Recipes and Food Related Articles

Amazing Dairy-Free Chocolate Recipes

2012-01-28T08:55:00.001-06:00

How About 72 Delicious, Dairy-Free Chocolate Recipes That Are All Rich, Smooth, Natural and Healthy?

Amazing Dairy-Free Chocolate Recipes < < < Click Here to learn more!

Nacho Chili Cheese Wrap

2012-01-28T08:02:00.001-06:00

1 can of chili, without beans

4 flour tortillas

2 cups Nacho Cheese chips

1/4 cup diced sweet onions

1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

Heat chili over medium heat in small saucepan until warm.

Meanwhile, wrap tortillas loosely in paper towels, then warm in the microwave for about 15 seconds to make them soft and pliable.

To assemble wraps; divide evenly between the 4 tortillas the nacho cheese chips, the onions, and the Cheddar cheese. Wrap loosely and serve immediately.

Serves 4.

Taco Bell – Healthier Choices Made Fast And Easy

2012-01-27T07:49:00.001-06:00

It's Mexican night at your house and the typical routine involves making a stop at the fast food place on your way home from work. With a car full of burritos, tacos, and more, how could you go wrong? Well, maybe the over five thousand calories you have sitting in your passenger seat should scare you a bit. But, you can enjoy all these tasty treats in a much healthier way with a little planning in advance and some creativity.

Re-Think Re-fried

If it is fried once, it is probably not very healthy. If it has been fried again, as in re-fried, well, let's just say it goes downhill from there. Refried beans are usually a staple of Mexican dishes, but you can make your meal a little healthier. Change up the nutrition and flavors a bit by using different kinds of beans rather than the re-fried variety.

Black beans make a great substitute, whole or mashed, and will give your Mexican dishes wonderful texture and flavor without being fried even once. If black beans are not quite your cup of tea, you can always use pinto, cannellini, butter, great Northern, kidney, or navy beans. Try them whole or mashed. Either way the idea is you don't need to fry your beans for great flavor. Explore a wide variety of beans and find a combination that your family loves.

Mix Up the Protein

Ground or shredded beef isn't the only choice to have on your tacos and burritos. You can always try turkey or chicken for a lighter healthier dish. Experiment with a variety of meat. This is the perfect time to try some more unusual meats like venison, bison, or ostrich. Not only do these meats offer different flavors, but they are also naturally lower in fat content which makes them a healthier alternative to beef.

And don't forget, you have a whole array of seafood and other non-meat proteins to choose from. Create fish or shrimp tacos using red cabbage, cilantro, and lime. Tofu is another option for a burst of protein without the added fat of meat. A different twist on the same Mexican dishes keeps the whole family guessing and interested. Choosing healthier proteins to avoid the fat and calories is an opportunity to get creative.

Choose Ingredients from Around the World

As with the fish and red cabbage tacos above, adding different ingredients into your menu is an easy way to create interesting, healthier dinners. Tweak the usual Mexican fare with ingredients borrowed from other regions. Sail to the Caribbean with jerk seasoned chicken with pineapple and mango salsa filled tacos or tortillas. Avoid the heavy re-fried beans and beef and replace them with fruit, vegetables, and seafood or poultry and create a whole new world of burritos, tacos, and enchiladas.

It only takes a bit of fresh thinking and planning to create a fun meal for the whole family that is special and healthier. Gather around the table and enjoy some great conversations and special moments as well as a healthy meal. Rather than driving off to buy up a taco stand, and serving the same old unhealthy variety of food, make your own creations right at home and enjoy not only a healthier meal but a unique dining experience.

Hot Dog Cheddar Casserole

2012-01-27T07:43:00.001-06:00

1/4 cup olive oil

1 medium green pepper, diced

2 small sweet onions, diced

2 Tbsp flour

salt and pepper to taste

2 1/2 cups milk

1 Tbsp prepared mustard

2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese, divided

1 package egg noodles, cooked and buttered

8 beef or turkey franks

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

In a heavy skillet, put the olive oil, green pepper, and onions and cook until slightly softened.

Stir in flour, and add salt and pepper if desired.

Add milk and continue stirring until thickened.

Add mustard and 1 1/2 cups of shredded cheese, continuing to stir until the cheese melts.

Combine this sauce with cooked egg noodles.

Cut franks in 1/2 inch slices, then add franks to the noodles.

Pour in a baking dish and sprinkle with remaining cheese and bake in preheated oven until bubbly around the edges, about 20 to 30 minutes.

Serves 4 to 6.

Coney Island Corn Dogs

2012-01-26T08:17:00.001-06:00

8 frankfurters

1 (16 oz) package refrigerated large corn biscuits

1/3 cup mustard, divided

8 slices American cheese, sliced in half

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Separate biscuits, then press or roll each biscuit on a board covered in flour. Shape each biscuit into a 7x4-inch oval.

