I discovered a couple things from this recipe.  Greek Yogurt makes a pretty darn good substitute for mayonnaise IF you are adding some punchy flavors to it….like cumin, coriander, and orange juice & zest.  That’s exactly what makes up the delicious dressing for this Apple Fennel Slaw.

I also discovered that no matter how many ways I prepare it, B is not going to eat fruit.  So Apple Fennel Slaw with Orange Cumin Dressing made a lovely side dish with our Oven Fried Chicken.  And I had plenty leftover for my lunch the next day.

Recipe note:  I would not recommend preparing more than four hours ahead of serving.  The dressing flavor became a little over powering by the next day.  If you must prepare ahead, wait to toss the fennel mixture in the dressing until just before serving.

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Apple Fennel Slaw {with Orange Cumin Dressing}

Servings 4

Calories 86kcal

Author Weight Watchers

Ingredients

• 1 fennel bulb halved lengthwise and very thinly sliced
• 2 apples I used 1 Granny Smith and 1 Red Delicious, halved, cored and thinly sliced
• 8 radishes matchstick cut
• 3 Tbl. fresh mint leaves
• 1/3 cup plain fat free Greek yogurt
• 2 tsp. orange zest
• 3 Tbl. orange juice
• 1 tsp. ground cumin
• 1/2 tsp. ground coriander
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/4 tsp. pepper

Instructions

• Toss fennel, apples, radish, and mint leaves in a bowl.
• Mix remaining ingredients, then spoon over fennel mixture and toss. Serve or refrigerate up to 4 hours.

Notes

Per Serving (1 cup of slaw) = 2 WW Pts+

The post Apple Fennel Slaw {with Orange Cumin Dressing} appeared first on Lemony Thyme.

I hope you’ve been enjoying my mini-series on Lunch Bowls.  I’m a bit obsessed with portion controlled meals.  Mostly though, I’m quite fond of a theme.

It helps my brain get organized.

We recently celebrated National Crabmeat Day.  When Bowl Week meets Crabmeat a California Roll Lunch Bowl is born.

Lunch Bowls are a fantastic way to incorporate leftovers into a meal.  Cooked chicken has found a new sexy purpose.  Who among us??

Yet, for our California Roll Lunch Bowl, crabmeat was a key ingredient.  Not so good leftover.  We are fortunate to have competing grocery stores all about town.  One snow-crab cluster will set you back about $4.00 and 2 WW Pts+.  That’s winning.  Add a couple more points for rice, avocado, a drizzle of sesame soy srirachi dressing and this bowl weighs in at about 7 WW Pts+.

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California Roll Lunch Bowl

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 5 minutes minutes

Total Time 15 minutes minutes

Author Libby with Lemony Thyme

Ingredients

For each California Roll Lunch Bowl…

• 1 snow crab cluster
• 2 cups fresh spinach
• 2 radish sliced
• 1 baby cucumber thinly sliced
• 1/2 cup cooked rice
• 1 tsp. sesame seeds
• 1/2 avocado sliced

For sesame soy sriracha dressing…

• 1 Tbl. soy sauce
• 1 Tbl. sesame oil
• 1 tsp. sriracha sauce

Instructions

• Whisk together soy sauce, sesame oil and sriracha sauce. Reserve.
• Place crab cluster on a steamer basket over boiling water and cook for 5 minutes.
• Layer bowl with spinach, rice, avocado, cucumber, radish and crab. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and drizzle with dressing.

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We found such a bargain on Sea Scallops.  Great big juicy sea scallops.  

I believe the steep price tag is what keeps me from eating them every day.  But I do love them. 

We bought eight (should have bought more) and decided to prepare them two ways. 

This month’s issue of Real Simple has a quick guide to marinades. 

Right there in front of me was a Korean marinade, using ingredients already in our pantry like soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic, sesame oil, rice vinegar.

It was a sign and it was soooo delicious. 

Really, really good. 

We literally were dipping chips in it before starting dinner (not sure that’s the kind of thing I should share….no judging).

I decided to use that as a springboard for this dish. 

I’ve been wanting to use udon noodles and they were perfect with this punchy marinade. 

I prepared them according to the package then stir fried them quickly in a little reserved marinade with sugar pea pods and radish for a nice crunch.  I seared the marinated sea scallops in a little olive oil and served them on top of the noodles, sprinkled with toasted seeds (I use a 7 seed blend) and fresh cilantro. 

Such a simple, yet extremely flavorful dish. The Asian Noodles were the perfect pairing for these succulent Sea Scallops.

You might also like our 2nd choice.  Pan Seared Scallops with Basil Pesto Pasta.

