Blueberry Yogurt Muffins

This recipe is one that is sure to make you happy. It's healthy, yet still has that fix that you want. The one of the reasons why this recipe is healthy is because normally yogurt muffins have oil, butter, syrup and milk = equals tones of fats and carbs. The only fat these muffins have are from the egg yolks (which are healthy). The entire batch as 15 grams of fat, which means each muffin has about 1 gram of fat as opposed to 10 grams of fat! Plus because you're using greek yogurt, you're getting in more protein! These are the bomb!

Blueberry Yogurt Muffins
3 eggs
1/3 c. sugar
1/2 cup fat free greek yogurt
1/4 cup of unsweetened apple sauce
2 tbsp. honey
1 tbsp. lemon juice
1 1/2 cups of whole wheat flour
1 tsp  baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
dash of salt
1 1/4 cups of blueberries

1. Mix the eggs and sugar together
2. Add in yogurt, apple sauce, honey and lemon juice
3. Mix well
4. Mix the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt together
5. Add the dry mixture and wet mixture together and beat well
6. Add in the blueberries

Bake at 350 for 25 minutes

Summer Fruit Soup

This a wonderfully light soup that will leave you so full of summer love you will be wishing it could be summer all year long. It's a perfect appetizer or even can be served as a dessert.

Summer Fruit Soup

2 pounds of watermelon chunks (which is about 4 cups)
1/2 mango (chunks)
1/2 c. orange juice
1/2 tsp. sugar
1 tsp. lemon juice
1 c. sparkling (Poland Spring) fruit flavored water

 In a blender - mix them all together. Chill up to 8 hours (or overnight)

Serve with some fresh ginger as a garnish.

Yummy! 

The "Healthy" and "Unhealthy" Watermelon Popsicle

So I saw these on pinterest and I just had to make them! They look like so much fun. There are two ways to have watermelon popsicles at your next summer BBQ. Here are both recipes. One is SUPER easy and one is pretty complicated but totally well worth it!

Easy and Healthy Watermelon Popsicles

Cut watermelon into triangles aka pizza slice looking pieces. Stick a Popsicle stick into the bottom. All done!

Hard and Unhealthy Watermelon Popsicles

1 small watermelon cubed
1 tsp. of lemon juice
handful of crushed ice
1 tsp. white sugar

12 kiwis - peeled and cubed
1 tsp. of lemon juice
handful of crushed ice
1 tsp. white sugar

coconut milk

12 popsicle sticks

1. in a blender blend the watermelon, lemon, ice and sugar together then pour into a popsicles dish and stick popsicle stick inside.throw some raisins inside. put in in the freezer for 4-8 hours
2. then pour a little coconut milk on top of watermelon and place back in freezer for 1-2 hours
3. in a blender blend kiwis, lemon, ice and sugar and then pour in top of the coconut milk. place back in freezer for 1 hour.

Remove and Serve!

Hawaiian Chicken Kabobs

Eating outside is fun and this a fun dish you can easily make outside as well as eat outside with your family. It is super healthy and super tasty. I promise you that everyone in the family will devour it!

Hawaiian Chicken Kabobs
2 - 4 large boneless chicken breast
2 tbsp soy sauce
2 tbsp olive oil
1 clove of crushed garlic
1/4 tsp. dried ginger

1 pineapple cut up
2 green peppers
1 large red onion

1. In a bowl marinate the chicken in soy sauce, oil, ginger and garlic for 2 hours or overnight. The longer the better
2. preheat the grill and then put the chicken on the grill - for about 7 or 8 minutes on each side
3. the cut the pepper, pineapple and onions and throw in on the grill for about 5 minutes - or until lightly browned.
4. allow all food to cool long enough for you to be able to touch it.
5. then place then on the skewers alternating between each food.


Preheat oven to 350

place skewers in oven for 5 minutes to reheat. The serve! Delicious! 

Kids Only: Candy Apples

So I am marketing this as a Kids' Only Dessert, but of course adults can eat and enjoy it too! It's super fun for all ages!


Candy Apples
6 apples
11 oz. caramels
2 tbsp. water

Microwave caramels and water for 2 1/2 minutes on High

Honey Roasted Peanuts
Dark Chocolate Chips
Raisins

Once you the caramels are melted role the apples in the caramel and then role them in the mixture of nuts, chips and raisins.

