Quick Cabbage Slaw

This quick, simple slaw is a staple in my house. Perfect when you need something acidic to balance a savory dish. Everyone loves this, including my toddler only for her I leave out the red onion.

A few weeks ago I updated the photo on my Slow Cooker Pernil Recipe (this is on regular rotation in my house) and I often serve it with this quick slaw. I've since gotten so many emails on how to make the slaw, so here it is. Hope you enjoy!

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Blueberry Banana Bread

Blueberries and banana combine so well together in this delicious, super moist bread made with lots of very ripe sweet bananas which allow you to cut back on the fat without sacrificing the flavor and texture. This is perfect for breakfast or snack and can also be made as muffins if you prefer.

I don't know why it took me so long to add blueberries to my banana bread, it's a delicious combination I'll be doing more often. We love banana bread in my house, Madison especially loves when I make it so she can have it for breakfast or snack in school. I have several varieties, Banana Nut Bread, Chocolate Chip Banana Petite Loaves, Roasted Strawberry Banana Bread and a Gluten Free Banana Bread.

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Mushroom Ceviche

Mushrooms marinated overnight with lemon juice, cilantro, red onion and bell pepper. I couldn't decide if I wanted to call this poor man's ceviche or vegetarian ceviche, but what I did want to make clear is that the flavors in these marinated mushrooms are what you would expect to taste when enjoying ceviche, only without the seafood.

This makes a great appetizer, and the flavor gets better with time. My husband, who's not a mushroom fan loved this! You can make this up to a few days ahead, if desired, it would last a week if not longer.

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Spiralized Apple and Cabbage Slaw

This beautiful apple and cabbage slaw is sweet, bright and crisp, the perfect side dish to any meal and great to bring to a potluck.

You don't need a spiralizer to make this, you can of course core and cut the apples into thin strips, but if you have one, use it because it's so much easier and quicker to do! No coring, and the seeds just pop out. II used the thicker blade on my Paderno Spiral Vegetable Slicer to make my apple zoodles, which are not just for zucchini!

I just remove the stems and place the thicker end in the little spokes for a better grip.  Then spiralize and quickly add the dressing so the apples don't brown (lemon juice works too).

The poppy seed dressing is the perfect finish to this slaw, hope you enjoy!

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Quick Spiralized Zucchini and Grape Tomatoes

I think it was on an episode of MasterChef Junior that I heard the quote "what grows together, goes together" which makes so much sense. Zucchini, tomatoes and basil are just made for each other, you can serve as a side dish, as suggested, or even as a main dish topped with some grilled shrimp or chicken.

I've been using the thicker blade on my Paderno Spiral Vegetable Slicer to make my zoodles (zucchini noodles). I like the larger noodle because it has more of bite and I'm careful not to overcook them so they don't get soggy. Under two minutes is all they need, then I quickly remove them from the hot skillet or they will keep cooking.

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Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Shallots with Balsamic Glaze

 

These pan roasted brussels sprouts are perfectly charred, and finished with a sweet balsamic glaze. Please welcome my friend and guest author Jackie Ourman, who writes at CAFE Celiac & Allergy Friendly Epicurian. I tested these out myself while taking the photos and we LOVED this recipe!

I am slightly obsessed with Brussels sprouts. I love all of my veggies but these are definitely high up on the list. I often crisp up pancetta or bacon and then roast the sprouts in the fat. They get a little soft in order to have the rich color I like but that’s ok because I still have the crunchy bacon or pancetta to sprinkle on top.

Now that I am watching my calories, I’m forced to think a bit more creatively about how to get that delicious roasted flavor without softening the Brussels sprouts too much. In this recipe, instead of roasting them in the oven for a long time, I quickly brown the Brussels sprouts with shallots in a sauté pan and then roast them for just 10-12 minutes.

Everything comes out deliciously caramelized yet there is still a nice bite. The drizzle of balsamic glaze adds a hint of sweetness and is the perfect pairing.  I couldn’t stop eating them. I will likely double the recipe next time because this dish almost didn’t make it to the dinner table.

