Cajun Shrimp Cauliflower Alfredo Linguini

Cajun Shrimp Cauliflower Alfredo Linguini

20 Minute Meals 30 Minute Meals Cajun and Creole Cauliflower Food Gluten-free Main Course Pasta Recipe Seafood Shrimp

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Today I have a tasty cajun style blackened shrimp cauliflower alfredo linguini dish for you! This is basically an alfredo pasta dish with the alfredo sauce made lighter by using cauliflower rather than cream and it's just as nice and creamy and good! Some cajun seasoning is added to the sauce to add the cajun flavours and the shrimp is also seasoned with it before it is quickly blackened, by cooking it in a heavy bottom pan/skillet at a fairly high temperature, and added to the pasta and the creamy cauliflower alfredo sauce. Even with the extra step of steaming the cauliflower, this cajun shrimp cauliflower alfredo linguini comes together in no time making it a nice and quick and easy meal that is perfect for busy week nights and it's also impressive enough to serve to guests!

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Salmon in a Tomato and Feta Sauce (aka Salmon Saganaki)

Salmon in a Tomato and Feta Sauce (aka Salmon Saganaki)

30 Minute Meals 6 Ingredients Food Gluten-free Greek Low-carb Main Course Recipe Seafood

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With spring finally here I have started to think about lighter meals and this salmon baked in a tomato and feta sauce, inspired by the flavours of shrimp saganaki, was at the top of my list! Shrimp saganaki is a Greek style dish where the shrimp is baked in a tasty tomato and feta sauce that is just begging to be accompanied by crusty bread to soak up all of the extra sauce. It is commonly served as an appetizer but it also makes for a great meal and I had been thinking that serving salmon topped with the same tomato and feta sauce would make for a really nice meal! For this recipe you pretty much just make a simple tomato sauce, spread it out over the salmon, top with the feta and bake until the salmon is ready. I often like to add a splash of ouzo (a star anise/black liquorice/fennel flavoured liqueur) to the tomato sauce to add that hint of something exotic to it but a more pantry friendly version is to use ground fennel seeds which are perfect in this sauce! Parsley is the main herb in the tomato sauce which adds an amazing freshness to it and I also like to add a touch of dill as it also adds that something special to the sauce! You could mix the feta into the tomato sauce but I like to sprinkle it on top and that way it gets all nice and slightly melted and a little bit charred on the top! This salmon baked in a tomato and feta sauce (aka salmon saganaki) is a perfect light spring/summer meal and right now it's great when served with some of the fresh locally grown asparagus!

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Bacon Wrapped Jalapeno Popper Stuffed Chicken

Bacon Wrapped Jalapeno Popper Stuffed Chicken

30 Minute Meals 6 Ingredients Bacon Best of 2013 eBook Chicken Food Gluten-free Low-carb Main Course Recipe Texmex

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Today is Cinco de Mayo and I wanted to take the opportunity to update one of my favourite recipes, this bacon wrapped jalapeno popper stuffed chicken with some new photos! The basic idea was to stuff chicken with all of the flavours of jalapeno poppers and then to wrap them in bacon and grill, fry or bake them. Jalapeno poppers are commonly filled with cream cheese and/or cheddar cheese and they are either coated in bread crumbs and fried until crispy or wrapped in bacon and grilled or baked until the bacon is cooked. I like a simple mixture of cream cheese, cheddar or monterey jack cheese and diced jalapeno peppers for the filling and the jalapenos can be roasted, fresh or even pickled. These bacon wrapped jalapeno popper stuffed chicken tastes just like jalapeno poppers and makes for one really tasty light meal! Who says you can't have your favourite game day snacks for dinner any night of the week?

