Tag Archives: vegetables

4 No-Cook Jicama Wraps for Dog Days of Summer

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These No-Cook Jicama Wrap ideas are the perfect meal solution for the dog days of summer.

I have a jicama wrap for you . . . and a jicama wrap for you . . . and a jicama wrap for you (I’m pointing to all of y’all)!  I’ve been having this love affair with jicama for a while now, you’ve probably seen some of the posts here and on Instagram– this is one of my favorite, Three No-Cook Jicama Recipes for Summer. I now have a new addition to the no-cook meal solutions — Four No-Cook Jicama Wraps!  It’s the perfect solution for the dog days of summer — and speaking of the “dog days,” check out my Lucy helping me with yoga!

I revisited this jicama obsession when I noticed that my grocery store started stocking jicama “tortillas” in their produce department. They are made in-house and sold in the convenience prepped veggie section – I did a little jump for joy when I first spotted them sitting there waiting for me. I’ve drooled over all the jicama “taco” recipes on Pinterest, but I’ve never been able to slice my jicama that thin (cause I’m not losing a finger on the mandolin)! Yay, now I have people that do that for me!

I originally made this collection of jicama tacos (or wraps or rollups – what does one call them?) to showcase the OPA by Litehouse™ Greek Yogurt Dressings.  I love those dressings, they taste so rich and indulgent but they have fewer calories than traditional dressings . . . and more protein, too!

Some of the perks of these jicama rollups – the are Paleo friendly depending exactly what you put on top; they are crispy, crunch and low calorie; and, whoot-whoot – there is no heating up the kitchen with the oven.

Fig, Blue Cheese and Arugula Jicama Wraps

Sliced Black Mission Figs + Arugula + Artisan Reserve Blue Cheese + Balsamic Syrup + OPA by Litehouse™ Blue Cheese Dressing

 

 

 

 

 

 

Black Bean and Mango Relish Jicama Wrap makes a sweet and spicy vegetarian meal -- no cooking!Black Beans+ Mango Pico de Gallo + Cilantro + OPA by Litehouse™ Jalapeno Ranch Dressing

 

 

 

 

 

Carrot, Pea and Radish Jicama is so much tastier than bunny food! Matchstick Carrots+ Thawed Frozen Peas + Radish Slice +Fresh Dill + OPA by Litehouse™ Feta Dill Dressing

 

 

 

 

 

Quinoa, Tomato and Ranch Jicama Wrap makes a quick and easy summer lunch -- no cooking!Quinoa + Tomato Slices + Flat Parsley + OPA by Litehouse™ Ranch Dressing

Full disclosure on this one — the quinoa is cooked, obviously. It was leftover — use any leftover grain that you have like brown rice, wheat berry, couscous and so on!

 

Don’t forget to check out my past round-up of Three No-Cook Jicama Recipes for Summer.

Jicama is a root vegetable that tastes a bit like a mild apple. It doesn't oxidize when cut -- the perfect crunchy ingredient for salads and summer no-cook recipes.

4 No-Cook Jicama Wraps for Dog Days of Summer #CLblogger #LivingLitehouse

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Are you a fan of jicama? What is your favorite no-cook recipe for the dog days of summer? Please share in the comments below!

 

Balsamic Grilled Vegetable Salad & Grilling Produce Tips

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Take advantage of the summer's best produce with this Balsamic Grilled Vegetable Salad -- and check out the grilling tips.This coming weekend, I’m teaching 200 carnivores how to grill vegetable side dishes to go along with their beef. It’s hard to upstage a delicious, juicy flat iron steak — but I think a couple of my recipes can come close — especially this Balsamic  Grilled Vegetable Salad!

Five Tips for Grilling Vegetables this Summer

Grilled vegetables is super easy, and in the heat of the summer — there is no need to also turn on an oven or stove if the grill is already going. At BeefLovingTexans.com, I’m sharing Five Tips for Grilling Vegetables – go check that out! Meanwhile, I hope you enjoy this delicious, easy grilled vegetable salad that is the perfect way to take advantage of your favorite fresh seasonal vegetables — feel free to swap in the veggies you love.  It’s also a great dish for my Paleo diet and low-carb peeps.

