Category: anti-inflammatory

German Sausage and Barley Soup (Graupensuppe)

Mel and Tammy1 Comment

Fall is finally here woohooo! I am beyond excited for cozy soups, stews and casseroles. I’ve been researching for a delicious sausage recipe in honor of Oktoberfest, and came across this excellent soup on www.oliviascuisine.com. It’s a bit cooler in Southern Cali this week so I jumped on the opportunity! I just adjusted a bit by adding in kale for some extra vitamins and crumbled in the crispy bacon at the end. My family absolutely loved it…so tasty and hearty, yet still light. Enjoy this on a nice cozy night this Fall!

 -Melanie

Health tips: Low fat, heart healthy, diabetes friendly. anti-inflammatory, low carb

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Tuna Salad with Dill and Capers

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Tuna salad-stuffed tomatoes were one of my favorite meals growing up. It was one of the few healthy meals I actually got really excited about when I saw it on my plate! This is my take on tuna salad…which is pretty similar to the ingredients I absolutely love in egg salad. The strong, yet bright flavors of Dijon, dill, lemon and capers really make this pop! And what’s great is you can keep this low-carb if you stuff it in a tomato like my mom did, or you can eat it on some wheat bread or crackers. Either way, you will love it!

 -Melanie

Health tips: Low carb and diabetes friendly without crackers or bread, low fat, heart healthy, anti-inflammatory

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Easy Prosciutto-Wrapped Asparagus

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If you want to serve up an elegant, yet quick and easy appetizer for a get together, this is your recipe! It would also be perfect alongside some meat. I saw various versions of this recipe around Pinterest and finally decided to make it my own. It seriously only takes about 15 minutes to whip this up and will not disappoint. The creaminess of the Laughing Cow cheese and thin crispy saltiness of the prosciutto will satisfy your taste buds without the guilt!

 -Melanie

Health tips: Low carb, low fat, heart healthy, anti-inflammatory, diabetes friendly

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Grilled Greek Chicken & Cucumber Noodle Salad

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I’ve been wanting to post a greek-marinated chicken recipe and while exploring for inspiration, found another tasty alternative to traditional green leaves and zucchini noodles…cucumber noodles! And how perfect is that with a greek-inspired dish right!? This recipe is so flavorful, yet so light and summery. The light saltiness of the Kalamata olives and feta cheese really compliment the bright herby and lemony flavors of the chicken and dressing. Being a huge cucumber fan (He just snacks on it whole, like a giant carrot), my husband said he prefers this over any other type of salad!

 -Melanie

Health tips: Heart healthy, low fat, anti-inflammatory, diabetes friendly, low carb

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Curried Chicken Salad

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It’s definitely hot out there so I’ve been trying to find some no-cook recipes to avoid any heat from the stove and oven. Thank you to our friend Gaby as well for your no-cook ideas question. It’s really inspired us to go on the hunt for creative and quick ways to whip up delicious meals without that added heat. I love the exotic flavor of curry, especially on chicken, and wanted to find a way to enjoy it as a summer treat. Ina Garten’s curried chicken salad recipe is fabulous! The use of the chutney really brings it to a whole new level and there is great texture with the celery and cashews. I lowered the fat by using light mayo and non-fat greek yogurt and also lowered the salt. This is a must try!

 -Melanie

Health tips: Heart healthy, low fat, anti-inflammatory, diabetes friendly and low carb (if eaten on wheat or without bread)

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Rosemary Lemon Scallops with Roasted Red Pepper Sauce

Mel and Tammy4 Comments

This recipe was inspired by a delicious grilled scallops and red pepper recipe I always loved by Paula Deen. But instead of roasting and wrapping red pepper around the scallops, I wanted to create a luscious, yet light and bright sauce. I saw a similar shrimp with red pepper aioli recipe that used egg yolks but wanted to cut down on the fat so I used non-fat green yogurt instead and replaced the shrimp with scallops. Scallops are not only luxurious, but actually have less cholesterol than shrimp, promote a healthy heart and are high in omega 3s! Plus, I can’t get enough of rosemary and lemon, so this recipe just sung to me. If you want to present an elegant, yet very easy and quick dish, this is the one!

 -Melanie

Health tips: Heart healthy, low carb, low fat, anti-inflammatory, diabetes friendly

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3-Ingredient Mango Banana Sorbet

Mel and Tammy1 Comment

This recipe is a must try for this hot summer! Tammy and I came across it during a Two-Week Clean Eating Challenge and just fell in love. Thank you buzzfeed.com for the inspiration! It only takes a few ingredients and is completely refreshing and satisfying. This mango banana version is just an example of one sorbet you can create. You can customize it to your liking, using other fruits and even additional ingredients like peanut butter and Nutella! Using bananas as the base of your sorbet is great though because it adds that creaminess to your sorbet. Experiment in your kitchen with this method, you can’t go wrong…just remember two words, freeze and blend!

 -Melanie

Health tips: Dairy free, heart healthy, low carb, low fat, anti-inflammatory, kid friendly

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Filipino “Melon” Chilled Cantaloupe Drink

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It’s been very hot here in southern CA so all I’ve been craving are salads, fruits and cold drinks! This recipe is a favorite of mine and a traditional drink served in the Philippines during their hot humid days. It’s super simple to make and very refreshing. The hint of sugar is very mild so it definitely quenches your thirst. Plus, you get a little treat of cantaloupe meat at the very end. Whip this drink up for your family and friends at your next get together!

 -Melanie

Health tips: Heart healthy, low carb, low fat, anti-inflammatory, kid friendly

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Kenan Family’s Italian Chicken & Spinach Pasta Salad

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My good friend Stacey had the girls over the other week to catch up and enjoy dinner together. She whipped us up a light, delicious salad that her mom always makes her. I fell in love with it and asked her if I could share it with you fine folks. This is super quick to make and is perfect for lunch or a light dinner. Salads don’t typically fill me up enough but this one is wholesome and very satisfying!

 -Melanie

Health tips: Heart healthy; low carb, diabetes friendly and anti-inflammatory (if pasta removed or wheat used); low fat

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Zucchini Quinoa Patties w/ Dill Cream

Mel and Tammy2 Comments

These wholesome little patties pack in so much flavor using simple ingredients, and they are carb/gluten free! You can enjoy them as a light snack or lunch, or alongside a lean protein for a healthy meal. The delicious dill cream adds a bright contrast to the savory patties. Hope you love them as much as my hubby and I did!

 -Mel

Health tips: Low fat, low carb, diabetes friendly, heart healthy, anti-inflammatory Read More »