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Pumpkin Coconut Soup...seriously AMAZING!

I really surprised myself how a little bit of coconut milk and cayenne pepper can brighten up this soup-it was realllllly delish!
I started with oil in a stock pot, added chopped garlic, chopped celery,chopped carrots and green onions and cooked until fragrant-don't burn the garlic! Add stock or water and use hand blender to puree until smooth. Add 1 cup of pumpkin puree, more stock or water, some herbamare and dash of black pepper. Add 1/4 cup of coconut milk and some cayenne pepper and let simmer for 20 minutes! Serve with brie and toasted hazelnut and raisin bread-a perfect lunch!

Veggie Burger...not only for Vegetarians!

So I decided to try one of these vegiie burgers to see how they taste. The nutritional value is great on these...no additives, fillers etc all natural. Now they don't taste like a beef burger, if that's what you are going for forget this, but if you want to eat something light and healthy and still get the hamburger feel with the bun and all the fixings then it will be a great meal! I feel good eating this way sometimes, I make sweet potatoe fries and it's a party!!

Quinoa...grain of the Goddess!!

This is my favorite quinoa w/ raw vegetable dish or salad.

Rinse the quinoa in warm water for about 15 minutes and then rinse and strain. Boil 2 cups of water for 3/4 cup quinoa, add quinoa and reduce heat on low and close lid and let cook about 15 minutes.

Cut up some veggies:

Red peppers, green onions,celery,mushrooms and zucchini...whatever you have will do.

I add fresh parsley, garlic, herbamare, olive oil.

As a salad just add lemon juice!

Sweeeeet Potatoe

This little sweet potatoe is filled with Vitamin A and C, maganese,fibre and beta carotene. They contain antioxidants and are anti-infammatory.

This is baked in the oven for about 1 hour, you can add a bit of butter and cinnamon, and nutmeg or 5 spice mix which is my new favorite!

Inside out pasta shells

Sometimes you don't have the time to stuff every jumbo pasta shell witha spinach and cheese mixture so this is an easy dish with all the great stuff!

Small pasta shells

2 cups spinach leaves chopped and steamed

tomato sauce (olive oil, garlic,salt....however you like it)

ricotta cheese (some nutmeg mixed in)

parmesan cheese

Cook the pasta, steam the spinach and add the spinach with tomato sauce-sprinkle some parmesan cheese and enjoy!

Eggplant stack

So simple but so flavorful!

Slice eggplants into rounds, place on tray sprayed with Pam and roast until tender-sprinkle some herbamare,oregano and garlic salt. I use fresh tomato sauce(season as you wish), spinach leaves and feta or any cheese you like. Make your stack and just heat up in oven for a minute to warm up-so elegant!

Cranberry oatmeal

What to do with cranberries??...add them in your oatmeal of course...not only with turkey anymore!

Chicken fajitas

A family favorite in our house, this is really a meal with all the fixings at hand.
Chicken breasts sliced into strips
Peppers sliced (red,green, yellow etc)
Onions sliced long
Seasoning-herbamare
Whole wheat tortillas
Toppers:
Sour cream
Sliced avocado
Salsa or sliced tomatoes
In a large fry pan, add some oil and cook chicken until opaque. Add all peppers and onionadd some water if too dry, add seasonings. Let cook until almost tender. Fill your tortilla with the mixture and toppers, roll and enjoy!

in the raw!

I try to eat my veggies raw as much as possible because you really get all health benefits. Did you know by cooking veggies you lose 50 % of it's nutritional value....I know CRAZY! So when you can, snack on fresh veggies and fruit and always make a side dish of anything raw with your meals.

Here I had mushrooms and cucmbers, added parsley, apple cider vinegar, some olive oil, garlic and herbamare. Use dill if you have so fresh!!

Soups On!

This is not a homemade soup I have to confess, but I added some lentils and water to canned "Soupe aux Pois" and it was yummy!!

Presto Pasta al Forno...

What a comfort food anyday of the week! I like making a fresh italian sauce from diced tomatoes, olive oil, garlic,dried basil, green onions and herbamare. I let simmer and add in fresh parsley. Cook pasta as usual-al dente!

