Saffron Rice Bowl with Scallops

This has to be one of my proudest meals I have ever made!! This meal was inspired by a great Peruvian restaurant called Acuario in Port Chester, NY. This meal is my attempt at paella, but with a little twist of my own.

Ingredients: Saffron (grind up about one pinch of threads and soak in warm water for 20 minutes) transfer to a pot and bring to a boil, add Basmati rice (try sushi rice too) and cook until done.

Bowl 1: Thinly slice a red onion, organic lime (squeeze this juice in with the onion), chopped cilantro, salt. This slightly pickles the red onions.

Bowl 2: Marinade the scallops in a bowl for 30 minutes with sliced red onion, cilantro, lime juice, extra virgin olive oil, and salt.

Pan 1: Organic orange and red peppers (cook them in the pan with nothing on it and give peppers a burned edge look), add organic black beans and then some extra virgin olive oil, butter, and salt. Sprinkle on Mesa Rosa chipotle powder.

Pan 2: Sear the scallops in extra virgin olive oil, salt, and pepper. All the juice that is left over is poured on top of the rice.

Pasta Fagioli

This meal was so simple, yet this has to be one of my favorite things I have ever made!! Absolutely delicious and so nutritious. You will get up from the table feeling great! Inspired by the following website: https://memoriediangelina.com/2013/01/10/pasta-e-fagioli/

Ingredients: In a pot, pour good quality extra virgin olive oil, once slightly warm, add in garlic and a few sprigs of rosemary. Heat this up until very aromatic. Add organic cannellini beans and sea salt, fresh ground pepper, and red pepper flakes. Cook for several minutes to allow beans to absorb flavor. Add organic san marzano tomatoes (I like the Bella Terra imported brand), add fresh oregano, add vegetable broth. Add Seggiano fusilli organic pasta (boil pasta halfway in a separate pot then cook the rest of way in soup. Add pecorino romano cheese.

Serve with organic baby kale and organic avocado with pepper and Hawaiian smoked sea salt.

Seared Haddock Topped with Ramps & Kalamata Olives

A very light and tasty meal that will provide you with long lasting energy. I thoroughly enjoyed this meal! This was a much needed piece of enjoyment after a stressful day.

Ingredients: Purple potato (boil potato whole in water until halfway cooked, slice the potato and cook it the rest of the way in a pan with olive oil and butter), fresh wild caught Haddock, fresh ramps, kalamata olives, organic lemon, fresh ground pepper, sea salt, extra virgin olive oil. Not shown in picture, but this was enjoyed with arugula salad and avocado.

Hemp Pasta with Marinara Basil Cream Sauce

I love pasta, and this is a meal I must make again. Eat this a few hours before a big workout or a sports match of any kind and you are set!!! Read the following ingredients to make your taste buds explode!!

Ingredients: Sfoglini organic hemp pasta, Bella Terra San Marzano organic diced tomatoes, extra virgin olive oil, saute the shallots in the pot, then add diced garlic, then the tomato sauce. Simmer on low, add in a little organic oregano, organic basil, sea salt, and then some light cream.

The Black Bean Burger

If you ever crave a burger without meat, this is a must try!!! First time making it and I can proudly take all the credit for crafting together this meal. This dish will leave you feeling very energized and fill you up with tons of great nutrients.

Ingredients: Organic black beans (drained and also bake at 325 degrees F to dry the beans out a little bit, removing this excess moisture will make the burger less mushy), organic red bell pepper, cilantro, yellow onion (just a little), 1 organic egg, Worcestershire sauce, dried chipotle pepper (soak the dried pepper in hot water for a half hour to soften up and only use a little depending on how spicy). Mix all ingredients in a bowl, saute in a pan with extra virgin olive oil. Served with Ithaca Cold Crafted hummus (fresh lemon dill flavor), wheat-berries, and quinoa.

Pork Chop, Red Potatoes, and Rainbow Carrots with Vidalia Onion and Rosemary Cream Sauce

Ingredients: Seared pork chops covered in olive oil, salt, and fresh ground peppercorns using a mortar, after pork chops are seared, in same pan add in the vidalia onions with extra virgin olive oil. Midway through onion browning process, add in butter and diced up rosemary. Add more salt and fresh ground peppercorns. Lastly, add light cream. For carrots and potatoes, toss in a little canola oil, spread on a pan and bake until done.

Black Rice Noodles with Chicken, Zucchini, Shiitake Mushrooms, Onion Topped with Almond Butter Dressing

All credit to this meal goes to Sanne Vloet. I did tweak a few things when preparing it, however, the meal idea from the video was all I needed in order to create this masterpiece on my own!! Her awesome video can be found below!

Ingredients: Chicken Thighs coated with cayenne pepper, salt, pepper, and extra virgin olive oil, then cooked in a skillet, shiitake mushrooms sauteed in coconut oil with oregano, zucchini strings with onion, black rice noodles.

Almond Butter Dressing: Almond butter, fresh ginger root, mirin, soy sauce, cayenne pepper, coconut cream, garlic powder, and salt.