Spread 2 teaspoons mustard down center of each biscuit, lengthwise.

Top each biscuit with two pieces of cheese, then place a frankfurter in the center of each biscuit.

Fold sides and top of dough over each frankfurter to encase them completely, then pinch the edges to seal.

Place corn dogs on a greased baking sheet, seam-side down.

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until golden brown.

Cool for a few minutes before serving.

Serves 8.

Red Hot Chili Dogs

2012-01-25T07:54:00.001-06:00

6 hot dogs

6 hot dog buns

3 tbsp cayenne hot sauce

2 tsp cumin

2 tsp chili powder

1 can (15 oz) chili

1 can French fried onions, toasted *see note

Preheat grill and grill hot dogs and buns over medium coals until hot dogs are browned and buns are toasted, about five minutes. You can also broil the hot dogs in oven broiler and toast the buns.

Combine cayenne hot sauce, cumin, chili powder, and can of chili in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat; reduce heat to low and simmer for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring often.

Serve hot dogs in buns, spooning hot chili over hot dogs and topping with French Fried Onions.

Serves 6.

*note: toast French fried onions by heating in a skillet over medium-high heat until they start to brown.

The Mainstays Of Dining Out Made Healthier

2012-01-24T08:34:00.001-06:00

Meat and potatoes. Potatoes and meat. If you want any combination of those two foods, you will find them at a steakhouse. Or, you could look no further than your local grocery store. You will pay far less and be able to cook healthier food by stocking your own kitchen with these essential mainstays of the steakhouse menu.

Skip the Extras

If you are familiar with any steakhouse, you probably notice the ever-present rolls they bring you when you are seated. While these rolls don't technically do too much damage to your wallet, your waistline is a whole different story. Unless you are running a marathon, skip the bread and save your appetite for the actual meal.

When you are cooking at home, you don't have to worry about the bread and rolls; don't make it or buy it and you can avoid it. Your healthy diet would also benefit from avoiding the pre-meal snacking that goes on during preparation. A nibble here, a nibble there, and before you know it, you have eaten a whole serving before you've even dished up your plate. Focus instead on cooking your meal, then dishing up the right size portions of your protein and veggies for a healthy meal that rivals any steakhouse.

Lay Off the Trans Fats

If you are cooking steakhouse-style meat and potatoes, you will want to tweak their style of cooking. Sure, it tastes great, but the recipes call for copious amounts of trans fats, like butter and lard. The best way to get the most flavor our of your meats and other foods is to keep it simple. Using some dry seasonings with a little canola oil will help the flavor soak in while keeping your meat unstuck from the grill or pan. If you want to add more flavor, try marinating your steaks in a homemade balsamic vinaigrette for a few hours before cooking. And don't forget the garlic. Lots of flavor without any fat or sugar.

Choose Your Drinks Wisely

Of course, water is the best choice when it comes to choosing at a steakhouse or in your kitchen. But if you want to choose something other than water, you have a few options. Start with soda, for instance. As a rule of thumb, the more clear the soda, the better chance is has to be better for you. You may want to try some of the fruit or herb-infused carbonated beverages. You get the same fizzy comfort without all of the extra chemicals, sugar, and sometimes even salt.

If alcohol is on your menu, then red wine is normally your best choice. With the high levels of antioxidants and the lower calorie count compared to beer, liqueurs, or sweeter white wines, dry red wine comes out on top. Dry white wines are still a better choice than mixed drinks and beer when it comes to watching your calorie and carb intake. If you choose a mixed drink, use diet mixers in order to keep your calorie count to a minimum. The added sugar in the mixer with the sugar already in the liquor can quickly get away from you. Using a clear carbonated water like Perrier creates a healthier alternative to any syrupy mixer.

The steakhouse experience is easy to duplicate at home without all the fat, salt, and sugar. You are basically looking at a few ingredients; meat, potatoes, and a green. What could be simpler! For a healthier alternative to the restaurant variety of the steakhouse menu, be sure to skip the bread, choose your drinks wisely, and stay away from unhealthy fats. Opt for the natural flavors of the ingredients over artificially enhanced recipes. Not only will your dinner taste better, but it will be much healthier.

Individual Taco Pizzas

2012-01-24T08:27:00.001-06:00

1/2 lb ground beef

2 tbsp water

3 tbsp taco seasoning

8 flour tortillas (6 inch size)

pizza toppings:

1 cup refried beans

1/4 cup green onions, chopped

2/3 cup enchilada sauce

1/4 cup diced tomato

1 cup shredded Cheddar-Monterrey Jack cheese blend

Mix beef, water, and taco seasoning together in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook together, stirring often, until beef is browned and cooked thoroughly; set aside.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Brown tortillas simply in a skillet sprayed with cooking spray over medium heat. Put tortilla in hot skillet for about 30 seconds until brown specks appear on the bottom, flip and fry for 30 more seconds. Remove to a plate and repeat for each tortilla. If the tortillas bubble up, just poke the bubble with a knife so it lays flat again.

