It’s so funny where dinner might take you! I was inspired by Clinton Kelly’s Korean BBQ Chicken Drumsticks! I decided to create my own Asian-style green beans to go with it! Then, of course, my daughter asked for rice…and so…dinner was created. I cannot say it’s the most “kidney-friendly” (because of the amount of sodium), but it can be diabetes-friendly (minus the rice). 🙂 So cheers to all who decide to make this meal. It’s fricken delicious!
-Tammy
Health tips: kid-friendly, diabetes-friendly
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)
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
As usual, I was watching the Rachael Ray show and she made the most delicious Mediterranean dish-Farro Bowls! Farro is an “ancient grain” that kind of reminds me of barley. It’s mild in flavor and has a nice bite/chew to it. Farro is a healthy carbohydrate source for people-even if you have kidney disease or diabetes. I buy my farro at Trader Joes. If you love the flavors of Mediterranean dishes, you’ll love this! It has kalamata olives, feta cheese, tomatoes, lemon, and garlic just to name a few! Thank you Rachael Ray for this super fabulous dish!
-Tammy
Health tips: kidney friendly, diabetes friendly
I was watching the Rachael Ray show the other day. Every month she creates a “Burger of the Month” recipe for her magazine. Rachael asked a friend of hers what her favorite meal was growing up. Her friend told her that she liked when her mom made pepper steak. So Rachael created a pepper steak burger. You can check out that recipe here. But this made me think; what was one of my favorites growing up? I loved when my mom made chicken Cordon Bleu in the slow cooker. And so, the inspiration was created! Thank you mom for your delicious take on Chicken Cordon Bleu! And I’ve turned it into a burger! I even give you a choice of two different condiments to add: a creamy, garlicky mustard sauce, or a creamy honey mustard (inspired by Rachael Ray). Now everyone else can enjoy it too!
-Tammy
Health tips: kidney friendly, diabetes friendly*, kid-friendly
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
This is my favorite egg salad recipe which I found on the Food Network website. It’s very easy and very flavorful. What really makes it pop is the mustard, lemon and dill, just a perfect combination with the creaminess of the, eggs, mayo and yogurt. I adjusted the recipe a bit to make it lighter and cut the sodium in half. Especially when paired with wheat bread or crackers, or veggies, you’ll be satisfied without the guilt!
-Mel
Health tips: Low fat, low carb (if eaten with veggies), diabetes-friendly (if eaten with veggies)Read More »
A few years back, I tried making “cauliflower pizza” that ended up falling apart in my hands (but it was delicious). Recently, a friend of mine started making cauliflower pizza, so I wanted to give it another go. I’ve been researching different methods to try and come up with one that I think will work. Since it’s summer and we love to have BBQ pizza parties at our house, I decided to try it on the grill! And here it is! I am proud of this one; it’s cooked outside, it’s extremely satisfying, and suuuuuper yummy! Enjoy!
-Tammy
Health tips: diabetes friendly, kid-friendly
The Fourth of July is coming up! A few weeks back, I had a BBQ for Memorial Day and made these two patriotic appetizers: 7-layer dip and a veggie tray. If you are having a BBQ or are invited to one, you may want to bring one or both of these snacks to celebrate our Independence Day! Cheers!
-Tammy
Health tips: kidney friendly*, diabetes friendly*, kid-friendly, cheat meal**
I belong to a private group on Facebook. The purpose of this group is to encourage each other and share ideas about living a healthy life style. We post and converse about many things, but my favorite thing is sharing ideas about food. One of my friends posted this original “Zucchini Carpaccio” recipe. It looked amazing; refreshing and simple with only 5 ingredients. I just happened to have all 5 ingredients on hand for lunch that day so I made it. I loved it so much, I made it for dinner that night and then for breakfast the next day! A big thank you to Gina Homolka from http://www.skinnytaste.com for this recipe. I hope you all can enjoy it too! Cheers!
-Tammy
Health tips: kidney friendly, diabetes friendly, vegetarian
Family Apron 