Taco Cupcakes

Ingredients

1 lb ground beef (obviously I use soy)
1 packet taco seasoning
2/3 cup water
1 can black beans, drained
2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded
36 wonton wrappers
your favorite taco toppings - salsa, cheese, sour cream, lettuce, tomatoes, etc
cooking spray

Preheat oven to 375.

Brown the meat in a skillet.  Return the meat to the skillet; add the taco seasoning, water and black beans.  Mix and simmer for 5-10 minutes, until water is absorbed.

Spray 18 regular muffin pan cups with cooking spray.  Place one wonton wrapper in each muffin cup.  Divide half of the taco meat between muffin cups.  Sprinkle half of the cheese over the cupcakes.  Repeat layers - wonton, taco meat and cheese.  Bake at 375 for 20 minutes, or until cheese is bubbly.  Top with your favorite taco toppings.

Avocado Pesto Pasta

Ingredients

• 1 pound linguine
• 1 bunch fresh basil
• 2 avocados, pitted and peeled
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 3 cloves garlic
• ½ cup olive oil
• Sea salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 1 cup halved cherry tomatoes or sliced sun-dried tomatoes (optional)

• Directions

  Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a boil. Add linguine and cook according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
  Meanwhile, make the pesto by combining basil, avocados, lemon juice, garlic, and oil in a food processor. Process until smooth. Season generously with salt and pepper.
  Toss pasta with pesto. For an extra touch of color and flavor, top pasta with cherry or sun-dried tomatoes. Divide pasta among serving bowls.

Idaho Sunrises

Ingredients:

• 1 large baked potato
• 1 Tbsp coconut oil (or butter if you'd like)
• 2 eggs
• 2 soy sausage patties (or you can use bacon strips or real sausage for you meat-eaters)
• 2 Tbsp. shredded cheese
• 1 Tbsp. fresh parsley, chopped
• salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions:

Lay the baked potato on its side, and use a knife to carefully cut off the top third of the potato.  With a spoon, hollow out the middle of the potato to make a “bowl”, leaving the potato as thick or thin as you’d like.  (Just remember, the more room you leave, the more room for eggs, sausage and cheese!)

Place 1/2 tablespoon of oil in the middle of each bowl.  Then gently break an egg into each bowl, careful not to break the yolk.  Top with sausage, cheese, parsley, and then season with salt and pepper.

Bake at 350 degrees F for 20-25 minutes, or until the egg whites are set.  Serve immediately.

Very American Cheeseburger Salad

Ingredients:

1 bag Very American Salad Mix 
1C Cherry Tomatoes 
1C Sliced Pickles 
1 packages of Soy Beef 
½ jar TJ’s Organic Ranch Dressing 
½ bag Diced Onion 
Cheddar Cheese, shredded 


Directions:

1) Brown the beef with the onion (and other spices if desired) until it is no longer pink. Drain & sprinkle cheddar cheese on top of the meat. 
2) Put the salad in a bowl with the pickles (sliced and diced) and tomatoes. 
3) Add the beef and dressing and toss together. Enjoy! 


Serves:  4


Calories:  463
Fat:  23
Protein:  40
Carbs:  27

Chili and Pasta

Ingredients:

• 1 box Trader Joe’s Organic Shells and White Cheddar Macaroni & Cheese (or similar substitution)

• 1 can Trader Joe’s Organic Vegetarian Chili (or similar substitution)

Directions:

1. Make pasta according to directions.

2. Add the can of the chili and mix.

Serves 4

Calories:  540

Fat:  11g

Protein:  22g

Carbs:  86g

Asparagus and Blue Cheese Pizza

Ingredients:

16 oz. of ready-to-bake pizza dough

4 oz. of light whipped cream cheese

4 oz. of crumbled fresh salem blue cheese

12 oz. of asparagus spears, trimmed and chopped into bite-size pieces

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 F.

Spread pizza dough over pizza stone or cookie sheet sprayed with cooking spray.  Spread the cream cheese over the dough (I let mine sit at room temperature for a bit to make it easier to spread).  Top with chopped asparagus and then sprinkle blue cheese over entire pizza.  

Bake for about 20-25 minutes until cheese is bubbly and the crust is starting to brown.

Serves:  4

Serving:  1/4 pizza

Calories:  428

Fat: 16g

Carbs:  53g

Protein:  21g

Mexican Pizza

Ingredients:  
1 Package of ready-to-bake whole wheat pizza dough (16 oz)
1 container of salsa- your choice (I used the Salsa Especial from Trader Joes)- (30 g)
3 cups of Mexican shredded cheese
15 oz of black beans- rinsed and drained

Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 F.

Spread pizza dough evenly over a cookie sheet or pizza stone.  Top with salsa, spread evenly over dough extending to almost the edges, sprinkle with the cheese and then top with the black beans.

Bake for about 15 minutes or until cheese is bubbly and edges of pizza dough are starting to brown.

Serves:  4
Serving:  1/4 of the pizza

Calories:  445
Fat:  13g
Carbs:  67
Protein:  18g