Category Archives: Food

Quinoa Black Bean Quesadillas

Food, Main Dishes, Mexican, Recipes, Snacks & Appetizers, Vegetarian, , , , , , , ,

I totally made this recipe by accident and I’m so glad I did! I was originally planning on making tacos with this recipe but I couldn’t get the tortillas to cooperate for the photos. Hmmm, what to do? Then it struck me… Quesadillas!

quinoa black bean quesadilla

It was Sunday afternoon and we had a day full of projects, so this made the perfect quick and healthy lunch. My 5 year old loved them and ended up eating more of these than I did.

quinoa black bean quesadilla

tips&tricks

Super busy during the week? Make the quinoa mixture ahead of time and then assemble the quesadillas for a quick week night dinner. The mixture also works with tacos or a burrito if you prefer.

quinoa black bean quesadilla

Ingredients

  • ½ cup quinoa, cooked
  • ¼ cup onion, diced
  • ½ jalapeno pepper, diced or more for added heat
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 cup black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 can diced tomatoes
  • ½  teaspoon chili powder Package of whole wheat flour tortillas
  • Fresh cilantro, Greek yogurt, sliced avocado, salsa, shredded cheese, or any of your favorite toppings!

Directions

  1. Cook quinoa according to package directions.  
  2. Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a large skillet. Sauté onion and jalapeno pepper for 3 minutes.  
  3. Add minced garlic and sauté for 1 minute.  Add cooked quinoa, black beans, diced tomatoes, and chili powder to the sautéed veggies. Cook for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Set aside  
  4. Heat ½ tablespoon of oil in another skillet, preferably cast iron, over medium high heat.  
  5. Place tortilla in the skillet and spread about a ¼ cup of the quinoa mixture over the tortilla. Sprinkle with cheese, optional, and top with another tortilla.   Cook for about 5 minutes, or until brown, and flip.
  6. Cook for a few more minutes, until that side is brown.  
  7. Cut into pieces and serve with your favorite quesadilla toppings. 

Enjoy!

Grilled Asparagus with Lemon Vinaigrette

Food, Grilling, Recipes, Sides, Vegetarian, , , , , ,

Spring is in the air! It’s time to get out the grill. Grilling is one of my favorite ways to prepare veggies, or anything really. It makes food taste great and there’s so much less to clean up.

Asparagus is a great vegetable for the grill.  You can wrap them in tin foil or just throw them right on. Skewing the asparagus makes it easier to flip and prevents them from falling down into the grill.

asparagus

tips&tricksWhen removing the woody ends of the asparagus, hold the spear firmly in each hand.  Bend the asparagus and it will naturally snap at the perfect spot.

asparagus

Vinaigrette Ingredients

  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • ½ lemon, juiced
  • ½ teaspoon rice wine vinegar, or any white vinegar
  • ½ teaspoon dried tarragon

Ingredients

  • 1 pound fresh asparagus with stems removed (see tip)
  • 1 tablespoon of olive oil
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

  1. Heat grill over high heat.  
  2. In a bowl, coat asparagus with olive oil and salt and pepper. Skewer asparagus on metal or wooden skewers.  If using wooden skewers, make sure you soak them first so they don’t catch on fire.  
  3. Place skewered asparagus on the grill and cook on each side for about 3 minutes or until desired tenderness. They will start to caramelize and turn brown.  

For the vinaigrette  

  1. Mix all ingredients in a small bowl with a whisk and set aside.  
  2. Place grilled asparagus in serving bowl and top with vinaigrette.  

Enjoy!

Easy Homemade Applesauce

Food, Recipes, Sides, Snacks & Appetizers, Vegetarian, , , ,

My daughter just loves applesauce. So I decided to try making my own since the store stuff contains so much sugar and yucky high fructose corn syrup. No need to add sugar to homemade applesauce. The apples are sweet all on their own!  Next time I may throw some pears or strawberries in there to change it up.

Applesauce

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Swiss Chard Lasagna Rollups

Food, Main Dishes, Recipes, Vegetarian, , , , , ,

Lasagna roll ups…Why on earth have I not made these before? This is my new favorite way to make lasagna. They are so easy and yummy! I used beautiful swiss chard from my Door to Door Organics Tristate delivery. You could also use fresh spinach leaves, but the swiss chard was just delicious and has so many health great benefits!

swiss chard lasagna rollup

I really like how you can use any veggie or meat combination per roll to satisfy any eater. Now my husband doesn’t have to pick out the extra mushrooms I just love. And my daughter, who’s currently on a “not eating anything green” kick had shredded carrots and cheese in hers. Go ahead and get creative!

swiss chard lasagna rollup

swiss chard lasagna rollup

did-you-know

Did you know Swiss chard is one of the most antioxidant-rich foods on the planet. It contains beta-carotene, vitamin E, vitamin C, zinc, lutein, zeaxanthin, quercetin, kaempferol, and many other disease fighting antioxidants.  Click here to learn more great health benefits about Swiss Chard.

