Category Archives: Recipes

Green Tea Pineapple Smoothie

Are you ready for a tall glass of healthy goodness? I am! I think I’ll kick off the weekend with one of these tomorrow morning. After a class from 9-11 and a noon soccer game, we’re heading out of town to spend some time with my husband’s family – 8 adults and 7 children under 7 under one roof for the weekend! It will be a great weekend, but let’s just say I’ll need all the energy I can get!

So why this smoothie? Green tea has a number of health benefits – most notably its potential to fight cancer and heart disease. Rich in antioxidants and minimally processed relative to other teas, it’s also mildly caffeinated, so it can provide a gentle energy boost when you need one. When combined with spinach and some delicious fresh fruits, you have a winning beverage pick-me-up, great for the morning or any time you need a boost.

See what you think!

 

Green Tea Pineapple Smoothie

 

makes 1 serving

 

Ingredients:

2/3 cup water

1 decaffeinated green tea bag

1 cup spinach

1 cup fresh pineapple chunks

1/2 banana, sliced

1/4 lime, juiced

1 teaspoon honey

ice cubes

 

Directions:

1. Steep the tea bag in 2/3 cup of boiling water. Let cool.

2. Combine cooled tea with the rest of the ingredients (except ice) and puree till blended. Add a few cubes of ice at a time until you achieve your desired texture (more ice will thicken it).

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Healthy Mother’s Day Breakfast for Kids

I’m ready for a mimosa of my own! This morning I took all three of the munchkins on air with me on Fox19 for my Healthy Living segment. One of the producers had suggested that I do a healthy breakfast easy enough for kids to make…and that I bring my own children to make it. (Yikes!)

My kids love to be in the kitchen and  I really believe that it’s the only way anyone can learn how to cook. But cooking in our kitchen is one thing and cooking on live TV is quite another. I waited until yesterday to tell them because we can only handle SO MUCH anticipation in our house…but I have to say that they had a ball and it’s one of those days I’ll definitely always remember.

We made three simple dishes that are easy enough for children to make with just a little help from an adult.  They’re healthy, too, so you can enjoy them guilt-free! Happy Mother’s Day one and all.

 

Here’s the link to the video.  And the recipes follow…

 

“Flower” Eggs  in Bell Pepper Rings  (I saw these on Pinterest and thought – adorable!)

Serves – up to you!
1 red, 1 orange, and 1 green bell pepper, sliced into 1/4″ thick rings, seeds removed
1-2 eggs per person
salt and pepper
Heat a nonstick griddle to 350 and place bell pepper rings on the griddle (1-2 per person). Crack an egg into the center of each ring and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Break yolk if desired and cook until desired level of doneness. Remove with a spatula.

 

Fruit, Yogurt, and Granola Parfaits

Serves 4
4 cups Nonfat greek yogurt
1 tsp vanilla
2 tsp. stevia or 1 Tbsp. honey
dash of cinnamon
Cut fruit – melon, honeydew, pineapple
Berries – strawberries, blueberries, blackberries
2 cups Lowfat granola
In tall parfait glasses (or drinking glasses) layer granola, yogurt, and fruit, alternating to create a pretty pattern. Serve with an iced tea spoon!

 

Mock Mimosas

Serves 4
2 cups fruit juice (orange, cranberry, pomegranate)
4 cups sparkling water
Orange slices for garnish
Mix fruit juice and sparkling water in a pitcher. Pour into stemmed glasses and top with a fruit garnish .

 

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Calabrese Tomato Sauce with Ginger

I love tomatoes. I especially love fresh tomatoes, but when I can’t wait anymore and tomato season is still months away, a good can of tomatoes will do! This simple sauce is great over pasta, and the addition of fresh ginger gives it that little something extra. You  can make the sauce ahead and store it for a busy weeknight ; doubling the recipe and freezing some is also a good idea!

 

Calabrese Tomato Sauce with Ginger

 

serves 4-6

 

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons canola oil

2 medium garlic cloves, finely minced

1 small onion, finely chopped

1 tablespoon peeled and finely minced fresh ginger

1 – 28-oz. can high-quality whole tomatoes (such as Muir Glen)

1 tablespoon double-concentrated tomato paste (see note below)

2 teaspoons sugar

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1 teaspoon dried basil

3/4 teaspoon kosher salt

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

 

Directions:

1. In a medium skillet, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the garlic, onion, and ginger; saute until tender, 3-5 minutes.

2. Add the tomatoes and their juices, breaking them into small pieces with your hands. Stir in the remaining ingredients.

3. Simmer the sauce until thick, about 15 minutes.

4. Serve over large shells or tube pastas.

 

Note: Double-Concentrated Tomato Paste is found in the specialty Italian section at most grocery stores. It is more concentrated than typical tomato paste, giving it a fuller tomato flavor. It is a tube sold in a box and can be stored in your refrigerator for quite a while. It is worth paying a little bit more for this versus buying a small can and throwing away half of it when you only need a tablespoon or two for a recipe!

 

 

 

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