Browsing Category FAST AND EASY SIDE DISHES
Anita’s Easy and Delicious Portabella-Pesto Bowtie Pasta with Cherry Tomatoes
Ingredients
1 pound Bowtie pasta, boiled according to package
2 cups of baby Portabella mushrooms, sliced
1 pint of multi-colored cherry tomato, cut in half
3 Tablespoon of extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 Tablespoon of butter
1/4 cup of Pecorino Romano Cheese, grated
1/3 cup stuffed pimento green olives, pitted and cut in half
1/2 cup Homemade Basil Pesto (see recipe on my site)
1 red onion, thinly sliced
Preparation
- Use a large pot with boiling salted water and cook pasta al dente.
2. Rinse pasta and set aside.
3. Use a large skillet and at medium-high heat with olive oil and butter sate sliced onions till tender. 
4. Incorporate mushrooms. Cook till softened.
5. Add cherry tomatoes and stuffed green olives. Stir to combine.
6. Incorporate Homemade Basil Pesto.
7. Mix all ingredients and cook sauce for about 10 minutes.
8. Grate 1/4 cup of Pecorino Romano cheese on top of warm pasta in
the pot.
9. Pour sauce over pasta and mix to incorporate all ingredients. Garnish with some fresh basil leaves and cherry tomatoes. Serve warm or at room temperature. Enjoy!
Anita’s Homemade Labneh Cheese Balls in Thyme Olive Oil
Ingredients
1 (32 ounces) Original Plain Yogurt
1 teaspoon sea salt
3 cups of Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Fresh string of thyme leaves
Preparation
- Place the yogurt into a mixing bowl and mix in the salt.
- Use a cheesecloth or clean pillowcase to transfer in the plain yogurt.
- Set a sieve over a large container. Place the cheese cloth or thin pillowcase bag covering the entire surface of the sieve and sides of pillowcase bag are hanging down to be able to tight it up.
- Transfer the whole milk yogurt into the center of cheesecloth or pillowcase bag.
5. Grab pillowcase bag and suspend it over the sieve and container.
6. Tie up the cheesecloth or pillowcase bag. Place a plate on top of bag with some heavy cans just for weight so the whey can drip completely into the bowl.
7. Set aside in the refrigerator and leave in for three days until yogurt drip completely through the cheesecloth.
8. The labneh has formed and ready to be made into cheese balls.
9. Prepare a clean container and pour in some Extra-Virgin Olive oil. Add springs of fresh thyme.
10. Shape labneh into a ball. Place over paper towel so they can release any moisture left.
11. Place balls in the bottom of container. Keep incorporating more gently. Add rest of extra-virgin olive oil to cover the top of labneh balls. 
12. Close the lid and place your labneh cheese balls in the fridge. Olive oil will solidify but will last up to 3 months or more.
Note: Labneh cheese balls can also be kept in a cool place outside the fridge. Can be roll into zaatar or any other spice.
Enjoy! 🙂
Anita’s Creamy Butternut Squash Soup
Ingredients
4 cups peeled and cubed butternut squash, boiled
3 cups water
1 cube chicken bouillon
1/2 teaspoon curry powder
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, ground
1/3 teaspoon ginger, ground
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 Tablespoon fresh squeeze lemon juice
heavy cream drops (to drizzle after)
pumpkin seeds (for garnish)
Preparation
- Use a large pot and fill it with 3 cups of water. Add chicken bouillon. When it starts to boil add cubed butternut squash. Cook for 15 to 20 minutes or until is tender.
- Place tender cooked butternut squash with their broth water into a blender and pure until smooth.
3. Return to the pot. 
4. Seasoned with curry powder, cinnamon, ginger, black pepper and fresh lemon juice. Heat through and serve warm. Garnish with pumpkin seeds and some drizzles of heavy cream if you like. Enjoy!
Halloumi Baked Rolls
Ingredients
8 Sheets of filo dough sheets,thawed
2 Tablespoons of Extra Virgin Olive oil
Halloumi Cheese cut into 14 – 16 logs
Fresh mint and parsley, finely chopped
Preparation
- Preheat oven to 375 grades Fahrenheit. Prepare your ingredients.
- Unfold one Filo pastry sheet on the work board surface and cut into even rectangles size. Cover the rest of the filo sheets with a damp towel to prevent drying up.
3. Sprinkle some of the fresh mint-parsley chopped leaves in the middle of triangle. Place Halloumi log cheese over herbs.
4. Roll the sheet over the log of Halloumi cheese.
5. Continue folding edges and roll till the top.
6. Repeat with the rest of the filo sheets. Place on a baking tray lined with parchment paper. 
7. Brush top of Halloumi filo rolls with Olive oil.
8. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes until light golden. You can sprinkle some Zaatar or Zumac on top too. Enjoy!
