Healthy Homemade Hummus

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This is a basic hummus recipe that I enjoy making because it is easy, quick and healthy.  I don’t add a lot of salt, so you may want to add more to yours.  My daughter actually likes this version better than the ones I have made with a lot more salt and olive oil.  Give it a try and let me know if you like it or share your favorite recipe!

Homemade Hummus:
Ingredients:
1 garlic clove
1 can drained chickpeas or cook your own (garbanzo beans) according to package directions
1 lemon freshly squeezed
1 tablespoon Tahini paste
1/2 tsp salt (or 1 tsp if you prefer)
1/4 tsp cumin
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
2 Tblsp olive oil
Fresh parsley and paprika

Instructions:
In food processor pulse the garlic then add the chickpeas, lemon juice, salt, tahini paste, cumin and cayenne pepper.
While this is processing, add the olive oil in a stream.  If you need more to make it smooth, continue adding. (I added a little extra lemon juice)
Place on plate or bowl and garnish with the parsley and paprika.  I used smoked paprika and it added a nice flavor. Swirl olive oil on top also.  Eat with veggies, pita chips, crackers, etc.

ENJOY!

Turkey and Sweet Potato Chili (skinny version)

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I love soups and chili on a cold winter day like today!  The ones I truly love are not the most healthy, but to my delight I found this recipe;  No Bean Turkey and Sweet Potato Chili by SkinnyTaste. 

My photo does not do this justice, but this Turkey Chili hits the spot.  I added cauliflower rice to the bottom of the bowl instead of white rice and it was not only delicious but very filling and not a lot of calories!

I am adding the recipe here below, but you can click on the link above and get her full version recipe with pics!

INGREDIENTS:
20  oz lean ground turkey
kosher salt to taste
1/2 cup onion chopped
3 garlic cloves chopped
10 oz Rotel with green chilies
8 oz tomato sauce
3/4 cup water
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1/4 teaspoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon paprika
1 bay leaf
1 medium sweet potato, diced
cilantro for garnish if you like

DIRECTIONS:
In large skillet, brown the turkey and season with salt and cumin
After meat is browned, add onion and garlic and cook for 3 minutes over med heat
Add Rotel, tomato sauce, water, cumin, chili powder, paprika and bay leaf
Cover and simmer about 20 to 25 minutes for potatoes to soften
Remove bay leaf and serve
Add sour cream and cilantro if you desire (or rice)

I hope you enjoy this recipe.  Be sure to go to SkinnyTaste  for full recipe!

Mahi Mahi Fish Tacos

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Mahi Mahi Fish Tacos
I try to make these as healthy as possible.  You can make your own Avocado Lime Sauce or use the yogurt avocado dressing from https://www.bolthouse.com/product/cilantro-avocado/, which is what I used.  But whatever you like best will work and taste great!

Avocado Lime Sauce:
~ 1/2 cup sour cream (use light if you want to make it with less calories)
~ 1 avocado
~ 1 to 2 tablespoons cilantro
~ lime zest and lime juice from one lime
Mix together in blender and chill while you make the fish tacos
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Blackened Tacos:
We purchased 1 1/2 pounds of Mahi Mahi so we would have some left over

~ Brush fish with olive oil
~ sprinkle with favorite blackened seasoning, (on both sides) I used Paul Prudhomme’s Magic Blackened seasoning or make your own.
~ Heat oil in skillet and cook fish 2 to 3 minutes on each side
~ Serve in tortilla with tomatoes, cabbage, avocado, lime wedge and your avocado lime sauce

I added black beans; rice and quinoa

YUM

 

 

Pizza Pizza

ZUCCHINI CRUSTED PIZZA

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My daughter LOVES Pizza…so she is always sending me links to low calorie Pizza.  She found this recipe for Zucchini Crusted Pizza and wanted to give it a try.  I was a little skeptical but we ended up really liking the flavor and texture.  In fact, my whole family enjoyed!  Great idea Claire!

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You can make this a little more low calorie by reducing the cheese and the marinara sauce.  It will still be very tasty, satisfying and good for your waist line!!

Recipe is under On the Healthy Side at top of page.  ENJOY!

Breakfast at Kristy’s

I love that these simple ingredients can turn into something so tasty!

A healthy dose of avocado, egg, lime, whole grain bread and a dash of salsa

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I enjoy the mornings that I do not have to be somewhere early. My daughter and I were able to actually have breakfast together.  That doesn’t happen very often these days. 

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I searched quite a few recipes for this breakfast delight.  While it is pretty basic, I wanted to see what ingredients people were using to make it stand out.  I find that sometimes the easiest thing to do is just do what you like.  Here are the ingredients I used this morning.  You can’t go wrong with this one!  It was an energizing way to start my day!  Here is the recipe. Sunny Side Up Egg and Avocado Sandwich

Spinach,sun dried tomatoes & goat cheese frittata muffins

 

I have only posted my photos and stories of trial and error from my own experiences on my website. But I saw these lovely Frittatas and wanted to repost here. I am assigning my daughter the job of making these and will post our pics after. Even if you don’t love eggs, these just look delicious!

foodbycamilla

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The recipe I want to share today is frittata muffins. Frittata is an egg-based Italian dish similar to an omelette or crustless quiche.Frittata muffins are pretty easy to make. You just will up the muffin cups with eggs, milk and whatever vegetable and cheese you prefer. Frittata is one of those recipes that you can hardly call as recipe, as you can use what you have one hand ( although there is a specific ration eggs to vegetables). In this recipe I used sautéed spinach, dried tomatoes and goat cheese frittata muffins. These turned out even better than I expected.

