Joseph’s Pita Pocket Sandwiches

One of my favorite ways to make sandwiches is with pita bread. I really enjoy Joseph’s mini flax, oat bran & whole wheat pita bread because of its nutritional value. Not only is it yummy, but it contains many healthy ingredients including Plant Sterols, a natural nutrient present in small quantities in many fruits, vegetables and grains. It has been reported in F.D.A guidelines that Plant Sterols, eaten twice a day with meals, may reduce heart disease risk in a diet low in saturated fat & cholesterol.

The sandwich comprises of smoked turkey, lettuce, tomato, and Brianna’s real French vinaigrette.

It’s quick, easy, and low cal. My favorite ingredients for a great lunch.

Mucho Mango

One thing I miss about being back in Miami is the amount of mangoes I had at my fingertips. My neighbor had a plethora of mangoes every summer that she’d pass onto me. I would use it for smoothies, salads, and just something to snack on. Having been home for a few days, I gorged on this favorite fruit. One of the simplest, yet most delicious ways to incorporate it is by adding chopped walnuts. The sweet and salty pair themselves in such a delightful way that you’d never think you’re eating as healthy as you are!

What are the benefits of eating mangoes?

Fresh mangoes have many benefits, one being {in my mind} they are delicious and low in calories. Not only that, they are a good source of fiber, accounting for 2.6 g per cup (1/8 of your necessary daily serving). Fiber can also help with prevention of heart disease, colon cancer, and Type 2 diabetes. This fruit is also a great source of vitamin A and folic acid.

Source:Livestrong

Monster Cookies

There is a reason why Sesame Street had a character called cookie monster. He probably was named in honor of the cookie I’m about to detail (recipe thanks to Elizabeth Lange).

Monster Cookies

Ingredients:

• 1 stick butter
• 3 eggs
• 3/4 c white sugar
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 cup smooth peanut butter
• 3/4 cup flour
• 1 cup M&Ms
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips
• 3 cups old fashioned oats

Directions:
1)Mix the below together in a large bowl:

• 1 stick butter
• 3 eggs
• 3/4 c white sugar
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp salt

2) Blend.

3) Add: 1 cup of smooth peanut butter (add more if you want it really peanut buttery)

4) Beat until smooth.

5) Add 3/4 cup of flour.

6) Blend.

7) Add 3 cups of old fashioned oats.

8) Blend.

9) Add 1 cup M&Ms and 1/2 cup chocolate chips and stir with wooden spoon.

10) Bake at 375 F for 8 minutes or until edges are golden brown.  Let cool for 10-15 min.

 

What’s your favorite cookie right now???

The Most Refreshing Salad You’ll Ever Had

Now a days, I’m trying to veer away from the norm of my food choices and get into a groove of trying new things! Most recently, I fell in love with this Ramen Noodle (you just wait to see how good that topping is!) Salad.

Salad Ingredients

• 1 head romaine lettuce
• 1 head iceberg lettuce
• bunch of fresh broccoli, cut into florets
• bunch of scallions, chopped
• 1 large can of mandarin oranges drained
• walnut + noodle mixture tossed in  (saute 1 cup chopped walnuts, 1 package of ramen soup noodles in 1/4 cup butter – let cool)

Dressing Ingredients

• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup wine vinegar
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• Pinch of salt + pepper

Directions

1. Chop lettuces and place in the a bowl.
2. Cut up broccoli and scallions into florets and add to the bowl.
3. Add mandarin oranges on top.
4. Top with walnut + noodle mixture.
5. Combine all dressing ingredients.
6. Stir in dressing.

What is your current favorite salad??

Bolitas Recipe {Almond, Date, and Coconut Balls}

You look at bolitas and must ask yourself, what the heck does that mean??? In spanish, it means little balls. Back in the day, when I was a young girl in Miami, my aunt would make this recipe and I was in wanderlust of what combination could provide such a good taste. Years later, I found out that this cookie dough like consistency is made of pure fruit and nuts! A healthy cookie like treat? I’m always up for it and really stand by the notion that the best kind of products are homemade.

{Photo source: Hamilton Beach}

I recently got a food processor and called my uncle to get the infamous recipe. To my surprise it was only 3 ingredients. How amazing is that???

Ingredients:

• 1 cup almonds, unsalted.
• 1/4 cup shredded coconut
• 15 pitted dates

Directions:

1. Let almonds sit in water for 24 hours.
2. Add almonds to food processor. Blend.
3. Add shredded coconut. Blend.
4. Add dates. Blend.
5. Make into bolitas.

