Grilled Mediterranean Salad

Published on April 28, 2014June 6, 2014 by T.W.O.Leave a comment

Have you ever thought about grilling lettuce? Well you will after reading this recipe. It’s a great way to bring more flavors to your fresh salad without adding the calories or the ingredients. T.W.O. combined the grilled romaine with fresh vegetables and a homemade dressing. Check out the recipe below.

Grilled Mediterranean Salad

Ingredients:
– 2 heads organic romaine
– 1 ½ cup fresh tomatoes, diced
– 1 cup hearts of palm, sliced
– 4 persian cucumbers, sliced
– ¼ cup basil olive oil
– 2 Tablespoon fig balsamic
– 1 Tablespoon rice vinegar
– ¾ cup lemon juice
– Salt
– Pepper
– Olive oil (~ 1 teaspoon for drizzling)

Directions:

Cut the romaine heads in half, lengthwise. Leave the stem and core intact.
Drizzle the olive oil and salt and pepper on the halves.
For the dressing: combine the, basil olive oil, fig balsamic, rice vinegar, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Mix well and set aside.
On a heated barbeque, place the romaine halves on the grill over low-medium heat. Cook for 2-3 minutes per side. Make sure to watch the lettuce leaves – you don’t want them to start to burn.
Remove the lettuce and top with homemade dressing, tomatoes, cucumbers and hearts of palm. Add pepper as needed.

Happy Cooking!

Mud Pie Motherload

Published on April 25, 2014June 6, 2014 by T.W.O.7 Comments

Mud Pie has been a traditional birthday cake in T.W.O.’s family since we were babies. These past couple of years, we decided to step up our game and make the motherload of all mud pies. If this doesn’t get your taste buds excited, I don’t know what will. Peanut butter, chocolate, ganache, ice cream, oreo cookie crust and candy….we cover all the necessary ingredients.

Mud Pie Motherload

Ingredients:

Crust:
– 7 Tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
– 1 package oreo cookie box
Ganache:
– 16 ounces bittersweet chocolate
– 2 cup heavy cream
– 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
Filling:
– 1.5 quartz chocolate peanut butter cup ice cream, softened*
– 1.5 quartz coffee ice cream, softened*
– ½ cup crunchy peanut butter
– 1 ounce dark chocolate, finely chopped, for garnish
– 4 peanut butter cups, finely chopped for garnish
– 1 heath bar, finely chopped for garnish

Directions:

For the crust:

Coat the inside of a 9-inch springform pan with 1 tablespoon of the melted butter.
Place cookies in food processor and pulse until ground. Add melted butter to the crumbs and mix. Press mixture evenly and firmly into the bottom of the prepared pan and freeze until it’s good and set, about 15 minutes. Meanwhile, take the ice cream out of the freezer to soften and make the ganache.

For the ganache:

Place chocolate in a medium heatproof bowl; set aside.
Place cream in a small saucepan over medium heat and bring to a simmer. Pour cream over chocolate and let stand until chocolate has melted, about 5 minutes.
Stir gently until smooth then stir in butter, one piece at a time. let cool slightly before using.

For the assembly:

When ice cream is softened, spread one of the flavors of ice cream over the cookie crust and smooth the top.
Spread peanut butter over the ice cream.
Pour half of the ganache over the top and smooth and place in the freezer for 10 minutes.
Remove pie from the freezer and top with the second ice cream flavor.
Pour the remaning ganche on top. Spread evenly.
Top with chopped chocolate candy and put in the freezer. For best results let the pie freeze for 5 hours or over night if possible.
When you are ready to serve, let the pie stand for 5 minutes prior to cutting. Plate and serve!

Happy Baking!

Mediterranean Orzo Pasta Salad

Published on April 21, 2014June 6, 2014 by T.W.O.2 Comments

Imagine, lounging on the beach looking at the crisp blue ocean waters of the Mediterranean in the warm sun. Besides rose, what else is missing? Of course, some Mediterranean orzo pasta salad! Its refreshing, light and satisfying. See you in paradise!