Grate your favorite cheese I love strong aged cheese or mix a few ....parmigiano, aged cheddar, mozzarella, havarti etc.

Place in an oven dish and let broil just a few minutes until cheese starts to get a little brown on top-don't burn!!

Pumpkin chocolate chip pancakes

Try these little johnnie's they are a treat on a week-end breakfast and share with the ones you love-or not...just freeze the extras.

1 cup flour and 1 tsp baking soda or Pancake mix

1 cup oatmeal (microwave oats in water 1 min)
1 egg

1/2 cup water

1/2 cup pumkin puree (I used canned)

1 tbsp ground flazxseeds

cinnamon

chocolate chips

I put ingredients except chocolate chips in blender for smoothness, cook as usual in pan or griddle!

a little goes a long way...

All you need is a handful a day and you will get all the benefits of these antioxidants and also selenium, magnesium, Omega 3, iron, fibre and some protein. Include walnuts, almonds, brazil nuts and pumkin seeds. Grab and go!

Baked squash and Apples

I didn't know what to make of this idea I had but it turned out great! The house smelled like Pumkin pie- yummy!

Cut up squash , sprinkle with 4 spice mix (cinnamon, ginger, all spice and nutmeg)

Bake in oven 20 min and then add apples until tender.

Pitted Dried Prunes...give them a try!

Just in this bowl alone with the dried prunes, walnuts and pumkin seeds you are getting a good source of nutrients and essential minerals and omega's and it tastes AMAZING! This the an important time of the year to help build a strong immune system with all the viruses going around. How are you helping yourself? For me food is my medicine of choice!

I love my food to have texture and many flavors.

I use oatmeal (oats in boiling water), add chopped dates, walnuts, pumkin seeds and cinnamon and anything else you like...sometimes I add flaked coconut, dates and almond or peanut butter. Can you feel the love in my tummy!!!

Pumpkin Smash Smoothie

I had the best idea to add pumpkin instead of spinach in my daily post-cardio drink. It was to die for...so thick and still fruity and fresh.
I add in a blender:
1 cup water or almond milk or skim milk
1/2 frozen banana
3 tbsps of pumkin puree
ground flaxseeds
cinnamon
1/2 scoop protein powder (optional)
optional ice

Veal Stew...Italian Style

I like to make my stew with veal or bison, because of the nutritional value is higher in bison than beef.

I have different variations but usually I use:

1 lb cubed veal

1/4 c flour

1 can of tomato sauce or homemade sauce

2 small white potatoes cubed

1 small sweet potato cubed

2 ribs celery chopped

10 baby carrots chopped

1 cup frozen peas

1/4 onion chopped

1.5 tbsp olive oil

2 cups water

black pepper, herbamare,garlic powder

In a large pot, add some oil and turn on med. heat. take theveal cubes and toss in flour to coat with flour, add to pot and sear until just browned. I add the rest of the ingredients and let simmer for 1.5 hours, you can add less or more water.

I usually add worcestershire sauce and soy sauce to make it darker in color. This is nice with brown rice or just pita bread!

Baked chicken

Don't these look delish..I lurve chicken tenders like this....
Marinate the chicken if you have the time (olive oil, oregano, garlic powder,herbamare, parsley,lemon juice any other herb you like)
First you can sear in fry pan until golden brown only with Pam spray and then bake in oven for about 20 minutes!

Rice noodles...

Soemtimes you want to eat something different with a hint of Oriental, this is an easy dish to prepare in 10 minutes!

Rice noodles or cellophane noodles need to be soaked in hot water not boiled like regular pasta. I bring a pot of water to boil, remove from stove and let soak the noodles for about 10 minutes until tender-that's it!

I make a stirfry of veggies usually with garlic, ginger and soy sauce and add chicken or shrimp.

Also I keep the leftovers and add it to a salad with diced carrots and yellow peppers and onions so fresh and crisp!

Pumpkin Polenta w/ chickpeas and spinach

If this won't warm up your tummy on a rainy day I don't know what will! Okay well for me it's just one of those comfort foods that makes staying in all day worth it! I use regular corn meal and add water and cook on low and keep stirring. I add some butter, spinach, pure pumpkin, garlic and herbamare. I add a can of chickpeas and there you have a complete meal.

