EAT WELL RECIPES
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Ground Turkey Sweet Potato Skillet
From Taste of Home
This ground turkey sweet potato skillet brings bold, savory flavors together in one pan, featuring smoky turkey, tender sweet potatoes and vibrant kale in a savory tomato broth, topped with creamy avocado.
Ingredients
1 pound ground turkey
1 medium onion, chopped
1 shallot, finely chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 cup tomato paste
1 medium sweet potato, peeled and cubed
1 cup chicken broth
2 teaspoons smoked paprika
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
3 cups chopped fresh kale
Dash crushed red pepper flakes
1 medium ripe avocado, peeled and sliced
Minced fresh mint, optional
Directions
In a large skillet, cook turkey, onion, shallot and garlic over medium heat until turkey is no longer pink and vegetables are tender, 8-10 minutes, breaking up turkey into crumbles; drain. Add tomato paste; cook and stir 1 minute longer.
Add sweet potato, broth, smoked paprika, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil; reduce heat. Simmer, covered, until sweet potato is tender, about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add kale and red pepper flakes; cook and stir until kale is wilted, about 2 minutes longer. Serve with avocado and, if desired, mint.
MORE RECIPES TO HELP YOU EAT WELL
Rotisserie Chicken Noodle Soup
From Livestrong
Few things are more satisfying than a bowl of warm chicken noodle soup on a cold winter night. This Easy Rotisserie Chicken Noodle Soup Is the Most Comforting High-Protein Meal. A great winter meal option to keep you healthy and well. Simple but satisfying! A great reminder that a healthy meals will always remain a healthy meal.
Things You’ll Need
Large stockpot
Cooking spoon
Soup ladle
Rotisserie chicken, cut into pieces with bones, or 4 cups shredded
2 cups cooked egg noodles
1 tablespoon olive oil (or other preferred cooking oil)
1 large onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, crushed or minced
2 celery stalks, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
2 carrots, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1 teaspoon poultry seasoning or Italian seasoning
8 to 10 cups low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth
1 1/2 teaspoons fine sea salt (more or less to taste)
1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated (optional)
Black pepper (optional, to taste)
Instructions
In a large stockpot, heat your olive oil over medium heat. Add your onion and cook for 5 minutes, until translucent. Add the crushed garlic and cook for another minute or two.
Add in the celery, carrots and poultry or Italian seasoning. Stir to combine until the veggies are coated and cover the pot. Reduce the heat to low and steam the veggies for about 5 minutes until they’re slightly softened.
Add in your broth and bring the soup to a boil, then add in the chicken and let it come to a simmer and cover again.
Allow the soup to cook for another 10 minutes. In the meantime, cook your egg noodles according to the package directions, drain and set aside.
Remove the soup from the heat and allow it to cool slightly before ladling into a bowl for serving. Add your noodles to the bowls before serving to prevent them from getting soggy.
Tips for Cooking Chicken Noodle Soup
You can cut your rotisserie chicken into eight pieces (including the bones) in your soup, or use your fingers to separate the meat from the bones and shred it. This part is really about your preference! We’d suggest removing the skin, as it can get soggy and adds fat to the meal.
Baked Salmon Meatballs with Creamy Avocado Sauce
From Recipes Cookery
A fresh and flavorful recipe that’s healthy, easy to make, and perfect for any meal, but a nice break from all the traditional December foods. These delicious salmon meatballs are packed with nutrients, baked to golden perfection, and paired with a rich, creamy avocado sauce that adds a bright, fresh contrast.
Ingredients
For the Salmon Meatballs:
1 lb fresh salmon fillets, skin removed and finely chopped: Provides the base for the meatballs, packed with protein and omega-3 fatty acids.
1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs: Adds a light texture and helps bind the meatballs together.
1 egg: Acts as a binder to hold the meatballs together.
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped: Adds brightness and flavor.
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard: Provides a tangy kick and enhances the flavor of the salmon.
1 clove garlic, minced: For an aromatic, flavorful boost.
1/2 teaspoon salt: Essential for seasoning the meatballs.
1/4 teaspoon black pepper: Adds a touch of heat and balance.
1 tablespoon olive oil (optional): For brushing the meatballs before baking to help achieve a golden crust.
For the Creamy Avocado Sauce:
1 large ripe avocado: The star ingredient for a creamy, smooth sauce.
1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt or sour cream: Adds creaminess and a bit of tang to the sauce.
1 tablespoon lime juice: Brings a fresh, zesty flavor that complements the avocado and salmon.
1 clove garlic, minced: Adds a hint of spice and depth.
2 tablespoons fresh cilantro or parsley: For a burst of color and flavor.
Salt and pepper to taste: Essential for balancing the flavors.
Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Prepare the Salmon Meatballs:
Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease it with olive oil.
In a large bowl, combine the finely chopped salmon, panko breadcrumbs, egg, parsley, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, salt, and pepper. Mix everything together until well combined, but avoid over-mixing to keep the meatballs light.
Form the mixture into small meatballs, about 1.5 inches in diameter. Place them on the prepared baking sheet. If desired, brush the tops of the meatballs with a little olive oil to help them brown.
Bake the meatballs for 12-15 minutes, or until they are cooked through and golden brown on the outside.
2. Make the Creamy Avocado Sauce:
While the meatballs are baking, prepare the avocado sauce. In a food processor or blender, combine the ripe avocado, Greek yogurt or sour cream, lime juice, minced garlic, and fresh cilantro or parsley.
Blend until smooth and creamy. If the sauce is too thick, you can add a tablespoon of water or olive oil to thin it out to your desired consistency. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
3. Serve the Dish:
Once the salmon meatballs are baked to perfection, remove them from the oven and allow them to cool slightly.
Serve the salmon meatballs warm with the creamy avocado sauce on the side for dipping, or drizzle the sauce over the top of the meatballs. Garnish with additional fresh parsley or cilantro for a vibrant finish.
Serving Suggestions
As a Main Course: These salmon meatballs pair perfectly with a side of quinoa, rice, or roasted vegetables for a wholesome meal. You can also serve them on top of a fresh salad or in lettuce wraps for a low-carb option.
As an Appetizer: For a party or gathering, serve these baked salmon meatballs as an appetizer with toothpicks and the avocado sauce for dipping. They’re light, flavorful, and easy to enjoy as finger food!
Tips for Making the Best Baked Salmon Meatballs
Use Fresh Salmon: Fresh salmon gives the best texture and flavor, but if using frozen, make sure it’s fully thawed and patted dry before chopping.
Don’t Overwork the Mixture: When mixing the salmon meatball ingredients, be gentle. Over-mixing can result in dense meatballs, so aim for a light, even mix.
Customizing the Sauce: If you love a spicier kick, you can add a little jalapeño or hot sauce to the avocado sauce for an extra burst of flavor.
Creamy Thai Carrot Sweet Potato Soup
From Cookie and Kate
Take a break from the holiday sweets and try this healthy and flavorful soup with a hint of Thai-inspired spices. Perfectly creamy, comforting, and nutritious—a bowl of this will warm you up from the inside out!
Ingredients
1 tablespoon coconut oil
2 cups chopped yellow (sweet) onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
2 tablespoons red curry paste
4 cups low-sodium vegetable broth, plus more if needed
¼ cup raw almond butter or peanut butter
3 cups diced peeled carrots
3 cups diced peeled sweet potatoes
½ teaspoon fine-grain sea salt, plus more to taste
Freshly ground black pepper
Up to ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional, if you like spice)
Toppings
Minced fresh cilantro
Fresh lime juice
Roasted tamari almonds (optional, see below)
Roasted tamari almonds
½ cup raw almonds, finely chopped
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon low-sodium tamari or coconut aminos
Instructions
To make the soup: In a large pot, melt the coconut oil over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic, and ginger and sauté for 5 to 6 minutes, until the onion is translucent.
Stir in the curry paste. In a small bowl, whisk together some of the broth with the almond butter until smooth. Add the mixture to the pot, along with the carrots, sweet potatoes, salt, and remaining vegetable broth. Stir until combined.
Bring the soup to a low boil over medium-high heat and then reduce the heat to medium-low. Cover and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes, until the potatoes and carrots are fork-tender.
Ladle the soup carefully into a blender. You will likely have to do this in a couple of batches, depending on the size of your blender (never fill your blender past the maximum fill line). Being careful to avoid hot steam escaping from the lid, blend on low and slowly increase the speed until the soup is completely smooth. (Alternatively, you can use an immersion blender and blend the soup directly in the pot.)
Taste, and season with salt and black pepper. If you’d like more spice, add a pinch or full ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper, and blend again. Transfer the soup back to the pot and reheat if necessary. If desired, you can thin the soup out with a bit more broth if it’s too thick for your preference.
Ladle the soup into bowls and top with minced cilantro, a squeeze of lime juice, and optional tamari almonds. This soup will keep in the fridge for up to a week, and freezes well for 1 to 2 months.
To make the roasted tamari almonds: Preheat the oven to 325°F (160°C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a medium bowl, toss the almonds with the tamari until the almond pieces are fully coated. Spread the almonds over the prepared baking sheet in an even layer.
Roast the almonds for 9 to 12 minutes, until lightly golden. The tamari will have dried up.
Let cool completely on the pan. The almonds will harden up as they cool. Using a spoon, scrape the almonds off the parchment paper and enjoy! Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for a couple of weeks.
Harvest Chicken Casserole
From Chef Abbie
Harvest Chicken Casserole is healthy, hearty, and packed full of veggies and protein making it the perfect one pan meal!
Ingredients
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil divided
1 ½ pounds boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 teaspoon kosher salt divided
½ teaspoon ground black pepper divided
1 onion diced
2 ~1/2 pound sweet potatoes, diced small
1 carrot diced small
1 pound brussels sprouts trimmed and quartered
½ teaspoon dried thyme
½ teaspoon dried sage
½ teaspoon dried rosemary
1 cup low sodium chicken broth
½ cup dried cherries
½ cup chopped walnuts
Optional: 1 cup cooked wild rice
Optional: chopped sage
Instructions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
In a large cast iron skillet or oven-safe skillet over medium heat, add ½ tablespoon oil. Season chicken with ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper and add to skillet. Cook 3 to 4 minutes, moving occasionally, until there is not more pink visible on the outside of the chicken. Remove from skillet and set aside.
Add remaining ½ tablespoon oil to the skillet. Add onion, sweet potatoes, carrot, brussels sprouts, ½ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon pepper, thyme, sage, and rosemary and cook, stirring occasionally, 4 to 5 minutes until vegetables soften.
Add ¼ cup of broth and deglaze pan, scraping up any brown bits. Add remaining ¾ cup broth and mix well, bring up to a simmer.
Add back chicken and mix well. Add fruit and mix well. Add walnuts to the top of the mixture. Turn off heat and cover skillet with foil.
Place skillet in oven for 15 minutes. After 10 minutes, remove foil.
Optional: broil on hi for 1 to 2 minutes at the end to desired level of golden brown.
Mix well before serving.
Optional: serve with wild rice and fresh chopped sage.
Lemon Tahini Lentil Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
From FITON
Sweet potatoes are a good source of complex carbs, potassium, and magnesium, which are all important nutrients to fuel a balanced diet with. Try stuffing them full of plant-based protein, nourishing veggies, and fresh flavor like these stress-lowering Lentil and Lemon Tahini Stuffed Sweet Potatoes, which are full of good-mood food.
Ingredients:
4 sweet potatoes
2 avocados
Sea salt & black pepper, to taste
1 cup lentils, cooked
2 tbsp pumpkin seeds
2 tbsp fresh parsley
1 tbsp red pepper flakes
For the dressing
1 tsp sea salt
2 tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp ground cumin
¼ cup warm water
2 tbsp tahini
Follow these Steps:
Step #1: Prep Your Ingredients & Cook Your Sweet Potato Base
Start by preheating the oven to 350°F and line a baking tray with parchment paper, then gather all of your ingredients for the base recipe and dressing.
