Dark Chocolate Truffles

Easy Dark Chocolate Avocado Truffles

Photo & Recipe From:  "Detoxinista"

Link:  http://detoxinista.com/2014/02/easy-dark-chocolate-avocado-truffles/

Original Site Includes:  Step-by-step photo instructions



 makes 12
Adapted from Apple of My Eye
Ingredients:
6 oz. dark chocolate (I used 67% chocolate chips)
1/3 cup mashed avocado (about 1 small avocado)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
pinch of salt
2 tablespoons cocoa powder, for rolling (optional)
Directions:
Combine the chocolate, vanilla extract and pinch of salt over a double boiler, and melt until completely smooth. (I just use an oven safe bowl over my small saucepan for this.) Mash the avocado with a fork until no lumps are visible, then stir it into the melted chocolate mixture until smooth and thickened. Place in the fridge to set for 20 minutes, or until slightly firm to the touch.
Once the mixture has been chilled and is slightly firm, use a tablespoon to scoop the chocolate into 12 balls. Place them on a pan lined with parchment paper, and roll the balls between the palms of your hand to create an smooth surface. (Be warned: this can get messy!)Place the 2 tablespoons of cocoa powder in small bowl, and roll each truffle into the cocoa to coat.Serve at room temperature, but store in the fridge for a lasting shelf life.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Bites

The Original Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Bites Recipe (aka Chickpea Cookies)

Recipe & Photo From:  "Texanerin Baking"
 
Link:  http://www.texanerin.com/2012/04/grain-free-peanut-butter-chocolate-chip-cookie-dough-bites.html
 
Original Site Includes:  Substitution Tips

 

Ingredients

• 1¼ cups canned chickpeas, well-rinsed and patted dry with a paper towel¹
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• ½ cup + 2 tablespoons (165 grams) natural peanut butter, SunButter Natural or almond butter - room temperature ²
• ¼ cup (80 grams) honey (commenters have used agave and maple syrup with success!)
• 1 teaspoon baking powder³
• a pinch of salt if your peanut butter doesn't have salt in it
• ½ cup (90 grams) chocolate chips (use vegan and dairy-free chocolate chips, if needed)

 

Directions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F / 175°C. Combine all the ingredients, except for the chocolate chips, in a food processor and process until very smooth. Make sure to scrape the sides and the top to get the little chunks of chickpeas and process again until they're combined.
2. Put in the chocolate chips and stir it if you can, or pulse it once or twice. The mixture will be very thick and sticky.
3. With wet hands, form into 1½" balls. Place onto a Silpat or a piece of parchment paper. If you want them to look more like normal cookies, press down slightly on the balls. They don't do much rising.
4. Bake for about 10 minutes. The dough balls will still be very soft when you take them out of the oven. They will not set like normal cookies.
5. Store in an airtight container at room temperature (or in the fridge) for up to 1 week.

Notes

1. My can of chickpeas was 400 grams, 240 grams without the water, and I used all but a few tablespoons.
2. Don't even try with regular peanut butter! They'll come out oily. You MUST use natural peanut butter. :)
3. If you need grain-free baking powder, you can use 1 part cream of tartar + 1 part baking soda + 2 parts arrowroot.

Garden Salad with Lime Cilantro Dressing

Garden Salad with Lime Cilantro Dressing

Recipe & Photo From:  "Laylita's Recipes"

Link:  http://laylita.com/recipes/2008/02/15/garden-salad-with-lime-cilantro-dressing/

Original Site Includes:  Spanish version

Yield: For 6-8 people as a starter or side salad.

Ingredients:

• 1 head of lettuce, washed and leaves cut or torn into large pieces
• 2 tomatoes, sliced or quartered
• ½ red onion, thinly sliced
• 1 avocado, sliced or diced
• 1 tbs finely chopped cilantro
• Juice of 2 limes
• 2 tbs olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1. To make the dressing whisk the chopped cilantro, lime juice, olive oil, salt and pepper together.
2. Combine the lettuce, tomatoes, onions and avocado in a large bowl.
3. Toss the salad with the dressing and serve.

