Hot Cocoa Protein Bites

These are like a cup of hot cocoa in protein-packed portable form!  Very easy to make and perfect for holiday snacks and parties.

Ingredients:

¾ cup creamy or crunchy unsalted natural almond butter, (thin drippy type, I used Trader Joes)
6 tablespoons hot chocolate mix (pre-sweetened type) or 2 individual sized packets
½ cup of protein powder, preferably unflavored (I used egg white protein)
1/8 teaspoon sea salt

¼ cup mini chocolate chips
¼ cup mini marshmallows

Directions: 

In a medium sized bowl, combine the almond butter, hot chocolate mix, salt and mix well. Stir in protein powder, chocolate chips and marshmallows and mix some more. Roll into 14 balls. Store in the fridge. They also freeze well!

Makes 14 bites

Serving size: 1 bite Calories 94 Protein 6 g Carb 7 g Fiber 0.5 g Sugars 5 g Fat 6 g Saturated fat < 1g Sodium 55 mg

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Easy BBQ Tofu

This recipe contains just 3 simple ingredients, is super easy to prepare and is big on flavor. Try it over salad, or with your favorite bbq sides!

Ingredients:

16 ounces extra firm tofu, cut into 1/2 inch cubes

1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons bbq sauce

1 tablespoon bbq seasoning/rub, divided

Directions:

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. In a medium bowl add the bbq sauce, put in the tofu and toss to coat. Spread the tofu out on a pan coated with cooking spray or lined with parchment and sprinkle with 1/2 of the seasoning. bake for 10-12 minutes. Flip the tofu and sprinkle with the other 1/2 of the seasoning and bake for another 10-12 minutes. Remove from oven and serve. Store leftovers in an airtight container for 3-4 days in the fridge.

Make 4 servings

Serving size- 1/4th of recipe Calories 144 Protein 15 g Carb 9 g Fiber 0 g Sugars 2 g Fat 6 g Saturated fat 1 g Sodium 471 mg

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Iced Berry Sport Tea

This tea reminds me of the trendy berry flavored iced tea available coffee shops. The sports drink adds a subtle hint of sweetness and added electrolytes for an energizing kick. 

Ingredients: 

48 ounces water 

2 berry flavored tea bags (I have used Twinings Berry Fusion and Wild Berry) 

1-2 decaf green tea bags 

8 ounces natural sport drink such as Body Armor or organic Gatorade 

optional- cut up lemons and oranges 

Directions: 

In a medium to large pot, boil the water, turn off heat and add the tea bags. Steep for 10-15 minutes, remove the tea bags and allow to cool. Add the tea a large container, pour in the sports drink, and add fruit slices (if desired). Chill and serve. 

 Makes 7 cups, seven servings 

Serving Size: 1 cup Calories 10 Protein 1 g Carb 2 g Fiber 0 g Sugars 2 g Fat 0 g Saturated fat 0 g Sodium 3 mg

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Mediterranean Stuffed Mini Peppers- Two Ways

These mini peppers are the perfect pre-game appetizer, a filling snack or as a delicious side dish. They can me made hot or cold. First way: Roasted Stuffed Peppers 

Ingredients:

6 mini bell peppers, rinsed, halved and seeded 

2-3 tablespoons hummus 

1 tablespoon chopped olives

2 tablespoons crumbled feta cheese 

parchment paper or cooking spray 

Directions: 

Preheat oven to 425 degrees then placed the halved peppers face down on a baking sheet coated with cooking spray or lined with parchment. Bake for 10 minutes. Flip over and bake for 5 minutes. Remove from over and spread with 1/2-1 teaspoon hummus (depending on size of your pepper), top with 1/2 teaspoon chopped olives and 1 teaspoon cheese. Return to the oven and bake for another 5 minutes, remove and serve. 

