Parmesan Crusted Carrots

 

     If you are looking for a fun little twist on those orange sticks, then read on.  This is a simple leveled up recipe with Bugs Bunnies favorite food.  This can fall into the fancy category, or will hold its own as a simple side.  Heck, even perfect as a healthy snack.  So your biggest decision will be how and when to serve!  ;)

Ingredients~

1 pound Carrots, peeled and trimmed into sticks

Scant amount of Olive Oil

Seasoning as desired:  I used Cumin, Chili Lime Powder, Salt, Garlic, Pepper

2 Tablespoons grated Parmesan

     Peel, trim, and slice Carrots into “Matchsticks”, toss with scant amount of Olive Oil, sprinkle with seasoning as desired, top with Parmesan.  Bake on parchment lined cookie sheet at 400 for 30 min, remove and enjoy! 😉 

Sweet Potato Grains and Hummus

                                                                                      

 

  If you like a nice combo of flavors, this is a great opportunity to try out a bouquet of nuances.  Perfect as a side dish, but hearty enough for a main!  Not to mention, this can be done in bulk, and divided up to use all week long.  Definitely worth a try, and would be appropriate any time of year! 😉

Ingredients~

2 Sweet Potatoes, diced

2 Tablespoons Olive Oil

3 medium Yellow Onions, diced

1 Tablespoon chopped Garlic

1 cup dry Lentils

1/3 cup dry Qunioa

2/3 cup dry Rice

1 Tablespoon Cumin

Salt, as desired

Pepper, as desired

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

1 can Garbanzo Beans

1/4 cup Lemon Juice

1/4 cup Tahini

1 Tablespoon chopped Garlic

Cumin, as desired

     Toss diced Sweet Potato with 1 Tablespoon Olive Oil, bake at 400 for 40 minutes, toss half way thru baking time.  Meanwhile, toss Onion and remaining Tablespoon Olive Oil, add to skillet with Garlic, sauté til golden brown on medium heat, as slow as possible.  Lastly, add three grains to large stock pot with 8 cups water.  Side Note:  feel free to add whatever combination of 2 total cups of the grains if you prefer different ratios.  Bring water to boil, add Lentils, simmer for 15 minutes with lid,  then add Quinoa and Rice and simmer another 15 minutes with lid.  Let rest for 5 minutes, if there is any excess liquid, drain off.  Lastly, stir in Cumin til fully combined, then stir in Onions and Sweet Potatoes. Season as desired with Salt and Pepper.  Serve as is, or top with Hummus.  To make Hummus, drain Garbanzo Beans, reserve 1/3 cup liquid, add Beans and reserved liquid and remaining ingredients to heavy duty blender and whip til smooth.  Enjoy as desired! 😋

Avocado Forever

For full YouTube Video click Here!

     Have you ever found yourself needing just a little bit of Avocado, but you don't have any on hand or what you have is too ripe or too firm!?  It's a conundrum...  Whelp, I have a miracle answer that will make your head spin.  Spoiler alert, ...did you know you can freeze Avocado!?  Yep, it's true.  Try it, and see for yourself, follow along for more details!!!

Ingredients~

Ripe Avocado

     Peel, and mash Avocado, and drop in small mounds on wax or parchment paper.  I dropped by 2 Tablespoons portions, which is about 50 calories each.  You can do whatever portions you desired.  Freeze mashed Avocado for about 2 hours, remove, peel off paper, add to freezer zip lock bag and store all mounds in freezer til ready to use.  Great for impromptu Guac, or top a Salad, or spread on a sandwich.  Just let your imagination be your guide.  Enjoy ;)

Apple Fruit Leather

                       Check out my Tutorial Video here for my Apple Fruit Leather!!!

To start, if we can get our kids to eat whole natural fruit, that is our first option.  That being said, if you are looking for a fun way to get a little more fruit in their bellies, my Apple Fruit Leather is a nice back up plan.  A great little snack with no added sugar, all natural!  Even better, see if you can involve them in the process, it just may increase compliance.  These travel well, perfect for a lunch box, or after soccer snack...or quite frankly anytime of day!

