Broccoli Rice Casserole

Ingredients

• 2 cups Cooked Rice
• 2 cups Broccoli, cooked and drained
  
• 1 can Cream Of Mushroom Soup (I use homemade)
• 1 cup chopped mushrooms
• 1/2 cup Chopped Onion
• 2 cloves minced Garlic 
• 10 oz. Shredded Cheddar Cheese
• 1 1/2 cups Milk
• 1/4 cup Butter
• Salt and Pepper, to taste

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 3 1/2 quart baking dish.
2. Saute onions and mushrooms in butter in a skillet until the onions get translucent. 
3. In a large bowl, mix together rice, broccoli, soup, cheese (reserve 1/2 cup for topping), milk, onion and mushrooms, and garlic. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
4. Pour into prepared casserole dish and bake, uncovered, for 40 minutes until hot and bubbly. Add reserved cheese and bake for 10 minutes longer or until cheese is melted.

Makes 6 servings

Araksya's Tip: I like to add cooked chicken or turkey

Healthy and hearty soup

2 cups shredded rotisserie chicken (or Thanksgiving turkey)
1 10oz container mushrooms, chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
2 carrots, chopped
4 celery stalks, chopped
5 cloves garlic, minced
10 cups chicken broth or water
1 15oz can pinto beans (or any kind you like)
4 cups kale or bok-choy, or both, chopped
1/2 cup millet
1 cup couscous
2 bay leaves
1 tsp turmeric
1/3 cup parsley, dill, and cilantro, chopped (or any one of them)
olive oil
1 1/2 tsp sea salt
1/2 black pepper
1 tsp paprika


Heat oil in a large pot and saute onions, carrots, and celery for about 5 minutes. Add mushrooms and cook for another 3 minutes.
Stir in garlic and the rest of the ingredients except for the herbs and kale, and bring to a boil.
Cover and turn the heat down and cook for 15 minutes. Add the herb mix and the kale and cook for another couple
minutes.


Serves 10

Quinoa, Kale and chicken dish

I ordered a salad in Florida that was so good. When we got home from our trip I tried to replicate the dish. After a few tries, this one is the best! I think we love this even more than the original dish in the restaurant.


2 cups raw kale, chopped
2 cups cooked quinoa
1 cup rotisserie chicken, shredded
1 cup shredded carrots
1 big tomato, chopped
1 can fire-roasted red peppers, sliced
1/3 cup pesto*
salt and pepper to taste




Combine all of the ingredients in a big serving platter. It can be served warm as soon as the quinoa is cooked and everything mixed together or just at room temperature. It will taste really good to squeeze some fresh lemons on top.

Serves 6-8


*Araksya's tip: I make my own pesto by blending fresh basil, garlic, Parmesan cheese, salt and pepper with olive oil in a blender. I also make pesto using dill, Italian parsley, and cilantro instead of basil.