Quinoa Salad

 

     If you are wanting to take advantage of seasonal produce, then this is the Salad for you!!!  Yellow Peaches and Sweet Corn are the shining star of this recipe, and once you dig in you will see why!  Each of these 11 cups are 161 calories, 35.5g carbs, 7.4g fiber, 28.1g net carbs, 7.3g protein and 1.5g fat.  This is so outstanding, and perfect as a main dish, side dish or to take along to a large gathering.  We will be serving ours as a side with grilled Salmon, but whatever you do you can’t go wrong as long as this ends up in your mouth!!!  ;)

Ingredients for 11 cups~

3/4 cup DRIED Black Beans (sub with a drained can)

1 cup Red Quinoa

2 diced ripe Yellow Peaches

2 cups fresh Ears Sweet Corn, cooked and trimmed

1 diced Red Bell Pepper

3-4 diced Green Onions

1 Bunch Cilantro Leaves

1/2 cup California Balsamic Vinegar (I used Apple Balsamic, but feel free to sub with any favorite~www.californiabalsamic.com )

     Add Beans to bowl, cover with water, rest over night, drain water, add to pot, cover with water, simmer 2 hours, drain and add to large mixing bowl.  In the meantime, add Quinoa to pot with 2 cups water, simmer 20 minutes and add to the large mixing bowl, along with remaining ingredients.  Mix well, and serve.  Enjoy  ;)

Maria’s Summer Salad

     This is so simple it will make you throw your head back and laugh!!!  In fact, I am thinking of doing it right now!  I have a new friend, and she is the creative type, but she does such a good job I had to steal this recipe from her.  Thanks Maria!!!  This is so cool and refreshing, and honestly, it was such a different combination that I was skeptical at first…so glad I got over that.  This is definitely one to try, perfect as a side, or even on top of a salad.  You just can’t go wrong with this on your menu!!!  ;)

Ingredients~

16oz container of Strawberries, chopped (adjust amount to desire)

6oz container of Raspberries (adjust amount to desire)

1/2 cup Blueberries (adjust amount to desire)

1/2 English Cucumber, chopped (adjust amount to desire)

White Balsamic Vinegar, desired amount (I get mine from California Balsamic~www.californiabalsamic.com)~sub with favorite Balsamic

     Add all ingredients to Salad Bowl, mix well and drizzle with Balsamic Vinegar.  Enjoy!  ;)

All Natural Pumpkin Bars

 

     Are you looking for an all natural treat that has been created from single ingredient foods!?  This is one you can actually feel good about eating.  This is a spin off from a recipe I found in a group I belong to about combating Processed Food Addiction (www.foodaddictionreset.com).  Your biggest hurdle will be whether to consume for breakfast or dessert.  Each of these nine servings are only 111 calories, 13.8g carbs, 2.7g fiber, 11.1g net carbs, 5.6g protein and 3.9g fat.  These have just a hint of sweetness, and will not wake up those pesky craving pathways.  Winning!!!  :)

Ingredients for 9 servings~

15oz can Pumpkin

6 beaten Eggs

1 cup Oats

2 chopped small (approximately 10-12oz total) Fuji Apples (sub with favorite Apple)

Dash Cinnamon

Dash Vanilla

     Add all ingredients to big mixing bowl, stir til well incorporated, pour into Pam coated or parchment lined 8X8 or 9X9 baking pan, bake at 350 for 40 minutes, or until set.  Cool, and store in fridge, will set up overnight and be the perfect consistency in the morning, store leftovers in fridge.  If you are needing an extra tinge of sweetness you can add 2 smashed Bananas, or sub the Pumpkin with mashed Sweet Potatoes.  Enjoy :)

Chocolate Nice Cream

     Are you looking for a healthy substitute for high fat high sugar Ice Cream!?  Whelp, I have a surprise for you that I think you are going to love love love.  For each of these two servings there are about 220 calories, 57g carbs, 8.2g fiber, 48.8g net carbs, 3.6g protein and 1.3g fat~these numbers are approximate based on size of Banana used in this recipe.  I promise you will never tell the difference, and if I may be so bold, you might even like this better…you will for sure enjoy the after effects tremendously better.  Enjoy the heck outta this one, and consider it a fun science experiment in the kitchen, get your kids involved too!!!  :)

Ingredients for 2 servings~

4 ripe Bananas

2 Tablespoons Cocoa

     Peel and slice Bananas into discs, line a cake pan with wax paper, lay Banana circles on wax paper and store in freezer til frozen, or at least semi solid.  Remove when ready, add to HEAVY DUTY blender, I used my Vitamix, and you may need to let the Bananas soften slightly so they don’t burn up your motor, add in Cocoa Powder and whip to desired fluffy consistency.  Divide into two servings and share, or keep both to yourself.  To share or not to share…that is the question!  Enjoy. ;)

Sweet Corn Salad

      In the Summer we have access to Sweet Corn.  Corn is not my common go to vegetable, but when in season it is hard to resist.  Not to mention, I figured out a way to fix the perfect juicy ear every single time.  You will experience a vibrant yellow as never before.  And did I mention FUN and  EASY!?  Follow along for my secret tips!!!  Then enjoy every lip smacking bite of nature at its finest!  ;)

Sweet Corn Salad~

Romaine Lettuce, desired amount

Kale, desired amount

Broccoli, desired amount

Red Bell Pepper, desired amount

Diced Carrots, desired amount

Chopped Green Onion, desired amount

1 small smashed ripe Avocado

1 Ear of Corn in HUSK (it's very important to keep the Corn in the Husk)

Seasoning as desired ( I use salt free seasoning from Well Your World ~ wellyourworld.com ~Everything Bagel Seasoning)

     Add Romaine, Kale, Broccoli, Pepper, Carrots, Onion and Avocado to salad bowl and chop to desired consistency.  Meanwhile, add fully husked ear of Corn to microwave for 3 minutes, remove and handle with a hand towel if necessary, trim off FAT end of Corn, and use the narrow end to push the Corn out of the husk for enough exposure to stab with a fork and gently glide the rest of the way out.  If this does not work, then feel free to peel the husk away as desired.  Also, I have a video tutorial up on Instagram.  Stand Corn up on the flat end that you shaved off, still using a towel if too hot, then shave off cornels and toss into Salad.  Voila~Enjoy!!!  :)