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Taco Lime Grilled Shrimp

Taco Lime Grilled Shrimp

20 Minute Meals 30 Minute Meals Gluten-free Grill Low-carb Main Course Recipe Seafood Shrimp

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The taco lime grilled shrimp from the creamy avocado zucchini noodle pasta with taco lime grilled shrimp was so good that I just had to break it out into it's own recipe! I mean it's so nice and easy to make and oh so finger licking good! You can use it is a ton of different recipes from tacos, to quesadillas, to pastas, etc. or you can even just eat straight off the skewer (that's where the finger licking comes in!)! You pretty much just need to marinate the shrimp in a mixture of lime juice and a tasty homemade taco seasoning, skewer it and grill it up! There is just no way to go wrong with grilled meat on a stick and this taco lime grilled shrimp is sure to please!

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Creamy Avocado Zucchini Noodle Pasta with Taco Lime Grilled Shrimp

Creamy Avocado Zucchini Noodle Pasta with Taco Lime Grilled Shrimp

Avocado Food Gluten-free Main Course Mexican Recipe Seafood Shrimp Texmex

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Up first for this years menu of new recipes for Cinco de Mayo is a light, healthy and oh so tasty creamy avocado zucchini noodle pasta with taco lime grilled shrimp. This dish starts with a creamy avocado sauce with roasted tomatillos and a touch of spicy heat from a jalapeno chili pepper. Up next is the star of the show, some simple, finger licking good, taco lime grilled shrimp! The shrimp is marinated in a mixture of lime juice and a home made taco seasoning before being skewered up and grilled to perfection. Up next are some cherry tomatoes that are roasted until they are charred and tender but still burst in your mouth juicy! Everything is tossed with some light and healthy zucchini noodles, though this would also be amazing with regular spaghetti noodles! This creamy avocado zucchini noodle pasta with taco lime grilled shrimp is nice and light and healthy in addition to being sensationally good and it's bound to be the star of your Cinco de Mayo menu, though there's no reason to wait arourd for Cinco de Mayo to enjoy it!

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Salsa Ranchera

Salsa Ranchera

Condiment Food Gluten-free Mexican Recipe Salsa Vegetable Vegetarian

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Cinco de Mayo is quickly approaching and I have been thinking about recipes for it starting with this classic one for a salsa ranchera. Salsa ranchera, or ranch style salsa, is a salsa that is made with a base of roasted tomatoes and chilies that is typically served warm and it has a thick soup like consistency. Of course this recipe is best when made with perfectly ripened field tomatoes but for the rest of the year canned tomatoes, especially fire roasted canned tomatoes, work just as well! This salsa is so easy to make that you will never go back to store bought salsas. It's perfect for dipping with tortilla chips and used in other recipes! (For some ideas, look below the recipe!)

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Creamy Roasted Red Pepper and Spinach Goat Cheese Skillet Chicken

Creamy Roasted Red Pepper and Spinach Goat Cheese Skillet Chicken

30 Minute Meals Chicken Food Gluten-free Low-carb Main Course Recipe

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One of my favourite flavour combinations is sweet roasted red peppers with creamy and tangy goat cheese which is simply divine in this creamy roasted red pepper and spinach goat cheese skillet chicken! This dish is so quick and easy to make that it's perfect for weeknight dinners and yet it's also great for entertaining, not to mention that's it only uses one skillet! The recipe is as simple as grilling some chicken, sautéing some onions and garlic and then creating the tasty sauce with a combination of pureed roasted red peppers, goat cheese and chicken broth which is simmered until the goat cheese melts completely making the sauce oh so nice and creamy! I often like to add some vegetables and fresh spinach is my veggie of choice but lots of other ones work just as well! Serve this creamy roasted red pepper and spinach goat cheese skillet chicken over quinoa, rice, pasta, etc with a side of steamed veggies or a salad and you have one tasty dinner that is perfect for any night of the week, even a busy work night!

