cheese. Pour in the quinoa mixture and combine. It will look gross at this point. Pour into a greased pan and top with breadcrumbs or more cheese (optional). I used panko and parmesan. Bake at 350 for 30-35 minutes depending on the depth of your dish.

Low-Carb Broccoli Bites Recipe

Low-Carb Broccoli Bites Recipe

Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees.

16 oz Chopped Brococoli
3 Eggs
1 cup crushed French’s Fried Onions
1 1/2 cups 2% Sharp Cheddar Cheese
Salt & Pepper

Mix all ingredients well, adding salt and pepper to taste. Line Cookie sheet with parchment paper. Using hands form into balls. Bake for 25 minutes at 375 degrees.

Yields 20.

FYI- Two Weight Watchers Points each. 

Jalapeño Poppers Recipe

Jalapeño Poppers Recipe

Ingredients
1 8-oz package full-fat cream cheese, softened
1 tablespoon smoked Spanish paprika
12 jalapeño peppers
4 strips thick-cut bacon (preferably nitrate free), cut into 1/4" pieces

Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Whisk together the softened cream cheese and smoked paprika until smooth and evenly combined.

Cut each pepper in half lengthwise, and use a spoon to scoop out the center veins and seeds. Discard the seeds.

Fill the cavity in each jalapeño pepper half with a teaspoon or two of the cheese mixture and place cheese side-up on a baking sheet. Top each pepper with 3 or 4 pieces of the cut bacon.

Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the bacon is crisp and the jalapeño peppers are fully roasted. Let cool 5 minutes before serving.

Tip: To protect your skin from the natural oils in the jalapeño pepper, which can burn or irritate, rub your hands with a tablespoon olive or vegetable oil as you would hand lotion before you begin working with the peppers.