Grilled Cabbage Rounds

Grilled Cabbage Rounds Served with Red Pepper Chicken Sausages

I've seen a million recipes for the cabbage but none directed you to grill.  I thought I would give it a try!

First, make a "foil tray" and brush with EVOO.

Next, slice your cabbage into thin rounds.

Now, place cabbage rounds on foil tray and brush cabbage with EVOO.

Sprinkle with caraway or fennel seeds.  I used caraway since that's what I had.  It made them taste amazing!







All that's left to do now is grill!

This was so tasty and filling!!!

It's a must-do-over meal!

ENJOY!



Roast Cod w/spinach, sultanas, and pine nuts

I tried a new recipe tonight and although I KNEW the kids wouldn't eat it, it look fast, easy, and scrumptious!

Ingredients:

• 1 bag fresh spinach
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter
• 1/4 cup roasted pine nuts (I just roasted them myself with a little EVOO in a pan)
• 1/4 cup finely grated Parmesan
• salt  & pepper
• 1/4 cup sultana (Who am I kidding?  I had no idea what sultana was.   I googled it.  They are some kind of small, seedless grape.  I'm a "mom on the run" so I used what I had.  Green seedless grapes that the kids eat)
• 1 bag cod (you can use any cod - I just used the frozen bag from the store)
• EVOO

Directions:

1. Season cod with salt and pepper.
2. Place in fry pan with EVOO, sear on flesh side to color and seal.
3. Turn fish over and place fry pan in oven.  Broil on HI.
4. Blanch spinach in boiling salt water.  Drain.
5. Place in bowl and mix with unsalted butter, pine nuts, Parmesan, sultanas, and a little salt and grated pepper.
6. Place salad on plate, letting juices drizzle to the side.
7. Place fish on top with skin side up.

My husband and I both LOVED the finished product.  But of course it wasn't enough for hubby!  I would suggest for a heartier meal to place on top of rice or pasta.

Strawberries & Cream

This is a healthy dessert that everyone in my family enjoys.

Mix some plain, fat-free, Greek yogurt with a packet or two of splenda.

Serve with strawberries.

How easy and delicious is that?

ENJOY!

Birthday "Cake" Pancakes

Who doesn't like cake on their birthday?  My son, that's who!  Oh, he always asks for a cake, but then he takes one bite and he's done.  So I had seen this great recipe and idea on pinterest and thought I'd give it a try!  Who wouldn't want cake pancakes with syrup and sprinkles when they wake up on their birthday, anyway?

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
2/3 cup yellow cake mix
1 tablespoon sugar
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
pinch of salt
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1-2 cups milk (I used vanilla almond milk)
sprinkles

Syrup Glaze:

1 cup powdered sugar
1/2 tablespoon milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

• combine the flour, cake mix, baking powder, sugar and salt in a bowl and mix.
• Add 1 cup of milk, eggs and vanilla extract and stir until smooth. You want the batter to look like regular pancake batter; not too thin, not too thick.  Start with 1 cup of milk and add more if needed. I suggest a small taste test as well to see if the pancakes are flavored enough.
• Fold in the desired amount of sprinkles.
• Preheat a griddle with your oil.

• Pour batter in 1/4 cup measurements and let cook for 2-3 minutes or until little bubbles start to form at the tops.

• Flip and let cook for approximately one more minute.

• Now for that syrupy glaze...
• Mix the milk, vanilla extract, and powdered sugar until glaze forms.
• Plate the pancakes and pour glaze over the top.
• Add sprinkles to the stack of pancakes.

One happy birthday boy!

Fish Tacos

Ok, so most people have eaten fish tacos these days. There seems to be some version of them on every menu at every beach restaurant. What I didn't realize is how quick and easy they would be. Here's what I did.

1. First, I put tilapia fillets in a baking dish, sprinkled them with a little garlic powder and chili powder. Then baked them for about 25 minutes @ 375 degrees.
2. Next, I whipped up a fresh batch of coleslaw. Well...I didn't have any coleslaw so I just thinly cut some lettuce and mixed in mayo, salt, & pepper.
3. Last, yes that's right, this is the final step. I put all the fish fillets in a bowl. Took a fork and broke them all up into little pieces. Then used the fish pieces to fill the the taco shells.
4. Taco shell, fish, topped with coleslaw, drizzled with hot sauce!
5. Thirty minutes start to finish!!!! AWESOME & TASTY!

