So I had my girlfriends over Friday night, and cooked up a yummy dinner for them! (..or at least they said it was yummy:P) I tried to make different options, for those who are vegetarian and those who aren't! I also wanted to stick with meals/recipes that I've made before - don't take risks when you're having people over. So here was the menu: Veggie salad with balsamic dressing, bruchetta, vegetarian lasagna, a lebanese dish called "Riz bi djej", and a rather unhealthy, delicious dessert: homemade brownies!! OK I cheated with the brownies but everything else on the menu is actually quite healthy :)
We really enjoyed this meal and I was happy with the result. I hope you try some of these dishes as they are extremely easy to make and don't take much time at all. I am really happy to see that many of my followers (especially on facebook) have been trying my recipes :) it gives me motivation to continue blogging!! Thanks everyone :)
So let us start with the Bruchetta:
This bruchetta is made with tomato, basil, garlic, and a pinch of mozzarella cheese. The garlic and basil really add an amazing flavor to this bruchetta. Everyone really enjoyed these! Here's how to make this yummy appetizer:
Ingredients:
Baguette (white or brown - I chose white)
3 cloves minced garlic
1 cup cherry tomatoes, cut into small slices
A few handfuls of part-skim mozzarella cheese
2 teaspoons dried basil (Fresh basil would be better if you have it)
1 tablespoon vegetable oil or olive oil
Extra olive oil to drizzle on the baguette slices
In a skillet, sautee the minced garlic in the vegetable oil (or olive oil if you choose, although as I have mentioned in other posts that the vegetable oil is better for sauteeing) until golden.
In a tupperware, add the garlic to the chopped tomatoes and basil. Close the tupperware and shake well. Let the mixture sit for a few minutes so the flavors mingle a bit.
Cut the baguette on an angle into thin slices (as seen in the picture)
Drizzle the baguette with olive oil using a brush.
Top with the tomato mixture, and top that with a pinch of mozzarella cheese.
Place the bruchetta slices in a baking dish/pan, and pop them in the oven on BROIL for 2 minutes or until the cheese melts. Watch them so they won't burn.
Enjoy!!
The bruchetta really went well with my vegetarian lasagna recipe, which is quite healthy without all the meat and white sauce which regular lasagna is usually made with. I really recommend you try my lasagna if you want a lighter version or if you just don't eat meat!
Ingredients:
1 package oven-ready lasagna
3/4 package of part-skim Mozzarella cheese
A handful of feta cheese
2 cup of spinach
1 tsp black pepper
2 teaspoons of dried basil
1 tsp salt
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 onion, chopped
1 can of tomato sauce
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
How to do it:
Sautee the garlic and onion in olive oil until the onion is transluscent and garlic is golden. In a bowl, mix the tomato sauce with the onion and garlic, basil, salt and pepper, and set aside.
Combine ricotta cheese, spinach, feta cheese
Place 4 noodles on a rectangle baking dish length-wise
Spread half the ricotta cheese mixture over the noodles
Spread 1/3rd of the layer of tomato sauce
Add another layer of noodles, then the rest of the ricotta cheese, another layer of tomato sauce.
Add another layer of noodles, another layer of sauce, and top with mozzarella cheese.
Cover the baking dish loosely with aluminum foil and bake for 40 - 45 minutes at 350F (sauce should be bubbling after 40 minutes)
Uncover and bake for 10 more minutes, until cheese has melted and browned a bit on the sides.Let sit for 10 minutes for the layers to set, then cut into square slices and serve!
Next on the menu was Riz Bi Djej. This is an amazing lebanese dish that my mom makes and it tastes fabulous (when my Mom makes it at least!) :P It's also extremely healthy if you use lean meat (beef, not lamb) and only the breast of the chicken (dark meat of the chicken contains all the fat) This is the way my mom always made it and it has always been one of my favorite dishes - it's also my husband's favorite dish so I'm always making it! It's so easy once you get the hang of it, and it goes great with salad and 2% yogurt :)
Ingredients:
2 cups of long rice (for 2 people plus will give you some leftovers)
250 grams minced meat
1 kg chicken breast
1 onion (peeled) and cinnamon sticks (for boiling the chicken with)
2 handfuls of pine nuts and almond slices
All-spice, sweet pepper, black pepper and salt to taste
How to do it:
Boil the chicken breast in a pot with water and boil ONLY until the chicken is covered with white foam. Drain and add more water, and boil the chicken again with the onion and cinnamon sticks. Simmer for at least an hour, covered. ( I simmer for 2 hours)
In another big pot, sautee the meat in 1 teaspoon vegetable oil until brown, turning constantly and mincing the meat with a wooden spoon as it is sauteeing. Once the meat is cooked through, cover it with a bit of water and bring to a boil. Let it sit until the chicken is done. Once the chicken is done, add 4 cups of the water from the simmering chicken to the pot where the meat is sitting. Add the rice and the spices to the pot and bring to a boil. Then simmer for 17 minutes (Check your box of rice to see the directions - they vary between the brands of rice - some rice requires soaking before being cooked).
While the rice is cooking, sautee the almond slices and pine nuts in 1 teaspoon of vegetable oil. Serve the rice topped with the chicken breasts, and compliment with salad and yogurt. Bon appetit :)
Now, if you still have room for dessert (Who doesn't?), here is my sister Sally's famous brownies recipe!! She gave me this recipe a few days before I had the dinner party and I tried a batch on my husband. It was SO easy to make, and absolutely delicious - they're the perfect brownies - the perfect texture, not cakey at all! Once you make these brownies, you will never resort to Betty Crocker's brownie mix again! And you have my sister to thank for that :)
So these brownies are not exactly healthy, but they are a delicious weekend treat - and you don't have to have 10, have 1 and your sweet tooth will be satisfied :)
Ingredients:
1 stick butter (about 1/2 cup)
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup flour
1/3 cup cocoa
1/4 teaspoon baking bowder
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
How to make it:
Pre-heat oven to 350F. Grease a square pan with a bit of vegetable oil or non-stick spray.
In a large bowl, beat together the butter, sugar and vanilla with an electric mixer. Add the eggs, and beat well until fluffy. Stir together the flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt, then gradually add to the egg mixture and beat until blended. Bake for 20-25 min (Set the timer to 20 minutes and check on it - when the brownies are done, the toothpick should come out with a bit of crumbs) Let cool and cut into squares. This is a small batch, so to control your portions, share it with a bunch of friends and you probably won't get to have more than 1 anyway :)
So that was my dinner party menu! I didn't include the salad recipe because salad recipes are a joke, everyone should be able to throw together a creative salad with a bunch of veggies and I recommend a healthy balsamic dressing as it's the best finishing touch to a colorful, flavorful heart-healthy salad :)
I hope you get to try some of these recipes! Good luck!! :)
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