Coconut toasted brussels sprouts

This recipe comes from the How Sweet It Is blog.

Coconut Toasted Brussels

serves 2-4

1 pound brussels sprouts, stems removed and quartered

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

pinch of nutmeg

1 1/2 tablespoons coconut oil, melted

2 tablespoons lite coconut milk

2-3 tablespoons toasted, shredded coconut

Add quartered brussels to a bowl and sprinkle with salt, pepper and nutmeg. Drizzle with coconut oil and toss to coat.

Heat a skillet oven medium-high heat and once hot, add brussels. Cook for 6-8 minutes, stirring occasionally until toasted and charred. Reduce heat to low and stir in coconut milk. Stir in 2 tablespoons toasted coconut, then transfer to a bowl to serve. Top with remaining toasted coconut.

Cauliflower pizza crust!

I found this recipe on Pinterest. It comes from the Fat Girl in a Skinny Body blog, you can check it out here.

I had tried another recipe for cauliflower crust that was a total fail—it didn't stay together at all and I couldn't get it onto a plate without the whole thing turning into a pile of mush. This one promised to be a better cauliflower crust and it really delivered. We love it and it's a great substitute for a dough crust if you're cutting down on carbs.

Cauliflower Crust
Makes 4 individual pizzas

2 eggs
2 cups mozzarella cheese
2 cups riced cauliflower (grate the cauliflower on a cheese grater)
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 cup fresh julienned basil

Preheat oven to 450 degrees.

Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper, spray with non-stick spray.

In a medium bowl, combine riced cauliflower, basil, eggs and mozzarella. Divide into 4 amounts and press evenly on the parchment paper (you can omit the basil or substitute it for others herbs of your choice).

Bake the crusts at 450 degrees for 12-15 minutes.
(I like 15 minutes.)

Remove the cookie sheet from the oven and add desired toppings.

Fat Girl in a Skinny Body recommends marinara, sliced zucchini and onions, and basil ricotta. Check her post for details.

I've made it this way and it was quite good, but Marc wasn't really a fan of the ricotta on top. So this time, I made a Thai chicken version:

1 T. sweet chili sauce on each pizza; red onion strips; diced, cooked chicken; peanuts; more mozzarella on top; and a little cilantro sprinkled on after it bakes. Yum! I'm going to make a barbecue chicken or Hawaiian version next time.

Linda Jibson's gluten-free monster cookies

{Sadly, I forgot to take a picture of these. I'll rectify that ASAP.}

These do contain oatmeal, so if you are very gluten-sensitive, you may want to find an approved source of oatmeal or avoid these.

I discovered accidentally that these cookies are possibly even better when frozen and then slightly thawed. You're welcome.

2/3 c. butter
2 c. + 2 T. peanut butter
1 1/2 c. brown sugar
1 1/3 c. white sugar
1 t. vanilla
4 eggs
2 1/2 t. baking soda
1/3 bag chocolate chips
1/3 bag peanut m&m's
6 c. oats

Cream butter, peanut butter, and both sugars. Mix in eggs, vanilla, and baking soda. Add oats, chocolate chips, and m&m's.

Use 1/3 c. measure as a scoop and bake 6 at a time. Bake at 350º for 10-12 minutes.

Oatmeal (Walnut) Cocoa Nib Cookies

{recipe from Joy the Baker}

Oatmeal Walnut Cocoa Nib Cookies

makes about 2 1/2 dozen cookies

1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened

1 cup granulated sugar

1 cup brown sugar, packed

2 large eggs

2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

3/4 teaspoon salt

2 1/2 cups old fashioned oats

1 cup coarsely chopped walnuts (optional—I didn't use them because my family doesn't like them, but I'm sure they would be great)

1/2 cup cocoa nibs*

1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

In the bowl of an electric stand mixer, fitted with a paddle attachment, add butter and sugars. Beat on medium speed until the mixture is light and fluffy, about 3 to 5 minutes. Stop the mixer, scrape down the sides of the bowl, and beat in eggs. Add eggs one at a time, beating for one minute on medium speed between each addition. Beat in the vanilla extract.

In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add flour mixture all at once to the butter and egg mixture. Beat on low speed until the mixture just comes together. It's okay if all of the flour isn't completely mixed in.