Notes

Add slices of grilled chicken or meat, or leftover salmon/shrimp to make this full entree style salad.

Nut Butter/Celery Boat

Nut Butter/Celery Boat

Recipe & Photo From:  "Greatist"

Link:  http://greatist.com/health/high-protein-snacks-portable

Original Site Includes:  31 Healthy Snack Ideas



Instructions:

Any vehicle for nut butter (almond, peanut, or cashew, perhaps?) is perfection in our book. Try loading a few celery sticks with 1 tablespoon of any nut butter topped with a few whole almonds or raisins (oh yeah, we went there). If you’re not a fan of celery, try scooping out the middle of an apple and fill it with a nut buttery surprise!

*Also try with raisins

Nut Butter/Banana Rice Cakes

Nut Butter/Banana Rice Cakes

Idea & Photo From:  "Greatist"

Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Pecans

Recipe & Photo From:  "Real Simple"

Link:  http://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/browse-all-recipes/roasted-brussels-sprouts-pecans-00000000006807/index.html?crlt.pid=camp.SrL3nf1ohF3D

Original Site Includes:  Nutrition Information

Serves 8| Hands-On Time: 15m| Total Time: 40m

Ingredients

• 2 pounds Brussels sprouts, trimmed and halved
• 1 cup pecans, roughly chopped
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
• kosher salt and black pepper

Directions

1. Heat oven to 400° F. On a large rimmed baking sheet, toss the Brussels sprouts, pecans, oil, garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Turn the Brussels sprouts cut-side down.
2. Roast until golden and tender, 20 to 25 minutes.

Vietnamese Summer Rolls

Vietnamese Summer Rolls with Avocado & Mango

Recipe & Photo From:  "Inquiring Chef," Jess Smith

Link:  http://www.inquiringchef.com/2013/07/22/vietnamese-summer-rolls-with-hoisin-peanut-dipping-sauce/

Original Site Includes:  Step-by-step Photos & Nutrition Information

Serves: 6

Ingredients

• 1 package (about 20) round rice paper wrappers (see note)
• 1 head romaine lettuce, torn into pieces
• 1 bunch fresh basil leaves (Thai basil will work best, but any other variety will do)
• 1 red pepper, cut into thin strips
• 1 carrot, cut into thin strips
• 1 cucumber, cut into thin strips
• 1 mango, cut into thin strips
• 1 avocado, cut into thin strips (squeeze a little lemon over this if you won’t serve it right away)
• Hoisin-Peanut Dipping Sauce (recipe below)

Instructions

1. Set out all ingredients listed above. Just before serving, soak 1 rice paper at a time in water until it becomes oft and shake to drain. Lay rice paper out on a large plate or cutting board. Add ingredients of choice in a line across the lower quarter of the paper in the following order – lettuce, basil, red pepper, carrot, cucumber, mango, avocado.
2. Close the rolls by folding the left and right sides of the paper towards the middle and rolling up tightly from the bottom of the roll.
3. Serve immediately with Hoisin-Peanut Dipping Sauce.

Notes

Rice paper wrappers can be found in the Asian section in most grocery stores with other dry goods - most often they are labeled as Thai or Vietnamese. The kind used for this recipe are never refrigerated or frozen. They are crisp like a cracker when you buy them but become soft and pliable when soaked in water for a minute.

Roasted Chickpeas

Roasted Chickpeas

Recipe & Photo From:  "Real Simple"

Link:  http://www.realsimple.com/health/nutrition-diet/healthy-eating/low-calorie-snacks-00100000063976/page19.html?crlt.pid=camp.0UtNUZ1mgM5x

Original Site Includes:  Nutrition Information



Roasted chickpeas (¼ cup tossed with 1 teaspoon olive oil, cumin, and chili; roasted at 375º F for 35 to 40 minutes)

Pad Thai

Vegetable Pad Thai

Recipe & Photo From:  "Simply Scratch"

Original Site Includes:  Step-by-step photos

Link:  http://www.simplyscratch.com/2012/01/vegetable-pad-thai.html

Yield: serves 4-6

Ingredients:

*Include shredded chicken if desired
1 package Stir Fry Rice Noodles
1 small {or half of a large} Red Bell Pepper, sliced into strips
1 Carrot, peeled and sliced thinly on an angle
1 cup Snow Peas
2 small Garlic Cloves, minced
4-5 Mushrooms, sliced
1 can Water Chestnuts, drained
1/2 cup Peanuts, ground, for garnish
Cilantro, for garnish
For the Sauce: *(Alternate Soy-Free sauce option included at bottom of post).
3 tablespoons Peanut Oil, plus a tablespoon for your wok
1-1/2 tablespoons Rice Vinegar
1 tablespoon Sesame Oil
1 tablespoon Tamari *(Substitute Fish Sauce for soy-free version)
Juice of half a lemon
4 teaspoons Honey
1 teaspoon Sriracha or your favorite spicy chili sauce
1/4 cup Natural Smooth Peanut Butter

Directions:

Prep all vegetables before you do anything. Having everything prepared will help save time while making this dish up!
Add all the sauce ingredients into a small bowl, whisk to combine.
Bring some water to boil, pour over the rice noodles and let sit for 8-10 minutes. {or follow your package directions}
To a hot wok or non-stick pan, heat up a tablespoon of the peanut oil. To the hot oil, add the vegetables... stir until starting to brown but not lose color, about 6-7 minutes. Add water chestnuts and garlic, stir for one minute. Pour in sauce, stir and then add the noodles. Toss together and then serve up a plate with a sprinkle of the ground peanuts and torn cilantro leaves.
*I have to add, this recipes served hot is Ahhhh-mazing, but the left overs weren't as delicious as it was fresh out the wok. Just keepin' it real folks.

Alternative Sauce:

From "Just A Taste" 

For the whole recipe, link to:  http://www.justataste.com/2013/10/easy-best-pad-thai-chicken-recipe/

 1 1/2 Tablespoons tamarind concentrate/paste
1/4 cup fish sauce
1/2 teaspoon Sambal Oelek (chili sauce)
1/3 cup packed light brown sugar *(Substitute Agave for sugar-free version)
1/8 teaspoon fresh black pepper

Workout Recovery Shake

Protein Workout Recovery Shake Using Gelatin

Recipe & Photo From:  "Primally Inspired"

Original Site Includes:  Information about types of Gelatin and its nutritional benefits. Description of how each ingredient is beneficial after a workout.

Link:  http://www.primallyinspired.com/protein-workout-recovery-shake-using-gelatin/

Makes 1 shake:

Ingredients:
1 cup water (I specifically do NOT use milk – whether coconut, almond, dairy, etc. as a base because the fat content in these milks can slow nutrient absorption. After a tough workout is when your body needs nutrients as quickly as possible, which is why I stick to using water with only a splash of coconut milk. If you aren’t using this shake for workout recovery, adding part milk or all milk as the base instead of water will make it taste better!)
splash of coconut milk or other milk, optional 
½ cup ice
1 small cooked sweet potato or ½ of a large one (or ¾ cup canned pumpkin like THIS)
2 tablespoons gelatin (I highly recommend THIS one)
1 tablespoon pure raw honey
½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 teaspoon cinnamon
pinch of ginger, nutmeg cloves

Instructions:
Blend in a blender until well mixed. Enjoy!
Consume within 30 minutes of a hard workout for best results.

Brown Rice Tortillas

Brown Rice Tortillas

Recipe & Photo From:  "Nourishing Meals"

Original Site Includes:  Details on healthier types of brown rice flour, Tortilla Press information

Link:  http://www.nourishingmeals.com/2014/01/how-to-make-brown-rice-flour-tortillas.html


Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups brown rice flour *(Can be purchased from health foods store, or ground from dry rice grains in a mill)
1/2 cup arrowroot powder or tapioca flour
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1 cup boiling water
virgin coconut oil, for cooking *(Olive oil works just as well)

In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the brown rice flour, arrowroot, and sea salt. Add the water and mix with a wooden spoon. Knead the dough a little in the bowl, then let it rest for a few minutes while the skillet heats up. Add more water, 1 tablespoon at a time, if the dough feels too dry.

