hummus & sun-dried tomato crostini

Ingredients:

• 10 1/4-inch-thick slices of seeded or plain baguette
• About 1/2 cup hummus
• About 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes in oil, drained and thinly sliced
• Pea shoots/arugula, for garnish
• Flaky sea salt, for garnish
• Extra-virgin olive oil (optional), for garnish

tabbouleh salad

Ingredients:

• 1/3 cup medium bulgur, dry
• 2 cups finely chopped ripe tomatoes (1 pound)
• 3 cups finely chopped curly parsley
• 1/2 cup finely chopped mint
• 1/2 cup minced white onion
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon allspice
• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 3/4 cup fresh lemon juice
• 1 large scallion, thinly sliced

curried chicken tea sandwiches

I am making this recipe for a 1920′s themed book club…

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup flaked coconut
• 1/2 cup chopped almonds
• 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 2 tablespoons orange marmalade
• 1 1/2 teaspoons curry powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 2 cups diced cooked chicken
• 12 (1/2-inch-thick) pumpernickel, or wheat bread slices
• 3 tablespoons diced green onions

skinny basil pesto

Ingredients:

• 1 cup basil
• 1 clove garlic
• 1/4 cup grated parmesan
• salt & pepper to taste
• 2 1/2 tbsp olive oil

mango cashew sunshine bites

I saw this recipe on a great blog called My New Roots. I can’t wait to try these…

Ingredients:

• 2/3 cup raw cashews
• 1 cup dried mango pieces (purchase organic, unsweetened, unsulfured)
• ½ cup unsweetened desiccated coconut, plus more for garnish
• 1-2 tsp. creamed honey, for sweetness if desired
• seeds of 1 vanilla bean
• lime zest
• pinch sea salt
• pinch ground turmeric (optional)

rainbow quinoa endive boats

My good friend Lindsay made this delicious appetizer. I can’t wait to try it. Thanks for the photo and recipe Lindsay!!

Ingredients:

• Rainbow Quinoa (Trader Joe’s)
• Chopped mushrooms, butternut squash, & zucchini
• Pinch of garlic & onion
• Endive Boats
• Salt and Pepper
• Parmesan cheese (optional)

mediterranean falafel with quinoa

Tonight I made a big avocado, tomato, yellow pepper and falafel salad.  I used Nature’s Earthly Choice mediterranean falafel and quinoa. I’d never made falafel before, and I must say, it was so easy and good.The best part – these are GLUTEN FREE with 8 grams of fiber and 9 grams of protein per serving.

lemon-garlic shrimp skewers

I made these lemon-garlic shrimp skewers in Kauai over Christmas break. They are very light, a bit spicy, and a great source of protein.

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons kosher salt
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 2 to 2 1/2 pounds peeled, deveined shrimp (12 to 15 per lb.), rinsed and drained
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1/4 cup chopped parsley
• 1 tablespoon grated lemon peel
• 2 or 3 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
• 1/2 teaspoon fresh-ground pepper
• Lemon wedges

healthy low-carb snack ideas

Here are some great low-carb, high-protein snacks to eat throughout the day:

• Vegan Cucumber Tofu Rolls
• Caprese Salad
• Cucumbers with Ranch Greek Yogurt Dip
• Prosciutto & Melon

Source: FitSugar

christmas party

We had close friends over for a Christmas party last weekend…

healthy appetizer: endive boats

See Recipe HERE.

mini spinach puffs

I’m having a Christmas party this month, which is why I’m posting so many appetizers! I just made these spinach puffs tonight.

Ingredients:

• 1 10-ounce package frozen chopped spinach, thawed
• 1/2 cup crumbled feta
• 1/4 cup minced onion
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 teaspoon chopped dill
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 2 large eggs
• 1 sheet frozen puff pastry (from a 17.3-ounce package), thawed, rolled out to a 12-inch square, kept chilled
• 1 stand 6-cup muffin tin

herbed turkey meatballs & cranberry bbq sauce

I saw this amazing recipe on Spoon Fork Bacon. Can’t wait to make these…

Ingredients:

Meatballs -

• 1 pound ground turkey
• 1/3 cup oats
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 2 tablespoons Worchestershire sauce
• 2 tablespoons sage, minced
• 1 tablespoon rosemary, minced
• 1 tablespoon thyme, minced
• 1 tablespoon chives, thinly sliced
• salt and pepper to taste

cranberry pomegranate goat cheese poppers

Ingredients:

• ½ Cup Chèvre Goat Cheese (crumbled, not firmly packed)
• ¼ Cup Dried Cranberries
• ¼ Cup Pomegranate Arils
• ¼ tsp. Cinnamon
• 1 Tbsp. Maple Syrup
• 1 Puff Pastry sheet cut into 12 squares
• Brown Sugar
• Sea Salt
• Olive Oil

sweet potato quinoa cakes with blackberry salsa

This recipe from the blog How Sweet Eats looks amazing!

Ingredients:

• 1 medium sweet potato (about 6 oz), peeled and chopped
• 1/2 red onion, diced
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/2 cup cooked quinoa
• 1/4 cup whole wheat bread crumbs
• 1/4 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
• 1 large egg, lightly beaten