One of my best friends, Diana, introduced me to this super easy and refreshing salsa at a BBQ over her house a few months ago. We are both big fans of Pioneer Woman because of her simple yet delicious recipes. This is one of our go-to’s for sure! I adjusted just a bit for my taste. This recipe makes quite a lot for a group, and then some!
-Mel
Health tips: Low fat, low carb, diabetes friendly Read More »
My hubby has the week off and we’re heading to the beach. I over pack food and drinks. But I’d rather have too much than not enough! My kiddos requested the good ‘ol peanut butter and jelly sandwich, but I wanted a different kind of sandwich to enjoy, so I’m making a panini-a caprese panini….tomato, mozzarella, and basil. If you don’t feel like PB & J, then make this! Enjoy!
-Tammy
Health tips: kid-friendly, vegetarian
This is one of my, and also my nephew Aidon’s favorite, healthy snacks. And it seriously only takes 5 minutes to make. I found this recipe on the Recipe Book and More blog and adjusted a bit to decrease the salt and increase the dill. Enjoy that slightly salty, tart flavor of salt and vinegar chips with the brightness of dill, without all the carbs. It’s also very refreshing on a hot summer day!
-Mel
Health tips: Anti-inflammatory, Low carb, low fat, heart healthy, diabetes friendly, kid friendlyRead More »
My sisters and I spent Mother’s Day harvesting some fresh strawberries at beautiful Tanaka Farms in Irvine a few weeks ago. What a fun experience…only $6 per person, and you get a tour of the vast property on a hayride truck, and your own container for picking plump, sweet strawberries! I picked up this yummy recipe from their farm store and just had to try it. It’s the perfect salad for this spring!
-Mel
Health tips: Low fat, heart healthy, low carb, anti-inflammatory, diabetes friendlyRead More »
I definitely can’t call myself an expert at baking, although I’m trying to sharpen my skills as much as I can. Muffins and cupcakes though are some of the few baked goods I really enjoy making, it’s so easy and not very intimidating, they are just little palmfuls of love! I found the original recipe for these wonderful Power Muffins on Domesticated Academic and have been making them regularly ever since. It’s also one of the few baking recipes I’ve been able to experiment on with different ingredients while still keeping it delicious! I tweaked it a bit to reduce the fat even more. Enjoy these as a convenient and quick breakfast or snack!
-Mel
Health tips: Low fat, anti-inflammatory, heart healthy, kid friendly
My husband absolutely LOVES hummus and now that he knows how big of a batch we can make at half the cost of the store-bought kind, it’s a weekly routine for us! It’s such a wholesome snack and so satisfying, especially when eaten with veggies. My favorite basic hummus recipe comes from www.inspiredtaste.net. Very tasty, so simple to make and very fluffy. My sister-in-law Tammy and I also experimented with other variations using black and white beans. The basics of hummus are so easy that you can definitely make it your own!
-Mel
Health tips: Low carb, low fat, anti-inflammatory, heart healthy, diabetes friendly
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
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
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 »
I absolutely love Giada DeLaurentis’ new way of cooking…she does an amazing job at balancing those comforting Italian flavors with a clean, delicate and healthy touch. I found this light chicken parmesan recipe from her new cookbook Happy Cooking and it’s now a favorite of mine. The addition of fresh herbs in this recipe really makes it stand out. I modified a bit to lighten up some areas more. I paired it with roasted veggies that you often find in Italian cooking, tossed in a wonderfully bright basil vinaigrette.
-Mel
Health tips: Low fat, low carb, heart healthy, diabetes friendly, anti inflammatoryRead More »
Family Apron 