Apple Snacks

These delicious little treats go over well with kids and adults.  They're simple enough to make if you're in a rush and they're healthy enough to ease the worry about your waistline expanding.  These are packed with a multitude of vitamins and energy boosting protein. Great for a snack on the go.

1 large sweet and crisp apple
2 tbsp all natural peanut butter
2 tsp 100% all natural maple syrup
dash of cinnamon

Slice apple into round slices, approximately a quarter inch thick. Then, combine the peanut butter, maple syrup and cinnamon in a small bowl and mix well.
Spread 2 tsp full on one slice of apple then put another slice on top. Forming a delicious, crisp and sweet little HEALTHY cookie sandwich.

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Cajun Ahi Salad with a Spicy Maple Dressing

This salad is loaded with flavor as well as great healthy components such as omega 3 essential fatty acids. In the ahi tuna steak, the walnuts along with the olive oil in the dressing. For the whole dinner salad, a healthy 715 calories. Well worth every bite!


Dressing: Whisk following ingredients in small bowl.
2 tbsp olive oil
2 tsp balsamic vinegar
1 tbsp maple syrup
fresh cracked black pepper
2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp ground cayenne pepper

Marinade: Place following ingredients in med sized bowl. Coating the fish in ingredients. Let sit for 10 minutes.
fresh 4 oz Ahi tuna steak
2 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp maple syrup
1 tsp ground cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp cracked black pepper
1/2 tsp ground chipotle pepper
1/2 tsp white pepper
1/2 tsp garlic powder

5 cups spring mix, salad mix
8-10 thin sliced red onion rings
1/4 cup candied walnuts

Preheat stove top or outdoor grill.  Place fish on hot grill and cook for approx 4 minutes per side for med. 6-8 minutes per side for well. Brush with remaining marinade over fish before flipping each time.  When done, remove from heat and allow fish to rest for 5 minutes before slicing.

Combine spring salad mix, onion rings, walnuts and whisked salad dressing in large serving bowl. Toss together.  Top with thinly sliced fish and enjoy.

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Chili Cheese Snack Cracker

These crackers won't last long so feel free to double the recipe.  Made with whole wheat flour, real cheese and light butter makes these crackers very healthy all while being very yummy!

1 cup whole wheat all purpose flour
1 tbsp taco seasoning
4 tbsp cold, omega 3 butter (any brand)
8 oz shredded cheddar cheese
6-7 tbsp cold tap water.

Preheat oven to 355*
Pulse all ingredients, minus water in food processor until it resembles course meal. Add water by the tbsp full until dough forms dough ball in processor.  Remove from the food processor and wrap in plastic wrap and chill in the fridge for 30 minutes.  Remove from fridge then, roll out to an 1/8 of inch thickness.  Use small cookie cutters to cut out the crackers or cut into 1 inch squares.  Place the crackers on a parchment lined cookie sheet and bake for 20-25 minutes or until crackers are golden brown and puffed up.  Make sure to check after the 15 minute mark to make sure they do not burn.

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Delicious and Healthy, Apple and Oat Cookies

The best part about this healthy cookie recipe is, you really can't tell they are actually good for you.  They come out pretty moist and chewy and of course, delicious. 

1 1/4 cup whole wheat all purpose flour
2 cups whole oats, not the quick cooking Oats
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1 1/2 tbsp cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg
1 egg (beat before pouring into bowl.)
1/2 cup honey
3/4 cup applesauce
1/4 cup olive oil
1 tbsp 100% pure maple syrup
1 tbsp vanilla
1 cup chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 335*
In a LARGE bowl, add each ingredient in the order it is listed.  Mix until it is all incorporated and moistened.  Cover with plastic wrap and place in fridge for 20 minutes to 24 hours.  Remove from the fridge and spoon out by the tbsp full on parchment lined cookie sheets and press down with a fork for even baking.
Bake for 15-20 minutes or until bottoms are browned.

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Slow Cooked, Maple Apple Pulled Pork Crockpot Recipe

Pork tenderloin is high in protein, very low on fat.  Combined with a few simple healthy ingredients makes a delicious dish. 