Form each "pizza" by putting tortillas on baking sheets, then evenly distributing ingredients in the order listed on each pizza.

Place in oven just until cheese melts and lightly browns.

Makes 8 individual size pizzas. Serves 4 to 8.

Easy Skillet Quesadillas

2012-01-23T07:54:00.001-06:00

1/2 lb. ground turkey

1/4 cup onion, chopped

1/4 cup green or red bell pepper, chopped

1/2 cup favorite salsa

3/4 cup shredded sharp Cheddar cheese

12 corn tortillas (6 inch size)

Spray a heavy skillet with cooking spray and place over medium heat.

Add ground turkey and cook, breaking it up, until no longer pink.

Stir in the onion and bell pepper and continue cooking until the meat begins to brown and the vegetables are tender but slightly crisp.

Stir in the salsa and heat through; set aside.

In another heavy skillet sprayed with nonstick cooking spray, lay a 6 inch tortilla.

Add 1 tablespoon Cheddar cheese evenly over tortilla, then top with 1/3 cup of the cooked turkey mixture, then sprinkle with another 1 tablespoon of Cheddar cheese.

Place another 6 inch tortilla on top and press down slightly (spray top lightly with cooking spray.)

Put skillet over medium heat and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, flip and cook another 2 to 3 minutes.

Carefully slide out onto a plate and let cool for 1 minute before cutting into wedges.

Repeat process for the remaining ingredients

Cheesy Chicken Nachos

2012-01-22T08:06:00.000-06:00

8 ounces skinless, boneless chicken breasts

1 tbsp plus 1 1/2 tsp taco seasoning mix

1 tsp olive oil

3/4 cup sour cream

1 4 oz can chopped and drained green chiles

1/4 cup red onion, minced

1 8 oz bag baked tortilla chips

4 ounces shredded Cheddar cheese

1/2 cup tomato, chopped

1/4 cup sliced green or black olives

2 tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped

Poach the chicken: Pour 2 cups of water in a saucepan. Bring it to a boil, then immediately turn the heat down to low and carefully place the chicken in the water, making sure they are in the water. Loosely cover the saucepan and simmer over very low heat for 10 minutes, or until chicken is not pink in the center. Remove chicken from saucepan and allow to cool, then shred the chicken into small pieces using two forks.

In a bowl, mix together taco seasoning mix and the oil until you have a smooth paste, then stir in the sour cream.

Add green chiles, onion, and shredded chicken, tossing lightly to combine.

Preheat broiler. Arrange tortilla chips on a broiler proof pan and spoon the chicken mixture over evenly, then sprinkle the Cheddar cheese over the top.

Put broiler pan 4 to 5 inches under the broiler heat and broil for 2 to 3 minutes or until the Cheddar cheese melts and chicken mixture gets hot.

Sprinkle the tomato, cilantro, and olives on top and serve immediately.

Serves 12.

Honey Mustard Chicken Club Skillet

2012-01-21T08:22:00.000-06:00

4 boneless skinless chicken breasts

1/2 teaspoon Season Salt or Season All

6 slices bacon, cut into 1 inch pieces

1/4 cup light corn syrup

1/4 cup mayonnaise

1/2 cup mustard

1/4 cup honey

3 cups shredded Monterrey Jack cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Sprinkle season salt or Season-All on chicken breasts, cover loosely with plastic wrap and set in refrigerator to marinate for one hour.

Meanwhile, fry bacon until crisp; remove to paper towel lined plate; set aside.

In a bowl, whisk together the light corn syrup, mayonnaise, mustard, and honey; set aside.

Remove chicken from refrigerator and take out of marinade. Add a small amount of cooking oil to a large skillet over medium heat and cook chicken breasts, turning until light golden brown on both sides, cooked through and no longer pink in the middle.

Remove skillet from heat. Spoon honey mustard mixture over chicken breasts, then top with bacon, and finally with the Monterrey Jack cheese.

Return to cook over low heat just until cheese melts.

Serve hot.

Asian-style cuisine at home

2012-01-20T08:35:00.001-06:00

PF Changs – The Food You Crave Made Healthier At Home

You've resisted the temptation for months and months. But, there will come a day when you can no longer control the urge to order take-out. You know if you eat this food it will be loaded with unhealthy ingredients. But how can you resist? You don't have to. You can make it at home, healthier and better than ever if you know what to watch out for.

Easy on the Soy Sauce

Soy sauce can be thought of as liquid sodium. In an article by the world-renowned Mayo Clinic, they urge caution stating that one tablespoon of soy sauce has 1,000 mg of sodium. A great way to reduce the amount of sodium in these dishes is to simply cut back on the measurements when adding soy sauce. You might also want to choose a reduced sodium variety of soy sauce which takes the sodium count down to 700 mg per tablespoon. This is still way over most people's daily allowance but will help.

