This is a nutritious and vibrant spring salad with spinach, arugula, asparagus, and strawberries. Crisp green leaves and bright sweet strawberries are tossed in a light balsamic vinaigrette, then topped of with turkey bacon and feta cheese. It’s so delicious  and healthy.

 

Ingredients-

Dressing:

3 tablespoon balsamic vinegar*

4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil*

1 tablespoon sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon squezed lime juice

fresh ground black pepper

* Good quality balsamic vinegar and olive oil is a must for perfect results of this dressing.

I used balsamic vinegar from Trader Joes and Organic California Olive Ranch Olive oil.

Salad:

Baby Arugula

spinach (baby spinach)

Asparagus sliced 

fresh strawberries quartered 

Cooked turkey bacon (fried/baked)

Feta,blue,or gorgonzola cheese

optional ingredients:

candied walnuts or pecans

sliced red onion

 

Directions:

Using a hand blender or blender mix balsamic vinegar,sugar,salt,black pepper, and oil. Then add lime juice and pulse couple times.

( You can adjust salt or sugar to your liking). If the dressing to thick,you can liquify by adding a little bit of water.

Toss spinach, asparagus, arugula ,strawberries, bacon, and candied nuts with some dressing.

Top with cheese and serve.

 

 

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This Spinach salad is delicious, healthy, and vibrant. It’s one of the most requested salads that I bring to potlucks. So I make this salad often. This beautiful salad will look great on your holiday dinner table.

For a great tasting vinaigrette try using  good quality balsamic vinegar, olive oil , and mustard. If you want to add a unique flavor to your vinaigrette, then you may buy truffle balsamic vinegar.

 

 Ingredients:

Baby spinach

1 red,yellow or orange bell pepper sliced lengthwise

1/2 red onion sliced (not too thin)

Glazed/candied pecans or walnuts.

Choice of Feta,blue cheese, or Gorgonzola (crumbled)

Bacon (baked/fried and crumbled)

4 tablespoons oil

 

Honey Dijon balsamic vinaigrette:

3/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

1/4 cup balsamic vinegar

1/4  shallot chopped (optional)

1-2 garlic cloves

1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard

1 tablespoon honey

Salt and fresh ground black pepper

 

Directions:

Vinaigrette:

Using a hand blender, Combine balsamic vinegar,shallot,garlic,mustard,salt,and pepper.

With blender running,slowly pour in oil. Continue to blend until vinaigrette thickens.

If too thick, you can add a little water to adjust thickness to your liking.

Adjust seasoning and sweetness if needed.

Let sit at room temperature for at least 30 minutes.

Salad:

Heat 2 tbsp.oil in a skillet on med-high heat.

Add bell pepper and saute.

Remove a peppers from skillet.

Add 2 tbsp. oil. to the same skillet.

Add onions and saute.

Arrange spinach leaves on a salad plate or salad bowl then following this order:

Dressing (drizzled)

bell peppers

onions

bacon

cheese

nuts

If serving in a large salad bowl, Arrange in layers by repeating the order.

 

 

 

 

This is a quick,easy, and fresh cabbage carrot salad. It’s a nutritious and delicious salad that goes wonderful with almost everything.

Ingredients:

Serving size: 4-6 people

1/2  cabbage head shredded

1 large carrot shredded

1/2 sweet onion thinly sliced*

salt

2-3 tablespoons mayonnaise

* You can use regular white onion,just soak or wash in water.

Directions:

Start by massaging cabbage with a little salt in a bowl.

Add shredded carrots,onions, and mayo.Mix everything until all ingredients combined.

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Incredibly delicious and comforting baby potatoes recipe.I love baby potatoes! Their tiny size make them super cute and flavorful.Potatoes are cooked in water,drained and then tossed in creamy garlicky sauce with mushrooms.It’s a perfect summer side dish to grilled meats or main dish for vegetarians.

 

2 lb. baby potatoes(red,yellow,fingerling)

16 oz.(1 lb.)whole small button mushrooms or sliced large size mushrooms

8 -10 garlic cloves minced or crushed

1 shallot minced (optional)

1 cup heavy whipping cream*

3/4 cup sour cream *

2 tbs.butter

2 tbs.oil

salt to taste

* You can sub in creme fraiche

 

Directions:

Place potatoes in a pot covered with water.

Bring to a boil,reduce heat and season with salt.

Cook until potatoes are fork tender ready.