Pop these bad boys into the fridge, and get ready for a delightful snack!

The Best Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing You’ll Ever Have

I love food, but there is nothing more than I love than food that is quick and easy. Great taste in a short time? What more can you ask for. Thus, when I am looking to just kick it and relax, my go to meal is broiled tenderloins and spinach salad.

The recipe for the salad is so simple:

• 2 cups spinach lettuce
• 1/2 bag of Trader Joe’s Candied Pecans
• 1/2 cup of cranberries

The dressing (1:1 ratio of all ingredients, if you’re looking to make a bigger batch, for example, do 2 times of each of the items) is as follows:

• 1/3 cup balsamic vinegar
• 1 cup pure olive oil
• 2 tablespoon dijon mustard
• 2 tablespoon honey

Mix together the above ingredients and voila, you’re ready.

What’s your go-to meal???

 

Top 5 Chia Seed Recipes

I’ve recently been trying to get into a health-mode kick – unfortunately, chocolate is a current weakness, but overall I’m doing well. One thing I like to incorporate into my meals is chia seeds. They are high in omega-3, a fatty acid that must be ingested from food source. Your body cannot produce it itself. There has been positive correlation with reducing inflammation and may help lower risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer, and arthritis.

The top 5 things I see on the interwebs these days are:

1. Oatmeal Chia Bread from Hope for Healing

2. Chia-crusted Salmon with Asian Greens & Tamari Dressing from Crave by Random House

3. Circus Burgers from Food.com

4. Mango Chia Pudding from Healthier Steps

5. My own Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Chia Pudding

How to Broil Chicken Tenderloins

There are many days where I come home and want a healthy meal but don’t want to put too much time and effort into what I cook. My go-to dish is broiled chicken tenderloins. It is quite fabulous and so simple.

All you need is a pack of chicken tenderloins and oil, salt, pepper. I also add garlic salt, but that’s a preference.

1. Turn oven to “Broil”
2. Place the tenderloins on a tin-foil covered cookie sheet and drizzle oil on the tenderloins. Put spices on the chicken to the degree you’d like to have it covered.
3. Leave tenderloins in for 5-6 minutes. Flip. Let cook another 5 minutes.
4. When the chicken is white on the inside, it is ready.

I like to pair the chicken with cous cous or salad, but if you want to spice things up, cut up the chicken and place it in a pan with a simmering sauce.There are many amazing flavors such as red curry, green curry, tikka masala, etc. The chicken is already cooked so it’s just a matter of letting the sauce get hot.

What are your go-to meals?

How to Make a Pisco Sour

Beware having a conversation with a Chilean and a Peruvian as to where Pisco originated from; it is a topic that always warrants heated debate. Lucky enough, my parents are from both these places so we just call it even. Nevertheless, both sides love our pisco sours.

On Friday night, I had some friends over to try this drink I love so much. It’s creation is as easy as 1, 2, 3.

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup pisco
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 tablespoon lime juice
• 1 teaspoon pasteurized egg whites

Directions

1. Blend together 3 ice cubes, pisco, sugar, fresh lime juice, and egg whites.
2. Whirl until components seem evenly mixed (you’ll no longer hear the ice cracking against the side of the blender).

Bomb Banana Bread

Ever have a recipe in mind but not enough ingredients? I’ve been there. Most recently, I had some very ripe bananas but not enough to make some banana bread. {I wanted to make up for the last batch of banana bread that I made that was good, but not that good.} Looking at allrecipes.com, they can allow for you to adjust recipes to make sure they come out just right with what you got stocked in the kitchen.

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons and 2-1/4 teaspoons white sugar
•  3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
•  1/2 cup and 1 teaspoon butter
•  2 cups and 1 tablespoon white sugar
•  2 eggs
•  4 very ripe bananas, mashed
•  3/4 (16 ounce) container sour cream
•  1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
•  1-1/4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
•  1/4 teaspoon salt
•  2 teaspoons baking soda
•  3 cups and 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Grease 2 9×3 inch loaf pans. In a small bowl, stir together 1/4 cup white sugar and 1 teaspoon cinnamon. Dust pans lightly with cinnamon and sugar mixture.
2. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar. Mix in eggs, mashed bananas, sour cream, vanilla and cinnamon. Mix in salt, baking soda and flour. Divide into prepared pans.
3. Bake for 45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

THIS BATCH WAS AMAZING. I highly recommend it.