Lynbrook | New Hyde Park | NY

recipe

Recipe of the Week: California Burger Wraps

TOTAL TIME: 30 min

YIELD: 4 servings

It’s super quick to throw these wraps together for a healthy lunch. Serve with a side salad or homemade sweet potato fries to create a balanced meal!

Ingredients:

  • 1 pound lean ground beef (90% lean)
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 8 Bibb lettuce leaves
  • 1/3 cup crumbled feta cheese
  • 2 tablespoons Miracle Whip Light
  • 1/2 medium ripe avocado, peeled and cut into 8 slices
  • 1/4 cup chopped red onion
  • Chopped cherry tomatoes

Directions:

  1. In a large bowl, combine beef, salt and pepper, mixing lightly but thoroughly. Shape into eight 1/2-in.-thick patties.
  2. Grill burgers, covered, over medium heat or broil 3-4 in. from heat until a thermometer reads 160°, 3-4 minutes on each side. Place burgers in lettuce leaves. Combine feta and Miracle Whip; spread over burgers. Top with avocado, red onion and, if desired, tomatoes.

Original recipe from Taste of Home can be found here!

Recipe of the Week: Grilled Chicken Caprese Pasta Salad

Yield: 6 to 8

Prep Time: 45 mins

Cook Time: 15 mins

Total Time: 1 hour

Ingredients

  • 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • 3/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/3 cup balsamic vinegar
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • kosher salt and pepper
  • 1 pound spiral pasta, cooked
  • 12 to 16 ounces grape or cherry tomatoes, cut in half
  • 8 ounces fresh mozzarella, balls cut in half
  • 1 large handful fresh basil, about 2/3 cup basil leaves, chopped

Instructions 

  1. Prep the chicken first! You can make this a day or two before – even just marinating it or marinating it and grilling it. Place the chicken into a baking dish or resealable bag. Whisk together the olive oil, vinegar, garlic, dried basil and a big pinch of salt and pepper. Measure out about ¼ cup of the dressing and pour it over the chicken. Reserve the rest and store it in a sealed container in the fridge. This is your pasta salad dressing!
  2. Marinate the chicken for at least 30 minutes, or even overnight. When ready to grill, preheat your grill to the highest setting. Once the grill is hot, add the chicken (let the marinade run off into the dish) and grill for about 5 to 6 minutes per side, or until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F. Once the chicken is done, let it rest for 5 to 10 minutes. Then cut it into chunks.
  3. While the chicken is cooking, you can cook your pasta! You can also cook it the day before and store it in the fridge. You can also chop the tomatoes and the basil!
  4. Now it’s time to layer or assemble the pasta salad. I like to do layers of the pasta, chunked chicken, tomatoes, mozzarella and basil, then repeat. But of course, you can also just toss everything together!
  5. Once it is layer or tossed, drizzle it with the remaining dressing. Toss to serve and serve immediately, or store in the fridge until ready to serve.
  6. Note: if you assemble the pasta ahead of time, I would wait to add the fresh basil until right before serving!

Original recipe from How Sweet Eats can be found here!

Recipe of the Week: Buffalo Zucchini Chicken Burgers

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 6 minutes

Total Time 21 minutes

Servings 4

Ingredients

  • 1 pound 93% lean ground chicken (don’t use 99%, it will be too dry)
  • 1/2 cup shredded zucchini, squeezed of excess moisture with a paper towel
  • 2 tablespoons buffalo sauce
  • 1/4 cup finely diced yellow onion
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • 4 slices sharp cheddar cheese
  • For assembly:
  • 4 hamburger buns of choice
  • 4 tablespoons buffalo sauce, for topping
  • 1 large avocado, sliced
  • Butter lettuce
  • Sliced red onion

Instructions

  1. Preheat grill to medium high heat (~400 degrees F). Brush the grates with olive oil to prevent sticking.
  2. Make the burgers by adding the ground chicken/turkey, shredded zucchini, buffalo sauce, onion, garlic, cumin, salt and pepper to a large bowl. Mix with your hands until evenly combined. Divide into 4 equal portions and shape into 1/2 inch patties.
  3. Grill over medium-high heat for 6-8 minutes per side or until burgers are cooked through and a meat thermometer reads 165 degrees F. During the last few minutes of cooking the chicken burgers, add a slice of cheddar cheese on top of each burger patty; cover the grill for about 1 minute while the cheese melts.
  4. Place the onion on the bottom of the bun, then the burgers, top with a little bit of extra buffalo sauce, avocado and lettuce. Serve immediately. Great with sweet potato fries or fresh fruit!

