Marina Delio's Blog, page 37

Vegetarian Baked Spaghetti Squash Casserole

Comforting baked pasta? That's actually a vegetable? That pretty much sums up this spaghetti squash bake recipe. Let's face it - kids love noodles, but a lot of us are trying to cut down on simple carbs like traditional spaghetti. 
This recipe is quite customizable. Go ahead and toss in any veggies or herbs you would like to use up. This week I added some fresh thyme and rosemary, and some cherry tomatoes on top, since that's what I had. Some cooked sausage (I used vegan Field Roast Italian sausage) is delicious thrown in with the veggies too. In the summer I add more bell peppers and some summer squash. 

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Overnight Oats Recipe {Vegan}

This easy vegan no-cook overnight oatmeal recipe is a delicious way to ensure a healthy breakfast. 
Overnight oats have been very popular lately, but I had yet to try them until this week. As healthy and simple as it sounded, the thought of cold oatmeal seemed, well... icky. But, I tried it, and I'm so glad I did. After the kids went to bed I added some oats, unsweetened almond milk, and a few drops of stevia to jar. I gave it a shake and tucked them into the fridge for the night. I expected to heat it up in the morning, but after trying it, I was instantly hooked and wolfed down the whole jar. If you've been hesitating to try overnight oats like I was, trust me, you must try them! No more excuses for skipping breakfast. Just grab from the fridge and go! I am not the best breakfast-eater, and have been known to eat the kids' lunch PB&J crusts while dashing out the door with a flailing preschooler under my arm screaming that she wants to change her outfit for the 10th time that morning. Thank goodness for quick breakfasts like this to keep me (semi) sane
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Spanakopita Quiche with Fillo Crust

Filo, fillo, or phyllo, whichever way you spell it, it's a delicious lighter option for for quiche. This version with spinach is our family's favorite - and a great way to eat more greens.  Our girls love quiche, and spinach quiche in particular. It's on our regular dinner rotation, but I get tired of the heavy butter crust. So this week I pulled out a box of fillo dough, added some herbs, and feta, and Voilà!! Spanakopita Quiche. I'm not so sure my Greek ancestors would approve of this, but it was delicious! Did I ever mention that for the first 23 years of my life I had a ridiculously Greek last name with lots of "o"s and "u"s in it? Yep! Even the kids loved the crispy layers of this fillo crust. And not just because they're a little Greek too - most all of their little friends gobble up spanakopita triangles. 
Normally fillo can make me a little nervous because it dries out and becomes brittle so easily, but this recipe is so quick that it's not even an issue. 
I had all the ingredients at home before I had even planned on making this for dinner - hopefully you do too! This recipe is pretty foolproof, so feel free to make substitutions. If you don't have green onions, you can leave them out, and feel free to use your favorite cheese, or herbs. 

My only issue with this recipe is that I wasted a lot of extra fillo dough. I think the solution is to make two quiches and give one to a friend. Or maybe this is a good excuse to make a sheet of baklava the next day? I just hate throwing out perfectly good ingredients. What do you think? 
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Sugar Free Lemonade Recipe

I was recently contacted about Bon Appetit's new online series called Out of the Kitchen, which showcases how face-to-face interactions are vital to the success of notable chefs, restaurateurs and food influencers in the culinary world. I was challenged to think about the importance of face-to-face communication in the home kitchen environment, and gladly took on that challenge. My girls have been cooking with me since they were teeny tiny. At first it was just mixing ingredients in bowls and lining muffin tins with liners. I've always known that cooking with kids was good for them, but over the past few weeks I really have been noticing just how good it is for our relationships. I've been bothered lately by how drawn to screens we are - one wants to watch rainbow loom videos on an iPad while the other wants my phone to do a "puzzle" app and I'm on the computer getting a few minutes of work done. No one is talking to each other - it's like we are zombies staring at these rectangular devices. So I've made a point of doing real puzzles on the floor, building with blocks, or cooking together when we have free time.