It's a healthier version to Candy Apples! I call it Trail Mix Candy Apples!

Banana and Peanut Butter Tacos

This is a super super super easy dish and really healthy. It's packed with protein, whole grains, healthy fats and fiber. It is perfect as breakfast or as a snack before or after a workout. I know you will love it! I wish I could vouch that it's healthy, but I am allergic to peanuts so have never actually had this one. Please leave your comments below!


Banana and Peanut Butter Tacos
3 whole wheat tortillas
100% natural peanut butter
3 bananas


1. spread the wraps flat on a plate
spread the peanut butter across the wraps
peel the banana and place it down in the middle of the wrap and then roll it
slice into thirds

Serve! Delicious! 

Summer Spring Roll

Okay, so I know what you are thinking - spring roll - sushi! But no! I don't like sushi. I had it once at my cousin's wedding and I almost gagged. I don't know how anyone eats raw fish. This a summer roll with all foods that remind you of summer.

Summer Spring Roll
1 banana
2 kiwi
6 strawberries
1 puff pastry dough (half the package - defrosted
1 tbsp. butter
cinnamon
confectionery sugar

Preheat oven to 400

1. slice the fruit into 2 inch pieces.
2. flatten out the dough and place the fruit inside of it and then roll it up.
3. melt the butter and spread it over the dough
4. sprinkle it with cinnamon
5. bake it for 50 minutes
6. while it's hot sprinkle it with the confectionery
sugar

Let cool- Eat up!

Frozen Fruit Pops

Frozen Fruit Pops

Ingredients/Directions:

Sliced mangoes, sliced strawberries, sliced kiwis, sliced pineapple.
Mixed water and 100% apple juice (half/half)

Pour into 8 oz. plastic cups. Stick a pop sickle stick in it. Then place it in the freezer overnight. The next next day you'll have a yummy and light frozen fruit pop!! 

Bery Berry Smoothie

So it's summer time and what is better than a cold milkshake? A smoking body. That is what is better, a smoking body. But then I ask you is it worth it to through the entire summer without a milkshake? No! We want both. Try this amazing smoothie that will truthfully leave thinking you had a milkshake and you will keep your fit body. I made this for my family and they loved it AND I know that you will too!!

Bery Berry Smoothie

6 oz. nonfat plain Greek yogurt (80 calories)

1 c. frozen berries (blueberries and strawberries

1/2 c. crushed ice

1 tbsp. honey

1 tbsp. natural peanut butter

2 splashes of vanilla almond soy milk

In a blender mix all the ingredients together and enjoy! Yup, that's it!

Apple Cookie Slices

So I was busy pinning and looking for recipes to pin and I found this amazingly cute recipe. I love it because you can alter it to your taste and personal nutritional needs. I found it on rachelschultz.com. I highly recommend you going to her site - she's got lots of cute recipe ideas. I made this for my mom and she loved it. She thought they were so yummy!!

Apple Cookie Slices (Serves 2)
2 apples
4 tbsp. natural peanut butter (or use Nutella, soy butter, almond butter or caramel butter)
raisins
chopped peanuts
chopped pecans
sliced pecans (chopped)
chopped cashews
chocolate minis or peanut butter minis

1. slice the apples by the core
2. spread the peanut butter, nutella, or any of the spreads that you used
3. then put the chopped toppings

Enjoy!!

   

Mango Gazpacho Soup

I made this tonight for the first time for my parents. My dad's comment was "I can't eat this anymore because if I do then it will be gone and I won't have anymore to eat". My mom said "you should share this on your blog or maybe not, try selling the recipe". Well I guess from both comments you can tell that you're going to love it. This recipe is so easy and so healthy. It's super low in calories, low fat and basically just fruits and vegetables. Here's the recipe:

Mango Gazpacho Soup
1 medium mango
1/2 red pepper
1/2 large cucumber
1 cup + 2 tbsp. of orange juice
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. onion powder
3 tbsp. fresh cilantro
1 lime
1 tsp. olive oil

1. cut the mango into 1 inch chunks
2. dice the the cucumber, red pepper
3. put into blender and add in spices, juice, cilantro and olive oil
4. blend well
5. add in a few extra chunks of mango

Serve and Enjoy!

