Month: July 2021

Cookie Dough Hummus

Cookie Dough Hummus

Somedays you really just want a chocolate chip cookie in life, but you don’t want the sugar, fat, and calories.  This simple to make hummus tastes like chocolate chip cookie dough.  You can use the dip with apple slices, carrots, or even heated up so 

Spring Roll Salad with Peanut Dressing

Spring Roll Salad with Peanut Dressing

I was in the mood for a light salad and craving peanut butter.  This salad checked all the boxes. Recipe adapted from Food Network Ingredients: Salad- 1 bag coleslaw mix shredded cabbage with carrots ½ cup matchstick carrots 1 English cucumber sliced and quartered 2 

Angel Food Cake Berry Roll Up

Angel Food Cake Berry Roll Up

If you are looking for a light patriotic dessert this angel food cake roll up with strawberries and blueberries is the perfect answer.

Ingredients:

1 angel food cake box mix plus ingredients to prepare

1 cup powdered sugar

1 8 ounce reduced fat cream cheese room temperature

½ cup heavy cream

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup sliced strawberries

1 cup blueberries

Feel free to add other berries and to serve with additional berries

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line a 10×15 baking sheet with parchment paper.  Spray with baking spray.
  2. Prepare cake mix according to package directions.
  3. Pour into the prepared pan and spread to the edges.
  4. Bake 20 minutes until cake is beginning to brown.
  5. Remove parchment paper from pan and set cake down on a flat surface.
  6. Roll the cake up starting at the short end. 
  7. Let cake cool completely at room temperature (or in the fridge if you are in a hurry).
  8. Add cream cheese to stand mixer.  Beat on medium until smooth.  Add cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract.  Beat on low and then medium until desired consistency.  Add more powdered sugar if needed.
  9. Unroll cake. 
  10. Spread a layer of icing on the cake using ½ the icing.
  11. Top with strawberries and blueberries.
  12. Roll the cake up as tightly as you can.
  13. Transfer the roll to a serving dish or air-tight container.
  14. Spread the remaining icing over the roll.
  15. When ready to serve cut into slices.
  16. Serve with additional fruit.
  17. Store in the fridge in an air-tight container.  Note this cake tastes best when eaten within 24 hours.
Cake before rolling up
Rolled up cake

Triple Berry Greek Yogurt Popsicles

Triple Berry Greek Yogurt Popsicles

I was in the mood for a light fruity dessert so when I saw this recipe I knew it would be perfect.  I used blueberries, strawberries, and black raspberries.  You can adjust the fruits to suit your mood. Ingredients: ½  cup blueberries ½  cup diced 

S’more Cake

S’more Cake

One night my family was in the mood for S’mores, but we didn’t have time to make a fire in the fire pit, so instead we made a S’more cake.  The cake tasted delicious warm from the oven.  We microwaved leftovers for 30 seconds and 

Grilled Zucchini and Radicchio Salad

Grilled Zucchini and Radicchio Salad

Grilled vegetables have an amazing flavor.  This simple salad comes together quickly and pairs well with many main dishes.

Recipe adapted from Food Network

Ingredients:

1 zucchini sliced lengthwise

1 head radicchio quartered

1-2 tablespoons olive oil

1 tablespoon fresh basil sliced

2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

1 tablespoon agave nectar

Directions:

  1. Pre-heat grill or ninja grill.
  2. Brush both sides of the zucchini with olive oil.
  3. Grill on medium heat until grill marks appear approximately 3-4 minutes per side.
  4. Drizzle olive oil over the radicchio quarters.
  5. Grill 5 minutes.
  6. Chop the zucchini into bite size pieces. 
  7. Separate the radicchio leaves.
  8. Add zucchini and radicchio to a medium bowl.
  9. In a small bowl mix apple cider and agave nectar.
  10. Drizzle the dressing over the salad and mix gently.
  11. Sprinkle with diced basil leaves.
  12. Serve warm.  
Salmon Apple Burgers

Salmon Apple Burgers

I was a little unsure when I read the recipe, but these were surprisingly delicious!  Recipe adapted from Food Network Ingredients: 2 14 ounce cans of pink salmon 2 golden delicious apples 1 shallot ½ cup apple cider 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar 1 tablespoon 

Grilled Tilapia Sandwiches with Tropical Salad and Sautéed Honey Plantains

Grilled Tilapia Sandwiches with Tropical Salad and Sautéed Honey Plantains

While I wouldn’t recommend making this dinner after spending the day outside in 95 degree temperatures running around a Cub Scout camp like I did, I would recommend you try this dinner when you are in a tropical mood. Recipes adapted from Food Network Ingredients: 

Chipotle Chicken Pasta Salad

Chipotle Chicken Pasta Salad

Normally I serve pasta salad as a side dish.  With the addition of chicken this pasta salad is filing enough for a lunch or dinner.

Recipe adapted from Food Network

Ingredients:

Pasta Salad

8 ounce box chickpea rotini pasta

1 pound chicken breast cubed

1 zucchini sliced and quartered

1 bell pepper diced

½ cup cherry tomatoes halved

1 avocado sliced

2 tablespoons minced fresh chives

1 teaspoon chipotle lime seasoning

Honey Chipotle Vinaigrette-

½ cup red wine vinegar

¼ cup nonfat plain Greek yogurt

2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce

2 tablespoons honey

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

1 clove garlic

¼ cup olive oil

Directions:

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to boil.  Cook pasta to al dente according to package directions.  Drain and rinse with cold water.
  2. Add chicken breast to a nonstick pan.  Spray with olive oil spray.  Sprinkle chicken with chipotle lime seasoning.  Cook on medium heat until chicken is cooked through.
  3. Cut chicken into bite size cubes.
  4. Add diced vegetables to a large bowl.
  5. Add chopped chicken to bowl.
  6. Add yogurt, vinegar, adobo sauce, chipotle pepper, olive oil, garlic, mustard, Italian seasoning, and honey to a food processor.  Pulse to chop peppers and mix sauce.
  7. Add pasta to vegetables. 
  8. Pour the sauce over the vegetables and mix to evenly distribute the dressing.
  9. Sprinkle chives over the salad.  Toss to mix.
  10. Add sliced avocado and gently mix.
  11. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Mix well to redistribute dressing before serving.
Watermelon and Strawberry Aqua Fresca

Watermelon and Strawberry Aqua Fresca

On hot summer days watermelon is the perfect treat.  When we have too much watermelon I often make watermelon aqua fresca to use up the juicy watermelon before it goes bad.  If you don’t like basil and mint feel free to omit those from the