How do you make a dinner extra special? You prepare it in individual servings and cover it in phyllo dough. Works every time.
Split peas provide filling fiber and creamy texture without the addition of extra fat and calories. Add additional vegetables as you see fit! This is a great way to use up your Easter ham leftovers!
Ham and Bean Pot Pies
Serves 4
1 lb dried split peas
1 1/2 cups dried mixed beans, soaked in water in the refrigerator overnight
3 carrots, coarsely chopped
1 onion, coarsely chopped
2 cups chopped raw spinach
2 tsp minced garlic
8 oz lean ham, cubed
6 1/2 cups vegetable broth
1/4 tsp ground pepper
8 sheets phyllo dough, cut into 6" squares (cut just ahead of using and keep covered to prevent drying out)
Olive oil spray
Place split peas, dried beans, carrots, onion, spinach, broth and garlic into a slow cooker and cook on low for 7-8 hours.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Scoop soup into 1 1/2 cup ramekins or oven-safe soup bowls. Cover each with four squares of phyllo dough, spraying each with olive oil spray prior to placing an additional one on top. Roll up the edges and pinch.
Bake for 20 minutes, or until crust is golden brown.
Nutrition Info per 1 serving: 391 calories, 4.5 g fat, 31 g protein, 48 g carbohydrates, 12 g fiber
I was going to wait until Cinco de Mayo to post this recipe. But that's just not fair to you. You don't want to wait 6 weeks for this one. The guacamole is to die for!!
Saucy Shrimp Tostadas with Roasted Tomatillo Guacamole
Serves 6
GUACAMOLE
1 tsp olive oil
5 tomatillos, chopped
1/4 large yellow onion, chopped
1 jalapeno, seeded and chopped
1/2 cup fresh cilantro leaves
2 medium avocado, skinned, seeded and chopped
1/2 tsp salt
2 Tbsp light sour cream
Dash ground black pepper
1/8 tsp ground cumin
Juice from 1/2 fresh lemon
Heat oven to 420 degrees. Toss tomatillos, jalapeno and onion with olive oil and place onto a baking sheet. Roast for 15 minutes, or until lightly browned and cooked through.
Transfer contents to a large food processor with remaining ingredients. Puree until smooth. Place into a covered container in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
SHRIMP
1 1/2 tsp chipotle chili powder, divided
1 tsp chili powder, divided
1/8 tsp ground cumin
1/4 tsp garlic powder
2 Tbsp lime juice
1/2 tsp salt, divided
1/8 tsp ground pepper
1 1/2 lb small raw shrimp without shells or tails
4 tsp olive oil, divided
1 tsp cornstarch
In a ziploc bag, combine 1 tsp chipotle chili powder, 1/2 tsp chili powder, cumin, garlic, lime juice, 1/4 tsp salt, pepper, shrimp, and 2 tsp olive oil. Shake to mix and allow to marinate sealed in the refrigerator for 2-3 hours.
For shrimp, heat remaining 2 tsp olive oil over medium-high heat. Add shrimp, remaining salt and chili powders, and 2 Tbsp of marinade and saute until shrimp are opaque. Add in cornstarch and mix well until sauce is thickened.
TOSTADAS
6 corn tortillas (6")
Olive oil spray
1 tsp chili powder
1 cup low fat refried black beans, heated through
2 cups spring mix lettuce
2 roma tomatoes, seeded and chopped
4 green onions, thinly sliced
1/2 fresh jalapeno, seeded and finely diced
2 oz cojita cheese, crumbled
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spray tortillas lightly with olive oil on each side, then place on baking sheets and dust each with chili powder. Bake for 4-5 minutes on each side, or until crispy and lightly browned (watch closely). Remove from oven and cover with a towel while you prepare shrimp.
To serve: spread 2 Tbsp black beans onto a tostada, then top with 5-6 shrimp, lettuce, tomatoes, onions and jalapenos (if desired). Add a dollop of guacamole and sprinkle with cojita and enjoy.
Nutrition Info per 1 tostada: 360 calories, 14.5 g fat, 30 g protein, 22 g carbohydrates, 8 g fiber
Growing up in a town highly populated by descendants of the Irish, I am plenty familiar with the typical fares served on St. Patrick's Day. Most are delicious, but not that healthy. So here are a few options that will still make you feel celebratory, but without the starchy vegetables and high sodium meats.