Make 6 pepper halves, 6 servings 

Serving Size: 1 pepper halve Calories 47 Protein 1 g Carb 3 g Fiber 2 g Sugars 1 g Fat 3 g Saturated fat <1 g Sodium 213 mg

Second way: Chilled Stuffed Peppers 

Ingredients: 

6 mini bell peppers, rinsed, halved and seeded

2-3 tablespoons hummus 

1 tablespoon chopped olives 

1 tablespoon diced cucumber 

2 tablespoons crumbled feta cheese 

parchment paper or cooking spray 

Directions: 

Place peppers on a plate, cut side up. Spread with 1/2-1 teaspoon hummus (depending on size of your pepper), top with 1/2 teaspoon chopped olives, 1/2 teaspoon cucumber and 1 teaspoon cheese and then serve. Chill in the fridge if not serving immediately. 

Make 6 pepper halves, 6 servings 

Serving Size: 1 pepper halve Calories 47 Protein 1 g Carb 3 g Fiber 2 g Sugars 1 g Fat 3 g Saturated fat

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Chewy Chocolate Cookies

These cookies combine simple ingredients for an easy guilt -free SUPER delicious treat. You can customize them with your own mix-ins besides chocolate chips. 

Ingredients: 

1 cup unsalted almond butter 

1/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon honey

1 large egg 

1/2 teaspoon baking soda 

1/2 teaspoon sea salt 

1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder 

¼ cup mini chocolate chips (I used mini M&Ms) 

Parchment paper or cooking spray 

Directions: 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper (or coat with cooking spray). In a medium sized bowl, combine the almond butter, honey, egg, baking soda, salt, cocoa powder, and chocolate chips until well mixed. Drop tablespoon sized dough using a spoon or scooper and bake for 8-10 minutes, until the tops are set but still soft. 

Makes about 26 cookies 

Serving size: 1 cookie Calories 88 Protein 3 g Carb 6 g Fiber 1 g Sugar 6 g Fat 6 g Saturated Fat

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Sweet and Spicy Cucumber Salad

Just a few simple ingredients combine to create this delicious side salad that is low in fat and calories but big on flavor! 

Ingredients: 

2 cups sliced cucumbers

2 tablespoons seasoned rice vinegar 

1 tablespoon lemon juice 

1/2 teaspoon Tajin seasoning (a chili lime seasoning blend) 

Directions: 

Add the cucumbers to a small to medium sized bowl. Pour the rice vinegar and lemon juice over them and the sprinkle with the seasoning. Toss to coat and serve. Chill if not serving immediately. 

Makes 2 cups,  4 servings 

Serving size 1/2 cup Calories 21 Protein 5 g Carb 5 g Fiber 1 g Sugars 4 g Fat 0 g Saturated fat 0 g Sodium 314 mg

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Dark Chocolate Protein Truffles

 

 

You cannot go wrong with these delicious treats. They are high in protein, low in carb, are grain free and can be made dairy free as well! Make some for a yummy guilt free Valentine’s day!

Ingredients:

1 cup creamy or crunchy unsalted natural almond butter, (thin drippy type is best, if you are using a no stir type you can put microwave it for 10-20 seconds to soften)
¼ cup honey
3 tablespoons cocoa powder
½ teaspoon sea salt
½ cup of unflavored protein powder (I a have used whey or egg white varieties, egg white works great to keep them dairy free) or ¼ c collagen peptide
¼ cup mini chocolate chips (the Enjoy life is great if you are dairy free)
extra cocoa powder, coconut, chocolate chip for rolling (optional)
Wax or parchment paper

Directions:

In a medium sized bowl, combine the almond butter, honey, cocoa powder and salt and mix well. Stir in protein powder and chocolate chips and mix some more. Form into 18 balls. Roll in extra cocoa powder, coconut or chocolate chips if desired. Store in the fridge. They also freeze well!

Makes 18 bites

Serving size: 1 bite Calories 114 Protein 6 g Carb 6 g Fiber 2 g Sugars 3 g Fat 8 g Saturated fat < 1g Sodium 105 mg

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Cauliflower Stuffing

Lower in carbs and higher in fiber, you won’t miss the bread in this flavorful veggie-based stuffing!

Ingredients:

2 cups chopped celery

2 cups chopped onion

2 cups chopped carrots

2 tablespoons margarine or butter

1 large head of cauliflower, chopped

2 cups chopped crimini or button mushrooms

1/2 cup low sodium chicken or vegetable broth

2 teaspoons Morton Nature’s Season Seasoning blend (or your favorite seasoning)

½ teaspoon sage

salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Coat the pot with one of the tablespoons of margarine/butter, add celery, onions, and carrots and sauté until just before tender about 5-7 minutes. Add the mushrooms and cauliflower and stir in the last  tablespoon of margarine/butter until melted. Pour in the broth, sprinkle with the seasoning and sage and simmer until the veggies are tender, about 10 to 15 minutes, stirring frequently.

