Rice Bowl Southwestern Style

Rice Bowl Southwestern Style

Prep time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 10 minutes
Makes: 2 servings
Serving Size 1 cup

Ingredients

1 teaspoon vegetable oil
1 cup chopped vegetables (try a mixture - bell peppers, onion, corn, tomato, zucchini)
1 cup cooked meat (chopped or shredded), beans or tofu
1 cup cooked brown rice
2 Tablespoons salsa, shredded cheese or low fat sour cream

Directions

1. In a medium skillet, heat oil over medium high heat (350 degrees in an electric skillet).  Add vegetables and cook for 3 to 5 minutes or until vegetables are tender-crisp.
2. Add cooked meat, beans or tofu and cooked rice to skillet and heat through.
3. Divide rice mixture between two bowls. Top with salsa, cheese or sour cream and serve warm.
4. Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours.

Notes

• For a spicier dish, add chili powder, red pepper flakes or taco sauce in Step 1.
• You can use any leftover cooked grain in this recipe. Try white or wild rice, quinoa, barley or oatmeal.

Bell Pepper Nachos

Bell Pepper Nachos

Prep time: 5 minutes
Cooking time: 15 minutes
Makes: 8 servings
Serving Size 1 Cup

Ingredients

4 bell peppers
1 cup salsa
2 teaspoons seasoning (try a mixture-chili powder, garlic powder, ground cumin, pepper)
2 cups cooked meat (chopped or shredded), beans or tofu
1 cup reduced fat shredded cheese

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  
2. Wash bell peppers, remove seeds and cut into bite-sized pieces. Arrange pieces close together in a single layer on a large foil-lined baking sheet.
3. In a medium bowl, combine salsa, seasonings and meat, beans or tofu.  Spoon the mixture evenly over pepper pieces then top with cheese.
4. Bake for 15 minutes, or until peppers are heated through and cheese is melted. Serve warm.
5. Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours. 

Notes

• For added flavor, top with chopped cilantro, green onions or black olives!

Blueberry Tofu Smoothie

Blueberry Tofu Smoothie

Prep time: 5 minutes
Yield: 4 servings
Serving Size 1 cup

Ingredients
3⁄4 cup frozen blueberries
1 ripe banana
1 cup vanilla soy milk
3 ounces silken tofu
1⁄2 cup orange juice (juice from 1 orange)
1 teaspoon lime juice

Directions

1. Combine all ingredients in a blender.
2. Puree until completely smooth.
3. Serve immediately.
4. Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours.

Notes

• Add 2-3 more teaspoons of lime juice for more tartness.
• Freeze extra lime juice to use later.