I'll have the same

Sauteed Garlic Spinach 

I frequently buy those large containers of spinach intending to eat a ton of salads.  And then I don’t.  And I get worried, all that spinach is going to go bad! I need to eat it!  This is my favorite way to use up a whole giant container of baby spinach.  And this really only feeds 2 people! And takes 10 minutes, Max!

You will need: 1 large container fresh baby spinach, 1 teaspoon garlic-minced, 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 2 tablespoons chicken broth and 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

In a large skillet, drizzle the olive oil. Add the crushed red pepper flakes and garlic.  Allow to warm up together.  Dump in the spinach and add the chicken broth.  Allow to wilt down, stirring occasionally.  Once it is wilted, simmer in the pan for a few minutes.  Top with the cheese when serving. 

Homemade Spicy Hummus

I have been reading a bit about foods that naturally raise your metabolism.  I have a slow thyroid and sometimes, I really feel fatigued!  Well, chili peppers are one of those foods that will give you a boost. I used crushed red pepper flakes in this recipe.  It is not too spicy, but you will feel a little heat.  

You will need: 1 can Garbanzo beans(AKA chickpeas) (If you live by Giant Eagle, their Nature’s Basket brand has less sodium then all the others), the juice of 1 lemon, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, 1 tablespoon tahini, dash of salt, 2-3 cloves of garlic, water

Put everything in the food processor or blender.  Pulse.  Add water as needed to thin it out. 

Restaurant-Style Fresh Tomato Salsa

We had so much fresh produce in our house this week.  What a blessing! I decided to make some salsa.  This can be made in your blender or food processor. 

You will need: 5 or 6 medium sized tomatoes, 1 white onion, two cloves of garlic, 1 jalapeno (with seeds, remove them if you like it mild), 1 lime and a handful of cilantro. 

Chop the tops off the tomatoes and onion and throw them in the processor.  Peel the garlic, add it to the processor. Add the juice of the lime and the cilantro.  Throw in a pinch of salt.  Pulse until nice and blended. 

Cucumber Salad

This is such a simple and delicious salad.  I am sure you have made it before, but just in case, here is my version!

Chop up half of a white onion into a small dice, an entire cucumber into chunks, one roma tomato and one clove garlic, minced.  Mix together.  Add in salt and pepper, 1 tablespoon canola oil blend (I like the smart balance omega), and 1 and a half tablespoons white balsamic vinegar. 

Stir together and let sit for a few hours.  This will have a strong flavor, which you can reduce by omitting the raw garlic or adding more oil, but I like it just the way it is! 

Lemon Garlic Shrimp and Grits

This might be one of the easiest recipes ever for dinner.  I have not ever really been into grits, not that I don’t like them, we just never cooked them.  So, this was new for me and it couldn’t have been easier or tastier.  

The recipe is from Food Network.  The only thing I changed was subbing scallions instead of parsley. It turned out yummy.  A lot of people suggested cooking the grits with chicken broth instead of water, so I may try that next time.