Lighter Guac

Guacamole a Little on the Lite Side

Ingredients:

1 cup low-fat cottage cheese
1 1/2 teaspoons dried onion flakes
1 clove garlic, minced
1 teaspoon salt
Pinch of cayenne pepper
2 teaspoons lemon or lime juice
1 ripe avocado, peeled and cut in chunks
1 tomato, peeled and chopped

Instructions:

In a food processor add onion, salt, lemon or lime juice, cottage cheese, garlic, cayenne pepper, and avocado. Blend until smooth. Pour into a bowl and gently stir in the chopped tomato. Cover with plastic wrap allowing the plastic to actually touch the entire surface of the guacamole.

Potluck Bean Salad

I love this salad because I can fix it so far ahead and in the mornings when it’s too warm to cook.

Ingredients:
2 cups canned butter beans
2 cups canned kidney beans
2 cups canned green beans
2 cups yellow beans
1/2 cup celery, chopped
1/4 cup red onions, chopped
1/4 cup red pepper, chopped
1/3 cup white sugar
1/3 cup vinegar
1/3 cup olive oil
1 tsp celery seeds

Method:
Add all drained cans of beans to a large serving bowl. Add chopped celery, pepper and onion and gently stir.

Healthy Fruit Squares

Very easy recipe to modify to the families likes and dislikes.

Ingredients:
12 oz mixed dried fruit of your choice (dates, apricots, raisins etc)
4 oz nuts (cashews, almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts or Brazil nuts)
4 oz grated coconut
Grated rind of 1 orange or lemon
A little orange juice
Extra grated coconut for coating

Method:
Process dried fruit mixture and nuts in a food processor until finely chopped.

Add coconut and grated rind of orange or lemon and process again, adding the orange juice to make a firm paste.

Crunchy Green Beans and Cauliflower

I love toasted sesame seeds. Brings just the right hint of flavor to an Asian inspired dish.

Ingredients:
1.5 lbs green beans
1/2 head cauliflower, cut into small florets
1 cup water
1 onion, chopped
1 large clove garlic
1 tbsp lemon juice
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup water
1 tbsp sunflower oil
1 tbsp sesame seeds
8 large lettuce leaves

Method:
Cut off the ends of the green beans.

In a large saucepan, bring 1 cup of water to a boil and add onion, garlic, lemon juice, beans and cauliflower florets. Reduce heat immediately and simmer the vegetables for about 8 minutes or until they are just tender. Drain and remove garlic.

Molasses Caraway Bread

I love bread. It’s my weakness. So I love when I can find a way to indulge a little and still keep it a little healthy.

Ingredients:

4 (1/4 oz.) packages active dry yeast
4 cups 110 degree warm water
1 cup 110 degree warm milk
6 Tbsp brown sugar substitute
1/8 cup sugar substitute
1/4 cup shortening
1/4 cup molasses
2 cups rye flour
10 cups all purpose flour
1/4 cup caraway seeds

Directions:

Beet and Feta Salad

Ingredients:

2 (5 ounce) packages mixed greens
2 cups fresh nectarines, sliced
1 (13 1/4 ounce) can beets, drained and sliced
1/2 cup feta cheese (or crumbled goat cheese if you can only find feta that is from cow’s)
1/2 cup balsamic vinaigrette

Directions:

1. Place the greens into a large salad bowl.

2. Add the nectarines and beets and toss to fluff.

3. Sprinkle the salad with the feta cheese to cover the entire salad.

4. Drizzle the vinaigrette over the entire salad.

Nutritional Information: (Approximate Value per 1 cup serving)

Honey Mustard Dill Carrots

Ingredients:

1 (16 ounce) package baby carrots
2 Tbsp honey mustard (not the dressing, but the actual mustard)
1 Tbsp. fresh dill, snipped
2 tsp. unsalted butter

Directions:

1. Cover the bottom of a saucepan with a thin layer of water.

2. Place the carrots into the saucepan with the water and set over medium high heat. Bring to a steady boil.

3. Reduce the heat to low and cover the saucepan. Continue cooking on low 17 minutes or until the carrots are tender.

Favorite Veggie Dip

This recipe is SO yummy! Easy to make and the only thing unhealthy about it is the possibility of eating too much. lol

Ingredients:
1 tsp olive oil
1/3 cup onion, finely chopped
1/3 cup red bell pepper, finely chopped
1/3 cup zucchini, finely chopped
1/3 cup celery, finely chopped
1/3 cup eggplant, peeled and finely chopped
1/3 cup fresh tomatoes, finely chopped
1 tsp fresh basil, finely chopped (dried is fine as well)
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
1 tsp red wine vinegar
1/3 tsp sugar

Carrot Banana Loaf

Ingredients:

2 cups whole wheat flour
2 t cinnamon
2 t ginger
2 t aluminum free baking powder
1/2 t baking soda
1/2 t sea salt
2/3 c rapadura or sucanat
1/2 c coconut oil or melted butter
1 8 oz can crushed pineapple, drained with juice reserved
1/2 c carrot juice
1 t all natural vanilla extract
1 c carrots, finely grated
1/2 c raisins
1/2 c pecans, coarsely chopped (optional – may use walnuts)

Preheat oven to 350. Grease a loaf pan with olive oil cooking spray or butter.

Kale and White Bean Soup

Ingredients:

1 T butter or olive oil
1 onion, thinly sliced
3 cups chopped kale
1 small yam, diced
1 T paprika
1 T curry powder
1 bay leaf
4 cups chicken or vegetable broth
2 15 oz cans great Northern beans, drained
2 T red wine vinegar

Heat oil or butter in saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and cook until translucent.

Add kale and cook until wilted. Stir in yam and seasonings.

Pour in broth and bring to a boil. Turn heat down until soup is at a simmer and cook 30 minutes. Add beans to pot and cook another ten minutes. Add vinegar, sea salt and papper.

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