And, if you have any leftovers, these vegetables are so good in a sandwich! Or in an egg scramble, or on a pizza, or tossed with pasta.

Balsamic Grilled Veggie Sandwich

Balsamic Grilled Veggie Salad & Grilling Produce Tips #Summer #MeatlessMonday

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What is your favorite vegetable (or fruit) to toss on the grill? Please share in the comments below — XOXO, Jennifer

 

 

 

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Balsamic Grilled Vegetable Salad
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
8 mins
Total Time
48 mins
 
Grilling vegetables is a great way to add a hint of smoky goodness and flavor to the summer season's best vegetables. The leftovers for this grilled salad can be used on pizzas, pastas and sammies.
Course: Salad, Sandwich, Vegetable
Cuisine: American, Italian
Servings: 4 people
Ingredients
  • 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
  • 6 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped parsely
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped basil
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 pound zucchini, sliced into 1/3″ planks lengthwise
  • 1 pint button mushrooms, sliced in half
  • 1 large red or yellow bell pepper, seeded and quartered
  • 1 large red onion, cut into 1/2-inch discs
  • 6 cups baby spinach, washed and dried
Instructions
  1. In small bowl, whisk together balsamic vinegar, oil, parsley, basil and garlic. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.  Place veggies in large zip-top bag and add balsamic mixture; close bag and turn a few times to coat contents. Let marinate at room temperature for approximately 30 minutes.
  2. Skewer together mushrooms. Coat grates with oil and heat grill to medium-high — approximately 400 F degrees.
  3. Drain balsamic marinade off vegetables and reserve (never reserve marinade on raw meat, but on vegetables it is fine)
  4. Grill veggies for 6 to 8 minutes, turning halfway through cooking. Vegetables will be done when they are becoming tender (a little “crunch” is desired and have golden brown grate marks. Let vegetables cool on cutting board for several minutes and then cut down into bite sized pieces.
  5. In small sauce pan, bring balsamic mixture to a boil over medium-high heat, let simmer for a couple minutes to reduce a volume a bit.
  6. Add spinach to serving platter and top with grilled vegetables and balsamic dressing (made from the marinade). Toss with tongs and serve warm — or make the vegetables in advance, chill and serve as a cold salad

Crowing About Parmesan Roasted Sunchokes — Tastes Like Artichoke Dip!

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Parmesan Roasted Sunchokes are warm and crunch and taste like artichoke dip!You might walk right past Sunchokes in the market, they are knobby, gnarly and not a vegetable that jumps out with color and leafy flash and says “buy me, buy me!”  Some call this tuberous root a “Jerusalem Artichoke,” however they are not at all related to the artichoke – although they do have a strangely similar taste that could be described as a little sweet, a little nutty and quite crunchy when served raw. It’s super simple to slice Sunchokes up thinly and sprinkle on a salad.

Sunchokes are a tuberous root also called Jerusalem Artichokes .

Another easy way to prepare this unusual veggie is oven-roasting — what root or tuber doesn’t benefit from a toasty turn under high, dry heat?! I toss Sunchokes in olive oil, garlic and Parmesan cheese and the final result is a cross between oven fries and artichoke dip! OMG, so good and so much healthier than the traditional party-night artichoke dip that has a ton of cheese, mayo and other heavy ingredients.

Crow Pose - TheFitFork.com

I like to try new things, it makes life more exciting! Like learning the crow yoga pose earlier in the year and getting up enough nerve to balance on a picnic table! Sunchokes can be an exciting and unusual addition to your healthy diet (they are obviously gluten-free, Paleo friendly and are low on the Glycemic Index making them a good choice for diabetics.  Sunchokes are also a great source of iron, potassium and thiamin. They are also low in calories (60 calories for 4-ounces) and high in fiber. If you want to learn more about Sunchokes or can find them at the store, just ask your produce manager – or check out Friedas.com for nutritional information and more recipes.