Broccoli Mango Grape Salad

This is a very popular salad in my house. It goes extra well in baked BBQ Salmon (recipe to follow). It's pretty simple. The dressing is a little annoying and cutting up the mango is also kind of annoying. But I promise you it's totally worth it. You will absolutely love it!

Broccoli Mango Grape Salad

2 heads of broccoli

1 mango 

1 cup of grapes

1/2 cup of light mayo

2 tbsp. red wine vinegar

1 tbsp. vegetable oil

1/2 tsp. onion powder

1/2 tsp. Jane's Crazy salt

1/2 packet of Equal

1. steam the broccoli until a little soft but still firm

2. cut the grapes in half

3. cut the mango into 1/2 inch chunks

4. pat the broccoli dry and then add in the mango and grapes

5. mix the mayo, red wine vinegar, vegetable oil, Jane's Crazy, onion powder and equal

6. marinate in fridge for at least 30 minutes

7. serve and enjoy!!

BBQ Salmon

4 oz. salmon florets

BBQ sauce

Coat the salmon with BBQ sauce and bake at 350 for 30 minutes

Enjoy! 

Oatmeal Bake Casserole

This recipe is probably a favorite because once you get the idea of how to make it you can change it up every time. You won't need to remember exact measurements or specific ingredients, it's more of move as you feel type of thing. I chose the ingredients I use because they're the healthiest and lowest in calories. For example, a banana is high in potassium and has lots of fiber but also has 110 calories in just one medium banana! So I chose berries instead - which each cup has only 80 calories. (1 cup of bananas has about 200 calories) So that is more than double. But if you like bananas use them- after all it's a fruit- it isn't like you are choosing a donut or cookie!

You can make this for almost any occasion. I think it is best for breakfast, snack of if you're hosting a brunch party- maybe for a shower or on Christmas morning. Something new and difference is always nice.

Oatmeal Bake Casserole

3 cups of quick oats
1 tsp. of cinnamon
1 tsp. of honey
1/4 cup of mixed slithered almonds, raisins, cranberries
2 tbsp. brown sugar
1 1/2 cup of sliced strawberries and blueberries
2 eggs
1/2 cup of soy vanilla milk

Preheat oven to 350
1. mix all your dry ingredients together except for the fresh fruit and honey
2. pour into a pan and spread evenly
3. add the honey and the fruit evenly across the oatmeal mixture
4. bean the eggs and mix with the milk
5. pour it over the mixture
6. bake at 350 for 35 minutes

Serve Warm!
It's so good!
Calories- less than 200 per slice.

Note- you can always add chocolate chips if you want to go "unhealthy"

Baked Apple Cobbler

With the Jewish New Year approaching I decided to share a very tasty and very healthy apple dessert. This recipe is so good and will leave you satisfied and ready to take on the new year. A year that I hope is a fulfilling both spirtiually, socially, financially and in all areas of your life.

Baked Apple Cobbler

3 green apples - peeled and sliced and then cut in half
1 tsp. cinnamon
2 tbsp. honey
2 cups of rolled oats
1/2 cup of light brown sugar
2 tbsp. of shortening

1. preheat your ovento 350
2. cut the apple and arrange in a dish
3. spinkle with cinnamon
4. heat the shortening and add the oats, brown sugar and honey until the oat mixture is brown
5. pour ontop of your apples and bake for 45 minutes
6. drizzle some more cinnamon ontop before servving (if you'd like)

Enjoy! Happy New Year 

Patriotic Fruit Sticks (4th of July Post 1)

I will be posting numerous recipes for the 4th of July, but my first one is dedicated to the flag. On the 4th of July we tend to eat a lot, which is fine after all it is a holiday but knowing that bathing suit season is in full swing we need to watch what we eat and pace ourselves. If you're having a party or just a snack these are perfect. Serve them as your guests arrive- I promise you that they will love (love, love) them!


