Curried Grilled Zucchini

A side that I created tonight for dinner. I used to use bottled dressing to marinate it then grill, but it isn’t healthy so wanted a flavorful alternative. This is what I came up with and it is YUMMY! Can easily be doubled or tripled.

Prep time: 1 Min. Cook time: 10 Min. Serves: 2

Ingredients

1 zucchini cut into 8 wedges

2 tbs extra virgin olive oil

1/2 tsp good quality organic curry powder

sea salt to taste

1/2 tsp turbinado sugar

Instructions

cut zucchini into 8 wedges.

In a small bowl mix remaining 4 ingredients until well blended. Sugar will not disolve if using turbinado sugar. place zucchini on grill over medium heat, brush on oil mixture. cook until desired doneness(about 10 mins for me) adding more oil mixture every couple of mins.

I had this with NY strip steak, and some sliced strawberries.

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Chocolate Coconut Cookies

Another base recipe tweaked to be healthy. The original called for Splenda, which for one is definitely NOT healthy, and frankly I think tastes like crap. I removed the Splenda and added healthy natural sweeteners. I removed all dairy products and replaced with healthy alternatives. The result is a nutritious sweet you can enjoy anytime!

5 Tablespoons coconut oil
½ cup chocolate chips
¼ cup coconut cream(when cool coconut cream floats to the top of the can of coconut milk)
1 ½ teaspoon pure vanilla
½ teaspoon sea salt
¼ cup Turbinado sugar
¼ cup agave nectar
3 eggs
½ cup coconut flour
½ cup unsweetened coconut

Preheat oven to 350 F.

1) Melt oil in bowl or 1 quart measuring cup -- you can make the whole recipe in the same container that way.

2)Whisk in cream, salt, vanilla, and sweeteners.

3)Taste. This is the point where you want to get the right amount of sweetener for your taste.

4) Whisk the eggs in and beat until they are well-blended. Add coconut flour and blend well, and finish with the dried coconut. Combine well, and let sit for 5 minutes. The coconut will absorb most of the liquid.

Side note: at this point add the chocolate chips or if you want to make them pretty, save them, and later melt them, then drizzle over cookies.

5) Prepare cookie sheets, either by greasing well, covering with parchment paper, or a silicone baking mat.

6) Drop batter by rounded teaspoons (batter will be about 1½ inches across).

7) Bake for about 12 minutes, until cookies are set and just beginning to brown on bottom.

8) Let cool on pan for about 10 minutes. Remove. When fully cool, store in airtight container.

Makes three dozen cookies.

Heatlhy Dairy Free and Vegan Smoothies. YUM.

Even my kids love these, and they are packed with healthy ingredients that are very satisfying and provide lasting energy, along with a nice helping of protein!

Ingredients:
1/2 cup So Delicious strawberry kefir
1 very ripe banana
1 handful fresh spinach
3 TBS Nutiva hemp seeds
1 tsp agave nectar
1 1/2 cup So Delicious vanilla coconut milk

In a blender(or a large glass using a stick blender)add all ingredients, blend on high for about 1 minute. Pour into a large glass(if using regular blender) and enjoy!

I drink one of these every morning to start my day out right, and it keeps me full well into the afternoon. It's quick and easy to make which makes it very convenient for someone with a busy life. I hope you like this just as much as my kids and I do!

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whole wheat chocolate tomato muffins

I came up with this to utilize the TONS of tomatoes I have going bad in my garden. It sounds strange but you can’t even taste them and its a good way to get your veggies in…especially with picky eaters.

Prep time: 10 Min. Cook time: 40 Min. Serves: 24

Ingredients

1 cup whole wheat flour

1/2 cup wheat germ

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 cup Cocoa powder

1 tablespoon cinnamon

1 1/4 cup water

1 cup fresh tomato(pureed)

1.5 cups baby carrots peeled

1/2 cup extra virgin coconut oil

1 cup agave nectar

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 cup coconut finely shredded

3/4 cup raw nut trail mix with berries(I got mine at vitamin cottage, they contain all organic...cashews, golden raisens, mulberries, pistachios, goji berries and cacao nibs)

Instructions

preheat oven to 400 degrees.

in a food processor, puree your tomato with skin on and baby carrots, transfer to another bowl.

in same processor add flour, wheat germ, cinnamon, baking soda and baking powder. pulse to mix well.

re-add measured tomato puree, agave water, egg and vanilla mix well.

added trail mix and puree again until smooth. add coconut and pulse a few times until blended.