Nutrition Facts

Per Serving (1 burger with whole grain bun + toppings)

Calories: 502

Fat 23.2g

Carbohydrates 41g

Protein 37.2g

Original recipe from Ambitious Kitchen can be found here!

Recipe of the Week: Zucchini and Corn Fiesta Salad

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

Servings: 6 servings

Ingredients

  • 2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
  • 3 small-medium size zucchinis, sliced into 1/4 inch thick coins
  • 1 jalapeño, seeds and ribs removed, finely chopped
  • 2 minced garlic cloves
  • 1/4 tsp. kosher salt
  • 1 1/2 cups frozen/thawed corn
  • 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese

Chili-Lime Vinaigrette

  • 3 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 Tbsp. fresh lime juice
  • 1/2 tsp. chili powder
  • 1/4 tsp. kosher salt
  • 1/4 tsp. ground cumin
  • 3 Tbsp. finely chopped fresh cilantro, plus more for garnish

Instructions

  1. Heat 2 Tbsp. oil in a large skillet over medium. Add zucchini; cook 5 to 7 minutes, stirring only occasionally, until golden-brown and tender. Add jalapeño and garlic; cook 2 more minutes, until aromatic. Stir in corn, cook 1 minute, until heated through. Season with salt and transfer mixture to a bowl.
  2. Prepare Chili-Lime Vinaigrette by combining olive oil, lime juice, chili powder, salt, cumin, and cilantro in a small bowl; stir with a whisk.
  3. Add tomatoes and feta cheese to zucchini mixture. Pour dressing on top and gently toss to combine. Garnish with additional cilantro, if desired.

Nutrition

Serving: 0.5cup, Calories: 150kcal, Carbohydrates: 16g, Protein: 5g, Fat: 8g

Original recipe from Dishing Out Health can be found here!

Creamy Asparagus and Pea Soup

PREP TIME: 5 minutes

COOK TIME: 25 minutes

TOTAL TIME: 30 minutes

Ingredients:

SOUP

  • 2 Tbsp olive or avocado oil
  • 12 ounces asparagus (trimmed // 1 large bundle yields ~12 ounces)
  • 10 ounces fresh or frozen peas (2 cups yield ~10 ounces)
  • 4 cloves garlic (minced)
  • 1 medium shallot (thinly sliced)
  • Salt + Pepper
  • 1 1/2 cups unsweetened plain almond milk
  • 1 1/2 cups vegetable broth
  • 1-2 Tbsp nutritional yeast (optional // for a slightly cheesy flavor)
  • 1/2 medium lemon (optional // juiced // for brightness)

GARLIC HERB CROUTONS (optional)

  • 2 cups bread (any kind // cubed)
  • 1/4 cup olive oil (or other neutral oil)
  • 1/4 tsp each garlic powder, salt + pepper, dried oregano, dried basil

Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F & spread asparagus on a bare baking sheet. Drizzle with oil of choice and season lightly with salt and pepper. Toss to coat. Roast for 15 minutes, then set aside. If making croutons, reduce heat to 325 degrees F at this time.
  2. Heat a large saucepan or pot medium heat. Once hot, add 2 Tbsp oil and shallot and garlic. Season lightly with salt and pepper and stir to coat. Cook for 2-3 minutes or until fragrant and translucent. Reduce heat if garlic begins browning.
  3. Add peas, vegetable broth and almond milk and season with salt and pepper once more.
  4. Transfer soup to blender (that is safe for blending hot liquids – it should have a lid that allows steam to escape) along with asparagus. Blend soup until creamy and smooth. Transfer back to pot and bring to medium heat and simmer.
  5. Add nutritional yeast and whisk. Continue cooking until warmed through and simmering, then reduce heat to low. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed, adding more salt and pepper if desired. Remove from heat and add lemon juice.
  6. If serving with croutons, prep while soup is simmering by lowering oven heat to 325 degrees F.
  7. Add bread crumbs to a mixing bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk together oil and seasonings and pour over bread crumbs and toss to combine. Season once more with a bit more garlic powder, salt and pepper. Toss once more.
  8. Spread on a clean baking sheet and bake or 15-20 minutes or until golden brown. Flip/stir at the 10-minute mark to ensure even baking.
  9. Serve soup with croutons, a touch of black pepper, and/or vegan parmesan cheese. Leftovers keep covered in the fridge for up to a few days.

Nutrition (1 of 4 servings)

Calories: 143, Carbohydrates: 16.4 g, Protein: 9.2 g, Fat: 5.5 g

Original recipe from Minimalist Baker can be found here!

Salmon with Curried Yogurt & Cucumber Salad

Total Time: 20 minutes

Serves: 4

Ingredients

  • 1?¼ pounds sustainable wild or farmed salmon, cut into 4 portions 
  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
  • ½ teaspoon salt, divided
  • ½ teaspoon ground pepper, divided
  • ½ cup sliced cucumber
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
  • 2 tablespoons minced shallot
  • ½ cup low-fat plain yogurt
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice 
  • ¼ teaspoon curry powder

Directions

  1. Preheat grill to medium-high.
  2. Brush salmon with 1 tablespoon oil and sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper.
  3. Grill the salmon, turning once, until just cooked through, about 6 minutes.
  4. Meanwhile, combine cucumber, cilantro and shallot with the remaining 1 tablespoon oil and 1/8 teaspoon each salt and pepper in a medium bowl. Whisk yogurt, lemon juice, curry powder and the remaining 1/8 teaspoon each salt and pepper in a small bowl.
  5. Serve the salmon with the yogurt sauce and the cucumber salad.

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: 4 oz. salmon, 2 Tbsp. yogurt and 2 Tbsp. cucumbers

Per Serving: 258 calories

Protein 30.2g; Carbohydrates 4.2g; Fat 12.7g

Original recipe from Eating Well can be found here!

Recipe of the Week: Freezer Breakfast Sandwiches

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 18 minutes

Servings: 12 sandwiches

Calories per serving: 364 kcal

INGREDIENTS

  • 12 Light Multigrain English Muffins (try Thomas 100-Calorie)
  • 12 slices Sharp Cheddar Cheese (1 oz per slice)

MEAT (quantities listed make 4 servings of each, feel free to swap)

  • 4 slices Applegate Hickory Smoked Uncured Thick Cut Bacon 
  • 4 slices Hormel Black Label Canadian bacon
  • 1 lb Jennie-O Turkey Breakfast

*Cook breakfast meat according to package directions

EGGS

  • 8 large eggs
  • 2 1/2 cups egg whites
  • 1/4 cup whole milk
  • 2 cups baby spinach
  • 1/2 medium red bell pepper, chopped
  • 1/2 medium shallot, diced
  • 1 tsp olive oil
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper

INSTRUCTIONS

EGGS

  1. Pre-heat oven to 325 degrees. Spray a 13×18″ baking sheet with non-stick cooking spray and set aside.
  2. Heat olive oil or rendered bacon fat in a pan over medium high heat. Once hot, add shallot and bell pepper and sauté until softened and fragrant, 3-4 minutes. Add baby spinach and toss with shallot and bell pepper. Sauté for 2-3 minutes, continuously moving around the pan, until spinach is softened and bright green. Dump spinach mixture onto a paper-towel lined plate and set aside.
  3. Add whole eggs into a bowl with milk, salt, and pepper. Whisk until yolks are broken down and combined into the whites. Then add remaining egg whites and cooled spinach mixture and whisk until combined. Pour into greased baking sheet.
  4. Bake at 325 degrees for 18-22 minutes or until the tops of the eggs are no longer jiggly. Set aside to cool.