Place the sweet potatoes evenly on the tray, and using a fork, poke holes in each sweet potato. Bake for 45-60 minutes or until the sweet potatoes are soft and cooked through.
Step #2: Prepare Avocado Filling
While the sweet potatoes are cooking, prep avocados for the sweet potato filling. Slice lengthwise and remove the pit. Scoop out the avocado flesh, and add to a separate bowl. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
While the sweet potatoes are cooking, mash the avocado in a separate bowl with a generous pinch of salt and pepper. Set aside.
Step #3: Make The Dressing
Make the dressing by adding the lemon juice, tahini, water, cumin, garlic, salt, and pepper to a mixing bowl and whisk. Set aside
Step #4: Remove Sweet Potatoes From The Oven
Once the sweet potatoes are cooked, remove them from the oven and allow them to slightly cool before cutting them in half. Scrape half of the sweet potato flesh out, leaving room to add the cooked lentils and mashed avocado.
Step #5: Fill Your Sweet Potatoes With the Base & Bake
Fill each sweet potato with lentils. Return to the oven and cook for an additional 10 minutes.
Step #6: Toast the Pumpkin Seeds
While the sweet potatoes are cooking for the additional 10 minutes, evenly spread the pumpkin seeds on another lined baking tray and place in the oven for 5-10 minutes, until toasted and slightly golden.
Step #7: Fully Stuff & Dress Your Sweet Potatoes
Remove sweet potato and top with avocado, pumpkin seeds, chopped parsley, and red pepper flakes. Drizzle with the tahini dressing and enjoy!
Pumpkin Smoothie
Pumpkin Smoothie
From The Pioneer Woman
A simple and yummy fall treat! Packed full of pumpkin goodness. If you love pumpkin desserts, this is a good one to try because it’s a healthier option than most pumpkin desserts.
Ingredients
1 15-oz. can pumpkin pie filling
3 c. low-fat milk (more if needed – or use more yoghurt)
1/2 c. non-fat vanilla yogurt (up to 1 cup for a thicker smoothie)
A few dashes of ground cinnamon
4 cinnamon graham crackers, crushed
Directions
Well ahead of time, place the pumpkin pie filling into a freezer-safe container. Freeze for a few hours (or over night) until frozen solid.
To make the smoothie:
- Add the milk and yogurt to a blender.
- Drop in the frozen pumpkin pie filling and blend until the frozen filling is completely pulverized.
- Add in a dash of cinnamon – or more if you love cinnamon (you can also try other fall spices!)
- Add more milk or yogurt as needed to get it the consistency you’d like.
- Pour into individual glasses and sprinkle the tops with graham cracker crumbs. Serve immediately!
- Sprinkle a bit of cinnamon on top if you wish
White Bean, Pumpkin & Turkey Chili
From Skinny Taste
A perfect fall chili made with pumpkin puree, ground turkey, white beans, green chili and spices. Top this with chopped fresh cilantro, scallions, jalapeños, or cheddar and serve it with baked chips on the side for a wonderful lunch or dinner.
Ingredients
▢olive oil spray,
▢2 lbs 99% lean ground turkey
▢1/2 teaspoon olive oil
▢1 small onion, chopped
▢3 garlic cloves, minced
▢1 teaspoon chili powder, to taste
▢2 bay leaves
▢1 1/2 tbsp cumin
▢1 tsp oregano
▢2 15 oz cans white northern or navy beans, rinsed and drained
▢15 oz can pumpkin puree, or homemade
▢4.5 oz can chopped green chile
▢2 cups low sodium chicken broth, check labels for GF
▢kosher salt and pepper to taste
▢chopped cilantro, red onion or chives for topping
▢Greek yogurt or low-fat sour cream for topping, optional
Instructions
Slow Cooker Version
Heat a large skillet over high heat and lightly spray with oil.
Add meat and cook, breaking it up until white, about 5 minutes. Transfer to the crock pot.
Add oil to the skillet, then onions, garlic, sauté about 3 – 4 minutes; add cumin and sauté another minute. Transfer to crock pot.
Add beans, pumpkin puree, green chilis, broth, chili powder, oregano, and bay leaves. Cover and cook on high for 4 hours or low for 8 hours.
Remove bay leaves and adjust seasoning to taste before serving. Enjoy!
Instant Pot:
Press saute and lightly spray with oil. Add meat and cook, breaking it up until white, about 5 minutes. Set aside.
Add oil to the saute pan, then onions, garlic, sauté about 3 – 4 minutes; add cumin and sauté another minute. Return meat to the pot.
Add the beans, pumpkin puree, green chilis, broth, chili powder, oregano, and bay leaves.
Cover and cook on high pressure 25 minutes. Natural release.
Remove bay leaves and adjust seasoning to taste before serving. Enjoy!
Healthy Apple Crisp
From Sweet Savory & Steph
It’s apple season! This warm healthy apple crisp is the perfect comfort food to share with family and friends as the fall weather begins to arrive. If you’re going apple picking (visit our Live Well page for apple picking sites), this recipe is a must!
Ingredients
Apple Filling
2 lbs apples, 5 cups, cored and diced.
1 tablespoon corn starch
1 teaspoon lemon juice
2 tablespoons sugar
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
Crisp Topping
1/2 cup old fashioned oats
1/2 cup all purpose flour
2 tablespoons cane sugar
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1/4 cup light butter, melted, I use Land o’ Lakes brand
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
Preheat oven to 375°F.
Peel, core, and dice the apples. Combine the apples with the rest of the filling ingredients and place into a round pie or tarte dish.
Combine the flour, oats, sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla extract in a mixing bowl.
Melt the butter and add it to the dry ingredients. Stir to combine.
Using your fingers, sprinkle the crumble topping evenly on top of the apple mixture.
Bake at 375 for 40 minutes, or until the inside is cooked and the top is golden brown.
Serve with ice cream, whipped cream, or a dollup of yogurt.
Avocado and Chicken Salad
From Mediterranean kitchen
Ingredients:
- 2 cups cooked and diced chicken breast
- 2 ripe avocados, diced
- 1 cup cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup cucumber, diced
- 1/4 cup red onion, finely chopped
- 1/4 cup fresh and chopped cilantro
- 1/4 cup Plain Greek
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Mixed greens and/or spinach for serving
Directions:
- Prepare the Dressing:
In a small bowl, combine the Greek yogurt or mayonnaise, lime juice, minced garlic, salt, and pepper. Mix until well combined.
- Assemble the Salad:
In a large mixing bowl, combine the shredded or diced chicken, diced avocados, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, and chopped cilantro. Mix with the greens
Pour the dressing over the salad ingredients. Gently toss to combine, making sure everything is evenly coated with the dressing.
Lasagna Roll-Ups
From Food Network
This is the quick and lunch-friendly version of lasagna. Try tucking in a few pieces of pepperoni when you need to switch it up. And be sure to cook an extra noodle in case one tears!
Ingredients
- Kosher salt
- 8 lasagna noodles
- Olive oil, for tossing noodles
- 1 1/2 cups part-skim ricotta
- 3 tablespoons grated Parmesan
- 5 sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil, finely chopped
- 1 cup loosely packed fresh basil leaves, torn
- 24 pepperoni slices, optional
- 1 cup marinara sauce, for serving
Directions
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the lasagna noodles according to package directions. You may want to cook an extra noodle or 2 in case they rip. Drain and toss with some oil. Drape the noodles over the edge of the pot, without overlapping, to cool.
Meanwhile, mix the ricotta, Parmesan, tomatoes and 1/2 teaspoon salt together in a medium bowl.
Lay out the noodles and evenly divide the ricotta mixture on the noodles, spreading it from end to end of each noodle. Top each with about a few pieces of basil and 3 pepperoni slices per roll if using. Roll up and cut each roll in half to make 16 cylinders. Pack 4 pieces, ruffle-side up, in each lunch container and refrigerate. Pack 1/4 cup of marinara sauce in a separate container with each serving.
Southwestern Chicken Fajita Mason Jar Salad
From Food Network
Another Jar Recipe for the office or school!
Southwestern chicken fajita salad is the perfect grab-and-go lunch that requires minimal added effort, plus it’s a well-balanced meal with wholesome, real ingredients. Simply toss all of the ingredients together in a baking pan, then put it in the oven, set the timer, and walk away. You can enjoy the fajita mixture warm with a tortilla and rice, or, in this case, cold by incorporating it into a salad.
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1 1/2 pounds)
- 2 red bell peppers, sliced 2 zucchini, sliced
- 1 yellow onion, sliced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon fajita seasoning blend (no added sodium)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 medium roasted sweet potatoes, diced
- 3 cups greens of choice, such as spring mix
- Serving suggestions: avocado, cheese, cilantro, lime juice and sour cream, optional
Directions
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
Add the chicken, bell peppers, zucchini and onions to a large baking sheet. Drizzle the oil and seasoning blend over the mixture and stir to coat. Bake uncovered until the chicken is cooked through, 20 to 25 minutes.
To assemble, split the fajita mixture, sweet potatoes and greens in that order among four mason jars. These jars will keep for 3 to 5 days. Place the avocado, cheese, cilantro, lime juice and sour cream if using on top of the greens the morning of.
Cook’s Note
Roast the sweet potatoes in advance to enjoy as a snack throughout the week and to add to this salad. If not, you can roast them together with the vegetables and chicken. Simply add an extra teaspoon each of the oil and seasoning
Chicken, Avocado Cream and Quinoa Salad-in-a-Jar
From the Food Network
Enjoy a layered lunch with this portable, Mexican-inspired salad. Layer quinoa, corn, chicken, salsa and homemade avocado crema in wide-mouthed glass jars with lids.
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup red quinoa
- 1/2 cup cilantro leaves and tender stems, finely chopped, plus sprigs for garnish
- 1 scallion, thinly sliced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Kosher salt
- 1 firm-ripe avocado, halved, pitted and cut into large chunks
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 3 tablespoons grated Parmesan
- Juice of 1 lime, plus 1 lime, quartered
- Pinch cayenne pepper
- 1 1/2 cups frozen fire-roasted corn, thawed
- 2 cups shredded rotisserie chicken meat (from about 1/2 chicken; about 3/4 pound)
- 1 cup black bean salsa
- 1/4 cup roasted and salted pepitas
- 2 cups tortilla chips, crushed
Directions
Special equipment: Four 16-ounce wide-mouthed glass jars with lids
Make the quinoa: Bring the quinoa and 1 1/4 cups water to a boil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Cover, reduce heat to medium-low and gently simmer until the quinoa is tender (the little tails will pop out) and most of the water is absorbed, 20 to 25 minutes. Drain off any excess water. Stir in the cilantro, scallions, oil and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Serve warm or at room temperature. (The quinoa can be cooled, covered and refrigerated for up to 2 days. Microwave just enough to take the chill off, about 2 minutes, stirring about halfway through.)
Make the avocado cream: Process or blend the avocado, sour cream, Parmesan, lime juice, 1 to 2 tablespoons water, cayenne and 3/4 teaspoon salt in a food processor or blender until smooth and creamy.
If the corn still has a chill, microwave it for about 1 minute.
Assemble the salads: Using four 16-ounce wide-mouthed glass jars with lids, divide the quinoa evenly among the jars, then add the following in separate layers: the corn, chicken, salsa, avocado cream and pepitas. Pack the crushed tortilla chips (about 1/4 cup per salad) and lime wedges in separate small containers for transporting.