Drain the water,place the pot with potatoes on medium heat and let all the liquid evaporate.Just few minutes.

 

In a large saute pan/frying pan/skillet heat oil with butter on medium -high heat.

Throw in mushrooms and shallots.Sauté until liquid is absorbed.

Mix in garlic.Cook for 1-2 minutes stirring.

Throw in cooked potatoes and cook for few minutes stirring occasionally.

Combine heavy cream and sour cream.

Stir in mixed creams to potatoes.Season with salt.

Cook in sauce for about 1 minute.

Garnish with finely chopped dill,parsley or chives.

[amd-zlrecipe-recipe:122]

Lamb is highly rated in our family.We LOVE lamb!!! (shanks and chops the most) It’s very rich and yet so delicate and mild.

Lamb Osso Bucco  is a comforting delicious Italian lamb dish that is aromatic and full of flavor.The meat is seared and then braised in a flavorful sauce until tender and nearly falling of the bone.

Osso Bucco is Italian for bone with a hole and refers to the marrow in the center of the cross cut shank. The reason for cutting is to expose the richness of the bone marrow.So you can prepare the shank as is or have a butcher cut the shank crosswise for vital nutrients.

 

Ingredients:

6 lamb shanks (or crosscut shanks-osso bucco style)

1 onion sliced

3-4 carrots cut in chunks

4-5 celery and/or fennel cut in chunks

7 garlic cloves

14.5 ozs. diced tomatoes or 2-3 fresh tomatoes

8 ozs. tomato paste

2 cup red wine

1 cup beef or chicken broth/stock

1 tablespoon dried oregano

4 rosemary sprigs

6 thyme sprigs

1 bay leaf

salt

black pepper

oil

 

Directions:

Heat a dutch oven or frying pan with oil.

Season lamb with salt and pepper.

Sear on all sides until well browned.

Sear in batches.Add more oil if needed.

Remove each batch and set aside.

Add onions,carrots,celery/fennel to the pot.Add  more oil if needed.

Stir and Sauté for approx. 10 minutes.

Add tomato paste,oregano, and 2 crushed garlic cloves 5 whole garlic cloves.

Continue to saute stirring for another 3 minutes.

Add red wine,stir and cook for another minute or two.

Add tomatoes,stock/broth,bay leaf,salt and pepper.

Transfer shanks back to dutch oven or a large baking dish.(pour sauce over shanks if using baking dish)

Arrange sprigs of rosemary and thyme in between the shanks.

Heat oven to 350 degrees.

Cover with foil and braise the shanks for 2 hours.

Turn the sides and continue to braise for another 1 hour.

Remove foil and braise uncovered for 20-30 minutes.

When done the meat should be tender and nearly falling off the bone.

Serve over mashed potatoes,risotto,rice, or pasta with your choice of vegetables.Pour sauce over the shank as much as desired.

-I served with mashed potatoes,steamed broccolini and organic veggie mix from Trader Joe’s(corn,green beans,peas and carrots).

 

 

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This is a gourmet toasted vegetarian eggplant sandwich with pesto,sundried tomatoes, broiled bell peppers and cheese. These sandwiches are perfect for any time of the day and are good to pack for lunch or enjoy at a picnic on a beautiful warm sunny day.

 

4-6 Sandwiches

Bread of choice ( I used torta bread from Costco this time)

1 Eggplant sliced 1/2 inch thick.( peel or no peel)

1 red bell pepper

1 green bell pepper

4-6 slices of cheese like Havarti,fresh mozzarella,provolone,monterey jack.

1-2 avocados sliced

pesto sauce

sundried tomatoes or fresh tomato sliced

2 eggs

1/2 cup panko crumbs

salt

oil for frying

 

Direction:

Season Eggplants with salt on both sides and arrange on a baking sheet or large tray.Let them sit for 10-15 minutes.

Heat oven to broil.Cut sides of the bell peppers to equal four pieces.Broil peppers until the skin is charred.Remove charred skin.

In a bowl whip eggs with whisk or fork.

Heat a skillet or a frying pan on medium heat.Add about 1/4 cup of oil.Dip each eggplant round in egg, then in panko crumbs.Fry both sides and transfer on a plate lined with paper towel.

Heat oven to 500 degrees.

Spread pesto sauce on one side of the bread.Add a little amount of sundried tomatoes (if desired).Place 1 slice of cheese and 1-2 tomato slices (if not using sundried)  on each sandwich half.

Arrange sandwiches (top and bottom piece) on a baking sheet. Toast the bread until cheese is melted.

