Firey Fajitas

A splash of hot sauce adds a spicy twist to my take on this favourite dish. These fajitas are simple to prepare and ready to eat in under ten minutes. Fast food can be flavourful!

Ingredients:

• 10 inch diameter whole grain tortillas
  
• yellow onion
  
• cooked chicken breasts, cut into strips
  
• red bell pepper
  
• avocado
  
• feta cheese
  
• Dan T's WhiteHot Inferno sauce
  
• olive oil for frying

Directions:

Heat oil in a skillet.
Slice onion lengthwise and stir-fry until soft and translucent.
Add strips of cooked chicken and continue cooking until chicken is heated through and onion begins to carmelize.
While the chicken and onions are cooking, slice pepper and avocado into thin strips and crumble feta.

Place onion, chicken, pepper, avocado, feta and hot sauce across the centre of a tortilla, leaving one edge bare.


Fold the bare side of the tortilla up over the fillings.


Fold the near edge of the tortilla up over the fillings and folded bottom edge.


Beginning with the side you have folded over, roll the fajita away from you until it is fully wrapped.


Enjoy!

Ancient Grains Focaccia

This hearty and delicious focaccia is fragrant with olive oil and herbs. Omit the feta or substitute a soy-based "cheese" for a vegan alternative.

Best enjoyed still warm from the oven. If you have any leftovers they can be enjoyed the next day, lightly warmed.


Note: The focaccia did originally fill this pan. A good chunk of it got eaten before I had a chance to take a photograph!

Ingredients:

• 2 1/4 teaspoons "Quick Rise" instant yeast
  
• 1 1/4 cups very warm water
  
• 1 teaspoon sugar
  
• 1 teaspoon salt
  
• 1 + 1/2 cups white flour
  
• 1 cup whole wheat flour
  
• 1/2 cup stone ground whole grain amaranth flour
  
• 1/2 cup stone ground whole grain quinoa flour
  
• 1 teaspoon dried rosemary + additional for topping
  
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
  
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
  
• 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
  
• 2 tablespoons + 2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
  
• kalamata olives
  
• tomato
  
• onion
  
• feta cheese

Directions:

Combine yeast with 1 cup white flour, sugar and salt.
Stir in very warm (hot to the touch, but not scalding) water.
Add 2 tablespoons olive oil, whole grain flours, and herbs.
Knead dough for 10 minutes, adding up to 1/2 cup additional flour as needed if dough is too sticky. (Dough should be smooth and elastic after kneading.)
Allow dough to rest ten minutes in a warm, draft-free environment.
Coat a 10 x 15 inch baking sheet with 1 teaspoon olive oil.
Gently press dough into baking sheet to fit dimensions of sheet.
Cover with non-stick parchment paper and a tea towel.
Allow to rise in a warm, draft-free environment until doubled in size (approximately 30 minutes).
Pit and chop olives.
Slice tomato.
Slice onion thinly.
Crumble cheese.
Brush surface of dough with final teaspoon of olive oil.
Sprinkle olives, tomato, onion, feta and reserved rosemary over top of dough.
Bake at 400°F for 15-20 minutes, until lightly browned.

Crostini à la Dragon

My own take on garlic bread with the works. This is a favourite appetizer at my dinner parties, but the recipe is hearty enough to serve as a meal in itself!



Ingredients:

• 1 fresh baked, hearty whole grain baguette
  
• 1 oven roasted garlic with roasting oil
  
• 140 g chevre, room temperature
  
• fresh basil leaves, torn into small pieces
  
• sun dried tomatoes, thinly sliced
  
• roasted red pepper, cut into small pieces
  
• feta cheese, crumbled
  
• fresh grated parmesan

Directions:

Slice baguette in half and place both halves, cut side up, on a baking tray.
Drizzle oil from the oven roasted garlic over the bread.
Spread bread with chevre.
Pile on basil, tomato, pepper and feta.
Top with parmesan.
Place under broiler on low heat until parmesan turns golden brown.
Enjoy immediately.

Tomato & Feta Salad

Simple. Tasty. Nutrient rich. What more could you want?

Ingredients:

• tomatoes, sliced into wedges
  
• feta cheese, crumbled
  
• fresh basil leaves, ripped into small pieces
  
• balsamic vinegar
  
• extra virgin olive oil

Directions:

Toss tomatoes, feta and basil together.
Sprinkle with oil and vinegar.

Sunshine Salad

Ingredients:

• mixed salad greens
  
• cooked chicken, diced *
  
• avocado, sliced
  
• mango, cubed
  
• red bell pepper, sliced
  
• feta cheese, crumbled
  
• roasted cashew nuts (unsalted)
  
• pumpkin seeds, shelled
  
• sunflower seeds, shelled
  
• dried cranberries
  
• golden raisins
  
• citrus vinaigrette **

Options:

* If you prefer a vegetarian salad, simply leave the chicken out. My diet isn't overly high on protein, so I tend to throw some chicken breasts into any dish they will suit for some nutritional balance, but this salad is loaded with plenty of other goodness!

** Kraft's "Mandarin Orange wtih Sesame" works wonderfully with this salad!

Directions:

Line plate with mixed greens.
Sprinkle chicken, avocado, mango, peppers, feta, nuts, seeds & dried fruit over greens.
Drizzle with vinaigrette.