Healthy. Simple. Delicious.
RECIPE:
1- 14 oz. can pumpkin
1- 12 oz. can evaporated milk
3/4 cup sugar
2 large eggs
2 T. flour
1 t. salt
1 t. cinnamon
½ t. ginger
½ t. nutmeg
¼ t. cloves
Preheat oven to 350’.
In a large bowl, whisk all ingredients well until completely incorporated.
Pour into prepared pie crust and bake for 50-55 minutes. Center should be set. Cool completely before covering loosely with foil and refrigerating.
This recipe is soooooo good, why not double the recipe and enjoy on another hectic night! When freezing, I take a sheet of saran cling wrap and put it right onto the food to prevent freezer burn. I then cover tightly with heavy duty aluminum foil. You can write on the foil with a sharpe pen the contents and the date. You’ll want to use within about 2 months. You could also just double the sauce portion of the recipe and freeze it, just thaw, boil some pasta and you have dinner!
RECIPE:
1 cup part-skim ricotta cheese
1 ½ cups shredded part-skim mozzarella, divided
3 T. fresh parsley
1 lb. whole-wheat penne
1 T. olive oil
1 ¼ lb. turkey sausage, casings removed
1 large onion, chopped, 4 cloves fresh garlic, chopped
1- 28 oz. can tomato sauce,
1- 28 oz. can crushed tomatoes
1 t. dried oregano, 1 t. salt
½ t. red pepper flakes
½ t. ground black pepper
¼ cup grated parmesan cheese
Pre heat oven to 375’. Coat a 9”x13” pan with cooking spray. In small bowl, combine ricotta, ¾ cup mozzarella, & parsley. Heat oil in large pot over medium heat. Add turkey sausage, cook through. Add onion and cook until translucent, you can add a little olive oil if turkey is too dry. Add garlic, cook about one minute. Add tomato sauce, crushed tomatoes, oregano, salt, pepper flakes, & black pepper. Bring to a simmer over medium-low heat, about 15 minutes. While sauce is simmering, cook pasta according to box instructions. Drain well. Remove sauce from heat, add cheese mixture and pasta; mix well. Pour into prepared pan and top with remaining mozzarella & parmesan cheese. Bake for 25 minutes or until cheese is melted. If frozen, thaw in refrigerator for 24 hours, bake at 350’ covered for 1 hour. Remove foil; bake additional 20 minutes or until cheese is melted and heated completely through. Enjoy!
This is one of my favorite salads, it’s fresh, delicious and easy to prepare. Red cabbage has the same heart healthy benefits as green cabbage with the added photochemical that acts as an antioxidant that can improve memory & protect against cancer. It is very easy to get your daily vegetable requirements with a salad like this!
RECIPE:
1 small head of red cabbage, cored and thinly sliced
1 cup frozen petite green peas, thawed
½ small red onion, finely chopped
1 avocado, pitted & cut into small chunks
2 T. olive oil
1 T. cider vinegar
½ t. granulated garlic
Salt & pepper to taste
Combine first four ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Drizzle olive oil over cabbage and gently toss. Add granulated garlic, a couple of pinches of salt and a pinch of black pepper, gently toss. Add vinegar and gently mix well. Taste before serving and adjust seasoning if needed.
This cake is so moist and delicious! The recipe is very easy and will become a family favorite for years to come. There is just a hint of cinnamon in the recipe that gives it a very interesting twist.
RECIPE: For the cake:
2 cups all purpose flour
2 cups granulated sugar
1 t. baking soda
½ t. ground cinnamon
½ t. salt
¾ cup water
½ cup butter
¼ cup unsweetened cocoa
1 t. cider or white vinegar
1 t. vanilla; 2 large eggs
ICING:
6 T. butter
1/3 cup milk
¼ cup unsweetened cocoa
3 cups powdered sugar
2 t. vanilla.
1) Preheat oven to 375’.
2) Coat a 15”x 10” jelly roll pan with cooking spray, dust with 2 teaspoons flour.
3) In measure out 1 cup milk, add vinegar & stir. (we are making a buttermilk substitute)
4) In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar, soda, cinnamon, & salt; stir well with a whisk.
