Knock-Off Jason’s Deli Mediterranean Wrap

I was struggling to come up with something I could eat the on the Jason’t Deli menu the other day and then I found this little gem: The Mediterranean Wrap.  Yum!  And so easy, it really just begged to be knocked off at home.  So here’s my version:

Collect up your ingredients:

• 2T Hummus (roasted red pepper or otherwise)
• 4 Slices oven roasted turkey
• 2 C Field greens or baby romaine
• 1/4 C Sliced Red pepper
• 1/4 C Diced cucumbers
• 1 T Fine Diced red onion (or purple onion according to Jason’s)
• 1T Sliced Kalamata olives
• Optional: Tomatoes and feta

All wraps start with a good foundation – the glue that will hold them together.  In this case it’s the hummus so spread that out over the entire wrap.  Now lay your turkey over most (but not all!) of the hummus layer.  You want to leave a sneaky bit open on one side so your wrap will “stick” when you roll it up.  Cover the turkey with the field greens. Complete your toppings with the peppers, cucumbers, onions and olives.  Now it’s time to get your wrap on.  Start rolling on the opposite side of the sneaky open bit.  Continue rolling pressing firmly all the way across making sure that no one tries to make a break for it out of wrap jail.Now just slice and enjoy!

Then go get a breath mint, ’cause we put a lot of delicious onions on this wrap.

–Martta

(No Dairy!) Rice Krispie Treats

Man, every once and a while I just hanker for the dairy world (cheese!).  So I go about trying to concoct a non-dairy alternative to some favorites.  Traditional Rice Krispie Treats are loaded with butter.  So how to get all that marshmallow-y goodness without all the butter?  I’m so glad you asked.My non-dairy Rice Krispie Treats involve just a few key substitutes on the path to deliciousness.  Here’s what you’ll need:

• 5 Cups Rice Krispies (or any other generic puffed rice cereal)
• 4 Cups Mini Marshmallows (yes, this is less than one bag.  How else am I supposed to snack on marshmallows while making these if I don’t leave some in the bag?)
• 2 T Canola Oil
• 3/4 t Vanilla (Use the good stuff)
• 1/4t Imitation Butter Extract (It’s like a dang movie theater in a bottle)

Open bag of marshmallows and begin eating them.  Prepare an 8×8 baking dish with either a bit of canola oil or just a shot of good ole Pam.

Place 4 C marshmallows and canola oil in a nonstick pan over medium heat.  While stirring, continue to eat marshmallows directly out of the bag as if your mother raised you in a cave.  When the marshmallows have nearly melted, add extracts and stir to combine.  Add Rice Krispies, remove from heat and stir.  Pour the entire blob of crunchy deliciousness into the prepared pan

 Now don’t spend hours trying to get that factory perfect square using your spatula.  Just grab a piece of waxed paper, cover the Krispies and press.  

Allow to cool while you polish off the remaining marshmallows in the bag…..you know, if you have any left.

Slice into squares, serve and enjoy!  Ahh the wonders of no dairy.

–Martta

Greek Chicken Kabobs

Something fresh and delicious is in order for Sunday night dinner.  Yesterday I went with an easy standby – Greek chicken kabobs and a simple Greek plate to go with it.  Yum o! 

To start, I did a quick marinade. 

I mixed:

• 1 pound of chicken
• 1 T of Olive oil
• 1 1/2 t of Oregano
• Salt and Pepper

I set that aside for about an hour and then I strung the chicken on to bamboo skewers.  I placed the skewers on the grill with a cut lemon.  

I could get all fancy here and talk about how grilling the lemon gives it a smoky flavor or how the citrus oils release while the chicken is cooking to give everything a lemony flavor, but I’ll leave all that to your imagination.  Suffice it to say, if you haven’t grill lemons before, give it a shot.

When you pull the kabobs off the grill, pick up and squeeze out the lemons on the kabobs.

Now just grill up a bit of pita bread, throw down a Greek salad and some hummus and you’ve got dinner.

–Martta