chickpea salad with apples & pecans

Ingredients:

• 1 (15-ounce) can no-salt-added garbanzos beans, rinsed and drained
• 1/2 apple, cored and chopped
• 1/4 cup finely chopped celery
• 1/4 cup chopped pecans
• 2 tablespoons dill relish
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped red onion
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon kelp granules
• Ground black pepper to taste

healthy dessert: strawberry banana creams

Ingredients:

• 8 strawberries
• 2 oz. vanilla Greek yogurt
• 1/2 small banana
• 1 tablespoon sliced almonds

Mash the banana in a bowl with a fork. Mix in the yogurt. Using a knife, carve out the middle of each strawberry. Fill the center of each strawberry with the banana-yogurt mixture and top with sliced almonds.

Other toppings ideas – blueberries, dried cherries, chopped cashews, crystallized ginger, a sprinkle of granola, or a few chocolate chips.

Source: Fit Sugar

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

12.12.12

In the Los Angeles area? Join these local studios tomorrow for complimentary yoga classes – On The 12th: http://www.onthe12th.com

Image via Lululemon

christmas party

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

healthy appetizer: endive boats

See Recipe HERE.

holiday cocktail: rosemary pear sparkler

Ingredients:

• 2 cups water
• 1 cup agave nectar
• 1 cup pear juice
• 1 bunch fresh rosemary
• 2 pears, peeled, cored, and sliced
• Prosecco

holiday cocktail: blood orange french 75

Ingredients:

• 3 blood oranges (about 1 pound)
• 1 1/2 cups gin
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon angostura bitters
• 2 750-ml bottles chilled Champagne

holiday cocktail: due campari nuovo

Ingredients:

• 1/2 ounce Campari
• 1/2 ounce fresh lemon juice
• 1/2 ounce orange liqueur (or use blood orange juice)
• 4 ounces prosecco
• Flamed orange twist, for garnish

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

celery & grapefruit salad with parmesan

Ingredients:

• 6 stalks celery, chilled
• 1 grapefruit, chilled
• Pinch sugar
• Extra-virgin olive oil, of finishing quality
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• Parmesan cheese

skinny swedish meatballs

Ingredients:

• 1 tsp olive oil
• 1 small onion, minced
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 celery stalk, minced
• 1/4 cup minced parsley
• 1 lb 93% lean beef
• 1 egg
• 1/4 cup breadcrumbs
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1/2 tsp allspice
• 2 cups reduced sodium beef stock
• 2 oz light cream cheese
• cucumber