Are you a Sea Scallop lover like me? Check out our Favorite Sea Scallop Recipe Roundup HERE. I’d love your feedback in the comments below.

Don’t forget to follow us @LemonyThyme on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook!

All my best,
xo Libby

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Asian Noodles with Seared Sea Scallops

Cuisine Asian

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes minutes

Total Time 25 minutes minutes

Servings 2

Author Libby with Lemony Thyme

Ingredients

• 2 bundles udon noodles
• 1 Tbl. olive oil
• 8 Sea Scallops
• 1 handful snow pea pods
• 2 radish thinly sliced
• 1 scallion thinly sliced
• 1 tsp. toasted seed blend
• fresh cilantro for garnish

For the marinade/sauce…

• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup rice vinegar
• 4 cloves garlic chopped
• 1 Tbl. sesame oil
• 2 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes

Instructions

For marinade…

• Combine all marinade ingredients, reserve 1/4 cup to use as sauce. Pour remaining marinade into a bowl or zip top bag with scallops. Marinate for 15 minutes.
• Prepare udon noodles according to package instructions. Reserve.
• Meanwhile, remove scallops from marinade and pat dry with paper towels. Discard marinade. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Sear scallops untouched for 2 minutes on each side. Remove from pan.
• Add 1/4 cup reserved marinade into skillet, stir fry udon noodles with pea pods, radish, and scallions until heated through, 2-3 minutes.
• Serve scallops on top of udon noodle mixture; sprinkle with toasted seeds and cilantro leaves.

The post Asian Noodles With Perfectly Seared Sea Scallops appeared first on Lemony Thyme.

Avocado, Cilantro & Lime Farro Salad {with Fresh Veggies}.

I must admit I’ve become a bit smitten with Farro.  I was studying the bulk bins at my local Whole Foods Market looking for something different.  I was charged up to discover that Farro is packed with goodness. 

Here are a few farro ‘features’ if you will:

• Farro is one of the oldest cultivated grains and has been consumed for over 5000 years.
• With 8 grams of protein and 7 grams of fiber per cooked cup, Farro is an energy power house.
• Because it’s a complex carb, Farro breaks down slowly, helping to stabilize your energy over longer periods of time.
• Farro is high in B vitamins and minerals, especially Magnesium which has been said to ease tension and menstrual cramps.
• And the best part, Farro tastes great and is super versatile to use.  I think you’ll love it’s slightly chewy nutty flavor.

While I love farro warm in place of rice or couscous, it is really great cold as part of a salad.  It has a wonderful texture that is slightly chewy and really leaves you feeling satisfied.  This Avocado, Cilantro & Lime Farro Salad with Fresh Veggies made a wonderful lunch for a couple of my ‘healthy choices’ workmates and myself.

I chose to add a variety of fresh veggies in a nice mix of colors and crunch.  And the avocado, cilantro & lime dressing added a nice flavor punch.  If you haven’t discovered fabulous farro, give this recipe a try.  I think you’ll love it.  Enjoy!

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Avocado, Cilantro & Lime Farro Salad {with Fresh Veggies}

Author Libby with Lemony Thyme

Ingredients

• 1 cup farro cooked according to package instructions (yield = 2 cups cooked)
• 2 cups diced fresh veggies such as zucchini, summer squash, scallion, tomato, radish
• 1 avocado
• 1 lime juice & zest
• ½ cup fresh cilantro leaves chopped
• salt & pepper to taste

Instructions

• Prepare Farro according to package instructions; drain and cool to room temperature.
• Dice fresh veggies and reserve.
• Mash avocado with lime juice and zest, stir in fresh cilantro.
• Combine farro, diced veggies, avocado mixture. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

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Looking for an easy appetizer to bring to a holiday party….Cowboy Caviar might just be the answer.  Cowboy Caviar is one of our most popular recipes.  It’s no wonder since you can whip up a batch from ingredients already in your fridge and pantry. 

What makes this an easy no fuss recipe is you can substitute any ingredient with what you have on hand.  Just use a nice combination of crunches and colors.  We had a can of black eyed peas in the pantry, but kidney or black beans would be great too.  I used a zucchini for my ‘green’ but avocado is wonderful in this dip as well.  I’m a black olive freak so I added some of those, along with corn, jalapeno, red onion, radish, pimento, garlic, scallion, cilantro and tossed it all in a cumin lime dressing.  Serve Cowboy Caviar with tortilla chips and look how cute it is delivered in a mason jar!!