Makes about 7 cups, seven servings

Serving size: 1 cup Calories 86  Protein  3 g Carb  10 g Fiber 2 g Sugars 5 g Fat 3 g saturated fat 0 g Sodium 490 mg  

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Brunch Style Cauliflower Fried “Rice”

Ingredients:

1/2 package Trader Joe’s  Cauliflower Fried Rice (or other frozen cauliflowers rice blend)

1/4 cup liquid egg whites 

5 sliced cremini  mushrooms

1 tablespoon slivered almonds

1 teaspoon olive oil to coat the pan 

sprinkle with soy sauce and Tjoes mushroom unami seasoning

Directions:

Combine all in medium sized pan on medium-high heat and sautée for about 5 minutes until golden brown (I added the egg whites about 2 minutes into cooking)

Makes 1 serving

Serving size about 2 cups  Calories 230  Protein 12 g  Carb 18  g  Fiber 6 g Sugars 7 g Fat 14 g Saturated fat 1 g Sodium  280  mg (not including soy sauce or seasoning)

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Recipe ReDux Post # 81 Paleo Friendly Apple Almond Energy Bites

April’s Recipe ReDux theme is “Bars and Bites” and the goal is to create healthy energy bars or bites for snacks, lunch boxes and quick pick me ups. I am trying my hand a Paleo diet lately (in order to investigate some food sensitivities) so I found this a great opportunity to try to create some grain free and dairy free bites as a first. These are very simple to make and require very few ingredients, yet are quite tasty and filling. I hope you try them out and take a look at all the other awesome bite-size recipes created by the talented Recipe ReDux bloggers.  

Ingredients:

1 cup of dried apple rings (approximately 15-16 rings)

1/2 cup unsalted almond butter

½ cup unsweetened coconut

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

¼ teaspoon cinnamon

1/8 teaspoon of salt 

additional coconut to coat (optional)

1 -2 teaspoons of honey or maple syrup (optional, if you like them a bit sweeter)

Directions:

Combine all the ingredients in a food processor and blend for a few minutes until mostly smooth,  Form into 14 balls and roll in coconut to coat.  Store in an airtight container in the fridge.

Makes 14 bites, 14 servings

Serving size: 1 bite  Calories 95  Protein 2 g  Carb 7 g  Fiber  2 g Sugars  4 g Fat  7 g Saturated fat 1 g Sodium  50  mg

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Recipe Redux Post # 79 Mediterranean Bruschetta Mix

The Recipe ReDux for February is Oscar themed dishes. The challenge is focused on create a dish associated with a famous movie or a viewing party appetizer worthy to celebrate the big night. Parties  tend to have more than their share of indulgent goodies so I thought I'd make a very light and refreshing dish to offset all the heavier foods that tend to be served.  This recipe combines very simple ingredients to create a delicious low calorie appetizer that works great with crackers, pita bread or bruschetta style with toasted bread.  It tastes great on toast spread with hummus or mashed avocado as well. I hope you will give it a try along with all the other Recipe ReDux Oscar recipes!

Ingredients:

1 cup diced Persian Cucumber

1 cup diced tomatoes

1 cup diced black olives

1 tablespoon rice vinegar

1 tablespoon lemon juice

salt and pepper to taste

dash of dried oregano (optional)

Directions:

Combine all of the above in a medium sized bowl.  Chill is not serving immediately. Serve with pita wedges, pita chips, toasted bread. 

Makes 3 cups  6 servings

Servings size 1/2 Calories 45 Protein 1 g Carb 4 g Fiber 1 g Sugars 2 g Fat 3 g Saturated fat 0 g Sodium 44 mg

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Recipe ReDux Post # 76 Roasted Red Pepper and Pumpkin Soup

The Recipe ReDux for December is “Souper Soups” and we were encouraged to create healthy soup recipes.  I wanted to develop something festive for the holidays so I decided to go with red peppers plus a hint of pumpkin as a base to combine with vegetable broth.  Adding some paprika and cayenne gave the recipe a nice kick.  These simple clean  ingredients come together to create a flavorful nutritious soup that is very low in calories and fat, yet surprisingly filling.  I hope you will give it a try along with all the other Recipe ReDux soup recipes.