Lately when we cook together the girls work together surprisingly well. Quite a change from the toddler screaming of the recent past. They're taking turns and sharing. My oldest is helping her little sister. We are working together and talking about what we are making, but also about other important things that are going on in our lives. And laughing hysterically together when mom accidentally gets sprayed with blood orange juice.

Continue reading for the rest of the story and recipe!

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Chia and Hemp Seed Cookies for A Friend

Healthy superfood cookies made with chia and hemp seeds, and naturally refined sugar free and gluten free. 
 These hearty cookies are not just for dessert, you can grab one for breakfast or an afternoon snack. They are filled with protein and Omega-3s from chia and hemp seeds and peanut butter. Using seed butter will work fine for anyone with a nut allergy. These are naturally gluten free too!
My sweetie and I made these power cookies together over the weekend. The cooking was bittersweet... 
Our dear friend Gwendolyn is not doing well right now. Long time readers have followed Gwendolyn's story. Many of you even contributed when I ran a half marathon to raise money so that one day children with SMA can run too. Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) is the #1 genetic killer of young children. And it is devastating. Babies are born healthy, but SMA quickly takes their ability to ever walk, verbalize, or eat. SMA does not affect the brain, however. Gwendolyn is just like any 6 year old. She goes to 1st grade and can read, loves horses and butterflies, and loves playing with her friends. She is currently in the hospital with a collapsed lung. You can follow her here. Her amazing parents who started the Gwendolyn Strong Foundation are by her side, and they have a newborn to take care of as well. 
So we wanted to send a little hospital care package for our friends as well as cards for Gwendolyn. I wanted to send something to nourish these incredible parents and give them energy. I'm know as a mom that taking care of yourself is the last thing you think of when a child is sick. 

 These aren't your average dessert cookies. These are loaded with superfoods and meant to provide nourishing energy. I love hemp seeds because they are packed with protein and essential fatty acids. You can read about the benefits of chia seeds (aka Aztec running food) here. These aren't terribly sweet. If you want a very sweet cookie, add a bit more coconut sugar or some honey. 
I hope you try these super power energy cookies soon. 
And please send your healing thoughts over to miss Gwendolyn. We really love her and want her to come home soon. This picture is of my 6 year old helping Gwendolyn pet a baby bunny. You can bet I was one proud mama this day. 
Chia and Hemp Seed Power Cookies Recipe printer friendly recipe 
Yield: about 18-20 tablespoon sized cookies 
Ingredients: ½ cup butter, room temperature½ cup coconut sugar   1 ½ cups rolled oats (gluten free if needed)½ cup gluten free all purpose flour1 teaspoon baking powder2 large eggs, room temperature¾ cup peanut butter (or seed butter)1 teaspoon vanilla extract1 ½ tablespoons chia seeds1 ½ tablespoons hemp seeds¼ cup shredded coconut (sweetened or unsweetened)½ cup dark chocolate chunks (gluten free if needed - I use Lily's or Enjoy Life brand)Instructions: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a cookie sheet with parchment.In the bowl of a mixer, cream together the butter and sugar until combined. Add the oats, flour and baking powder and beat to combine. Mix in the eggs, peanut butter, vanilla and again beat just to combine. Stir in the seeds, coconut, and chocolate.Drop tablespoon sized balls onto the prepared cookie sheet and gently press down to flatten a little. Cookies will not spread much. Bake for 12 minutes and cool on a wire rack. I like these best warm, but they will keep for a few days in an airtight container. 

Easy Homemade Ravioli

Homemade cheese ravioli recipe made simple with wonton wrappers. Adorably hart shaped for Valentine's day. 

Last year some of my girlfriends and I got together for a Valentine's Day themed supper club. I brought beet and goat cheese puff pastry app bites, but my favorite dish was heart shaped shrimp pot stickers made by my friend Jenn - she was kind enough to post the recipe here. Ever since that night I've been meaning to make her pot sticker recipe or try making heart shaped ravioli. Only simplified by using wonton wrappers. Well, I finally did it - only took me a year!  I was able to get this all done early and then refrigerate the uncooked ravioli until dinnertime. I absolutely love making homemade pasta with the flour and the well for the egg and the kneading, and so on. But, there's just not always time for that on busy weeknights! These wonton wrappers worked amazingly well and tasted just like homemade pasta. 