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Thai Peanut Chicken Avocado Burritos

Thai Peanut Chicken Avocado Burritos

20 Minute Meals 30 Minute Meals Avocado Chicken Food Gluten-free Low-carb Main Course Mexican Recipe Texmex Thai

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After teasing you a while ago with photos of these tasty Thai style peanut chicken and avocado burritos on Instagram, I finally bring you the recipe and it was well worth the wait! (I often post previews of upcoming recipes on Instagram so follow Closet Cooking on Instagram to see what's coming!) These burritos were inspired by the thai peanut chicken saute that I made recently and I could not help but think that succulent chicken would be simply divine in grilled burritos along with cool and creamy avocados and of course the tasty spicy Thai peanut sauce not to mention plenty of ooey gooey melted cheese! Oh my! If you are starting off with already cooked chicken and you have the peanut sauce made (or store bought) then these burritos come together in no time flat making for quick and easy meals or even midnight snacks! :) I hope that you enjoy these peanut chicken and avocado burritos as much as I do; my only recommendation would be to make a double batch because if you are like me you will practically inhale them!

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Avgolemono Soup (aka Greek Lemon Chicken Soup)

Avgolemono Soup (aka Greek Lemon Chicken Soup)

6 Ingredients Chicken Food Gluten-free Greek Pasta Presto Pasta Nights Recipe Soup

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I can't believe that we just had snow a few days ago when we are well into April! Well, that means that it's time for some soup and a bright, longing for spring, soup, an avgolemono soup! Avgolemono soup is a Greek style lemon chicken soup with rice that is thickened with eggs. The recipe could not be easier where you pretty much just cook the rice in a bunch of chicken broth before adding the chicken and lemon along with the egg thickener. The egg is added after tempering it first by slowly whisking some hot broth into the eggs and then whisking the mixture back into the soup. The eggs are added this way so that they do not 'cook', turn white and stringy, like an egg drop soup, when added to the broth. Given how simple this soup is, I like to use quality ingredients including a tasty homemade chicken broth or chicken stock but store bought also works. Here's hoping for some warmer spring weather and until it arrives I will be enjoying some of this avgolemono Greek style lemon chicken soup!

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Easy Homemade Chicken Stock

Easy Homemade Chicken Stock

Broths and Stocks Chicken Food Gluten-free Low-carb Recipe Tasty Soups eBook

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Making soup tonight? This time how about using a chicken stock instead of a chicken broth ? Chicken stock is chicken broths older brother and is more full bodied and has more flavour! A chicken broth is made by simmering a chicken in water along with some vegetables, herbs and spices whereas a chicken stock is made by simmering chicken carcasses in water along with the same ingredients. The bones provide a ton of extra flavour and chicken stock is perfect for a tasty chicken noodle soup where a strong chicken flavour is required! Just like chicken broth, chicken stock is super easy to make, requiring only a few minutes of active time and the rest is just unattended simmering. Making your own chicken stock is a great way to get further use from your chickens so save the carcass from your roast chicken dinner in the freezer for the next chicken stock!

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Creamy Garlic and Brie Mushrooms

Creamy Garlic and Brie Mushrooms

Food Gluten-free Low-carb mush Recipe Side Dish Vegetable Vegetarian

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Mushrooms are one of my favourite foods and although I am perfectly happy with simple mushrooms sautéed in butter and garlic it's always nice to change things up! These creamy garlic and brie mushrooms are one of the tastiest ways that I have come up with for enjoying some basic button mushrooms as a quick and easy dish that is a great side for any meal (or just devouring by the bowlful!). The recipe could not be simpler, you cook the button mushrooms, whole, in butter until they are nice and tender and they have released their liquids before adding the garlic and then creating the creamy sauce with a combination of broth and brie cheese! Finish everything off with some salt and pepper along with an optional garnish of parsley and you have a tasty mushroom side dish that is ready to be inhaled from the table before you can blink!

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Thai Peanut Chicken Saute

Thai Peanut Chicken Saute

30 Minute Meals Chicken Food Gluten-free Low-carb Main Course Recipe

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I have been a little obsessed with Thai style dishes with peanut in them ever since I came across them and here is a new recipe, a thai peanut chicken saute, that is both super tasty and quick and easy! You just need to cook some chicken and make the peanut sauce which consists of a base of red curry paste, peanut butter and coconut milk. The peanut sauce is seasoned with the perfect balance of sweet, salty, tart and spicy with the toasted palm sugar, fish sauce, lime juice and chili sauce! I like to add veggies like red peppers and peas to this thai peanut chicken skillet and serving it over a bed of rice, quinoa, pasta, etc. makes for a perfect 30 minute, one-pan weeknight meal!

