Sauces & Spreads — Tori Close

Creamy Mushroom, Broccoli & Cashew Sauce

I was trying to come up with something different for dinner a couple of nights ago, and wanted something we could put on top of our organic brown rice. I started digging through the ingredients I had on hand, and came up with a new dish that we will be adding to our menu. It’s very easy to make, and I hope you enjoy it!

Creamy Broccoli & Cashew Sauce
(click all images for close-up views)

Oils and Spices:
2 Tbsp. minced garlic
2 Tbsp. extra-light virgin olive oil
2 Tbsp. organic no-salt seasoning
1 Tbsp. low-sodium soy sauce
1 tsp. sesame oil

Vegetables:
1/2 of a softball sized onion, diced (or 1 large regular onion)
12 baby Portabella mushrooms, sliced
3 cups broccoli florets
1 cup whole cashews

Liquids:
2 cups organic low-sodium free range chicken broth
1 cup organic 1% milk
1 Tbsp. cornstarch + 3 Tbsp. cold water

Directions:

After you have your ingredients prepared (diced, sliced, etc.), heat olive oil on med-high heat in bottom of a deep frying pan, or small stock pot. Add garlic and brown. Reduce heat to medium.

Add onions, and saute until they are mostly translucent. Add mushrooms and cashews, and allow to simmer with onions and garlic for about 10 minutes, stirring often to prevent sticking or burning. This will give your cashews a nice roasted flavor.

Add soy sauce, sesame oil, and seasoning. Stir well. It will be very thick, creating a faux rue. Once it is mixed well, add your chicken stock and milk, stirring constantly. Bring up to a slow boil.

Melt cornstarch in the cold water, and then very slowly stir it into your pan. Boil for a couple of minutes, then reduce heat to medium low.

Add broccoli florets, and allow to simmer for about 10 minutes. This will allow your broccoli to keep a semi-crisp texture, instead of getting soggy. :)

Here is the final outcome of our dinner. I don’t have the greatest lighting in my kitchen, so forgive me if the photos aren’t as sharp as they could be. Just click to enlarge!

We served this over brown rice, but it would be great over pasta as well!

Happy Cooking!

Share This With Others!

Avocado Sandwich Spread

We all love a good sandwich, right? The biggest thing though, is making a *healthy* sandwich! Well, at least for me.

Obviously, one of the most unhealthy parts of a sandwich is the spread we use. Whether it be mayonnaise or a “salad spread” they are full of calories, fat, and sodium, and they lack any nutritional value.

So, what is a girl to do when she is looking to eat healthier but still wants a sandwich now and then? She gets creative! :)

I decided to make a sandwich spread using avocado, and let me tell you, it turned out fantastic! It added a wonderful flavor to the sandwich, and didn’t leave that greasy feeling in my mouth like mayo used to. Here is my simple (but very tasty!) recipe. I hope you enjoy it!

Avocado Sandwich Spread:

- 2 large avocados
- 10-15 cherry tomatoes
- 1/2 lime
- 1 Tbsp. Kirkland Organic No-Salt Seasoning

Pit avocados and scoop out of skin and into a bowl. Using the tines of a fork, mash the avocado to a creamy consistency. (slightly lumpy is ok!)

Using a sharp paring knife, chop cherry tomatoes into small pieces. Add to avocados.

Take half of a lime, and squeeze the juice into your avocado/tomato mixture.

Add the organic seasoning, and mix all ingredients thoroughly. Spread onto your bread just as you would mayonnaise. Yummmm!

*Note* You can use any seasonings you like, but I love the Kirkland Organic No Salt Seasoning. It has the rich flavor of fresh herbs, without the added salt. Incredibly nummy!

When I made my sandwich, I used flax seed whole grain bread (which I toasted) and then layered it with the avocado spread, romaine lettuce, tomatoes, and a couple of extra slices of avocado. I topped it with a quick sprinkling of freshly ground pepper. I would have added onion and some sprouts, but I was out. lol

It was so good that my hubby (who doesn’t like avocado) said it was pretty tasty! Just goes to show that when you get creative with your food, you can still eat healthy and have a very flavorful meal.

Pour yourself a glass of organic 1% milk to go with your sandwich, and lunch is served! :)

Loving my healthy lifestyle,