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Oven Roasted Cauliflower

Roasting cauliflower brings out its nuttiness flavor and caramelizes the edges. This is such an easy way to prepare it, I toss it with garlic, lemon juice and olive oil and top it with freshly grated Parmesan cheese and some lemon zest when it comes out of the oven.

I can eat a whole bowl of this for lunch, but I usually make this as a side for steaks, pork chops or chicken. An irresistible side dish, even to people who don't like cauliflower.

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Tomato and Mozzarella Tarts

These Tomato and Mozzarella Tarts taste like mini pizzas, a fun Superbowl appetizer if you're having friends over!

You may recall me mentioning I am guest posting for Better Homes and Gardens blog, Delish Dish this month! I'm really enjoying testing out some of their recipes and adding my own spin. 

These are really simple to make, using only a handful of ingredients: frozen puff pastry, Parmesan cheese, mozzarella, tomato and fresh basil. I didn't change their recipe much, my only changes to make them a bit lighter was to use shredded part skim mozzarella in place of slices of fresh mozzarella, and I used a little less than the original recipe called for. My husband was home when I was making them and he LOVED them!

You can easily double this recipe to make more if you're feeding a crowd.

Tomato and Mozzarella Tarts

Servings: 9 • Size: 1 tart • Old Points: 2 • Weight Watcher Points+: 2

Calories: 77 • Fat: 5 g • Carb: 7 g • Fiber: 1 g • Protein: 3 g • Sugar: 0 g

Sodium: 45 mg (without salt) • Cholest: 4 mg

Ingredients I used:

• 1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed (I uses 4.5 oz total)
• 1 1/2 tbsp finely shredded Parmesan cheese
• 2 oz shredded part skim mozzarella cheese 
• 1 large OR 2 SMALL roma tomato, thinly sliced (9 slices)
• Kosher salt and ground black pepper
• 9 small fresh basil leaves

To see the full original recipe, click here...

Poached Pears with Yogurt

These poached pears are simple and wonderful, whether you want to serve them for breakfast or dessert.

I gently poached them in a combination of apple and pomegranate juice along with a cinnamon stick and an orange rind. No additional sugar needed  – so easy and delicious!

My aunt recently had to stop eating dairy for health reasons, so when Silk approached me about their new dairy-free yogurt alternative I was excited to try it. My Aunt was super excited because she wasn't happy with the flavor and texture of two other brands she tried (Trader Joe's and Stonyfield's). I bought them all as well to do a taste comparison and hand down, Silk Dairy Free Yogurt Alternative had the best flavor and texture, it's delicious!

This recipe is also naturally gluten-free, vegan and vegetarian. These best part about these pears is that the can be made a few days in advance, and kept refrigerated until ready to eat.

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Crab Guacamole

I'm so honored to be a guest blogger this month for Better Homes and Gardens. The task was simple, test out a few of their snack recipes adding my own spin to share on their blog, Delish Dish.

I chose this crab guacamole because I'm avocado obsessed! We make guacamole a lot in my house, it's one of the few ways I can get Madison to eat avocados. Pictured above, I served them with Beanitos Black Bean chips which I love, but any baked chip would be perfect!


Crab Guacamole
Servings: 6 • Size: 1/3 cup • Old Points: 2 • Weight Watcher Points+: 2
Calories: 96 • Fat: 6 g • Carb: 4.5 g • Fiber: 2 g • Protein: 6 g • Sugar: 0 g
Sodium: 144 mg • Cholest: 25 mg

Ingredients used to calculate this dip:

• 8 oz (from 2 small haas) diced avocados, coarsely mashed
• 1/4 cup diced red onion
• 1 jalapeño, seeded and minced
• 2 tbsp fresh cilantro
• 3 tbsp fresh lime juice
• 1/4 tsp kosher salt
• 6 oz canned lump crabmeat, drained

Please visit Delish Dish for the instructions and full recipe.

Pressure Cooker Smoked Turkey Black Bean Soup

It's snowing in New York – perfect soup day! And black bean soup is a hearty, filling, fiber-rich soup. The kind of soup that sticks to your bones on a cold day like today.

