Zucchini and avocado soup

Prep Time: 18 minutes
Cook Time: 7 minutes
Other: 2 hours, 30 minutes
Yield: 4 servings (serving size: 1 cup soup and 1/4 cup salsa)

Ingredients

• 3 cups chopped zucchini (about 2 medium)
• 1/2 cup thinly sliced green onions, divided
• 1 (14-ounce) can vegetable broth (such as Swanson)
• 1 1/4 cups diced seeded peeled cucumber (about 1 large)
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro
• 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice, divided
• 1/2 teaspoon salt, divided
• 3/4 cup diced peeled avocado (1 medium)
• 3/4 cup low-fat buttermilk
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin

Preparation

Combine zucchini, 1/4 cup green onions, and broth in a large saucepan; bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 5 to 7 minutes or until zucchini is tender. Remove from heat; cool 30 minutes.

While zucchini mixture cools, combine remaining 1/4 cup green onions, cucumber, cilantro, 1 tablespoon lime juice, and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a small bowl; toss well. Cover and chill.

Place remaining 2 tablespoons lime juice, remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt, zucchini mixture, avocado, buttermilk, and cumin in a blender, and process until mixture is smooth. Cover and chill at least 2 hours. Pour soup into bowls, and top with cucumber salsa. Serve chilled.

Nutritional Information

Calories:

123 (54% from fat)

Fat:

7.3g (sat 1.5g)

Protein:

5.1g

Carbohydrate:

13.0g

Fiber:

5.1g

Cholesterol:

2mg

Iron:

0.6mg

Sodium:

768mg

Calcium:

76mg

Southwestern salad w/corn and avocado

Prep: 20 minutes. Stand corn cob, stem removed and pointy end up, in a deep bowl. Cut downward with a sharp paring knife to remove kernels.

Ingredients

• 2 small heads romaine lettuce, torn into bite-size pieces (about 12 cups)
• 1 (15-ounce) can pinto beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 1/2 cups fresh corn kernels (about 3 ears)
• 1 avocado, chopped
• 1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
• 1/2 cup fresh cilantro sprigs
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1/2 (9-ounce) bag baked tortilla chips (optional)

Preparation

1. Combine lettuce and next 5 ingredients (through cilantro) in a large bowl.

2. Whisk together oil and next 4 ingredients (through pepper) in a small bowl. Drizzle over salad; toss. Serve with chips or Quesidilla, if desired.

Quinoa, cucumber and tomato salad

4 cups water
2 tsp salt
2 cups quinoa, rinsed like crazy Rinsed like you have never rinsed before. Rinsed like it was your last day on Earth to rinse. No really, rinse the hell out of it.
1 cucumber, chopped
1 tomato, diced
1 red bell pepper, diced
3 Tbsp olive oil
3 Tbsp white wine vinegar
Kosher salt and ground pepper
1 Tbsp dried basil
1 Tbsp dried parsley

In a medium saucepan, add water and salt. Bring to a boil over high heat. Add quinoa. Cook uncovered until most of the liquid is absorbed and the quinoa is sputtering, about 10 minutes. Turn heat to low and simmer until all liquid is evaporated, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and scoop quinoa into a bowl. Set aside and cool.

Once cooled, add cucumber, tomato and red bell pepper. Stir to combine. Add olive oil, white wine vinegar, season with salt and pepper and add basil and parsley. Stir well. Check seasonings and add more if needed.

Yields 6 servings.

Fresh corn salad

I'm dreaming of summer... Can't wait to try this. It just doesn't seem right to use canned or frozen corn.

5 ears corn, shucked
1/2 cup diced red onion
3 Tbsp cider vinegar
3 Tbsp olive oil
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1/2 tsp ground pepper
Handful of chopped fresh basil

Put a large pot of water on to boil. Boil corn cobs for 3 minutes. Remove cobs from pot and set on a towel to cool. Once cooled, cut kernels off the cob and put into a medium bowl. Add red onion, vinegar, olive oil, salt and pepper. Mix well to combine. Sprinkle on fresh basil.

Yields 4 servings.

Edamame Hummus

1 lb frozen shelled edamame, about 3 cups
1/3 cup water
1/2 cup tahini paste
1 lemon, zested and juiced
3 garlic cloves, peeled and smashed
2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground cumin
4 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
A small handful of chopped fresh parsley

In a medium pot of water set on high, boil the edamame. Cook until tender, about 5 minutes. Drain into a colander and run under cold water until no longer hot and drain.

Pour edamame in the bowl of a food processor (or blender). Add the water, tahini, lemon juice and zest, garlic, salt, cumin, and olive oil. Process until smooth. If it appears thick, add a little more water while the machine is on.

Transfer hummus to a shallow dish. Drizzle on a small amount of olive oil and sprinkle with fresh parsley. Serve with vegetables

Avacado and cilantro deviled eggs

6 hard-boiled eggs, peeled
1 avocado
1/2 tsp lime juice
1 Tbsp finely minced red onion
1 Tbsp finely chopped cilantro
A few dashes of Tabasco sauce
A few grinds of pepper
1/2 tsp sea salt

Cut eggs in half lengthwise. Carefully scoop out the yolks and put into a medium bowl. Put egg halves on to a platter and put into the fridge.

With a fork, crumble up the egg yolks. Cut avocado in half and remove the pit. Scoop out the avocado flesh and add it to the egg yolks. With a spoon, mix well, until the yolks and avocado are creamy. Add lime juice and mix well. Add red onion, cilantro, Tabasco, pepper and salt. Mix well to combine.

Remove egg halves from the fridge. Using a small cookie scoop, scoop avocado yolk mixture into the egg halves. Garnish with a single cilantro leaf. Serve immediately, or before the avocado browns.

Strawberry syrup

4 cups diced fresh strawberries
½-¾ cup sugar, depending on your taste
½ cup water
1 tsp lemon juice
1 Tbsp cornstarch
3 Tbsp water

Add strawberries to a medium saucepan. Set heat to medium high. Add sugar, water and lemon juice. Once the water is boiling, start mashing the strawberries with a masher. Stir occasionally until strawberries are broken down and sauce has thickened slightly.

In a small cup combine the cornstarch and water. Remove pan from the heat and stir in the cornstarch mixture. Use immediately or cool and store in an air-tight container. Serve syrup over waffles, pancakes or ice cream.