Ever wonder what you can do with extra taco meat? This isn’t an exact recipe, but it’s a wonderful method for using extra taco meat in another reimagined meal. It’s still fairly light and very tasty, even your kids will love it! Sort of a mix between a burger and a sloppy Joe, but better. Plus, there is room to make it your own. Try it soon with your family!
-Melanie
Health tips: Low fat, heart healthy, kid friendly
I was also inspired by our good friend Crystal’s “Haters Not Allowed” healthy lifestyle Facebook group for this wonderful recipe. Skinnytaste.com is one of our favorite go-to sources for healthy recipes, so when I read that Crystal tried their Thai Basil Chicken and loved it I just had to try it myself. We both added some yummies to it to enhance it even more while still keeping it light. It’s wholesome enough with the added veggies and cashews that you won’t even feel like you need rice. Cheers to a fresh 2017!
-Melanie
Health tips: Low carb, diabetes friendly, heart healthy, anti-inflammatory
It’s a fresh, new year and I am so excited to get back into healthy eating and exercise again. Don’t get me wrong, I love cozy, rich, yummy holiday food, but it feels good to get all those vitamins and nutrients back in my body. Here is one of my favorite snacks or light lunches, using a few simple ingredients that you probably already have in your fridge!
-Melanie
Health tips: Vegetarian, anti-inflammatory, low fat, heart healthy
This rainy weather is awesome! Such a great change to the hot summer weather of Southern California. It’s really beginning to feel like Fall around here and the more reason for soups…and more soups! This corn and crab chowder was inspired by many recipes, including my Mama’s. You’ll love the tasty flavors of this soup with a hint of creaminess. It calls for fresh crab meat so be on the lookout for deals at your local stores. I was able to snag almost a pound for less than $6! It takes some time to pull out the meat, but the fresh flavor is worth it!
-Melanie
Health tips: Low fat, heart healthy, low carb
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
Tuna…center-cut ahi tuna…on sale again at Sprout’s! $5.99 a pound! This is when I make this salad (and my tuna tartare). Wish I can take credit for this one. Thank you Willow Arlen for this delicious meal! Growing up, I thought I hated tuna. But, oh, how I’ve changed my mind! There’s not much else to say, except that it’s delicious and I think ya’ll should try it! We all could probably use a little more tuna in our lives! 😉 Enjoy!
-Tammy
Health tips: diabetes-friendly, low carb
The Benihana’s shrimp appetizer and “Magic Mustard” sauce is one of my favorite parts about going to the popular restaurant…besides the onion volcano! =P I actually ask for a double serving of the mustard sauce because I love to soak everything in it, including my fried rice. I want to be able to enjoy it more often without feeling the guilt, so I decided to experiment and create a lighter, yet still very tasty version of the sauce. After you taste this sauce, you will want make extra and keep it as condiment staple in your fridge!
-Melanie
Health tips: Low fat, heart healthy, diabetes friendly, low carb
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
Hot summer days equals light, healthy meals! The hubby wanted buffalo wings, and I wanted something lighter, but something that would hit the same bells and whistles! When I told him I’d be making my buffalo chicken salad, he was very happy. He LOVES this salad! You can always buy your own blue cheese dressing, but I like to make my own dressings from scratch because you can control the quality and quantity of ingredients. My husband does NOT like blue cheese dressing; the moldy cheese, it freaks him out! However, he does love feta cheese. So I make his “blue cheese” dressing into a “feta cheese” dressing. I still prefer blue cheese, so I divide the base mix into 2 bowls-one for me with blue cheese, and one for him with feta cheese. Feel free to make your own! Or you can always go out a buy a bottle. They have great yogurt-based dressing in the produce section. Enjoy!
-Tammy
Health tips: kidney-friendly, diabetes-friendly, low carb
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
Family Apron 