Healthy Cookies? Here's how!

What a nicely written article with great tips to lighten up cookie recipes. I already do all of these things and they help without sacrificing flavor!

http://shine.yahoo.com/shine-food/healthier-holiday-cookies-161900065.html

Holiday Food Safety

This is a cool site I found that talks about Food Safety during the holidays. Alot of the tips can and should be applied all year long.

http://www.holidayfoodsafety.org/

Apple Streusel

This is a Weight Watchers recipe, not mine, but I had to share! My wicked sweet tooth only lets me hold back for so long!

Photo & recipe are from http://www.laaloosh.com/ a great
blog with all Weight Watchers style recipes!

Weight Watchers Apple Streusel Recipe

Ingredients:
- 4 medium apples
- 1/4 cup unpacked brown sugar
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1/4 cups whole wheat flour
- 1/4 cups uncooked old fashioned oats
- 1  tbsp coconut oil
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Stir together apples, 1/4 cup of brown sugar, cinnamon and lemon juice; pour into a 1 1/2 quart baking dish.
Cut flour, oatmeal, remaining brown sugar and coconut oil together with a pastry blender or fork in a medium bowl; sprinkle over apple mixture.
Bake until apples are tender and top is browned, about 45 minutes.
Serving size = 1/2 cup
Each serving = 3 Weight Watchers Points


Well this looks delish!!! What a perfect holiday dessert that does not pack a calorie punch. I'd use whole wheat flour instead of white, but its so little flour white still works.

Diabetics can utilize a brown sugar/sweetener blend like Splenda's here.

Check back soon for more recipes!

Have a delicious day!

Sauteed Cranberry Kale over Quinoa

This recipe was suggested to me verbally by a co-worker. I am not sure if it turned out just as she explained but I really enjoyed it anyway!


Ingredients4 stems of kale
1 clove garlic
1/2 cup craisins
3/4 cup cole slaw mix
3 tbsp olive oil
1/3 cup quinoa
black pepper to taste
onion powder to taste

Cut the kale leaves from the stems and roughly chop leaves. Discard stems or save for vegetable stock by freezing in a ziploc bag.

Drizzle approximately 1 tbsp of olive oil onto a frying pan. Heat pan on medium heat.

Add garlic clove and allow to marinate oil.

Add kale leaves and gently stir in oil & garlic.

Add cole slaw mix & stir.

Add craisin, pepper and onion powder and let vegetables cook for 10-15 minutes. The kale will brighten in color and you may see some browning of leaves.

Add additional oil as necessary if the mix begins to dry out.

Prepare quinoa plain or with vegetable stock for added flavor.

Enjoy!!!!

Day 1: West Coast Trip

The first non-travel day of our trip was yesterday. We went to my friends wedding which was beautiful. The ceremony was held outside at the Rockin J Ranch. The reception was great with dancing and even a pinata! So to the food: the ranch catered with beef and chicken, baked potato, biscuits and salad. My friend and his new wife (being as fabulous as they are) provided an outstanding meatless chili. It was made by the brides mother for the vegetarians at the wedding. The chili was hearty, smooth and spicy as hell! I ate my biscuit and my boyfriends biscuit(it was an emergency).
The wedding cake was made by a local brewery and was their classic tiramisu made with oatmeal stout beer. Superb! Mosit but it had a good consistency and didn't fall apart on the plate.
They offered smores kits as their gift to all guests. The kit was for the afterparty that was held at a very cool restaurant that had firepits for roasting marshmallows called San Tan Flats. We waited in line for what seemed an eternity which allowed is to get nice and loose (thanks to the beer). I got a salmon dish that was chargrilled to perfection. On the side potato pancakes and the worlds greatest creamed corn.

We danced under the moonlight to a local country band, ate, drank and chatted with our wonderful company. All in all: day 1 was great! I didn't take any pics but I will from here out.

See ya!

Three Bean Chili with Low-fat mozzarella

Three bean chili w/ low-fat mozz

Here is the recipe: 1 can crushed tomato
1 can whole peeled tomato
1 can kidney beans (No added salt,in water)
1 can chick peas (No added salt, in water)
1 can cannellini beans (No added salt, in water)
1 tbsp red pepper flakes
3 cloves garlic
1/2 cup olive oil
5 stalks celery
2 carrots
1/2 onion
2 sprigs of basil
1/2 green pepper
1 tbsp black pepper
salt to taste

Pour oil into a large pot and add garlic cloves. 
Allow oil to simmer and add the whole can of crushed tomato.
Using a knife, roughly chop the whole tomatoes into the pot. 
Gently rinse both cans with a small amount of water and add to pot. 
Drain all 3 cans of beans and add to the pot. 
In a food processor grind up the celery, carrot and onion. Add. 
Tear basil off of the stems and add. 
Add remaining seasonings and stir. 
Reduce heat to low and sit for 1.5 to 2 hours. 
Add low-fat mozzarella cheese to top or serve with a freshly baked corn muffin! 

** Using cans packed in water with no salt greatly reduces sodium intake of a normal chili. If you prefer to use dried beans: soak beans overnight in bowl. Be sure the beans are covered by an additional 1/2 amount of water to absorb. Cook the beans in the tomato mixture. 

** This dish is super flavorful and does not need a lot of salt, so taste it first and then add salt sparingly.


Sorry about the weird font/highlight color. I copied my recipe from my Facebook page!  Enjoy!

Great article about what oils are healthier than others!

Check out this great article on the different types of oils out there. You'll find that using olive oil and even butter in recipes offers greater heart healthy outcomes than fat free or tub margarines!

http://health.yahoo.net/articles/nutrition/are-cooking-oils-good-you