Coconut Curry Jasmine Rice

This is amazing. I double it because I could probably eat the whole pot by myself. Seriously. It's that good.


2 T. butter
1 small onion, chopped
2 t. curry powder
1 C. jasmine rice
1/3 C. golden raisins
1 C. coconut milk
1/2 C. vegetable broth
1/2 C. water
1/2 t. salt
1 bay leaf

Melt butter in med. saucepan. Add onion and saute until tender. Add curry powder and rice; cook 2 minutes. Stir in remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil; cover, reduce heat and simmer 20 minutes or until liquid is absorbed and rice is tender. Remove bay leaf. 

Basil Balsamic Roasted Chicken with Tomatoes and Goat Cheese

4 boneless skinless chicken breasts.
olive oil
salt and pepper
1 lb. plum tomatoes, halved lengthwise
4 T. balsamic vinegar
4 garlic cloves, chopped
10 oz. whole-wheat spaghetti
6 oz. goat cheese, crumbled
6 T. chopped fresh basil

Preheat oven to 350 F. Drizzle chicken breasts with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Heat an ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat and brown chicken 2-3 minutes on each side; remove from heat. Add tomatoes to skillet, and drizzle tomatoes and chicken with 1 T olive oil and vinegar. Sprinkle with chopped garlic, salt and pepper. Transfer skillet to oven and cook 25-30 minutes, or until chicken is done. Cook pasta according to package instructions, drain, and keep warm. When chicken is done, remove skillet from oven. Remove chicken breasts to a cutting board and cut into bite-size pieces. Toss hot pasta with tomatoes and chicken. Top with goat cheese and fresh basil, and drizzle with pan juices from skillet.

Banana Muffins

3-4 overripe bananas
1/2 C. sugar
1/3 C. melted butter
1 egg
1 t. cinnamon
1 t. baking soda
1 t. baking powder
1 1/4 C. whole wheat flour
1/2 C. rolled oats
1/3 C. pecans or walnuts (optional)

Preheat oven to 350

Mash bananas in a large bowl. Add sugar, melted butter and egg until combined. Mix in cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder, flour, oats and nuts until moistened. Pour mixture into greased muffin tins. Bake 20-25 min or until toothpick comes out clean. 
Makes 12 regular size muffins or 36 mini.

Kale Chips

So, these are super weird, but also kind of delicious. If you love kale as much as I do, this is a crunchy way to eat it.

1 bunch fresh kale, chopped into 1" pieces
olive oil
salt and pepper

Heat oven to 400 F. Toss kale with olive oil, salt and pepper. Spread onto a baking sheet. Bake for 12-14 minutes or until crisp.

Cream Cheese Pinwheels

My friend, Angel, made these for a super bowl party a few years ago and I fell in love. I don't have the exact measurements of the ingredients, so just mix the amounts you want to the flavor you want.

Flour Tortillas
Cream Cheese
Craisins
Green Onions

Soften Cream cheese to room temperature. Dice green onions and cut craisins up a little bit. Mix them together with the cream cheese. Spread on tortilla. Roll it up. Cut it into little pinwheels. Serve chilled.

Spicy Arugula and Red Pepper Pizza

1/2 lb. arugula
2 cloves garlic, sliced
8 oz. whole wheat pizza dough (or a Boboli crust)
2 T. roasted red pepper pesto (or regular basil pesto)
1 t. dried chili flakes
2 oz. goat cheese

Heat oven to 450 F. Heat olive oil in skillet. Add garlic and cook until slightly browned. Add arugula and continue to saute for an additional 5 minutes. Roll pizza dough onto a floured surface. Spread pesto onto dough. Top with arugula, chili flakes, salt and pepper. Drizzle with olive oil and top with goat cheese. Bake on a pizza stone or bottom oven rack for 12-15 minutes.

Coconut Chicken Curry

2 T. oil
4 Boneless, skinless chicken breasts
3 Med. potatoes, peeled and chopped
1 med onion, sliced 1 (14 oz) can coconut milk
1/2 t. salt
1/2 t. pepper
1 1/2 t. curry powder (or to taste)
1 C. chicken broth
1 (10 oz) pkg. frozen peas
coconut
Heat oil in fry pan. Add chicken, browning on both sides. Put potatoes and onions in crock pot, put chicken on top. Combine all other ingredients- Except peas. Add to pot. Cover, cook on low 6-8 hrs.
A half hour before serving, add the peas. Sprinkle with coconut and serve over rice or pasta.