
Dec 11 2015
This recipe is a surprisingly perfect combination of savory and unexpected sweet (from the orange marmalade and dried apricots!) ingredients that nestle so nicely into a big bed of greens (or if you’re my kids, tucked into a round of warm naan bread). Delicious! Ingredients: 1/2 cup nonfat Greek yogurt 2 T low-sugar orange marmalade 1 […]
I’m getting a jump on my after-Thanksgiving meal planning with this nutritious, yet drop-dead delicious soup. Use the leftovers from the turkey, or roast a turkey breast and make it anytime! Serves 4. Ingredients: 3 T extra virgin olive oil 2 large onions, halves and thinly sliced 1 tsp sea salt 8 cups chopped kale (I […]
I have yet to taste a no-bake energy bite that I don’t like. And really, if you start with “clean” ingredients the end result can’t go wrong. In this version I combine my favorite fall flavor (pumpkin) with my all-time fave, chocolate. Makes 16 balls. Serving size: 2 balls. Ingredients: 1 cup pumpkin puree 2 scoops […]
I’ll admit it: I’m late to the kale party. The whole foodie world’s been hip to kale craze for several years now, but up until recently the enthusiasm for the much-touted “queen of greens” eluded me. It’s not that I didn’t believe those who extolled her virtues – kale’s anti-inflammatory properties, powerful antioxidants and impressive […]
These yummy pancakes aren’t just high-protein (15g) and low-carbohydrate (3g) , they’re also low-sugar (less than 1g) and only 128 calories … for all three! As far as breakfast options go, these pancakes stack up in a way that almost nothing else can. Their subtle nutty flavor is due to the Toffee Crunch flavored Nuts […]
No matter where you’re headed this weekend – heck, even if you’re staying home – there will be holiday food involved in your festivities. But it’s time to declare our independence from the usual, unhealthy summer celebratory foods. And let’s be honest, George Washington probably wasn’t eating a foot-long hot dog and potato salad when […]
This revved-up, high-protein version of the all-American classic is a fresh take on succotash. Don’t get me wrong, I love lima beans, but edamame and basil really amp up the flavor here. Make it ahead of time to take it with you to your summer barbeque or potluck. It’s a guaranteed hit! Makes 8 servings. […]
Perfect to take to a summer potluck or picnic, this (slightly) healthier version of brownies has a tangy goat cheese layer swirled in with a chunky dark chocolate brownie. Goodness gracious, these are addictive! Ingredients for Goat Cheese Layer: 8 oz. goat cheese, softened to room temperature 1 T honey 1 egg 1 T gluten-free […]
I know, I know … it’s not terribly healthy, but giving our beloved Stella a homemade peanut butter and bacon dog treat every now and then is a way for me to vicariously enjoy two of my favorite foods without the calories (for me, anyway). My daughter Katie has been making these delightful doggie treats for […]
Truthfully, I’ve been looking for an excuse to make brownies. I also happen to have a very ripe avocado on hand, as well as some avocado oil. I figured, “Meh, what have I got to lose?” And honestly, how bad could it be if there’s chocolate involved? Fortunately these luscious brownies are considerably better than […]
No real reason why this particular salad earns the designation of “50 shades of greens”; I guess I just thought it was funny. But truthfully, this is my favorite way to make a basic green salad. There is no simpler dressing and the cheese crisps make it feel like it’s something really special when, in […]
Sunday mornings were made for pancakes! But white flour pancakes loaded with butter and syrup have been off my menu for a very long time. To come up with a healthier alternative I turned to a staple in my kitchen: vanilla protein powder. I served these pancakes to my family on a recent Sunday morning […]
Is there ever a bad time to eat wild Alaskan salmon? Not when you’re from the Pacific Northwest, like I am. Every May, news stations cover the arrival of the much-anticipated Copper River salmon from Alaska (on its own airplane, no less). This particularly fatty and flavorful salmon is only in season for a few […]
I love almost any kind of grain made into hot cereal. If you haven’t tried my Quinoa Breakfast Bowl recipe I encourage you to try it. Buckwheat, despite its name, is not even related to wheat. In fact, buckwheat is a gluten-free seed. You can buy it toasted, which gives it a slightly nutty taste, […]
It’s time to lighten things up, and what better time than when peaches and nectarines show up at the grocery store and farmers’ markets? Add chicken to this salad if you’d like; either way it’s delicious! Serves one. Ingredients: 2 cups mixed baby greens 1 peach (or nectarine), sliced ¼ cup Gorgonzola cheese, crumbled ¼ […]
Watercress is a delicate spring green that pairs surprisingly well with steak. My favorite time to make this salad is when I’ve got just a few slices of grilled steak leftover from a previous dinner, making it so simple to throw together on a busy weeknight. Ingredients: 3 ounces grass-fed, organic flank steak, trimmed 1/4 […]
Raise your hand if you’re not ravenous by 4 o’clock in the afternoon. So nobody, right? This hearty yet nutritious snack will not only see you through till dinner, but it’s eye-pleasing presentation will make you smile. Serves one. Ingredients: 1 whole grain wrap 1/4 cup full-fat plain Greek yogurt 1/3 of a cucumber, sliced […]
This is my all-time favorite post-workout recovery drink. Sure, we could drink chocolate milk, but why would we when we’ve earned this?!? Serves one. Ingredients: 1 scoop vanilla protein powder 1 cup frozen mixed berries 1 T all-natural peanut butter 1 1/2 cups very cold water Directions: Place all ingredients in blender; mix well.
