I had this at a friends house a few weeks ago and have made it several times at home since. I am not usually a fan of cold pasta of any sort, but this one is amazing!! It is chocked full of veggies that are rich in vitamins & minerals. Plus, it requires no cooking, so it is great for the last of those hot summer nights when you don’t want to turn on the stove & heat up the house! This recipe makes 4 large servings and is great as left overs for lunch during the week. You can add chicken, shrimp, beef or tofu for protein or serve with a side of steamed edamame.
Category Archives for Lunch
Product Review: Conte’s Margherita Pizza
I think pizza night is one of the things I miss most since switching to a gluten free diet. The fiancé and I used to get a frozen pizza and salad about once a week; it was a quick, easy meal for the nights when we got home from class late and did not feel like cooking. Do not get me wrong, gluten free pizza options abound in my local grocery stores freezers and I have tried many of them … but they have all left something to be desired. Sometimes the crust is too soft or has that gluten free taste. Sometimes it is the toppings: I do not want soy cheese or loads of veggies – cheese is one of the few dairy products I still indulge in and I want LOTS of it on my pizza! Other times, the gluten free pizzas are lacking in the flavor department. Seriously, I have had a few that taste like straight tomato paste for the sauce; no flavor, just paste. Not to mention they are expensive (compared to gluten filled frozen pizzas), $8 for a mini pizza is just a tad too expensive for my graduate student budget. And yes, we have made our own pizzas before and those have been pretty delish, but I am talking about frozen convenience here …
Anyhow, enter: Conte’s Pasta Co. Margherita Pizza. 
I found this full-size pie at my local HEB for $8. A simple pizza, loaded with cheese (just the way I like it) and TONS of flavor. As you can see from the picture below, it does not quite come out looking like the one on the box, but it tastes great. The sauce has a perfect blend of Italian spices and the cheese is melty, stringy and oh so good! Though the crust does not crisp up the way I would like it to, it is not mushy and it gets the job done without any funky gluten free flavor. As for the texture, it sort of reminded me of the pizzas they used to serve in the school cafeteria (only this one tasted way better). Conte’s has definitely won me over and pizza night at our place shall return.
Conte’s offers a full range of gluten free Italian options, all made in a dedicated gluten free facility, so no worries about cross contamination! From pizza, to ravioli and gnocchi, Conte’s Pasta Co. has you covered. If you cannot find their products at your local grocery store, ask the store manager if they can start carrying them. Or, head on over to their website and have a few shipped directly to your door.
Have you tried any of the Conte’s Pasta Co. products? Have a favorite gluten free frozen pizza? I would love to hear about it, share it with me in the comments section!!
Leftover Magic: Beef Tortilla Soup
All that brisket is now gone. In addition to Brisket Sammiches, I used some of the meat to make BBQ sandwiches and this yummy tortilla soup that follows. This soup can be made with chicken or shrimp, but it is also a delish way to use up that leftover brisket.
Here is what you will need:
- 8oz leftover brisket, shredded
- 4 cup vegetable stock
- 1 cup frozen corn kernels
- 1 cup cooked black beans (canned or homemade)
- 1 green bell pepper, diced
- 1 jalapeño, seeds removed, diced
- 1 cup tomatoes, diced (fresh or canned)
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 purple onion, diced
- 1/4 tsp Cumin
- 1/2 tsp Chili Powder
- 1 tbsp EVOO
- Tortilla chips
- 1 avocado, sliced (optional)
- sour cream or greek yogurt (optional)
- Shredded cheese (optional)
Using a large pot over medium heat, sauté purple onions & garlic in EVOO for 5 minutes. Add tomatoes, bell pepper & jalapeño, sauté for 1 additional minute. Add cumin and chili powder, mix well. Next, add veggie stock, corn, beans, and shredded brisket. Reduce heat to low, simmer for 30 minutes.
Break tortilla chips into individual bowls, pour soup over the chips. Top with sliced avocado, sour cream or greek yogurt and shredded cheese.
Makes 4 servings.
This recipe could also be modified slightly to be slow-cooker friendly for a delish meal that is ready when you get home from work. Simply sauté your veggies in a small pan before transferring them to the slow cooker, cook on low for several hours.
Sorry for the lack of a photo, it did not photograph well — but it was yummy!!
How did you use up your leftover brisket? Share it with me in the comments section!!
More ways to use up that leftover brisket after the jump!
Leftover Magic: Brisket Sammiches
As promised, a leftovers revamp of Tuesday night’s Oven Roasted Brisket.
Since the brisket had tons of flavorful cooking juices in the pan, my first thought on how to utilize the leftovers was roast beef sandwiches with au jus sauce.
I saved the cooking juices in a small container and refrigerated them until dinner last night. The fat had solidified at the top, so it was really easy to skim off — reducing some of the fat in this meal! Heat the cooking juices in a pan, if you did not have much left, you can always add a little chicken stock to the mix!
Toast the bread of your choice — I crisped up a hot dog bun from Gluten Free Houston, it was just perfect! I will definitely be using these hot dog buns as sandwich rolls again!!
Reheat your brisket (either in the oven or in the microwave), carefully shred it up and place atop your bread.
This sandwich was supposed to be topped with a slice of melted mozzarella cheese, but unbeknownst to me, the fiancé had eaten the last of it. Sooo, we sprinkled them with a little bit of parmesan cheese which worked out great as well. If you choose to top it off with some cheese, place your sandwich back in the oven for a few minutes to melt it into perfection!
You may find it helpful to wrap your finished sandwich in foil to help hold it together as you eat it.
Serve with a pickle spear and chips, steamed veggies or a salad!
Enjoy!
