Candied pecans on top of a sweet, tender blondie base, make this delicious mock pecan pie.
‘Tis the season for pies, specifically, pumpkin pie, apple pie, and pecan pie. When it comes to Thanksgiving, tradition rules the day, so in my family this trio of pies will always be on dessert table. However, I decided to deviate slightly this year when I realized that my recently posted recipe for Vegan Flax Candied Nuts could be used to make a mock pecan pie. Vegan Pecan Blondie Pie looks just like a pie but it’s actually a cake, with lightly spiced candied pecans on top of a sweet, tender blondie base. This dessert is a fantastic alternative to traditional pecan pie, which typically contains an insane amount of sugar in the form of corn syrup and granulated white sugar. (more…)
A rich, velvety soup you can whip up in a matter of minutes. Quite possibly the easiest soup you’ll ever make!
Cream of tomato soup has always been one of my favorite soups and since we’re now into soup season, I decided to create a quick and easy version of this classic comfort food. You can make Creamy Tomato Corn and Avocado Blender Soup in about the same amount of time it takes to put together a sandwich. In fact, the day I photographed this soup, I also made the grilled cheddar cheese sandwiches you see pictured. While the grilled cheese sandwiches were cooking on the stove top, I made the soup, and by the time the sandwiches were done, the soup was heated through and everything was ready at the same time. The whole thing, start to finish, took only about 15 minutes. (more…)
A light, delicious, healthy salad made with the ancient grain known as forbidden rice.
If you’re like most people, on the weekends you indulge in foods you might otherwise steer clear of during the week. Going out to dinner, sipping a specialty cocktail, or attending a tail-gate, are all enjoyable weekend activities that none of us should miss out on, but they usually involve the consumption of extra calories. Hey – that’s what weekends are for – enjoy it!! Monday is right around the corner and that’s when most of us are happy to get back to our normal eating patterns. If I’ve had a particularly indulgent, food-filled weekend, I like to eat really healthy on Monday – something like this Black Rice Salmon Salad with Lemon Dijon Vinaigrette is perfect. It’s light, yet satisfying, and the main ingredient is black rice which has some amazing nutritional benefits. (more…)
The Recipe Redux is a group of like-minded food bloggers whose mission is to inspire the food lover in every healthy eater and inspire the healthy eater in every food lover. Each month members post recipes to their blogs following a theme set by the group moderators. This month’s theme is healthy, delicious recipes to bolster gut health. Click the Recipe Redux link at the bottom of this page to see links to all the posts for this month’s challenge.
Probiotics are a hot topic nowadays as more and more people learn about the growing body of research that points to a link between gut bacteria and overall health. Probiotics are the live bacteria and yeasts found in certain foods. They’re sometime referred to as “good bacteria”. Probiotics contribute to a healthy digestive tract and seem to reduce inflammation, a risk factor in a number of illness and diseases. Some researchers also believe that they help burn fat and stabilize blood sugar. Fortunately, it’s easy and tasty to incorporate probiotics into your diet and one of the ways you can do it is by making this Kefir Avocado Basil Dressing. (more…)
Chicken cutlets are quickly sautéed in olive oil and then bathed in a rich, creamy sauce made from sun-dried tomatoes and roasted garlic. Flavor packed!
With the weather here in New England finally getting cooler and more autumn-like, it’s time to turn toward comforting dishes like this Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken with Roasted Garlic. In this simple recipe, chicken cutlets are quickly sautéed in olive oil and then bathed in a rich, creamy sauce made from sun-dried tomatoes and roasted garlic. This dish has so much flavor! You’ll definitely want to serve it with something that you can use to mop up all of the delicious sauce. I recommend Lemon Rice or some crusty French bread. (more…)
A lighter, cleaner version of classic apple crisp made with crispy brown rice cereal. Gluten-free.