You might think I’d get tired of drinking this smoothie (almost) every day for breakfast for the past several years, but I don’t. Every day I look forward to it; it’s sweet and satisfying, and I love the flavor combination of mango and banana. The chia and ground flax seeds give it fiber, antioxidants and […]
I’ve been enjoying Butter Chicken at my favorite Indian restaurant for years, but it’s not always convenient to go there to get it (read: some nights I’d rather be in my PJs by 7pm rather than driving somewhere to get take-out). Fortunately the ingredients for this dish are always on hand so it’s just as […]
The number of ways you can switch this up to suit your and your family’s taste is limited only by your own imagination and your taste buds. I used Yukon Gold potatoes, onion and asparagus because that’s what my home-delivery organic produce source dropped on my doorstep this week. Maybe next week I’ll have carrots […]
Is there anything better than homemade Cinnamon Apple-Pear Sauce, served up warm with Sunday brunch or for dessert? I use raw, organic agave nectar as the sweetener, but try other natural sweeteners if you prefer. My inspiration came because I had an abundance of both pears and apples on hand because of my organic produce home-delivery […]
The dreary days of winter seem to call for the spicy, rich flavors of New Orleans. Cajun seasonings are earthy and comforting; three different proteins make jambalaya tasty and satisfying. In this recipe I use long grain brown rice instead of white rice, upping the fiber. I like to make this on a Sunday afternoon […]
Un-sloppy Joes in lettuce cups Un-sloppy Joes atop portobello mushroom caps This comfort food makeover is a great addition to your recipe repertoire for two reasons: it’s healthy (buffalo is as lean as ground turkey yet the taste is virtually indistinguishable to beef), and it’s versatile. I call it “Un-sloppy Joes” because I eat it either in a […]
A fun take on traditional chili with the addition of Bloody Mary mix and spicy Montreal steak seasoning, this chili is also made healthier by using lean ground buffalo instead of beef. Makes 8-10 hearty servings. Ingredients: 1 T olive oil 2 stalks celery, diced 1 onion, diced 2 cloves garlic, chopped 3 pounds ground […]
As part of the detox I started last fall, I’ve been drinking this low-sugar, low-carb protein drink every morning. It’s packed with anti-oxidants and good-for-you protein. I add cinnamon for it’s anti-inflammatory properties (and it tastes good), but pumpkin pie spice works too. Make it with water or unsweetened almond milk for a powerful start […]
For all our talk about eating more fruits and vegetables, Americans are still eating a dismal percentage of their diets from the produce aisle. In fact, even though we’re told to get nine servings of fruit and vegetables daily to meet the minimum RDA, most of us have a hard time getting in five. Nine […]
It’s worth getting a spiralizer, if for no other reason than to spiralize beets. Roasting whole beets can take more than an hour; roasting spiralized beets takes five minutes. You heard me, five minutes! This recipe can be easily upgraded to a main course by adding cooked chicken. Or do what I do – eat […]
My BFF has been raving about a Rosemary Sage Butternut Squash Soup (recipe here) she found on www.serenityinthestorm.com. One of these days I must try it, for sure! One dreary January weeknight recently I was wishing I had a bowl of that soup, but I didn’t have all the ingredients. Seeing as I’m the Laziest […]
My new vegetable spiralizer is in big demand in my kitchen! I’ve had success with making zucchini “ribbons” which I put to good use in my “Chicken with Zucchini Ribbons and Avocado Pesto” so I thought I’d start testing other vegetables to see what I could come up with. Here I used a sweet potato […]