Just before serving, transfer the jarred ingredients to a large bowl, add the tortilla chips and a squeeze of lime juice and toss.
Carrot-Orange Juice
You don’t have to hit a juice bar to get these flavorful drinks on. Grab a colorful array of produce and sip on one of these satisfying juices.
Check out all the Juice Recipes from the Food Network
For the Carrot-Orange Juice recipe, elevate plain old orange juice by adding carrots to the mix. Rich in beta carotene, the carrots also offer a delicious way to temper the citrusy sweetness of the oranges. Stir in chia seeds after juicing, for a thicker texture — and a healthy dose of fiber and protein.
- 3 medium carrots, peeled
- 2 medium oranges, peel and pith removed
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds, optional
Juice the carrots, then the oranges, following your juicer’s specific settings for each. Stir in the chia seeds if using and let soak for 5 minutes. Serve the juice immediately over ice, if desired.
Summer Marinated & Grilled Salmon Kabobs
Try this recipe on the grill. It’s healthy and tasty! No grill? Try roasting the kabobs in the oven.
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 – 2 pounds salmon, cubed
- 2 lemons, sliced
- Large Cherry Tomatoes
- Other kabob veggies if you desire – onion, mushrooms, zucchini slices, etc.
- Wooden kabob skewers
FOR THE MARINADE:
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon water
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon Dijon Mustard
- 2 teaspoons sesame seeds
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon coarse salt
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
Instructions:
- Add the marinade ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Mix well
- Place the cubed salmon into the marinade and cover the bowl.
- Refrigerate for 1 to 2 hours to allow the salmon to marinate.
- While the salmon marinates, soak the wooden skewers.
- Assemble the skewers with a lemon slice and tomato between each of the salmon cubes, about 5 salmon pieces per kabob.
- Preheat grill to high heat
- Use a grill grate or a piece of heavy aluminum foil.
- Grill salmon for 10 minutes, turning once to evenly brown both sides.
TERRIFIC TOMATO TART
From Taste of Home
This delightful tart makes the most of the endless tomatoes we all have during gardening season. Use store-bought phyllo dough and pesto for an easy and elegant-looking appetizer.
Ingredients
12 sheets phyllo dough (14×9 inches)
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons dry bread crumbs
2 tablespoons prepared pesto
3/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
1 medium tomato, cut into 1/4-inch slices
1 large yellow tomato, cut into 1/4-inch slices
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1/4 teaspoon pepper
5 to 6 fresh basil leaves, thinly sliced
Directions
Preheat oven to 400°. Place 1 sheet of phyllo dough on a baking sheet lined with parchment. (Keep remaining phyllo covered with a damp towel to prevent it from drying out.) Brush with 1/2 teaspoon oil and sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon bread crumbs. Repeat layers, being careful to brush oil all the way to edges.
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Fold each side 3/4 in. toward center to form a rim. Spread with pesto and sprinkle with half the feta cheese. Alternately arrange the red and yellow tomato slices over cheese. Sprinkle with pepper and remaining feta.
Bake until crust is golden brown and crispy, 20-25 minutes. Cool on a wire rack for 5 minutes. Remove parchment before cutting. Garnish with basil.
Grilled Steak Summer Salad
Grilled Steak Summer Salad
From Delish
A salad idea packed with steak protein! A great summer meal.
Ingredients
DRESSING
4 cloves garlic, peeled, smashed
1/2 c. extra-virgin olive oil
1/3 c. balsamic vinegar
1/2 tsp. granulated sugar
1/2 tsp. kosher salt
1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
See All Nutritional Information
SALAD
1 medium red onion, cut into 1/2″ slices
1 tsp. extra-virgin olive oil
Kosher salt
1 1/4 lb. boneless ribeye steak
Freshly ground black pepper
5 oz. baby arugula and/or baby spinach
1 avocado, pitted, sliced
1 c. cherry tomatoes, halved
4 oz. blue cheese, crumbled
Torn fresh basil leaves, for serving
Directions
DRESSING
Step 1
In a small saucepan over medium heat, cook garlic and oil, stirring occasionally, until garlic is fragrant and softened, 5 to 7 minutes. Let cool slightly.
Step 2
Transfer garlic and oil to a blender. Add vinegar, granulated sugar, salt, and pepper and blend until very smooth. Pour into a jar and refrigerate until ready to use.
Step 3
Make Ahead: Dressing can be made 1 week ahead. Keep refrigerated.
SALAD
Step 1
Prepare a grill for medium-high heat; heat 5 minutes and clean grates well. Drizzle onion with oil; season with salt. Generously season steak with salt and pepper.
Step 2
Grill onions, turning once, until char marks appear, 2 to 3 minutes per side, and grill steak, turning occasionally, until an instant-read thermometer inserted into thickest part registers 130° for medium-rare, about 6 minutes per side. Transfer onions and steak to a cutting board. Let cool slightly. Thinly slice steak against the grain.
Step 3
On a large platter, arrange arugula. Top with steak, onions, avocado, tomatoes, blue cheese, and basil. Drizzle with dressing before serving.
MAHI MAHI TACOS
From Delish
Need an escape to the Hawaiian Islands this summer? Bring Hawaii to you! Mahi Mahi means “very strong” in Hawaiian; throw the fish on a tortilla with a spicy pineapple salsa for the best summer taco night.
Ingredients
FOR THE PINEAPPLE SALSA
2 c. pineapple, chopped
1/2 medium white onion, thinly sliced
1 jalapeño, thinly sliced
1 Tbsp. fresh cilantro, finely chopped
1/4 c. apple cider vinegar
2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
FOR THE MAHI MAHI TACOS
1 tsp. smoked paprika
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. onion powder
1/2 tsp. kosher salt
1/4 tsp. oregano
1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
1/4 tsp. cumin
Pinch cayenne (optional)
1 Tbsp. mayonnaise
1 lb. mahi mahi fillets, sliced into 6 taco-size portions
Corn tortillas
Fresh cilantro, for serving
Lime wedges, for serving
Directions
Step 1
Make the pineapple salsa: In a large bowl, combine pineapple, onion, jalapeño, cilantro, vinegar, and oil. Toss to coat, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes, or up to 2 hours.
Step 2
In a small bowl, combine paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, oregano, pepper, cumin, and cayenne.
Step 3
Pat mahi mahi dry and transfer to a large bowl. Spoon over mayo and sprinkle with the spice mixture. Toss fish until completely coated and refrigerate for at least 20 minutes, or up to 1 hour.
Step 4
Preheat grill to medium high for 3 minutes. Grill fish until charred and fully cooked through, 6 to 8 minutes, flipping halfway through.
Step 5
In the last minute of cooking, add tortillas to the grill until pliable and slightly charred on both sides. Assemble tacos with a piece of fish, a bit of pineapple salsa, a sprinkle of cilantro, and some lime wedges.
GRILLED EGGPLANT WITH GREEK RELISH AND CREAMY POLENTA
From Feasting at Home
Perfectly tender smoky Grilled Eggplant with fresh Greek relish and creamy polenta. An easy and healthy meatless dinner. Vegan adaptable and gluten-free.
Creamy Polenta:
4 cups water
1 teaspoons sea salt
1 cup polenta
1–2 tablespoons unsalted butter, or olive oil
Fresh Greek Relish:
1 cup tomatoes, chopped about 1 medium
1 cup cucumber, about 1 small
1/2 cup sweet onion, chopped small
1 tablespoon fresh oregano, finely chopped
1/2 cup fresh basil, torn into bite size pieces
1/3 cup pitted kalamata olives, cut in half
1/2 cup cooked chickpeas
2 teaspoons sherry vinegar
3 tablespoons olive oil
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
optional- 3-6 oz feta(sheep feta is preferred)
Grilled Eggplant:
2 medium eggplants, cut in 3/4 inch rounds
olive oil
sea salt
INSTRUCTIONS
Make Polenta:
Boil water with salt.
Slowly add polenta while whisking. Stir until slightly thickening and fully incorporated.
Turn heat to low. Cover and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring 2-3 times.
Once polenta has softened, stir in butter or olive oil.
Make the Greek relish:
Mix all ingredients together in a medium bowl.
Grill Eggplant:
Heat the grill to full high heat.
Brush eggplant with olive oil.
Turn the grill to medium heat, sprinkle salt over eggplant, and place on the grill. Close the lid for 3- 4 minutes. This is the key to perfectly cooked eggplant, assuring that it is baking while it grills. Flip over, salting again if desired, cook for another 4 minutes. Flip the eggplant over and close the lid again for another 3-4 minutes.
The eggplant will continue to soften once removed from the heat. You can stack them on top of each other, covered with foil, to continue to cook and soften.
Assemble:
Divide polenta among 4 bowls, then top with grilled eggplant and the fresh Greek relish.
NOTES
Alternatively, you can roast the Eggplant. To roast, prepare the same way, brushed with oil and place them on a parchment lined sheet pan, in a 425 F oven for 20-25 minutes, or until tender and golden.
MEXICAN GRILLED SALMON WITH AVOCADO CUCUMBER SALSA
From Feasting at Home
A delicious, healthy low-carb meal perfect for hot summer nights.
INGREDIENTS IN GRILLED SALMON SALAD
salmon filets
salt, pepper, chili powder, cumin
avocado
cucumber
jalapeno
cilantro
lime- juice and zest
Olive oil
Greek yogurt
garlic
cilantro
salt and pepper
little gem lettuces or romaine hearts
HOW TO MAKE GRILLED SALMON SALAD
Step one: Salmon is rubbed with cumin, chili powder and salt and placed on a hot grill. Sear for just a few minutes on each side.
Step two: Combine Avocado with cucumber, scallions, lime zest and cilantro, and mix with olive oil and lime juice. Season with salt and pepper.
Step Three: Simply whisk the tangy dressing up in a bowl.
ASSEMBLE THE GRILLED SALMON SALAD
Toss the dressing with greens. Little gems or baby romaine work great here- crisp enough to hold up to the warm salad! Make a bed for the salmon to sit on. Place the warm grilled salmon over top, then spoon with some of the avocado salsa.
Voila! Dinner is ready. So delicious, light, but satisfying!
THAI LARB SALAD
From Feasting at Home
A 30-minute recipe for Thai Larb Salad, a fresh and flavorful Thai salad loaded up with crunchy cucumber, radishes and fresh herbs, tossed in a tangy lime dressing! Serve it with sticky rice, lettuce wraps, or both! Video. Vegetarian-adaptable.
LARB INGREDIENTS
Ground meat- ground turkey, ground chicken, ground beef or ground lamb. You could also sub a plant-based “meat”, or crumbled extra firm tofu.
Garlic and Onion
Fresh chilies – thai chilies, serrano or jalapeno
Lemongrass
Fresh herbs– mint, thai basil, cilantro or a mix
Fish sauce– adds depth here!
Lime juice– For amazing tangy brightness
Sugar or other sweetener
Toasted Rice powder– optional, but traditional.
HOW TO MAKE LARB:
Step 1: Start with “quick-pickling” the red onions. This removes some of the bitterness and bite. Thin slice the onions.
Tip: At the same time that the larb is cooking you could set a pot of jasmine rice to cook on the stove.
Step 2: In a skillet, saute onion, garlic and lemongrass until tender. Add chili flakes.
Step 3: Add the ground meat to the pan. Use your choice of ground chicken, turkey, beef, pork or lamb. Here I’ve used lamb. If using lamb and new to cooking with lamb, keep in mind, using ground lamb is the easiest place to start. Treat it like you would ground beef. And just in case you are wondering, a 3 oz. serving of American Lamb is very nutrient-dense, packed full protein (23 grams) and an excellent source of zinc, selenium, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B12, and vitamin B6 – which all help to boost immunity!