Mediterranean Orzo Pasta Salad

Ingredients:

– 2 cups orzo
– 4-6 cups water
– ¼ cup fresh mint, chopped
– 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
– ½ cup red onions, chopped
– ½ cup lemon juice
– 2-3 Tablespoons olive oil
– 2-3 garlic cloves, diced
– 1 cup marinated artichoke hearts (optional)
– Salt
– Pepper

Directions:

Cook orzo as directed on the box.
Once the orzo is done, strain all the water out. Place in a bowl.
Mix in chopped mint, cherry tomatoes, garlic, red onions, lemon juice, olive oil, salt and pepper. Add artichoke hearts if deserved.
Plate and serve! Store leftovers in the refrigerator. If the pasta gets dry, add more lemon juice.

bon appetite,

Jalapeno Lime Hummus

Published on April 17, 2014June 6, 2014 by T.W.O.Leave a comment

Would you like some carrots with your hummus? That’s what you will be asking your guests after making this recipe!!!

Jalapeno Lime Hummus

Ingredients:
– 2 (15 oz) Can chickpeas, drained
– 4 Tablespoons Cilantro, chopped
– 4 Cloves of garlic, peeled
– 3 Tablespoon Jalapeno, chopped
– 1 Tablespoon Fresh lemon juice
– 2 Tablespoon Fresh lime juice
– Salt
– Pepper
– 2 Tablespoon Olive oil
– 2 Tablespoons Water
– Tapatio Hot Sauce (optional)

Directions:
1. Place chickpeas, cilantro, garlic, jalapeno, lemon juice, lime juice, salt and pepper in a food processor and blend until smooth.
2. While the bender is on, slowly pour Olive oil and water and continue processing until super creamy and smooth. Add tapatio if you want the hummus to be spicier.
3. Use as a dip, spread on a sandwich or eat by itself.

Happy Cooking!

Chicken Enchilada Quinoa Dish

Published on April 15, 2014June 6, 2014 by T.W.O.3 Comments

Tired of your average enchilada dish? Well this dish will definitely activate your taste buds and leave you feeling satisfied! This quinoa casserole is a great alternative to traditional enchiladas and is a crowd pleaser! It’s an easy mouthwatering recipe to make for any meal- including for a crowd!

Chicken Enchilada Quinoa Dish

Ingredients:
– 2 cups dry Quinoa, cook according to package directions
– 2 Chicken breasts, boneless & skinless, cubed
– 1 ½ cup Sweet Onion, chopped
– 1 Tablespoon Olive oil
– 1 ½ Tablespoon chili powder
– ½ Tablespoon garlic powder
– 2 cups Red Enchilada Sauce
– 1 cup Cheddar cheese, shredded
– 1 cup Mozzarella cheese, shredded
– ½ cup green onion, chopped
– Cilantro
– Avocado
– Hot Sauce
– Salt & Pepper

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 375°F. Cook quinoa, fluff with a fork and toss with enchilada sauce in a large bowl. Set aside.
2. Heat oil in a sauté pan over medium to high heat. Sauté onion for 5-8 minutes or until brown and caramelized. Add chicken cubes and seasonings (chili powder, garlic powder, salt, pepper, hot sauce and some enchilada sauce). Cook chicken for about 8-10 minutes or until done. Make sure not to overcook the chicken.
3. Add chicken to quinoa and toss to combine. Mix in ½ cup of each kind of cheese to the quinoa and chicken. Place the quinoa into a 9×11 casserole dish. Top with cheeses. Bake uncovered for about 10 minutes or until cheese is melted.
4. Set the oven to broil and broil for 3-4 minutes or until cheese is slightly browned. Keep an eye on it so it doesn’t burn!
5. Plate the quinoa and top with fresh avocado (or you can make guacamole!), cilantro & green onion. Sour cream and salsa are also great too!