Measure out evenly into muffin cups and bake for 30-40 or until toothpick in center come out clean.

Number of Servings: 24

Recipe tags: baking bake bread muffins wholegrain whole-grain healthy Vegetarian
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Whole Wheat Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

Always on the search for healthy sweets, I was looking for a healthy oatmeal chocolate chip cookie. I found a good base recipe then modified to make them healthy. This is the result, and though the ingredients seem strange, my husband who is extremely picky wolfed them down!

2 Cups whole wheat flour
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp sea salt
1 cup organic canned chickpeas, drained and ground fine in food processor
1/2 cup coconut oil
2 cups Sucanat or turbindo sugar
2 tsp pure vanilla extract
2 eggs
3 cups rolled oats
1/ 1/2 cups water
1 1/2 cups chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 375
In mixing bowl combine oil and sugar, mix well.
add all other ingredients except chocolate chips, and mix with hand mixer until well blended. Fold in chocolate chips. Drop by rounded spoonfuls onto well greased cookie sheet. Bake at 375 for 10-15 mins.

Makes approx. 40 cookies

P.S. If anyone makes these and likes to photograph food, I would love to have a picture of them! I've tried photographing food and I suck at it lol

My Spanish Rice

I recently moved and can longer have my favorite spanish rice from a restaurant where I used to live, so I’ve been on a quest to find a rice similar. After many failed attemps I think I finally have it!

Prep time: 5 Min. Cook time: 60 Min. Serves: 6

Ingredients

1 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil

2 cups brown long grain rice

1 onion diced fine

4 cups chicken broth(or vegetable broth for vegan)

3 tbsp. tomato paste

1 tsp. oregano

Instructions

Heat oil in large sauce pan on medium heat. Meanwhile rince rice in cold water until water runs clear(this helps keep it from sticking together). pour rice into pan and mix to coat well with oil. Cook over medium heat until rice turns golden brown. Add chopped onion and mix well, cook additional 2 mins. In seperate bowl mix the broth and the paste well, then add to rice. Cover and bring to boil, then turn down and simmer until rice is cooked through. Serve hot!

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Healthy Vegan Fudge

This fudge is ooh sooo yummy! I took it to work this week(today updated being 11/17/2009) and a whole plate full disappeared in 10 mins flat! I didnt dare mention healthy because well all know what most think of healthy. I found a good base recipe for fudge then tweaked the ingredients to make it healthy. The result was in my opinion the best fudge I've ever tasted(next to grandmas anyway) and it will not affect the blood sugar like regular fudge, so eat up! Here is a description of how turbinado(used in this recipe) is better for blood sugar. As well as other natural sweeteners...Click Here.

Ingredients

4 1/2 cups turbinado sugar aka demerara(I use this but it does not cost that at walmart)

12 ounces coconut milk(pure coconut milk with nothing added, i.e. Thai kitchen brand)

18 ounces vegan chocolate(I use these)

1/2 lb extra virgin coconut oil

3 tablespoons pure vanilla extract

1 pinch sea salt

1 nuts, of your choice or raisins

Instructions

1. Bring to a boil the sugar and milk, and let it boil exactly six minutes, stirring constantly. (If you can do this over a double-boiler it will help you, but it isn’t required.).

2. In another pan or bowl, have the chocolate, oil, vanilla extract and salt ready. You can use chocolate chips or good quality bar chococate. The better the quality of chocolate, the better the fudge.

3. Pour hot mixture of sugar and milk over the other ingredients, and blend together until all the chocolate has melted. Using a high powered hand mixer or stand mixer will make a smooth fudge. If you try to mix it by hand it will start to harden before its mixed and come out dry and grainy.

4. Add nuts—whatever type you prefer, and in the size you prefer in fudge.

5. Pour into pan and set for six hours in the fridge until the fudge has set.

makes 36-40 servings

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Sweet Potato and Black Bean Enchiladas

It's been a really long time since I posted! I've really been neglecting my blog, so I'm making a mental note to post a new recipe at least once a week! Today's recipe I got from another blog, but I cut a few corners, making it quicker and easier while still keeping it healthy.

