beans Archives • Serendipity by Sara Lynn

Roasted Vegetable Orzo Salad

Published on August 3, 2015February 21, 2019 by serendipitybysaralynn2 Comments

While in London, I ate french fries and gelato every single day. I also indulged in a pint (or two) of craft beer. Every single day. For a month straight. In short, my destructive, unhealthy diet was a sober vegan’s worst goddamn nightmare.

Needless to say, by the time I got home, I was prepping myself for an intense detox consisting of straight juiced kale and other horrible concoctions nutrition bloggers insist are good for the body and the soul.

While I didn’t *exactly* end up subjecting myself to some kind of horrible, liquid diet (I mean, last weekend was my birthday, so of course I was going to eat steak and cake!), I was able to come up with some yummy, clean recipes.

One recipe from the mix is this roasted vegetable orzo salad. It’s light and summery which made me extra excited to eat it for lunch all week.

Although I’m longing for sweater weather season with soup-based dinners and a nice mug of warm tea before bed every night, I’m still trying to push as much summer recipes into my life as I can before it’s too late!

This recipe is especially great served over spinach with a little extra dressing and a grilled chicken breast.

On a side note: My heartburn has gone away since I started incorporating more veggies and less french fries into my life. Weird right?!

Roasted Vegetable Orzo Salad:

1 1/2 c. orzo pasta (whole wheat if you can find it)

2 zucchinis, cubed

2 yellow squashes, cubed

1 red bell pepper, diced

1 yellow or orange bell pepper, diced

1 can chick peas, drained

1/2 c. walnuts, toasted

Crumbled feta, for topping (optional)

Dressing:

1/4 c. olive oil

2-3 Tbs. red wine vinegar

2 garlic cloves, chopped

1/2 tsp. Dijon mustard

1/4 tsp. dried parsley

Onion powder, to taste

Salt and pepper, to taste

Pinch of sugar, agave, or honey

Preheat oven to 350* F. Toss zucchini, yellow squash, and bell peppers in olive oil and a few pinches of salt. Spread onto a greased baking sheet. Bake for about 20 minutes, or until tender.

Meanwhile, cook orzo according to package directions. Drain and let cool to room temperature.

While pasta is boiling, whisk dressing ingredients together until incorporated.

To make the salad, mix cooled roasted veggies with the orzo, chickpeas, and walnuts. Pour dressing over the top and mix to coat the orzo. Cover with a lid or plastic wrap and store in the fridge until ready to eat.

Serve with crumbled feta over the top.

Makes 4 entree servings or 8 side servings.

Although I miss the nights of drinking pale ale at the Craft Beer Company in London, eating deep fried foods, and laughing with my friends, I’m also happy to be on a normal eating schedule again!

It’s also nice to not have to take an antacid before bed every single night.

Can’t say I wouldn’t do it all again!

Song of the Day: Smother–Daughter

Homemade Hummus

Published on February 27, 2014November 6, 2017 by serendipitybysaralynn1 Comment

Mmmm hummus.

It’s one of my faves. But I do not love the store bought stuff. How do you make something so healthy taste so chemical-y? They find a way, I’m telling you.

So I made my own! Homemade tahini and everything.

This is perfect with fresh veggies and whole wheat toasted pita bread. I could go eat some right now, and I just might.

I even accidentally stabbed myself with my blender to make this stuff, so sacrifice was involved.

That’s how good hummus is. I’m willing to give some blood for it.

But somebody’s gotta do it, ya know?

Oh, did I mention how easy it is to make this? Even homemade tahini is so simple! Just blend up the tahini, scrape it out and make the hummus right away. No clean up involved. It only took me about 30 minutes, and I was on my way to Greek food heaven. Maybe gyros will happen this weekend? It’s so possible.

Follow the directions like this and you will have a perfectly smooth hummus! Any other way might not end up with the best results. Go with your gut, but keep in mind, this is my recommendation 😉

Spoon tahini into a blender.

Add fresh lemon juice…

Blend away! Let it just blend for a good two minutes. Scrape occasionally.

Add a bunch of chopped garlic!

And some salt.

And some paprika!

And don’t forget about the olive oil. My favorite of all the oils.

Blend it up! I actually used a little too much paprika so mine looked kind of reddish orange. You do not have to make my same mistakes, but you can if you want.

Add chick peas and blend until smooth and creamy. (At this point, it will be thick, so add some water to get it to the desired consistency).

Have I ever mentioned how good hummus is with warm whole wheat pita bread? It’s da best.

Ingredients:

2 cans chickpeas

2 Tbs. tahini

Juice of 2 lemons

8 cloves garlic (you may use less, I recommend this many though)

1/2 tsp. salt

1/8 tsp. paprika

1/4 c. olive oil

2-4 Tbs. water, to thin (I needed 4)

Drain chickpeas and rinse in cold water. Set aside to drain all of the water out.

