Tag Archive for: cooking

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Carol’s Cajun Burgers

Shows an image of a hand holding a burger

Carol's Cajun Burgers

Yield: 4
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes

A real crowd pleaser with a little kick!

Delicious and simple to make.

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 lbs. 80/20 ground beef
  • ½ brown onion
  • 2 cloves fresh garlic
  • 1 tbsp My Sage Gourmet Cajun Blend seasoning
  • ½ cup ketchup
  • 1 tbsp prepared mustard
  • 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 3 tbsp. breadcrumbs
  • ¼ cup milk or nut milk
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • 4 slices cheddar cheese
  • 4 Burger buns or lettuce for wraps
  • OPTIONAL:
  • Sliced tomato, pickles, Lettuce

Instructions

  1. Preheat grill on high heat
  2. To a skillet, add olive oil allow to warm 1 minute, Add onion and garlic, sauté over medium-low heat till soft and onion is opaque
  3. Reduce heat to low, add My Sage Gourmet Cajun Blend, ketchup, mustard and Worchestershire sauce and simmer 10 mins. to reduce, remove from heat and allow to cool for 15 mins. stirring occasionally.
  4. In a small bowl, combine breadcrumbs and milk, then add beaten eggs. Set aside.
  5. Place meat into a large bowl, add cooled onion/garlic mix well, then and add in breadcrumb mixture incorporating well then to form 4 patties.
  6. Lightly oil the grill grate, and cook the patties 5 minutes per side, or until well done. Place a slice of cheese on each burger, and allow to melt.

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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 570Total Fat: 26gSaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 13gCholesterol: 106mgSodium: 1961mgCarbohydrates: 58gFiber: 5gSugar: 13gProtein: 28g

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© Carol Takakura
Cuisine: American / Category: Entrees

 

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Apple, Orange and Basil Smoothie

Crisp and cool, sweet and summery. I’m pretty sure this delicious smoothie will become your new favorite green drink! And as a bonus, it’s chock full of nutrition and hydration.

Just try and contain yourself!!

 

Apple, Oranges and Basil Smoothie

Apple, Orange and Basil Smoothie

Yield: 1-2
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 dates, pitted
  • 1 1/2 cups fresh water
  • 3 ice cubes
  • 1 banana, ripe and peeled Skip the ice cubes iif you use a frozen banana)
  • 5-8 oz fresh spinach stems and all
  • 1 Honeycrisp, Granny Smith or Gala Apple (seeded)
  • 1 orange peeled and quartered
  • 1 cup blueberries, frozen
  • 4-6 basil leaves
  • Handful parsley

Instructions

  1. Blend dates, cold water and ice cubes for 30 secs. or until no longer chunky.
  2. Add remaining ingredients and blend on high until smooth.
  3. Makes enough to share if you are willing, although once you taste it you might decide to keep it all to yourself!
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 2 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 381Total Fat: 4gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 475mgCarbohydrates: 82gFiber: 23gSugar: 44gProtein: 19g

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© Carol Takakura
Cuisine: Healthy / Category: Beverages

 

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Chilled Soba Noodle Soup

Chilled Soba Noodle Soup

Chilled Soba Noodle Soup

Yield: 2
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 3 minutes
Total Time: 18 minutes

CAUTION: The pure yummy-ness of this dish may cause you to dance happily and uncontrollably around the room.

Ingredients

  • 1 Package of Soba (or Somen) Noodles
  • 1 cup seedless cucumber, peeled, chopped-bite size
  • 2 green onions chopped finely
  • 1/4 teaspoon Asian tea Rub
  • Handful of freshly chopped spinach or baby bok choy
  • 2 tablespoons each serving Soba Noodle soup base
  • Sesame Seeds (as garnish)
  • Cilantro (as optional garnish)
  • Cooked shrimp or crab (protein add )
  • 2 finely chopped bite size roma or grape tomatoes (optional)
  • A dash of Ponzu sauce optional)
  • A Dash or two Sriracha hot sauce or Furikake Seasoning (optional)
  • 2 Nori Sea Weed wrappers ripped into bit size pieces (packaged type used for sushi rolls (as optional garnish)

Instructions

  1. This dish is meant to be served cold.
  2. Cook your Somen Noodles, (per package directions. Be careful, they quick fast).
  3. Rinse /soak for a few minutes in an ice bath, then drain noodles.
  4. Place a 1/2-3/4 cup drained Somen noodles in each serving bowl, top with cucumber, green onion, Asian Tea Rub, spinach or bok choy, and bit of seed weed and sesame seeds along with 1-2 Tbsp. Soba Noodle Base.
  5. Add on any of the other suggestions that you might like or add you own ideas

Notes

Soba is the Japanese name for buckwheat. It usually refers to thin noodles made from buckwheat flour, or a combination of buckwheat and wheat flours. They contrast to thick wheat noodles, called udon. In Japan, the word can refer to any thin noodle.