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Healthy Peanut Butter Cups Recipe

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Valentine's Day is coming up and there is a lot of excitement in our house! I have to say, Valentine's Day really is a lot more fun with kids. We've been making these fun semi-homemade Valentines, decorating valentine mailboxes, and getting ready for class parties.  The girls also know Valentine's Day means sweet treats. They've seen the shiny pink and red packages at stores, but we have resisted. While it wouldn't be the end of the world for the kids to have special Valentine's Day treats, I would rather have healthy treats around the house. Because after the kids go to bed, I really cannot be trusted around Reese's peanut butter cups. And it's so easy to make healthy sugar free treats - not to mention a fun activity to do with your kids. Here's what we did... 
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Tex Mex Rice and Black Bean Salad Wraps

Tasty and healthy brown rice and Black Bean Tex Mex lettuce wraps are perfect for lunch or a light dinner that's easy to make vegan and gluten free. This post is brought to you by UNCLE BEN'S®.  My kids love having veggie burritos for dinner. Really, who doesn't? They're delicious, but they sometimes leave me feeling too full and weighed down. So I knew I was going to love this recipe that has those burrito-like flavors and textures, but is lightened up by replacing the tortillas with lettuce wraps. What surprised me about the results was that the kids actually loved this one as much as I did. They called them "lettuce boats" and had fun sailing them into their mouths at dinnertime. To make this with even more kid appeal, you could top the lettuce wraps with a dollop of guacamole or sour cream. I made the brown rice salad when I had a minute earlier in the day and brought it out with the lettuce cups at dinnertime. So easy! 
This salad is so simple to make. Tomatoes, bell pepper, and cucumber are chopped up and tossed into a bowl and combined with a zesty vinaigrette. The cooked brown rice, beans, and corn are then mixed in, and voilà - a healthy salad packed with veggies and complete protein. I could eat this salad for lunch every day and be a happy girl. If you like to do meal prep on weekends, this is a great salad to include because it will last a few days in the fridge and it's great for packing in lunch boxes. 
UNCLE BEN'S®  sent me a package of their READY RICE® Whole Grain Brown to use for the recipe. This was my first time making instant rice and it really was amazing how easy and quick it made dinner! I will definitely be keeping a few boxes in the pantry for those busy nights when we get home late from ballet or piano class. 
Aren't these wraps beautiful? I love all the fresh colors. They would be so fun to serve on a platter at a party. 

Tex Mex Rice and Black Bean Salad Wraps Recipe 
Printer Friendly Recipe 
Yield: Serves 8 (it was perfect for our family of 4 plus leftovers) 
Ingredients:
2 1/2 cups cooked UNCLE BEN’S® Whole Grain Instant Brown Rice or UNCLE BEN'S® READY RICE® Whole Grain Brown1/4 cup red wine vinegar1/4 cup olive oil1 Tbsp. salt-free seasoning1/2 tablespoon Dijon mustard1/2 lime juiced1 (15 oz.) can black beans, drained and rinsed 1 cup sliced cucumber1/2 cup chopped bell pepper (any color) 1 cup corn (fresh if in season or frozen and thawed) 1 cup chopped tomato1/4 cup chopped cilantro1/2 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese (*optional) 1 large avocado, peeled, seeded, and sliced 
Instructions: Cook rice according to package directions. Once cooked, set aside to cool slightly.Whisk together red wine vinegar, olive oil, salt-free seasoning, Dijon, and lime juice. Combine the black beans and all the vegetables and cilantro and toss with dressing to marinate.Gently combine marinated vegetables with rice.Serve as a salad or a wrap with lettuce. Add avocado slices and sprinkle with cheese. Options:      - add cooked shredded chicken or shrimp      - add a dollop of sour cream or guacamole 
*Vegan Option: Omit the cheese or use vegan cheese 
recipe adapted from UNCLE BEN’S® Tex Mex Rice Salad Wraps This post is brought to you by UNCLE BEN'S®. 

