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Looking for a budget friendly recipe? You’ve come to the right place. These Southwest Stuffed Peppers will keep your stomach and wallet full coming in at only $1.06 per serving. The Recipe ReDux challenged members to see how low they can go and make a meal for less than $3 per serving.
Did you know that within the top 3 New Year’s resolutions #3 involved finances?
1. Lose Weight/Eat Healthier
2. Life/Self Improvements
3. Better Financial Decisions
Many are looking to make better financial decisions this year, myself included. I was curious to see how much I was actually spending on groceries per month, so I tracked it for the month to see my typical cost on groceries. Being a food blogger and one who weirdly enjoys grocery shopping, when I see new items they tend to creep into my cart. That being said, my monthly grocery spending was a little higher than I thought it would be. Ever since then I’ve been more conscious of my spending when at the grocery store. I loved that this Recipe ReDux theme was this month because I had fun shopping to see how low I can go with the cost per serving. This definitely busts the myth that “healthy eating is expensive”, considering this recipe totals to $1.06 per serving made with healthy and wholesome ingredients.
Here’s the breakdown:
Wondering what I will be doing with those half cans of ingredients? I love being creative with extra ingredients that I have in the fridge. I think this will turn into a burrito bowl.
1/2 (14.5 oz) can no-salt-added diced tomatoes, drained
1/2 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
1/2 avocado, sliced
salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray. Slice pepper in half lengthwise, place on baking sheet. Bake for 10 minutes.
Cook quinoa according to package directions.
In a saute pan, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add onions, saute until translucent. Add the beans, corn, tomatoes, and cooked quinoa and cook until heated through. Stir in cheese.
Remove peppers from oven and stuff with bean mixture. Bake for an additional 5 minutes.
Remove from oven and top with avocado slices.
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A creamy soup without the cream? Check out the secret ingredient that makes this dairy free Creamy Tomato Soup thick and creamy. Can you believe it’s almost 2017!? Where did the year go? The Recipe ReDux club is playing a little party game at the end of 2016: Grabbing your nearest cookbook and ReDux the recipe on page 201, 16, 216 – or any combination of the number ‘2016.’
I opened You Have It Made cookbook by Ellie Krieger to page 126 – creamy tomato soup. I actually won this cookbook at FNCE at the Luvo booth and was able to meet one of favorite chef/RD’s Ellie Krieger. This soup is so simple and packed with flavor. It’s called a “Creamy” Tomato Soup, but guess what? There’s no cream! That’s the magic of Registered Dietitian chefs – we know how to alter recipes with alternative ingredients to pack in more nutritional value while still getting delicious results. The magic behind this creamless creamy soup – cashews! Cashews provide the ultimate creaminess when blended into soups. They make this creamy tomato soup so thick and smooth you would never know there isn’t dairy in there.
You can’t have tomato soup without grilled cheese, am I right? Instead of adding a grilled cheese on the side, I made mini grilled cheese “croutons” with my favorite whole grain bread + Cabot cheddar cheese.
Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onions, celery, thyme, garlic, salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in the tomatoes with their juice, 1 1/2 cups of water, the cashews, and tomato paste. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the soup begins to thicken, about 20 minutes. Allow to cool slightly, for about 15 minutes, then puree in 3 batches until smooth, transferring the puree to a pot or storage container as it is pureed.
To continue, reheat the soup in a pot over medium heat until it comes to a simmer.
As the soup is cooking, spread butter on each slice of bread. Place butter side of bread down in a small pan, layer with cheese, then place the other slice of bread on top (butter side facing up). Cook until golden brown on each side and cheese has melted. Cut into small squares.
Pour soup into bowl and top with mini grilled cheese “croutons”.
Notes
Creamy Tomato Soup recipe by Ellie Krieger’s You Have It Made cookbook.
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Sometimes dinner time turns into an episode of Chopped right in your own kitchen. This Kale, Quinoa, and Cranberry Stuffed Acorn Squash can easily be customized with ingredients you have in your refrigerator and pantry for a simple, wholesome meal.
The holiday season can be stressful at times. Considering I haven’t even started any of my holiday shopping, let alone even figuring out what I am getting anyone, that is adding a little stress to my plate these days. Things have been very busy here at RDelicious Kitchen, so I like to escape to my happy place and stress reliever – the kitchen.
There is something so soothing about chopping, stirring, and the aroma in the kitchen. With my days being jam packed it has been leaving little time for simple things, like grocery shopping. This recipe was inspired as I was in my imaginary world of being on an episode of Chopped. When you haven’t gone grocery shopping in a little while, you have to get creative!
Time-saving tip: Whenever I make a batch of quinoa, I always make extra and freeze the rest. This whole grain freezes well and easily heats up so you don’t have to start from scratch every time you are making quinoa.
My kale was on its last legs in my fridge, so in the saute pan it goes! Kale is one of those leafy greens that even after washing and trimming can last long in the refrigerator. When it begins to wilt, that’s when I throw that kale in my smoothies or saute pan – no waste!
When building a recipe, look to add different textures to the dish. I added almonds (my balsamic roasted almonds, to be exact) which adds that crunch factor, but also adds heart-healthy fats, fiber, and protein!
Slice acorn squash in half, lengthwise. Scoop out the seeds. Place squash on a baking sheet coated with cooking spray, flesh side down. Roast squash until for tender, about 30-50 minutes. (Exact roasting time will depend on the size and variety of your squash.
