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Healthy Recipe: Low Cal Chai Spiced Granola

FitSugar — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 07:00:43 -0800

I love a little granola in the morning. It naturally sweetens my bowl of Greek yogurt, a breakfast staple loaded with protein but a bit on the sour side. Problem is, my favorite granola is packed with calories and fat. I decided to create my own recipe using a bunch of spices to add flavor without calories while omitting the oil which adds fat. I added warming spices, many of which can be found in chai tea: cinnamon (a granola must in my opinion), nutmeg, cardamom, and cloves. My kitchen smelled divine as the granola baked, and I definitely cut a significant number of calories of the total calorie tally, as well as halving the grams of fat.

Check out the recipe when you read more.

Low Calorie Chai Spiced Granola
Adapted from Everybody Likes Sandwiches

Ingredients

3 cups organic oats (not instant)
1/4 cup uncooked millet
1/4 cup sesame seeds
1/8 cup flax seeds
1/4 cup chopped pecans
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 cup diced dried sour cherries
1/4 cup raisins
1/4 cup maple syrup
1/4 cup orange juice

Directions

Heat oven to 300F. In a large bowl, combine all dry ingredients except dried fruit. Drizzle in the maple syrup, stir well. Add orange juice stirring so all ingredients are coated. If mixture seems too dry add in some more maple syrup and/or orange juice.
Spread the mix out onto a large, low rimmed baking dish and bake for 30 minutes, stirring checking about every 10 minutes so nothing burns. Add in the raisins and cranberries and bake until the granola turns golden and crisp, about five to seven minutes.
Remove from oven and cool completely. Store in an airtight container. Serve with fresh fruit and yogurt.

Makes 8 half cup servings.

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The Mister wanted me to name the homemade cereal Goa Granola, in honor of the cardamom. Cute, no? Make it and let me know if you come up with a catchy name. If you have a tasty, cleaned-up recipe be sure to add it to our Healthy Recipe Group.

Healthy Recipe: Edamame and Pear Crostinis

FitSugar — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 05:50:53 -0800

If you're having a dinner party and are looking for a healthy app to serve, search no more. Try this crostini featuring edamame, fresh mint, Romano cheese, and pears. These appetizers are packed with protein and zesty vibrant flavor.

The topping can be made ahead of time and it's a cinch to whip up, making this recipe popular with hostesses and guests alike. Check out the recipe when you read more.

Recipe For Edamame and Pear Crostinis
From Health magazine

Ingredients

16 ounce bag of frozen shelled edamame
4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 cup chopped mint
1/2 cup grated pecorino Romano cheese
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1 baguette
1 Bartlett pear, diced

Directions

Preheat oven to 350° F.
Boil the edamame in salted water for 10 minutes. Remove beans with a slotted spoon and place in ice water for a couple minutes to cool; then drain.
Set aside 1/4 cup of the whole edamame and place the remaining edamame a food processor; process until coarsely chopped.
In a separate bowl, combine the mashed edamame with the whole edamame, three tablespoons olive oil, chopped mint, Romano cheese, salt, and pepper.
Thinly slice the baguette, brush each piece lightly using one tablespoon olive oil. Bake for eight minutes.
Remove from the oven, top each crostini with one tablespoon of the edamame mixture, garnish with chopped pears and enjoy.

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This recipe makes about 30 crostinis and they're quite healthy, so you can enjoy more than one.

If you have a tasty and healthy recipe to share, post it in the Healthy Recipe Group. I am always looking for new ones to try.

Comfort Cravings: Vegan Mac and Cheese

FitSugar — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 04:30:37 -0800

Macaroni and cheese is an American standby. It's full of flavor, completely satisfying, and almost everyone loves it. It's also full of fat. Most good macaroni and cheese recipes I know contain lots and lots of cheese, butter, and cream. Years ago, I was introduced to vegan macaroni and cheese. Taking my first bite, I was dubious, but man was it good.

In this recipe, cheese gets replaced with nutritional yeast, butter with Earth Balance spread, and cream with veggie broth. And though it's not exactly like the mac and cheese you'll remember as a kid, it's just as good. If you're not familiar with nutritional yeast, you can find it at most health food grocers in the bulk bins aisle. It's what gives the dish its hearty, cheese flavor, while also loading it with vitamin B12.

To see the recipe, read more.