Vegan Mulligatawny Soup + 10 Healthy Soup Recipes to Warm You Up

hello! Is this thing still working? I hope you had the happiest holidays and are having a great start to 2014. I checked out for a little while to spend quality time with my family over the holidays. Being present. Without a screen in front of my face. Do you ever feel like you need a technology detox as well as a body detox, or is it just me?  So we spent lots of time outdoors. Exploring tide pools and hanging out at home with these gals... Oh, also I could use a loom bracelet detox, stat.  I think I went a week without opening my computer and it was a wonderful detox for the soul. And then I remembered... I have lots to share with you! First on the agenda is healthy warming soup. I know most of the country is dealing with this polar vortex  and really really could use some good soup. A friend said she made this Vegan Detox Mulligatawny Soup from Gluten Free Goddess and her family loved it. I used to order this soup whenever my husband and I would go to Indian restaurants before we had kids but hadn't ever made it at home. It was simple to make, loaded with detoxifying veggies and spices, and delicious. 
The recipe for the Mulligatawny Soup is at the end of the post, but first, here are 10+ more of my favorite soup recipes to warm you up and keep you healthy. 
Pumpkin Lentil Soup is a reader favorite (thanks!). 
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How to Make a Beautiful Spanish Cheese Board

A couple of weeks ago several of my girlfriends came over for mommy happy hour. I had just received two bottles of Freixenet, pronounced “fresh-eh-net," sparkling wine to sample and pair with food (yes, this job really has it's perks at times... bubbly at my doorstep totally makes up for working late at night). Freixenet is known as "the Black Bottle Bubbly" because of it's sleek trademark black bottle. Made in Spain, Spanish finger foods seemed like the natural compliment. The Freixenet Cordon Negro Sweet Cuvée is fruity and sweet - perfect for serving with brunch or dessert. With my savory Spanish tapas I wanted something drier, and the crisp and clean Cordon Negro Brut was perfect.
A Spanish cheese plate is perfect for easy holiday entertaining. Here's a simple way to put one together. Choose 3 Spanish Cheeses: 
Manchego
​Mitica Mahon
Iberico
Idiazábal
​Crema de Cabrales
*That round cheese is absolutely not Spanish. It is absolutely delicious, however, and there weren't any soft Spanish cheeses in my market. I have failed you, I know... This is the Cranberry Gorgonzola Torta from Trader Joe's with pomegranate seeds on top.

Add something sweet (choose 1): 
Membrillo Quince Paste
Good honey
Fig jam

And something savory:  
olives
marinated artichoke hearts
sundried tomatoes
roasted garlic

Add some nuts: 
Marcona almonds
Spanish cocktail nuts mix (available at some specialty grocery stores including Whole Foods)

Pick a base: 
Flatbread crackers (I used rosemary sea salt crisps)
Sliced baguette



Decorate with seasonal fruit (Winter fruit below): 
Mandarin oranges
Pomegranates
Apples
Dried apricots



Add an App. (optional): 
Butternut Squash Empanadas

Spanish Wine


We loved Freixenet cava with our Spanish cheeses and tapas, and at around $12 per bottle, it's more affordable than many other sparkling wines. Freixenet is giving away a 2 year lease on a Mini Cooper. I really want one - they are the cutest! Go enter here.

Cheers and have fun with your Spanish get-together. My one and only request is that you don't drink and drive. When my girlfriends get together for happy hour we always have our hubbies meet up with us and drive us home.

Who says the holidays are the only time for bubbles?  Make it your resolution to sparkle 365 days of the year with Freixenet cavas. Our sparkling wines come in a variety of different styles to suit any moment or mood. Cordon Negro Brut, our classic Black Bottle Bubbly, is great as an aperitif before a night out on the town or at home with takeout pizza. Our brand new Cordon Negro Sweet Cuvee is the perfect match for brunch favorites like pancakes and eggs benedict. Visit FreixenetUSA.com for more information about where to buy Freixenet sparkling wines and learn how you could win a 2-year lease on a new 2013 MINI Cooper.
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Freixenet. The opinions and text are all mine.