This is also inexpensive to make, I start with dried beans and I use my pressure cooker (my favorite pot to beans) because it cuts the cooking time in half and the flavors really get into the soup. The smoked turkey leg adds wonderful flavor to the soup. If you can't find smoked turkey legs, you can use smoked turkey sausage instead.

You can also do this in a large pot or dutch oven, but keep in mind it will take twice as long to cook and you'll have to add more liquid to the pot as it evaporates, where as in the pressure cooker you don't get much evaporation. This is also great to freeze for the month, it thaws and reheats perfectly so you can make your own healthy freezer meals. I freeze them in portions and use a sharpie to write the name, date, and calories or points.

And speaking of snowy cold weather, I've been cozying up with Andie Mitchell's new memoir, It Was Me All Along. I share this because I recently met her – and found her to be such an inspiring person, a really good soul. I know so many of you will really relate to her story, or at least get isnpired. In her memoir she writes about how she went from 268 lbs at age 20, and lost half her weight. But it's not just a story about her weight loss, it's about hope, finding peace, making changes, and finding her freedom. A perfect read for 2015.

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3-Ingredient Almond Butter Cookies

These flour-less almond butter cookies are SO good, and made with only 3 ingredients (almond butter, raw sugar and an egg)! They are so easy to make you don't even need a mixer, so these are perfect for any beginner baker.

I participated in The 4th Annual Great Food Blogger Cookie Swap to raise money for Cookies For Kids Cancer, a wonderful non-profit organization that raises money to help kids with Cancer. I swapped cookies with three bloggers, all of which requested a cookie made with no white flours or white sugar and that could handle shipping without the need for refrigeration. These cookies came to mind because they use no flour and can last for weeks in a cookie tin. They are also naturally gluten-free. I tested them a few times to see how little sugar I can get away with using and found 6 tablespoons was perfect.

I've been making peanut butter cookies for years using these same three ingredients, but this was my first time trying them with almond butter instead. I love Justin's Maple Almond Butter so I used that and they turned out wonderful. Honestly, you can use any type of nut butter you like, try it with cashew butter, pistachio butter, or you can just stick with natural peanut butter.

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Mini Greek Spinach Pies

These bite-sized spinach pies are a fun twist on one of my favorite Greek dishes, Spanakopita. These are great appetizers for the Holidays, football games, or anytime you get together with friends and family.

Delicious and simple to make. You can make the filling a day ahead then assemble and bake right before serving. The shells can be found in the freezer section, and now they make them already baked.

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Gingerbread Christmas Tree Cookies and a Special 3-Week Meal Plan with New Cookbook Purchases

The Gingerbread cookies are made with a fraction of the butter – yet they still have the same great flavor and texture.

Although I'm personally not a fan of gingerbread cookies, Madison LOVES baking them, decorating them and eating them so I bake them every year. I've been using this Low Fat Gingerbread Cookie recipe for years with perfect results every time.

This year I wanted to make them into Christmas tree. No cookie cutter required, all I used was a knife to cut them into triangles!

And speaking of cookies, the holidays are here again! And while it’s a wonderful season to spend with family and friends enjoying delicious (and seemingly endless) food and drink, it’s also the time of year when many of us pack on a few unwanted pounds. Since holiday weight gain is pretty universal, why not give the gift of Skinnytaste this year? It’s the gift that keeps on giving!

From now through January 1 (for all you late gifters!), if you buy a copy of The Skinnytaste Cookbook as a gift for a loved one, you’ll receive a FREE 3-week, 1,500-calorie meal plan featuring recipes from the book that you can share with them (only eligible for new purchases). That way, once the celebrations have ended, you can resolve to start the new year off right. Together! Follow the instructions on this page to get started.

Happy holidays!

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White Chocolate Oatmeal Lace Cookies

Baking cookies for the Holidays has always been a family tradition for as long as I can remember. My Mom loves baking and has taught both my children to love it too. Oatmeal lace cookies have always been a favorite of mine, and since they don't use as much butter as most other cookie recipes, they certainly fall into the light category (as long as you have some self control of course).