Ingredients~

Apples

     Chop up Apples into small pieces, add to heavy duty blender.  I found it better to blend in small batches, about a 1/2 chopped Apple at a time in my Ninja produced the perfect consistency.  Pour onto a silpat lined cookie sheet, as much as desired to create a thin even layer.  Bake at 170 degrees for 4 hours, leaving oven door open a crack with a wooden spoon.  Remove, cool, cut into strips with a pizza cutter.  Meanwhile, prepare strips of wax paper, lay a strip of leather on top of wax paper, and roll up tightly, then twist the ends securely.  Store in fridge.  Enjoy :)

Ripe Avocados

 

 

                             Check out my tutorial here for Ripe Avocados!!!🥑

     

     Have you ever been in a pickle for a ripe Avocado…only to find all the ones at the store are rock hard!?  Whelp, I got you…keep reading!  Whether it’s Guac, Salads or Wraps that need a touch of green, an Avocado is always the perfect answer.  When you are in desperate pinch, here is an idea.  Bring a pot of water to a boil, drop your unripened Avocado in the boiling water for 15 minutes, remove, allow to cool, and use as desired!  I still prefer the natural ripening process, the flavor is better, much better.  I will only use this when I have no other options!  But every girl needs a few tricks up her sleeve when magic needs to happen!  👊🏻

Shrimp Sheet Pan Dinner

 

     If you like easy, as well as easy clean up, on top of tasty and delicious…keep reading!  My Shrimp Sheet Pan Dinner fills the bill on each of those things!  This one is quick and comes together in about an hour, baking time included!  Make as much as you want, or as little as a single serving.  Switch up the starch and the vegetables to meet your desire.  Let your taste buds be your guide, and enjoy less time in the kitchen tonight!😊

Ingredients~

Baby Potatoes

Diced Onion

Chopped Garlic

Olive Oil

Chopped Broccoli (I include the stems)

Sliced Red Bell Peppers

Colossal Peeled Raw Shrimp

Seasoning as desired

Lemon

     Toss the Potatoes, Onion, and Garlic with Olive Oil and place on parchment lined sheet pan, bake at 400 for 30 minutes.  Toss Broccoli and Peppers with Olive Oil, and add to pan after Potatoes are done, and put everything back in oven for another 10 minutes, lastly remove from oven one more time, toss Shrimp with Olive Oil and place in center of pan, bake all together another 5 minutes, or til pink, remove and squeeze Lemon over Shrimp and Broccoli.  Season as desired.  Feel free to sub with any Starch or Vegetable you prefer.  Enjoy 🥰

Shakshuka My Way

 

    When homegrown Tomatoes are aplenty (...even store bought works), then Shakshuka you must make!  Luckily my daughter has a garden with ample for sharing, as well as her Tomato Sauce she simply whips together!  And, if you are in the hankering to add a protein twist to the mix, adding a few Eggs becomes a divine treat.  Fortunately, you can use your own creativity to tweek this one any way you want, but here is what I did!...

Ingredients ~

Diced Tomatoes (preferably Homegrown)

Diced Onion 

Crushed Garlic

Olive Oil

Italian Seasoning as desired 

Basil as desired

Oregano as desired

Eggs 

Diced Bell Peppers

     Drizzle Tomatoes, Onions and Garlic with Olive Oil, and roast at 350 for 45min-hour, til roasted to your desire, season as preferred, add to blender and slightly blend for thicker sauce, or blend to smooth if you prefer a creamier texture.  If you have a large quantity like my daughter did, she divides hers up in batches and freezes any extras.  Add desired amount of sauce to a skillet, heat til simmering, break Eggs into skillet, add lid to help cook Eggs til desired level of done.  Garnish with Bell Peppers, if desired.  Enjoy ;)