Wednesday, December 30, 2015

Cranberry Apple Crisp Recipe

Cranberry Apple Crisp Recipe photo by Taste of Home

TOTAL TIME: Prep: 15 min. Bake: 50 min.
YIELD:6-8 servings

INGREDIENTS:
3 cups chopped peeled tart apples
2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries
1 cup sugar
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
TOPPING:
1-1/2 cups quick-cooking oats
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup butter, melted
1/4 cup chopped pecans

DIRECTIONS:
1. Combine apples, cranberries, sugar and flour. Pour into a greased 11-in. x 7-in. baking dish. In a bowl, mix topping ingredients until crumbly; sprinkle over apple mixture. Bake at 350° for 50-55 minutes or until fruit is tender. Yield: 6-8 servings.

Nutritional Facts
1 serving (1 each) equals 407 calories, 15 g fat (7 g saturated fat), 31 mg cholesterol, 122 mg sodium, 66 g carbohydrate, 4 g fiber, 4 g protein.

Recipe from mom, originally from Taste Of Home

Sunday, December 27, 2015

Fresh Orange Smoothie (“Orange Julius”)

A healthy orange smoothie made with FRESH oranges, and your choice of milk and sweetener. Enjoy this fresh orange smoothie ("Orange Julius") recipe today!

Prep: 5 mins Total: 5 mins

Ingredients:
4 fresh oranges, peeled
2 cups ice
1/3 cup milk (your preference - regular, soy, coconut, etc.)
1-2 tablespoons honey (or agave or your desired sweetener), if needed
1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a blender, and blend until smooth.  Add more ice if you would like.

Recipe  from http://www.gimmesomeoven.com/fresh-orange-smoothie-orange-julius/

Notes: I thought it needed to be strained of pulp and/or add milk to the recipe.

Sunday, November 22, 2015

Smoothie Peanut Butter Banana

Makes approximately 26 ounces

3/4 cup water
1/2 cup plain greek yogurt
1/2 cup milk
1 banana
1 cup greens (lettuce/kale/whatever you have)
1 tablespoon peanut butter

Smoothie Turmeric Tonic


Smoothie Orange Beet Mixer


Smoothie Sweet Bok Choy


Smoothie A Pear of Beets


Smoothie Sweet Potato Apple Bake


We used Cinnamon instead of Allspice

Smoothie Berry Protein Bash


Wednesday, November 11, 2015

Green Applecado Smoothie

INGREDIENTS
1 banana
1 cup water
1.5 cups kale
1/2 avocado
1 apple

DIRECTIONS
Put all ingredients into Vitamix. Set to smoothie setting on Vitamix and let program run to completion.
Good the next day. If you want to drink immediately replace water or some of fruit for frozen.

NOTES
Serves 1 (approximately 20 ounces)
It was very thick. Try more water.
Future Avocado recipes to try: http://www.healthysmoothiehq.com/avocado-smoothie-recipes


Monday, November 9, 2015

Coconut + M&M Magic Bars




Prep time: 10 mins Cook time: 25 mins, Cool Off time: at least an hour, Total time: 1 hour 35 mins
Recipe type: Dessert
Serves: 12 - 16

Ingredients
1 ½ cups graham cracker crumbs (or even 2 cups!)
½ cup butter or margarine, softened
2 cups shredded coconut (recipe can be made without coconuts)
1 package semi sweet chocolate chips (12 ounces)
4 packages plain M&M’s (1.69oz x 4)
2 cups salted peanuts
1 can sweetened condensed milk (14 ounces)

Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 350°.
2. Line a 9x13 glass pan with parchment paper. Also works well with an 8x8 tin container.
3. In glass bowl, mix together graham cracker crumbs and margarine.
4. Press evenly into pan.
5. Top with coconut, chocolate chips, M&M’s, and peanuts.
6. Pour sweetened condensed milk evenly over bars. Top it off with some more M&Ms for looks.
7. Bake for 25 minutes.
8. Cool at least an hour so it's not too liquidy, then cut into squares.

Recipe by Simply Shellie

Friday, October 2, 2015

Hummus


Yield: 3.75 c ( 360 g )
Total Time: 11 Minutes

Ingredients:
15 ounces canned chick peas (garbanzos), drained
15 ounces canned chick peas (garbanzos), with liquid
1/4 cup (35 g) raw sesame seeds
1 Tablespoon olive oil
1/4 cup (60 ml) lemon juice
1/4 cup water (possibly change recipe to use less water)
1 garlic clove, peeled
1 teaspoon ground cumin (double this portion)
Also good to add Paprika
Salt, to taste

Directions:
  1. Place ingredients into the Vitamix container in the order listed and secure lid.
  2. Select Puree setting.
  3. Let the whole program run.
  4. Recommendation to add olive oil and paprika or cayenne pepper or something to add a special flavor! Maybe roasted red peppers or olives.