Ingredients

5 medium red bell peppers, cored, seeded and quartered
1/3 cup pumpkin puree (fresh or canned)
3 cups vegetable or chicken broth
½ teaspoon smoked paprika
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)

¼ teaspoon salt (optional)

cooking spray or parchment paper

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Add the peppers to a baking sheet coated with cooking spray or lined with parchment paper. Roast them 10 minutes, flip them over and then roast for another 10 minutes. Remove from oven and set aside to cool. Add the half of the cooled peppers and 2 cups of the broth to a blender or food processor and blend on high speed for one minute. Add the rest of the peppers, the last cup of broth and the spices in the blender and blend for another 1-2 minutes until smooth. Put the blended mixture back in a medium pot and warm on medium heat for 4-5 minutes until heated through.

Makes 4 -5 cups, four servings
Serving size: about 1 cup Calories   60  Protein 2  g Carb  15 g Fiber  1 g Sugars  2 g Fat  0 g Saturated fat  0 g Sodium  106 mg

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Recipe ReDux Post # 75: Pumpkin Frozen Yogurt Mini Sandwiches

The Recipe Redux for October is "Fresh From the Pumpkin Patch," so as you can guess, we were asked to create recipes using pumpkin of course! Gabby wanted to work on the recipe with me and had recently seen a picture of an ice cream sandwich so she asked if we could somehow combine mesh the pumpkin theme with some sort of ice cream sandwich as well. Our first thought was to use pumpkin ice cream but we realized we wanted to try something healthier than that.  After brainstorming we came up with making a protein bar type base with pumpkin puree and putting pumpkin yogurt in the middle which came out delicious! These mini ice cream sandwiches packed with whole grains, healthy fat and a decent amount of protein to not only satisfy a sweet craving for dessert or enjoy a treat-like snack...but they can even be eaten for breakfast, which we'd like to think is a game changer.  We hope you will try them out along with all the other pumpkin inspired creations brought to you by the recipe redux crew.

Ingredients:

1 cup creamy or crunchy unsalted natural almond butter (I used Trader Joes Raw Unsalted Crunchy)

1/3 cup pure maple syrup  
3 tablespoons pumpkin puree

2 teaspoons brown sugar

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

¼ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

1/8 teaspoon salt

½ cup oats (old fashioned, not quick, use a gluten-free oats such as Bob's Red Mill if you are on a gluten-free diet)
¾ cup of unflavored protein powder *

2 six ounce containers of flavored Greek Yogurt, at least partially pre-frozen in the freezer for a few hours (vanilla or pumpkin work well)
Wax or parchment paper

8 x 8 inch pan

Directions:

In a medium sized bowl, combine the almond butter, maple syrup, pumpkin, brown sugar, vanilla, pie spice and salt and mix well.  

Stir in the protein powder and oats and mix some more. Divide the dough mixture in half. Take one half of the dough mixture, and press it into a square to fit a 8 by 8 inch pan. (Lining the pan with a large rectangular piece of parchment paper, placing the mixture on one side and then folding the paper over to press down works nicely since the dough is so sticky.) Lift the paper to remove the dough square and set aside. 

Repeat the same process with the other half of the dough (lining it with parchment and pressing it into a square to fit a 8 by 8 inch pan.  Take the partially frozen yogurt out of the freezer and spread it on top of the dough in the pan to evenly coat.  

Carefully take to dough square previously set aside and put it on top of the yogurt topped dough to make a sandwich.  Cover with parchment and put in the freezer for 4-5 hours.