Margherita Pizza with Homemade Sauce

Published on April 11, 2014June 6, 2014 by T.W.O.Leave a comment

Friday Night Pizza Night with T.W.O. – yes its already that time again! This week, we are featuring a margherita pizza with home sauce. Don’t be intimidated – it’s a beginner’s recipe that tastes like a million dollars! Enjoy your pizza making!

Margherita Pizza with Homemade Sauce

Ingredients:

– 1 pizza dough
– 1 can San Marzano whole peeled tomatoes
– 2-3 cups fresh mozzarella, sliced
– 8 leaves basil
– 3 cloves garlic, diced
– 1-2 Tablespoons olive oil
– 2 teaspoons garlic powder
– 2 teaspoons cornstarch
– Salt
– Pepper
– Flour
– Cornmeal

Directions:

Preheat oven to 415°.
Roll out pizza dough on a floured/cornmeal surface. Transfer to a greased cookie sheet.
Pour the tomatoes in a bowl. Chop up the whole tomatoes into quarters.
Add to a heated skillet lined with olive oil. Sprinkle in garlic powder, salt and pepper. Slowly add cornstarch after the sauce has reached a bowl. Reduce heat and stir consistently. The sauce should thicken. Remove from heat.
Add the sauce to the top of the pizza dough. Top with garlic cloves. Place the sliced mozzarella on top of the garlic along with the fresh basil.
Place in the oven and cook for 15 minutes.
Remove from the oven and let the pizza sit for 2-4 minutes. Cut and serve.

Cheers to another great Friday Night Pizza Night!

Mushroom & Basil Quinoa

Published on April 10, 2014June 6, 2014 by T.W.O.1 Comment

Need a fast and easy side dish – T.W.O. has you covered with this mushroom and basil quinoa recipe. It’s light, flavorful and fresh. If you are a mushroom lover, you will love this recipe!

Mushroom & Basil Quinoa

Ingredients:
– 2 cups chicken broth, low sodium
– 1 cup quinoa
– 1 shallot, chopped
– ¾ cup fresh basil, chopped
– 1/4 cup manchego, shaved
– 2 cups mushrooms, sliced
– 3 garlic cloves, diced
– 2 teaspoons garlic powder
– ¼ cup lemon juice
– Salt
– Pepper
– Olive Oil

Directions:

Bring 2 cups of water to a bowl. Add quinoa. Reduce heat to low and cover. Cook for 20 minutes.
While the quinoa is cooking, sauté mushrooms, cloves, shallot in olive oil. Add fresh salt and pepper. Cook for about 8-10 minutes.
When the quinoa is done, place in a bowl and mix mushrooms in. Add lemon juice, basil, manchego, salt and pepper to taste.
Plate and serve hot.

Happy Cooking!

Grilled Tri-tip Tacos with Sweet Potatoes and Peppers

Published on April 8, 2014June 6, 2014 by T.W.O.2 Comments

Taco Tuesday! Today, T.W.O. will be featuring a carne taco con batatas. Batatas? Yes – Batatas….Sweet Potatoes! Grab your apron and lets start grilling!!!

Grilled Tri-tip Tacos with Sweet Potatoes and Peppers

Ingredients:
– 1 tri-tip roast, seasoned*
– 3 bell peppers (yellow, red, orange)
– ½ sweet onion, chopped
– 2 medium sweet potatoes, cubed
– ¼ cup lemon juice
– 3 Tablespoons olive oil
– 1 teaspoon Cayenne Pepper
– 1 teaspoon garlic powder
– Salt
– Pepper
– Corn tortillas
– Sour cream
– Fresh guacamole
* Season tri-tip roast with Montreal Steak seasoning prior to putting on the grill.

Directions:

Preheat oven to 425°. Place the cubed sweet potato on a cookie sheet. Season with 1 Tablespoon, olive oil, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Place in oven for about 25-30 minutes.
While the sweet potatoes are cooking, place the tri-tip on a heated barbeque. Cook for 30 minutes or until done.
In a sauté pan, add 2 Tablespoons olive oil and lemon juice. Add the vegetables. Sautee for 10-15 minutes or until done to your liking. Add salt and pepper to taste.
When all the ingredients are done cooking, place the tortillas on the barbeque to heat up.
Final steps – assembly! Create your masterpiece by combining all your ingredients into a freshly grilled tortilla!