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Cowboy Caviar

Author Libby with Lemony Thyme

Ingredients

For the dip…

• 1 can black eyed peas drained and rinsed
• 1 small zucchini diced
• 1 jalapeno fine diced
• 1 garlic clove minced
• 1 cup frozen corn thawed (or canned)
• 2 oz. diced pimento
• 12-15 black olives sliced
• 1 scallion thin sliced
• 2-3 radishes fine diced

For the dressing

• 3 Tbl. olive oil
• 1 Tbl. fresh lime juice
• 1/2 tsp. ground cumin
• 1/2 tsp. chili powder
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1/4 tsp. pepper

Instructions

For the dressing…

• Combine dressing ingredients and chill while making the dip.

For the dip…

• Combine all ingredients then gently toss in dressing. Chill before serving. Serve with corn tortilla chips.

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Roasted Spring Vegetables

I was so pleasantly surprised to learn how wonderful radishes are when oven roasted.  It never even occurred to me to cook them.  To me radishes were only served as part of a veggie tray.  Growing up, I remember mom making ‘radish roses’ and serving them on a nibble tray during the cocktail hour.  I tried to like them. Just didn’t.

Flash forward into adulthood with a seasoned palate and sense of culinary adventure, I can now say I welcome radishes with open arms and mouth.  I’ve learned to love them raw, especially in salads but I now also enjoy them roasted.

We already know that roasting veggies is a great way to enhance their flavors.  What was once bitter becomes slightly nutty and sweet.  In the case of radishes, there is less bite with a nice mild flavor.  Delicious.

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Roasted Spring Vegetables

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes minutes

Total Time 25 minutes minutes

Servings 4

Author Libby with Lemony Thyme

Ingredients

• 1 lb. of fresh veggies such as radishes, Brussels sprouts, onions
• 2 Tbl. olive oil
• salt & pepper

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• Trim veggies and slice if necessary. Toss in olive oil with salt and pepper.
• Spread on a shallow baking sheet in a single layer. Roast for 15 minutes, stir and continue roasting for an additional 10 – 15 minutes or until lightly browned and tender.

The post Roasted Spring Vegetables {featuring Radishes} appeared first on Lemony Thyme.

I vowed to stay out of Publix for a week following the holidays.  I called home as I entered the store to admit to my failures.  The words on the other end were few.  “Damn it Lib ;)  Pick up a pork butt and I’ll forgive you.”

We threw this 3 1/2 lb. bad boy (aka Boston Butt Pork Roast) in the crockpot with a jar of diced jalapeños.  Set it on high and walked away for 5 hours.  Oh my, oh wow.  I know you all love our Pepperoncini Pot Roast, you MUST give this one a try!!  Couldn’t be any easier.

In just about 5 hours on high or 8 hours on low, you will have the most tender mouthwatering roast that you can turn into…..dinner (we had it with coleslaw).  Or, if you’re feeling a little playful how about trying one of these ideas.

Pulled Pork Sliders, Carnitas,

Pozole Rojo, Brunswick Stew, chili,

Mexican Breakfast with Pulled Pork & Eggs, empanadas, eggrolls,

Asian Pork with Garlic Sauced Noodles, or

Jalapeño Pulled Pork Loaded Nachos.  That wonderful crockpot of love was dinner last night and it’s about to be Football Food Tonight!

Load ’em up!

The post Jalapeño Pulled Pork Loaded Nachos appeared first on Lemony Thyme.

Thai Peanut Chicken.  BE WELL friends take note.

We are always looking for healthy, flavorful and most importantly…..unique lunch ideas.  I think I’ve come up with a good one here, er I mean a good FIVE!!  Take a look.

1. Thai Peanut Chicken Pita Pocket
2. Thai Peanut Chicken Rice/Grain Bowl
3. Thai Peanut Chicken Noodle Bowl
4. Thai Peanut Chicken Soup
5. Thai Peanut Chicken Salad

It all begins with a nice plump Whole Roasted Chicken.  We generally buy the biggest ones we can find (6-7 lbs.)  We enjoy a delicious roast chicken dinner on the first night and then pick it clean for the glorious leftover cooked chicken to be eaten for the next couple of days.  No leftover cooked chicken?  Don’t let that stop you.  A rotisserie chicken works great for Thai Peanut Chicken.

This guy was especially lovely as we tried a new ‘salted’ method to get some nice crispy skin.  Look at all those juices which we turned into some good rich Homemade Chicken Broth.

The base for this great dish(es) is a big bowl of fresh raw veggies with a variety of colors and crunch.  I used cabbage, carrots, kale, radish, broccoli, scallions, fresh cilantro, and a handful of peanuts.  Use your favorites, this is a great chance to work through items in that veggie crisper.  I then added some shredded cooked chicken and tossed it in a little peanut sauce.  You can make your own sauce, I have a recipe here or you can use store bought (we love House of Tsang Bangkok Padang Peanut Sauce).