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Spinach and Artichoke Skillet Chicken with Sundried Tomatoes

Spinach and Artichoke Skillet Chicken with Sundried Tomatoes

30 Minute Meals Chicken Food Gluten-free Low-carb Main Course Recipe

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Quick and easy one-pan chicken dinners are always good and since there is so much that you can do with chicken it never needs to be boring! This spinach and artichoke skillet chicken with sundried tomatoes is my new favourite way of making a chicken dinner and it has all of the flavours of spinach and artichoke dip! I mean who doesn't love spinach and artichoke dip and who wouldn't want it for dinner? The recipe is really simple and it's kept pretty light by using a combination of low fat cream cheese and chicken broth as the base of the sauce and it is further flavoured with parmesan cheese and garlic along with a touch of spicy heat from red pepper flakes. I sometimes like to add sundried tomatoes to my spinach and artichoke dip so they were a must and of course there is plenty of both spinach and artichokes to finish things off! You can serve this spinach and artichoke skillet chicken with sundried tomatoes by itself or over pasta, rice, quinoa, etc and combined with a simple veggie side you have a complete, and supper tasty, meal in under 30 minutes!

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Honey Sriracha Roasted Carrots

Honey Sriracha Roasted Carrots

Food Gluten-free Recipe Side Dish Vegetable Vegetarian

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Honey and sriracha are such an amazing combination of sweet and spicy and it works really well on these honey sriracha roasted carrots that are a great side dish for any meal! This recipe could not be easier, you simply toss the carrots in the honey and sriracha and roast them until they are nice and tender. The sweet and spicy honey and sriracha works so well with the sweet roasted carrots that it will send your tastebuds into flavour heaven! This Easter Bunny approved honey sriracha roasted carrot side dish is sure to be the talk of the dinner table!

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Roasted Mushrooms in a Browned Butter, Garlic and Thyme Sauce

Roasted Mushrooms in a Browned Butter, Garlic and Thyme Sauce

Food Gluten-free Mushroom Recipe Side Dish Vegetable Vegetarian

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Mushrooms have to be one of my favourite foods and they make for some of the best side dishes like these roasted mushrooms in a browned butter, garlic and thyme sauce! This recipe is super easy, you just roast the mushrooms, brown some butter, throw in the garlic and thyme and then toss the roasted mushrooms in the sauce! You really can't go wrong with mushrooms, garlic and butter and browning the butter only makes things better with the slightly nutty flavour and aroma that comes from browning it. These roasted mushrooms in a browned butter, garlic and thyme sauce are a great side for any meal!

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Grilled Asparagus with Carrot Ginger Dressing

Grilled Asparagus with Carrot Ginger Dressing

Dressing Food Gluten-free Grill Japanese Recipe Side Dish Vegetable Vegetarian

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Are you ready for another side dish for your Easter dinner? How about this tasty grilled asparagus with carrot ginger dressing? With spring here, even though it's still chilly here, there is asparagus from down south available and I could not resist picking some up to make this dish! This asparagus recipe is so easy, you just cook the asparagus (I like to grill it to get that slightly charred and smoky flavour) and serve it topped with the carrot-ginger dressing which is inspired by the carrot ginger dressing that you stereotypically find in Japanese restaurants. The defining characteristics of the carrot dressing are of course the carrot and ginger flavours complemented by the tangy rice vinegar and the absolutely amazing aromatics from the toasted sesame oil. With the combination of the spring asparagus and the Easter carrots this grilled asparagus with carrot ginger dressing is a perfect side dish for your Easter dinner! I hope the Easter bunny does not get upset that we turned his carrots into a dressing!

