Spinach Pasta Salad

• 1 cup uncooked bow tie pasta
• 1 package (10 ounces) fresh baby spinach
• 1 medium sweet yellow pepper, diced
• 1/2 cup chopped dried apricots
• 1/2 cup balsamic vinaigrette
• 
  
• Cook pasta. Meanwhile, combine the spinach, yellow pepper and apricots. Drain pasta and rinse in cold water; add to spinach mixture. Drizzle with vinaigrette and toss to coat.

Turkey and Brie Melts

multigrain bread

turkey slices

1/4 c. apricot preserves

8 0z. brie cheese slices, rind removed

3 Tbs. butter

butter outside of bread and place on med. heated skillet

spread preserves and layer with turkey and cheese and top with other slice of bread

cook over med. heat until bread is browned and cheese is melted

Summer Marinade

this is a yummy summer marinade good for steaks or chicken!

1/4 c chopped onion

1/4 c oil

2 Tbs. lemon juice

2 Tbs. soy sauce

1 Tbs. sugar

1 Tbs. cider vinegar

1 Tbs. honey

2 tsp. minced garlic

2 tsp. worcestershire sauce

1 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. pepper

Pesto Meatballs and Couscous

We love pesto at our house and freeze it after making in all summer with basil from the garden. Enjoy this fun variation on meatballs.

3 T olive oil plus more for pan
1 ½ lb ground beef
½ c bread seasoned crumbs
¼ c pesto
1 egg
1 1/2 t salt
3/4 t pepper
10 oz. box couscous
1/4 c grated parmesan

1. Preheat to 350.

2. Using your hands, combine beef, bread crumbs, ½ of pesto, egg, salt, and pepper.

2. Shape mixture into 12 meatballs. Transfer to a baking dish that has been drizzled with 2 T olive oil in baking dish.

3. Bake for 15 min. Turn and bake another 1o min until cooked through.

4. Meanwhile, prepare couscous according to package directions.

5. In a small bowl, combine remaining olive oil and pesto. Spoon that mixture over the top of the meatballs.

6. Serve meatballs over couscous and top with Parmesan cheese.

Sweet Potato Vegetable Sandwich

1 sweet potato
4 slices wheat bread
4 slices red onion
1 avocado, sliced
4 slices tomato
T and 1 t honey mustard
1 T mayo
1/2 T poppyseed dressing
2 slices cheese
salt and pepper
lettuce or sprouts

1. Whisk honey mustard, mayo, and poppyseed for sauce. Spread on 2 slices of bread.

2. Microwave sweet potato for 4 minutes. Slice it when cooled.

3. Top bread with onions, avocado, sweet potato, tomato, cheese, greens, and salt and pepper.

**For the person who could never be content with a veggie sandwich, add a few slices of turkey. It's yummy that way too.

Tacos in a Bowl

A new kid favorite in our house.

1 lb. ground beef

4 T. chopped onion

1 1/2 c. salsa or 1 can rotel

1 pkg. taco seasoning

1 1/2 c. water

2 pkg. ramen noodles

1/2 c. shredded cheddar cheese

tortilla chips (optional)

In a skillet cook beef and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink, drain. Stir in salsa, taco seasoning and water. Bring to a boil. Add ramen noodles (discard seasoning packet or save for another use). Cook and stir for 3-5 mins or until noodles are tender.

Spoon into serving bowls, sprinkle with cheese and tortilla chips.

Variation: Add corn to mixture.

ENJOY!

Turkey Burgers

We just had these last night... turned out pretty good.

1 lb. ground turkey

1/2 c. bread crumbs (I used Italian)

1/2 cauliflower (in the food processor)

1/4 c. skim milk

2 T. soy sauce (I used worshershire sauce)

2 cloves garlic, chopped

Salt & Pepper

Mix together, form into patties and grill.

Serve with sweet potato fries... YUM!