Ingredients

1 Jar 505 organic green chili

Enchilada Filling

2 (15-ounce) can organic black beans, rinsed, drained

4 cloves garlic, minced

Fresh lime juice from 2 big juicy lime

2 large diced sweet potatoes

1/2 cup chopped roasted mild green chiles

1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

1/2 teaspoon chili powder mild or spicy

Sea salt and black pepper to taste

2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro(I used freeze dried)

Assembly

2 to 4 tablespoons olive oil, as needed

16 organic white or yellow corn tortillas

Method

Preheat your oven to 350°F.

In the meantime, for the Enchilada Filling, using a mixing bowl, combine the drained black beans with minced garlic and lime juice. Toss to coat the beans and set aside. Fry sweet potatoes until golden, then add veggie stock and turn on low until sweet potatoes are soft, add the chopped green chiles; add the spices. Season with sea salt and pepper.

Pour about 1/4 cup of the 505 Green Chile Sauce into the bottom of a 9x9 glass baking dish.

To assemble the enchiladas, grab a skillet and heat a dash of oil. Lightly cook the corn tortillas to soften them, one at a time, then layer 8 of them in the bottom of your pan. Pour sweet potato mixer on top of tortillas, then pour on the beans. Next lightly cook the other 8 tortillas and layer them on top.

Top with the rest of the sauce.

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until the enchiladas are piping hot and the sauce is bubbling around the edges.

Nectarine spinach and greens salad with garlic and herb dressing

My kids LOVED this. I'm not sure what prompted me to try nectarines with greens, but I'm sure glad I did. They ate it up, and there wasn't a single bit left. The flavors compliment each other amazingly. Yummy and refreshing all in one, what more could you ask for?

This salad is a perfect compliment to this black beans and rice recipe. Everything is fresh, and homemade making for an extremely healthy meal!

Firm nectarines create a lovely crunch in this salad. Dont worry about how sweet they are, they will taste much sweeter with homemade salad dressing.

Prep time: 10 Min. Cook time: 30 Min. Serves: 8

Ingredients

2 firm nectarines, chopped into bite sized pieces

1 bag prewashed baby spinach and greens(or other mixed green salad)

1/4 c. olive oil

3 tbsp. apple cider vinegar

1 tsp. mustard seed

1 tbsp. onion powder

1 tbsp. garlic powder(or fresh garlic if you prefer)

1 tsp. oregano

1 tsp. basil

2 tbsp. dry parsley flakes

1/8 tsp. sea salt

Instructions

place olive oil, mustard seed, onion and garlic powders, oregano, basil, sea salt and parsley into a food processor(or use immersion blender) and process until mustard seeds are pulverized. remove from processor and place into a small tupperware bowl, drizzle in apple cider vinegar and shake well. cover and refrigerate. Until ready to serve.

Place salad into a large bowl, then top with the chopped nectarines. chill for 30 mins. drizzle salad with desired amount of homemade dressing and toss to coat, just before serving.

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Crunchy Nutty Brown Rice

Crunchy Nutty Rice

Serves: 10

I thought some might want a new twist on plain ol rice. This sounds really yummy. I think it would be awesome with almonds or chopped peanuts!

INGREDIENTS
1-1/2 cups water
1 cup chicken stock or broth(more water, or vegetable stock to make it vegan)
1-1/3 cups uncooked long-grain brown rice
2 teaspoons olive oil
2 tablespoons finely chopped onion
2 tablespoons finely chopped green pepper
1/2 cup chopped pecans(or other nuts)
1/4 teaspoon ground sage
1 cup finely chopped celery
5 oz. sliced water chestnuts
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
Black pepper to taste
Sea Salt to taste

DIRECTIONS
1. Bring water and stock to a boil in medium-size saucepan.
2. Add rice and stir. Cover and simmer 20 minutes.
3. Remove pan from heat. Let stand, covered, 5 minutes or until all liquid is absorbed. Reserve.
4. Heat oil in large nonstick skillet.
5. Sauté onion and celery over moderate heat 3 minutes. Stir in remaining ingredients including reserved cooked rice. Fluff with fork before serving.