1 1/2 lb frozen Pork Tenderloin.
1 cup All Natural Apple, Applesauce
1/4 cup 100% Pure Maple Syrup
2 tbsp Balsamic or Apple Cider Vinegar
salt and fresh cracked black pepper to taste
1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes


Place pork in bottom of crockpot. Top with remaining ingredients, cover and cook on low for 8-9 hours or on high 5-6 hours until falling apart.  Shred with forks and serve.

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Inside-Out Turkey Burgers

Turkey burger has a tendency to dry out when being grilled and so I have come up with a solution to help keep some of that moisture from dripping out through the cooking process.  Putting cheese on the INSIDE of the burger makes for a very delicious hamburger.  Top this scrumptious burger with grilled onions and portobello's  and enjoy this little piece of gourmet heaven.


1 cup mozzarella cheese
2 lbs jenny-o turkey burger
1 tsp thyme
2 tbsp olive oil
1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
1 tbsp  garlic powder
1 tsp season salt
1/4 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp oregano
1/4 tsp parsley flakes

In a large bowl, combine the ground turkey with seasonings and olive oil.  Mix until it is well incorporated.  Form into 5 patties and place on plate.  Pat down the middle of the burger leaving a little well in the center.  Place 2 tbsp mozzarella cheese on each patty in the well. Form 5 more patties and place on top of each of the other 5 patties, making sure to seal all of the edges so no melted cheese can escape while cooking.  Grill or broil until cooked thoroughly.

Topping:
1 large onion sliced thin
1 large portobello mushroom sliced thin
4 cloves garlic, smashed and chopped finely.
2 tbsp olive oil.
1/4 tsp salt
fresh ground black pepper.

In an oven safe pan, put all the ingredients. Toss  them all together then bake or grill until onions caramelized slightly.  Approximately 15 minutes in an oven at 400*  30 minutes in a medium heated grill.

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Bri's Incredibly delicious, surprisingly healthy. Blueberry Pancakes.

Brienne Postema came up with this amazing pancake recipe.  Not only does the ingredients list excite the health nut in me, but the flavor is just incredible. She used applesauce instead of oil. Replaced the soy milk with homemade buttermilk instead. (although soy milk has many proven great health benefits in some areas. soy has also been proven to have some pretty bad side effects in other areas. including; to every 100g of soy based product there is as much estrogen in it as birth control.  it's especially dangerous to pregnant woman or young male children.)  I love how she uses homemade buttermilk rather than processed buttermilk that you find in stores.  Really great alterations, Bri!

Thanks so much for sharing this recipe!  (they're even tasty with a few chocolate chips added instead of the blueberries)

1 cup whole wheat flour

2 tablespoons brown sugar

2 tablespoons baking powder

3/4 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 cups quick cooking oats

2 cups homemade butter milk (2 tbsp white vinegar added to 2 cups 2% milk)

3 eggs, beaten

1/4 cup applesauce

1/2 cup frozen blueberries

1 tbsp cinnamon

1 tbsp vanilla extract

Preheat a lightly oiled griddle over medium heat.

In a large bowl, mix whole wheat flour, brown sugar, vanilla, cinnamon and baking powder, and salt.

In a small bowl, mix oats and homemade buttermilk. Whisk in eggs and applesauce. Pour into the flour mixture all at once. Continue mixing until smooth. Gently fold in blueberries.

Pour batter about 1/4 cup at a time onto the prepared griddle. Cook 1 to 2 minutes, until bubbly. Flip, and continue cooking until lightly browned.

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Gardenini

I love the warmer months just simply for the fresh produce selections in all the markets.   Pan roasted vegetables with a hint of spicy, tossed with lightly salted, lemony noodles makes a great side dish idea.


1 red onion, sliced thin
4 lg garlic cloves, chopped
10 baby carrots, rough chopped
2 cup broccoli florets
1 portobello mushroom, sliced thin or rough chopped
2 cups baby spinach
1 lemon, juice only
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp spicy brown mustard
1/8 cup top shelf tequila
salt and pepper to taste.
1/2 lb spiral noodles.

Boil noodles as directed adding salt and juice from one lemon into the water.
Preheat large skillet with olive oil and throw in sliced onions and garlic.  Saute until just slightly translucent.  Add in the carrots and portobello mushrooms.  Stirring constantly until the onions, carrots, garlic and  mushrooms caramelize slightly then throw in the broccoli florets.  Add 1/3 cup pasta water to pan, cover and let simmer for about 10 minutes. Remove lid then add mustard and tequila, stir until broccoli becomes tender.  Toss in spinach, salt and pepper and hot, drained spiral noodles to pan.  Stir quickly, then cover and allow to simmer on low for about 5-10 minutes more.