Lasts 4 to 5 days in fridge. Can freeze also.

Cost: 
$4.65 for 4 cups
2 - 2 cans chickpears
.65 lemon juice
2 sesame seeds

Wednesday, September 30, 2015

Blackberry Pear Smoothie

Ingredients
1 Cup (240 g Plain Yogurt
2/3 Cup (160 ml) Water
2 Bananas, Peeled
1 Pear, Halved, Cored
1 Apple, Halved, Cored
2 Cups (280 g) Frozen Blackberries

Directions 
1) Place all ingredients into the Vitamix container in the order listed and secure lid
(2) Select Purée Program
(3) Switch machine to Start and allow machine to complete programmed cycle

Nutritional Information
Per 1 Cup (240 ml) Serving: Calories: 142, TotalFat: 1 g, Saturated Fat: 1 g, Protein: 4g, Fiber: 6 g, Carbohydrates: 31 g, Sodium: 38 mg, Cholesterol: 4 mg

Servings 
Approximately four 15 ounce smoothies

Cost
$10.00 for all ingredients, or $2.50 per serving

5.5 frozen fruit
1 yogurt (buying bulk)
1.50 apple
1 pear

1 bananas

Sunday, July 19, 2015

15 Minute Apple Dumplings Dessert

Recipe type: Dessert
Prep time: 15 mins
Cook time: 40 mins
Total time: 55 mins
Serves: 16




Ingredients
2 (8 ounce) cans crescent rolls
1.5 sticks butter
1½ cups brown sugar
1 teaspoons vanilla
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 cup 7 Up (or other lemon soda)
2 apples (Golden Delicious or Granny Smith)


Instructions
1. Butter a 13 x 9 inch baking dish.
2. Preheat the oven at 350 F.
3. Peel and core apples, then cut each apple into 8 slices
4. Open up the two crescent roll packages. They will each have 8 triangle shaped flat crescent rolls. Roll each apple slice in a crescent roll and place in a buttered dish.
5. Melt butter, stir in sugar, vanilla and cinnamon, and when it’s thickened, remove from heat and pour over the dumplings.
6. Pour the soda in the middle and along the edges of a pan (not over the rolls).
7. Bake for 35­ to 45 minutes, or until they become golden brown.
8. Serve warm.

Recipe is a slightly modified from OMG Chocolate Desserts version. 

Saturday, May 23, 2015

Napa Cabbage-and-Sweet Peppers Slaw

Picture from SL Recipe

Yield: MAKES about 4 1/2 cups, probably 6 servings
Hands on: 25 minutes
Total time: 8 Hours, 25 minutes

Ingredients:
1 cup rice vinegar
1/4 cup honey
2 1/4 teaspoons kosher salt
4 cups chopped napa cabbage
1 cup seeded and thinly sliced sweet mini peppers
1/4 large red onion, thinly sliced
1/4 cup firmly packed fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves
2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint

Preparation:
1. Stir together first 3 ingredients and 1 cup water in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to medium, and simmer 5 minutes. Remove from heat.

2. Toss together cabbage and next 4 ingredients in a medium bowl. Transfer to a jar; add vinegar mixture, and screw on lid. Chill 8 to 12 hours, turning occasionally. Store in refrigerator up to 3 days.

Notes:
From Southern Living MAY 2015. This issue had a couple other chow chow slaw recipes I wanted to try.

Saturday, May 9, 2015

The 50 Healthiest Foods of All Time

Time Magazine published the 50 Healthiest Foods of All Time
I put in bold & underlined those I should make an effort to eat more of.

