Meatless Monday: Fun Fruit Kabobs

I recently celebrated my daughter's second birthday and I wanted to share a fun twist on the traditional fruit tray often served at parties and gatherings. Fruit Kabobs.
Simple, handy and easy to make. Grab your favorite fruits and get the party started.

Fun Fruit Kabobs

A fun, kid friendly, alternative to the traditional fruit tray.

Ingredients

1. Cake Pop skewers (I estimated 2-4 skewers per person)
2. 15 Strawberries Washed with all greenery removed.
3. 15 Diced Watermelon Cubes
4. 15 Medium Diced Cantaloupe Cubes
5. 45 Green Grapes Washed
6. 45 Red Grapes Washed

Instructions

1. Insert Two grapes on each cake pop skewer top with Strawberry, Watermelon or Cantaloupe alternating until all skewers are filled.
2. Chill and serve with yogurt dip.

Notes

1. Kabob skewers can be made up to 12 hours before the shindig.
2. Fruit selection is up to you. I chose fruit that my daughter enjoys, and that you can typically find in a fruit tray.

Meatless Monday: A Twist on Cha Cha | A Southern Tradition

Southern Cuisine aka Soul Food, by way of my Granny, gave me my first lessons in the kitchen. One of the dishes I learned to make was a condiment called “Cha Cha” or known as “Chow Chow” in some areas on the U.S. I know what you’re thinking, what is this “Cha Cha” this lady speaks of? Hold tight. I’ve got a story. 

Cha Cha is magic. It’s hybrid of a relish/condiment/slaw. It’s a combination of hearty vegetables like cabbage, tomatoes, onions, spices and vinegar, and are blended together to make a tangy topping for your chicken, greens, cornbread, etc. In my eyes, its a slaw, relish, salad, side dish, all of the above. This little slaw type mixture can go really far. Growing up, my Granny made Cha Cha by the ton, it’s truly a standing tradition in my family. My uncle has taken over where my Granny left off, and I know she would be proud. Cha Cha is such a unique flavor. Spicy, Tangy, Sweet.  I just love the components of Cha Cha, and one day I thought, “Why not pull this together somehow and create this in a side dish form.?” Insert my twist on Cha Cha.  This is a dish that pairs perfect with rice, pasta, pork or chicken. It versatile. For my twist on this classic, recipe I used a red purple cabbage, and turned this into a dish that screams “comfort meal.” Thanks Granny, for inspiring this one.  Oh, it Vegan Friendly. 
Grab the recipe below.

Granny's Cha Cha-revamped

Comfort defined. A popular condiment under goes a revamp. Sweet, savory cabbage side dish.

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Prep Time

15 min

Total Time

1 hr 30 min

Ingredients

1. 1 Large Red Cabbage, halved, and chopped slaw style
2. 2 carrots, diced
3. 1 medium onion, diced
4. 1 celery stalk, diced
5. 1 small green bell pepper, diced
6. 1 Tablespoon Grapeseed Oil
7. 1/2-3/4 cup Water
8. 3/4 cup Apple Cider Balsamic Vinegar
9. 1/4 cup White Sugar
10. 1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds
11. 1/2 teaspoon salt
12. Heavy pinch of Black Pepper

Instructions

1. In a heavy bottomed pot, heat grapeseed oil.
2. To the pot on medium heat, add cabbage, vegetables, and fennel seeds, stir to combine.
3. Add Sugar, Salt, Pepper, Water and stir until well combined and bring to a boil.
4. Reduce heat, and cover with lid and cook for 1 hour until tender.
5. In the last 20 minutes of cooking add Apple Cider Vinegar and stir well to combine.
6. Serve and Enjoy!

By FoodLoveTog

Meatless Monday: Mushroom & Spinach Lasagna Rolls

Lasagna has always been a comfort meal, and I wanted to do a quick change up and try a meatless version. Well this recipe turned out so well, my husband requests it more than my meat filled version. 

Grab the recipe below. 

Mushroom & Spinach Lasagna Rolls

Yields 12

Meatless, Hearty, & Chunky. A great meatless dish for someone looking to add more meat-free dishes to their recipe box.

Ingredients

1.      12 Lasagna noodles

2.      16 oz container of Ricotta Cheese (I use whole milk Ricotta)

3.      1 Large Egg

4.      1 & 1/2 cups Fresh Parmesan Cheese

5.      2 cups of Fresh Spinach

6.      1 Container of Baby Bella Mushrooms diced

7.      1 Large Shallot Diced

8.      Marinara Sauce- (grab recipe on the site) allow to simmer on low while you're making the rolls

9.      2 Tablespoon Butter

10.    Salt

11.    Pepper

Instructions

1.      Pre-heat oven to 350

2.      While oven is preheating boil water for pasta

3.      Boil 12 Lasagna noodles for 7/12 minutes, drain and allow to cool on a sheet tray

4.      Heat butter in a skillet

5.      Add diced mushrooms and shallots and saute until soft

6.      Combine Ricotta and large egg, stir until smooth.

7.      Stir in 1/3 cup Parmesan Cheese, Season with Salt, Pepper & set aside

8.      To build rolls

9.      Lay each lasagna pasta flat and spread Ricotta Cheese Mixture evenly across pasta

10.    Layer with spinach leaves length-wise

11.    Layer mushroom and shallot mixture

12.    Once complete, roll the noodle and its goodies to create a small circular roll shape.

13.    Spoon half of marinara sauce in the bottom of 9x13 pan

14.    Create a single layer of lasagna rolls

15.    Spread remaining Marinara Sauce atop rolls

16.    Sprinkle remaining Parmesan Cheese atop rolls

17.    Repeat until 12 rolls are complete

18.    Bake at 350 until Golden and bubbly, typically about 30 minutes.

19.    Serve and Enjoy!

- Candace is an Indianapolis native who blogs good eats and food for the soul at foodlovetog.com

Meatless Monday | Garlicky Green Beans

Garlicky Green Beans | Indianapolis Food Blogger

Garlicky Haricot Verts (French Green Beans) one of my favorite Trader Joe’s Products is their frozen bag of green beans. It’s huge and cheap! I’ll be posting a love of Trader Joes post real soon. 

But on to the goods. 

Garlicky Green Beans

  
Boil large handful of frozen green beans for 2 mins, drop in ice water bath to stop cooking.

Sauté 1 teaspoon of garlic in a tablespoon of butter. 

Add green beans. 

Sauté for 4 mins (or more depending on your desired crunchy ness) season with Paprika, Pepper, pinch of salt)

Toss lightly to combine seasonings.

Serve hot and try not to eat them all in one sitting.