* I have had great success with using Nature’s Best Isopure Perfect Natural Protein Powder unflavored- it is gluten-free, lactose free

Makes 16 mini sandwiches

Serving size: 1/16th of recipe Calories 197 Protein 9 g Carb 12 g Fiber 2 g Sugars 7 g Fat 9  g Saturated fat <1 g="" sodium="" span="" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> 51 mg

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Recipe ReDux Post # 74 Gabby's Greek Omelet

The Recipe ReDux for September is "Kids That Cook." And, as the title implies, we were encouraged to bring our kids in the kitchen to help with this challenge.  Gabby is going on 4 plus years of enjoying cooking time with me and lately she has been asking to learn how to make an omelet.  We decided this would be a perfect opportunity for her to learn.  Our weekly local produce box delivery included some fresh oregano this week so we definitely wanted to include that.  As we peeked in the cupboard a jar or olives and some sun dried tomatoes inspired us to go with a Greek style omelet.  We started with some egg whites and used them to blanket some fresh chopped spinach, the oregano, sun dried tomatoes, olives and shredded mozzarella cheese. The combination worked perfectly, was so easy to prepare and was SO flavorful. We spilt it and savored every last bite together. I hope you and your family will give this one a try as well as some the other kid-friendly recipes from the Recipe ReDux group.

Ingredients:

2 eggs or 1/2 cup liquid egg whites/substitute
1/2 cup chopped fresh spinach
1/2 teaspoon oregano (fresh or dried)
1 tablespoon chopped sun dried tomatoes
5 chopped kalamata olives
1/4 cup low fat mozzarella cheese
cooking spray or olive oil

Directions:

Coat a small to medium sized pan with cooking spray or olive oil and warm on medium heat for 1 minute.  Pour in the eggs/liquid egg whites and heat for 1 minute.  Sprinkle the spinach, oregano, sun dried tomatoes, olives and cheese on one side of the eggs and heat for another 1 minute.  Fold the side without the toppings over to cover them and heat for another minute.  Flip the omelet over and heat for another 1-2 minutes until lightly browned.

Makes 1 serving

Serving Size 1 omelet: Calories 205 Protein 22 g Carb 9 g Fiber 1 g Sugars 2 g Fat 9 g Saturated fat 1 g Sodium 656 mg

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Recipe ReDux Post # 73 Mexican Style Cucumber Boats

August Recipe ReDux theme is “Crunchy Snacks!”  When I think of crunchy snacks-chips, pretzels, popcorn come to mind, yet this time I wanted to try create a different kind of snack.  Raw veggies pack a healthy crunch and I had some cucumbers in the fridge, so I decided to start with those.  I wanted to make a heartier snack so I filled tried my luck at a Mexican themed cucumber boat by filling them with some black bean dip from Trader Joes that I had bought recently and have been wanting to sample.  Topping them with some tomatoes, corn, olives and cheese worked perfectly and the recipe came together nicely. These are a great appetizer, afternoon snack, or a few of them could work for a quick lunch too.  I hope you will try them out along with all the other snacks developed by the Recipe ReDux group.

Ingredients:

3 Persian cucumbers, ends trimmed, halved and seeded (makes 6 “boats”)
6 tablespoons black bean dip (I used Trader Joes brand)

2 tablespoons chopped black olives
2 tablespoons cooked corn
2 tablespoons finely diced tomato

2 tablespoons low fat shredded cheese

Directions:

Spoon about 1 tablespoon black bean dip into each cucumber half, sprinkle with 1 teaspoon each of corn, tomatoes and olives. Top each with one teaspoon of cheese and serve. Chill if not serving immediately.

Makes 6 servings

Serving Size 1 boat: Calories 45 Protein 2 g Carb 7 g Fiber 2 g Sugars 2 g Fat 1 g Saturated fat 1 g Sodium 156 mg

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Recipe ReDux Post # 62 “Everything” Baked Broccoli and Tofu

September’s Recipe ReDux is “Sheet Pan Meals” where our challenge was to create an entrée that is cooked all together on one sheet for a simple meal with less clean up!  This was a fun one for me because aside from pizza, or maybe lasagna, I had never really cooked an all in one meal in the oven!  My daughter loves tofu and broccoli and I happened to have those on hand, not to mention the new Trader Joes “Everything But the Bagel” seasoning in my cupboard which I had been waiting to try!! After pressing the tofu, I combined cubes of it and broccoli with a simple sauce and the seasoning , baked it in the oven and it came out delicious! If you do not have the Trader Joes seasoning you can also substitute plain sesame seeds as well. I hope you will try it along with the other Sheet Pan creations from the RecipeReDux group!