Oh, I forgot to mention that most places use soft taco shells. I used hard shells - there's my twist! :)

Heidi's Candy Cane

This one is another winner. Hmmm...maybe I was a mixologist in another life!?! I used 2 shots of candy can vodka (infused by ME), 1 cup unsweetened almond milk, 3 packets of equal sweetener, and ice. I mixed it all up in a shaker and poured it into the glass. So easy and low on calories if you use the unsweetened almond milk.

I crushed some mini candy canes and dipped my glass in those first and then garnished with a whole mini candy cane.

If you don't think you'll like almond milk (my husband doesn't but LOVED the drink because I didn't tell him I used the almond milk - hahahahha), then you can use regular milk or maybe even a bit of vanilla ice cream.

EnJoY!

Portobello Appetizers

This is another delicious appetizer to make for a dinner party, cookout, or to take along to a picnic. It tastes best fresh out of the over, but still tastes good if cooled. These are also very healthy!

Items needed:

• baby portobello mushrooms
• mozzarella cheese (I use part-skim)
• turkey pepperoni slices
• black olive slices

Directions:

Cut stems out of mushrooms.

Fill mushroom cups with mozzarella cheese.

Place a turkey pepperoni slice and black olives over each cheese-filled mushroom.

Bake @ 375 for about 10 minutes.


You could also use large portabellos if desired! These are DELICIOUS and very filling.  If you opt to use large portabellos, you can add a little pizza sauce under the cheese and you have just made yourself the healthiest pizza ever - OR - add it to a bed of pasta and sauce!





Large portabello added to pasta with sauteed onions and spinach on top






The finished product if you're making the appetizer!

These were a hit at our NYE party and a bigger hit with the family when I made the large ones for dinner!

Strawberry - Champagne Slushies

Every year we have a New Years Eve party at our house. Low-key, fire pit, fire works, family friendly, and a good time. I try to make one new drink every year as the signature drink of the night. I found this recipe as I was searching the Internet and thought it would be a good change and it looked yummy!

Ingredients:

• 1 quart of fresh strawberries (you could use frozen if you can't get fresh)
• 1 bottle of champagne
• 1 lime (original recipe doesn't call for lime, but I added it)

Directions:

1. Cut stems off strawberries and place berries in blender.
2. Pour 1/2 the bottle of champagne into blender.
3. Blend until smooth.
4. Pour into ice cube trays and freeze.

When ready to make slushies:

1. Remove frozen strawberry-champagne mixture from ice cube trays and place back in blender.
2. Add the remaining 1/2 bottle of champagne to the blender.
3. squeeze in 1 lime.
4. Blend.

YUMMO!

Cucumber & Crab Dip Appetizer

The Cucumber & Crab Dip can serve as a great snack or an appetizer that is quick, healthy, and easy to make for a dinner party, gathering, picnic, or some kind of occasion where you need to bring something.

Items Needed:

• 1/4 cup cream cheese (I used fat free)
• 1/4 cup sour cream (I used light)
• 3/4 cup crab meat
• 1 tsp. hot sauce
• 1 tsp. brown mustard
• 1 tbls green onion
• 3 cucumbers
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. pepper

Here's what you do:

1. Peel the skin off all cucumbers. Then cut 1 in. - 1 1/2 in. pieces.
2. Use a melon scooper & scoop the inside of the cucumber out, leaving only the walls and a thin bottom.
3. Set aside.
4. Combine the rest of the ingredients in a food processor or blender.
5. After all ingredients are combined, scoop the mixture into a Ziploc baggie.
6. Cut off one corner of the baggie and squeeze mixture into each cucumber cup.
7. Voila!!!! You are done!!!

These little scrumptious bites of goodness were awesome! The only thing I would do different the next time is to add more crab meat to the recipe. But, that's just me - I like the taste of crab and thought it could've had more of a crab flavor than it did. You may like it just the way it is!

ENJOY!

Spicy Grouper

• Place grouper fillets in a baking dish.
• Sprinkle with garlic powder, chili powder, salt, & pepper
• Cover with fresh salsa
• Top with fresh jalapenos
• Back at 375 for about 15 - 20 minutes
• While baking, heat a can of black beans on the stove top and cook a bag of 5 minutes boil-in-a-bag rice.
• Plate rice, then top with black beans, grouper, salsa, hot sauce
• DELICIOUS!!!! If you don't want the added carbs, remove the rice like I did! :)