
Dec 11 2015
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
“Spiralizing” vegetables is a thing now, did you know? In fact, there are now a variety of spiralizers on the market to do just that: they turn your garden-variety (bad pun intended) veggies into sexy vegetable ribbons. These glamorous vegetable ribbons are turning up everywhere these days. Most recently on my plate. The best thing […]
Pro Mom Tip: If you call it “casserole” you can count on lots of exasperated sighing and lack of appetite come dinnertime. If you call the same dish “lasagna” they will come running when dinner is served. Four kids and nearly 27 years of parenting speaking here. In this lightened version of Tex Mex Lasagna I […]
This is my “desert island” food. That is, “if you were stuck on a desert island and could only bring one food with you, what would it be?” Mine would be hummus. If I could sneak some baby carrots, celery and grape tomatoes, even better! Makes 2 cups. Ingredients: 2 14oz. cans low-sodium garbanzo beans, […]
An evening watching a marathon of “Downton Abbey” was my inspiration to create a healthy, eat clean version of caramel corn. I enjoy the salty goodness of traditional popcorn, but I crave sweets, and I love the idea of creating a healthy version of something ridiculously indulgent such as caramel corn. Enjoy it with “Downton Abbey” or […]
If you’ve never cooked with herbes de provence, I encourage you to try it. Herbes de provence typically contain savory, marjoram, rosemary, thyme, oregano and, for the American market, lavender leaves. I mix it with olive oil, salt and pepper and simply rub it on the turkey breast before roasting. The smell while it’s cooking is intoxicating and the flavor it imparts is divine. I like to […]
I texted my daughters “Wanna make truffles this year?” “YESSSSSSS!!!!” they enthusiastically responded. Making homemade truffles was a Christmas tradition in our house throughout their childhood, but since my weight loss 7+ years ago I haven’t made truffles or any of the other McKenna family favorite holiday treats that I did for so many years. […]
Feliz Navi-dog from Stella! The days after Thanksgiving are a time of excitement as we begin the transition into Christmas or Hanukah mode (some of us faster than others). I’m not a shopper, so my idea of Black Friday is staring at the inside of my eyelids, leaving the lines and crowds to someone else. […]
A few days after Thanksgiving and the leftovers are no more welcome than houseguests who have stayed just a little too long. I tossed everything but the leftover turkey I used for this recipe and the cranberry sauce. Besides the turkey, all the other ingredients were things I already had on hand, some because of Thanksgiving, […]
BAM! I have got this Thanksgiving dessert thing figured out! Let me just say up front that I am a dessert fiend. I love them all: tarts, crisps, pies, cakes, cupcakes, cheesecakes, trifles, flans, glacees, gelatos, truffles … you get the picture. I love making them, I love eating them, and I love the leftovers […]
When Rob and I got married one of the first gifts he gave me was The New Housekeeping Cookbook (such an optimist, isn’t he?). In it I found what would become a staple for our newlywed dinners, especially those first few cold winters when we lived in Chicago. I’m talking about Beef Stroganoff. All those years ago […]
This is a recipe makeover of my infamous (in my own mind anyway) Vegan Thumbprint Cookies that I’ve been making for years. This new version’s still vegan, but because I’m doing a metabolic detox and my doctor’s got me off of gluten, I had to redo the recipe without using the whole wheat flour that […]
Who doesn’t love Chicken Parm? It’s classic comfort food, but it doesn’t have to be super fattening. I modified traditional Chicken Parm by cutting back on the cheese, but other than that it’s the same dish you’ve always loved. Serves 4. Ingredients: 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts 1 cup breadcrumbs 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese […]
Yes, I said chocolate … and peanut butter! Did I mention they’re gluten-free and completely vegan?!?! Boom! These crowd-pleasing muffins couldn’t be any easier. I sprinkle dark chocolate chips on them for an extra-decadent touch. Makes 9 muffins. Ingredients: 1 cup creamy peanut butter (or nut butter of choice) 2 very ripe bananas 1/4 cup maple syrup […]
This is a beautiful salad to serve at a holiday gathering or anytime you want to serve a fresh, seasonable vegetable in the fall or winter. It’s colorful and light; a perfect complement to nearly any dish. Serves 8. Ingredients: 1 lb. brussels sprouts, trimmed, halved and cored 6 kale leaves, stripped of stems 1 […]
I’ve been wracking my brain trying to come up with a healthier way to make quiche. Everybody loves quiche, whether you’re entertaining or just making a simple Sunday breakfast for the fam. The magic of this recipe is the quinoa crust. It’s got a nutty taste that’s a departure from the standard pie crust, and […]
Ditching the tortilla (or rice, or bread, or pita, or naan) in favor of a crisp, fresh lettuce leaf is one of the easiest ways to cut calories and carbs from your favorite wrap. After all, the tortilla (or rice … or bread) is just a way to hold the delicious stuff inside! The yummy stuff inside this […]