Serve with some melted brie cheese over toasted crispy baguette slices...

Pumpkin Gnocchi

These have to be the easiest and most fun gnocchi to make especially when I have the cutest helper!

I use

2cups 100% pure pumpkin canned

2 cups flour

1 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese

dash of salt

nutmeg (optional)

On a work board or surface mound flour,make well and add pumpkin, salt and cheese and gradually incorporate. Knead and add flour as needed for about 5 minutes. Cut pieces and roll into a rope and chop into little pillows.

Bison Chili...done clean!

This is a chili with organic grass fed ground bison which has so much less saturated fat, it is leaner than turkey! It has a real deep gamey taste to it. I used navy beans instead of kidney beans.

Ingredients:

1 pound of organic ground bison (healthstore)

1 can low sodium crushed tomatoes or jar tomato sauce

1/4 cup diced onion

Chile seasoning

1 can navy or kidney beans

Simply cook ground meat in pan with onions, drain excess fat, add tomato sauce,chile seasonings and cook for 30 minutes, add the beans and let simmer another 10 minutes. So quick and no mess to clean up!

Sexy salad!

I swear this is the only way I can really eat healthy without over eating with too many calories. I always bring a lunch to work and this is one of my favorites... doesn't it look mouth watering...had to post a pic!

Always have green veggies everyday , twice a day in fact is ideal. I love green lettuce or spinach, cuks, red peppers and green onions-add whatever you have that is fresh and crisp! I always add a source of protein ie grilled chicken or tuna, tofu or hummus. I top it off with nuts or seeds(pumpkin or sesame and any nut you like)

The dressing is olive or walnut oil, balsamic or apple cider vinegar and some herbamare and garlic powder. Herbs give a nice flavor and makes a difference so add whatever ie oregano,parsley, cilantro, mint, basil etc.

Chicken Divine!

Actually this is my version of the classic dish Chicken Divan that my sister in law Cristina makes so deliciously! She knows how to make it best!
I use less ingredients and skip a few steps:
Ingredients:
Chicken breasts cut into cubes
1 head broccoli into florets and pieces
mushrooms sliced
1 can Campbell's condensed Cream of Chicken
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 tbsp curry powder
2 tbsp lemon juice
shredded cheddar cheese and 1/4 c bread crumbs
In a frying pan I stir fry sprayed with Pam, cook the chicken and mushrooms half way through only. In another pot steam broccoli or just blanch broccoli for 1 minute. Place the chicken and the broccoli in a shallow baking dish (Corningware) .
In a seperate bowl, pour soup add curry, mayonnaise and lemon juice and mix well. Pour over chicken broccoli and sprinkle the cheese and breadcrumbs. Cook in oven about 30min or until bubbly. Remove from oven and let sit 10 minutes.

snack or dessert!

A little snack goes a long way! This is my favorite yogurt all natural goodness and only 6grams of sugar per 175g!

I mix it in with frozen blueberries and top it off with crunchy granola-this one has coconut and seeds-a real treat!

garden veggie frittata

This is a hearty lunch we all enjoy on the week-ends! I use organic free range eggs and extra egg whites for volume. I add colorful veggies; yellow and red peppers, zucchini, green onions, basil nd peppers and trimmed bacon for smokey flavors. Add any seasonings you like, I love garlic, herbamare and some parmesan cheese-a real treat! I finish it baking in the oven for 5 minutes on broil-makes a nice crust!

My daughter Lauren loves this for lunch at school too!

Pasta...shhh there Tofu Noodles!

I am the happiest person right now. I have found this pasta which I love eating because it comes s o close to eating pasta with half the carbs, double the protein and right amount of fat-a complete meal! These Mung Bean(soy bean) noodles are really tasty even my kids like them and you can't beat that!

This time I added steamed broccoli, galic powder, walnut oil, hebamare and a little parmesan cheese! My kids enjoyed the carbonara type with bacon and egg-what a treat!

buttered Butternut squash!

Fall is the time of year where I look forward to squash and pumpkin recipes. This one is quite simple but I add nutmeg and it has so much flavor.