Ingredients:

¼ cup low sodium soy sauce (use gluten free brand if on gluten-free diet)

2 tablespoons seasoned rice vinegar

2 tablespoons canola oil

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 tablespoon Traders Joes “Everything But the Bagel” seasoning or sesame seeds

16 ounces extra firm tofu, cut into ½ inch cubes

8 cups raw broccoli florets

parchment paper or cooking spray

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a small bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, vinegar, oil, garlic power and seasoning/sesame seeds.  Add the tofu to a large bowl, pour in half of the soy sauce mixture and toss to coat.  Spread the tofu on one side of a large baking sheet topped with parchment paper or coated with cooking spray.  Add the broccoli to the bowl, pour in the second half of the sauce and mix to coat.  Spread the broccoli on the other half of baking sheet.  Bake for 15 minutes, turn over and then bake for another 5-10 minutes until lightly browned.  Sprinkle with additional sesame seeds for serving if desired

Makes 6 heaping cups 6 servings

Serving size: 1 heaping cup  Calories 190 Protein  14 g Carb 9 g Fiber 2 g Sugars 3 g Fat 9 g Saturated fat g Sodium  655 mg

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Cranberry Guacamole

A few weeks ago a was sent this lovely serving bowl and some dried cranberries from the Cranberry Institute, and was encouraged to make a fun recipe for Spring.  I am fortunate to be one of their Cranberry Bog Bloggers and took advantage of the opportunity and decided I wanted to make some sort of fun dip to fill that awesome serving bowl.  I came up with this super delicious cranberry guacamole recipe that I have been saving for Cinco de Mayo, and here it is!  You will be amazed at how cranberries can change your guacamole from being just ordinary to extraordinary!  I hope you will try it out for this Friday's fiesta or anytime soon, enjoy!

Ingredients:

2 small avocados or 1 large, peeled, pitted and mashed

½ of small jalapeno pepper or ¼ of a large, diced

juice from ½ of a lime

1 tablespoon of finely chopped cilantro

a dash or two of garlic salt

1/4 cup dried cranberries

(additional salt to taste)

Makes 1.5 cups, 12 servings

Directions:

Add all the above EXCEPT the cranberries to a food processor and puree until smooth. Transfer to a small bowl, stir in the cranberries and serve. If you do not have a food processor, just be sure to chop the cilantro/jalapeno very fine, mash the avocado well and mix all the ingredients together with a spoon in a small bowl.

Serving size: 2 tablespoons Calories 40  Protein <1 carb="" g="" span="" style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  4 g  Fiber  1.5 g Sugars 3 g Fat 2.5 g Saturated fat <1 1="" g="" mg="" nbsp="" o:p="" sodium="">

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Recipe ReDux Post # 55 Cauliflower Mushroom Taco Filling

February Recipe Redux theme is Taco Tuesday!! So as you can guess, we were encouraged to develop a creative taco recipe :)   It is my belief that that the world can always use more vegetarian taco options so I decided to develop one to add to the mix!  I used two of my favorite veggies as a base -cauliflower and mushrooms, and simply sauteed them with some onions and basic spices and the result was really delicious.  Caulifower often has a potato-like texture, and mushrooms can be somewhat “meaty” in mouth feel so these two veggies worked very well as the filling to replace potatoes and meat, which are two popular types of taco fillings. This filling is very versatile and works well in tortillas, lettuce wraps, atop a salad or even as a yummy veggie side dish.  You can add beans, cheese or your favorite meat to pump up the protein.  I hope you will try it and also check out some of the other great taco ideas from the Recipe ReDux group!

