I'm a mom who loves to cook/bake, but also trying to eat healthy and cook nutritiously for my family. This is just a place I can access when we are trying to figure out what to cook for the week. I don't claim perfection on these recipes, but we're trying through experimentation. Any suggestions would be welcome!

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Apple Chicken Salad

My kids really like this meal.  I've altered other recipes to create this, but I don't even remember which recipes they were.  It's mostly just throw things in until you think it's enough for your family.  I would guess these amounts serve about 6 adults (but don't be upset if my estimate is off...).

3 medium apples, cored, peeled, and diced (I like fuji, pink lady, or another apple that's more on the tart side)
2 stalks celery, diced
2 boneless/skinless chicken breasts, cooked and diced (I add a little salt and pepper when I cook the chicken)
About 2 C. red seedless grapes cut in half
Juice and zest from 1 lemon
3/4 C. plain greek yogurt or 1 C regular plain yogurt (I use lowfat) strained**
1/4 C. cashews

Add all the ingredients together and mix in a large bowl and refrigerate until chilled.  I wait to add the cashews until right before serving.  Many times we just add the cashews to our own salad.  We serve this cold in pita bread.  I think lettuce would also make a good wrap.

I like this meal because I can prepare it ahead of time and just keep in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

**You can strain regular yogurt by placing a paper towel inside a colander.  Have the colander rest on top of a large bowl and put the yogurt on top of the paper towel.  Let the yogurt sit in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes and the liquid will drip through the colander and into the bowl.  You can let it sit for as long as you like (sometimes I've let it sit for a couple hours).  It will just get a little thicker which is fine.

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Quick Stovetop Granola


http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Quick-Stovetop-Granola


Ingredients

  • 2 cups quick-cooking oats (I've also used regular oats before, but quick oats taste a little better. They aren't so chewy)
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1/4 cup slivered almonds
  • 2 tablespoons raisins
  • 2 tablespoons flaked coconut
  • I also add a couple tablespoons of sunflower seeds.  I'm sure there are lots of other things you can add to this granola.

Directions

  • In a large nonstick skillet, toast oats over medium heat until golden brown (I also toast anything else that is raw-- almonds, coconut, sunflower seeds, etc). Remove and set aside. In the same skillet, cook and stir the brown sugar, honey and butter over medium-low heat until bubbly, about 1-2 minutes.
  • Stir in the almonds, raisins, coconut and oats until coated. Cool. Store in an airtight container. Yield: 3 cups.
We like to serve this with plain yogurt topped with strawberries and bananas.

Friday, May 11, 2012

Granola Bars

This recipe is from Ina Garten.  You can see the original recipe here:

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/homemade-granola-bars-recipe/index.html

Ingredients

  • 2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
  • 1 cup sliced almonds (I also did some walnuts instead of all almonds)
  • 1 cup shredded coconut, loosely packed
  • 1/2 cup toasted wheat germ or wheat bran
  • about a 1/4 cup of sunflower seeds
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • Little less than 1/2 cup honey
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar, not packed
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 cup chopped pitted dates
  • 1/2 cup chopped dried apricots (I omitted this because I didn't have any)
  • 1/2 cup dried cranberries (you could also do raisins)
  • 1/4 cup chocolate chips (optional)

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Line an 8 by 12-inch baking dish with parchment paper. (9x13 works too, they will just be a little thinner)

Toss the oats, almonds, and coconut together on a sheet pan and bake for 10 to 12 minutes (include the sunflower seeds if they aren't already toasted), stirring occasionally, until lightly browned.

Transfer the mixture to a large mixing bowl and stir in the wheat germ or bran.

Reduce the oven temperature to 300 degrees F.

Place the butter, honey, brown sugar, vanilla, and salt in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat. Cook and stir for a minute, then pour over the toasted oat mixture. It's really important that the sugar is completely dissolved otherwise the sugar will crystallize and your granola bars will be hard and crumbly (I found this out the hard way).  Add the dates, apricots (if including), cranberries, and chocolate chips and stir well.

Pour the mixture into the prepared pan. Wet your fingers and lightly press the mixture evenly into the pan. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until light golden brown. Cool for at least 2 to 3 hours before cutting into squares. Serve at room temperature. I usually store them in airtight tupperware.

This is one recipe where you really do have to let them cool first for a couple hours otherwise they will fall apart in your hands.