Lunch

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PMP Summer Salad (Grilled Peach, Melon & Prosciutto)

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PMP Summer Salad (Grilled Peach, Melon & Prosciutto)

Prosciutto & melon is one of the most glorious classic flavor combinations ever. The perfect blend of sweet and salty, refreshing and savory…not to mention so easy to throw together. These little BFF’s are usually served as a delicate piece of prosciutto wrapped around a ripe piece of cantaloupe. This beautiful salad steps it up a bit without being super pretentious. Peppery arugula serves as the base, but you can totally use whatever greens you’ve got in the fridge. Grilling fruit is such a great way to elevate any dish. It brings out the natural sugars in the fruit and makes everything taste even more vibrant. A mix of sweet melon balls, creamy mozzarella, grilled peaches, thin, salty prosciutto, a bite from slivers of raw red onion, sea salt & a crack of black pepper make the most delicious summer salad. Let’s get cookin! 

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BBQ Chicken Without The Grill

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BBQ Chicken Without The Grill

My cravings for chicken are often and they are strong. Forget Tuesday, I’m down for Popeye’s any day of the week. Fried, braised, roasted, pan-fried… all of it is good in my book but sometimes there is nothing like some good ole BBQ Chicken. The problem is, there aren’t a ton of spots where you can just get BBQ chicken… so the last time I was having crazy cravings, I decided to just wing it and make my own. The problem with BBQ chicken is that you generally need a grill. Let’s face it, not everyone has a grill, and even the people with a grill don’t always want to fire it up. With #MemorialDay coming along soon, I’ve got a great solution for yummy BBQ chicken without the grill! I loooove Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ Sauce - SO cheap and really great balance of sweet and tangy. You can get a huge bottle for about $1.99. I love making drumsticks (for some reason it screams the epitome of BBQ chicken to me haha) and what’s awesome about that is that drumsticks and dark meat in general is so affordable. This recipe is so easy - takes a bit of attentiveness, but makes the juiciest, most delicious chicken ever.

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Watermelon Radish Salad with Sesame Lime Ginger Vinaigrette

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Watermelon Radish Salad with Sesame Lime Ginger Vinaigrette

How gorgeous is this salad?! I found that putting together this recipe was so therapeutic…almost like creating a piece of art. Not only are the colors stunning, but the flavor combinations in this salad are unreal as well. Beautiful curly tendrils of peppery arugula are tossed with bright, crisp slices of watermelon radish. Sweet Cara Cara orange supremes and the slight saltiness of crumbled feta are the perfect addition. Drizzle a little homemade Sesame Lime Ginger Vinaigrette and you have the most beautiful spring salad to celebrate upcoming Earth Day…or any day. This salad would be the perfect base of a grilled piece of fish or even with chicken..but for now, let’s just marvel at how simple this dish is…because the ingredients are so naturally beautiful, any way you toss them together, it looks like a gourmet meal. 
Watermelon radishes’ flesh is white closest to the exterior and becomes bright, with circular striations of pink and magenta toward the center. The flesh is tender crispy, succulent and firm. It has a mild, slightly peppery yet mostly sweet flavor. They come in a variety of sizes, from golf ball to soft ball size. They can be used fresh or cooked, and pair really well with fennel, apple, cheeses such as feta or chevre, white fish, vinaigrettes, citrus…the list goes on. They’re also wonderful when pickled! With that said, here is a recipe for a wonderfully simple salad that according to my taste-testing friend was like “an explosion of flavor in your mouth” :) Let’s get cookin!

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Baked Cilantro Lime Chicken

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Baked Cilantro Lime Chicken

These suckers went fast in my house. A zesty marinade of lime juice, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, salt, and pepper is a quick way to inject a ton of flavor into any cut of chicken. It’s baked in the oven, which helps cut down on extra oil, and comes out tender and juicy, ready to be finished off with fresh lime zest and chopped cilantro. Because this recipe is really for a simple marinade, it can be used to dress up chicken in almost any dish… chop it up for over a salad, serve it over pasta, rice, quinoa, or throw some pieces into some tacos for a fun weeknight meal. 

This marinade is made of ingredients that are super affordable, and often, all you need to head to the store for is for fresh limes and cilantro. Limes are often on sale at produce markets for fairly cheap prices - this week Safeway had them on sale at 3 for $0.99! You can use this marinade on any cut of chicken - breasts, thighs, or drumsticks. I prefer thighs, even though breasts are healthier and have more protein. If you’re just starting to play with different chicken recipes, I’d suggest cooking up some chicken thighs! You can hardly mess them up :) So let’s get cookin, this one’s a fun one.

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Paleo Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps

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Paleo Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps

We all love carbs - they’re delicious and magical, and yes; not that great for you. “Everything in moderation” is a great mindset, but is often difficult to actually apply to our daily lifestyles. I often try my hardest to make most of my meals #Paleo, short for the Paleolithic Diet, which basically consists of lean proteins, fruits and vegetables, and healthy fats from nuts, seeds, avocados, olive oil, fish oil and grass-fed meat. It cuts out dairy, grains, processed food & sugar, and starches. I have learned to substitute rice for more veggies, zucchini noodles, or a big salad. I’m not on a strict Paleo diet at all, but try to incorporate it into my meals as much as possible. 
I love lettuce wraps. They’re so easy to make and are so low in carbs that you can indulge without feeling guilty. My version is a twist on the typical lettuce wraps that use hoisin sauce. This recipe is packed with flavor, simple to throw together during the week, and will be a nice mix into your family’s meals. And on top of that, it’s budget friendly! What more could you ask for :) Let’s get cookin :)

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Skinny Enchilada Stacks

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Skinny Enchilada Stacks

I’m not going to claim that I know how to make authentic enchiladas, or hell, Mexican food. These Enchilada Stacks are a great way to satisfy your craving for Mexican food without the extra work that comes with rolling each enchilada. The recipe is delicious - it tastes just like I remember, and is so easy to throw together. It might not look like the traditional thing, but trust me, it tastes just like the classic. Top off each serving with fresh Queso Fresco, tomatoes, avocado, lettuce, olives, and cilantro - the whole enchilada.

