Fresh Herbs Taste Great! I speak from experience when I say that fresh herbs taste great! I use them frequently and generously in many tried-and-true, homemade recipes and I add them into first-time recipes, too. I grow fresh herbs in my sunny North Carolina garden so that I can cut, wash and toss them, immediately, into my cooking pot. Even now, in February, I have some fresh mint and fresh rosemary ready for harvest! Fresh Herbs are Full of Good Nutrition! There is every good reason to add a pinch or handful of fresh herbs to your next soup, chili, spaghetti sauce or salad. Why? … [Read more...] about Fresh Herbs Add Bold Flavors and Good Nutrition!
Too Many Veggies in the Fridge? Quick & Easy Ways to Use Them Up!
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!
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!
Healthy Potato Salad is a Summer Favorite!
Potato Salad Can Be Made Many Ways! I cannot imagine a summer cookout, picnic or simple dinner without homemade potato salad. Can you? I used to make it with mayo and then, at some point, started using light mayo for a healthy twist. After that, I put an even healthier twist on my recipe by using plain and nonfat, Greek style yogurt. And, lately, I've hit on a tasty recipe for potato salad where I don't use mayo at all. Or Greek yogurt either. Instead, I'm going the vinaigrette route and jazzing it up with fresh chopped herbs, garlic and a little mustard. My recipe is below. Potato Salad … [Read more...] about Healthy Potato Salad is a Summer Favorite!
Summer Vegetables Give You Good Nutrition & Dipping Fun!
Fresh Summer Vegetables! I'm not sure which summer month is my favorite for fresh vegetables - probably July. I'm joyful and overwhelmed at the same time when I see all my choices. I'm also grateful for farmers who work so hard to grow all that good nutrition. There's tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, summer squash, fennel, carrots, peppers, corn-on-the-cob, potatoes, eggplant, later season leafy greens and more. Sorting Out All Those Vegetables! There is only one way I've found to sort out July's fresh vegetables. Whether you shop at the grocery store, a fresh market, a Farmer's market … [Read more...] about Summer Vegetables Give You Good Nutrition & Dipping Fun!
Salad Creations With Salad Dressing You Can Make for Great Nutrition and Great Taste!
Salad Creations - Use Your Imagination! I love the crunch of a fresh salad. Do you? Sometimes I use leafy salad greens with grated carrots, olives and tiny tomatoes on top of my salad. Other times I use finely sliced red or green cabbage with diced sweet Bell peppers, cucumber and artichoke hearts on top. When I'm feeling super creative and super hungry, I use all of the above plus canned tuna or crumbled feta cheese on my salad. Yum. The cool thing about salads is that just about anything goes so use your imagination! Salad Dressing To Make Yourself! Let's face it - bottled salad … [Read more...] about Salad Creations With Salad Dressing You Can Make for Great Nutrition and Great Taste!