Chickpea and Mint Crostini

Raw has been on a detox diet. While there's a big list of things she's allowed to eat, there's also a long list of things she can't. I'm hoping this recipe is full of things she can eat and she'll make it for me to try!

This is another recipe from the January 2008 Real Simple.

Chickpea and Mint Crostini

1 15.5-ounce can chickpeas
2 scallions (white and light green parts), chopped
1/4 cup fresh mint
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/2 cup pomegranate seeds from 1 small pomegranate (optional)
1 16-ounce bag store-bought crostini

Drain, rinse, and coarsely chop chickpeas. In a medium bowl, combine them with scallions, mint, olive oil, salt, pepper, and pomegranate seeds. Serve with crostini.

Orange Chicken with Potatoes

Do you get the feeling that I might like chicken?

I found this recipe in a slow-cooker article in Real Simple. There were recipes for things from beer braised beef to lemon poppy seed cake. This recipe, though, was one I really would like to try.

Orange Chicken with Potatoes

8 skinless chicken thighs
Kosher salt and pepper
2 onions, quartered
1 pound small red potatoes
1 small butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cut into 1-inch pieces
12 cloves garlic, peeled
1 orange, cut into 1/4-inch rings
2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1 tablespoon honey
8 sprigs thyme

Pat the chicken dry with paper towels and season with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. In the bowl of a slow cooker, combine the chicken, onions, potatoes, squash, garlic, orange, broth, honey, and thyme. Set the slow cooker to high and cook, covered, until the vegetables are tender and the chicken is cooked through, about 2 1/2 hours. Divide the chicken mixture into individual bowls.

If You Don't Have a Slow Cooker: Heat oven to 325° F. Follow the recipe above using a Dutch oven or large casserole. Bake, covered, until the vegetables are tender and the chicken is cooked through, 2 to 2 1/2 hours.

Serves Six

Skillet Lasagne

I found this one in a Woman's Day magazine. I think it looks really easy and I love lasagne. But I have no idea where to find meat loaf mix.

Skillet Lasagna

1 lb meat loaf mix
8 curly lasagna noodles, broken into 2-in. pieces
1 jar (26 oz) marinara sauce
2 cups water
1 cup shredded Italian cheese blend
3/4 cup part-skim ricotta

1. Cook meat loaf mix in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, stirring often to break up meat, 4 to 5 minutes, or until browned. Drain off fat. Stir in noodles, sauce and water; bring to a boil. Cover; reduce heat and simmer, stirring often, 18 minutes or until noodles are tender.

2. Remove from heat; stir in 1/2 cup shredded cheese. Spoon ricotta on top; add remaining shredded cheese.Cover 3 minutes to melt cheese.

*Six Servings

Chili Chicken

I found the recipe for Chili Chicken at My Feasts.

It looks yummy and I want someone to cook it for me!

Chili Chicken

3 chicken breasts - medium sized
14 dried chilies - cut into thirds
1 heaping Tb minced ginger
1 shallot - minced
1/2 tsp sugar
salt to taste
1 tsp sesame oil
1 tsp corn starch
2 Tb vegetable/ peanut oil
1/2 Tb light soy sauce
1/4 cup water

Wash and cut chicken breast into bite size. Season chicken with soy sauce, corn starch , salt, sugar and sesame oil. Break off or cut dried chili into thirds or halves and set aside ( the variety that I use are the ones typically used in Malaysia, it is skinny and long and I have a whole lot of them in my pantry!).

Heat oil in a heavy bottomed saute pan or a wok on medium high heat. Quickly fry the dried chili until it turn reddish brown ( 2 minutes) and remove it with a slotted spoon and set aside. Add seasoned and diced chicken to the wok or pan and stir fry it for 3 minutes. Add ginger and water and cook for another 7 minutes or until the chicken pieces are cooked. Stir occasionally. Adjust seasonings and add fried chilies to the chicken. Stir well and serve with steamed rice.