Mushroom, Garlic and Roasted Red Pepper Cous Cous

I don’t consider myself a recipe creator. I do, however, love food and appreciate how it can fuel our bodies. The magic that happens when you mix different flavors and textures is the added bonus.

I get inspiration from things I’ve eaten, or recipes I’ve read.

Don’t be intimidated when you read below. There is a lot of different things happening (in the stove and on top) but I promise it’s easy and all comes together beautifully.

Ingredients:

1 box of plain cous cous

1 roasted red pepper cut in half

1 whole garlic head

1 container of Baby Bell Mushrooms 

1 onion chopped 

1 whole cauliflower cut into bite sized pieces  

Juice from 1 lemon 

2 tbs tahini 

1 tbs almond butter

Broth 

EVOO

Salt

Pepper

Cumin

Parsley 

IN THE OVEN:

Roasted Red Pepper Sauce:

•Cut a red pepper in half - take out the insides put some olive oil on it and roast for about 20 minutes in the oven at 350.
•At the same time roast a whole garlic clove: Cut off the top of the garlic as to expose the cloves, add some olive oil on the top and wrap it in tinfoil. Cook for about 30 minutes Also at 350.
•cauliflower: roast a whole cauliflower with evoo- salt- pepper- pop in the oven with the pepper and garlic

ON STOVE TOP:

While things are cooking in the oven…

•Cook cous cous according to directions while cous cous cooks .....

•sauté onions, after slightly brown, add mushrooms - cook until mushrooms have released their juices - you really can’t overcook mushrooms

Tahini sauce: (this will go on the side or on top of the dish)

• 2 tbs tahini

• 1tbs almond butter

• Juice of 1 lemon

• Salt

• Cumin

• Some broth to bring to desired consistency

Roasted Red pepper and garlic sauce:

• After red peppers and garlic have cooked and cooled: blend the whole garlic clove (squeeze or pick out softened cloves) and roasted red pepper together. Add some broth some salt, pepper and olive oil and some cumin.

Assembly:

To the cooked cous cous add the roasted red pepper garlic sauce and the mushrooms/onions. Mix. Top off the couscous mixture with roasted cauliflower, tahini sauce and fresh parsley. Enjoy!

Portabella Mushroom Burger Recipe. (meat eaters will love it too!)

I recently saw the biggest Portabella mushroom I have ever seen... in my entire life. I grabbed two and ran (aka drove) home. The mushrooms were actually TOO big for the buns so we had to cut around the edges in order for them to fit on the buns. I used the mushroom- edges the next day on top of a salad.

I looked up some portabella mushroom burger recipes online, and then mushed them all together to come up with my very own delicious recipe.

This gets two thumbs up!

Ingredients:

(serving size 2 burgers)

2 large portabella mushroom caps

whole wheat buns

1 avocado

1 large ripe vine tomato

swiss cheese (optional)

ketchup? Mustard? Pickles? Any toppings you desire,

BURGER MARINADE:

1 tbsp unrefined toasted sesame oil (if you do not have this use EVOO although i think toasted sesame oil is great to have and gives things a really fun flavor )

1 tbsp EVOO

1 tbsp balsamic vinegar

1 teaspoon honey

1 tbsp montreal chicken seasoning (it is a McCormick seasoning)

1 tbsp rosemary (fresh or dry) 

salt and pepper 

Directions:

Mix the balsamic, Sesame oil,  EVOO, honey, montreal chicken seasoning, rosemary salt and pepper together. Bush all over the mushroom caps. (leave some marinade aside)

Preheat your cast iron grill, or indoor grill pan on medium heat. Do not have one? Use a George Forman. 

When grill is hot, place caps on top. Let it sit on grill for a few miunutes and brush on more of the marinade. After about 5 minutes flip burgers over and brush more seasoning on. Let it sit for about 7 -10 minutes or until the burgers start to release some juice and are cooked through. 

Toast your buns, place the cooked portabella mushroom on top. Add your toppings and enjoy. So delicious and yummy. 

Healthy Holiday Recipes for your next Holiday Party!

21-happy-holidays

I searched the web to find what I felt were the top 3 easy to make and  healthy holiday recipes for you to bring to your next holiday party!

Stuffed mushrooms

Goat Cheese and Apple Canape

Quinoa Pizza Bites

I have never tested nor tried these recipes but I am planning on making the Quinoa Pizza Bites tonight, with a few changes. Have a healthy and happy holiday! Let me know which ones you make and how it goes!