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Hot 'n Zesty Spaghetti and Meatballs

Lets talk about the health benefits of those hot and  spicy little fruits called, peppers.  The active ingredient in peppers is called capsaicin.  Capsaicin is a thermogenic agent, which means it increases metabolic activity. This, in turn, helps to burn calories and fat. Many popular "fat-burning" supplements on the market contain capsaicin, as the substance may significantly increase metabolic activity for over 20 minutes after it's eaten. In recent studies published in Cancer Research found that capsaicin caused cancer cells to commit suicide. The substance caused almost 80 percent of prostate cancer cells to die in mice, and prostate tumors treated with capsaicin were about one-fifth the size of those in untreated mice.  Capsaicin may help to protect the heart by reducing cholesterol, triglycerides and platelet aggregation. It may also help the body dissolve fibrin, which is necessary for blood clots to form. Further, cultures around the world that use hot peppers liberally in their meals have significantly lower rates of heart attack and stroke than cultures that do not. Aside from those great facts, it's also provides pain relief by releasing endorphins in the brain. Studies have found that capsaicin both relieves and prevents cluster headaches, migraine headaches and sinus headaches as well. The capsaicin is not affected through cooking or freezing so prepare as you wish and enjoy those spicy little fruits.  

1/2 lb whole wheat spaghetti noodles (cook as directed)

1 yellow squash, sliced thin
1 green inferno hybrid Hungarian hot pepper, sliced thin
1 yellow inferno hybrid Hungarian hot pepper, sliced thin
2 cups spinach
1/4 cup sliced carrots
1 small yellow onion, sliced thin
2 cans of Del Monte, no salt added, diced tomatoes
1 tsp honey
2 tbsp grated parmesan cheese
splash of olive oil

Meatballs:
1/2 lb Jenny-O ground turkey 
1 slice of whole grain bread
1 egg white
1 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning
pinch of salt
fresh ground black pepper

Preheat large skillet and boil water in a large stock pot, as directed on box prepare the noodles.

In a food processor grind up slice of bread into bread crumbs. Add turkey burger, seasoning, salt and pepper.  Pulse until incorporated then add egg white and blend until  forms a ball.

Swirl about 1 to 2 tbsp of olive oil around in the skillet. Form meat into balls and place gently into skillet.  Brown all sides, add in onion and yellow squash.  Stir. Add in peppers and carrots. Saute the sliced veggies with the meatballs for about 5-8 minutes then, add the diced tomatoes.  Reduce heat to medium, cover and let cook for about 10-15 minutes then add in honey, stir then add the spinach on top and cover.  Cook until spinach is wilted then stir in the parmesan cheese while mixing in the now wilted spinach.  Serve over the noodles.

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Maple Apple Glazed Roast Pork Loin

Maple syrup with it's natural sweetening powers and it's remarkable health benefits makes a delicious and healthy marinade for this pork recipe.  

1 pork loin roast
1/4 to 1/2 cup natural apple sauce
1/4 to 1/3 cup 100% pure maple syrup
2 tbsp spicy brown mustard
salt
fresh ground black pepper

In a roasting pan place loin roast, season with salt and pepper.  Combine the apple sauce, mustard and maple syrup in large ziplock bag, mix gently then place the loin roast in the bag.  Coat the entire thing with the marinade. Working the marinade into the meat by rubbing it in through the bag.  Remove all the air from the bag, seal it, keep it in the bag in the roasting pan and let marinade for about 6 hours (overnight is best)
Preheat oven to 550 degrees.
Remove meat from bag and place in roasting pan fatty side up.  Pour any remaining marinade over the fat of the loin roast and put into oven. 
Cook for 6 minutes PER POUND. (example: if you have a 3 pound roast... cook for 18 minutes and turn oven off) Turn oven OFF.  DO NOT OPEN DOOR!! Leave roast in oven for 2 hours.  At the end of 2 hours the roast will come out completely cooked through and incredibly moist and DELICIOUS! 

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