swiss chard lasagna rollup

Ingredients

  • 6-8 cooked and drained lasagna noodles, depending on many people you will be serving
  • 1 small onion, diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, pressed
  • 1 small bunch swiss chard, chopped
  • 1 cup ricotta cheese
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • Handful fresh basil
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Fresh grated mozzarella or parmesan cheese for topping
  • Your favorite tomato sauce

Directions

  1. Pre heat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Place drained lasagna on parchment paper and lay out flat.
  3. In a skillet heat a tablespoon of oil and saute the onions for about 3 minutes and then add garlic and cook for another minute.
  4. Add chopped swiss chard and cook until wilted, about 4 minutes.
  5. Place ricotta cheese in large mixing bowl and add beaten egg, swiss chard mixture, herbs, and salt and pepper. Mix until combined.
  6. Spread cheese mixture onto the lasagna noodles and roll up.
  7. Place rolled up noodles in a baking dish coated with about a cup of tomato sauce. Once roll ups are in the dish top with additional sauce and cheese.
  8. Bake, covered for 30-35 minutes or until hot and bubbly.

Enjoy!

Sweet Potato Cakes

Food, Recipes, Sides, Snacks & Appetizers, Vegetarian, , , ,

I just received my box of veggies from Door to Door Organics and suddenly felt like I was on the food network show, Chopped.  A box full of beautiful fresh veggies…Now what to do with them?

sweet potato cakes

I decided the first item I pull out of the box will be my main ingredient. So sweet potatoes it is!  Since I have never really loved sweet potatoes it was time for me to get creative. I refuse to believe there is a food I don’t like. Well I think I’ve changed my mind about sweet potatoes.  I just love these sweet potato cakes!

These delicious little cakes make a great side dish or appetizer. They can easily be made Paleo by using coconut flour.

sweet potato cakes

sweet potato cakes

did-you-knowSweet potatoes contain almost twice as much fiber as other types of potatoes. That’s right.  They contribute almost 7 grams of fiber per serving. The high fiber content gives them a “slow burning” quality. This basically means their caloric energy is used more slowly and efficiently than a low-fiber carbohydrate. Click here to find out more great health benefits about sweet potatoes.

sweet potato cakes

Sweet Potato Cakes
Serves 6
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Total Time
15 min
Total Time
15 min
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size
58g
Amount Per Serving
Calories 137
Calories from Fat 95
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 11g
17%
Saturated Fat 5g
24%
Trans Fat 0g
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
Monounsaturated Fat 4g
Cholesterol 62mg
21%
Sodium 62mg
3%
Total Carbohydrates 8g
3%
Dietary Fiber 1g
4%
Sugars 1g
Protein 3g
Vitamin A
63%
Vitamin C
2%
Calcium
2%
Iron
3%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your Daily Values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
Does this look wrong?
Ingredients
  1. 1 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and shredded
  2. 2 tablespoons flour of your choice, (I used spelt, but whole wheat, almond, or coconut flour will work)
  3. 1/4 cup finely chopped onion
  4. 1 clove garlic, pressed
  5. 1/2 teaspoon dried tarragon
  6. 1/2 dried parsley (next time I make these, I am using fresh herbs)
  7. 2 eggs, beaten
  8. Salt and pepper to taste
  9. 2 tablespoons of oil for frying, I used coconut oil
Instructions
  1. In a large bowl add shredded potatoes and mix in the flour, onion, garlic, herbs, eggs, salt and pepper. Mix well, until sweet potatoes are coated.
  2. Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Form a small cake with the mix and add to hot skillet. Mixture will be wet, but will stay together once it is cooked. I made the cakes as I was ready to add to hot skillet. Add more oil as needed (when skillet dries out).
  3. Cook for about 5 minutes on each side until nice and brown.
Kim's Healthy Eats https://www.kimshealthyeats.com/
 

Avocado Egg Salad

Food, Game Day Recipes, Recipes, Salads, Sandwiches, Sides, Vegetarian, , , , , ,

What to do with all of those hard boiled eggs? My friend from the gym told me she made egg salad using an avocado and they loved it so of course, I had to give it a try. Who would have thought pairing an avocado with eggs would taste so yummy? It’s also much healthier than using traditional mayo.

Just make sure you only make what you will be eating right away, since the avocado will brown if it sits in the fridge for too long. This egg salad comes together so easily, you won’t mind.

Avocado Egg Salad

tips&tricksWhen buying a ripe avocado make sure it is almost black in color and it should give a little bit when you gently squeeze it. Also, you can pop off the stem at the top, if it green on the inside then it is ripe.

Ingredients

  • 4 hard boiled eggs, peeled
  • 1/2 ripe avocado
  • 1 celery stalk, chopped
  • 2 tablespoons red onion, finely chopped
  • 1 tablespoon fresh squeezed lemon
  • 1-2 tablespoons of greek yogurt (optional, this makes it a little more creamy)
  • salt and pepper to taste

Directions

  1. Remove yolk from egg and place in a bowl with avocado and mash together. 
  2. Chop egg white and add all ingredients to the bowl. Mix well until coated.