Vegan Mac and Cheese
original recipe

Ingredients

4 tablespoons Earth Balance spread
1/4 cup flour
3 cups vegetable broth
1/8 cup soy sauce
1 1/2 tablespoons garlic powder
1 tablespoon paprika
1 tablespoon turmeric
Salt and pepper to taste
1 cup nutritional yeast
1 pound cooked macaroni pasta

For the topping:
2 tablespoons Earth Balance spread
1 cup breadcrumbs

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°F.
In a medium size dutch oven, over low-medium heat, melt the Earth Balance spread. Add flour and vegetable broth. Whisk into a smooth paste.
Stir in soy sauce, garlic powder, paprika, turmeric, salt and pepper.
Add nutritional yeast and mix until the sauce is smooth and creamy.
Add cooked macaroni to the sauce and stir until all the pasta is coated evenly.
In a small saucepan, melt the Earth Balance spread and toss the breadcrumbs to coat. Top the macaroni with the breadcrumbs.
Bake for 30 minutes. Let rest for five minutes before serving.

Makes 4-6 servings.

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Quick and Easy Homemade Pickled Ginger

YumSugar — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 16:15:43 -0800

Everyone has had pickled ginger as a condiment in a sushi restaurant, but did you know it can be made at home? The preparation isn't that time consuming, but the ginger has to sit in a vinegar mixture for several hours. Considering that the pickled ginger can last for up to six months in the fridge, it's well worth the effort! The final product has a wonderful color and is fresh in both flavor and texture. Not only is it great on sushi, but it's a delicious addition to marinades, stir-frys, salads, and if you are feeling exceptionally adventurous, Vietnamese sandwiches. Keep reading for the recipe.

Score Brownie Points With Homemade Samoa Tartlets

YumSugar — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 14:30:53 -0800

There are a few bright spots in every Winter, namely the following, in no particular order: snow sports, the Super Bowl, hot cocktails, and Girl Scout cookie season. But sadly, my attempts to track down cookies this year have been in vain, as I haven't seen so much as a single Daisy, Brownie, or Junior anywhere in the Bay Area.

To remedy the situation, I took matters into my own hands with a homemade variation of the Caramel DeLite, or Samoa, the Girl Scout cookie to end all other Girl Scout cookies.

This version, if I must say, is even better than the original. It starts out with a tartlet base of brown sugar, chocolate, butter, and toasted coconut, then gets the royal treatment with a scoop of coconut ice cream, dulce de leche, and more toasted coconut. The only drawback? They'll be gone in seconds. For the recipe, keep reading.

Simple Supper: Slow Cooker Cuban Chicken

YumSugar — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 15:30:43 -0800

The majority of you love your slow cookers, but many commented that you don't like a bunch of preparation before hand. While I understand the ease of throwing everything into a pot and letting it cook, just 20 minutes of effort can take a dish from just OK to truly scrumptious. That is the case for this slow cooker Cuban chicken; it requires browning, but it greatly enhances the dish.

The sauce is full of complex flavors, including fresh bay leaf, sweet citrus, and caramelized onions and garlic. The chicken falls off the bone and is perfect served over brown rice, with a simple salad. It would also be divine stuffed into a taco topped with guac and sour cream! If you want to take your slow cooking to the next level, keep reading for the recipe.

Healthy Recipe: Apple Pear Oatmeal Crisp

FitSugar — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 05:50:44 -0800

It's harvest time for apples and pears, and nothing says Autumn like warm crisp featuring both Fall fruits. Here is a variation of a recipe from RecipeZaar. I substituted a few things like Sucanat for brown sugar, whole wheat flour for all-purpose flour, and Earth Balance margarine in place of butter. The soft, cinnamony fruit and crunchy oat topping are a perfect combination, and it was so delicious that my family polished off the entire crisp within a day.

This would make a great dessert for Thanksgiving, because it's a cinch to whip up. To see the recipe read more.

Healthy Recipe: Apple Pear Oatmeal Crisp
Adapted from RecipeZaar

Ingredients

2 apples, sliced
3 firm pears, sliced
2 tablespoons Sucanat
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 to 2 tablespoons lemon juice
2/3 cup water

Topping

1 cup oats
1/3 cup whole wheat flour
3/4 cup Sucanat
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons of Earth Balance, melted

Directions

Preheat oven to 375°F.
Remove the cores and slice the unpeeled fruit. Place slices in the bottom of a greased nine-inch dish. Drizzle with lemon juice.
Sprinkle two tablespoons of Sucanat, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, and water on the fruit.

