Stir-fried Lunch

Ingredients:

1cup Quinoa

2 cups Chicken or Vegetable Broth

1 Onion

2 stalks celery

1 Bell Pepper

1 cup Mushrooms

1 bunch Baby Bokchoy

1 bunch Mustard Greens

1 handful Green Beans

Any other veggies you like

1 oz Ginger root

2 cloves Garlic

3 Tbsp Olive Oil

1/8 Cup Low Sodium Soy Sauce 

Seasonings (I.e. Chili powder, paprika)

Directions:

Chop all veggies into bite sized pieces. Chop ginger and garlic finely. 

In a small pot, bring 2 cups broth to a boil. Add Quinoa, bring to a low simmer, stir occasionally. 

In a large pan, heat olive oil on a medium flame. Add ginger, onions, and celery. When the onion and celery are translucent, add the rest of your vegetables. Cover with a lid and stir occasionally. Make sure nothing burns, the liquid from the vegetables should prevent this but stir to be sure. When the Bokchoy and mustard greens are limp, add the garlic, seasonings, and soy sauce. Continue cooking, stirring all ingredients together. 

Separate the ingredients into 5 containers, adding 1/2 cup cooked quinoa to each portion. Enjoy for 5 days of lunch! 

Side note: add chicken or another protein if you so choose. I prefer without meat for lunch but if I was serving this as a dinner I would add chicken or shrimp. 

I'm Stuffed!

Quinoa Stuffed Zucchini

Ingredients:

3 Zucchinis

1/2 Cup Organic Quinoa

1 Cup Chicken Broth

1 Medium Tomato

1/2 Shallot

2 Chives

3 oz. Cheese (any type)

Olive Oil

Directions:

Wash all of your vegetables. Slice your zucchinis in half lengthwise, using a melon baller remove the seeds, and set them aside. Put the Chicken Broth and Quinoa in a small lidded pot and bring to a boil. Lower to a simmer and cook until all the broth is absorbed, about 20-25 minutes.  Chop the tomato, shallot, and chives. Sauté the vegetables in olive oil then add to the quinoa, mixing well. Shred cheese (I used Swiss). Spoon the mixture into the halved zucchini topping it with cheese. Bake for 20-25 minutes. 

One tomato was plenty, but you can use more

2 chives, chopped finely

Shred your cheese finely

Remove the seeds

Sautee in olive oil

Fill your zucchini with the mixture

Topped with cheese

A Veggie Sensation

Ratatouille 

Ingredients:

1 medium eggplant 

2 Zucchinis

2 medium onions

2 bell peppers (red, yellow, or orange)

5 tomatoes

1/2 cup tomato purée 

2 tsp chopped garlic 

1/4 cup chopped parsley

1/4 cup chopped basil 

1 tsp thyme 

Salt

Pepper 

Directions:

Dice onions and bell peppers. Sauté in vegetable oil. Set aside. Cut eggplant into quarters lengthwise then cut each quarter into 1/4 inch pieces. Sauté with 1 tsp garlic until tender but not brown. Slice zucchini into thin pieces. Sauté until tender. Combine onions, peppers, eggplant, and zucchini together. Add the remaining garlic. Peel tomatoes (see instructions for this step below). Slice into bite size pieces and add them to the veggies along with any juice. Once combined, add parsley, basil, and tomato purée. Lid your pan and simmer for approximately 10 more minutes or until the juices look soup-like. Serve with rice or by itself. 

Onions sauteed in vegetable oil

Peeling tomatoes isn't as hard as it sounds!

Once the sauce is soupy you know it's ready!

Peeling tomatoes:

Core your tomatoes. Place in a large bowl. Boil water and pour over tomatoes. Use a lid to trap the steam inside and this will loosen the tomatoes' skin. You'll only need to leave them for a minute or two. Use a knife to peel the skin off completely.