You can learn more about Buckwheat here.

Pre-packaged noodle soups are a kiddie favorite because they're quick and tasty. The downside is that the prepackaged versions aren't exactly healthy with all of that sodium loaded into their spice packets. Using this soba noodle base with the ponzu adds a rich tangy flavor. Using only a bit reduces much of the sodium. It only takes a few minutes to make your own, and it’s fun to serve them in a cup alongside kid friendly chopsticks. You can add different vegetables, shrimp or crab to make this heartier or get a protein bump. So good as an after school snack or a meal.

Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 213Total Fat: 7gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 121mgSodium: 1016mgCarbohydrates: 21gFiber: 2gSugar: 4gProtein: 20g

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© Carol Takakura
Cuisine: Healthy / Category: Soup

 

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Pesto Zucchini Caprese Salad

Pesto Zucchini Caprese Salad

Pesto Zucchini Caprese Salad

Yield: 4
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes

Easy and Delicious. The perfect garden fresh summer dish.

Ingredients

  • PESTO SAUCE:
  • 2 tablespoons pine nuts
  • 2 packed cup of organic basil
  • 3-4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 small garlic cloves minced
  • My Sage Gourmet Tuscan Herb Seasoning
  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • ZUCCHINI NOODLES:
  • 2 medium zucchini
  • CAPRESE:
  • 4 half-inch thick slices of tomato
  • 4 quarter-inch thick slice of mozzarella cheese (2oz each)
  • 1 Tablespoon Basil or Garlic infused olive oil, to drizzle overtop.
  • My Sage Gourmet Tuscan Herb Seasoning and freshly ground black pepper- to taste
  • 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
  • 4 basil leaves, cut chiffonade style (in thin ribbons)

Instructions

PESTO

  1. Place all of the pesto ingredients into a food processor and pulse until creamy. Taste and adjust seasonings if needed.

ZUCCHINI NOODLES (We use a spiral slicer for these. See NOTES below .)

  1. In a big bowl, combine zucchini noodles and pesto sauce. Using hands or rubber spatula, Gently combine until noodles are well coated.
  2. Strain off excess liquid then place zucchini noodles on four small plates, followed by one tomato slice, one slice of mozzarella and a light drizzle of olive oil/balsamic vinegar mixture
  3. Add a pinch My Sage Gourmet Tuscan Herb Seasoning and freshly ground black pepper. Top with basil, evenly distributed.

Notes

Zuke Tips to consider-
Don’t peel your zucchini before spiraling. When you peel the zucchini, moisture leaches out, causing it to become mushy. Keeping the skin also retains nutrients in the skin!
Don’t pre-salt or salt your zucchini once in the pan salting renders the zucchini lifeless and salty.
Don’t overcook. The longer zucchini cooks, the more moisture sneaks out and becomes mushy. A little crunch retains the fresh tasting flavor.

We recommend the VEGETTI SPIRAL SLICER

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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 314Total Fat: 30gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 23gCholesterol: 9mgSodium: 131mgCarbohydrates: 8gFiber: 3gSugar: 3gProtein: 6g

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© Carol Takakura
Cuisine: Healthy,American / Category: Vegetarian
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Oatmeal Almond Protein Smoothie

 

Oatmeal Almond Protein Smoothie

Oatmeal Almond Protein Smoothie

Yield: 1 serving

Ingredients

  • 5 ice cubes
  • Up to 8-10 ounces unsweetened almond milk or cold filtered water
  • 
½ cup quick cook oatmeal (Bobs Redmill is a good brand)
  • 2 scoops Arbonne or other high quality protein powder (chocolate or vanilla)
  • 5-8 oz fresh spinach stems and all
  • 1/2 cup blueberries, frozen
  • 2 Tablespoons Cacao powder
  • Handful parsley
  • 1/2 small banana (optional)

Instructions

  1. Begin by placing ice & almond milk or water, oatmeal and protein powder in a high powered blender. (I recommend Vita-mix 5200)
  2. Blend 30 secs.
  3. Add all remaining ingredients and blend on high until smooth.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 1 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 918Total Fat: 35gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 27gCholesterol: 5mgSodium: 1018mgCarbohydrates: 101gFiber: 42gSugar: 21gProtein: 77g

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© Carol Takakura
Cuisine: Healthy / Category: Beverages; Breakfast

 

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