Patriotic Fruit Sticks
Sticks (the kind you use for kabobs)
4 bananas
1 pints of strawberries
2 pints of blueberries 

1. cut the strawberries in half
2. cut the bananas into 1 1/2 inch thick slices
3. stick 5 sticks with strawberries, 5 sticks with bananas
4. cut 5 sticks a little smaller and stick them with blueberries
5. lay out the stiks with bananas and strawberries- rotating everyother creating a the strips of the flags
6. then put the sticks with the blueberries in the corner - you can create multiple fruit flags depending on how many people you are serving.

Yum!!

Banana Pops

So this is one recipe I can't personally vouch for but I do know that the people who I served it for really liked it. When I first thought of it I knew that it would look nice and probably sound good. I later found out that is a classic recipe, but nonetheless I am sharing it with all of you since it a fun treat made into a healthier one.


Banana Pops
6 bananas
2 cups of semi sweet chocolate (milk or dark what ever you like)
handful of crushed nuts (I recommend peanut nuts)

1. stick each banana with a popsicle stick
2. in a small microwave safe bowl melt the chocolate for 1 minute on high
3. dip the bananas covering them in chocolate 3/4 of the way
4. roll the chocolate covered bananas in the crushed nuts
4. place each banana on waxed paper and place in freezer for 3-4 hours
5. take out at least 15 minutes before serving.

   Note: if you don't like nuts you can always use sprinkes, crushed candy or granola 

This is perfect for kids- it is a way to get them to have fruit and nuts (which is a protein!) along with chocolate - something sweet and good for the heart.

Enjoy!!

Yogurt Parfait

I remember the first time I had a parfait, I was 16 years old and I was in the hospital. I told my mom about having yogurt, granola and fruit together and she became in love with as well. This recipe is so easy, so fun, so good and very healthy.

Yogurt Parfait

6oz fat free vanilla yogurt
1/2 cup of fresh sliced strawberries
1/2 cup of blueberries
3/4 cup of low fat granola cereal OR you can take 2 nature valley granola bars and crush them- I suggest crushing them it tastes better.

1.  put 1/4 cup of granola in a cup
2. 3oz. - 1/2 the yogurt
3. then 1/4 cup of strawberries and /1/4 cup of blueberries
4. put 1/4 cup of granola
5. 3oz- rest of yogurt
6. then the rest of the strawberries and blueberries
7. then put the rest of the granola


This is good for breakfast, lunch or as a snack. If you are in rush you can also just throw it all into a bowl and eat as a mush!

Yummy Healthful Smoothie

So my mom wanted to drop a few pounds and again I wanted to be creative and think of drink she could have that would be sweet yet healthy and of course low in calories. I came up with a juicer that only has about 120 calories. (And by the way she lost 5 pounds on it!)

                                                        Yummy Healthful Smoothies
3/4 cup of tomato juice
4 carrot sticks
6oz of diet raspberry Snapple or 6oz apple juice
cup of frozen mango
4 frozen strawberries 
Dash of Miralax or Benifiber

Put all ingredients into a blender. Blend on high for 2 minutes.
Enjoy!

Apple-Cranberry Crisp

The first time I had this I was 14 years old and at sleep away camp. I remember we only had it on Saturdays and the second it hit the table it was gone! I think I only actually got to eat it 2 out of the 4 Saturdays, but it made a huge impact on me. Then when I came home I told my mom about it and she found the recipe and now it's become a staple. We have it every Thanksgiving and when ever we are having company over for dinner we make it. Here is the recipe- you will love it!




Apple Cranberry-Crisp

3 green apples- peeled and cut into medium thick slices
1 can of jellied cranberry sauce- but you must buy the one without high fructose corn syrum
2 cups of quick oats
1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
4 tbsp. maragrine
1 tsp. cinnamon

1. once you have peeled the apples and cut them lay them across a 11x7 inch pan
2. slices the canned cranberry sauce and lay it across the apples evenly
3. in a pan melt the butter and then add the oatmeal, brown sugar and cinnamon. Keep mixing together until it's lightly browned
4. preheat oven to 350*
5. Pour the oatmeal crumble over the cranberry sauce layer spreading evenly (you may need to add a little more crumble - just repeat the combination)
6. Bake for 45 minutes.
Let cool- it can be served warm or cold...Anyway you will love it!!