Place avocados on top of the cheese followed by eggplants,and bell peppers.

 

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These Hot BBQ Wings are a creative twist to original buffalo wings.This recipe was inspired by my brother-in-law Alex  who also cooks amazing plov and is a pro at grilling. He deep fries wings in batches to get a perfect result of crispy wing on the outside and moist and juicy on the inside.I decided to bake instead, and with a little trick the result of  crispy and moist wing is achieved. You can make them either way and enjoy!

Ingredients:

30 chicken wings.

1/2 cup favorite bbq sauce *

1/2 cup Franks Hot sauce

2 tablespoons butter

1/2 lemon squeezed

salt & pepper

*If your bbq sauce too tangy,add some sugar to the sauce to balance out the flavor.

Direction-

1.Bring pot with water to a boil.

2.Season water with salt.

3.Throw in wings and cook for 5 minutes.

4.Transfer wings to a bowl and season more with salt,pepper and lemon juice.

5.Heat oven to 500 degrees.

6.Arrange wings on a cooling rack.

7.Place cooling rack on top of rimmed baking sheet.

8.Add some water to the bottom of the pan.

9.Bake for 30 minutes.

10.Turn wings over and bake for another 20-30 minutes or until wings are golden brown.

11.Heat both sauces in a sauce pan with butter. ( add sugar if needed)

12.Place wings in a bowl and toss with sauce. Let rest for 3-5 minutes and toss again.

I sprinkled some minced cilantro on top.

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What kid doesn’t like chicken nuggets?  They are really popular and on the restaurants menu most of the time. Kids just love them!

I stopped buying frozen chicken nuggets about three years ago,and tried making homemade ones with different recipes.And… this recipe is a keeper for me. They are perfect and just the way kids like it. And its so funny how they tried to compare them to  some of the restaurants and fast food places like chick-fil-a. But,guess what…? They liked these better !

They are surprisingly easy to make and not a lot of ingredients.Less ingredients then store bought box for sure.And all the ingredients will not sound foreign to  you. My sister Olga shared this recipe with me from  weelicious.com * .They are delicious and your family,especially kids will love them.

 

(dipped in to ketchup by tiny hands)

 

– I made few adjustments to the recipe.

Ingredients-

about 24 nuggets

1 pound chicken breast,cut into chunks.

1/4 cup mashed potatoes or rolled old fashion oats (5 minute oats.)*

1/2 teaspoon garlic salt with parsley

1/4 teaspoon onion powder

1 tablespoon mayonnaise(optional but recommended)

1 tablespoon parmessan cheese,grated

panko bread crumbs

oil

1/4 teaspoon salt +/-

black pepper

* I used mashed potatoes

Direction-

Preheat oven to 375° F.

Place chicken breasts in a food processor until chicken is finely chopped.

Transfer chicken to a bowl and add garlic salt,onion powder,parmesan cheese,mashed potatoes/oats,salt and pepper.

Mix well to combine all the ingredients.

Pour oil in to a small dish.

With moistened hands,roll 1 tablespoon of chicken mixture in to a ball and flatten to a “nugget” shape.

Dip nugget into oil,and coat with panko crumbs.

Arrange on to a lined baking sheet with parchment paper.

Bake for 15 minutes.Broil on 500 for 2-3 minutes or until nuggets are golden brown.

*  To freeze, place nuggets on a sheet tray after this step and freeze for one hour. Place nuggets in labeled freezer bags for up to 3 months.

You can serve them with ketchup or honey mustard sauce.

Honey mustard sauce-

2 tablespoon mayonnaise

1 tablespoon dijon mustard (good one)

1 teaspoon red/white wine vinegar

1 tablespoon honey

Whisk all the ingredients.

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Well flavored,slightly spicy, and vibrant Korean carrot salad.This salad was popularized  by ethnic Koreans all over Russia,Ukraine,and Central Asia.It always been a staple salad at all Slavic weddings,parties,and holidays.

This recipe came from my mother who was selling this salad along with Kim Chi salad at a local farmers market back in Tajikistan.Korean ladies tought her how to make it the authentic way. Adding sugar is optional. My mom doesn’t add sugar.

Ingredients:

8 carrots peeled

1/2 onion

1/2 carrot sliced in half

1 cup oil *

2 tbs white sugar (optional)

1 tbs salt or +/- to taste

6-8  cloves garlic crushed

1 teaspoon ground or coarsly ground coriander seeds.