Quinoa Pizza Bites

Food, Game Day Recipes, Recipes, Snacks & Appetizers, , , , ,

Did I ever mention that I’m a snacker?  Alright, a huge snacker! I like to think it’s because I exercise a lot and work up an appetite, but no, I really just love to eat. Since I am constantly snacking on something I need to make sure it is healthy, and these quinoa pizza bites do the trick. You can add any of your favorite pizza toppings, which makes these a great appetizer for parties.

quinoa pizza bites

Ingredients

  • 1 cup quinoa, cooked
  • 1 egg
  • 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
  • 1 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese, save extra for topping handful fresh basil, chopped
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

  1. Pre heat oven to 350 degrees. Spray mini muffin pan with cooking spray.
  2. Cook quinoa according to package directions, let cool for a few minutes.
  3. In a large bowl combine all ingredients and mix well.
  4. Scoop into muffin pan and press until flat on top.
  5. Bake for about 20 minutes, or until nice and brown. Take out of oven and let them cool for about 10 minutes before removing from the muffin pan, otherwise they will fall apart.
  6. Top with fresh grated parmesan cheese and serve with side of warm marinara sauce.

Enjoy!

Mediterranean Pizza

Food, Game Day Recipes, Main Dishes, Snacks & Appetizers, Vegetarian, , , ,

Pizza time! I just love to make my own pizzas. It’s a great way to use up my leftover veggies and it tastes so much better than the frozen stuff. I usually cheat and buy the dough, so it only takes me a few minutes to assemble and bake. This is a perfect quick week night dinner, or a weekend lunch that can be nibbled on throughout the day. So get creative and add whatever you like!

This pizza I went Mediterranean.  I used:

  • tomato sauce
  • mozzarella cheese
  • fresh spinach
  • red onion
  • red pepper
  • kalamata olives, sliced
  • feta cheese

mediterranean pizza

mediterranean pizza

Sesame Kale Chips

Food, Game Day Recipes, Recipes, Snacks & Appetizers, Vegetarian, , , , , , , ,

Ahhh! The first day of Spring, although it does not feel like it Pennsylvania today, but at least the sun is shining. Which has me thinking swim suit season is right around the corner. Time to step up my fitness and be mindful of what I am eating.

First step, healthy snacks, especially since I am a big snacker during the day. Well these kale chips are delish and have you going back for more. Good thing they are a good for you and a guilt free snack!

kale chips

did-you-know

Did you know that Kale’s considered a superfood?  According to a May 2010 article published in “Diabetes Forecast,” it provides high levels of a number of essential nutrients and may help to lower your blood pressure.  Click here to find out more about why this vegetable is considered a super food.

kale chips

Ingredients

  • 1 bunch fresh kale, thick stems removed and chopped into bite size pieces
  • 1 teaspoon olive oil
  • Couple of dashes of soy sauce, or tamari for gluten free
  • 1 tablespoon sesame seeds

Directions

 

  • Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
  • Mix all ingredients in a large bowl to coat kale.
  • Bake for about 10 to 15 minutes, depending on your oven. I noticed the chips closer to the edge of the pan crisped first, so I removed those and cooked the rest a few minutes longer.

“Irish” French Onion Soup

Food, Recipes, Snacks & Appetizers, Soups, Vegetarian, , , , , , , , ,

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Nothing says Irish more than a Guinness, so why not add it to one of my favorite soups. French onion soup is easy to make, but it does take some time to caramelize the onions to perfection. But it is so worth it! Usually at a restaurant, french onion soup is loaded with cheese. Don’t get me wrong I love cheese, but I am trying to avoid extra calories.  You control the calories by the amount of cheese you use for the topping.

Irish French Onion Soup

tips&tricks To caramelize the onions, they must cook for about 40 minutes. Stirring about every 10 minutes to help them turn a golden brown. If the onions start to stick to the pan, simply add some Guinness to deglaze the pan.

Irish French Onion Soup

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 large onions sliced thinly, about 8 cups (this looks like a lot, but they will cook down)
  • 4 cloves of garlic, pressed
  • 1 teaspoon of dried thyme
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon of butter
  • 1/4 cup flour
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1 can of Guinness
  • 4 cups of beef or vegetable broth (used organic beef, but vegetable would work for vegetarians)
  • splash of Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tablespoon of dijon mustard
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • French baguette, sliced into 1/2 inch slices, brush lightly with olive oil and toast in the oven
  • shredded cheddar or swiss

Directions

  •  Add olive oil to a heated large pot or sauce pan of over medium heat. Add the sliced onions to caramelize. To caramelize the onions, see tips.
  • Add the brown sugar, garlic, thyme, and butter cook for  a few minutes.
  • Meanwhile whisk the flour and water until smooth. Add to pan and cook for about 3 minutes.
  • Add the Guinness and increase the heat to get it nice and bubbly. Reduce the Guinness by half.
  • Add the broth, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, salt, and pepper. Simmer for about 30 minutes.
  • Ladle the soup into oven proof bowls. Top with toasted baguette and cheese. Bake until cheese is melted and bubbly.