  1. Bananas
  2. Raspberries
  3. Oranges
  4. Kiwi
  5. Pomegranates
  6. Blueberries
  7. Grapefruit
  8. Tangerines
  9. Avocado
  10. Tomatoes
  11. Eggplant
  12. Swiss chard
  13. Mushrooms
  14. Kale
  15. Broccoli Sprouts
  16. Fennel
  17. Garlic
  18. Sweet potatoes
  19. Beets
  20. Spinach
  21. Cauliflower
  22. Collard greens
  23. Onions
  24. Winter Squash
  25. Tuna
  26. Sardines
  27. Anchovies
  28. Salmon
  29. Poultry (Dark Meat)
  30. Whole Wheat Bread
  31. Quinoa
  32. Hemp Seeds
  33. Rolled Oats
  34. Kamut
  35. Lentils
  36. Farro
  37. Walnuts
  38. Almonds
  39. Chia Seeds
  40. Flaxseeds
  41. Eggs
  42. Kefir
  43. 2% Greek Yogurt
  44. Coconut Oil
  45. Olive Oil
  46. Cumin
  47. Turmeric
  48. Cinnamon
  49. Rooibos Tea
  50. Red Wine

Thursday, May 7, 2015

DIY Standing Desk


My standing desk cost less than $150, here's how:

$135 purchases made on Amazon:

Wireless keyboard


Wireless mouse


Laptop table stand


Anti-fatigue comfort mat



$15 spent of wood at Home Depot for monitor stand

Includes travel friendly stand, cordless mouse and keyboard, monitor stand, and foot cushion. 

Monday, April 20, 2015

Spring Pea Orzo

Photo: Helen Norman; Styling: Carrie Purcell
Ready in 25 minutes

DIRECTIONS
3 to 4 lemons
8 ounces uncooked orzo pasta (whole wheat optional)
1/4 cup minced shallot or red onion
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon table salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 1/2 cups cooked fresh or frozen peas
1 cup snow peas or sugar snap peas, blanched and chopped (I used frozen green beans)
1 cup assorted chopped fresh herbs (such as mint, chives, and parsley)
1/2 cup sliced almonds, toasted
Optional - Athenos, Crumbled Feta with Garlic and Herbs, 4 oz

PREPARATION
1. Grate zest from lemons to equal 2 tsp. Cut lemons in half; squeeze juice from lemons to equal 1/2 cup.

2. Prepare pasta according to package directions. Whisk together shallots, next 4 ingredients, and lemon juice. Toss together pasta and shallot mixture. Cover with plastic wrap, and chill 1 to 48 hours.

3. Toss together pasta, peas, snow peas, next 2 ingredients, and lemon zest just before serving. Add salt, pepper, and additional lemon juice to taste. Sprinkle with feta cheese.

NOTES: from Southern Living's April 2014 issue. Reviews mentioned to use less shallots, lemon and mustard. 

Saturday, February 21, 2015

Hasselback Potatoes


Prep Time
5 minutes
Cook Time
55 minutes
Yield
4 people
Difficulty
Easy
True original recipe from Stockholm, Sweden. You can improve by adding bacon or cheese! These hasselback potatoes are ready in about an hour and serves 4 people.

Ingredients

  • 4 big waxy potatoes
  • 1 stick of unsalted butter
  • salt and pepper to taste
Temperature 400 or 425 for 50 minutes. Add more butter 20 minutes before done.

Recipe and picture from oh my dish.

Tuesday, February 17, 2015

Red Velvet (Beet) Brownies (Gluten-Free, Vegan)




Receipe from Mind Body Green: Skip the red food dye and add some detox-friendly beets to your brownies! A healthy take on the classic dessert, with a rich and creamy cashew frosting.

Ingredients
1 cup raw beets, chopped (approximately 1 large beet, peeled & chopped)
1/4 cup coconut oil
1/3 cup agave
2 Tbsp. vegan chocolate chips
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1 Tbsp. raw cacao
2 Tbsp. ground flaxseed
1/2 tsp. sea salt
1 cup gluten-free rolled oats
2 Tbsp. coconut flour

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a square (8x8) pan with parchment paper and set aside.

In a food processor fitted with a metal blade, pulse beets until very finely chopped.

In a small saucepan, add coconut oil, agave, vegan chocolate chips and vanilla. Melt over low heat.

Add to beet mixture and purée until smooth.

Add the remaining ingredients to the food processor and purée until fully combined.

Spread evenly in the prepared pan and bake for 10-12 minutes.

Cool completely.

Top with the creamy cashew frosting (recipe below) and cut into squares. Store in the refrigerator or freezer.

Creamy Cashew Frosting Ingredients
1 cup raw cashews
1/2 cup boiling water
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1 tsp. agave 1 tsp. coconut oil

Directions
Add all ingredients to a high-speed blender and purée until smooth and creamy. Pour into a bowl and chill before frosting the brownies.

Notes
I used honey instead of agave.
I don't have a high speed blender, so I used a food processor. Frosting could have turned out smoother if used a blender... Interested in finding a different frosting recipe.