Believe it or not, this recipe is also #GlutenFree! Traditional yellow corn tortillas keep this nice and simple. I also used ground turkey instead of ground beef, and made my own taco seasoning. This is such a fun dish for entertaining or for a weeknight meal with your family. Chop up all the toppings and set up a little enchilada bar! That way everyone can customize their own :) Let’s get cookin :) 

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Asian Chicken Meatballs

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Asian Chicken Meatballs

I’ve been on this never ending quest for delicious meatballs that aren’t dry. I’ve tried turkey and beef, and never quite get the flavor and consistency I am craving. I think I’m chasing this dreamy little meatball I had while overseas in Hong Kong…it was tender, packed with flavor, and so juicy. The elusive meatball, if you will :) 
These meatballs turned out really great, and satisfied my craving for the slow heat of ginger, balance of sweet and saltiness from a homemade teriyaki sauce, and the tender texture of ground chicken. 

I frequent a variety of supermarkets for different needs. My local Asian markets for most produce and some protein, Safeway and Whole Foods for organics, chicken, and seafood, and TJ’s for when I’m cooking just for myself. I love their small serving sizes. I have never really cooked with ground chicken before, but was delighted to find ground dark meat at my local Asian market, Sunset Super. A pound and a half was an alarming $3.49. I mean, you can’t really beat that. If your local butcher doesn’t have ground chicken readily available, feel free to ask the butcher to grind up 1 ½ lb of chicken breast for you. It’s actually best to always have a butcher grind your meat in front of you. I happened to use dark meat because it was available, but this works with ground chicken breast as well. 

Anyways, these meatballs are super easy to throw together. The secret is a ton of minced ginger and crushed pineapple, which give it the kick it needs, while staying moist! Let’s get cookin :) 

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Sweet Potato Chicken Hash

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Sweet Potato Chicken Hash

The holidays are my favorite time of the year. Despite cold weather and much needed rain, some of my favorite fruits and vegetables are in season, and it’s an overall cozy time :) I love sweet potatoes. They’re sweet, of course, packed with Vitamin A, and are really versatile. They can be used in both sweet and savory dishes, and are actually really easy to deal with in the kitchen. 
I’d like to share a few of my favorite sweet potato recipes with you all this winter. I usually have a stash in the pantry year round; I love to cook them in the microwave for the quickest Sweet Potato Mash you’ll ever have. I’ll be sharing that recipe soon!

For today’s recipe, I am sharing a yummy dish that can be eaten at any time of the day: a sweet potato hash, bulked up by tender chicken thighs and seasoned to perfection. You can, of course, top it all off with an egg, as any dish always gets better with the addition of runny yolk. This dish is the perfect comfort food, made healthier. The sweet potatoes become slightly crisp on the outside, filled with steamy sweetness, and the chicken is the perfect partner. Fresh parsley brings brightness and a pan-fried egg melds it all together into the most delicious and satisfying meal. Now let’s get cookin! :)

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Chicken, Kale & Quinoa Stuffed Peppers

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Chicken, Kale & Quinoa Stuffed Peppers

I admit, I skipped the #quinoa craze a few years ago. I thought it would be very similar to couscous, which I don’t have the taste for. Over the years I have of course, come to love quinoa, and its adaptability. So what is quinoa (keen-wah)? Well, officially, it’s a seed. However, it can be prepared just like whole grains such as rice or barley. It tastes great on its own, but is delicious when tossed in salads, stir-fries, or even to coat protein. It provides all 9 essential amino-acids, making it a complete protein. It’s also gluten-free and cholesterol free.

Cooking quinoa is super simple. Just remember that it’s a two-to-one ratio, just like rice. For every cup of quinoa, you will need 2 cups of water or broth. This will yield 3 cups of cooked quinoa. Rinse raw quinoa in cold water, and then bring the 1 cup of quinoa and 2 cups of water to a full, rolling boil. Once it reaches a boil, turn the heat down to a gentle simmer. Cover and let it cook for 15-20 minutes, depending on the package instructions. Once your timer is up, fluff with a fork. Simple!

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Jack Daniels Marinated Flank Steak

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Jack Daniels Marinated Flank Steak

Summer’s winding down, but here in San Francisco, it’s Indian Summer. The weather is beautiful and the overlap of really great postseason baseball and football season brings up a need for a great steak marinade! There are so many different ways to marinade beef. I wanted to put together a marinade that was made up of things that I already had around the house, and of course, a nice lil Jack Daniels marinade came to mind. Also, for those of you who want to achieve perfect grill marks, I taught myself to make a gif! See below!

I decided on a nice flank steak, which when marinaded and sliced really thinly against the grain, is wonderfully tender and flavorful. It’s best to let the meat marinade for a few hours to overnight. You can even use this on pork or chicken..or if you’re a vegetarian, try marinating some portobello mushrooms! Let’s get cookin :)