Month: April 2021

Strawberry Chocolate Energy Balls

Strawberry Chocolate Energy Balls

Strawberry and chocolate make an excellent pairing.  These energy balls are really two balls smushed into one so you get the flavors from both strawberry and chocolate in one bite. Ingredients: Strawberry portion- ½ cup cashews ½ cup old fashioned oats 6 pitted dried dates 

Salted Caramel Pretzel Peanut Butter Pie

Salted Caramel Pretzel Peanut Butter Pie

Peanut butter is an absolute staple in my diet.  After a weekend filled with yardwork I was craving something salty and sweet.  This lightened up pie was the perfect answer.  Recipe adapted from Food Network Ingredients: Crust- 2 cups reduced fat pretzels 3 whole reduced 

Roasted Lemon-Chile Broccoli

Roasted Lemon-Chile Broccoli

Broccoli tastes fantastic when roasted with a little bit of spice.  This is a simple and quick side dish that makes broccoli taste so good you will want to eat a plateful of it.

Recipe adapted from Food Network

Ingredients:

1 head broccoli cut into florets

Olive oil for drizzling

1/8 teaspoon chipotle chili powder

1 lemon zested and cut in half

Salt and pepper

Optional: ¼ cup shredded cheese

Directions:

  1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.  Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and spray with olive oil spray. 
  2. Spread the broccoli on the baking sheet.  Drizzle with olive oil.  Sprinkle with crushed red pepper and lemon zest.  Salt and pepper to taste.
  3. Roast 10-12 minutes.
  4. Squeeze fresh lemon juice over the broccoli.
  5. Optional: Sprinkle shredded cheese over the broccoli for the last few minutes.
  6. Enjoy!
Chili Garlic Fries

Chili Garlic Fries

I am always making potato wedges and fries using different combinations of ingredients.  These are simple to prepare and add a little spice to any meal. Recipe adapted from Food Network Ingredients: 2 russet potatoes cut into wedges 1-2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 1 

Chipotle Orange Glazed Pork Chops

Chipotle Orange Glazed Pork Chops

Spicy and sweet.  These grilled pork chops taste fantastic.  You can up the spiciness by using more chipotle powder or by using canned chipotles in adobo sauce. Tip- Reserve some of the marinade to use as a glaze/topping after cooking.  Recipe adapted from Food Network 

Asparagus with Goat Cheese and Hazelnuts

Asparagus with Goat Cheese and Hazelnuts

I like all three main ingredients separately, so why not combine them to create a tasty side dish? I was a little doubtful about this recipe, but OMG it was so good.  I absolutely devoured this dish.  I used 2 cups of kale fresh from my garden since it was available.

Recipe adapted from Food Network

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 tablespoon whole grain mustard

2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar

1 pound asparagus trimmed

1 cup spinach, mizuna lettuce, or watercress

½ cup toasted hazelnuts

2 ounces goat cheese crumbles

Directions:

  1. In a medium bowl whisk together the oil, mustard, vinegar, and ¼ teaspoon salt until smooth.
  2. Bring a large pot of water to boil.  Sprinkle with salt. Add asparagus and blanch for 3-5 minutes.  Add warm asparagus to the dressing and toss to coat.
  3. Serve the asparagus over spinach with hazelnuts and goat cheese on top.  Drizzle any remaining dressing over the top. 
  4. To toast hazelnuts spread out on a small baking sheet.  Roast at 350 for 10-15 minutes. 
Ahi Tuna with Napa Cabbage Salad

Ahi Tuna with Napa Cabbage Salad

Seared tuna is such a delight.  It pairs extremely well with this Napa cabbage salad for an enjoyable meal. Recipe adapted from Food Network Ingredients: 2 tablespoons lime juice Zest of 1 lime 1 tablespoon fish sauce 1 tablespoon honey 1 teaspoon sugar or 1 

Deviled Egg Salad Sandwich

Deviled Egg Salad Sandwich

If you like deviled eggs as much as my children and I do then this is the sandwich for you. Recipe adapted from Food Network Ingredients: 8 slices turkey bacon 8 large eggs ½ cup plain nonfat Greek yogurt ¼ cup sweet onion finely diced 

Caprese Chicken with Pomegranate Glaze

Caprese Chicken with Pomegranate Glaze

I love caprese chicken and I really enjoy the flavor from pomegranates.  This dish combines the two in a fantastic way for a creative spin on a traditional dish.

Recipe adapted from Food Network

Ingredients:

2 cups pomegranate juice

2 boneless chicken breasts cut into strips

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 heirloom tomatoes sliced ¼ inch thick

8 ounces fresh mozzarella sliced ¼ inch thick

¼ crushed pistachios

Fresh basil leaves

Directions:

  1. Bring the pomegranate juice to simmer in a small pot over low heat.  Let cook for 30-40 minutes until thick and syrupy and reduced to ½ cup. Set aside to cool.
  2. Preheat the oven to 300 degrees.
  3. Sprinkle the chicken with salt and pepper.
  4. Spray a nonstick pan with olive oil spray.
  5. Sauté the chicken over medium heat and cook for 2-3 minutes per side. 
  6. Layer the chicken, tomatoes, and mozzarella in a baking dish. Bake for 10-12 minutes.  Broil on high for 3-5 minutes to brown and melt the cheese. 
  7. Optional: Sprinkle with dried basil or basil infused olive oil first)
  8. Drizzle with pomegranate glaze, crushed pistachios, and basil leaves.
  9. I served this with Balsamic Parmesan Cauliflower and Balsamic Roasted Brussels Sprouts (see Recipes in Sides/Salads)
Balsamic Parmesan Cauliflower

Balsamic Parmesan Cauliflower

I love the mixture of balsamic and parmesan.  I also love roasted cauliflower.  This recipe combines the those to create a fantastic side dish. Ingredients: 2 cups cauliflower in big chunks 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil (or Basil infused oil) ½  teaspoon ground thyme