Step 4: While the ground meat is cooking, prep the cucumber, radishes, scallions and fresh herbs. Here I’ve used colorful watermelon radishes, but feel free to use regular radishes, they add a nice crunch.
Step 5: Drain the fat from the browned meat placing it over a strainer, (especially important if chilling the salad) then add the warm meat to the bowl with the cucumbers, radish, onions and herbs.
Tip: If trying to watch your fat intake or calories, you could rinse the meat in a fine-mesh strainer.
Step 6: Season! Give it a toss with fish sauce and lime juice. Adjust the lime juice and heat to your liking. Find the balance! Larb is generally really tangy from the lime juice, with lots of debt from the fish sauce. A little brown sugar, or honey is added to help balance out the flavors.
Step7: To bump up the heat, add fresh chili, chopped up finely extra for heat, totally optional.
Serve the Larb warm, or chill it for later. Either way you will love the flavor!
HONEY RICOTTA MOUSSE WITH STRAWBERRIES
From Food and Wine
Impress your children with a scrumptious dessert that takes only 15 minutes to prepare. Simply chill it in the fridge and surprise them for a summer treat!
Ingredients
- 1 pound Homemade Fresh Ricotta or store-bought fresh ricotta, drained
- 2 tablespoons clover honey, plus more for drizzling
- 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla bean paste or extract
- Pinch of kosher salt
- 1 cup heavy cream
- Toasted almond slices, sliced fresh strawberries, and fresh mint leaves, for garnish
Directions
Process ricotta, honey, vanilla bean paste, and salt in a food processor until very smooth, about 2 minutes, stopping to scrape down sides of bowl as needed.
Whip heavy cream in a large bowl until stiff peaks form, 1 to 2 minutes. Add ricotta mixture, and gently whisk to combine. Using a rubber spatula, fold mixture until evenly incorporated, 3 to 5 times. Divide mixture evenly among 4 glasses or bowls. Cover and refrigerate until firm and set, at least 1 hour or up to overnight.
Garnish mousse with toasted almond slices, sliced fresh strawberries, mint leaves, and a drizzle of honey. Serve immediately.
BLUEBERRY BAKED OATS
From Good Food
Oats and blueberries it also pack a serious nutrition punch that’s good for the body and the mind. Blueberries are rich in antioxidants and folate which support the production of serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine – key brain chemicals involved in mood regulation and balance. Oats also offer a great source of slow-release energy which helps to stabilize mood and blood sugar levels throughout the day.
Click here to get the Measurement Conversions from Metric
Ingredients
500ml almond milk
200g whole oats
2 tbsp almond butter
1 tsp baking powder
1 egg, beaten
1 small ripe banana, mashed
½ tsp almond extract or 1 tsp vanilla extract (optional)
450g blueberries, plus extra to serve
30g whole, skin-on almonds, roughly chopped
milk or fat-free yogurt and honey, to serve (optional)
Method
STEP 1
Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Mix all of the ingredients together in a large bowl.
STEP 2
Tip the mixture into a 2-litre ovenproof dish, then bake for 30-35 mins until piping hot in the middle. Serve warm with a little milk or yogurt, honey and extra blueberries, if you like.
STRAWBERRY NICE CREAM!
From Eating Well
May is National Strawberry Month! This luscious strawberry nice cream is a wonderful healthy ice cream alternative. It’s all fruit, dairy-free, vegan and contains no added sugar, but is bursting with sweet berry flavor.
Ingredients
1 pound fresh strawberries
2 medium bananas
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
Directions
Hull and coarsely chop strawberries. Peel and coarsely chop bananas. Spread the strawberries and bananas on separate sides of one baking sheet or on two sheets. Freeze until solid, at least 12 hours.
Let the strawberries thaw at room temperature for 15 minutes. Transfer to a food processor; pulse until finely chopped, about 10 pulses. Add the frozen bananas and lemon juice; process until smooth, 1 to 1 1/2 minutes, adding up to 1/4 cup cold water if needed to achieve desired consistency, stopping to scrape down sides of bowl as needed. Serve immediately or, for a firmer texture, transfer to a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 30 minutes.
¼ cup ice-cold water, as needed.
ASPARAGUS QUICHE
From The Pioneer Woman
It’s a real celebration of spring flavor! And a perfect Mother’s Day treat.
With tender-crisp asparagus, green onion, fresh dill, and salty crumbled feta, this asparagus quiche is like a celebration on your plate!
Ingredients
1 refrigerated pie crust (from a 14-oz. box)
1 tbsp. plus 1 tsp. kosher salt
12 oz. fresh asparagus, trimmed
5 large eggs
1/2 c. whole milk
1/2 c. sour cream
1 tbsp. dijon mustard
1 tbsp. chopped fresh dill
1/2 tsp. ground black pepper
4 oz. crumbled feta cheese
3 green onions, thinly sliced
Directions
1. Preheat the oven to 425°F.
2. Fit the pie crust into a 9-inch pie plate (not deep dish). Fold the edges of the crust under and crimp as you like. Place the crust in the refrigerator for 30 minutes (or freezer for 15 minutes).
3. Line the inside of the crust with parchment paper, then fill it with baking weights or dried beans. Bake until the edges of the crust are very lightly golden, 14 to 17 minutes. Remove the pie weights and parchment paper. Return the crust to the oven and bake until the crust is dry and lightly golden all over, 5 to 8 minutes more. Allow the crust to cool slightly on a wire rack.
4. Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan, bring 6 cups of water to a boil. Add 1 tablespoon of salt and the asparagus. Cook until crisp-tender, 2 to 3 minutes. Drain, and immediately place in ice water to stop the cooking process. Drain again, and dry very thoroughly. Slice 6 asparagus in half lengthwise. Cut the remaining asparagus crosswise into 1-inch pieces.
5. Reduce the oven temperature to 325°F.
6. In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, sour cream, mustard, dill, pepper, and the remaining 1 teaspoon of salt. Sprinkle the 1-inch sliced asparagus, cheese, and green onion into the prepared crust. Pour the custard over the vegetables. Arrange the lengthwise sliced asparagus on top of the custard, overlapping if necessary. Bake until set in the center and slightly puffed at the edges, 45 minutes to 1 hour.
7. Allow to cool for at least 40 minutes before slicing with a serrated knife. Serve warm, at room temperature, or chilled.
ROASTED SWEET POTATO KALE FRITTATA
From Eating Bird Food
This sweet potato kale frittata is a quick and easy healthy meal that can be whipped up in less than 35 minutes and served for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
Ingredients
3 teaspoons avocado or olive oil, divided
1/2 cup red onion, sliced or chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1 1/2 cups de-stemmed kale, chopped
1 Tablespoon fresh thyme, plus more for topping
8 eggs
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
2 ounces soft goat cheese
2 cups sweet potatoes, chopped into bite-size pieces
hot sauce, for topping
Instructions
Preheat oven: Preheat the oven to 375ºF.
Roast sweet potatoes: Spread chopped sweet potatoes on a baking sheet with 1 teaspoon of oil. Toss and then roast for about 20 minutes or until tender.
Roasted sweet potato chunks on a sheet pan.
Sauté veggies: In the meantime, melt remaining 2 teaspoons oil in an ovenproof skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and sauté until tender and golden, 8 to 10 minutes. Add the kale and thyme cook for another minute, until kale has just wilted. Remove from heat and add roasted sweet potatoes once they’re done.
Sautéed kale and onion in a skillet.
Beat eggs: Crack the eggs into a large bowl, add the salt and beat well with a fork.
Whisking eggs in a large bowl with a fork.
Add to skillet: Pour the beaten eggs into the skillet and use the fork to press the vegetables down into the egg mixture so that the eggs cover the veggies completely. Crumble the goat cheese over the top, then place the pan in the oven and bake until the center is set and lightly golden, 10 to 15 minutes.
Kale frittata in a skillet before being baked.
Serve: Cut into wedges and serve warm with a sprinkle of fresh thyme. I also like adding a drizzle of hot sauce on top!
Store: Frittata will keep in the fridge for up to 5 days.
THE ULTIMATE HEALTHY CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES
From Amy’s Healthy Baking
Give this dark chocolate truffle recipe a try for a melt-in-your mouth treat that might be the end-of-the-day stress buster you need!
INGREDIENTS
1 cup (80g) unsweetened cocoa powder (measured like this – and see Notes!)
¼ cup (60mL) unsweetened vanilla almond milk
¼ cup (60mL) pure maple syrup
optional: melted chocolate, for coating, or other coatings
INSTRUCTIONS
Add the cocoa powder to a small bowl. Make a well in the center. Pour in the milk and maple syrup. Stir with a fork until all of the cocoa powder is fully incorporated. (It takes some effort and patience. See Notes!) Chill the mixture for 30 minutes.
Line a baking sheet with wax paper or parchment paper.
Roll the chilled chocolate mixture into 16 balls. (If the mixture sticks to your hands, wipe them with a very lightly moistened paper towel in between rolling each one.) After rolling each one, place onto the prepared baking sheet.
Coat the truffles, if desired (see Notes!), before transferring to an airtight container. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
TOMATO-BACON PIZZA WITH ARUGULA TOPPER – THINK BLT PIZZA!
From My Recipes
Instead of ordering a pizza try this for a healthy spin on this favorite food! What’s better than a bacon pizza? And who doesn’t love a good BLT? Instead of having an arugula salad on the side, put it on top of your pizza for fresh flavor that pairs perfectly with the tomato and applewood-smoked bacon pizza toppings.
Ingredients
1 pound refrigerated fresh pizza dough
Cooking spray
5 applewood-smoked bacon slices
2 cups grape tomatoes, halved lengthwise
½ teaspoon crushed red pepper
1 tablespoon yellow cornmeal
½ cup lower-sodium marinara sauce (such as McCutcheon’s)
¾ cup (3 ounces) shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
1 cup baby arugula
1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil
½ teaspoon white wine vinegar
Directions
Step 1
Preheat oven to 450°.
Step 2
Place dough in a bowl coated with cooking spray; let dough stand, covered, for 15 minutes.
Step 3
Cook bacon in a skillet over medium heat until crisp. Remove bacon; crumble. Add tomatoes and pepper to drippings in pan; cook 2 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Step 4
Sprinkle a baking sheet with cornmeal; roll dough into a 12-inch circle on prepared baking sheet. Spread sauce evenly over dough, leaving a 1/2-inch border. Top with tomatoes and bacon. Sprinkle cheese over top. Bake at 450° on bottom oven rack for 17 minutes or until crust is golden. Combine arugula and remaining ingredients; top pizza with arugula mixture.
RASPBERRY PISTACHIO SMOOTHIE
From The Almond Eater
When stressed we often reach for unhealthy snacks. Chips and Blue Bell ice cream are not the best answer for a stressful day. But this Raspberry Pistachio Smoothie is healthy and yummy. It is salty-sweet perfection and is full of vitamin C thanks to the strawberries and orange.
INGREDIENTS
¾ cup raspberries fresh or frozen
¼ cup strawberries fresh or frozen
½ orange
2 tablespoon pistachios
1 tablespoon honey
¼ cup milk or more as needed; any kind
Instructions
Place ingredients in a blender and pulse until smooth, about 1 minute. Enjoy!
*Ingredients: You can use both raspberries AND strawberries, or just one or the other; can use maple syrup or agave instead of honey to keep this vegan; If you want a THICK smoothie, use frozen berries (you will need to add more milk if you do this)
Try adding yogurt, chia seeds, flaxseed, avocado, spinach, or kale!
TERIYAKI SALMON WITH PICKLED VEGETABLES
From Delish
Omega-3 fatty acids, found in salmon, can prevent surges in stress hormones, pairing this protein with a delicious teriyaki sauce could be considered self-care. Give this easy but healthy and delicious recipe a try!