Recipe: Egg Salad
Looking for something a little different for lunch tomorrow? How about an egg salad sandwich? Its quick, light & flavorful and chances are you already have all the ingredients in your fridge! For a hint of something different, my version calls for a splash of sesame oil. I also used chives from my herb garden, but chili powder or dill would work nicely too!
Here is what you will need for a perfect lunch size portion:
- 1 hard boiled egg, diced
- 1/2 tablespoon mayo (you can use more or less if you prefer)
- salt & pepper
- chives
- sesame oil (optional)
- 1 slice of your favorite gluten free bread, toasted
- 1 cup raw baby spinach
In a small bowl, mix egg, mayo, salt & pepper, chives & a splash of sesame oil.
Layer spinach on toasted bread, top with egg mixture. Serve open faced with baby carrots, fruit or chips and ENJOY!
Weekend Delights
This weekend was quite busy and as you can see above filled with some delish bites! I made a loaf of gluten free bread using this mix from Gluten Free Pantry on Thursday and have been eating on it all weekend. And since I found avocados on sale this weekend, there were a lot of snacks including both avocado & bread. My favorite has to be the avocado toast (bottom left) — just toast your bread, top with avocado, salt, pepper & hot sauce … so good & full of those healthy fats!
Now, you are probably thinking what is that gooey thing on the bottom right?? That, my friends, is my version of Nutty Bars. I had gotten a box of Schar Vanilla Wafers a few weeks ago and I did not really care for them — to me, they were a little bland. So, I began experimenting with various toppings and I came up with this delish treat. Just spread creamy peanut butter all over the cookie, followed by Nutella then gobble it up. They are a gooey, messy & oh so good!! So good in fact, I ended up polishing off half the box of cookies!
Saturday was a bit of a crazy day, but I did get to try the gluten free grilled chicken nuggets at Chick-Fil-A. They were great! I felt a little silly ordering a kids meal (they should really consider adding this to the “adult” menu), but it was just the right amount of food … Sunday, we had an early dinner at Outback with my fiancés dad. They have such a great gluten free menu, including a few appetizers & a dessert! Usually, I order the 6oz steak and shrimp with broccoli & green beans, but I thought I would be a little different this time and order the chicken with mixed veggies (I still got the shrimp appetizer because it is too yummy to pass up). This was a really great meal: the chicken was juicy & the veggies were perfectly steamed. I cannot say enough good things about Outback and their gluten free menu — their wait staff is really good about making sure your meal is made just right and if they are not knowledgeable about gfree food, they always double check with someone who is. So, kudos to you Outback!!
How was your weekend?? What delish things did you eat?? Share it in the comments section!!
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Oh and I got a new car!!! While a small part of me misses my squeaky old Chevy Tracker, this baby is fun to drive!
I still cannot believe it is mine, lol (:
My Fit Foods … take-out you can feel good about!
I enjoy cooking healthy, flavorful meals but there are those days when I have been running around since 6am and by the time 7pm rolls around the last thing I want to do is cook … This is where my dilemma begins: take-out or something frozen? Until recently, the chinese restaurant on the corner has been the go to. Their steamed chicken & veggies are good, but it is never anything to write home about and (I reluctantly admit) I have a bad habit of picking out the chicken — ignoring the veggies I should be eating.
But now, I have a better solution for that all too familiar dilemma: My Fit Foods. They have a location inside my HEB grocery store, so it is super convenient & priced about the same as my usual chinese take-out ($6-8/meal). According to their website, 90% of their meals are gluten free … Yay!! Here is what they have to say about their food:
My Fit Foods are perfectly portioned meals available in small, medium, and large sizes, made daily with the freshest ingredients. Unhealthy fats, gluten, sodium, and sugar are kept to a minimum, while flavor is maximized with antioxidant rich herbs and spices. You never knew healthy tasted this good!
Check out the nutrient dense foods we choose for our balanced meals and snacks:
- Low Glycemic Index Carbohydrates - We use foods low on the glycemic index (less than 55) that will leave you feeling energized all day instead of lethargic. Examples are steel cut oats, quinoa, sweet potatoes, parboiled rice, squash, leafy green vegetables, and a variety of fruits.
- Lean Proteins - We use a variety of lean protein sources such as chicken breast, beef tenderloin, shrimp, ground turkey, and a 5 to 1 egg white and egg yolk mix.
- Heart Healthy Fats - We use healthy oils that lower inflammation and aid in weight loss goals. Examples are macadamia nut oil, olive oil, small amounts of real butter, and a variety of nuts and seeds.
- Antioxidant Rich Spices - Our food may be healthy, but it is definitely not boring! Antioxidants lower inflammation and slow the aging process and one of the best ways to get them is through spices. We cook with cumin, garlic, cilantro, rosemary, thyme, oregano, turmeric, and cayenne pepper.
Their meals are super flavorful, so there is no need to add anything — except maybe a side of brown rice or quinoa (if it does not already have a carb included). I was worried that the veggies would become mushy when reheated, but they stay pretty crisp (and I actually eat them, all of them). So far, I think the roasted Chicken & Veggies with pesto is my favorite; the BBQ chicken is next on my list to try. They also have breakfasts, though I have not tried any of them yet, I am sure they are tasty!
Better Beef & Broccoli (medium)
360 calories, 10g fat, 17g carbs, 43g protein
Roasted Chicken & Veggies w/pesto (small)
320 calories, 23g fat, 7g carbs, 21g protein
They even have 3 flavors of gluten free protein cookies: Chocolate Chip, White Chocolate Macadamia Nut & Peanut Butter. I have tried (and loved) them all. I will say, you can tell that they are healthy … but they are so good, you won’t mind!
Chocolate Chip Protein Cookie
150 calories, 5g fat, 19g carbs, 4g fiber & 10g protein
Finally, take-out (& snacks) you can feel good about! (:
Have you tried My Fit Foods yet? Which meal is your favorite?