Frittata muffins makes the perfect dish to bring along to a picnic , since they are just as good warm as they are cold. Making frittata muffins requires much the same effort as making an omelette or scrambled eggs, but somehow the end result look fancier.I have just been making frittata muffins for…

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When the moon hits your eye…

…like a big Pizza Pie
that’s amore!

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My daughter, Claire, loves Pizza!  She loves all Italian food, but Pizza is her absolute favorite.  She wanted to make a healthier version of this wonderful slice of heaven.

I found a recipe from  The Skinnytaste Cookbook made with Lavash bread and homemade marinara sauce.

This recipe is low cal and tastes great.  My daughter went back to college and made it the next night as well. I posted the recipe from Gina’s website here Lavash Bread Pizza and below as well.   You can find it at the top of this post also.  Enjoy!

Lavash Flatbread Pizzas
Skinnytaste.com
Servings: 2 • Serving size: 2 squares • Old Points: 4 ptsPoints+: 5 pts
Calories: 191.8 • Fat: 4.7 g • Protein: 12.2 g • Carb: 23.9 g • Fiber: 1.4 g • Sugar: 1.4 g

Ingredients:

  • 9×12″ lavash flatbread
  • olive oil spray
  • 3 tbsp marinara sauce
  • 2 oz reduced fat shredded mozzarella
  • pinch dried oregano
  • 2 tbsp fresh basil

Directions:

Preheat oven to 450°. If you have a pizza stone, heat it as well.

Spray lavash lightly with oil then top with sauce. Too much sauce will make the bread soggy so don’t over-do it.  

 

 

 

Skinny Stuffed Bell Peppers or Cake batter?

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It is not easy for me to find the perfect balance in my life.  I am naturally an “all or nothing” kind of girl, especially where food is concerned. If I am eating “bad”, then I am eating bad; if I am eating “good”, then I am eating good!  Sometimes I struggle with having that favorite cupcake or candy and popcorn at the movies.  Usually when I say yes to those types of sweets,  I tend to eat bad all day, which leads to all week, which leads to waiting until Monday to eat healthy again!  Yes, balance is hard for me.IMG_2687[1]

 

 

 

I find this to be true in so many areas of my life, not just with food.  I am trying to learn that there is a good balance out there somewhere that will work for me.

The last two weeks have proven to be better.  I have enjoyed a healthier kitchen while still baking and tasting some of my favorite sweets as well as having a drink, in moderation, of course!  I found the scale did not go up!

Today I made one of my favorite things from the SKINNYTASTE website, Stuffed Bell Peppers.  I love how these taste, they fill me up and don’t add a ton of calories.

 

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I made some with cheese and some without. If I pour salsa on them, I find I can do without the extra calories or flavor from the cheese.  I am not saying it is not better with cheese, because what is not better with cheese?  But I can still enjoy without!

I have used her recipes and cookbook many times and loved everything I have tried.  If you don’t already have her book, it is a great one to have on your kitchen counter!

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Find the recipe here Turkey Stuffed Peppers.  If you are interested in her cookbook, take a peek here and see what you think!  The Skinnytaste Cookbook: Light on Calories, Big on Flavor.  I hope you enjoy!

 

 

Chicken Tortilla Soup

I make Chicken Tortilla Soup often.  I have a wonderful recipe that I have made for many years.  So when my hubby told me that while he does like my soup (and always eats plenty of it), that it wasn’t his favorite.

So I set out to find one he might like better.  I found one that looked appetizing at Cooking Classy.com.   (http://www.cookingclassy.com/)

I have found that anything I try from her cooking website always turns out to be a keeper. So while I will continue to look for other delicious tortilla soup recipes, this one I will make again for my family.  Try it for yourself.  Recipe is under SOUPS on my homepage.  Enjoy!

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http://www.cookingclassy.com/2014/12/slow-cooker-chicken-tortilla-soup-2/

Turkey Vegetable Chili

It has been over 3 weeks and eating healthier is still on the menu.  So while I was at my local grocery store, with every other person in Austin, I decided to step away from the dairy isle and look up some of my favorite recipes.  It was cold outside and I thought a nice bowl of Chili would be the perfect dinner for my family.

I found this Turkey Vegetable Chili on one of my favorite websites, Cooking Classy.  So I pushed my way through the crowds and carts full of crying children and irritated mothers and found all the ingredients I needed.  I found the shortest line (which was not really short at all), paid and went home to make this delicious Chili! IMG_2121[1]

I was so hungry when I got home, that I immediately began cooking the ground turkey. Then the chopping and dicing began and I basically just added cans of beans, tomatoes, chicken broth and threw it all in together!  Very easy and very tasty.  This was great the second night as well for left-overs. I will be making this again!

Give it a try if you are looking for a healthier version of Chili.  You can find the recipe under Soups here or you can go to http://www.cookingclassy.com/.  I love every recipe I have found and tried from her website.

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