A good alternative to soy sauce is the Bragg brand of liquid amino acids. They have the same soy sauce taste without all of the sodium and these amino acids are actually beneficial to your body. Amino acids help your body break down and absorb the nutrients from the foods you eat. Avoiding the sodium and having a healthy boost to your diet sounds like a win-win to me.

No MSG Here

Otherwise known as monosodium glutamate, MSG is a flavor enhancer commonly added to Asian foods. While MSG has not been scientifically linked to health issues, it is not found in nature. It is only an additive, and nothing more.

When you make Asian-style cuisine at home, there is no reason to enhance the flavor unnaturally. By picking out the best and freshest ingredients, your dishes will be flavorful on their own. There are plenty of healthy methods for enhancing flavor. For instance, if you want to enhance the flavor of your sauces, reduce them by simmering until the volume is one-half to one-quarter the amount it started out as. This will intensify the natural flavors and keep you away from non-natural ingredients. A small amount of sea salt will brighten the flavor of your dishes. And fresh herbs and seasonings are always a reliable, and healthier, form of flavor enhancement.

Fresher is Better

If you decide to cook in rather than eating out, picking the right ingredients can make your Asian dish the best. If you have a local farmer's market nearby or a store that is dedicated to selling local, fresh ingredients, then start your grocery list there. By buying local, you know your ingredients were picked when they were ripe and not ripening as they are shipped across the country, if not the world. Take a look and ask around to find your local fish monger, butcher, and farmer's market. They may be closer than you think.

If you are looking for healthy Asian-inspired food without leaving your own kitchen, you just need to keep a few key things in mind. Be sure to go easy on the soy sauce, try reducing your sauces for more flavor, choose a variety of herbs and spices, and shop locally for fresh ingredients. If you stick with these simple tricks, you will have delicious meals that will stick to your ribs without sticking to your waistline. And you can even go back for second helpings without the guilt!

Wagon Train Skillet Steak

2012-01-20T08:27:00.001-06:00

1 1/4 lbs. boneless steak

4 Tbsp favorite hot sauce, divided

dash celery salt

dash garlic powder

2 Tbsp butter, divided

1/2 lb. fresh mushrooms, sliced

2 Tbsp blue cheese, crumbled

Cut steak if necessary into 4 servings, against the grain, and place in a large glass baking pan.

Sprinkle 1 Tbsp hot sauce over steak, turning to coat all sides, then sprinkle with celery salt and garlic powder, again turning to make sure the steak is well coated with seasonings.

Cover with plastic food wrap and put in refrigerator for at least 20 minutes.

In a large skillet over medium-high heat, melt 1 Tbsp of the butter. Add mushrooms, stirring and cooking until they are soft and have browned. Remove and keep warm.

In same skillet over medium-high heat, melt 1 Tbsp of the butter, and put the steak pieces in the hot butter, searing and cooking for 1 minute on first side, flip, then cook until done as you like.

Remove skillet from heat and pour the remaining 3 Tbsp of hot sauce over the steaks and turn to coat, then sprinkle the blue cheese on top of steaks.

Divide the warm mushrooms onto 4 plates and top with the steaks from the skillet, making sure to include plenty of blue cheese on each piece, and spoon over any drippings from the skillet.

Serves 4.

Down-Under Golden Mushroom Steak

2012-01-19T08:04:00.001-06:00

1 1/2 to 2 lbs boneless steak

1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper

2 tbsp cooking oil, divided

2 cups mushrooms, sliced

1/4 cup dry red wine

1 (10 oz) can condensed golden mushroom soup

1/2 cup beef broth

3 tbsp Worcestershire Sauce

Rub steak all over with pepper.

Heat 1 tbsp oil in heavy skillet over medium-high heat.

Add steak to skillet and cook to desired doneness, flipping only once, then remove steak to a platter. Repeat for each steak.

In the same skillet you removed the steaks from, add the mushrooms and 1 tbsp oil and sauté until mushrooms have browned and are soft.

Stir in the wine, soup, beef broth, and Worcestershire sauce and bring to a boil, turn heat down to low and simmer for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring several times.

Dump the steaks (along with the juices on the plate) back into the skillet and simmer together another 3 to 4 minutes or until steak is hot again.

Serves 6.

Sweet Orange Stir Fry Chicken

2012-01-18T08:19:00.001-06:00

1 tbsp vegetable oil

2 tbsp garlic, minced

4 green onions, chopped

1/4 cup white sugar

2 tbsp brown sugar

1/2 cup water

1 cup tomato sauce

2 tbsp chili garlic sauce

1 tbsp soy sauce

2 eggs

1 cup half and half

2 1/2 cup flour

1 pound chicken breast, cubed

1/2 cup vegetable oil

peel from 1/4 orange, washed and cut julienne style into 1/8 inch strips

Heat the 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil in a small saucepan over medium heat, then add garlic and green onions and saute for 1 minute.