Ingredients:

5 cups chopped raw cauliflower florets

4 cups chopped Portobello mushrooms

1 cup chopped white onion

1 tablespoon olive oil

½ tablespoon chili powder

½ tablespoon ground cumin

salt to taste (optional)

Directions:

After chopping up all the veggies add the mushrooms and the onions to a large pan coated with the tablespoon olive oil and sauté on medium high heat, stirring occasionally,  until starting to brown (about 5 minutes).  While the mushrooms and onions are cooking, steam the cauliflower al dente in a pot of shallow boiling water or in a microwave-safe dish in 1 inch of water (covered) for about 4 minutes.  Drain the cauliflower and add it to the pan with the mushroom-onion mixture. Add the cumin and chili powder, mix well to coat the veggies and continue to heat for about 4-5 minutes until lightly browned and tender. Add salt to taste if desired and serve.  This works great with tortillas, lettuce cups, or mixed in with black beans atop a salad or as a burrito bowl with beans, rice and cheese.

Make 5 cups 5 servings

Serving size: 1 cup  Calories  90 Protein 4 g Carb 13 g  Fiber 3 g Sugars 5 g Fat 3 g Saturated fat 0 g Sodium  40 mg

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Recipe ReDux Post # 52 Double Chocolate Macaroons

November's Recipe ReDux is "Trimming the Table" and the challenge was to create a healthy dessert that we would be sharing with family and friends this season.  I happened to have family visiting this weekend and A LOT of shredded coconut in my cupboard so that combo led to the development of this delicious macaroni recipe for everyone to enjoy.  I "doubled" the chocolate factor by adding cocoa powder AND mini chocolate chips to give them a nice chocolatey kick.  These macaroons are gluten free, dairy free and nut free, so they are a great dessert for people with allergies. They are also reasonably low in sugar, carbs and calories so you you can keep the holiday eating guilt factor on low.  I hope you will give them a try and trim your table with some of these other yummy recipes from the awesome Recipe ReDux crew.

Ingredients:

1 1/4 cups unsweetened shredded coconut
2 tablespoons white whole wheat flour (or oat flour if you are on a gluten free diet)
1-2 teaspoons cocoa powder 
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup liquid egg whites 
 2 tablespoons mini chocolate chips ( I used Enjoy Life, which are soy and dairy free)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine the flour, coconut and cocoa powder in a small bowl. In a larger bowl, beat together the honey and egg whites   Slowly add the flour/coconut/cocoa mixture to the larger bowl with the egg whites and honey until thoroughly mixed. Fold in the chocolate chips. Drop in small spoonfuls (using a scooper is helpful) onto greased cookie sheets and bake 15-17 minutes, until tops are firm and they are very lightly browned.

Makes about 15-16 cookies

Serving size: 1 cookie Calories 80 Protein 1 g Carb 8 g Fiber 1 g Sugars 6 g Fat 5 g Saturated fat 4.5 g Sodium 10 mg 

An InLinkz Link-up

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Gabby's Eats: Sea Salt Roasted Turnips

Gabby and I were overdue for time in the kitchen together so this past weekend we got cooking!  She wanted to make something seasonal and after doing a little research online about Fall fruits and vegetables, she chose turnips. Gabby was intrigued because they are one of the only vegetables she has not tried and I was all about her choice since I have never cooked turnips at home and have only enjoyed them at restaurants. I asked her how she wanted to prepare them and she came up with something simple- olive oil and sea salt. I suggested the best way to cook them was to roast them with her two chosen ingredients.

I peeled and chopped up the turnips (since this was a bit of a challenging task requiring a sharp knife) and then Gabby added the olive oil and the salt and mixed them up. We spread cubed turnips on a greased pan and in just 15 minutes we had crispy delicious turnips fresh out of the oven. They were so delicious and the olive oil and salt were just the perfect way to season them.  Gabby ate them all up and was happy to have a new veggie choice in the rotation.  We hope you will give them a try too!

Ingredients:

2 average sized turnips, peeled and cut into ½ inch cubes (about 4 cups raw cubes)

2 tablespoons olive oil

¼- ½ teaspoon sea salt

cooking spray

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Add the cubed turnips into a medium bowl, put in the olive oil and salt and toss to coat.  Spread the turnips out on a baking sheet coated with cooking spray and roast for 10 minutes. Flip them over and cook another 5-10 minutes until tender with a fork and browned.

Makes 2 Cups, 4 servings

Serving Size: ½ cup Calories 95 Protein 1 g Carb 8 g Fiber 2.5 g Sugars 5 g Fat 7 g Saturated fat 1 g Sodium 400 mg

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