Parmesan Roasted Sunchokes - TheFitFork.com

Parmesan Roasted Sunchokes –  OMG, Tastes Like Artichoke Dip! #Fitfluential #Recipe

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Have you ever tried Sunchokes? What did you think? Share in the comments!

Parmesan Roasted Sunchokes - TheFitFork.com
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Parmesan Roasted Sunchokes
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
20 mins
Total Time
30 mins
 
Sunchokes (aka Jerusalem Artichokes) are easy to oven roast with Parmesan and garlic, making a delicious and healthy side dish in less than 30 minutes. Serve with the dip of your choice as an appetizer or alongside a burger!
Course: Side Dish, Vegetable
Cuisine: American
Servings: 4
Ingredients
  • 1 pound Sunchokes scrubbed and sliced into 1/3" chunks
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 3 cloves garlic finely minced
  • 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese finely grated
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 425F. Scrub the Sunchokes under cold running water and slice 1/3-inch thick.
  2. Add Sunchokes, garlic and olive oil to bowl and toss until coated. Add Parmesan cheese and shake bowl until
  3. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, turning once, or until Sunchokes are turning golden brown on the outside and tender inside.

East-West Shishito Pepper and Mushroom Saute

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Shishito Pepper and Mushroom Saute packed with loads of veggies and bold umami taste - TheFitFork.com

Food science nerd alert – I’m talking about umami again. You know, our fifth taste receptor, the newfound “delicious essense” those Japanese waxed so poetically about in the 20th century.  It’s all about the high concentrations of glutamates and nucleotides found in certain foods and how combing these foods creates a meaty, savory crave factor that is just really hard to describe in words. In fact, research has shown that pairing up glutamate and nucleotide rich ingredients magnifies their joint umami effect up to 8 times as much.  I’ve found that using a few umami-rich ingredients in healthier recipes is an easy way to create an amazing and indulgent-seeming eating experience.

Live Fire Beef at the Salt Lick - TheFitFork.com

There was so much umami going on at the beef-centric Live Fire event I attended this week at with friends from BeefLovingTexans.com), I wish I could have taken all of you to this meat extravaganza at the famous Salt Lick in the Texas Hill Country.  Did what I had to do as a food blogger and made all the rounds to taste meaty, marvelous dishes from chefs from all over Texas. It’s amazing how versatile beef is – not only are there a zillion cuts to choose from (I even tried tongue), beef can be served up to conjure up a fond memories. Over the night, I felt like I had been at grandma’s house getting a hug from comfort food ( with the pimento cheese grits with burnt ends brisket) to being on an exotic vacation (with the Thai NY strip satay with green mango salad).

Essential Umami Ingredients to Stock your Pantry - TheFitFork.comFind out more about umami from this past blog post, no need to rehash it all here. I’ve also curated a handy collection of essential umami pantry staples for Mode.com, check that out too! Some of the first foods people mention when asked about umami are steaks, mushrooms, red wine, fermented sauces and aged cheeses. It’s true, all these are delicious pairing. However, did you know that as far as vegetables go, mushrooms don’t have a monopoly on umami. Lot of other veggies are high in umami, including sea vegetables (like kelp), mushrooms, corn, peas, tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, winter squash, green beans, asparagus, Brussels sprouts, Swiss chard and kale.

Check out my vegetable-packed recipe for  East-West Shishito Pepper, Mushroom  and Corn Saute. Almost all the ingredient are umami-rich and it tastes super “meaty” just on it’s own – but I’ve used as a topping for brisket tacos and steak, and it was pure heaven.