In a separate bowl, combine the dry ingredients. Add melted Earth Balance and mix until crumbly.
Spread the crumb mixture evenly on top of the fruit.
Bake for 50 to 60 minutes, so the top is lightly brown and the fruit is bubbly.
Serve warm or cold with vanilla ice cream, vanilla yogurt, or enjoy by itself.

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Here's the nutritional info for this Apple Pear Oatmeal Crisp. RecipeZaar suggests that a serving size is one-sixth of the crisp, but I found one-eighth of the crisp to be a more appropriate portion.

If you have a healthy recipe to share, please post it in the Healthy Recipe group.

A Lighter Bloody Mary

FitSugar — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 03:30:09 -0800

Bloody Marys are the quintessential brunch time drink; some might even argue that it's liquid salad. My feeling is that as long as you don't overdo it, they're a fun way to get lycopene in your diet.

Ever since I discovered shochu - a low-calorie alternative to vodka - I've been playing around with different cocktail recipes. My latest is a lighter version of the Bloody Mary but with an Asian twist, and using shochu saves you abut 100 calories. If you can't find shochu in your area, use sake or soju instead. All of these spirits contain fewer calories than vodka and complement the Asian flavors of the drink nicely.

To see the recipe, read more.

Asian Bloody Mary
original recipe

If I don't have homemade tomato juice on hand, I'll use R.W. Knudsen's organic tomato juice. It has no added sugar, and the sodium content is relatively low compared to other store bought brands.

Ingredients

2 ounces shoju
4 ounces tomato juice
1/2 teaspoon freshly grated wasabi or 1 teaspoon wasabi paste
1/2 teaspoon freshly grated ginger
1/2 teaspoon soy sauce
1/2 teaspoon Sriracha hot sauce
Pinch of freshly ground pepper
Juice of 1/2 large lime
Celery stalk, tomato, lime, or cucumber spear for garnish

Directions

Combine all ingredients except garnish in an ice-filled cocktail shaker and shake to combine.
Strain over fresh ice into a glass and garnish with assorted veggies.

Makes one drink.

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Source: Flickr User kthread

British Columbia's Nanaimo Bars Taste Like Victory

YumSugar — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 15:00:56 -0800

This week, I set out in search of dishes that would commemorate the Vancouver Games. Besides some Montréal items like poutine, I wasn't having much luck with Canadian-born dishes. Then I stumbled upon a specialty known as the Nanaimo bar. The no-bake chocolate square was born out of the domestic housewifery of the 1950s.

One legend recounts a home cook from Nanaimo, Vancouver Island's second largest city, entering her chocolate squares in a magazine contest and naming them after her hometown. Another story is that homemaker Mabel Jenkins entered her recipe to a fundraising cookbook, and it soon spread like wildfire around the local communities.

Regardless of how it came to be, this extremely fudgy and chocolately no-bake dessert is considered British Columbia's favorite native treat. For a triumphant Northern dessert that really hits the sweet spot, read more.

Healthy Super Bowl Snack: Creamy White Bean Veggie Dip

FitSugar — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 09:00:10 -0800

Hummus has always been a staple snack for all my parties, but since it's so popular, it can get boring. Here's a twist on that basic recipe. You'll find this version is slightly creamier since it's made with Greek yogurt, and the dill gives it a fresh, zippy flavor. If you have time, whip up this dip, and refrigerate it overnight - it tastes much better the next day.

To see my recipe read more.

Recipe For Creamy White Bean Veggie Dip
Original recipe

Ingredients

1 15-ounce can of cannelini beans, rinsed and drained
2 cloves garlic
1 tablespoon olive oil
3 tablespoons plain nonfat Greek yogurt
1/4 cup loosely packed fresh dill
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
Salt and pepper to taste
Fresh dill sprigs for garnish

Directions

Place the beans, garlic, oil, yogurt, dill, and lemon juice in a food processor. Blend until smooth.
Garnish with fresh dill and serve with a variety of chopped veggies.

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If you have any tasty, healthy recipes to share, post them in the Healthy Recipe Group. Which Super Bowl team are you rooting for?