In an attempt to be a bit more on the lean side, I made TWO salads last week. Only thing is.. they aren't REALLLLY salads. More like concoctions of things I had left over in my fridge and pantry. Which turned out quite nice, if I do say so myself. Like I said: salads are weird.
So here we go..
Kung Pao Chicken on top of Mexican Rice
Recipe adapted from: myrecipes.com
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 cup chopped onion
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
3/4 cup water
3 tablespoons lower-sodium soy sauce
2 teaspoons cornstarch
1 teaspoon brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon bottled minced ginger
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1 cup thinly sliced bell pepper (about 1 large pepper)
1/4 cup frozen corn
2 tablespoons chopped unsalted, dry-roasted peanuts
Preparation:
1. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion to pan; sauté 3 minutes or until softened. Add garlic; sauté 30 seconds, stirring constantly. Add chicken; sauté 3 minutes or until chicken begins to brown.
2. Combine 3/4 cup water and the next 5 ingredients (through crushed red pepper), stirring with a whisk until sugar dissolves. Add water mixture to pan; bring to a boil. Add bell pepper and corn to pan; cook for 2 minutes or until vegetables are crisp-tender and sauce thickens. Sprinkle with nuts and serve on top of Uncle Ben's Mexican Rice blend.
Warm Tortellini and Cherry Tomato Salad
Recipe adapted from: myrecipes.com
Ingredients:
1 (9-ounce) packages fresh cheese tortellini
3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon extravirgin olive oil
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
4 cups trimmed Romaine lettuce
1 1/2 cups halved cherry tomatoes
3/4 cup (3 ounces) pregrated fresh Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup thinly sliced red onion
1/3 cup thinly sliced fresh basil
1 (14-ounce) can artichoke hearts, drained and quartered
Preparation:
Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain.
While pasta cooks, combine vinegars, oil, and pepper in a large bowl, stirring with a whisk. Add pasta mixture, Romaine lettuce, and remaining ingredients; toss to coat.
Well, lots of things are happening in the month of May. Dad visits DC this week and I couldn't be more excited! It'll be the first time he has visited me and Adam's new apartment. We can't wait!
And in less than three weeks, the Marshall clan heads to Kill Devil Hills in the Outer Banks! It is one of my most favorite times of the year! I just can't wait to hug my aunts and uncles, play ridiculous amounts of yard games, float in an intertube for days straight, eat some amazing cooking and snuggle with these pups!
Until next time,