Cheers to another T.W.O. Taco Night!

Cauliflower Steaks

Published on April 4, 2014June 6, 2014 by T.W.O.Leave a comment

A steak that isn’t meat or doesn’t contain a lot of calories – is this even possible! Well T.W.O. makes is possible with cauliflower! Yes, that’s right we are making steaks with cauliflower! Grab your herbs and mushrooms and lets make this vegetarian dish!

Cauliflower Steaks

Ingredients:
– 1 head cauliflower
– 1 cup mushrooms, diced
– 6 Tablespoons basil olive oil
– 2 teaspoons red pepper (cayenne)
– 3 teaspoons oregano
– 3 teaspoons ground coriander
– 2 teaspoons garlic powder
– 6 Tablespoons balsamic vinegar
– Krazy Salt
– Pepper

Directions:

Preheat oven to 415°.

Cut the cauliflower in half. Remove the steam.
Take the halves and cut thick slices. You should get a total of 4-6 “steaks” depending on the size of your cauliflower.
In a pan, heat up 4 Tablespoons of olive oil over medium-high heat. Place the steaks in the pan and top with all the spices, salt, pepper and balsamic. (Make sure to save ½ the ingredients for each side) Brown each side for about 4 minutes each.
Remove from the pan and place on a foil-lined cookie sheet.
Cook in the oven for about 20-25 minutes.
While the steaks are cooking, sauté mushrooms in the pan with 2 Tablespoons of olive oil. The excess spices from the pan will be enough to spice up your mushrooms. Add salt and pepper to taste.
When the cauliflower is done, remove and plate. Top with sautéed mushrooms and greens.

Healthy meal or side dish– you got it!

Happy cooking!

Kale Salad

Published on April 3, 2014June 6, 2014 by T.W.O.1 Comment

Kale is known as the queen of greens since it has one of the most health benefits than any other vegetable. In one cup of chopped kale, there are 33 calories, 9% of the daily value of calcium, 206% of vitamin A, 134% of vitamin C and 684% of vitamin K. Impressive, right?! It doesn’t stop there though – – it also is a good source of minerals copper, iron, manganese, phosphorus and potassium. This leafy green also lowers the blood cholesterol levels and reduces the risk of heart disease.

So with that being said, T.W.O. enjoys making kale salads for lunch to ensure they reach their required daily value of nutrients. Check out this Kale, chickpea, and carrot salad and lemon vinaigrette recipe below.

KALE SALAD

Ingredients:

– 2 bunches lacinato kale
– 1- 15 ounce can chickpeas
– 1 cup fresh lemon juice
– 2 cups shredded carrots
– 2 Tablespoons spicy brown mustard
– 4 Tablespoons basil olive oil
– 1 teaspoon Organic Blue Agave
– ¼ cup rice vinegar
– 4 Tablespoons balsamic vinegar
– 1 teapoon garlic powder
– Krazy Salt
– Pepper

Directions:

Wash and rinse the kale. Remove core stems and chop. (T.W.O. didn’t remove the entire core stem – just the thick part near the bottom. We like the little crunch in our salad!) Place in a bowl. Add the chickpeas. Chopped the carrots in thick slices and add to the salad mixture. The thinner the slices, the soggier the carrots will get as the salad marinates…. So thick slices work best!

In a dressing shaker or cup, add the lemon juice, spicy brown mustard, basil olive oil, rice vinegar, balsamic vinegar, agave and garlic powder. Mix/ Shake well. Add Krazy Salt and pepper to taste.

Toss the salad dressing in the salad mixture and place in the refrigerator to marinate. For best results, leave in for about an hour. You can also leave the kale in a sealed container without it going soggy for up to 2 days. Great idea for weekday lunches!