Over-Purchased, Got Busy, Oh No... Yesterday, I looked in my fridge crisper drawer and got nervous. I bought too much 'green' last week and then got super-busy...oh no. It's not so uncommon a problem to have too many veggies in the fridge. But, if you hate to waste all that healthy bounty, like I do, here are some tips on how to use it up. The Solution Part 1 - See What You Have & Use What You Can! When faced with too much 'green', my first rule is do not panic - do not immediately throw it away. Stay calm and begin a veggie search-and-rescue process. Pick over everything … [Read more...] about Too Many Veggies in the Fridge? Quick & Easy Ways to Use Them Up!
Go Bananas this Summer – Frozen, That Is!
Frozen Banana Popsicles! I've decided that a frozen banana is the healthiest popsicle there is. You've got to try it. They are super cheap to buy, super healthy compared to other popsicles and they last in the freezer for weeks. Another cool thing is that if you're not in the mood for a banana popsicle, then you can make something else with a frozen banana, like a smoothie. I'm not saying that frozen strawberries, raspberries, peach slices and cantaloupe chunks aren't also very tasty when frozen, because they are. Bananas, though, are my #1 popsicle choice. How to Make a Banana … [Read more...] about Go Bananas this Summer – Frozen, That Is!
Featuring Lighter Summer Fare & Father’s Day Grilling!
June 2013 Easy Solutions: Lighter Summer Fare Lighter meals seem to work well for many of us during the summer. Spending much time in the kitchen and using the oven is just no fun when it’s hot outside. What are you serving for dinner tonight? How does a cold chicken salad over salad greens with whole grain crackers and fresh fruit salad sound? Or, would a one-dish cold pasta salad with canned tuna or thawed cooked shrimp, tomatoes, cucumbers and olives with a wedge of cantaloupe satisfy you? This summer, try to keep it simple as you arrange your healthy plate. And, when time is tight, … [Read more...] about Featuring Lighter Summer Fare & Father’s Day Grilling!
Pump-Up the Good Nutrition in Your Recipes!
Tinkering with Recipes! I love to tinker with recipes, or recipe mixes, that I make. By that, I mean I like to add something or substitute something to kick up the good nutrition a notch. A few days ago I made a chili con carne recipe and substituted 1/2 of the lean ground beef with ground turkey breast, for example. Yesterday, I made sliced cucumbers in a sweet vinaigrette dressing with onions and then I added a big handful of fresh chopped parsley. This morning, I added about 1/2 cup canned pumpkin to sweet potato pancake mix (in the photo at the left) -- and a few semi-sweet, mini … [Read more...] about Pump-Up the Good Nutrition in Your Recipes!
Summer Vegetable Surprises & How to Cook Them!
My Surprises this Week! Normally, I have a pretty good grasp on identifying summer vegetables. In fact, I love to learn about and try new varieties of local favorites like kale or leaf lettuce or tomatoes. But this week, I was surprised 3 times by summer vegetables. Elephant garlic caught me off-guard with its mild flavor and huge cloves; blue potatoes amazed me when the color didn't disappear in the pot; and Turkish orange eggplants (see photo to the left) totally fooled me at the Farmer's Market. Cooking with Summer Vegetables! It can be a little overwhelming to put 1 or 2 brand new … [Read more...] about Summer Vegetable Surprises & How to Cook Them!
Picnic Season in a Healthy Style!
July 2013 Easy Solutions: It’s Picnic Month and Blueberry Month! Summer is definitely here so make the most of it with some fun at meal time. In July, two features that spell ‘FUN’ are picnics and blueberries. For a picnic at any time of day, stick to really simple foods and keep them super cold for food safety reasons. With blueberries, there are endless possibilities for good nutrition and sweet flavor. Breakfast Picnic Menu: Kabob of watermelon, cantaloupe and cheese cubes + Fresh blueberries by the handful + Homemade trail mix of nuts, pretzels and baked cheese crackers + … [Read more...] about Picnic Season in a Healthy Style!