Preheat a 10-inch cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Divide the dough into six equal-sized balls. Place a piece of unbleached parchment paper on the bottom of a tortilla press then place one of the balls in the center, cover with a second sheet of parchment, and press to form a thin, round tortilla.

Add about 1 teaspoon of coconut oil to the hot skillet. Gently remove the top sheet of parchment, place the tortilla into skillet, then remove the second sheet of parchment. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes on each side. Repeat making tortillas with the remaining dough. Transfer the cooked tortillas to a plate and flip another plate over the top to keep the tortillas warm and soft. Let them sit for about 20 minutes inside the plates; this way they will be nice and pliable for serving.

Yield: about 6 tortillas

*These can be frozen and reheated

Cilantro Lime Quinoa

Cilantro Lime Quinoa

Recipe & Photo From:  "Two Peas & Their Pod"

Link:  http://www.twopeasandtheirpod.com/cilantro-lime-quinoa/#_a5y_p=1551016



Yield: Serves 4
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes

Ingredients:

2 cups vegetable broth
1 cup quinoa, rinsed and drained
1 clove garlic, minced
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1/3 cup chopped cilantro
1/4 teaspoon granulated sugar
Salt and pepper, to taste

Directions:

1. In a large pot, bring the 2 cups of vegetable broth to a boil. Stir in quinoa and cook until broth is evaporated and quinoa is tender, about 20 minutes. Pour quinoa into a medium bowl and fluff with a fork.
2. Stir in garlic, lime juice, cilantro, and sugar. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Serve warm.

Cabbage Rolls

Steamed Cabbage Rolls

Recipe & Photo From:  "Lil Mys Ninja"

Link:  http://www.lilmysninja.com/2012/04/tasty-tuesdays-steamed-cabbage-rolls.html


INGREDIENTS:

• Cabbage
• 1LB lean ground beef
• 1C cooked rice
• red pepper
• yellow pepper
• garlic powder
• onion powder
• salt

DIRECTIONS:

1. Season beef with garlic powder, onion powder, and salt; brown.
2. Diced peppers and mix well with browned beef and rice.
3. Separate cabbage leaves and wash clean.
4. Blanch cabbage leaves in boiling salted water for about 3 minutes.
5. Scoop filling onto leaf, fold in sides, and roll closed.
6. Lay seam down in the steamer and steam for 10 minutes.
7. Serve warm and if desired, with a homemade sauce.

HOMEMADE SAUCE:Combine one can of tomato sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, dried parsley, and dried basil; warm on stove top. Pour over steamed cabbage rolls, then bake in oven @ 350 degrees for 10 minutes. Serve warm.

Smoothie ideas

Smoothie Ideas Board On Pinterest

Pinterest Board & Photos:  "Smoothie Fun" by Suzanne Fiore

Link to Pinterest Board:  http://www.pinterest.com/suzynico/smoothie-fun/

Pinterest Board Contains:  Over 40 Smoothie Recipes

Strawberry Frozen Yogurt

5-Minute Healthy Strawberry Frozen Yogurt

Recipe & Photo From:  "Just A Taste"

Link:  http://www.justataste.com/2014/05/5-minute-healthy-strawberry-frozen-yogurt-recipe/



Yield: 4 servings

Prep Time: 5 min

Ingredients:

4 cups frozen strawberries
3 Tablespoons agave nectar or honey
1/2 cup plain yogurt (non-fat or full fat)
1 Tablespoon fresh lemon juice

Directions:

Add the frozen strawberries, agave nectar (or honey), yogurt and lemon juice to the bowl of a food processor. Process until creamy, about 5 minutes.
Serve the frozen yogurt immediately or transfer it to an airtight container and store it in the freezer for up to 1 month.

Kelly's Notes:
I prefer a more tart frozen yogurt, but you can add additional agave nectar or honey if you want a sweeter-tasting dessert.
Fresh strawberries can be used in place of frozen, however the fresh strawberries must be frozen solid.