Tip:  To make your sauce or dressing go farther, drizzle on half of what you think you need then give your salad a shake.  That’s right, cover your bowl and shake, shake, shake.  You’ll be surprised just how far a little sauce can go.

Tip:  Make up a big batch of the chopped veggie mixture at the beginning of the week.  Then add dressing when you’re ready to turn it into a salad or stuff it in a pita pocket.  There will be no excuse not to get your 5 servings of fruits and veggies in that day.

Voila!  Here’s a delicious Salad right out of the bowl or stuff this salad into a Pita Pocket for a portable lunch option.

Tip:  We love Joseph’s brand Flax, Oat Bran & Whole Wheat Pita Bread.  Only 50 calories per and just 1 WW Pts+.

For the Bowls simple toss the veggie/chicken mixture with cooked Asian noodles, rice, or your favorite grains like quinoa or farro.  You may want to add additional peanut sauce for the bowls.  I love a cold noodle bowl, but you could quickly stir fry the veggies for a hot bowl of love.

And for the Soup, bring that chicken broth to a boil, then add in all but the peanuts, scallions and fresh cilantro.  Heat through, then serve in big bowls with peanuts, scallions and cilantro sprinkled on top.

I will be cooking a chicken on Sunday night so that when our office Be Well Challenge kicks off on Monday I’ll have some great Healthy Choices for lunch next week.  Loving the Thai Peanut Chicken {5-Ways}.

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Thai Beef Salad.

What a lovely way to enjoy a good piece of beef.  I know most recipes call for using lean flank steak.  And while I’m sure that’s very nice on this salad, on the rare occasion that we have steak, I prefer the most tender cut I can find.  And that would be a filet.  Grilled to medium-rare.  Sliced nice and thin.  It was that thought alone that inspired this recipe post.  Every bite of this Thai Beef Salad is a flavor explosion.

For both the marinade and the dressing, it’s all a matter of taste.  If you lean more towards sweet, you can add a little extra brown sugar or honey.  If you like spicy, sriracha is a fantastic way to add a little heat.  And whatever you do, don’t skimp on the fresh herbs.  The fresh cilantro, mint, and basil leaves are essential.  If you take the route I did and opt for a filet, limit the marinade time to no more than 4 hours.  Whereas flank steak will love to go overnight.

Thai Beef Salad is a lovely lunch or light dinner and would be fantastic for entertaining.  The steak can be grilled in advanced and sliced before serving.  Enjoy.

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Thai Beef Salad {with Fresh Herbs}

Course Salad Entree

Cuisine Thai

Servings 2

Author Libby with Lemony Thyme

Ingredients

For the marinade…

• 2 Tbl. soy sauce
• 1 Tbl. fish sauce
• 1 Tbl. fresh lime juice
• 1 Tbl. fresh orange juice
• 1 Tbl. canola oil
• 1 tsp. red curry paste
• 1 tsp. grated fresh ginger
• 1 tsp. brown sugar
• 1 Thai or Serrano chile, sliced
• 1 garlic clove minced
• 1 Tbl. fresh cilantro leaves
• 1 Tbl. fresh mint leaves

For the salad…

• 6- ounces flank steak or filet mignon
• 3 cups mixed greens
• 1/2 cup fresh herbs like cilantro mint, and basil; reserve 2 Tbl. for garnish
• 1 radish thinly sliced
• 1 Fresno pepper matchstick sliced
• 8-10 snap peas
• 2 scallions thinly sliced
• 2 Tbl. peanuts
• Cherry tomatoes halves (optional)
• Cucumber sliced (optional)

For the dressing…

• 2 Tbl. fresh lime juice
• 2 Tbl. fresh orange juice
• 2 Tbl. sesame oil
• 1 Tbl. soy sauce
• 1 tsp. rice vinegar
• 1 garlic clove minced
• 1 tsp. grated fresh ginger
• 1 Thai or Serrano chile, seeded and minced

Instructions

• Combine marinade ingredients in a zipper top bag, add steak. Marinate in the refrigerator for 2 – 24 hours.
• Grill steak until medium-rare. Allow to rest 15 minutes, then thinly slice.
• Combine dressing ingredients and reserve.
• Combine salad ingredients in a medium bowl. Toss with 2-3 Tbl. dressing. Divide salad between two plates. Top with sliced steak. Garnish with fresh herbs, then drizzle with a little extra dressing.

Notes

Steak will need to marinate from 2 – 24 hours before grilling.

Thai Beef Salad can even be served open faced on a homemade bagel as a midnight snack.  If anyone wanted a midnight snack.

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