Spoon the tahini in a blender and squeeze as much lemon juice as you can in with the tahini. Blend together for about 2 minutes, scraping occasionally. Add garlic, salt, paprika, and olive oil. Blend for a few more minutes, scraping sides occasionally.

Add chickpeas about 1 1/2 cups at a time. Blend thoroughly so that the hummus is nice and smooth. Add water to thin to desired consistency.

Makes about 4 cups.

Delicious.

*This recipe is vegan, vegetarian, and gluten free!

*Paleo: Replace chickpeas with roasted eggplant or roasted cauliflower.

XOXO Sara

Four Bean Salad with Dill Vinaigrette

Published on May 28, 2013 by serendipitybysaralynnLeave a comment

Hello all 🙂

I was on a mini hiatus which I feel awful about but it has been a crazy, crazy few weeks. And it’s only getting crazier from here on out.

First off, I have finals all this week and next week. Then my graduation ceremony. Then my graduation party. Then moving. And then college. Plus everything in between. AHH!

Only two more months and I’ll be laying on a beach in Hawaii…

But until then, I have to keep up with my normal daily life. Eating right, working out, etc. etc. Sigh.

Luckily, it hasn’t been too difficult to eat right some of the creations I’ve been coming up with lately. Seriously, I’m on a roll. Expect some awesome recipes when I get around to blogging them (again, hiatus, sorry).

But first, I’ll start off with my four bean salad.

This salad was perfect alongside grilled chicken and asparagus for dinner and then a turkey and pepper jack sandwich the next day. It pretty much goes with everything summer-y. Which is awesome because I am in the summer mood! Seriously, how many more days of school?

The reason I chose 4 beans instead of the traditional 3 is simple. The beans were on sale 4 for $5. And I used cannellini and navy beans in place of green beans just because I like the taste better.

I’m quite complex aren’t I?

Ingredients:

1 can kidney beans

1 can garbanzo beans

1 can cannellini beans

1 can navy beans

1/2 c. apple cider vinegar

3-4 Tbs. olive oil

1 1/2 Tbs. honey

2 tsp. dried dill (you can replace with fresh)

2 cloves garlic

1/2 tsp. onion powder

1/2 tsp. parsley

1/4 tsp. ceyenne pepper

1/2 tsp. lemon juice

2 tsp. dill pickle juice (optional, but highly recommended)

Drain and rinse the beans in a colander. Mix together in a big salad bowl.

Whisk together the remaining ingredients. Pour over beans and mix together.

You can serve it immediately or after a day or two. I like to let it marinate the beans for a day before I eat it because it makes it so much more flavorful!

It’s quite possibly the easiest recipe and it tastes so good! You could also add onion, celery, or whatever else you want.

Let me know what you all think of this recipe!

XOXO Sara

Healthy Pasta Salad

Published on April 17, 2013 by serendipitybysaralynnLeave a comment

Hello friends 🙂

About a week ago, I made this pasta salad recipe and it was super delicious. Plus, it’s healthy so it’s perfect for a weekday lunch. In fact, I had it every day last week!

School has been absolutely crazy lately with prom, Grad Nite, and college all coming up! Luckily, I’ll have a long summer and nice week in Hawaii for my birthday before college life begins.

However, among all the craziness in my life my wonderful boyfriend came over and surprised me by taking me to lunch yesterday. That’s a way to have a week made!

Plus we’ve been dating for 2 1/2 years, since yesterday, so that was awesome as well. 2 1/2 years goes quick!

So among your crazy, busy life make this pasta salad for lunches or a dinner side and then you won’t have to worry about grabbing a fast food bag instead!

Ingredients:

1/2 box of whole wheat penne (or pasta of choice), boiled according to package directions

1 orange pepper, diced

1 cucumber, sliced

1/4 c. Parmesan, shredded

1/4 c. part skim Cheddar cheese, cubed

1/4 c. part skim Colby Jack cheese, cubed

1 can chick peas (garbanzo beans), drained and rinsed

1/4 c. low fat salami, sliced

Dressing:

1/2 c. olive oil

1/4 c. red wine vinegar

3 cloves garlic, chopped

2 tsp. Italian seasoning

1/2 tsp. dried parsley

Salt and Pepper, to taste

1/2 tsp. spicy mustard

1/4 tsp. sugar

While the pasta is boiling, mix together the ingredients for the salad dressing. When the pasta is drained and slightly cooled, mix the rest of the salad ingredients together and toss with dressing. Refrigerate until chilled. Serve.

*More vegetables could always be added to this salad! Olives, onion, tomato, etc.

Stay Serendipitous!

XOXO Sara