Roasted Cauliflower

Roasted Cauliflower with Tahini-Lemon Sauce

Recipe & Photo From:  "Wandering Spice"

Link:  http://www.wanderingspice.com/2012/09/04/roasted-cauliflower-with-tahini-lemon-sauce/


Cauliflower Instructions:

Provisions:

1 head cauliflower, sliced into 1″ discs or broken into florets

Cumin powder, to taste (about 2 generous teaspoons)

Salt and pepper, to taste

Olive oil, for brushing

 

Method:

Pre-heat oven to 200C / 400F. 

Slice the cauliflower into 1″-thick discs (all the way across), or separate into large florets. Arrange on a nonstick baking sheet. Brush each piece lightly with olive oil (coating both sides) and sprinkle with the cumin, salt and pepper. Place in the oven to roast for 20 minutes or until golden brown, carefully flipping once halfway through.

 

Sauce Instructions:

 

Provisions:

1/2 cup tahini

Juice of 1/2 a lemon

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 big spoonful plain yogurt (if mixing the tahini sauce)

 

In a small bowl, combine the tahini, lemon juice, minced garlic and yogurt. Add a pinch of salt to taste, if desired. Drizzle or spread atop each crispy piece of cauliflower. 

If tahini becomes oily or too thick when mixed with other ingredients, mix the crushed garlic with the lemon juice and drizzle over the cauliflower, followed by the plain tahini.

 

A note on tahini: I’ve found that different brands yield different consistencies when mixed with other elements (like lemon juice or water). Some brands split and go oily, while others morph into a stodgy, unspreadable mess.

In the event you find yourself in either of the aforementioned scenarios, fear not. Do a test run with a small scoop of tahini (say 1 tbsp, mixed with a drop of lemon juice or water). If   the consistency changes for the worst, simply deconstruct the sauce instead of mixing it together. Mix the lemon juice and garlic and drizzle over the baked cauliflower, followed by a generous spoon of tahini.

Avocado Chicken Salad

Avocado Chicken Salad

Recipe & Photo From:  "Becoming Betty"

Link:  http://becomingbetty.blogspot.com/2011/09/avocado-chicken-salad.html


Ingredients:
chicken, cooked and shredded
avocado
mayo, just a little
green onion, sliced
cilantro
lime juice to taste
salt/pepper to taste
*Try garlic salt for variety

 *Sorry there aren't any measurements.  I just asked what was in it and then made it to my liking.  I probably had 2 cups of chicken and then just threw the rest in until it tasted good.  I only used 1 avocado but if you really love avocados, you could use more.  I loved the lime juice, so I kept adding more of it little by little.  You definitely need a little salt, but the pepper is just if you want to.  I used a lot of cilantro and a moderate amount of green onion.  Probably 2-3 of them.  You can serve this in pitas or just eat it with chips.  

Apple & Peanut Butter Sandwich

Apple & Peanut Butter Sandwich

Idea & Photo From:  Sarah Jio & "Glamour"

Link:  http://www.glamour.com/health-fitness/blogs/vitamin-g/2011/08/afternoon-snack-apple-sandwich.html

Banana, Oat, Peanut Butter Cookies



Sinless Cookies

 

Recipe & Photo From:  "45 Wrap is the New Black"

 

Link:  https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=329706550520352&set=a.171619962995679.1073741829.170598343097841&type=1&theater

 



Peanut Butter Pie

No-Bake Peanut Butter Pie

Recipe & Photo From:  "Chocolate-Covered Katie"

Link:  http://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/2012/09/09/no-bake-peanut-butter-pie/

Original Site Includes:  Nutrition Facts

 

(Can be gluten and sugar-free!)

• 1 cup peanut butter (230g) (Or another nut butter, or Sunbutter)
• 3 medium bananas (300g) (See nutrition link below, for substitutions.)
• 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 1/8 tsp salt (My pb also has salt.)
• 1/4 cup virgin coconut oil, melted (Can sub with 1/4 cup extra pb; the texture will just change) (50g)
• stevia extract to taste, or 3-4 tbsp powdered sugar, or liquid sweetener (such as pure maple syrup)

Blend everything together very, very well. (I used a Vita-mix for this.) Pour into a prepared pie crust or springform pan–this pie can easily be crustless!–and freeze until firm. (If not using the coconut oil, just chill in the fridge instead.) Pie should be kept cold; I keep it in the freezer. Just thaw before eating, and the mousse-like texture will come right back! If you want a deeper-dish pie, use: 1 1/2 c peanut butter, 4 1/2 bananas, 1 tbsp vanilla, a little over 1/8 tsp salt, 1/4c plus 2 tbsp coconut oil, and stevia to taste or 5 tbsp powdered sugar.