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Maple Roasted Carrots in Tahini Sauce with Pomegranate and Pistachios

Maple Roasted Carrots in Tahini Sauce with Pomegranate and Pistachios

Food Gluten-free Recipe Side Dish Vegetable Vegetarian

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Easter is right around the corner and boy do I have a side dish recipe for you! These tasty maple roasted carrots in tahini sauce with pomegranate and pistachios will blow your mind! The carrots are tossed in maple syrup and roasted until tender before being topped with a creamy tahini sauce along with pomegranate and pistachios to add both colour and texture. The tahini sauce is nice and creamy with a little lemon citrus bite, sweet maple syrup and salty miso paste (or soy sauce). The pomegranate adds bursts of juiciness in addition to the jewel like radiant red colour and the pistachios add that crunchy texture along with the vibrant green colour! When everything is combined into this maple roasted carrots in tahini sauce with pomegranate and pistachios you get one truly amazing side dish that is perfect for your Easter dinner, or any other meal for that matter!

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Reuben Boxty (Irish Potato Pancakes)

Reuben Boxty (Irish Potato Pancakes)

30 Minute Meals Beef Food Gluten-free Main Course Recipe St Patricks Day

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Got leftover corned beef from St Patrick's Day? How about some reuben boxty? Boxty are Irish style potato pancakes that are great when you top them with or fold them over something, in this case all of the flavours of a reuben sandwich including corned beef, sauerkraut, swiss cheese and either russian or thousand island dressing. These reuben boxty are super quick and easy to make and I like to take the extra few minutes that it takes to throw them under the broiler, just before adding the dressing, to melt the cheese! What a great way to enjoy some corned beef!

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Boxty (Irish Potato Pancakes) with Bangers in a Guinness Mushroom and Onion Gravy

Boxty (Irish Potato Pancakes) with Bangers in a Guinness Mushroom and Onion Gravy

Breakfast Food Gluten-free Irish Main Course Pork Recipe St Patricks Day Vegetable

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While planning your St Patrick's Day menu don't forget about breakfast! Start St Patrick's Day off right with some boxty, an Irish style potato pancakes! Boxty is great all by itself, I mean what's not to love about potato pancakes that are fried until golden brown and crispy on the outside and soft and warm on the inside, but why not suff them full of some thing tasty like sausage and a guinness mushroom and onion gravy? The pancakes themselves are super easy to make, consisting of shredded potato, mashed potatoes, flour and milk (I like to add cheese!) that is mixed and then cooked just like any other pancake! The gravy is also pretty easy to make where you simply saute some onions and mushrooms, add Guinness, dijon mustard and Worcestershire sauce to make the gravy and you're good to go! This would be a great dinner or breakfast and since I'm thinking breakfast I would be remiss if I did not top it with a fried egg with a runny yolk! I don't know about you but I can't think of a better way to start St Patrick's Day than with these boxty stuffed with bangers in a guinness mushroom and onion gravy!

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Steak and Guinness Stew with Irish White Cheddar Cauliflower Mash

Steak and Guinness Stew with Irish White Cheddar Cauliflower Mash

Bacon Beef Crockpot Food Gluten-free Irish Main Course Recipe Slow Cooker Soup St Patricks Day Stew

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With St Patrick's Day coming up I have been thinking about recipes and of course recipes with an Irish beer like Guinness come to mind and it's the perfect base for a beef stew! This steak stew is a pretty basic beef stew with some of the beef broth replaced with Guinness for extra flavour! I also like to season the stew with thyme, Worcestershire sauce, tomato paste and a hit of fish sauce for that extra depth of flavour! This steak and guinness stew is amazing all by itself but I often like to top it with cheese, Irish white cheddar cheese of course, and alternatively mashed potatoes, almost like a shepherds pie! This time I was thinking why not combine the two for a steak and Guinness stew topped with irish white cheddar mash and instead of using potatoes I used cauliflower to keep things light! Whether you serve this steak and Guinness stew by itself or topped with the Irish white cheddar cauliflower mash, it's a great choice for your St Patrick's Day menu!

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