Anita’s Healthy and Delicious No-Mayo Tuna Salad Wrap
Ingredients
2- 6 ounces solid white tuna canned, in water
2 Roma tomatoes, diced
1/2 avocado, diced
1/4 cup cranberries, dried
2 Tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive oil
4 Tablespoon of fresh lemon juice
zest of a lemon
5-6 Butter Lettuce Leaves, rinsed and dry
2 Tablespoon of Balsamic glaze
Salt and pepper To Taste
Preparation
1. Drain Tuna cans and place into a bowl.
2. Add diced tomatoes, diced avocado. Seasoned with salt and pepper.
3. Drizzle over olive oil and lemon juice. Add zest of a lemon. Combine all ingredients. Add dried cranberries.
4. Rinse butter lettuce and arrange them over a serving plate. Place mixed tuna in middle. Drizzle with balsamic glaze. Wrap and enjoy!
Anita’s Crispy Baked White Sweet Potato Rosemary Fries with Garlic Aioli
Ingredients
2 white sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into long thin strips
1 Tablespoon of fresh rosemary leaves, finely chopped
2 Tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon Kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon corn starch
water
Preparation
- Preheat oven to 425 grades Fahrenheit. Prepare a baking sheet lined with foil paper and set aside. Peel sweet potatoes.
- Soak thin strips of sweet potatoes into a large bowl with cold water for at least one hour to minimize excess of starch.
3. Drain and pat dry potatoes using paper towels. Add corn starch and toss well. 
4. Drizzle with olive oil. Add kosher salt, garlic powder, and chopped fresh rosemary. Toss all ingredients until potatoes are well coated.
5. Arrange sweet potatoes evenly into the baking pan. Bake for 15 minutes first, flipping fries using a spatula to bake evenly.
Bake for another 5 to 8 minutes until potatoes are crispy and slightly brown.
6. Remove crispy fries from the oven. Sprinkle with salt. 
Enjoy next to a Rosemary Garlic Aioli Sauce !
Rosemary Garlic Aioli Sauce: Mix a cup of mayonnaise with the juice of half of a lemon. Add a teaspoon of fresh finely chopped rosemary leaves. Seasoned with salt, a dash of cayenne pepper and garlic powder. Blend all ingredients and chilled.
Anita’s Super Fast and Delicious Roasted Zucchini Orzo Pasta
Ingredients
12 ounces uncooked Orzo Pasta
3 Tablespoon extra virgin Olive Oil
1 large red onion, diced
4 Zucchini, half moon cut
2 Tablespoon lemon juice
1 Tablespoon marinara sauce (see my recipe)
1 Tablespoon oregano, ground
2 diced tomatoes
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1 teaspoon granulated garlic
2 garlic cloves, minced
Preparation
- Bring water to boil over high-heat. Stir in orzo pasta and cooked uncovered for about 10 to 12 minutes or according to package instructions. Drain well.
2. Heat oven at 400 grade Fahrenheit and roast zucchini, diced red onions. Drizzle with olive oil. Add minced garlic, and seasoned with salt, pepper, grind oregano and granulated garlic powder. Add marinara sauce. Toss all ingredients. Roast in a baking pan until tender for about 30 minutes. Set aside. 
3. Incorporate roasted zucchini, red onions into the orzo pasta, and fresh tomatoes. Toss well. Squeeze half of a lemon juice over mixed pasta. Enjoy!
Anita’s Summer Best Greek Salad
Ingredients
4-5 Roma tomatoes, chopped
3-4 Persian cucumbers, chopped
1 small red onion, thinly sliced
1/2 cup Kalamata olives, chopped
1/2 cup Feta cheese, crumbled
1/2 teaspoon oregano, dried
1 teaspoon mint, dried
1 cup fresh mint, chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
1/4 cup extra Virgin Olive Oil
2 Tablespoon Red Wine Vinegar
1/2 fresh lemon, juiced
Salt and Pepper TT(to taste)
Preparation
- In a large salad bowl combine olive oil, lemon juice, red wine vinegar, dried mint, dried oregano and minced garlic. Whisk all ingredients.
- Incorporate Roma tomatoes, cucumbers, red onions, kalamata olives, fresh mint, and crumble feta cheese over the top of vinaigrette in bowl.
3. Toss before serving and serve. Enjoy!
Anita’s Super Easy 4 Ingredients Sweet Corn Bread
Ingredients
1 (7 1/2 ounces )cornmeal mix
1/4 cup whole milk, room temperature
1/4 cup salted melted butter
1 can (15 ounce) cream of corn
Preparation
- Place cream of corn into a medium-size bowl
2.Incorporate cornmeal mixture and add milk 
3. Add melted butter 
4. Mix well all ingredients and pour mixture into two little ceramic loaf pan or into a 9×5 inch loaf pan 
5. Place them in the middle rack of your oven and bake at 350 grades Fahrenheit for about 30 minutes or until light golden brown . Serve warm or at room temperature. Creamy and delicious. Enjoy!
Anita best Basil Pesto
Ingredients
3 cups of fresh Basil leaves
1/3 cup pine nuts
4 to 5 cloves of garlic
3/4 cup of Pecorino Romano cheese or Parmesan
3/4 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil + 1 extra Tablespoon
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/3 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Preparation
- Place garlic and pine nuts in a food processor and pulse until finely chopped.
- Add basil leaves, olive oil and process until a smooth paste has formed.
- Seasoned with salt and pepper. Mix in the grated cheese.
- Transfer to a glass airtight jar. Drizzle the 1 extra Tablespoon of olive oil over the top.
- Place in refrigerator or you can freeze it into ice cubes container and use portions as needed.