Stuffed Squash

 

Origins Farm: Stuffed Pattypan Squash Recipe

 

Recipe & Photo From:  "17 Apart"

 

Link:  http://www.17apart.com/2013/06/origins-farm-stuffed-patty-pan-squash.html

 

Original Site Includes:  Step-by-step Photos

 

Ingredients: (stuffing enough for 10 pattypan squashes)

• Pattypan squashes (one per person if serving as a side, otherwise 3 per person)
• 1/2 cup organic pearl barley
• Fresh sage leaves from a whole stem, some chopped, some whole
• Medium red onion, diced
• Garlic clove, diced
• 8 0unces whole hog pork sausage
• Salt and pepper to taste

Grease baking sheet with olive oil or cooking spray and preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cook 1/2 cup dry pearl barley according to package directions and set aside for use in stuffing.

 

Meanwhile, slice thin point off bottoms of squash so they'll balance evenly on baking sheet. Compost, discard or reserve tips for use later.

 

Flip over and slice tops, reserving each to cap squashes later.

 

Gently scoop out insides of each squash with a spoon, careful not to scoop all the way through the bottom. Dice and reserve squash flesh in a bowl to use in stuffing later, and arrange squashes on baking sheet:

 

Let's make some stuffing!

 

Combine diced squash, onion, garlic and sage in a bowl. Cook pork sausage in a pan over medium heat, breaking up to separate and until lightly brown. Once cooked, mix in diced ingredients to combine:

 

Once mixed well, incorporate cooked barley into stuffing mixture and sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste:

 

Generously stuff each pattypan squash with stuffing mixture and top with a small fresh sage leaf:

 

Top each squash with their original caps and drizzle lightly with olive oil.

 

Cover the entire baking sheet with foil and roast in oven for 25 minutes. Remove foil and roast for another 10 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool for 5 minutes before plating:

Turkey-Zuchhini Burger

Spicy Turkey and Zucchini Burger Recipe

 

Recipe & Photo From:  "Simply Recipes"

Recipe adapted from the cookbook Jerusalem by Yotam Ottolenghi and Sami Tamimi.
 

Link:  http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/spicy_turkey_and_zucchini_burger/

Original Site Includes:  Step-by-step Photos

 

• Prep time: 25 minutes
• Cook time: 25 minutes
• Yield: Serves 4-6.

Ingredients

• 1 pound ground turkey meat
• Just under 2 cups, lightly packed, coarsely grated zucchini (from about 2 to 3 small zucchinis or one medium zucchini)
• 3 green onions, thinly sliced, onion greens included
• 2 Tbsp chopped fresh mint (spearmint)
• 2 Tbsp chopped fresh cilantro (tender stems included)
• 1 clove garlic, crushed and minced
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne
• 3 Tbsp vegetable oil

Sour cream sauce:

• 1/4 cup sour cream
• 1/3 cup plain Greek yogurt
• 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
• 1 Tbsp lemon juice
• 1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• Pinch of freshly ground black pepper

1 Make the sour cream sauce by placing all of the sauce ingredients in a bowl and stirring until combined. Chill until ready to use.

 

2 In a large bowl place the grated zucchini, sliced green onions, chopped mint, cilantro, and garlic, ground cumin, salt, pepper, and cayenne. Stir to combine. With your hands, mix in the ground turkey until the zucchini mixture is well distributed through the ground turkey.

 

3 Use your hands to form 3 to 4 inch wide patties, placing them on a baking sheet. Note that the patties will be rather wet, so they may be a little tricky to handle.

