Recipe: Chick Chomp Salad

We’ve all heard of TikTok but have you heard of ChickChomp? Wait! WHAT? Oh yes friends, buckle up because you are about to get BLOWN AWAY! 

This ChickChomp Salad will have you smiling and dancing with every bite. I know what your thinking “exaggerate much Mary?” And yes, yes I do but I did get you thinking about something other than the sadness and worry of our current state, am I right? 

Give your mind a break and escape into a world of colour, zing, and a whole lotta Chicka-Pow-WOW! Get your mind out of the gutter you crazy kids I’m singing the praises of CHICKPEAS! 

Who’s joining in on the #ChickChomp challenge and eating Chickpeas? Share your meals people and let’s spread the joy of food! 

Chick Chomp Salad

Total Time: 20 minutes 
Serves: 6
Author: Mary Mammoliti / Kitchen Confession

INGREDIENTS 

SALAD

• 1 can 540ml chickpeas (about 2 1/4 cup), drained and rinsed 

• 1 can 540ml black beans (about 2 1/4 cup), drained and rinsed 

• 1 can flacked tuna in water, drained

• 1 large carrot, peeled and diced 

• 1 red bell pepper, seeded and diced

• 3 mini cucumbers, diced

• 3 stalks celery, diced 

• 1/4 red onion, diced 

• 1/3 cup feta, crumbled

DRESSING

• 1/4 cup olive oil

• 2 lemons, juiced 

• 1-2 tablespoons red wine vinegar

• 1 tablespoon Greek seasoning, plus more if needed 

• 2 teaspoons sea salt

• Fresh cracked pepper to taste

Note: Adjust dressing ingredients to suit personal taste

INSTRUCTIONS 

1. Place all ingredients into a large bowl pour the dressing over, toss and serve. 

Recipe: Lemony Fresh Orzo Salad

To quote my nieces and nephew “FOMO is real” and I couldn’t agree more. It’s been so grey and rainy here in Toronto that I’m missing the sunshine. Where is it?  I bet it’s at a party! Did I miss the invite? Why hasn’t it been around? GHAAAA! I can’t take this! Let me check @instagram. I’m missing out on something great! Maybe. Umm, probably not. Who knows where it is and what it’s doing I just miss it and decided to stop obsessing. I’m taking matters into my own hands.  Did you know that adding lemon to just about any dish will give you instant sunshine? 

Give this beauty a try and let me know if it brightens up your day.

Lemony Fresh Orzo Salad

TOTAL TIME: 30 MINS
PREP TIME: 15 MINS
COOK TIME: 15 MINS
AUTHOR: Mary Mammoliti / Kitchen Confession

INGREDIENTS:

• 12 ounces uncooked orzo

• 2 large handfuls fresh arugula, chopped

• 1 (15-ounce) can chickpeas (garbanzo beans), rinsed and drained

• 1 English cucumber, diced

• 1 cup frozen corn, thawed

• 1 cup roughly-chopped fresh basil leaves

• 1/2 head radicchio, roughly-chopped fresh

Lemony Dressing:

• 2 lemons, juiced

• 1 tablespoon rice wine or white vinegar

• 1/2 tablespoon Dijon mustard

• 1 garlic clove, finely minced

• 1/2 cup olive oil

• 1 teaspoon sea salt and freshly-cracked black pepper, to taste

• optional: 1/2 cup crumbled feta or goat cheese

DIRECTIONS:

1. Cook the pasta in a large stockpot of generously-salted water until al dente, according to package instructions.  Drain pasta then rinse thoroughly in a strainer with cold water until the pasta is chilled.  Transfer to a large mixing bowl.

2. Add all the lemony dressing ingredients to a medium sized bowl and whisk for 1-2 minutes, or until the dressing begins to look creamy. Set aside.

3. Add the remaining ingredients to the mixing bowl. , pour dressing over and toss to combine.  Taste, and season with extra salt and pepper, if needed.

4. Serve immediately.  Or cover and refrigerate for up to 3 days.

NOTE:

If you do not use all the dressing store in a sealed jar in your fridge for up to one week.

Recipe: The Only Mac and Cheese Recipe You Need

This one pot recipe is so quick and easy you won’t know what to do with yourself with all the extra time you saved on dinner! On this weeks Kelly and Company I talked about Fall comfort food and shared my top picks along with a few surprising ingredients to take your dish downtown to flavour town! Topping that list is Mac and Cheese.

It’s cheese, pasta, milk, and butter which in my language means Love BUT just when you thought it couldn’t get any better try adding powered mustard. Add in a teaspoon to the cheesy sauce while it’s hot stir and add macaroni. Be prepared for a party in your mouth!