ASSEMBLE

*Note: ensure all components are completely cooled before assembling the sandwiches!

  1. Slice the cooled eggs into 12 pieces and break bacon slices in half so they fit onto the sandwiches.
  2. Place the English muffin bottoms on the counter (or onto a large baking sheet for easy cleanup). Add the cooled egg whites, then the cheese slices, then the meats. Add the muffin tops and tightly wrap the sandwiches in wax paper or foil. Freeze for up to 1 month.

RECIPE NOTES

  • Wrapping: I tried wrapping and freezing these sandwiches in plastic wrap, wax paper, and aluminum foil. The ones wrapped in wax paper fared the best in the freezer in the short term, and foil did better over time.
  • Storing: I also tried sticking some wrapped sandwiches in sealed plastic containers or reusable plastic bags. If using foil or using wax paper for short term (<1 week) freezing, the extra container or bag is totally unnecessary. 
  • Reheating: I tested a variety of reheating methods – air fryer, oven, microwave, microwave + toaster. My favorite was letting the sandwich thaw in the fridge overnight, then topless into the air fryer at 200 degrees for 10 minutes. Then replace the top, flip it, and go at 300 degrees for 5 minutes.

This recipe originally comes from Peanut Butter & Fitness and can be found here!

Recipe of the Week: Sweet Potato Chickpea Buddha Bowl

PREP TIME: 5 minutes

COOK TIME: 25 minutes

TOTAL TIME: 30 minutes

Servings: 3

Ingredients:

VEGETABLES

  • 2 Tbsp olive, melted coconut, or avocado oil
  • 1/2 medium red onion (sliced in wedges)
  • 2 small sweet potatoes (halved)
  • 1 bundle broccolini (large stems removed // chopped)
  • 2 big handfuls kale (larger stems removed)
  • 1/4 tsp each salt + pepper

TAHINI SAUCE

  • 1/4 cup tahini
  • 1 Tbsp maple syrup
  • 1/2 medium lemon (juiced)
  • 2-4 Tbsp hot water (to thin)

CHICKPEAS

  • 1 (15-ounce) can chickpeas (drained, rinsed + patted dry)
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • 3/4 tsp chili powder
  • 3/4 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/4 tsp each salt + pepper
  • 1/2 tsp tsp oregano
  • 1/4 tsp turmeric

Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F and arrange sweet potatoes and onions on a bare baking sheet. Drizzle both with a bit of oil, making sure the flesh of the sweet potatoes are well coated and placed skin side down on the sheet.
  2. Bake for 10 minutes, then remove from oven flip sweet potatoes and add broccolini. Drizzle broccolini with a bit of oil and season with a pinch each salt and pepper.
  3. Bake for another 8-10 minutes, then remove from oven and add kale. Drizzle kale with a touch more oil and season with a pinch each salt and pepper. Bake for another 4-5 minutes then set aside.
  4. While vegetables are roasting, heat a large skillet over medium heat and add chickpeas to a mixing bowl and toss with seasonings.
  5. Once hot, add 1 Tbsp oil and chickpeas and sauté, stirring frequently. If they’re browning too quickly, turn down heat. If there isn’t much browning going on, increase heat. I found 10 minutes total at slightly over medium heat was perfect. Once the chickpeas are browned and fragrant, remove from heat and set aside.
  6. Prepare sauce by adding tahini, maple syrup and lemon juice to a mixing bowl and whisking to combine. Add hot water until a pourable sauce is formed. Set aside.
  7. To serve: slice sweet potatoes into bite size pieces. Divide vegetables between 3 serving bowls and top with chickpeas + tahini sauce.

Nutrition:

Calories: 474      Carbohydrates: 62 g       Protein: 13.2 g   Fat: 21 g

Sodium: 563 mg              Fiber: 11.4 g       Sugar: 7.2 g

Original recipe from Minimalist Baker can be found here!