INGREDIENTS
1/4 cup (60ml) gluten-free tamari (naturally brewed soy sauce)
1 tablespoon caster sugar
2 tablespoons mirin (sweet Japanese rice wine)
1 tablespoon sake or shaohsing (Chinese rice wine)
4 skinless salmon fillets
Steamed rice, to serve
1 teaspoon black or white sesame seeds
PICKLED VEGETABLES
1 Lebanese cucumber, halved, seeds removed, very thinly sliced
100ml rice vinegar
1 teaspoon caster sugar
1 small carrot, cut into thin matchsticks
1/2 daikon radish, cut into matchsticks
2 tablespoons Japanese pickled ginger, shredded
METHOD
- Combine the tamari, sugar, mirin and sake in a small bowl, stirring to dissolve sugar. Place fish in a shallow dish, pour over the tamari mixture, then marinate in the fridge for up to 30 minutes.
- Meanwhile for the pickled vegetables, place the cucumber in a sieve set over the sink. Sprinkle with 2 teaspoons salt, then stand for 10 minutes. Rinse well, then pat dry with paper towel. Simmer the vinegar and sugar in a pan over low heat for 5 minutes. Cool slightly, then toss with cucumber, carrot, daikon and ginger. Chill while you cook salmon.
- Preheat the oven to 180°C. Line a tray with baking paper.
- Place salmon on the tray, pour over the marinade and bake for 8-10 minutes until just cooked.
Serve the salmon with rice and pickled vegetables, sprinkled with sesame seeds.
Pasta Primavera
From Food and Wine
Pasta primavera is a Italian dish that derives its name from the season of spring and features a vibrant medley of fresh, colorful vegetables.
INGREDIENTS
- 1 pound fresh asparagus (medium to thick stalks), trimmed
- 6 ounces small multicolored carrots (about 12 carrots)
- 12 ounces uncooked bronze-cut durum wheat tagliatelle pasta (such as Seggiano Organic)
- 12 tablespoons cold unsalted butter (6 ounces), cut into 1/2-inch pieces, divided
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped garlic (from 3 medium garlic cloves)
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 4 ounces fresh sugar snap peas, trimmed and thinly sliced lengthwise (about 1 cup)
- 1 cup fresh pea shoots, plus more for garnish
- 3/4 ounce Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, grated with a Microplane grater (about 1/2 cup), plus more for garnish
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
- 2 teaspoons chopped fresh tarragon
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest plus 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice (from 1 lemon)
Directions
Using a Y-shaped vegetable peeler, shave asparagus into very thin ribbons to equal 1 cup. Shave the purple carrots (from multicolored carrots) into very thin ribbons to equal 1/2 cup. Shave remaining carrots into very thin ribbons to equal 1/2 cup. (Reserve remaining asparagus and carrots for another use.) Set aside.
Cook pasta in a pot according to master technique (until very al dente, about 3 minutes shorter than package directions call for).
While pasta cooks, place purple carrot ribbons in a fine wire-mesh strainer. Lower strainer into boiling water with pasta, and cook carrots until tender, about 20 seconds. Remove strainer; drain carrots, and set aside. Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a large skillet over medium. Add garlic; cook, stirring often, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add 1/4 cup water; let come to a simmer. Gradually whisk in 5 tablespoons butter, one piece at a time, waiting until butter is nearly melted before adding the next piece. Stir in salt.
Using tongs, lift cooked pasta from pot and transfer to skillet, reserving cooking liquid in pot. Increase heat under skillet to medium-high. Add snap peas, asparagus ribbons, uncooked carrot ribbons (do not add purple carrot ribbons), and remaining 6 tablespoons butter; cook, stirring and shaking skillet constantly, adding 1/4 cup reserved cooking liquid at a time, until a creamy sauce forms and clings to pasta, 2 to 3 minutes.
Remove skillet from heat. Add pea shoots, cheese, chives, tarragon, and lemon zest and juice, stirring constantly until thoroughly combined and cheese is melted. (Add a little more cooking liquid if necessary to maintain a creamy consistency.)
Remove skillet from heat. Add pea shoots, cheese, chives, tarragon, and lemon zest and juice, stirring constantly until thoroughly combined and cheese is melted. (Add a little more cooking liquid if necessary to maintain a creamy consistency.)
ITALIAN LENTIL SALAD
From Food Network
We’re heading into salad season! Well, we think salads are great for any time of year, but with springtime comes more fresh produce! Enjoy this fresh green lentil-based salad with bell pepper, cucumber, chopped and toasted hazelnuts and grapes.
INGREDIENTS
1 lb(s) green lentils (recommended: Sabarot)
2scallions, chopped
1cup halved seedless green grapes
1cup halved seedless red grapes
1cucumber, peeled, seeded and diced
1red bell pepper, seeded and diced
½cup coarsely chopped, skinned and toasted hazelnuts
2tsp lemon zest (from about 2 lemons)
Vinaigrette
⅓ cup fresh lemon juice (from 1 to 2 lemons)
⅓cup extra-virgin olive oil
½ tsp kosher salt
¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper
DIRECTIONS
Step 1
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the lentils and cook until tender, stirring occasionally, about 18 to 20 minutes. Drain and let cool for 5 minutes. Place lentils and remaining salad ingredients in a large salad bowl.
Step 2
Place the lemon juice in a small bowl. Slowly add the oil, whisking constantly, until combined. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
Step 3
Pour the vinaigrette over the salad and toss well.
AVGOLEMONO SOUP (AKA GREEK LEMON CHICKEN SOUP)
From Closet Cooking
A light and bright Greek style lemon chicken soup with rice that is thickened with eggs. Enjoy!
Prep Time: 5 minutes Cook Time: 25 minutes Total Time: 25 minutes Servings: 4
Ingredients
1 tablespoon oil
1 onion, diced
6 cups chicken broth or chicken stock
1/2 cup arborio rice
3 eggs, lightly beaten
2 cups cooked chicken
2 lemons, juice and zest
2 tablespoons white miso paste (optional)
salt to taste
Directions
Heat the oil in a pan over medium-high heat, add the onions and cook until tender, about 3-5 minutes.
Add the chicken broth and rice, bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer until the rice is cooked, al-dente, about 15-20 minutes.
Slowly pour 1 cup of the hot broth into the eggs while whisking and then slowly whisk the egg mixture into the soup.
Add the chicken, lemon juice and zest and cook to warm, about 5 minutes.
Remove from the heat, mix 1/4 cup of the hot broth with the miso paste and then mix the mixture back into the soup before seasoning with salt.
Option: Add extra vegetables like carrots and celery.
Option: Add garlic.
Option: Add 2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill!
Note: The miso paste is not traditional but an amazing addition!
ONE-BOWL BANANA BREAD OATMEAL CUPS
From Nourished by Nic
These Banana Bread Oatmeal Cups are naturally sweetened and packed with fiber, flavor and even protein! Perfect for an easy and healthy grab-and-go breakfast or snack during the week!
Ingredients
2.5 cups oats
¼ cup collagen *see substitutions below
2 teaspoon baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
tap here
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ cup maple syrup
1 cup milk
1 medium banana mashed
¼ cup peanut butter
1 egg
⅓ cup chocolate chips
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350F and line a 12 cavity muffin tin.
In a large mixing bowl combine oats, collagen, baking powder, cinnamon and salt. Add in your maple syrup, milk, mashed banana, peanut butter and egg and stir well. Add your chocolate chips and mix once more.
Divide your batter evenly among the cavities of your muffin tin (recipe should make about 12 baked oatmeal cups). *I typically pour about ¼ cup of batter into each cavity.
Bake for about 24-27 minutes or until the top is brown.
Notes
*Collagen sub: add an extra ¼ cup of oats, oat flour or protein powder!
*Store in the fridge in an airtight container for up to a week or freeze and microwave for up to 2 months
VEGAN HOTPOT WITH LENTILS AND MUSHROOMS
From Lazy Cat Kitchen
A healthy vegan comfort food recipe you will love!
INGREDIENTS
150 g / ¾ cup French green lentils (lentilles vertes)*
3 tbsp olive oil, divided
2 banana shallots, finely diced
4 large garlic cloves, finely diced
8 sprigs of thyme, leaves picked
250 g / 9 oz chestnut / cremini mushrooms
125 g / 4½ oz fresh shiitake mushrooms
4 medium starchy potatoes (I used Maris Piper)
1 large carrot, chopped large
30 ml / 2 tbsp soy sauce or tamari
¼ tsp black pepper
1 tsp smoked (sweet) paprika
½ vegan mushroom (or vegetable) stock cube
7 ml / 1½ tsp vegan Worcester sauce
15 ml / 3 tsp balsamic vinegar
120 ml / ½ cup vegan white wine (optional)
2 tsp cornflour / cornstarch dissolved in 1 tbsp water
salt
METHOD
Rinse lentils well and simmer them in plenty of water for about 30 minutes – they should only be partially cooked. Adding a piece of kombu to the cooking water is a good idea if you don’t digest lentils easily. Drain and set aside.
Heat up 30 ml / 2 tbsp oil in a skillet (I used a 26 cm / 10″ cast iron skillet but you can also use a frying pan and transfer the mixture to an oven-proof dish for baking). Add diced shallots and fry until almost translucent, stirring frequently. Add chopped garlic and thyme leaves (reserve some for the topping) and fry for a few more minutes, until shallots are translucent and garlic has softened.
While the shallots are frying, chop your mushrooms into large-medium chunks.
Slice potatoes into 2-3 mm slices and parboil them for 4 minutes. Drain, refresh under cold tap and allow them to cool.
Preheat the oven to 180° C / 355° F.
Add mushrooms to the skillet, sauté them (stirring frequently) until lightly caramelized in places.
Next, add in chopped carrot, cooked lentils, soy sauce, black pepper, smoked paprika, mushroom stock cube dissolved in 240 ml / 1 cup of water, Worcester sauce, balsamic vinegar, wine (if using, otherwise more water). Mix everything very well, taste (adjust the seasoning if necessary, it may need a bit more salt) and stir in cornflour slurry.
Arrange cooled potato slices on top of the lentil-mushroom mixture so that the slices overlap. Cover the top of the dish with a fitting lid or a piece of kitchen foil and bake for 20 minutes.
Remove the hotpot / casserole from the oven and increase the oven temperature to 220° C / 425° F.
Brush the tops of the potatoes with the last tablespoon of olive oil, sprinkle them with leftover thyme, salt and pepper. Return the uncovered dish to the oven and bake for about 30 minutes, until the potatoes are nicely browned.
GREEN VEGAN SALAD
GREEN VEGAN SALAD
From Lazy Cat Kitchen
This green vegan salad is a satisfying combination of the seasonal green vegetables, quinoa and salted almonds brought together by a tangy basil dressing. Gluten-free. Heart-healthy for sure!
INGREDIENTS
100 g / ½ cup quinoa*
250 g / 8¾ oz broccoli (½ medium)
100 g / 3½ oz asparagus
1 medium zucchini
65 g / ½ cup frozen peas or petit pois
100 g / 3½ oz mixed salad leaves
75 g / ½ cup almonds
1 small avocado, sliced
green part of 2 spring onions / scallions, sliced thinly
DRESSING (makes double)
80 ml / 1/3 cup olive oil
flesh and zest half a lemon
15 g / ½ oz basil, mint or both
1 garlic clove
salt and pepper, to taste
METHOD
Rinse quinoa well and place it in a small pot that you have a glass lid for. Add a few pinches of salt and 180 ml / ¾ cup of water, cover with a lid and bring to the boil. Once the water boils, decrease the heat to low-medium and let the quinoa simmer until all the water has been absorbed. To check, tilt the pot slightly, keeping the lid firmly on. If you see no water seeping out from under the grain, switch off the heat and let the quinoa sit (with the lid firmly on) for another 5-10 min to finish off cooking in its own steam. Cool it down completely.