Add sugars, water, tomato sauce, chili garlic sauce, and soy sauce; stir and bring to a boil, then turn heat down to low and simmer for 5 minutes or until sauce thickens; remove from heat and set aside.

In a bowl, beat together the eggs and half and half.

In another bowl, put the flour.

Coat the chicken pieces first in the flour (a few pieces at a time), then in the egg mixture, then back in the flour again - set pieces aside on a plate until they are all coated.

Into a large wok, pour the 1/2 cup vegetable oil and bring heat up to 375 degrees or about medium high heat.

Cook chicken in small batches in the hot oil until golden brown, making sure to turn them with a spatula or tongs until they are cooked on all sides.

As they cook, remove to a paper-towel covered plate, and continue cooking chicken until all pieces are cooked and removed from skillet or wok.

Discard the oil from the wok and then place the wok back on the burner over medium heat.

Add the orange peel to the wok and cook for a minute, stirring, to allow the natural oils to be released.

Add the previously prepared sauce and the cooked chicken to the wok with the orange peel and cook for a minute or until heated through.

Serve with brown or white rice.

Serves 6

Little Switch Ups For A Healthier BBQ

2012-01-17T08:04:00.001-06:00

Famous Dave's – Little Switch Ups For A Healthier BBQ

Barbecue is one type of food that everyone feels a need to debate. Is the spicy sweet sauce better than the mustard-based sauce? No matter where you go, the locals will always argue in favor of their style of sauce. But one fact that can't be disputed – barbecue is typically not a good choice when you are trying to maintain a healthy diet.

A popular barbecue spot familiar to many is Famous Dave's. Just a glance at their monstrosity of a menu will not only make your mouth water, but it may cause you to spontaneously gain twenty pounds! Okay, maybe not literally, but the menu is so tempting that it wouldn't be difficult to reach your calorie intake for a week in one meal. There are ways around this temptation. It just takes creative cooking.

Bake, Don't Fry

Famous Dave's onion strings are famous for their amazing taste. They are also famous for their high fat count. A great way to get around this unhealthy hurdle is to bake your onion strings rather than fry them. If you cut the onions very thin and use a light bread crumb, like panko, then you will be able to obtain that crisp texture you long for. Spread them out in a single layer on a baking sheet and bake, flipping a few times, until crisp and browned. You can also throw them under the broiler for a minute if they don't brown up enough for you. One trick is to spray the onions with cooking spray after you coat them with panko. This gives the lightest coating while still allowing them to brown.

This goes for the meat or poultry, as well. Always choose the oven or grill over the deep fryer and you'll cut out an incredible amount of fat. You may want to parboil your meat or poultry or steam it before baking to remove some of the fat from the meat itself. Then be sure to choose a healthier oil when you coat the baking pan or grill grate.

Get Sassy with Your Sauces

Barbecue sauces are notorious for high levels of sodium and sugars, but this results in high levels of amazing taste. How can you get around this? In order to keep the excellent flavor while reducing the unhealthy ingredients, the first thing to try is reducing the sugar. If you're purchasing a prepackaged sauce, read the label. If you're making your own, always start out with the least amount of sugar and salt, then taste and add more if necessary. You would be amazed at how much less sugar and salt you use when you do this. If you still crave the sweet taste, you can make the sauce a bit healthier by using a more natural product like a raw sugar or honey. Again, start small. And remember, the salty taste seems to increase as the sauce sits, so be sure to let the sauce rest before adding more salt.

You can easily whip up a homemade batch of sauce to control ingredients. The basic ingredients are tomato sauce or paste, minced garlic, onion, sugar, salt, oil and some cayenne powder for a little heat. For a dry rub, just leave out the tomato. By reducing some of the ingredients or deciding on more natural forms of them, you will be able to take back control of your diet while still enjoying the rich taste of barbecue.

Your favorite barbecue shack is loaded with salt, fat, grease, and sugar. And, yes, it's all yummy, but there are alternatives that are just as delicious. To enjoy those barbecue dishes in a healthier way, go ahead and start cooking them at home. Skip the ingredients that are packing on the pounds and choose instead all the flavor of the meat, poultry, and spices that are the basis for your favorite BBQ dish.

Asian Soba Noodles With Shrimp

2012-01-17T08:00:00.001-06:00

1 lb raw shrimp, peeled and deveined

12 ounces uncooked soba noodles

Asian pesto sauce (recipe below)

Asian pesto sauce:

3/4 cup peanut oil

3 cups fresh basil

3 cups fresh cilantro

3 cups fresh mint

1 tbsp sugar

1 tsp salt

2 to 3 tbsp lime juice

3 garlic cloves, grated

1 fresh serrano pepper, chopped very fine (*see note)

Prepare pesto: Mix all the Asian pesto sauce ingredients together in a glass bowl with a whisk.

