Helpful Hint- Dried Spices

The best way to get the most flavor from your dried spices is to rub them between your hands and break them up a bit before adding them to your dishes. For some reason this make all the flavor and smells jump out.

Lime and Cilantro Chicken and Quinoa

I have discovered Quinoa again. Its been a good few years since I had any and found some at the store. Quinoa is a seed and is a super food. Extremely healthy and good for you. I decided to make some with what I had in the house. Turned out really good.

To make the Quinoa

I used 1 cup Quinoa to 2 cups boiling water with 2 chicken oxo cubes in it. This was enough for my husband and me and a small plate for my 2 yr old. No left over and no seconds. First, rinse the Quinoa really well as its got a coating that, if left on, makes it bitter. I use one of those little hand held strainers. I think you can use a coffee filter too. Boil for 10 mins then cover and take off heat. Just let it absorb the rest of the water.

I put some red peppers and Green Bell peppers under the Grill (broiler) to blacken the skin. This also makes them sweeter. Do remove the skins.

I take 2 boneless chicken breasts and put them in the freezer. If they are softly frozen it easier to cut them into small chunks. Then put in a frying pan with a little oil.

Cut up a few shallots and add to the cooking chicken bits.

Cut up mushrooms into chunks and add it.

Add the peppers.

Add some fresh Cilantro (coriander) at the end of cooking the chicken.

Juice a few limes and add the juice to the Quinoa.

Mix or just pile on a plate and enjoy.

Carrot and Coriander Soup- Healthy

This is a very easy and very healthy recipe.  No fat and very low calorie… if that. Great if you have a bag of carrots that need to be used up. Tasty and great on Weight Watchers I am sure.

Carrots, coriander, oxo cubes, water.

Buy a bag of carrots. Peel them and cut them into small chunks. Put them in a pot. This will be about the amount of soup so the more people the more carrots. Next, cover the carrots with water or broth. Just over the top of the carrots or its to runny.  Add some Oxo cubes to add a bit of depth to the flavor. Next add Coriander. Coriander is Cilantro for those of us in the Spanish speaking part of the world.   I like to use a big bunch of fresh, cut up and no stems. You can use dried too.  Add a little salt or Low Salt. Boil until the carrots are soft. Then let cool a bit. Get out your hand blender, or use a food processor, and blend smooth.

There you go. If you want to make it really rich and add calories and fat add some butter and cream. But I dont think it needs it.