I always get asked how I come up with my dishes? So, I’d like to post my dinners while they’re fresh in my mind and may be quite random.
Sometimes I have a clear vision, sometimes I don’t know till I plate!
Here are 6 tips to help you…based on my dinner tonight
1) sometimes combining is better than served separately. This definitely worked with the lentils and quinoa for flavor, texture and color.
2) if it looks awkward, change it up!
Initially, I sliced the avocado but they were huge on the plate, so I chopped them up.
3) add flavor
my homemade vinaigrette did the trick, the avocado wasn’t quite ripe enough but the dressing really helped.
Spice rubs are so handy to sprinkle on any kind of protein for grilling. Instant flavor for organic chicken thighs.
4) add texture
scallions were crispy
goat cheese and avocado were soft and creamy
tomatoes were softish and moist
quinoa and lentils were crunchy
chicken was tender and succulent
5) add color
Tomatoes always brighten up any dish and make a nice pop of color! Also opposite colors are good so they stand out like dark green lentils and beige quinoa.
6) presentation
The important thing is when it looks nice, you’ll want to eat it.
It’s always 3 essentials: flavor, texture, color in that order and lastly presentation!
I hope this gives you an idea of my thought process when putting together a dish, give it a try and share what worked for you?
weeknightdinner
Quickie Dinner
You can cheat but still keep it healthy! These types of meals are perfect for busy weeknight dinners when all you want is just something tasty but fast.
Answer? A ready cooked roast chicken, I got Mojo flavor, yum and blanch a big bunch of greens like rapini!
The quickest way to blanch rapini is in a wok! A wok has a wide opening and depth to hold lots of water.
Tip for keeping veggies bright green is to add a few drops of oil into water. Use a colander with handle and sieve them out if you have to do batches. Plate and add salad dressing, add a dollop of BBQ sauce to spike chicken and you’re done! Enjoy!
Easy Wok Dinner
This is my go to Easy Wok Dinner that I make frequently! Wok Stars, I know you get excited to show off your new found wok skills to friends, however, don’t pressure yourself with a big party on your first attempt. It takes the fun out of it and you’ll get put off. Take baby steps and you’ll reap HUGE flavor and rewards!
Nah, better to do a simple stir fry bok choy with just a dash of tamari, sherry and squirt of lime and grill a whole fillet of salmon sprinkled with Earthy Delight’s Moroccan Spice Rub. There’s enough grilled salmon leftover for the hubby and my lunch for the next day, how handy is that?! Other great meats for grilling are skirt steak, pork chops, chicken thighs, limitless. Vegetarians can grill a whole slab of tofu or tempeh.
Keep it SIMPLE and enjoy the journey, you don’t need recipes for weeknight cooking! Try it, you’ll love it and everyone will love you…