In a glass bowl, put the cleaned shrimp and cover with 3/4 cup prepared pesto sauce, mixing lightly; set aside.

Cook noodles according to package directions, then drain and set aside.

Preheat broiler or grill.

Either string marinated shrimp on metal skewers, put in grilling basket, or on broiler pan.

Broil or grill shrimp until they turn pink, turning or stirring. This will take about 4 to 6 minutes, depending on the size of the shrimp.

In a large serving bowl, put the cooked soba noodles, add the remaining Asian pesto sauce, and toss together, then top with hot cooked shrimp.

*Note - always wear rubber gloves when handling serrano peppers and don't touch your eyes; wash hands immediately after handling.

Midwest Steak And Shrimp Kabobs

2012-01-16T08:13:00.001-06:00

1 pkg dry onion soup mix

1/4 cup soy sauce

1/4 cup lemon juice

1/4 cup olive oil

1/4 cup honey

1/2 lb medium size shrimp, peeled and deveined, uncooked

1/2 lb boneless sirloin steak, cubed in about 1-inch pieces

16 cherry tomatoes

2 cups medium mushroom caps

1 green bell pepper, cut in chunks

In a 9x13 inch glass baking dish, whisk together the soup mix, soy sauce, lemon juice, olive oil, and honey; set aside.

Put on skewers the shrimp, tomatoes, mushrooms, steak, and green pepper alternating.

Set skewers into baking dish with prepared marinade and turn to coat evenly.

Cover with plastic wrap and put in refrigerator for at least 2 hours, turning several times and re-covering with plastic before returning to refrigerator.

To prepare: remove skewers from baking pan; save marinade sauce.

Preheat grill or broiler to medium-hot and cook, turning several times and basting as you go with the reserved marinade sauce.

You'll know when the kabobs are done when the shrimp has turned pink.

Remove and serve with a side dish of flavored rice.

Will serve 4.

Healthier Breakfast For Your Champs

2012-01-15T07:47:00.001-06:00

The average American household spends about thirty minutes getting ready to start the day and only four of those minutes are consumed with making and eating breakfast. Health studies have shown that breakfast is the single best way to get your metabolism moving after waking up from a good night sleep. It's no coincidence that we know the term “breakfast of champions.”

So how exactly are you supposed to eat a healthy breakfast in four minutes? The short answer is, you can't. But there is some good news. Instead of driving through the fast food place for a sodium-rich, fat-soaked breakfast, why not plan ahead. With the right plan, those four minutes out of your morning can produce a delicious and healthy breakfast for you and your family.

Hit a Grand Slam in Your Own Kitchen

A tasty breakfast doesn't have to be bad for you. There are a number of different foods you can substitute for the high-calorie breakfast meals we all love. And, they take the same amount of time to prepare, if not less. If you're trying to reduce the fat, start with turkey bacon or turkey sausage on your plate. Precook these the night before and heat them in the microwave if that helps.

For the other menu items, choose organic, cage-free eggs for the healthiest protein. Scramble up egg whites to get all the protein without the cholesterol. Stir in a dash of prepared mustard for a bit of a flavor kick. Or, scramble up one whole egg and two egg whites to enjoy a filling breakfast packed with protein with a third of the cholesterol but all the flavor and the color.

If hash browns are a part of your favorite breakfast, make them healthier by baking them on a shallow baking sheet instead of frying them. A little olive oil and shredded potatoes is all you need. A few flips with a spatula and they are ready to enjoy. Again, you can precook these and then just heat them in the oven for a few minutes. The trick is to re-think your favorites and plan ahead. You can prepare anything for breakfast the night before, even scrambling the eggs, so in the morning all it takes is a quick reheat and away you go.

Flapjacks You'll Flip For

When it comes to the ultimate stack of pancakes, IHOP is definitely hard to beat. But with a few tricks up your sleeve, there's no competition between you and this breakfast giant; you'll win every time. To make your flapjacks healthier, you've got to start with the main ingredients. Try substituting a little whole wheat flour for white flour to help manage blood sugar and reduce cholesterol. If you are not a fan of how the heavier flour weighs your fluffy pancakes down, try a small amount of baking powder to your batter to help give your flapjacks a little rise.

And remember, a touch of sugar goes a long way. You can bet the pancakes you eat at your favorite breakfast place, no matter where you go, will always have a lot of sugar. If your pancake recipe calls for butter or other fat, you can substitute applesauce or use an oil that's healthier. Pancakes are made with only a few ingredients, so make those ingredients healthy and you can't lose!