5) Into a small saucepan, combine ¾ cup water, ½ cup butter, and ¼ cup cocoa, bring to a boil, stirring frequently. Pour into flour mixture and beat with a mixer at medium speed until well blended. Add milk, vinegar, 1 t. vanilla, and eggs; beat well. Pour into prepared pan; bake at 375’ for 17 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Cool on wire rack.
6) To prepare icing, combine 6 T. butter, milk & ¼ cup cocoa in medium saucepan; bring to a boil stirring constantly. Remove from heat, with your electric hand mixer, gradually in powdered sugar and 2 t. vanilla. Spread over hot cake. Cool completely. **if you do not have a 10” x 15” pan, you can use a 9” x 13” pan, bake at 375’ for 20-24 minutes.
This is an amazing salad that keeps very well in the refrigerator, make it at the beginning of the week and enjoy for lunch throughout the week. I love to add a few slices of fresh avocado. Also great with grilled chicken, fish, tacos or fajitas.
RECIPE:
1- 14 oz. can black beans, drained and rinsed
2 cups frozen white corn, thawed
½ red pepper, finely chopped
½ red onion, finely chopped
1 small jalapeño pepper, seeded & finely chopped
1 small bunch fresh cilantro, cleaned & chopped
2 limes, juiced
1 T. honey
1 T. olive oil
1 large crushed clove garlic, or 1 t. granulated garlic
½ t. salt
¼ t. pepper.
1) In medium sized bowl, mix black beans through cilantro.
2) In small mixing bowl, whisk remaining ingredients until blended. Pour over bean mixture and mix well. Refrigerate immediately after use. Best when used within 5 days. Makes about eight ½ cup servings.
Grilled cheese & tomato soup are really the definition of comfort to me! This recipe is so quick and delicious, add this to your rotation of favorite dinners. Your kids will applaud you!
Recipe:
1 large onion, finely chopped
5-6 cloves garlic, minced
3 T. olive oil
1/4 t. red pepper flakes
1 t. dried thyme
1 t. dried oregano
1 T. Better Than Bouillon Chicken Base
2-28 oz. cans crushed tomatoes
1-28 oz. can tomato sauce
2 cups water
1 T. sugar
2 t. kosher salt
½ t. ground black pepper
1 large bunch fresh basil, rinsed
In large soup pot over medium heat add oil and onion, cook until translucent. Add garlic, red pepper flakes, thyme, & oregano. Sauté one minute. Add crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, water, sugar, salt, & pepper. Simmer for about 15 minutes. Roll basil leaves and slice thinly. Add to soup just before serving. Serve with grilled cheese. I love to use brie with apple slices on sour dough or sharp cheddar & smoked ham on whole wheat as an alternative. Brush with olive oil and grill until golden brown. Deeeeelish!! **if you don’t have the bouillon base, you can simply substitute 2 cups of chicken stock** Yields about 12 cups of soup. Why not double this recipe and freeze for a another hectic night?
I love this recipe! I especially like the cranberries chopped, you don’t get a sour bite. The flecks of red are very beautiful and festive. Freezes beautifully up to 3 weeks, bake ahead for Thanksgiving hostess gifts.
Recipe:
2 cups all purpose flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 ½ cups sugar
2 T. baking powder
2 T. wheat germ
1 t. salt
1 cup fresh cranberries, coarsely chopped (pulse in food processor 7-9 times, or chop by hand
½ cup canola oil
2 large eggs, slightly beaten
1 cup low fat milk
For icing:
1 cup powdered sugar
3 teaspoons lemon juice, fresh or bottled
1)Pre heat oven to 350’. Prepare 5 mini loaf pans with cooking spray.
2) In a large mixing bowl, combine flour through salt and whisk until blended. Mix in chopped cranberries. Make a well in center of dry ingredients and add oil, eggs, & milk. Stir until just blended, do not over mix.
3) Divide among prepared pans. Bake for 28-30 minutes. Top of bread should be firm to the touch and tooth pick should come out clean. Cool on wire rack for 10 minutes.