1/4 cup white vinegar

1 dry red chili pepper

1 teaspoon black pepper

red chili pepper flakes or cayenne pepper (optional)

Chopped fresh cilantro (optional)

 

* Use non flavored oil such as canola,vegetable,corn,grape seed or light olive oil.

Directions-

Shred carrots using a thin julienne slicer.

Add salt and sugar. Mix well using your hands .

Pour oil in to a small pan (preferably deep one).

Place chili pepper,sliced carrot and onion in the oil ( sliced side down).

Heat it well on medium-high heat until 1/4 of  onion is black and the oil is boiling *

Meanwhile,add garlic,vinegar,black pepper,coriander,and hot peppers (if you prefer your salad to be spicy) to carrots.

Carefully Pour hot oil allover carrots making sure to pour some over garlic.

Quickly and carefully remove and discard onion and chili pepper.

Mix with your hands.

Adjust seasonings if needed.

This salad has to be refrigerated at least 12 hours before serving.

Add fresh cilantro to the salad if desired.

Can be stored in a well covered container up to 10 days.

[amd-zlrecipe-recipe:76]

Cabbage is very popular vegetable in Russian cuisine.We make salads,we make soups,we make golupsi,piroshki,and braised cabbage.Cabbage is very nutritious and delicious! I prepare variety of cabbage salads often,because my whole family loves this vegetable.This salad crunchy,a little tangy with little sweetness from carrots and bell peppers.

1 cabbage

2-3 carrots

1 -1 1/2 red,yellow,or orange bell pepper

1 onion

1/4 cup vinegar

1 tablespoon salt

1 tablespoon sugar

1 cup oil + 1/2 onion round with tail or 1 small onion peeled

1 whole dry red chili pepper  or pepper flakes

Directions:

In a large mixing bowl,shred cabbage using a mandolin slicer.

Add sugar and salt to cabbage.Massage cabbage for a little.

Peel carrots and julienne thinly or grate them on top of cabbage.

Cut bell pepper in four equal parts.Slice bell pepper over carrots using a mandolin.

Peel onion.Cut onion in four equal quarters and slice thinly over bell peppers using mandolin slicer.

In a skillet or frying pan,heat oil with 1 small onion or 1/2 onion cut vertically(whole tail on) and chili pepper.Oil needs to get really hot (bottom of an onion should be really dark(black).

Meanwhile,pour vinegar over cabbage ,carrots,bell pepper ,and onion.

When the oil is ready and really hot,Pour it over the salad on the onions.

Mix until all the ingredients well combined.

This salad can be served right away or for best results next day.Can be stored in a glass jar for a week or so.

 

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Very nutritious and delicious hearty brown rice cooked with pumpkin, yields to creamy risotto like results.You can substitute pumpkin with butternut or acorn squash,or even pureed pumpkin.Perfect side dish for upcoming holiday .

[amd-zlrecipe-recipe:44]

 This is crunchy,healthy and refreshing broccoli salad with creamy garlic dressing.Try it for your next lunch or dinner.

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This is one of my all time favorite recipe for plank grilled wild salmon.The fillet is so tender,moist,seasoned and infused with smoky aroma.If you haven’t tried plank grilling salmon,I highly recommend to try it and experience the difference from plain grilled salmon.This recipe is very simple and the taste is amazing.

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Simple, fresh, healthy, delicious and perfect for parties or potlucks.

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This comforting pasta dish is very delicious,flavorful and satisfying.This dish can be vegetarian using mushrooms instead of meat or ground beef,chicken or turkey for meat lovers.If you’ll be using chicken broth,I highly recommend to make it from scratch.In my opinion it’s really more flavorful then store bought.

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This is very delicious Korean noodle salad that is well known in Central Asia of Korean origin.There is many varieties of this salad,but I like the vegetarian style.You can add pan-fried strips of chicken,beef,or ground meat if desired.To get nice thin strips of vegetables I use this [amazon asin=http://www.amazon.com/Börner-Thin-Julienne-Vegetable-Slicer/dp/B000RH1TIS&text=thin julienne slicer.]

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Adapted from chekalova-recepty.ru

 

Portobello mushrooms can be called “vegetarian meat”. They are very juicy and meaty.They can be grilled sliced as a side to your steak or chicken or you can make a veggie burger if grilled as whole.

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This is a light and fresh breakfast,snack,or even dessert.Very simple to make  and nutritiously loaded with superfoods  .

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