Beet-Goat Cheese Crostini

Surprised at all the beet recipes? I must admit, my local CSA-like box came filled with them, so I've been searching for new and interesting ways to use them. However, this exercise in beet-recipe searching has turned out to be a wonderful surprise. They're delicious! Sure, they stain your hands (for a while!) but they are well worth it. They're tender and delicious served in nearly any manner. And, did I mention that they are full of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, dietary fiber, and anti-oxidants?

I made these along with one of my favorite recipes - tilapia en papillote, made with roasted banana and a yogurt-peanut butter sauce. However, these could easily hold their own with nearly any entree. Or, forget the dinner, and serve these delights at your next cocktail or wine party. They make great hors d'oeuvres.

Difficulty: easy
Time: 1 hr 20 min
Cost: $16.37

Nutrition and recipe below the jump!

Beet and Potato Hash with Poached Eggs

Breakfast for dinner! It might be a more sophisticated version, not just waffles or even a straightforward omelet, but it's still a comforting breakfast for dinner. It combines some crispy potatoes with rich, savory beets and gooey poached eggs. Not the fanciest meal I've ever made, but it definitely hits the spot.

I was planning on making a simple salad, with a variety of fresh greens and a light vinaigrette, to go with this hash but skipped it when I had leftovers from my dinner salad the night before. If you are making this without leftovers, I do recommend the greens. A peppery arugula or crisp microgreens would pair perfectly.

Difficulty: medium
Time: 2 hrs 10 min (mostly to roast beets)
Cost: $12.43

Nutrition and recipe below the jump!

Shrimp and Corn Salad with Lime Vinaigrette

I know some eager-eaters out there are hesitant about entree salads, but this one is filling and delicious - absolutely hitting the spot. It combines luscious shrimp, creamy avocado, sweet corn, and a tart lime vinaigrette with the freshest of greens. This will easily stand on its own or you can pair it with nearly any side. In my case, I made it with one of my favorites - apple and garam masala soup.

Did I also mention that this salad is healthy? That's right - eat this one guilt-free! Of course, the avocado is fattening, but just a little bit adds a lot of flavor without too many calories.

Difficulty: medium-easy
Time: 15 min
Cost: $30.41

Nutrition and recipe below the jump!

Parsnip and Butternut Squash Pasta

This pasta is amazing. It's naturally sweet from the parsnips and butternut squash, savory from the onions, herbs, and Parmesan, and creamy yet light. What else could you possibly ask for? It'll hit the spot and packs in the vegetables while pleasing people just looking for some hearty pasta. There's a little prep work involved, but all in all, this comes together quickly enough for a time-pressed weeknight.

While this dish could easily stand on its own, I made some macadamia tilapia to go along with it. I picked it up pre-coated at Whole Foods so I could just throw it on the stove when there was about 15 minutes to go on the pasta. However, you could easily substitute another protein if you prefer.

Difficulty: medium-easy
Time: 1 hr 15 min
Cost: $15.27

Nutrition and recipe below the jump!

Vegetable Chickpea Pasta

I've been trying to make an effort to incorporate more legumes into my cooking, so don't be surprised to see chickpeas, lentils, beans, and more popping up on this blog. In this recipe, I venture into chickpeas for a very quickly-cooking meal. This dinner comes together in no time and incorporates protein, fiber, and veggies all at once so you don't have to worry about adding any sides for a well-rounded meal.

You'll see in the recipe below that I call for dried chickpeas rather than canned. You can use canned if you are really in a crunch, but I highly recommend against it. Take a look at the nutrition labels of each.. you'll find the canned completely filled with sodium while the dried ones have almost none. It's definitely worth the extra effort of soaking them for a few hours (it's not like you have to pay attention to them!) for the health benefit.

Difficulty: easy
Time: 30 min (not including time to soak the chickpeas)
Cost: $15.22