4 Heat 3 Tbsp of vegetable oil in a large frying pan on medium high heat. Once the oil is hot, lower the heat to medium. Working in batches, place the patties in the pan. Let cook for about 5 minutes, then flip the patties over and cook for another 5 to 6 minutes. You want them to brown and to gently cook all the way through. If the temperature is too high, they'll get browned on the outside but the inside will still be raw. So, cook them gently. If the outsides are browned and the insides still aren't done, lower the heat and cook longer.

5 Once the first batch of patties are done, remove to a paper towel-lined plate while you cook the second batch. Or you can keep the patties warm in a 200°F oven.
Makes 8 large patties or up to 18 small ones. Serve with the sour cream sauce.

Peanut Butter 'n Yogurt Dip

Ben’s Best Peanut Butter ‘n Yogurt Dip

Recipe & Photo From:  "Real Mom Kitchen"

Link:  http://realmomkitchen.com/3961/bonus-day-dinner-dips-and-a-gourmet-dessert/




Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup Skippy® Natural Creamy Peanut Butter Spread
• 1 cup nonfat vanilla yogurt
• 2 cups assorted fruit (I used bananas, strawberries and apples)

Combine Skippy® Natural Creamy Peanut Butter Spread with yogurt in medium bowl. Use as a dip for fruit…or try topping with granola.

Apple-Cinnamon Smoothie

Harley Pasternak Breakfast Smoothie

Recipe By: Harley Pasternak, celebrity trainer

Recipe & Photo From:  "Popsugar"

 

Link:  http://www.fitsugar.com/Harley-Pasternak-Breakfast-Smoothie-Recipe-25151750

Original Site Includes:  Nutrition Facts

Ingredients

5 raw almonds
1 red apple
1 banana
3/4 cup nonfat Greek yogurt
1/2 cup nonfat milk (substitute Almond Milk)
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

Directions

1. Place all ingredients in a blender. (Depending on how powerful your blender is, you may need to chop the apple and almonds into small pieces before blending.)
2. Blend on medium-high for 30 seconds (or until desired consistency).

*Hints:  Include 1 tsp Agave Syrup.  Also, use a frozen banana.

 

Quinoa Chicken Curry

Quinoa Chicken Curry

Recipe & Photo From:  "I Can Cook That"

Link:  http://www.icancookthat.org/2012/09/quinoa-indian-chicken-curry.html

Original Site Includes:  Step-by-step Photos

Ingredients:

1 cup uncooked quinoa, rinsed and drained

4 cups chicken broth, divided

2 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1 inch pieces

4 tablespoons olive oil, divided

6 teaspoons curry powder, divided

1 medium yellow onion, chopped

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 cup frozen peas

1 medium head cauliflower, chopped into 1 inch pieces

1/2 tsp ground cumin

1 tsp celery seed

1/2 tsp fennel seed

1/2 tsp turmeric

1/3 cup plain low-fat yogurt (optional)

1/3 cup nonfat sour cream (optional)

1/2 cup cashews (optional)

1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro (optional)

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

 

Add the quinoa and 2 cups chicken broth to a pot and bring to a boil.

Cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer for about 15 minutes or until almost all the liquid has been absorbed. 

Cut the chicken into 1 inch pieces. Add the chicken to a bowl with 1 tablespoon olive oil and 2 teaspoons curry powder. Mix to coat.

Add 1 tablespoon olive oil to a large sauté pan over medium heat. Add the chicken pieces and cook for about 7 minutes or until just done, stirring to cook evenly. Set aside.

Using the same sauté pan, add 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat. Add the yellow onion and garlic. Cook, stirring, for 1 minute.

 Add the peas, cauliflower, cumin, celery seed, fennel seed, turmeric, and the remaining 4 teaspoons curry powder.

Add the remaining 2 cups chicken broth and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. (The original recipe didn’t specify when to add the chicken pieces back in. I decided to add them along with the chicken broth to allow them to simmer in the mixture.)

Remove from heat and stir in the low-fat yogurt and nonfat sour cream.

Stir in the quinoa, cashews, cilantro, salt, and pepper.

 

Yields 5 cups, or about 4 servings.

 

*Hint - curry is best when sautéed in oil before blending with other foods.  This helps lessen bitterness, and releases the flavor.