Month: March 2021

Peanut Banana Muffins

Peanut Banana Muffins

Peanut butter and bananas go so well together.  These healthy muffins include sweet bananas and salty roasted peanuts to create a sensational snack or breakfast on the go. Ingredients: 3 ripe bananas mashed 1 cup whole wheat flour 1 cup almond flour 1 scoop vanilla 

Carrot and Parsnip Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

Carrot and Parsnip Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

Carrot cake doesn’t have to be bad for you.  Even though these are cupcakes they are made using whole wheat flour and lots of carrots.  Enjoy these without all of the guilt from most desserts. Recipe adapted from Food Network Ingredients: Cupcakes- 3 medium carrots 

Turkey and Veggie Meatloaf

Turkey and Veggie Meatloaf

One of my favorite things about meatloaf is how easy it is to prep days in advance and sneak in lots of hidden veggies.  This recipe was adapted from Fixate using vegetables I had in the fridge. 

Recipe adapted from Fixate

Ingredients:

1 pound lean ground turkey

1 large carrot peeled and diced

1 parsnip peeled and diced

½ cup cauliflower diced

½ onion diced

3 cloves garlic diced

½ teaspoon ground thyme

½ teaspoon chili powder

2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

½ teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

1 large egg

½ cup old fashioned oats

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 if cooking now.  Spray a bread pan with olive oil spray.
  2. Dice carrot, parsnip, cauliflower, and onion in a food processor.
  3. Spray a nonstick pan with olive oil spray.  Saute vegetables on medium low for 5-10 minutes to soften.  Sprinkle thyme and chili powder over vegetables.
  4. Brown turkey meat in another pan and drain.
  5. Add turkey and vegetable mixture to a large bowl. Mix to combine.
  6. Add Worcestershire, egg, salt, pepper, and oatmeal. Mix
  7. Transfer mixture to a bread pan.  Press down gently to flatten. 
  8. Bake for 45 minutes if cooking now.  Bake 1 hour after refrigerating.
  9. Top with ketchup or barbeque sauce.
  10. I served this with mashed cheddar cauliflower (see recipe in Sides/Salads) and steamed peas and corn. 
Mashed Cheddar Cauliflower

Mashed Cheddar Cauliflower

Mashed cauliflower tastes as wonderfully as mashed potatoes with fewer carbs.  This is a side dish that is easy to prepare and goes well with meatloaf or many other meals where you would normally crave mashed potatoes. Ingredients: 4 cups cauliflower florets ¼ cup plain 

Slow Cooker Mexican Chicken Soup

Slow Cooker Mexican Chicken Soup

Dinners I can prep in advance and throw in the crockpot, oven, or on the grill are my saving grace on busy weekdays.  This is a simple chicken soup that everyone in my house devours.  You can up the spice by adding the optional ingredients. 

Lemon Parmesan Roasted Cauliflower and Broccoli

Lemon Parmesan Roasted Cauliflower and Broccoli

I think roasted cauliflower tastes amazing, but some members of my household won’t eat it.  So I adapted this recipe to use half cauliflower and half broccoli.  This is a flavorful and simple side that goes great with any main dish.

Recipe adapted from Fixate

Ingredients:

4 cups cauliflower and broccoli florets

3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese

1 tablespoon fresh parsley

1 clove garlic

½ teaspoon salt

Directions:

  1. Preheat over to 400 degrees.
  2. Mix lemon juice, olive oil, parsley, garlic, and salt in a small bowl.
  3. Put broccoli and cauliflower in an oven safe dish with a lid or prepare to wrap in aluminum foil. 
  4. Spread the lemon mixture over the cauliflower and broccoli.
  5.  Bake covered for 45 minutes.
  6. Arrange cauliflower and broccoli on a baking sheet.  Bake for 10-15 more minutes.
  7. Enjoy!
Grilled Pork Chops with Apple and Onion Compote

Grilled Pork Chops with Apple and Onion Compote

Grilled pork chops with this sweet rub pairs wonderfully with a simple apple and onion compote.  Recipe adapted from Food Network Ingredients: Pork Chops- 6 boneless pork chops 2 tablespoons brown sugar 1 tablespoon salt 1 tablespoon cinnamon ½ teaspoon cardamom ½ freshly ground nutmeg 

Zucchini Crab Lasagna

Zucchini Crab Lasagna

I love crab and zucchini so I combined both to make a sensational and healthy lasagna.  Ingredients: 1 pound lump crab meat 1 pound fat free cottage cheese 2 medium zucchini 4 cups spinach 1 jar marinara sauce (I used Ledo’s) ¼ cup fresh basil 

Spring Churro Cupcakes

Spring Churro Cupcakes

My five year old loves watching baking shows with me.  He saw green cupcakes for St. Patrick’s day on TV and decided he had to make green springy cupcakes.  If you want a good crunch and an even better laugh let your kids decorate these cinnamon filled cupcakes.

Recipe adapted from Food Network

Ingredients:

Cupcakes-

1 ¼ cup all purpose flour

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

½ teaspoon baking soda

½ teaspoon baking powder

½ teaspoon salt

8 tablespoons unsalted butter melted

½ cup granulated sugar

½ cup packed light brown sugar

¼ cup nonfat plain Greek yogurt

1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract

2 large eggs

Green food coloring optional

Buttercream-

8 tablespoons unsalted butter softened

1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

3 cups powdered sugar

1-2 tablespoons milk

Green food coloring optional

Toppings: sprinkles, bunnies, etc..

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line muffin pan with 12 liners.
  2. In a medium mixing bowl combine flour, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
  3. In an electric mixer cream the butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, yogurt, vanilla extract, and eggs until fluffy about 3 minutes.
  4. Turn the mixer on low and add dry ingredients just mixing to combine about 30 seconds.
  5. Use a large cookie scooper to fill cupcake liners with 2-3 tablespoons. 
  6. Bake 20-25 minutes.
  7. Cool on a wire rack.
  8. Buttercream- Cream the butter, vanilla, and cinnamon until smooth in an electric mixer scraping down the sides as needed.  Add powdered sugar 1 cup at a time.
  9. Fit a pastry bag or icing tool with a star tip and buttercream.  Place a swirl of buttercream on each cupcake. 
  10. Top with sprinkles, sugar, and other decorations of your choice.   
Buffalo Burgers

Buffalo Burgers

Buffalo anything always sounds good to me.  These are a healthy flavor filled burger that will have you asking for more. I prep these in advance and freeze the patties.  Then I simply thaw and grill whenever I get a craving for some buffalo goodness.