Browsing Category FAST AND EASY SIDE DISHES
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.
Anita’s Refreshing Mandarin Arugula Salad
Ingredients
3 fresh mandarin oranges, sectioned
1/2 cup fresh mandarin juice
1 Tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1/2 Tablespoon red wine vinegar
1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/4 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
6 cups of Arugula, pre-washed and rinsed
1 large avocado, diced
Preparation
- Combine fresh mandarin juice, lemon juice, red wine vinegar, and Dijon mustard in a large bowl. Drizzle olive oil and whisk together.
- Add salt, pepper to vinaigrette.
- Add arugula leaves, avocado and segmented peeled mandarins. Toss all ingredients gently and serve. Enjoy!
Anita’s Healthy and Light Tabbouleh
Ingredients
5 bunches Italian flat leaf Parsley, pre-washed, dried and finely chopped by hand
4 Roma tomatoes, small diced
1 1/2 bunch fresh mint, pre-washed and finely chopped
2 green onions, finely sliced(optional)
2 Tablespoon fine cracked wheat (bulgur), soaked in water for 10 minutes
2-3 Fresh lemons, juiced
1/2 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 teaspoon Pomegranate Molasses(optional)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/3 teaspoon fresh finely ground black pepper
Preparation
- Add to a large bowl chopped and dried with clean towel flat leaf parsley.
- Add chopped mint and diced tomatoes.
- Drain bulgur from water and add. Place bowl in the refrigerator for about 10 minutes.
- Remove from fridge. Incorporate extra virgin olive oil, pomegranate molasses and lemon juice. Toss all together.
- Add salt and pepper.
- Ready to serve with romaine lettuce leaves or grape leaves. Enjoy!
Anita’s Delicious Shish Kebab
Ingredients
3 pounds Sirloin Steak, cut into 2 inch cubes
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 teaspoons Kosher salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 Tablespoon Worchester Sauce
1/4 cup red wine
4 large onions, halves
4 fresh Roma Tomato, whole
6 metal or bamboo skewers
Preparation
- Place sirloin pieces into a large re-sealable plastic bag. Add garlic, Worchester sauce, red wine, salt, pepper, paprika, cumin and vegetable oil. Toss to coat evenly. Refrigerate marinade for 4 to 5 hours or even overnight.
- Remove marinade steak from refrigerator and prepare shish kebab into skewers.
- Preheat indoor or outdoor grill to medium heat.
- Prepare halves onions and whole tomatoes into separate skewers.
- Place steak and vegetable skewers on the grill. Grill steak Kebabs until all sides of meat are brown for about 10 to 12 minutes and vegetables are tender.
- Remove from grill. Cover for 2 to 5 minutes with foil. Serve and enjoy!