Divide broccoli into small florets, snap wooden ends off the asparagus and cut zucchini into 0.5 cm / ¼” slices.
ROAST: Preheat the oven to 220° C / 428° F. Coat broccoli florets in 2 tsp of olive oil and season. Arrange on a large baking tray. Brush zucchini slices with olive oil on both sides, season and arrange on the same tray. Coat asparagus spears in 1 tsp of oil, season and place on the baking tray. Roast for about 8 minutes, take the asparagus off the tray if ready, carry on roasting broccoli and zucchini for another 5-7 minutes, until cooked through. Alternatively, you could use a griddle pan if you prefer.
STEAM: Bring a large pot of water to the boil and grab a steaming basket. Once the water comes to the boil, steam broccoli for about 5-6 minutes, zucchini slices for about 3 minutes, asparagus for about 3-5 minutes and peas for about 3 minutes. You will need to do the steaming in batches.
If you roasted your vegetables, bring a small pot of water to the boil, cook frozen petit pois or peas for about 3 minutes, drain and immediately refresh it under a cold tap to preserve the color.
Heat up 1 tsp of oil in a small frying pan, once warm add almonds. Toast them for a few minutes until golden and slightly plump, moving them around the pan frequently. Sprinkle with flaky salt before removing from the pan. Allow to cool down and chop roughly.
Put all the dressing ingredients in a small blender (I used Ninja blender for this). Make sure the lemon flesh does not include the bitter pith. Blend until smooth, adjust seasoning to taste.
Arrange all of the salad elements on a large platter, dress with approximately half of the dressing (keep the rest in the fridge, use up in the next few days) and sprinkle with toasted almonds at the end. Pieces of soft vegan cheese, like this almond feta, scattered on top are also a nice addition.
NOTES
*small pasta, like orzo, or chewy grain would work well too.
BLACK BEAN CHILAQUILES
From American Heart Association
Chilaquiles is a traditional Mexican breakfast dish in which crisp tortillas are simmered in salsa or mole sauce and then combined with eggs, queso fresco (fresh Mexican cheese), and beans. In this version, fresh tomato, cilantro, and jalapeño add more flavor. For a spicier dish, leave in the jalapeño seeds.
Ingredients
Servings 4 Serving Size 3/4 cup
• 6 large egg whites
• 2 large eggs
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 3 6-inch corn tortillas, stacked, cut into 3/4-inch strips, then cut crosswise into 1-inch squares
• 1/2 cup crumbled queso fresco or farmer’s cheese and 1/4 cup crumbled queso fresco or farmer’s cheese, divided use
• 3/4 cup canned no-salt-added black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 teaspoon chipotle powder
• 2 teaspoons canola oil
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 1 medium jalapeño, seeds and ribs discarded if desired, chopped
• 1 1/2 cups chopped seeded tomatoes
• 1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro
Directions
1. In a large bowl, using a fork, lightly beat the egg whites, eggs, and salt. Stir in the tortilla squares and 1/2 cup queso fresco.
2. In a small bowl, stir together the beans and chipotle powder. Fold into the egg white mixture. Set aside so the tortillas can soften.
3. In a large nonstick skillet, heat the oil over medium heat, swirling to coat the bottom. Cook the onion and jalapeño for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
4. Stir the tomatoes into the egg white mixture. Pour into the skillet. Cook for 4 to 5 minutes, or until the eggs are set, stirring occasionally. Just before serving, sprinkle with the cilantro and the remaining 1/4 cup queso fresco.
Quick Tips
Cooking Tip: An easy way to chop cilantro is to pull the leaves off the stems, put them in a custard cup or measuring cup, and coarsely snip them with sharp kitchen shears. This method also works well for other herbs, such as parsley and basil.
DARK CHOCOLATE FROZEN BANANA BITES
From Cleveland Clinic
A healthy and feel-good indulgence when you’re craving chocolate!
Made with heart-healthy and mood-boosting dark chocolate, and potassium and vitamin B6-rich bananas, these frozen bites will satisfy your sweet tooth and leave you feeling good.
Ingredients
1 banana
3 ounces dark chocolate, 70% cocoa or greater
1/2 teaspoon instant espresso
Directions
Slice banana into 16 quarter-inch slices.
Skewer each slice with two prong skewers and place on wax paper; freeze for one hour.
Create double boiler by placing metal bowl over saucepan with one inch of simmering water. Add chocolate, espresso coffee and stir continually until 3/4 melted.
Remove bowl from heat and continue stirring until completely melted.
Take banana slices from freezer and dip in chocolate until completely coated, allowing excess chocolate to drip off.
Place on wax paper and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
Serve and enjoy!
Nutrition information (per serving)
Makes 8 servings. Serving = 2 slices
Calories: 80
Cholesterol: 0 mg
Total fat: 5 g
Saturated fat: 3 g
Sodium: 0 mg
Carbohydrate: 8 g
Protein: 1 g
Fiber: 2 g
Sugar: 5 g
BREAKFAST BURRITO
From Love & Lemons
This breakfast burrito recipe is the best way to kickstart your morning. Filled with eggs and fresh veggies, it’s healthy, fun, and easy to make.
1 pound small round yellow potatoes, cut into ½ inch pieces
Extra-virgin olive oil, for drizzling
½ teaspoon smoked paprika
Pinches of red pepper flakes
1 red bell pepper
3 12-inch tortillas
1 cup fresh spinach
½ cup shredded red cabbage, optional, for color and crunch
9 scrambled eggs
¾ cup cooked black beans, drained and rinsed
½ cup pico de gallo
1 ripe avocado
½ cup cilantro leaves
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 lime, for squeezing
Cilantro Lime Dressing, for dipping
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 425°F and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Place the potatoes onto the sheet, drizzle with olive oil, and sprinkle generously with salt and pepper, the smoked paprika, and pinches of red pepper flakes. Toss to coat, spread evenly on the pan, and bake for 30 minutes or until golden brown and crisp around the edges.
Heat a grill pan on the stove to medium heat. Place the red pepper on the pan and let it char for 4 to 5 minutes per side, or until the pepper is soft and each side has black grill marks. Alternatively, you can roast it in the oven until soft. Remove from the grill, remove the stem and ribbing, and slice the pepper into strips.
Assemble the burritos: Divide the spinach leaves and red cabbage, if using, among the tortillas. Top with the scrambled eggs, red pepper strips, black beans, pico de gallo, potatoes, avocado, and cilantro. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and a squeeze of lime. Fold the left and right sides of the tortilla over the filling. Fold the bottom flap of the burrito up and over the filling, tucking the sides and the filling as you roll the burrito. Wrap in foil, slice, and serve with Cilantro Lime Dressing for dipping.
Notes
The best way to meal prep these breakfast burritos is to freeze them. See the blog post above for freezing and reheating instructions. Alternatively, you can prep the fillings ahead of time and assemble the burritos as you’re ready to eat.
EASY MUSHROOM FARRO RISOTTO
From Beautiful Plate
This mushroom farro risotto, or mushroom farrotto, is creamy, bursting with hearty mushroom and fresh herb flavor, and uses my favorite no-stir cooking method. Just before serving, we’ll stir in thawed peas for a touch of color and natural sweetness!
Equipment
Staub 5.5 Quart Round Cocotte
Imagine Organic Low-Sodium Chicken Broth
Ingredients
4 cups (1 quart) low sodium chicken broth
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
½ large yellow onion finely chopped (roughly 1 cup)
kosher salt
freshly ground black pepper
12 oz cremini (Baby Bella) mushrooms cleaned, trimmed, and thinly sliced
3 large garlic cloves finely chopped
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh thyme plus more for garnishing
1½ cups Bob’s Red Mill Organic Farro
¾ cup dry white wine such as Pinot Grigio
parmigiano-reggiano cheese rind optional
¾ cup grated parmigiano-reggiano cheese plus more for serving
1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
¾ cup frozen peas thawed
flat leaf parsley finely chopped, for garnishing
Instructions
Place the chicken broth in medium saucepan and bring to a low simmer. Keep over very low heat.
In a large Dutch oven (or heavy-bottomed pot), heat the butter over medium heat until melted and lightly bubbling. Add the onion, along with a generous sprinkle of kosher salt, and sauté over medium-low heat for 5 to 7 minutes, stirring often, until the onion is soft and translucent.
Increase the heat to high. Add the sliced mushrooms and stir to combine. After a minute or so, the mushrooms will begin to sweat and release their moisture. Continue cooking for an additional 2 to 3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the mushrooms have softened. Add the garlic and fresh thyme and sauté, stirring continuously, for 30 seconds or until fragrant. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Add the farro and toast over medium-high heat for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring continuously. The farro will crackle lightly and the pan should be mostly dry.
Add the white wine and cook over medium-high heat for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring every so often, or until the wine has been completely absorbed. Add the parmigiana rind (if using) and hot broth to the pot, stir to combine, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to a steady simmer, cover, and cook for 45 to 50 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes or so, or until the farro is tender (it will naturally be slightly chewy in center) and the risotto is thick.
Note: I like to remove the lid in the final 5 to 10 minutes of cooking, which promotes thickening and helps me more easily monitor the texture (i.e. if a fair amount of liquid is remaining, you can increase the heat slightly to reduce, etc.).
Over low heat, add the grated parmigiano-reggiano cheese and lemon juice and stir to combine. Fold in the thawed peas. Season to taste with kosher salt and freshly ground pepper. If the risotto tastes at all flat, you most likely need to add another generous sprinkle or two of salt.
Remove the pot from heat, cover, and allow the risotto to sit for 5 minutes before serving. This extra step helps thicken and release additional starches, and in my experience, results in an improved and more creamy ‘classic risotto-like’ texture. Remove and discard the parmigiano-reggiano rind, if using.
Serve the risotto in pre-warmed bowls. Garnish with fresh thyme leaves, finely chopped parsley, and freshly grated parmigiano-reggiano cheese, as desired.
HEALTHY SPAGHETTI SQUASH SPAGHETTI WITH MEAT SAUCE
Ingredients
For the squash:
1 whole spaghetti squash
1 to 2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon dried Italian herbs
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
For the sauce:
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 cups marinara or other pasta sauce, jarred or homemade
3/4 pound hot Italian turkey sausage, casings removed
Grated parmesan cheese, for serving, if desired
Directions
Preheat the oven to 400°F. With a large sharp knife, cut the spaghetti squash in half lengthwise and scoop out the seeds and membrane. Sprinkle the squash with olive oil, dried herbs, and salt and pepper to taste. Line a rimmed baking sheet or 9×13-inch dish with foil. Place the squash cut-side down in the baking dish. Cook for 30 to 40 minutes, or until fork tender.
Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large sauté pan. Add the turkey sausage and cook, breaking up into small pieces, until no more pink is showing. Add the sauce and stir until combined. Bring to a simmer then reduce to low heat and cook for at least 5 minutes, or up to 30 minutes.
Let the squash cool slightly then use the tines of the fork to scrape out the spaghetti strands of squash. Divide the squash among four plates and top with sauce. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
CROCK-POT HONEY GARLIC CHICKEN
Come home to a delicious meal with this Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken. Easy and yummy! Juicy slow cooker honey garlic chicken thighs with the best sauce, you will want to drink it straight out of the bowl!