Add the oats, walnuts, cocoa nibs, and chocolate chips. Remove the bowl from the mixer and use a spatula to finish incorporating the mixture by hand. Mix together until no flour bits remain, and everything is well mixed together.

Scoop dough out by the tablespoonful onto baking sheets with parchment paper or silpat (I always use silpat for cookies.) (I got a cookie scoop for Christmas and I love it! Uniform cookie size.) Bake for 10 to 13 minutes until toasted brown on top. Remove from the oven. Allow to cool on cookie sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.

*Cocoa nibs are bits of crushed cocoa beans and they are fabulous! They taste vaguely of dark chocolate and provide the perfect crunch in these cookies. I bought mine in France, but apparently you can buy them on amazon or maybe even in your grocery store. Well worth it—they totally make these cookies.

Peanut butter Nutella chocolate chip cookies!

I found this recipe on Pinterest and decided to try it out yesterday. Holy deliciousness!! These just may be my new favorite cookie. The flavor and texture are amazing. My whole family loved them and anxiously awaits the next batch.

Note: this recipe only makes 24 smallish cookies, so I highly recommend a double batch.

1 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon of salt
1 stick unsalted butter, softened
2/3 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup light brown sugar
1/3 cup Nutella
1/3 cup peanut butter
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 large egg
1/2 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips

1. Mix together flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Set aside dry ingredients.

2. Cream together butter, granulated sugar and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Mix in Nutella and peanut butter and vanilla extract. Mix in egg.

3. Add flour mixture and mix until just incorporated. Add chocolate chips.

4. Chill for at least 1 hour.

5. Drop tablespoons of dough 2 inches apart onto parchment lined baking sheets. Bake at 350 degrees for about 11 minutes until the edges look set. Cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes then carefully remove to cooling racks.

spice-rubbed tri tip roast

This recipe from allrecipes.com is a new staple in my repertoire, as it is easy and delicious. I like to use the leftovers in my lunch salads.

I buy tri-tip roast in a 2-pack at Costco and freeze them individually in ziploc bags with a little olive oil, garlic, balsamic vinegar, and salt and pepper. That way, they are already marinated when I defrost them. Couldn't be simpler! (I eliminate the olive oil from the recipe and decrease the salt when I'm using one of my thawed roasts.) I usually have some of the spice rub left over, and it's also delicious on pan-fried chicken breasts.

Ingredients

• 1 1/4 tablespoons paprika
• 1/2 - 1 tablespoon kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 (3 pound) sirloin tip roast (tri-tip)
  

Directions

1. In a small bowl, mix the paprika, kosher salt, garlic powder, black pepper, onion powder, cayenne pepper, oregano, and thyme. Stir in the olive oil, and allow the mixture to sit about 15 minutes.
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.
3. Place the roast on the prepared baking sheet, and cover on all sides with the spice mixture.
4. Roast 1 hour in the preheated oven, or to a minimum internal temperature of 145 degrees F (63 degrees C). Let sit 15 minutes before slicing.

Thai basil shrimp risotto

Max made this for dinner when my parents were visiting, and we all agreed that it was really good. Definitely one to add to the repertoire.

2 T. canola oil
1 pound small shrimp, rinsed and dried
kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
3 T. unsalted butter
2 T. minced garlic
1 small onion, cut into an 1/8" dice
2 c. arborio or sushi rice
1 c. dry white wine
5-6 c. hot chicken broth
12 Thai basil leaves, cut into very fine strips (I couldn't find Thai basil, so I just used regular)
juice of one lime

Heat a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add 1 T. of oil and swirl to coat the bottom. When the oil is hot, add the shrimp and sauté, stirring, until the shrimp are pink, about 1 minute. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer the shrimp to a plate and set aside.

Add the remaining tablespoon of oil 1 T. of the butter. When the mixture is hot, add the garlic and onions and sauté until soft, 1-2 minutes. Add the wine, deglaze the pan, and simmer until the liquid has been absorbed by the rice, 2-3 minutes.

Ladle in the stock 1/2 cup at a time, allowing each addition to be absorbed by the rice before adding the next. Continue until the rice is al dente, about 10 minutes. Return the shrimp to the rice, add the basil, remaining 2 T. of butter, and lime juice. Stir. Taste to adjust the seasoning.

Transfer the risotto to four individual serving bowls and serve.

from Simply Ming One-Pot Meals