4) While bread is cooling, prepare icing. In small bowl combine powdered sugar and lemon juice one teaspoon at a time. If icing is too thick add a very small amount more of lemon juice.
5) Let bread cool in pans for 10 minutes, gently remove and place on cooling rack.
6) Drizzle icing over warm bread. Cool completely. Use a serrated knife to slice in a gentle sawing motion. Enjoy!!
It is more important than ever that we eat fresh, raw vegetables. I have come up with a delicious and lighter version of ranch dressing. The ingredients are real, low fat, and you can pronounce them! Use any fresh greens and vegetables you like.
CREAMY YOGURT RANCH DRESSING:
1 cup low fat plain yogurt
1 T. mayonnaise
2 t. Dijon mustard
2 T. cider vinegar
¼ cup honey
1 t. kosher salt
½ t. fresh ground pepper
1 t. granulated garlic
1 t. granulated onion
¼ cup olive oil
Whisk all ingredients together in a medium sized mixing bowl. Refrigerate immediately after use. This will remain fresh refrigerated for two weeks.
This pumpkin bread recipe is so delicious. Extremely moist and the spices leave a lovely aftertaste on the pallette. I recommend having it with a nice cup of coffee or tea. I would also recommend sharing, why not wrap one in a cellophane bag with a pretty ribbon. Great for teacher gifts, hostess gifts, or just to cheer someone up. The bread also freezes very well.
WHOLE WHEAT PUMPKIN SPICE BREAD:
Preheat oven to 350′.
Prepare 8 small bread pans with cooking spray. (you can buy mini aluminum bread pans in the baking isle in most any grocery store)
In a large mixing bowl, combine:
3 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
3 cups sugar
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon each of nutmeg,cinnamon, cloves, & baking powder
Mix well with a whisk. Make a well in center of dry ingredients and add:
1- 15 oz. can pumpkin
4 eggs
1 cup canola oil
1 cup of water
Mix well until all dry ingredients are incorporated. You may add 1 cup chopped walnuts & 1/2 cup raisins if you like. (optional) Bake for 30-35 minutes. Insert a toothpick to check for doneness, also, when you lightly touch the top it should be firm. Remove from oven and cool on a rack for 10 minutes, then carefully remove from pans and let cool completely and wrap in cling wrap. I prefer the pretty cellophane bags you can buy at the craft store. Enjoy!
This is a fantastic dinner to prep in 15 minutes and put in the oven. The chicken and potatoes get golden brown and crispy. It’s one of my family’s favorites!
EASY OVEN FRIED CHICKEN:
1 whole cut up chicken, or 2-3 lbs of chicken pieces of your choice
Kosher salt & pepper
Dried thyme
1 cup all purpose flour
Olive oil
Preheat oven to 375’. Line a cookie sheet (with sides) with Reynolds non stick foil. Rinse chicken and drain well. Season each piece generously with salt, pepper, & thyme. Put flour into a medium size bowl. Dredge each piece of chicken in flour and shake to remove excess flour. Place on foil lined sheet. Drizzle each piece of chicken with olive oil. Bake for one hour.
CRISPY OVEN FRIED POTATOES:
2 lbs. red potatoes, cut into bite size pieces, or russet potatoes cut into wedges
1/2 t. granulated garlic
½ t. salt
¼ t. pepper
½ t. dried thyme
1 t. dried crushed rosemary
2 T. olive oil
3 T. flour
Olive oil for additional drizzling
Preheat oven to 375’. Line a cookie sheet with Reynolds non stick foil. Wash potatoes to remove any surface dirt. Cut into bite size pieces or wedges and place in a large mixing bowl. Sprinkle garlic, salt, pepper, thyme, & rosemary over potatoes. Mix well. Drizzle olive oil over potatoes & mix well. Sprinkle flour over potatoes & mix well to coat. Spread over foil lined sheet, drizzle with a little additional olive oil. Bake for 45 minutes, turning half way through baking. For a little extra flavor, after potatoes are done toss with 1-2 tablespoons of grated parmesan cheese.
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