Ingredients
CHICKEN: 6 large chicken thighs, skinless and bone-in (2 1/2 pounds or just over 1 kg)
1 tablespoon olive oil, divided
RUB:
1 teaspoon paprika (mild or smoked)
1/2 teaspoon brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon each garlic powder and onion powder
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper, (optional)
1 teaspoon coarse salt
1/4 teaspoon black cracked pepper
HONEY GARLIC BUTTER SAUCE:
1/2 cup (6-oz | 170 g) honey
1/2 cup (125 g | 4-oz) unsalted butter
6 cloves garlic, finely chppped or minced
2 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce
2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar, (or cider vinegar)
Good pinch of salt
1/2 teaspoon cracked black pepper
ADDITIONAL:
1/4 cup water, or chicken broth
2 teaspoons cornstarch (cornflour)
Instructions
CHICKEN:
Pat dry boneless, skinless chicken thighs with paper towel. Combine 1/2 tablespoon of oil with rub ingredients. Season chicken, rubbing the mixture into the chicken.
OPTIONAL SEAR: Heat remaining 1/2 tablespoon oil in a large pan or skillet over medium heat. Sear chicken for 2 minutes each side to get a nice sear. (Do not cook chicken all the way through, this step is purely for flavour.)
Transfer chicken thighs to a 6-qt (litre) slow cooker bowl.
SAUCE:
Melt butter in the same pan the chicken was in, scraping up any leftover browned bits in the pan. Add garlic and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant. Stir in remaining sauce ingredients; bring to a rapid simmer for 1 minute.
Remove from heat.
SLOW COOK:
Pour sauce over chicken in slow cooker bowl, flipping thighs in the sauce to evenly coat. Cover with lid and cook on HIGH heat setting for 2-3 hours, or LOW heat setting for 5-6 hours. Baste with sauce half way through cooking.
Transfer chicken onto serving dish and tent loosely with foil. Let rest for 5 minutes.
While chicken is resting: pour juices from the slow cooker bowl into a pot large enough to fit the liquid. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat.
Whisk 1/4 cup water (or broth) with 2 teaspoons of cornstarch/cornflour into a lumpfree slurry. Whisk into sauce and let simmer for a good 2-3 minutes, or until thickend into a syrup-like consistency. (Please note: sauce will thicken as it cools).
For a thicker sauce, repeat this step with 1 teaspoon extra cornstarch mixed with 2 teaspoons water. Add into sauce and cook until thickened. Continue this step until reaching your desired consistency.
BROIL:
Place slow cooked chicken thighs on a lined baking sheet. Baste chicken with some of the thickened sauce, about 2 tablespoons per thigh. Broil briefly for 1-2 minutes each side to char the edges.
Slice chicken and serve drizzled with Honey Garlic Butter Sauce.
NOTES
Use skinless, boneless chicken thighs. Skin on thighs are fine to use, as long as you sear the skin to render some of the fat to avoid too much fat melting into your braising liquid/sauce.
HEALTHY APPLE CRISP
Need a Holiday Dessert? Give this Easy Apple Crisp a try. It’s a great healthy option and is gluten and dairy free! Naturally sweet and delicious, it’s the perfect healthy dessert!
Ingredients
4 cups apples peeled + sliced in 1/4 inch thick pieces – about 1 lb – honeycrisp work best
1 tablespoon coconut oil melted
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
Crisp Topping
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1 cup old fashioned oats
1/3 cup pecans chopped
2 tablespoons coconut oil
1 tablespoon maple syrup
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 and prepare a greased 8×8 baking dish
Peel + cut apple slices into ¼ inch thick slices.
Melt coconut oil. Toss apples with coconut oil, cinnamon + ginger. Set aside.
Mix together crisp topping.
Pour apples into bottom of the baking dish. Layer crisp topping evenly on top of apples.
Cover apple crisp with aluminum foil and bake at 350 for 20 mins. After 20 minutes, remove cover and bake for another 10-20 minutes until apples are fork tender and crisp topping is golden brown.
SAUSAGE STUFFED ACORN SQUASH - From Julia's Album
Ingredients
2 acorn squash medium
2 tablespoons olive oil
¼ teaspoon salt or more
black pepper freshly ground
Sausage filling
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 onion small, diced
10 oz Italian sausage spicy, crumbled
4 cloves garlic minced
1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
4 oz spinach fresh
½ cup dried cranberries
½ cup pecans chopped
Instructions
Roast acorn squash
Preheat oven to 400 F.
- Prepare the acorn squash. Cut off the top and the bottom of each acorn squash to create a flat base. Keep fingers away from the knife to avoid injury. And, make sure not to cut too deep into the base of the squash. Slice each squash in half. Use a spoon to scoop out the seeds and fleshy strands tangled with the seeds.
- Place acorn squash cut sides up on a baking sheet. Drizzle the cut sides of acorn squashes with olive oil and rub the oil into the squash. Season generously with salt and pepper. Turn the squash over, and place it cut sides down on a baking sheet.
Roast in the preheated oven at 400 F for 30 minutes. - Make sausage filling:
Make the sausage filling while the squash is being roasted in the oven.
In a large skillet, heat olive oil, add diced onion, and cook it on medium-high heat for about 2 minutes until cooked and a bit charred.
Add crumbled sausage, minced garlic, and Italian seasoning and cook for about 5 minutes or more on medium heat until the sausage is completely cooked through. Add fresh spinach and cook for another 5 minutes on medium heat until the spinach wilts.
Add dried cranberries and chopped pecans and mix everything.
Season with salt and pepper. Probably not necessary since the sausage is already usually salty (unless you use sweet sausage which I do not recommend). - How to stuff acorn squash:
- By this time, you have roasted the acorn squash for 30 minutes. Remove them from the oven and turn cooked squash halves cut sides up.
- Divide the sausage filling among the 4 halves and stuff the squash until the mixture is leveled or a little bit higher.
Bake the stuffed acorn squash in the preheated oven at 350 F for 10 or 20 more minutes until the sausage mixture is heated through.
HEALTHY TURKEY SHEPHERD’S PIE - From Delish
Whether you still have leftover Turkey from Thanksgiving, or prefer to pick up some ground turnkey at the grocery store, this is a warm and cozy comfort food you will love!
Ingredients
FOR POTATOES
1 1/2 lb. potatoes, peeled
Kosher Salt
4 tbsp. melted butter
1/4 c. milk
1/4 c. sour cream
Freshly ground black pepper
1 1/4 c. shredded Monterey Jack, divided
FOR FILLING
1 tbsp. extra-virigin olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
2 carrots, peeled and chopped
2 small parsnips, peeled and chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp. fresh thyme
1 tsp. fresh sage, minced
3/4 c. dry white wine
1 1/2 lb. ground turkey
3 tbsp. all-purpose flour
3/4 c. low-sodium turkey or chicken broth
1 tbsp. freshly chopped parsley, for garnish
Directions
Step 1
Preheat oven to 400°. Make mashed potatoes: In a large pot over high heat, cover potatoes with water and add a generous pinch of salt. Bring to a boil and cook until completely tender, 16 to 18 minutes. Drain and return to pot.
Step 2
Use a potato masher to mash potatoes until smooth. Add melted butter, milk, and sour cream. Mash together until fully incorporated, then season with salt and pepper and fold in 1 cup cheese.
Step 3
Make turkey mixture: In a large, ovenproof skillet over medium heat, heat oil. Add onion, carrots, parsnips, garlic, thyme, sage and cook until fragrant and softened, 5 minutes. Deglaze with wine and cook 2 minutes more. Add ground turkey and cook until no longer pink, 5 minutes more.
Step 4
Sprinkle meat with flour and stir to evenly distribute. Cook 1 minute more and add turkey broth. Bring to a simmer and let mixture thicken slightly, 5 minutes.
Step 5
Top beef mixture with an even layer of mashed potatoes, sprinkle with remaining cheese and bake until there is very little liquid visible and mashed potatoes are golden, about 35 minutes. Broil if desired and garnish with parsley before serving.
Cranberry Brie Turkey Melt - From Delish
Try something new with turkey leftovers this year!
Directions
Step 1
In a medium bowl, combine garlic, butter, honey, salt, and pepper. Add turkey and toss to combine.
Step 2
Layer a slice of bread with 2 slices torn brie, 1 1/2 tablespoons cranberry sauce, and one-quarter of turkey mixture. Top with 1 1/2 tablespoons cranberry sauce and 2 more slices brie. Close sandwich with another slice of bread. Repeat with remaining bread, cheese, sauce, and turkey mixture for a total of 4 sandwiches.
Step 3
Heat an 8″ or 9″ cast-iron skillet over medium heat until hot. Pour in 2 tablespoons oil. Working in batches, add sandwiches, then cover and cook, turning halfway through and adding more oil if bread absorbs too much, until bread is golden brown and brie is oozing, 2 to 4 minutes per side. Repeat with remaining sandwiches.
Step 4
Serve sandwiches with more cranberry sauce alongside.
BROCCOLI, SHIITAKE AND RED ONION ROAST
Looking for something easy, new and healthy to serve with your Thanksgiving turkey? Give this a try!
Ingredients
- One 1 1/4-pound head of broccoli
- 1/2 pound large shiitake mushrooms, stems discarded
- 1 small red onion, sliced crosswise 1/3 inch thick
- Extra-virgin olive oil, for brushing
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
Directions
Preheat the oven to 425°. Trim and peel the broccoli stems. Cut the broccoli lengthwise into long stalks, with 1 or 2 florets each. Cut any remaining florets into 2-inch pieces. Spread the broccoli on a large, rimmed baking sheet. On another large, rimmed baking sheet, put the shiitake on one side and the onion slices on the other. Generously brush all the vegetables with olive oil, season with salt and pepper and roast for about 20 minutes, until just tender and lightly browned. Transfer the broccoli to a platter. Drizzle the balsamic vinegar over the mushrooms and onion rings and stir to coat the vegetables. Top the broccoli with the shiitake and onion and serve.
Happy Thanksgiving!
PUMPKIN MUG CAKE
If you love pumpkin spice, you will love this recipe! This quick and easy microwave Pumpkin Mug Cake is the perfect fall dessert! And it’s fun!
Equipment: microwave safe pumpkin mug or ramekin
Ingredients
3/4 tablespoon ground flax seeds
1 1/2 tablespoon dairy-free milk, or skim milk
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour, *
1/4 plus 1/8th teaspoon baking powder
1/4 plus 1/8th teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
pinch salt
2 tablespoons canned pumpkin puree
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 tablespoons brown monk fruit sweetener, or brown sugar, or sweetener of your choice
whipped cream, optional
Instructions
Combine the flax seed and milk and let it sit 5 minutes, this will replace using and egg.
In a large microwavable mug whisk together the flour, pumpkin spice, cinnamon, baking powder and pinch of salt.
Add in the pumpkin puree, vanilla, flax seed mixture and sweetener of your choice and mix until smooth.
Microwave for roughly 1 minute 30 seconds, or until firm to the touch (timing is based on my microwave which is 1200 Watts so your timing may vary).
Let it cool 1 to 2 minutes. Serve warm with whipped cream, pumpkin spice and cinnamon, if desired.
Healthy Halloween Snacks
Fun for kids of all ages! These sweet treats are a fun way to celebrate without loads of sugar. A Halloween fruit platter idea is always a great solution and delicious! Get the whole family involved in coming up with creative ghoulishly delicious snacks!
WHAT YOU’LL NEED!
To make these healthy Halloween recipes and fun treats you’ll need the following (this list for all the treats):
Apples (we love green apples)
Raw sunflower seeds or slivered almonds
Nut butter*
Edible candy eyes. Can be found where baking supplies are sold (grocery store, kitchen or craft stores) or online.*
Strawberries
Clementines or tangerines
Celery
Bananas
Mini Chocolate Chips*
Regular size chocolate chips*
Large seedless grapes
Mini cookie cutters (optional)
Canned lychee fruit
Blueberries
Mango
Blackberries
Halloween toothpicks
Kale and White Bean Stew
Combining two Portuguese favorites — kale-sausage soup and a bean, sausage, and tomato stew — makes a simple, sensational one-pot meal!
