Quinoa with Chard & Pine Nuts

Ingredients:

1 ½ cups low-sodium vegetable broth

¾ cup quinoa, rinsed and drained

2 tsp. olive oil

1 lb. Swiss chard, leaves cut into ribbons, stems finely chopped

1 medium yellow onion, chopped (1 ½ cups)

16 pitted black olives

1/4 cup of raisins

½ tsp. red pepper flakes

3 cloves garlic, minced (1 Tbs.)

2 Tbs. toasted pine nuts

Directions:

1. Bring broth to a boil in medium saucepan. Add quinoa, and bring mixture to a simmer. Reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer, covered, 12 minutes. Remove from heat, uncover, let stand 5 minutes, then fluff with fork.

2. Meanwhile, heat oil in large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add chard stems, onion, olives, and raisins. Sauté 10 minutes, or until onion and chard stems are soft. Stir in chard leaves and red pepper flakes; sauté 6 minutes, or until greens are tender. Stir in garlic, and season with salt and pepper, if desired.

3. Divide quinoa among 4 shallow bowls. Spoon chard mixture over top, and sprinkle with pine nuts.

Sicilian-Style Tuna

Ingredients

6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

4 (5- to 6-ounce) tuna steaks

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

1 large onion, sliced (about 1 cup)

2 garlic cloves, minced

3 tablespoons salted capers, soaked in water for 10 minutes and drained

3 tablespoons minced pitted green olives

1/4 cup raisins

5 plum tomatoes, peeled, seeded, and chopped

1 cup fish stock or water, as needed

2 tablespoons fresh flat-leaf parsley, coarsely chopped

4 to 5 fresh basil leaves, torn

1/3 cup pine nuts, toasted

Directions:

1. In a medium skillet over moderately high heat, warm the oil. Season the tuna with salt and pepper and sauté, turning once, until golden on both sides, 3 to 4 minutes total. Remove the tuna and set aside. Do not clean the pan.

2. In the same pan over low heat, sauté the onion, stirring frequently, until just tender, about 1 minute. Add the garlic, capers, olives, raisins, and tomatoes, and continue cooking, stirring, until heated through, about 2 minutes. If the tomatoes don't release much juice, add the fish stock or water to give the sauce some body.

3. Return the tuna to the pan and cover it with a tight-fitting lid. Cook over moderate heat until the tuna reaches the desired doneness, 2 to 3 minutes for medium.

4. Add the parsley and basil and stir to incorporate, then season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve the fish with the sauce spooned over the top; garnish with pine nuts.