Craving a different kind of salad? I cannot tell you how delicious this salad is. And if you think you don’t like quinoa…you’re wrong! When you add the flavors of lime, cilantro, and avocado, along with the “poppy” texture from the quinoa, your mouth is going to explode! If you are going to give quinoa a try, please make this! And the best part is that you can feel great about eating it!
-Tammy
Health tips: gluten free, vegetarian, heart healthy, diabetes friendly
This is one of my all-time favorite recipes. I came across the original recipe in Food & Wine magazine and just fell in love. It’s very light already, but I made a few alterations to make it even healthier. The combination of the citrus flavor with the tarragon is just divine, and that tomato butter just takes it over the top…plus it’s pretty easy. You’ll want to marinate for 2 hours so remember to prepare ahead! This bright dish is perfect for the spring and summer seasons!
-Mel
Health tips: Low carb, low fat, anti-inflammatory, heart healthy, diabetes friendly
Ok, who doesn’t have pizza as one of their tops favorite foods? It is #1 on my list! But oh how we wish we could have it multiple times a week without feeling guilty! This portobello “crust” allows you to enjoy your favorite pizza toppings…mmmm cheese and meat… without the carbs. These are some of my favorite low-fat toppings, but you can definitely make it your own. It’s also a fun recipe you can make with your kids while giving them a good dose of veggies!
-Mel
Health tips: Low carb, low fat, anti-inflammatory, heart healthy, kid friendly, diabetes friendly
The lemony, buttery flavor of chicken piccata is one of my favorite Italian dishes, especially served with delicate angel hair pasta, yum! But unfortunately, we can’t indulge in all those carbs and butter as often as we would like, so I lightened up the dish using a lot less butter, and served it with spaghetti squash instead of pasta. This healthy variation is absolutely satisfying and the spaghetti squash adds a slightly sweet flavor that compliments the other bright flavors really well. Now you won’t have to limit yourself to chicken piccata to only once a year! =P
-Mel
Health tips: Low fat, low carb, heart healthy, anti-inflammatory, diabetes friendly, kidney friendlyRead More »
I went to the Temecula Spice Shop the other day and found GREEN chili powder. I came home and made this super fricken delicious recipe (thank you Rachael Ray)! I doubled the recipe because I new I would want leftovers! So, so, so, so good!
-Tammy
Health tips: Kidney-friendly, diabetes-friendly, low carb*
Here’s another delicious recipe that transforms a popular, indulgent appetizer into a low-carb alternative! And I swear, those low-fat Laughing Cow edges are my new obsession, especially when transforming a boring old chicken breast. The options are endless with all the flavors they come out with. You’ll be able to enjoy the flavors of that lovable spinach artichoke dip in this fun and easy recipe, without feeling as bad! Pair it with a vegetable side and you’ll feel even better!
-Mel
Health tips: Low carb, heart healthy, diabetes friendly, kid friendly, anti-inflammatoryRead More »
Talk about a perfect mix of flavors! I love this beet, goat cheese, and walnut salad. This salad hits all the bells and whistles; it’s earthy, a little sweet from the beets, tangy, has crunch from the walnuts, has some creaminess from the goat cheese, and just has a unique flavor-not your typical salad! Plus, there are so many healthy benefits from eating beets!
Confession time- I used to hate beets! Until one day, I went to a restaurant to meet up with some friends. My friends were munching on a salad just like this recipe. I wanted to give it a try. Yup, explosion in my mouth! Who knew beets were so delicious! I went back to the same restaurant a few weeks ago and found out they do not serve that salad anymore. Bummer. So I did some searching a found this recipe. It could not be easier! And thank goodness, now I can have the salad whenever I want! And now you can have it whenever you want!
-Tammy
Health tips: anti-inflammatory, kidney-friendly, diabetes-friendly, vegetarian
Cheesesteak sandwiches are to die for! I was inspired by a recent trip to historic Philly and one of my favorite sandwich shops, Jersey Mike’s, for this recipe…A traditional Philly Cheesesteak is topped with Cheese Wiz, which is absolutely delicious…the common phrase for ordering is “wiz wit…and then you can add other toppings like mushrooms and peppers. But I actually prefer the smokey Provolone cheese version when making the recipe lighter and carb free. The Big Kahuna hot cheesesteak sandwich at Jersey Mike’s is also heavenly! What does it for me are the caramelized onions, mushrooms and jalapeños, then topped with gooey cheese, yum! Here’s my take on a low-carb version of this genius sandwich. The flavor is all there, just no evil bun!
-Mel
Health tips: Low carb, heart healthy, diabetes friendly, kid friendlyRead More »
Be nice to your butcher and your butcher will be nice to you! Seriously, make friends with your butcher! That’s my lesson for you today. Here’s just one of the many reasons why…This recipe requires 1 pound of ground chicken. But ground chicken was $4.99/lb. However, boneless, skinless chicken breasts were on sale for $1.77/lb. I bought 10 lbs. of chicken breast and kindly asked my butcher to “course grind” the breasts for me. Now I have 10 pounds of healthy, ground chicken breast meat! When I got home, I divided the meat up into 1 lb. portions and put it into quart-size freezer bags, then stuck them in my freezer. Now, whenever I need, I just pull the amount I want out of the freezer, defrost it, and make a meal out of it! I know, I know….you’re welcome!
Now, onto this recipe… If you’ve ever gone to P.F. Chang’s, I’m sure you’ve had their famous lettuce wraps! It’s good as an appetizer, but hearty and filling enough for a meal (which is what we did). This is a fun, interactive meal. I like to serve it family style! Here’s my take on the recipe. This is not my original recipe, but it’s a good one. I got the adapted recipe here.
-Tammy
Health tips: diabetes friendly, low carb, kid-friendly
This super easy snack is one of my favorites! It only takes 3 ingredients to make and is ready in a jiffy. You can even share them as an appetizer for a get together or potluck. It’s very light, and satisfying at the same time…almost reminds me of a tiny low-carb pizza! =)
-Mel
Health tips: Low fat, low carb, heart healthy, diabetes friendly, anti inflammatoryRead More »
Family Apron 