What about those oh so delicious fancy pancakes, like chocolate chip? If you absolutely can't contain your desire, there is hope for you, too. Dark chocolate is actually a great source of antioxidants. Start by adding a bit of dark cocoa to your pancake mix. Then you can dress up your pancakes even more by sprinkling a few semi-sweet chocolate chips on top of each pancake after you flip them onto the second side on the griddle. Just a few will go a long way to making your pancakes pretty and delicious. Remember, use healthier ingredients to begin with so when you add your little treats, like chocolate, your pancakes aren't a total disaster to your diet.

Of course, all your healthy choices will go out the window if you smother your stack of pancakes in butter and sugary syrup. Instead, keep mashed fruit in your freezer and spoon a bit out for a delicious and nutritious topping. Applesauce is another favorite, as well as vanilla yogurt. If you still can't imagine pancakes without maple syrup, make your own at home. Again, you get to control the sugar and fat.

Still tempted to grab a stack of pancakes on the road because you don't have time in the morning? Again, it's all about planning. Make your pancakes ahead of time and freeze them for later. When you need a good breakfast in a hurry, take a couple out and pop them in the toaster or on a cookie sheet in the oven and you will have perfectly cooked pancakes in minutes.

Drinks Of Choice

When you decide what to drink with your breakfast, think closest to nature first. A glass of juice, whether it's orange juice, tomato juice, grapefruit juice, or cranberry juice is always a good start. Again, read the labels and watch out for the hidden sugars in prepackaged fruit juices. A tall glass of milk may be perfect for you. Whether you prefer skim or whole, cow's milk, soy, almond, or rice, read the label carefully and choose wisely according to your diet needs. You won't be able to be so choosey if you eat at a restaurant. A glass of water is also the perfect start to your day.

Coffee may be on your menu, but be sure to watch out for the added sugar and cream. A little goes a long way. Try honey or raw sugar for a healthier choice. Low fat milks may be a substitute for cream, but watch out for the added sugar in your fat-reduced dairy products. Plain tea may be a better option if you can't manage coffee without a lot of added sweeteners and creamers. Artificial sweeteners and non-dairy creamers are also worth consideration. The idea is to be aware and choose the best breakfast drinks for your healthy diet.

It's true that a good breakfast starts the day out right, both for the way you feel and for your metabolism. But what sort of breakfast you eat makes a difference. Re-create some of your favorite breakfast dishes at home so you can control the ingredients. Your healthiest breakfast most definitely can be right at your kitchen table.

Just-Like-Dave's Pecan Pie

2012-01-15T07:44:00.001-06:00

1 9-inch frozen deep dish pie pastry shell

2/3 cup table (granulated) white sugar

1 cup dark corn syrup

1/3 cup butter, melted

1/2 tsp Kosher salt

3 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

1/2 cup pecans, chopped

1 cup whole pecans

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Blend with a whisk in a bowl the sugar, corn syrup, melted butter, salt, eggs, and vanilla until well blended.

Add both the chopped and whole pecans to the bowl and turn with a rubber spatula until well combined.

Pour the mixture into the frozen pie shell.

Set on baking sheet and bake in preheated oven for 25 minutes; spin the pie around in the oven so the front is in back and the back is in front, and bake another 20 to 25 minutes or until filling is set and solid.

Remove and set pie on wire rack to cool completely before serving.

Oven Baked Dixieland Chicken Kabobs

2012-01-14T08:50:00.001-06:00

Sauce:

1 1/2 cup ketchup

1 cup mustard

1/2 to 2/3 cup cider vinegar

1 to 2 tsp honey

2 tbsp butter or margarine

1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce

1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper

Kabobs:

1 1/2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cubed into about 1 1/2 to 2 inch pieces

2 yellow summer squash, cut in 1 inch chunks

12 mushroom caps, medium size

1 large red or green bell pepper, cut in 1 inch square chunks

olive oil

Preheat oven to 375 degrees and grease a shallow baking dish.

Whisk together all the sauce ingredients in a medium saucepan; put over medium-low heat and cook until the butter melts and the sauce is heated through, about 5 minutes; remove from heat.

Arrange kabobs by skewering the chicken and veggies in alternating pattern.

Drizzle olive oil over kabobs.

Bake oiled kabobs in oven about 10 minutes, turning once.

Brush the kabobs with sauce and return to oven for 5 minutes, then repeat once more.

Total cooking time is about 20 minutes.

Chicken should cook until it is no longer pink inside and the vegetables should be tender.

Use any leftover sauce as a serving sauce.

Makes about 6 servings.

Cowboy BBQ Rice Dinner

2012-01-13T07:11:00.001-06:00

1 lb ground beef or ground turkey

1 box beef flavored rice mix, separate out seasoning mix

2 Tbsp butter

2 1/2 cups water

2 cups frozen corn

1/2 cup favorite barbecue sauce

1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

Put ground meat in a large skillet over medium-high heat and cook until slightly browned; remove from heat and set aside.

In the same skillet, add the rice from the box, and the butter, and cook over medium heat until slightly browned.

