Tag Archives: Food

Buffalo Chicken Cups

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

Life has been CRAZY the last few weeks. My husband got a new job and we are relocating from the Philadelphia area to Dallas in January. We sold our house rather quickly and are currently staying with my sister and her family until the big move. Now that we are getting settled I can get back to my blogging 🙂 I missed it and I am glad to be back!

Buffalo Chicken Cups

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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.

Broccoli Bites

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

Going green for tonight’s St. Patty’s festivities! That’s right, we’re finally going out for St. Patrick’s day. We have an overnight sitter and we’re ready to party! Back to the broccoli bites. We’re having some friends over before our big night on the town, and I needed a quick and easy snack. These are not only festive, but really good. They’re full of veggies and make a great healthy snack. I think I may just need to make some extras for a snack later this week.

broccoli bites

did-you-know

Did you know broccoli contains high levels of both calcium and vitamin K, both of which are important for bone health and prevention of osteoporosis.  This is great news if you’re not a fan of milk.  Click here for more great health benefits from broccoli.

broccoli bites

Ingredients

  • 1 medium head of broccoli, cut into very small pieces
  • 1 small carrot , peeled and shredded
  • 1 garlic clove, pressed
  • 3/4 cup cheddar cheese
  • 3 eggs, beaten
  • 1 cup of panko or bread crumbs
  • 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

  • Pre heat oven to 350 degrees. Steam broccoli pieces for a few minutes, until they turn a nice bright green. Let cool.
  • In a large bowl combine all ingredients and mix well.
  • Shape into bite size broccoli balls.
  • Bake on parchment paper for about 18-20 minutes or until golden brown.

nutritional fact - broccoli bite

Thai Peanut Chicken Pasta with Vegetables

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

So you’re probably thinking…Peanut butter and pasta, really? Don’t be fooled, it really is a great combination!  In fact, this is one of the most requested meals by my husband. It’s not very spicy and the peanut butter sauce adds a nice sweetness to the dish so if you’ve never had Thai food before, this is a great recipe to start with.

peanut chicken pasta

tips&tricks

Ginger root is typically large and most recipes call for only a few teaspoons. Don’t let that ginger go to waste. Freeze it. When you need to use it again no need to defrost, it actually is easier to grate while frozen. Just simply peel away the skin and grate. Ginger root will last about 6 months in the freezer. Click here for more information about ginger root.

peanut chicken pasta 02

Ingredients

  • 2 carrots, peeled
  • 2 teaspoons sesame oil, divided (you can use olive oil if you don’t have sesame)
  • 2 teaspoons grated fresh ginger
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 cup low sodium chicken or vegetable broth
  • 1/2 cup of peanut butter (creamy or chunky, whatever you have)
  • 1/4 cup low sodium soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 3 tablespoons rice vinegar (white vinegar will also work)
  • 1 teaspoon of chili garlic sauce or sriracha (you can find this in the Asian section of the grocery store)
  • 1 cup canned lite coconut milk (found in the baking isle or Asian section)
  • 1 lb chicken breasts cut into strips
  • 1 large red pepper cut into thin strips
  • 1 pound green beans or snow peas
  • 1 box of whole wheat spaghetti or linguine, cooked
  • 1/2 cup fresh cilantro
  • 1/2 cup peanuts for topping (optional)

Directions

  1. Shave carrots with a vegetable peeler and set aside in a bowl.
  2. Heat a sauce pan over medium heat and 1 teaspoon of the oil. Add ginger and garlic, saute for about 30 seconds. Add broth, peanut butter, soy sauce, brown sugar, vinegar, and chili sauce. Stir together until peanut butter is smooth. About 5 minutes. Add coconut milk and stir until heated. Remove sauce from heat and keep warm with a lid on top of pan.
  3. Heat 1 teaspoon of oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add peppers and green beans or snow peas, saute for about 5 minutes. Remove from skillet and set aside.
  4. Add chicken strips. Cook chicken strips until no longer pink, about 10 minutes.  Turn off heat.
  5. Add the carrots, sauted vegetables, pasta, and peanut sauce to the cooked chicken in the skillet. Toss well so everything is covered with the sauce. I found that using tongs worked best.
  6. Top with fresh cilantro and peanuts.

nutrional facts - thai peanut pasta

Enjoy!

Cheddar Vegetable Chowder

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

Between work, the gym, and dance classes for my daughter, it’s tough to find time during the week to make dinner. So on Sundays I like to make a few meals to prepare for the busy week.  I try to keep them simple and healthy. You may want to double this one though, since most of it was gone by lunch.

vegetable chowder

vegetable chowder 02

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 small onion, finely chopped
  • 2 carrots, finely chopped or shredded
  • 2 celery stalks, finely chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves, pressed
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 4 cups vegetable or chicken broth (low sodium)
  • 2 large potatoes, peeled and chopped
  • 1 tablespoon flour
  • 1/2 cup of water
  • 2/3 cup of milk (I used almond coconut)
  • 2 cups broccoli, chopped into small pieces
  • 1 cup of cheddar cheese

Directions

  1.  In a large pot heat olive oil and add onion, carrots, and celery. For easy prep I used the food processer attachment from my immersion blender to chop this veggies quickly. Saute veggies for a few minutes and add pressed garlic and cook for 2 more minutes. Add salt and pepper.
  2. Add vegetable or chicken broth and potatoes and bring to a boil. Cook until potatoes are tender.
  3. In a small bowl mix water and flour and add to soup. Bring to a slight boil and heat for a few minutes until thickened.
  4. Add milk and broccoli. Cook until broccoli is tender about 5 minutes.
  5. Add cheese and stir until melted. I used my immersion blender to make the soup a little smoother, but this step is not needed.

nutrional facts - veg chowder

Roasted Chickpeas

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

Perfect guilt free Friday night snack. Roasted chickpeas also make a great afternoon snack when you are craving something salty. They are much healthier than grabbing something at the vending machine and it only cost me about $2 to make this batch.