From Food & Wine
Ingredients
2 tablespoons cooking oil, divided
1/4 pound mild or hot sausages, casings removed
2 onions, chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 pound (about 6 cups) kale, tough stems removed, leaves washed well, and shredded
3 1/3 cups canned diced tomatoes (two 15-ounce cans) with their juice
1 1/4 teaspoons kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
4 cups canned cannellini beans (two 15.5-ounce cans), drained and rinsed
Directions
In a Dutch oven, heat 1 tablespoon of the oil over moderate heat. Add the sausage and cook.
Break the meat up with a fork, until it loses its pink color, about 2 minutes.
Add the remaining tablespoon of oil to the pan and then stir in the onions. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions start to soften, about 3 minutes.
Add the garlic and kale to the pan.
Cook, stirring, until the kale wilts, about 2 minutes.
Stir in the tomatoes, salt, and pepper; bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat and simmer, covered, until the kale is tender, about 15 minutes.
Stir the beans into the stew and cook until warmed through, about 5 minutes. If you like, mash some of the beans with a fork to thicken the sauce.
Notes
Shred kale leaves as fine as possible when making quick soups and stews, so that each bite will include tender greens instead of a chewy mouthful.
Vegan Gluten-Free Pumpkin Roll
From Minimalist Baker
Amazingly moist, flavorful pumpkin roll that’s made in one bowl and entirely vegan and gluten-free! The perfect plant-based dessert for the holiday season.
CAKE
-
- 3 Tbsp mashed ripe banana
- 1/3 cup aquafaba* (the liquid left behind in a can of cooked chickpeas)
- 2/3 cup packed muscovado sugar (plus 1 Tbsp as original recipe is written // or sub organic brown sugar or coconut sugar)
- 3 Tbsp maple syrup
- 3 Tbsp olive oil, grape seed oil, or melted coconut oil*
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 3/4 cup pumpkin purée
- 2 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
- 1 heaping tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice*
- 2/3 cup water
- 1/2 cup almond FLOUR (not meal // you can sub almond meal, though I didn’t test it and can’t guarantee the results)
- 1/2 cup gluten-free rolled oats
- 3/4 cup gluten-free flour blend (plus 2 Tbsp as original recipe is written)
CREAM CHEESE FILLING
- 1 batch Coconut Whipped Cream (as original recipe is written, made from 1 14-oz. coconut cream or 2 14-oz cans full fat coconut milk // ~ 1 1/2 cups coconut whipped cream total)
- 1 8-oz. container vegan cream cheese (I like Trader Joe’s and Toffuti brand // any excess liquid drained)
- 1/4 – 3/4 cup organic powdered sugar, plus more to taste
Instructions
-
-
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (176 C) and line an 11×17-inch baking sheet with parchment paper, making sure the edges are completely covered. It’s important to use a baking sheet that’s close to these dimensions or the cake will be too thick or thin to roll (amount as original recipe is written // adjust size/number of baking sheets if altering batch size).
-
-
Add banana to a large mixing bowl and mash. Then add aquafaba and whisk to combine. Next add muscovado sugar, maple syrup, oil, vanilla, and pumpkin purée and whisk to combine.
-
Next add baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and pumpkin pie spice, and mix. Add water and whisk once more.
-
Add almond flour, gluten-free oats, and gluten-free flour blend, and stir until just combined (see photo). The batter should be thick and pourable. Taste and adjust flavor as needed, adding more pumpkin pie spice for pumpkin flavor, or muscovado sugar for sweetness.
-
Transfer batter to the parchment-lined baking sheet and spread into an even layer. It should be about 1/2-inch thick. Bake for 20-24 minutes or until the top is golden brown and the cake springs back to the touch.
-
Let cool for 5 minutes. Then gently roll the cake from short end to short end, rolling the parchment paper up inside the cake and using it as a guide. Be very careful with this step and try to handle the cake as little as possible. Let cool to room temperature (otherwise the filling will melt).
-
While the cake is cooling, quickly rinse your mixing bowl and add your chilled coconut cream. Whip using a hand mixer or whisk attachment until light and fluffy. Then sweeten to taste with powdered sugar. This should yield about 1 1/2 cups coconut whipped cream (amount as original recipe is written // adjust if altering batch size).
-
Next, add vegan cream cheese and beat to combine. Then add more organic powdered sugar to taste. I added another 1/4 cup (32 g) total (amount as original recipe is written // adjust if altering batch size). Cover and place in the refrigerator to chill.
-
Once the cake has cooled to room temperature, carefully unroll and top with all of the coconut cream cheese mixture. Spread evenly over the cake, leaving about a 1/2-inch border along the edge.
-
Very carefully begin rolling the cake back up the same way it was unrolled – from short end to short end – removing the parchment paper as you go (you don’t want it inside the cake). Some filling will likely spill over when rolling – that’s OK. Continue rolling, using the parchment paper as a guide until the cake is seam side down. Wipe away any excess filling that may have spilled over.
-
Next gently roll/wrap the cake in plastic wrap and carefully transfer to a rectangular dish or cutting board and refrigerate until completely chilled and firm enough to handle easily – about 6 hours.
-
To slice, carefully unroll from the plastic wrap and place on a serving dish. Then use a serrated knife (wiping it clean each slice) to carefully slice the roll into about 10 pieces (amount as original recipe is written // adjust if altering batch size). Enjoy as is, or dust with a bit of powdered sugar.
-
Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for 3-4 days, though best in the first 24-48 hours. I haven’t tried freezing this roll, but I would imagine it would freeze up to 1 month. Thaw before slicing.
Banana Zucchini Baked Oatmeal - Ambitious Kitchen
From Ambitious Kitchen
Cozy and nutritious banana zucchini baked oatmeal with warming, toasty flavors of brown butter in every bite. This healthy banana zucchini baked oatmeal recipe is naturally sweetened, perfect for kids and toddlers as a breakfast or treat, and is freezer friendly for quick and easy mornings!
Ingredients
For the wet ingredients:
¼ cup salted butter
1 medium zucchini, shredded and squeezed of excess moisture (about 1 cup shredded zucchini)
3 medium extra ripe bananas, mashed (about 1 1/4 cup mashed ripe banana)
2 eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk (or dairy free milk of choice)
For the dry ingredients:
2 cups gluten free rolled oats
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
¼ teaspoon nutmeg
¼ teaspoon salt
Optional mix-ins:
⅓ cup chocolate chips or chocolate chunks
¼ cup chopped walnuts
For topping:
Maldon sea salt
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 8×8 inch pan with nonstick cooking spray.
First, brown your butter: add butter to a small saucepan and place over medium heat. The butter will begin to melt, crackle, and then eventually foam. Make sure you whisk constantly during this process. After a couple of minutes, the butter will begin to brown and turn a nice golden amber color on the bottom of the saucepan, this usually happens once it foams. Continue to whisk and remove from heat as soon as the butter begins to brown and give off a nutty aroma. Immediately transfer the butter to a medium bowl to prevent burning, making sure you scrape all the butter from the pan. Set aside to cool for 10 minutes.
Next shred and measure out zucchini to equal 1 cup shredded zucchini, then place in a paper towel, clean dish towel or cheese cloth and squeeze out all the excess moisture. ALL OF IT. Don’t skip this step!
Mash your bananas in a large bowl, then add in the eggs, vanilla extract and dairy free milk; mix together well to combine then add in the shredded zucchini and cooled brown butter and mix again until well incorporated.
Add your dry ingredients to the wet ingredients: oats, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt. Mix until combined. Fold in any mix-ins, if using.
Pour mixture into prepared pan and smooth top. Bake for 35-45 mins or until the edges are slightly golden brown. Remove from the oven, allow to cool for 10 minutes, then cut into 6 slices and serve. Top with maldon sea salt and extra banana slices. Serves 6.
Vegetarian Spinach Pumpkin Lasagna - Ambitious Kitchen
From Ambitious Kitchen
Incredible vegetarian spinach pumpkin lasagna with layers of cheese and pumpkin puree. This healthy pumpkin lasagna recipe includes an entire bag of spinach for extra veggies and makes the best freezer-friendly dinner!
Ingredients
For the noodles:
10 lasagna noodles
For the ricotta mixture:
1/2 tablespoon olive oil
6 ounces spinach (from 1 bag spinach)
1 (15 ounce) container part skim ricotta
1 egg
½ teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
Freshly ground black pepper
For the pumpkin layer:
2 (15 ounce) cans pumpkin puree
½ cup milk (I like unsweetened almond milk, but any milk will work)
¼ teaspoon cinnamon
¼ teaspoon nutmeg
¼ teaspoon ginger
¼ teaspoon allspice
3/4 teaspoon salt
Freshly ground black pepper
For the layers:
3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided (approximately 12 ounces)
1 cup grated parmesan cheese, divided
To garnish:
Fresh chopped parsley or small sage leaves
Instructions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Grease a 9×13 inch baking pan with nonstick cooking spray.
Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cook the lasagna noodles for 5-6 minutes, then drain. Immediately lay the noodles flat on an oiled baking sheet or cutting board so you can easily assemble the lasagna when ready. Another option is to soak the lasagna noodles in very warm (hot) water for 20-30 minutes if you do not want to boil them. (You can also use no cook lasagna noodles, but they aren’t my favorite!)
While the lasagna noodles are boiling, cook the spinach: add ½ tablespoon olive oil to a medium pan or skillet and place over medium heat. Add spinach, season with a little salt and pepper and cook until spinach wilts down. Add to a medium bowl and allow to cool for a minute or two.
In the small bowl, add the spinach, ricotta, egg, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Set aside.
Next make the pumpkin mixture: add pumpkin, milk, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, allspice, salt and pepper to a large bowl. Mix to combine.
To assemble the lasagna, spread 1 heaping cup of pumpkin mixture over the bottom of the baking dish. Place 5 of the cooked lasagna noodles on top laying 4 vertically and 1 horizontally. Spread half of the spinach-ricotta cheese mixture on top of the noodles, then top with ¾ cup shredded mozzarella.
Next, add 1 heaping cup of the pumpkin mixture on top of the mozzarella and then sprinkle with 1/2 cup of parmesan cheese.
Repeat layers once more: adding remaining noodles, remaining spinach-ricotta mixture, ¾ cup shredded mozzarella, then top with any remaining pumpkin and ½ cup parmesan cheese. Finally, top with remaining 1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese.
Cover with foil and bake covered for 25 minutes. Remove foil and bake another 15-20 minutes until cheese starts to brown just a bit. Garnish with extra parmesan and either chopped sage or parsley. Cool for 15 minutes before cutting and serving. Serves 12.
Rainbow Veggie & Hummus Wraps - Clean Food Crush
From Clean Food Crush
Ingredients
4 large tortillas of choice
1 cup homemade hummus (recipe link above)
2 ozs sliced or crumbled cheese of choice
Romaine lettuce leaves, as desired
1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
1 cup thinly shredded red cabbage
1 medium carrot, thinly cut into strips
1 hass avocado, sliced
1/2 a fresh lemon
Instructions
- Consider heating up your tortilla a little bit to help it become more pliable.
- Lay one tortilla and spread it with 1/4 cup of hummus.
- Add cheese and lettuce as desired.
- Top with bell pepper, red cabbage, carrots, and avocado slices.
- Squeeze a tiny bit of fresh lemon over the avocado to prevent it from browning.
- Roll your veggie wrap tightly and repeat with the remaining tortillas and ingredients.
- Slice in half to serve.
- Use toothpicks to hold them together if necessary.
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