Crisp Rice Apple Crumble is a gluten-free version of apple crisp made with crispy brown rice cereal. Unlike traditional apple crisp, this delicious dessert actually contains a “crispy” ingredient! There’s no wheat flour in this recipe, but there are oats so if you adhere to a strictly gluten-free diet be sure to use gluten-free oats. Many people are confused about whether or not oats are gluten-free. The confusion arises because while oats are not a gluten containing grain, they are usually processed along with wheat, rye, and barley, and, as a result, are cross contaminated with gluten. Therefore, if you have celiac disease or any type of gluten intolerance, it’s best to avoid oats that are not certified gluten-free. (more…)
A festive twist on a classic recipe. A rich, creamy, and delicious side dish that’s perfect for holiday entertaining.
Scalloped potatoes are the epitome of comfort food and a mainstay at the holiday dinner table. Food trends may come and go but classic dishes like this one will never go out of style. As with any classic recipe, there are lots of variations for scalloped potatoes. This one uses a cranberry spice flavored Boursin Cheese to create a rich and creamy potato casserole with subtle savory flavor and a hint of sweet and tart. Cranberry Spice Scalloped Potatoes is a delicious, festive side dish and a real crowd pleaser. (more…)
Pork loin chops are brined, grilled, and topped with a delicious sauce infused with classic fall flavors.
Even though fall has officially arrived, we’ve had temps in the 90’s this week here in New England. Mother nature somehow isn’t seeing all the advertisements for pumpkin spiced lattes and apple cider donuts, and has ignored the fact that the leaves are starting to change. So, until she catches up I plan to keep my outdoor grill going. What do you make for dinner when the calendar says autumn but the thermometer says summer? How about these delicious Grilled Pork Chops with Rosemary Pumpkin Butter! (more…)
The Recipe Redux is a group of like-minded food bloggers whose mission is to inspire the food lover in every healthy eater and inspire the healthy eater in every food lover. Each month members post recipes to their blogs following a theme set by the group moderators. This month’s theme is healthy sheet pan meals. Click the Recipe Redux link at the bottom of this page to see links to all the posts for this month’s challenge
Sheet pan meals are all the rage these days, and for good reasons. A well-balanced family meal consisting of a protein, vegetable, and starch, usually involves using not only multiple pots and pans for cooking, but more than one appliance. The idea that you can cook your entire dinner on one pan, using only the oven, is so appealing. Not only is clean-up easier, but there are no issues with timing because all the food is prepped and cooked simultaneously. This makes sheet pan meals ideal for busy families. However, the obvious challenge with sheet pan meals is that you must choose foods that have similar cooking times. This makes your choice of protein, veggie, and starch tricky and it can take a little bit of experimenting to get the right combination of foods for a successful sheet pan meal. My Basil Cheddar Quinoa Meatballs Sheet Pan Meal with Peppers and Potatoes contains foods that work really well together for a sheet pan meal. The meatballs take about 20 minutes to fully cook and the baby potatoes about the same. If the potatoes are on the larger side, they might take a few minutes longer, but that’s ok because the meatballs and peppers are a bit forgiving with their cooking times – meaning that if they cook a few minutes longer than needed, they will still taste great. (more…)
There’s a new tot on the block! Nuggets of cheddar cheese encased in a gluten-free chickpea crust and baked to golden perfection.
Tater tots – those small, cylindrical pieces of grated, fried potatoes – they’re almost as American as apple pie. In fact, tater tots are so well-known that many people don’t realize the term is actually trademarked by the Ore-Ida potato company, which is owned by Kraft. As with any foods that have a cult-like following, there are copiers, and in the healthy food blogging space these knock-offs include broccoli tots, cauliflower tots, zucchini tots, and sweet potato tots. But there’s a new tot on the block now. Allow me to introduce you to Chickpea Cheddar Tots! Nuggets of cheddar cheese are encased in chickpea flour dough, shaped into tots, and baked to golden perfection. Chickpea Cheddar Tots make a great, healthy, after-school snack for kids, and adults love them too, especially when served with cold beer! (more…)