Umami-Rich Mushrooms, Corn & Chile Pepper Saute - TheFitFork.com

Umami-Rich Mushrooms, Corn & Chile Pepper Saute - TheFitFork.com
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East-West Shishito Pepper and Mushroom Saute
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
5 mins
Total Time
15 mins
 
This easy saute of mild peppers, mushrooms, corn, and onions will rock your socks off with bold umami taste! Great as a vegetarian dish but also fantastic atop a steak or beef taco.
Course: Condiment, Side Dish
Cuisine: Asian, Southwestern
Servings: 4 servings
Ingredients
  • 2 teaspoon olive oil
  • 2 cups chopped shishimo peppers or other mild green pepper or other mild green pepper
  • 1/2 cup chopped sweet onion
  • 2 ears corn peeled and shucked
  • 2 cups sliced baby bella mushrooms
  • 1/4 cup soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons fresh chopped cilantro
Instructions
  1. Heat olive oil in large skilled over medium-high heat.
  2. Add peppers and onion and saute for 2 minutes, or until softening.
  3. Add thawed corn and mushrooms to pepper mixture and continue to saute for another 3 minutes.
  4. Add soy sauce and stir until vegetables coated, cook for about 30 more seconds.
  5. Sprinkle with cilantro and serve as a side, on a salad, steak or taco.
Recipe Notes

This easy saute of mild peppers, mushrooms, corn, and onions will rock your socks off with bold umami taste! Great as a vegetarian dish but also fantastic atop a steak or beef taco.

Anniversaries and Olive Oil Roasted Asparagus with Almonds

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Married for 24 years and I havent' killed him . . . yet!

Married for 24 years and I havent’ killed him . . . yet!

Pulled together this post on the fly, since the sponsored one I had planned is being held up “in the legal department,” or that’s what I was told. I have my own legal department at home, also known as my hubby, which reminds me to let the world know that it is our 24th wedding anniversary. Yes, I got married in kindergarten.

Of course, we had to celebrate with beef – I killed my CrossFit  15.3 WOD today with 1st place age group South Central region. That was 200 wall balls and 701 jump ropes in 14 minutes, so I was totally in #beefmode afterward!

 

 

Beef Filet with Sauteed Spinach - TheFitFork.comThis is a shot of my husband’s delicious dinner from Steiner Steakhouse, he got the sautéed spinach as his side. What you don’t see is the asparagus on my plate that gobbled up before the obligatory food blogger photo.

How To Roast Asparagus

Eating at a fancy steakhouse can cost a pretty penny, but also am a pro at making restaurant worthy steaks and sides at home. A favorite is the pan-seared, oven-finished filet with balsamic tomatoes I did for BeefLovingTexas.com. I also make some amazing asparagus at home and will be making it frequently now that these fresh spears of spring have sprung up in the market.  This vegetable recipe is super easy to make — it’s drizzled with olive oil, roasted in the oven, and topped with almonds, bacon or whatever your heart desires.  Way better than mush steamed asparagus, in my opinion!

Olive Oil Roasted Asparagus with Almonds

Anniversaries and Olive Oil Roasted Asparagus with Almonds #FitFluential #Recipe

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Also check out Cooking Light’s video tips on choosing, preparing, storing, and serving this quintessential vegetable of spring.

Cooing Light's Asparagus Tips Video

Olive Oil Roasted Asparagus with Almonds
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Olive Oil Roasted Olive Oil with Almonds
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
25 mins
Total Time
35 mins
 
Make restaurant-worthy asparagus cheaper and tastier than what you get as a steakhouse side with this easy oven-roasted vegetable recipe.
Course: Side Dish
Servings: 4 servings
Ingredients
  • 1 lb fresh asapragus
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil garlic olive oil, even better!
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons coarse sea salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon coarse ground black pepper
  • 1/4 cup unsalted raw almonds
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 400 F degrees.
  2. Snap tough ends off bottom of spears (approx 1").
  3. Lay spears out in single layer on rimmed baking sheet.
  4. Drizzle asparagus with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Shake baking sheet back and forth to coat.
  5. Roast in oven for 25 minutes, flipping asparagus half-way through to cook evenly.
  6. After 14 minutes, add raw almonds to small baking sheet. Place in oven for remaining asparagus cooking time (11 minutes).
  7. Remove asparagus and almonds. Let almonds cook for a couple minutes and then chop coarsely. Sprinkle asparagus with almonds and serve.
Recipe Notes