Cycling classes are my favorite. But have you ever gotten to the gym and your spin class is full? So there you are in your spin shorts. What do you do? Well, you spin. You can do this workout on any stationary or spin bike.
Spin Spin Spin
4 min-- Find a "flat ground" resistance level and find a steady pace.
5 min-- Increase your pace by 2-3 RPM every 30 seconds until you are in a full sprint, then maintain.
6 min-- Rolling hills: increase resistance from flat ground to a 7 (on your own personal scale of 1-10), climb in the seat for 30 seconds, then decrease resistance back to flat ground for 30 seconds. Increase your resistance slightly for each "hill", coming out of your seat to climb if necessary. Repeat for 5 minutes.
7 min-- Find resistance of a 6 or 7 (personal scale again), find a steady pace (moving quickly, however). For 15 seconds, come out of your seat and sprint. Settle back into your seat for 45 seconds. Repeat for 7 minutes.
8 min-- Big hill: from "flat ground" increase your resistance every 30 seconds by one "level", coming out of the seat to climb if necessary as resistance increases. After four minutes, start decreasing your resistance every 30 seconds and continue to add speed until you reach a full sprint on flat ground again.
3 min-- Back on flat ground, cool down.
I know, I know. The combo sounds strangely wonderful doesn't it? Well it is. Trust me.
These cookies turn out so soft with a little bit of crispy on the outside thanks to the toasted sesame seeds. You've got to try them to believe it.
Toasted Sesame Snickerdoodles
Makes 2 dozen
1 1/3 cups flour
1 tsp cream of tarter
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup butter, softened to room temperature
1 egg
3/4 cup + 1 Tbsp white sugar
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
1/3 cup sesame seeds, toasted (in a nonstick skillet over medium heat), divided
1 Tbsp ground cinnamon
In a large bowl, combine butter and 3/4 cup sugar with a mixer until fluffy. Add egg and vanilla and mix well. In a smaller bowl, combine flour, cream of tarter, and baking soda. Gradually add flour mixture to butter mixture and mix. Add in 3 Tbsp sesame seeds and mix until well distributed.
Cover bowl and refrigerate dough for 2 hours.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Mix cinnamon and remaining 1 Tbsp sugar with remaining 3 Tbsp sesame seeds. Add 1/2 cup water to a small bowl. Shape dough into 1" balls. Add a small amount of water to your hand and roll each ball to lightly wet it. Then roll each ball in cinnamon/ sugar/ seed mixture and place on ungreased baking sheets, 2" apart. Bake for 8 minutes, or until lightly browned.
Remove cookies from oven, allow to cool for 2-3 minutes, and transfer to wire racks to cool completely prior to storing in an airtight container.
For those times when you just need to sweat:
Cardio Partio
Perform each exercise in each set for 30 seconds before moving to the second exercise, and performing that exercise for 30 seconds. Switch between the two exercises for 6 rounds, then move on to the next set.
1. Burpee jacks (yup- burpee followed by a jumping jack, then back to burpee)................High knee runs
2. Squat jumps...........................Butt kickers
3. Switch leap............................Plank jacks
4. Power jacks...........................Skater leaps
5. Clapping push-ups..................Switch lunge
Have fun!
1. We have a lot of snow. And cold. With more on the way. If it starts getting warmer and melting now....................we may be able to see the lawn by July. But I guess it could be worse. We still have our health, and heat, and LOVE.
2. I love matcha. And this green tea cake roll is gorgeous.
3. Raw brownies? It's not what you think it is. Or maybe it is. Depends on where you're coming from. Either way I think we should try them!
4. A Sprinkles cupcake copycat? Now that's worth a shot! I had Sprinkles cupcakes at my wedding-- so they are dear to my heart. I got married in Cali- and my hubby and his bestie drove two hours into Beverly Hills to pick them up on the morning of our wedding. That's what solidified my decision to marry him.
5. Wow. I didn't expect this post to be so sugar-loaded. So how about a BLT with cheese and spicy mayo to round everything out? Huh? Not sure what's wrong with me. Must be the weather. It's OK. We all have those days where all we can think about is 20s. The sun will come out, TOMORROW!!
