I am always looking for healthy ways to make a meal, mostly switching out the butters, fatty oils and starchy foods for the healthy alternatives. So, it’s no surprise to anyone who knows me that I came to a screeching holt on the internet when I stumbled upon these amazing recipes from my favorite blogger here and thanks to her, I plan to incorporate her suggestions into my untraditional Thanksgiving Day dinner party: {Click on the photo for recipes and credits}
This year, I plan to be a bit ‘oddballish’ in putting together my Thanksgiving dinner menu. Since I’m not a fan of turkey, I’m still trying to figure out what to replace the main course with. In the meantime, here is something I want to try instead of the typical mashed potatoes and gravy. Call me crazy, but I like to keep things interesting: For Full recipe and photo credits please click here: QUINOA CAULIFLOWER PATTIES // Makes 12 Barely adapted from Vegetarian Everyday I try to make a dressing or two on days I’m cooking so I just have them on hand when I need a quick meal. I don’t really have a recipe for the one pictured here, but it was a quick whiz in the food processor of garlic, tahini, lemon, chives, cilantro, olive oil and a teeny splash of white wine vinegar. If you’re the measurement sort, it’d be something like the dressing here but double the tahini. 1 cup quinoa 1 1/2 cups cauliflower florets 4 eggs 6 scallions, white and green parts …
Definitely during the colder months I crave nothing but pizza, pasta and fresh-baked breads – also known as comfort foods – to sooth my soul. However, this year, having been on a work-out kick plus healthy eating, I am a little nervous about the holiday get togethers and menu planning. So, to ease my anxiety and help me get through the season, I decided to compile healthy alternatives for my comfort food cravings. Here’s a pear pizza recipe I found to try and to share. Let me know what you think. Ingredients pizza dough, rolled thin olive oil with some minced garlic 1 almost ripe pear, thinly sliced (about 1/8 inch) 1/3 cup (or more), grated pecorino 1 ball of fresh mozzarella, sliced part of a red onion, thinly sliced 1/4 cup good feta cheese 1/4 cup pine nuts handful of arugula sage leaves, fried salt optional: a few pinches of red pepper flakes optional: drizzle of honey Instructions Brush pizza dough with olive oil, garlic and a bit of salt. Evenly sprinkle with grated …
While I searched online for a new pancake mix recipe for the Easter morning breakfast I had in mind and of course while staying on my healthy eating kick, I discovered one, similar to pancakes I’d eaten at a restaurant in Emeryville, California several weeks ago and figured I’d try it. (Phew!!!) So, here it goes: Lemon Coconut Pancakes with Honey-Tart Yogurt Sauce 1 cup Gluten-Free flour 1 tsp Baking Powder 1/2 tsp Baking Soda 1 cup Brown Sugar 2 eggs 1 cup Coconut Milk 1 Tbsp Coconut Oil Juice of 1 Lemon 1/2 tsp Vanilla Extract Yogurt Sauce 1/4 cup Plain Yogurt of Choice (Goat, Sheep, Cow) 1 Tbsp Honey 2 tsp Strawberry Preserves Juice of 1/2 a Lemon Mix all ingredients together well; set aside and serve with pancakes First, mix all the dry ingredients together in a bowl, and set aside. In a separate bowl mix all the wet ingredients together and whisk well. Slowly stir in wet ingredients to the bowl of dry ingredients, and mix thoroughly until a smooth batter …
I love green beans and since it’s on the healthy eating list, I try to at least make a dish once a week with green beans. But, I have always been too intimidated to make a green bean casserole dish for Thanksgiving, so I simply stir fry the beans and put them on the table to eat with a touch of butter. (Boring) This is I am utterly and completely determined to include a green bean casserole into my menu, so I searched high and low, online of course and found the perfect one to make: Here is the recipe for your viewing pleasure and click here for the video on how to make the casserole. It looks simple and down right delicious. For the onions: 2 tablespoons butter 2 large yellow onions, thinly sliced lengthwise salt and ground black pepper to taste 1 tablespoon sherry vinegar For the white sauce: 2 tablespoons butter 2 1/2 tablespoons all-purpose flour 2 1/2 cups milk 1 pinch ground nutmeg cayenne pepper to taste(optional) 1/4 teaspoon ground thyme For the topping: 2 tablespoons melted butter 2/3 cup panko bread …
Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays celebrated in the U.S., not because of what it stands for from the historical aspect of it, but because I literally consider it a “thanks” giving day for my family and the many blessing which go unnoticed throughout the year. So, although most of the fun of thanksgiving revolves around cooking a hearty meal to celebrate giving thanks, I can’t help but look for ways to make the meal healthy and light. In light of that fact, one must on our dinner table is a salad, so I was glad to come across a recipe here which I can surely include on my menu, while I host this years Thanksgiving dinner. Thanksgiving Sides :: Kale, Cauliflower + Parmesan Salad Refreshing and clean—a welcomed crunch to your Thanksgiving plate. ½ head of cauliflower large bunch of kale Fresh parmigiano reggiano to grate Juice of one lemon 2 Tbsp Olive oil Salt + pepper Wash and tear Kale, removing spine. Slice quartered Cauliflower with a mandolin. Pour good extra virgin …
There are evenings, when I come home from work, I don’t necessarily want to have dinner or even bother with making one, so I open a bottle of red wine and put together something quick to pair it up with and voila it’s dinner. (I don’t recommend this if you have small children in the house 🙂 ) Anyway, here is an easy recipe I found here and I must say it is heavenly and a wonderful pairing with a bottle of red wine on those evenings when you need to have an out of the norm experience. Grilled Fig, Hazelnut and Ricotta Crostinis Ingredients: 1 cup part skim ricotta 1/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon hazelnuts, lightly toasted 1/2 cup honey, divided 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil 10-12 fresh figs (mission or kadota or whatever is local), cut in half lengthwise 1/2 French or sourdough baguette, sliced into ½ inch slices and lightly toasted 1. Place ricotta, hazelnuts, 1/4 cup honey, and ground cinnamon in a food processor and process …
One of my favorite stores happens to be, Williams Sonoma. I can walk through the store once a week and feel completely inspired to cook a meal just by all the wonderful gadgets and fancy boxed goods they have so perfectly displayed along the selves. My most favorite time to visit the store however, is the holiday season, which is from late October through early January, and explore what they suggest to include as part of your holiday menu. The most amazing of course is the smell of cinnamon, warmed apples and various other spices emanating throughout the store, enticing you to follow your nose straight to the cash register with something to take home for the holidays. Anyway, in addition to the store’s charm and decor, they have an entire section on their website with recipes for the holidays. Since I am on a healthy eating kick, I couldn’t help but hone in on the Herbed Quinoa and Red Rice Stuffing with Kale and Pine Nuts. Check out the recipe here or below: Looking for …
Usually during the colder months I tend to eat heartier, but this year, I have decided to try and stick to a leaner meal plan (well at least as much as possible). I figured soup is a good way to start and I have found a recipe here, which I couldn’t wait to try and one that I highly recommend. Artichoke Soup with Crispy Salami and Lemon-Parsley Quinoa Serves 4 For the soup: 2 (14-oz.) cans artichoke hearts, drained 2 cloves garlic, peeled and coarsely chopped 1 cup chicken stock 1 cup heavy cream 2 tsp fennel seeds Salt and pepper For the quinoa: 1/2 cup dried quinoa 1/3 cup chopped fresh parsley leaves 1 tsp. lemon zest (from about 1 lemon), plus 1 tbsp. fresh lemon juice Extra-virgin olive oil 4 large thin slices genoa salami Preheat the oven to 350º. In a medium saucepan, add the artichoke hearts, the garlic, half of the chicken stock and half of the cream; cook over medium heat until warmed through. Add the fennel seeds and season …
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