Last year I shared these Dark Chocolate Lace Cookies which were sandwiched with dark chocolate in the middle, but as a white chocolate lover I wanted to change things up slightly. 

Rather then sandwiching them together this time I kept them single and dipped them in the melted chocolate a third of the way so I could add some colored sprinkles. They turned out delicious and I've also tested them with Bob's Red Mill All Purpose flour and they worked great for those of you with gluten allergies.

I also wanted to share a little info this Holiday season about santasmilkdrive.com. Did you know milk is one of the most requested items at food banks, yet it is rarely donated? Of the 46 million Americans food banks serve, the average person gets less than 1 gallon of milk per year. The entire dairy industry from dairy farmers to dairy processors has come together and joined with Feeding America food banks to help get milk to those who need it most.

You can help by donating just 1 Gallon of Milk by visiting santasmilkdrive.com to donate.
The cool part is when you do to the site to donate, type in your zip code and the donation will be distributed to a food bank in your own area, so your good will is doing good in your very own community.

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Brussels Sprouts Gratin

These brussels sprouts are roasted until crisp, then topped with a light cheese sauce made with Gruyere and parmesan, then baked until brown and bubbling. If you are as obsessed with brussels sprouts as I am, you'll love these. Perfect to add to your holiday table!

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Creamy Lentil Soup

A creamy bowl of lentil soup – made with cumin, cilantro and potato to thicken it is the perfect way to warm up on a cold November night.

When I was a kid, most of our meals started with a bowl of soup. Lentil soup was often on the menu; because I was such a picky eater, the only way Mom got me to eat it was by pureeing it in the blender – I loved it!

As an adult, I'm no longer picky and I love lentils every which way, but I still find a bowl of this creamy pureed soup comforting, especially on a cold night. This makes a great first course, or serve it with avocado, rice and salad on the side to make it a meal. This is perfect for meatless Mondays if you use vegetable broth, gluten-free and leftovers are perfect for lunch – enjoy!

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Massaged Raw Kale Salad

Kale is a hearty winter green that holds up well in soups and stews. But it's also wonderful as a salad if you give it a three-minute massage.

I realize it might sound odd to massage your greens, but you'd be surprised how this tough green leaf transforms into a tender, light salad. As you rub it with olive oil using your hands, the leaves darken and shrink in size and the texture becomes soft – it's delicious! Then it's tossed with lemon juice and grated parmesan cheese. Gluten-free, vegetarian and easy to make.

I can't believe I never shared a massage kale salad on my blog. I eat them often, sometimes with avocado, or craisins and almonds. So when I got my hands on The Kitchn Cookbook and saw this recipe listed as a side dish in the book, I knew this would be perfect to share.

The Kitchn Cookbook from Apartment Therapy's cooking site The Kitchn, has great tips for setting up the perfect organized kitchen, storage tips and over 150 recipes with full-page color photographs and a cooking school with 50 lessons  – perfect for the beginner cook, newlyweds, college graduates or anyone learning how to cook. 

The best part about this salad is that you can make it, refrigerate it, and it's still perfect the next day. It won't get wilted or soggy like lettuce once it's tossed with dressing, so it's the perfect salad to make ahead for lunch – just add your favorite salad fixins.


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Baked Pears with Walnuts and Honey

Baked pears with cinnamon, honey and walnuts – it doesn't get simpler that this!

I had some beautiful ripe Royal Riviera pears on my counter from Harry & David and didn't want to waste them, so I cut them in half, cored them and baked them in the oven this morning. While they baked my kitchen smelled heavenly! They turned out even better than I hoped – I had one for breakfast with a little yogurt, but this would also make a wonderful dessert.


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Chia Watermelon Fresca

If you've ever had a Mama Chia beverage and enjoyed it, then I think you will love this drink! The chia seeds in this refreshing watermelon beverage add a healthy dose of powerful antioxidants, omega-3s, dietary fibers, as well as complete protein, calcium and magnesium.

So many people are sharing pumpkin recipes this week, but it's in the 80's here in New York, and I'm still in denial that summer is coming to an end. I've been making this beverage all summer, and thought I would share it with you today – enjoy!

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