Recipe - Fun, Healthy Snack for kids

Once in a while, we need to have some happy food. This is really more for kids, and for those who love peanut butter.

You can make as many as you want, but I believe this amount can make 8 to 10 balls nicely.

Ingredients

1 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup dry milk
1/4 cup sesame seed
1/4 cup honey

Directions

1 Mix all ingredients together, and roll into one inch balls.
2 Chill.

Now, wasn't that easy? It is going to be a little messy, but then, its part of the fun!

Recipe - Muffins for a Healthy Heart

Somehow, during Christmas, New Year and all the festive seasons, baking keeps coming to mind. Here is a nice recipe for delicious muffins, but good for the heart.

This recipe makes 24 muffins

Ingredients
3/4 cup unbleached flour
3/4 cup whole wheat pastry flour
3/4 cup oat bran
3/4 cup flax seed meal
1 cup brown sugar
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt (optional)
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 1/2 cups carrots, shredded
2 apples, peeled & shredded
1/2 cup raisins (optional)
1 cup nuts, chopped
3/4 cup soymilk
2 eggs, beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla \

Directions

1 Mix together flour, flaxseed meal, oat bran, brown sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt (if desired), and cinnamon into a large bowl.
2 Stir in carrots, apples, raisins (if desired), and nuts.
3 Combine milk, beaten eggs, and vanilla.
4 Pour liquid ingredients into dry ingredients.
5 Stir until ingredients are moistened.
6 Do Not over mix.
7 Fill muffin cups 3/4 full.
8 Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes.

Recipe - Muesli and Berry Bars

Here is a recipe for a healthy and delicious snack. It is a short and simple recipe, hope you like it.

Ingredients
3 cups unsweetened muesli (granola)
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup plain flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 large bananas, mashed
1/3 cup light olive oil or canola oil
3 tablespoons honey
2 eggs, lightly beaten
150 g strawberries or blueberries (make sure they are small chunks)

Directions

1 Preheat oven to 180°C, grease and line a 25 x 15cm slice pan (10" x 6").
2 Place muesli, brown sugar, flour and baking powder in a large bowl.
3 Mix together bananas, oil, honey and eggs. Mix the wet mixture into dry ingredients. Stir through the berries.
4 Scrape the batter into prepared tin, Bake for 20 - 25 minutes or until golden.
5 Cool completely in pan and cut into squares.

Quite simple, and delicious too!

Healthy recipes: Sprouted Lentil Cucumber Curry Salad

Sometimes, when we try to lose fats and eat healthy, we forget that this does not mean we need to forgo enjoying our food. Here is a very tasty recipe for you to try.

Based on this recipe from VeganChef:

2 cups sprouted lentils
2/3 cup raw sunflower seeds
1/3 cup whole soaked flaxseed
1 cucumber, chopped
1 stalk scallions, chopped
1 whole tomato, chopped
2 Tb cold pressed extra virgin olive oil
2 TB fresh squeeze lemon juice
1 tsp oregano
2 tsp red curry powder
1 tsp red pepper flakes
1/2 tsp mustard powder

Simply toss and serve. This is a tasty dish, and it is not very spicy. You can adjust the spicyness by adding more or less pepper flakes.

Recipe - Hearrty Mushroom Ragout (another pasta variation)

This recipe serves 4 people. But you can experiment and adjust:

Ingredients
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 lb cremini mushroom, quartered (baby portobellas or you may use some button mushrooms too)
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1 fresh bay leaf
1 teaspoon dried oregano (or marjoram)
black pepper
1 medium carrot, peeled, grated (or finely chopped)
2 celery ribs, finely chopped
1 medium onion, finely chopped
4-5 garlic cloves, chopped
1 cubanelle pepper, seeded, chopped (or try anaheim or even green bell pepper)
1 roasted red pepper, seeded, chopped (can use from a jar)
salt
3 tablespoons tomato paste
1 cup red wine
2 cups vegetable stock (or mushroom stock)
2 (15 ounce) cans stewed tomatoes
worcestershire sauce (optional)
1 lb whole wheat penne (or pasta of choice)
1/2 cup fresh basil leaf, shredded (about 10 leaves)
1/3 cup parmigiano-reggiano cheese, grated (also, get some to pass at the table)

Directions
1 Boil a large pot of water for the pasta
2 While waiting, using a high sided skillet, heat oil over medium heat. When the oil ripples, add the mushrooms, allspice, bay leaf, oregano, and black pepper and cook until the mushrooms darken and become tender, 6-7 minutes.
3 Add carrots, celery, onions, garlic, cubanelle, bell peppers. Season with salt. Cook for 6-7 minutes more, stir in the tomato paste and cook for another minute. Add wine and stir with a wooden spoon to scrape up any brown bits from the bottom of the pan. Cook for 1 minute to reduce the wine, then stir in the stock and tomatoes. Bring the sauce to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Season with Worcestershire and salt and pepper to taste. Simmer for 10 minutes more, then discard the bay leaf.
4 While the ragout is cooking, salt the boiling water and cook the penne to al dente. When the pasta is done, drain it and return it to the hot pot. Toss with half the sauce, the basil, and the 1/2 cup of grated cheese. Top bowlfuls of pasta with the remaining sauce and pass more grated cheese at the table.

Enjoy!

Recipe - Fresh Pineapple-Alfalfa Sprout Juice

I found this very nice recipe over at NurtureYourOwn.com and I thought it would be interesting for you to try it this month.

Incorporating raw sprouts into your diet has many health benefits. Also, pineapples are considered very good for colds and flu, so in this times of many health concerns, a pineapple recipe is definitely an interesting one.

Sweet & Healthy Pineapple-Alfalfa Juice

(serve 4 -6)

Ingredients
1/2 fresh pineapple, peeled and cored
1/2 lb. fresh alfalfa sprouts
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
6 cups water
honey to taste
ice to taste

How to Prepare
Place all the ingredients into a blender.
Blend until smooth.
Strain and discard the pulp.
Add ice and honey.

24. Recipe of the Month – Chicken-Alfalfa Sprout Sandwich

When we are too concerned about losing weight and losing those fats, we sometimes forget to eat healthy. One of the most healthy foods we can eat that does not contain a lot of fats is the Chicken-Alfalfa Sprout Sandwich.

Sprouts are considered the miracle food, as they contain a lot of enzymes and vitamins and minerals. These are best when eaten raw, hence, in this simple recipe, the sprouts are not cooked.

This is an easy and quick recipe. Wash it down with honey or milk. Let me know how you like it. I found this recipe at NurtureYourOwn.com

The recipe is really simple and you can easily add more items to suit your taste buds.

Chicken-Alfalfa Sprouts Sandwich

2 tbsp alfalfa sprouts
2 tbsp carrots, shredded
1/2 cup chicken, skinned, boned, cooked and diced
1 tomatoes, diced
1/2 green peppers, diced
1/2 lettuce, shredded
1 tbsp low-fat mayonnaise