Add the seasoning packet, 2 1/2 cups water, and corn, stir and bring to a boil; turn heat down to low, cover skillet, and let simmer for 15 to 20 minutes or until rice is fully cooked.

Now add the cooked ground meat and the barbecue sauce, stirring to combine.

Top with cheese, cover, and let sit for 5 minutes or until the cheese is melted.

Will serve about 4 people.

Decadent Desserts Get A Healthier Makeover

2012-01-12T08:36:00.001-06:00

If you want a cheesecake at least as good as the one your grandmother used to make, a trip to the Cheesecake Factory may be in order. With hundreds of fantastic desserts on the menu, your taste buds will soon be dancing merrily about. But, if eating healthier and weight loss are your goals this year, why not find an alternative. Yes, you can have your cake and eat healthy, too. Plan ahead, take a few minutes, and create a healthier alternative in your own kitchen.

Carrot Cake

The average carrot cake has almost 1500 calories per slice. Yes, you read right. More than half of the daily intake of calories for an adult male football player in one delectable slice of what sounds like a healthy dessert! There has got to be a way to enjoy this moist, delicious dessert without adding all those calories to your day's intake.

Start with a simple substitution of buttermilk. Rather than adding oil when making the cake, you can substitute buttermilk. Buttermilk sounds fattening but it actually has much less fat and calories than oil. Buttermilk also has less fat and calories than regular milk which makes it a healthier choice for the icing, too. You'll end up with a moist cake and tasty frosting with fewer calories and fat. So, yes, this is one classic cake you can enjoy with less guilt if you tweak the recipe and make it at home.

Warm Apple Crisp

What about that wonderful warm apple crisp topped with creamy rich vanilla ice cream? Of course, substituting frozen vanilla yogurt is the most obvious substitution for a healthier dessert, but there is something else to consider. The biggest culprit of added calories is the apple crisp itself. This healthy sounding dessert has almost three times as many calories and grams of sugar than that topping of real ice cream. So we want to start from the bottom up when talking about making a healthier alternative to this tasty dessert.

To put the skinny on your apple crisp, start by eliminating that can of apple pie filling. Instead, simply cut up fresh ripe apples. If that sounds like too much work, an apple cutter that slices the apple into wedges in one motion would be just the ticket. They can be found in many stores and are very inexpensive. For an even tastier creation, choose a variety of apples. You'll find different tastes and textures in different apples. And, using a sweeter apple will allow you to reduce the sugar in your recipe even more.

Cheesecake

In order to keep your cheesecake on the healthier side at home, try using low-fat cream cheese, unsalted butter, and reduced fat graham crackers. Being able to control your ingredients is the biggest way to manage your healthy diet when it comes to desserts.

Just because you want to eat healthier doesn't mean you have to skip out on desserts all together. You can have the best experience possible by taking the time and experimenting to find what works best for you and your health goals. Whether it is carrot cake, warm apple crisp, or the all-time favorite classic cheesecake, when you use the proper ingredients, you can enjoy these desserts without ruining your healthy diet. You may even find these newer versions of the classic desserts actually taste better.

Famous Pumpkin Pancakes At Home

2012-01-12T08:31:00.001-06:00

2 eggs, beaten with a fork

1 1/4 cup buttermilk

4 Tbsp butter, melted

3 Tbsp canned pumpkin puree (not spiced)

1/4 cup white sugar (granulated)

1/4 tsp salt

1 1/4 cup flour

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp ground cinnamon

1/4 tsp ground allspice

In a large bowl, mix with your electric beater the eggs, buttermilk, butter, pumpkin, sugar, and salt until combined well.

In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and allspice.

With beaters running on low, slowly add the dry ingredients into the mixing bowl with the wet ingredients until you have a smooth batter.

Using a 1/4 cup measuring cup, pour out portions onto a greased preheated skillet or griddle.

Cook first side for about 1 to 2 minutes, or until bubbles form on the top and the pancakes start to brown around the edges; then flip and cook the second side until golden brown, about 1 to 2 minutes.

This recipe will feed about 3 or 4 people.

Baked French Toast Deli Sandwiches

2012-01-11T07:47:00.001-06:00

8 slices stale or day old bread

4 slices ham

4 slices Swiss cheese

3 eggs

3/4 cup milk

Lay 4 slices of bread in a 9x13 baking pan; top each piece of bread with 1 slice of ham and 1 slice of cheese, then cover each with the remaining pieces of bread.

Beat, eggs and milk in a bowl until frothy, then pour this mixture over the sandwiches in the baking pan, making sure each one gets covered well.

Let this sit at room temperature for about 5 minutes total time - turn each sandwich over at the 2 1/2 minute mark and adjust to make sure both sides get some of the egg/milk mixture soaked in.

Cook sandwiches on a griddle or large skillet coated with oil over medium-low heat about 2 minutes for each side until golden brown.

Makes 4 sandwiches.