Roasted Chick Peas 01

Roasted Chick Peas 02

Ingredients

  • 2 can chickpeas (garbanzo beans), drained and rinsed
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • dash of garlic powder
  • dash of cayenne pepper (optional)
  • dash of sea salt

Directions

  • Pre heat oven to 400 degrees.  After draining and rinsing the chickpeas, place them in a single layer on a paper towel and dry by layering another paper towel overtop.
  • Place dry chickpeas in a bowl and mix in olive oil, and spices, and stir.
  • Place chickpeas in a single layer on a baking sheet with sides since they need to be shaken a little during cooking.
  • Bake for about 25 to 30 minutes, shaking the baking sheet about every 10 minutes. They do brown quickly so keep an eye them during the last 10 minutes of baking.

nutrional facts - chick peas

TGIF!

Black Bean Brownie Bites

Desserts, Food, Recipes, Vegetarian, , , , , , , ,

I have heard of making black bean brownies, but never actually tried them until my friend made these delicious little bites for a snack at the beach last summer.  Why didn’t I try this sooner?  Yummy!  They are super easy and no one will know there is black beans in them. You have to give them a try!

Black Bean Brownies

Ingredients

  • 1 15 ounce can black beans, rinsed and drained
  • About 1/3 cup of water, to moisten black beans
  • 1 package of your favorite brownie mix (I try to buy organic or Trader Joe’s to avoid the additive junk in regular brownie mix)


Directions

  1. In a food processor or blender,  puree black beans and add water to moisten beans. Make sure beans are completely smooth. They actually turn a purple color.
  2. Add brownie mix to a large bowl and pour in pureed beans. Mix until a batter is formed.
  3. Spray muffin tin or pan with cooking spray. I make them in a mini muffin tin for portion control, but can easily be made in a pan.
  4. Bake according to brownie box directions. In a mini muffin pan I baked at 350 for about 18-20 minutes.
  5. Serve with a side of fresh berries.

Nutrition Facts

Enjoy!

Chicken Salad Recipe

Food, Game Day Recipes, Main Dishes, Recipes, Salads, Sandwiches, , , , , , , ,

Looking for something different for lunch?  This chicken salad full of fruit and nuts will keep you feeling full.  It tastes great on rye and pumpernickel bread, on a bed of lettuce, with crackers for a snack, or how I like to eat it, right off a spoon!

Chicken Salad

Ingredients

  • 2 large chicken breasts, boiled and shredded, or a rotisserie chicken shredded
  • 2 celery stalks, chopped
  • 1/4 cup red or white onion, diced
  • 1 apple, diced
  • 1/2 cup dried cranberries
  • 1/4 cup walnuts or sliced almonds
  • 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
  • 2 tablespoons mayo, I used the kind with olive oil
  • 1/2 a lemon
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

  1. Boil chicken breast in water and some salt and pepper until cooked through. About 20 minutes depending on the size of the chicken. Cool and  shred the chicken with 2 forks. A rotisserie chicken from the grocery store would work too.
  2. In a large bowl mix chicken, celery, onion, apple, cranberries, nuts, yogurt, mayo, and lemon juice. The yogurt and mayo can be adjusted to taste. Salt and pepper to taste. The longer the chicken salad marinades the better it tastes.
  3. Serve as a sandwich, or on a bed of lettuce.

nutrional facts - chicken salad

Perfect Scrambled Eggs

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

Nothing says Sunday morning more than scrambled eggs. The search for the perfect scrambled eggs took me to this Gordon Ramsay recipe. It’s actually more of a technique rather than a recipe. Paired with a side of sautéed veggies not only makes delicious, but adds nutritional value to start your day.

perfect scrambled eggs

Ingredients

  • 2 large eggs (I love farm fresh brown eggs)
  • 1 small pad of butter (just a little for some flavor)
  • 1 tablespoon scallions

Directions

  1.  Heat pan over medium heat. Break eggs right into the pan. Stir with a rubber spatula until mixed. It is kind of like making a risotto, stir, stir, stir. Once the eggs begin to set remove from heat and you guessed it, stir. Add butter and return to heat. Keep removing and putting pan back to heat eggs. Not sure why this works, but that’s what Gordon Ramsay did and they tasted great!  Once eggs are cooked add the scallions. 
  2. Serve up with a side of your favorite sautéed veggies. I had some spinach, broccoli, and red peppers that needed to be used up!

nutrional facts - scrambled eggs

Enjoy!