NOTE: Don’t expect to get an overwhelming mustard taste. The acidity cuts some of the creaminess of the mac and cheese and rounds out the flavour. It also adds a slight tang that I think adds a little character to the dish.

Photo Description: whitebowl filled with creamy, cheesy, Mac and Cheese

 Stovetop Mac and Cheese

PREP TIME: 5 MINS
COOK TIME: 15 MINS
TOTAL TIME: 20 MINS
Serves: 6-8
Author: Mary Mammoliti | Kitchen Confession

INGREDIENTS

2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons flour
3 cups water
4 cups milk
1 pound uncooked pasta (cavatappi)
1 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon ground mustard
4-5 cups freshly-grated sharp white cheddar cheese
1/2 cup freshly grated parmigiano reggiano cheese (optional)

INSTRUCTIONS

• Melt butter in a large stockpot over medium-high heat. Add flour, and stir until combined. Cook for 1 minute, stirring occasionally. Then pour in 1 cup of the water, and whisk until the mixture is completely smooth and begins to thicken. Gradually pour in the remaining water and milk, stirring until evenly combined.

• Stir in the pasta, salt, garlic powder, and mustard until combined. Then continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until the mixture begins to simmer.

• Grating your cheese while the pasta cooks to save time and set aside.

• Reduce heat to medium-low and continue cooking, stirring occasionally, for about 9-10 minutes, or until the pasta is al dente.

• Remove from heat, and stir in the cheese until melted. Taste, and season with additional salt and black pepper, if needed.

• Serve immediately, and enjoy hot

TIPS: Always use block cheese for this recipe, and then grate them at home.  Try not to use pre shredded bags of cheese. They have less flavour and don’t melt as nicely as grating your own.

CHEESE SWAPS: Half-cheddar, half-fontina, or gouda, or havarti if you would like a creamier mac and cheese.

Recipe: Breakfast Hash in 30 Minutes!

I thought I would bring you a little BREAKFAST HASH on this gorgeous sunny morning. Not only does it taste fantastic, this nutrient packed meal clocks in at 30 minutes total cook time! Oh YAAAASSSSSSS! AND don’t forget to include this simple and easy meal to your weekly meal prep recipe box. This recipe should take centre stage on every brunch table, and serve it directly from the baking sheet - family style. Honestly, this quick and simple meal will tantalize your tastebuds, warm your belly, and have you dancing all the way to the kitchen sink when you're done. It's THAT GOOD! 

This dish surpassed all EGG-spectations!  I'm curious, do you hate or love eggs? Sunny side up or scrambled? Comment below and let me know what makes you egg-static about eggs. You all know how much I love a good pun :) 

Photo Description: 1 Pan dinner-large rimmed baking sheet filled with diced sweet potatoes, red bell pepper, broccoli florets, sweet corn, black beans and 6 single sunny side up eggs baked on top of the veggies

Breakfast Hash

PREP TIME: 5 minutes
COOK TIME: 25 minutes
TOTAL TIME: 30 minutes
SERVES: 3 large or 6 small
AUTHOR: Mary Mammoliti / Kitchen Confession

INGREDIENTS

2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and diced (Read Tips below for size)
1 head of broccoli, florets
1 medium red bell pepper, diced
1 (15-ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 cup frozen corn kernels
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
Salt and pepper to taste
Olive Oil, to coat the sheet pan
6 large eggs

DIRECTIONS

• Adjust your oven rack in the middle of the oven and heat to 425°F. With a little olive oil lightly coat a rimmed baking sheet.

• Place the sweet potatoes, broccoli florets, bell pepper, black beans, and corn in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet. Add the 3 tablespoons olive oil, garlic, chili powder, cumin, and paprika. Season with salt and pepper and gently toss to combine.

• Bake for 15 to 18 minutes stirring halfway through, until the sweet potatoes are tender. Remove the pan from the oven and create 6 wells in the vegetables. Gently crack an egg into each well, keeping the yolk intact; season the eggs with salt and pepper.

• Return the pan to the oven and bake 7 to 9 minutes, or until the egg whites have set.

• Enjoy!

TIPS: 

You can enjoy this dish immediately or portion it out into your to-go containers and pack it up and you have breakfast for the week. 

When chopping your veggies, try and cut them to bite size pieces and keep them roughly the same size to ensure even cooking throughout your dish. 

To make this dish even easier, buy pre-cut vegetables from you local grocery store and cut back even more on your prep time.

The olive oil can be substituted out for avocado oil or grape seed oil if you prefer. 

Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container and refrigerated for up to 5 days.