Just roast the squash in the oven until soft. Scoop out the inside flesh and add some butter, and nutmeg and any seasonings you enjoy-I just use herbamare!

Spagetti Squash Bolognese

Yes it's Squash....so yummy with a yummy ground turkey or veal tomato sauce!

I cut the spagetti squash in half, remove the seeds and cook in oven until tender (45min) or the easiest way is to microwave the halves wrapped in paper towel each for 6 minutes or so. Once cool enough to handle take a fork and scrap the insides from top to bottom and you will get strands of squash.

In a low pan add your sauce and squash and heat up! Add any spice you like , I like hot peppers and garlic!

Walnut oil for salads

Garden tomatoes are the best in September, they are so sweet and I eat them everyday.

This is steamed broccoli, chopped tomatoes, fresh parsley, basil, garlic powder,herbamare and sliced almonds. I also use apple cider vinegar and walnut oil for a dressing-the flavor is amazing!

Breakfast for Kings!

This looks complicated but only is a veggie egg white scramble topped with goat cheese on whole sprouted bread!
In a small fry pan, sprayed with PAM add chopped zucchini and tomato, add some herbamare,basil, oregano or any fresh herb add egg whites and stir until dry. Add goat cheese and parsley and you have the most grande and elegant breakfast!

Going Bananas!!

Seriously the best "dessert" you can make and all natural goodness with ONLY frozen bananas!

My little one like peanut butter with it, Tony likes walnuts mixed in. Sooo easy...make sure you peel ripe bananas and plastic wrap when freezing! Thaw 10 minutes and pulse on low-med speed until you get the smoothness-you have to try it! YUMMO!!

Beet it!

It is the time of year where beets add such comfort and color to any table setting don't you agree?
Cut and roast beets in a pan sprayed with Pam for 45 minutes. In another pan roast squash or turnip in another as well. Once both tender add in bowl with some butter or walnut oil , diced onion(optional) and seasonings and fresh parsley or thyme.
Variation: added firm ripe pear, so sweet and fresh.
or sweet potato and carrots and beets roasted all in same pan.

Very classic..but never boring!

Steak and potatoes! The mushrooms are sauteed with 1 tbsp butter and some hot bbq sauce! The potatoe is Golden Yukon spud just steamed and a little of milk added and garlic for punch!

Hitting the spot!

I usually have lots of veggies and greens for lunch, but sometimes I crave comfort food and a sandwich always hits the spot!

I try to stuff it with greens, sprouts, lean protein, tomatoe and some mayo/mustard-and some times even 1 slice of bacon :O

Pork loin...mushroom and asparagus

Want to get your kids eating more vegggies? Well always make sure it's on their plate, it will only be a matter time before they acceprt it and devour it all!

This is a simple but so flavorful dish. I begin with a pork loin and rub some thyme, herbamare, oregano and garlic powder, 1 tbsp olive oil over it and roast in oven - cover pan with foil-for about 45 min (375 oven). I add some water into pan for moisture so it doesn't smoke too much with oil.

Meanwhile I cut up some veggies like mushrooms, asparagus and green onions. I saute them in some olive oil or a mix of butter or margarine(non hydrogenated) and cook the veggies in some broth or water and more herbs (thyme, oregano, herbamre and garlic powder). I add 3 tbsp of lemon juice or white wine. I also add 2 tbsp only of cream for a light sauce. Cut your pork loin into rounds and place in pan with cream veggie sauce and let simmer for about 5 minutes -sprinkle some fresh parsley and you are ready to enjoy!

Drink your greens!

This is my favorite breakfast smoothie. I usually have it after my morning cardio for breakfast. I enjoy the sweetness from the banana, the richness of the almond milk and the freshness of spinach which you don't even taste-give it a try!

You can experiment with different fruits like berries or watermelon!

The basics are:

3 cups of fresh spinach leaves (microwaved 30 secs)

1 cup almond milk or rice milk or skim

1/2 frozen banana or 1/2 cup other fruit (blueberries or strawberries, watermelon, mango etc)

1 tbsp ground flaxseeds

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tbsp hemp protein powder (optional)

1/2 scoop of chocolate protein powder (optional)

Just put all in blender, starting with liquid first and that's it-it's all the superfoods in a glass!