Quesadillas

photo credit: allrecipes.com/Recipe/Farmers-Market-Vegetarian-Quesadillas/Detail.aspx?event8=1&prop24=SR_Title&e11=quesadilla&e8=Quick%20Search&event10=1&e7=Recipe&soid=sr_results_p1i16

whole wheat tortillas
cheese, sliced or shredded
any desired add-ons: grilled/roasted chicken or steak, beans, roasted vegetables (peppers, zucchini, yellow squash, red onions, mushrooms, etc)

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Place tortillas on foil-lined pan.  Sprinkle on cheese and add any toppings desired on top of the cheese.  Bake until cheese is melted, then fold over the quesadilla. Serve with salsa or guacamole if desired.

Vegetable Stir Fry

photo credit: http://theliteratechef.com/2012/01/13/vegetable-stir-fry

12 oz fresh organic broccoli florets

1 lb fresh organic green beans, ends cut off and cut in half

1 pack (18oz) Trader Joe's Asian Vegetable Stir Fry mix

olive oil

1/3 cup teriyaki sauce (I like Soy Vay Veri Very Teriyaki)

3-4 T peanut butter

2 cloves of garlic

brown rice

Heat a large wok on medium to high heat and add several tablespoons of olive oil.  Once the oil is hot, add the fresh vegetables, stirring periodically to promote even cooking. When they are about halfway done add the teriyaki sauce and peanut butter, making sure to mix in the peanut butter throughout.  Continue to stir and add the garlic.  The vegetables will cook down substaintially but still retain some crisp.  Serve over brown rice.

Simple Broiled Chicken

photo credit: http://goldilocksfindsmanhattan.com/2008/05/06/fettuccine-alfredo-with-broiled-chicken-breast/

chicken breasts

seasoning salt or seasoning of choice

Spray a foil-lined pan with cooking spray, place chicken on top.  Sprinkle chicken with seasoning salt. Broil right next to flame for 10 mins on one side, flip, and add seasoning salt to the other side and then broil for 5 more mins (this is for thicker pieces--for thinner pieces of chicken, broil for less time).  Let chicken cool and add to salads, pasta or other dishes.

Baked Zucchini Chips

photo credit: http://vittlesandbits.blogspot.com/2012/03/baked-zucchini-chips.html

zucchini

olive oil cooking spray

salt

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Cover baking sheet with foil or parchment paper.  Lightly spray sheet with cooking spray.  Slice zucchini thinly and place on foil.  The most important thing is not the exact thickness of the zucchini but rather that the pieces are uniformly cut so they don't cook at different rates.

Spray the tops of the zucchini slices lightly with cooking spray.  Sprinkle with salt or another spice of choice (such as seasoning salt); since these shrink down so much with baking, use less than you think you need.  Bake for approx 12-15 minutes, checking frequently.

Simple Salmon

photo credit: http://beingtylerflorence.blogspot.com/2011/05/recipe-12-salt-and-pepper-salmon.html

salmon, lightly patted dry with a paper towel

butter

spices of choice (salt and pepper or Montreal steak seasoning or lemon pepper, etc)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Place foil on baking pan and salmon (skin side down) on top of foil.  Melt several tablespoons of butter and brush onto the top of the salmon.  Sprinkle seasoning on salmon and bake for 20-25 mins depending on thickness.

Note: I've occasionally made this recipe by broiling on one side for 8 mins, flipping, and then broiling for 6 mins on the other side. Also works great!

Spaghetti with Meat Sauce

photo credit: http://theitaliankitchenelp.com/ItalianKitchenMobile/DinnerLaPasta.html

whole wheat spaghetti
1 lb grass-fed ground beef
two 25 oz jars of pasta sauce*
Parmesan cheese

Cook pasta according to package directions.  Brown beef in a large pot. Once browned, add both jars of sauce and allow to simmer covered for 30-60 minutes. Serve sauce atop pasta and sprinkle Parmesan cheese on top if desired.


*I like Trader Joe's Organic Vodka sauce and Trader Joe's Organic Spaghetti Sauce with Mushrooms.

Schnitzel

photo credit: http://youngwifey.wordpress.com/2012/10/04/oktoberfest-hanchen-schnitzel

several chicken breasts, patted dry and pounded thin
salt
flour
egg
panko breadcrumbs
olive oil

Lightly salt chicken, then dunk in flour, then egg, and then breadcrumbs.  Fry in olive oil. Bake in oven at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes to fully cook through.

Alternative recipe: use half almond meal/flour and half parmesan cheese instead of breadcrumbs.