Sriracha Tofu and Veggie Stir Fry

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Ok, you must be thinking…Tofu, why? Is it good? Yes, it’s really delicious, and good for you. If you’ve ever doubted tofu, this recipe will change your mind! For those new to tofu, it’s a solid, healthy, soy-milk based protein also known as bean curd. When fried, it gives you the substance and bite of something similar to a meat. My husband Dane absolutely loves this recipe because it’s full of flavor and frying up the tofu makes it crispy and so yummy. Hey, I know it’s frying, but you have to reward yourself since all these ingredients are so healthy right? =) This recipe is also very flexible, if you don’t like tofu, you can substitute it for a lean meat, and you can pretty much throw in any leftover veggies you have in the fridge.

-Mel

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

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Chicken Pot Pie Soup with Pie Crust Croutons

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It rained yesterday! There was an actual chill in the air! You know what that means…comfort food season! My sister and I are going to take the recipes we all love and make them healthier. I’m starting off by taking a gut-busting food and turning it into a healthy soup. So when it gets a little chilly outside, make my chicken pot pie soup with pie crust croutons…it’ll warm your soul 🙂

 -Tammy

Health tips:  diabetes-friendly, kidney-friendly, kid-friendly

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Warm Ravioli and Arugula Salad w/ Shallot Dijon Vinaigrette

Mel and Tammy1 Comment

This is one of my favorite recipes I found on eatingwell.com! It’s simple, clean and so very tasty. Yum Yum. You can enjoy the cozy flavor of ravioli but it’s also very light with the peppery arugula greens mixed in. Enjoy it as a potluck dish, a side, lunch or light dinner. Leftovers eaten cold the next day are delicious as well!

-Mel

Health tips: Low fat, vegetarian, heart healthy

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7-Layer Mediterranean Dip

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Oh I wish, I wish, I wish I would have thought of this one myself! It’s genius! If you like the flavors of Mediterranean food, you’ll love this layer dip! It’s super easy to make. I usually have all of these ingredients on hand, so when people come over, I am able to make it in just minutes. Thank you to Dara of Cookin’ Canuck for creating this brilliant recipe that I have used over and over again.

 -Tammy

Health tips:  diabetes-friendly*

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Jack Skellington Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball

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“This is Halloween, this is Halloween, Halloween Halloween…!” This is my favorite holiday of the year, it’s so much fun I can’t stand it. Horror movies, haunted houses, costumes, candy, what can be better!? Since Halloween is only a few days away, here is a super easy and delightfully creepy recipe for a cheese ball that you can conveniently serve at your party or bring to a potluck. Everyone will recognize the charming face on it… =P

-Mel

Health tips: Cheat meal!

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Chicken Empanadas with Roasted Green Enchilada Sauce

Mel and Tammy2 Comments

I was organizing my pantry and came across my empanada makers that I bought for three dollars at Ross a few years back. They’re easy enough to make without them, but it’s been a while, so I wanted to give them a try with my kiddos. I thought I’d create a healthier version of my empanadas so we didn’t have to feel guilty about eating them. For times-sake, I bought pre-made Pillsbury pie dough that you roll out yourself. I know I cannot control the sodium since it’s pre-made, so I highly suggest making your own pie dough if you have the time. But since, I made all of the other ingredients (which contained minimal sodium), I knew this recipe would be fine for my husband’s kidney diet. These contain my homemade roasted green enchilada sauce, shredded chicken breast, oh, and they’re baked, not fried…mmmmmm…Happy eating!

-Tammy

Health tips: Kidney-friendly*, kid-friendly

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Simple Zuppa Toscana (Italian Sausage, Potato and Kale Soup)

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Ok I’m totally jumping on this opportunity, since it’s a cooler day today, to start my soup adventure with you! I absolutely love soups, I even eat soup when it’s warm =P. It’s just so comforting and tasty. This recipe is based on one of my all-time favorite soups, Olive Garden’s Zuppa Toscana. The original recipe actually is relatively light, but I adjusted a few ingredients to make it even healthier. Fingers crossed it stays pretty cool this week so you can enjoy this ASAP!

-Mel

Health tips: Low fat, heart healthy

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Lean-Green Burgers with Avocado Ranch

Mel and Tammy1 Comment

I have to thank one of my favorite people for this one…Rachael Ray! She made a burger on her show a few weeks ago. I had all the ingredients in my pantry and fridge, so I had to make them for my family.  And who doesn’t love a burger? Especially when you don’t have to feel guilty about eating it! They’re generally healthy already, so I didn’t need to make too many modifications. My kids usually like greens anyway, so I didn’t need to trick them. But what better way to get your kiddos to eat their vegetables?! So go ahead, eat your greens…cause they’re inside the burger!

-Tammy

Health tips:  diabetes-friendly, kidney-friendly*, kid-friendly, low-carb (if you eat it like I did, wrapped in lettuce)

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Blackened Grilled Fish Tacos with Cilantro Lime Crema

Mel and Tammy3 Comments

Time to get back into healthy eating! It’s gone back to being pretty hot here in So Cal, so I’ve been thinking back to the good ol’ summer days and cooking up some fresh and light meals. Oh believe me, I’m anxious for the Fall and sharing more cozy  meals, but whew we need some more rain and overcast days around here! Until then, here’s a delicious recipe for a grilled fish taco and light cilantro crema. Enjoy this along with our healthy Roasted Corn Salad as a side!

-Mel

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

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Oktoberfest Sliders with Homemade Sausage Patties (Don’t Forget the Beer Braised Onions and Beer Cheese Topping)

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It’s October finally…and Fall…and cooler weather…our birthdays kick off this holiday season. What better way to start off the holidays with our first ever cheat meal! We always get together and cook our own Oktoberfest. Last year, we made homemade sausages. This year, we decided to make a fun cheat meal so that you can all indulge with us! How do homemade sausage slider burgers sound? Oh yeah, and they’re smothered with beer-braised onions and beer-cheese sauce! We also made Guinness mustard for fun! Don’t forget to make a side of German potato salad! PROST! (That’s “cheers” in German)!

-Tammy & Melanie

Health tips:  No healthy tips for this! It’s cheat day! Enjoy!

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