In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add the olive oil to the pan. Add kale and cook until slightly wilted. Add the balsamic vinegar and let cook for an additional 2 minutes.
Stir in the quinoa, dried cranberries, and almonds, and cook until warmed through.
Full acorn squash with kale, quinoa, and kale mixture and serve.
Notes
*for an extra kick of balsamic, add balsamic roasted almonds
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This past September I traveled to California for the first time. I was so fortunate that California Almond Board invited me on an amazing trip to the almond orchards in Lodi, California with a group of amazing Registered Dietitians and food bloggers. We learned a wealth of information of all things almonds, including sustainability, growing methods, almond life cycles and nutrition research. Disclosure: I was provided with free travel and accommodations to the California Almond Orchard experience. I was not additionally compensated for my time or to write this post.
Ever wonder where those almonds that are in your trail mix, granola bars, and cereals are from? The almond lifecycle has many stages before they end up in your kitchen cabinets.
Did you know, there are more than 30 different varieties of almonds? 10 of them comprise the majority of almonds produced in California. 80% of the world’s almonds are produced in California, and from raw almonds and almond butter to almond flour, almond milk, and almond oil. The Central Valley of California is the perfect spot for almonds to grow due to their mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers. The Almond Lifecycle: November – February: Almond trees go through a period of dormancy when the cold weather lets them sit back, relax and store up almond nutrients for next year’s crop. Late February – early March: Almond tree buds burst into light pink and white blooms in preparation for pollination. Nonpareils are among the first to bloom, while other varieties, such as Carmel and Mission, bloom later.
Many almond trees are not self-pollinating, so bees provide the missing piece of the puzzle. Populations of bees are brought to the orchard to carry pollen and initiate crop development. March – June: Almonds continue to mature, with the shell hardening and kernel forming. Also at this time, green almonds are harvested for various culinary uses.July – early August: Almond hulls begin to split open exposing the almond shell and allowing it to dry. Shortly before harvest, the hulls open completely. Mid-August through October: Mechanical tree “shakers” harvest the almonds by vigorously shaking them to the ground. The almonds then dry naturally for 8–10 days in the orchard before they are swept into rows and picked up by machine.After harvest, almonds go to a huller/sheller where the kernels pass through a roller to remove the hull, shell, and any remaining debris. Next stop: the handler for sizing, where the almond kernels drop into separate bins according to size.
After sizing, almonds are kept in controlled storage conditions to maintain quality until they’re either shipped or further processed into any variety of different almond forms for diverse culinary uses. (source: California Almonds)
Did you know – Almond trees are grafted on the roots of peach or plum trees for a stronger root base. The almond trees are grown in a nursery, then grafted onto the root of a peach or plum tree to grow to maturity. Through the orchard you are able to see the point where they were grafted since they overlap each other. Did you know there are three parts to an almond? The hull, shell, and kernel make up this mighty little nut and all parts are used. The hull is the dry and fuzzy outer later. Hulls are sold as livestock feed, which reduces the amount of water used to grow other feed crops. The shells go to various alternative farming uses such as livestock bedding. The kernel, which most think of when thinking about almonds, is the nutrient-rich almond we eat. Each serving (28 g) contains 6 grams of energy-packed protein, 4 grams of hunger-fighting fiber, 13 grams of “good” unsaturated fat and only 1 gram of saturated fat.
Now that I have you craving almonds, here is a delicious recipe to jazz up your almond snacks. Try these Balsamic Roasted Almonds. Just a few simple ingredients and snack time is jazzed up a little.
Warning: these almonds are addicting. The whole batch was gone in less than a week. Add them to salads, pair with a piece of fruit, the possibilities are endless. Be on the look out for another recipe soon using these almonds!
Place almonds in a small bowl. Pour the balsamic vinegar into the bowl, stir to coat the almonds. Let sit for one hour.
Pre-heat the oven to 350˚. Drain the vinegar from the almonds and pat almonds dry. Add sea salt and rosemary to the bowl and stir well to coat the almonds evenly. Spread almonds evenly onto a cookie sheet and bake for 8 minutes (stir the almonds halfway through cooking).
Remove from oven and let cool for 30 minutes. Store almonds in an airtight container.
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Thank you California Almonds for this amazing experience! To learn more about California Almonds check out their website. They have great resources for health professionals!
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Pressed for time in the morning, but don’t want to skimp on a nutritious and filling breakfast? Make these Apple Overnight Oats and breakfast will be ready for you as you run out the door! On these chilly mornings, the snooze button has been becoming my best friend. Overnight oats save my mornings when I leave myself just 20 minutes to get out the door. With just a little prep the night before I know breakfast is ready for me, so I don’t feel guilty for getting those extra 10 (errr 20) minutes of sleep. After many mornings of overnight oats, I am always looking for new flavor combos. The base of my overnight oats is typically a plain yogurt or kefir with fruit along with the oats. I often hear that plain yogurt is too tangy and tart. One of my favorite RD tips is to stir in unsweetened applesauce. It adds that sweetness without adding added sugars like flavored yogurts have. Plus, adding a pinch of cinnamon, it adds that perfect sweetness.
Adding cooked apples make these overnight oats tastes like dessert. I love apple pie, but I typically only eat the filling of the apples and ditch the crust. The soft apples add that extra element of sweetness from the apples being cooked down.
In a small pot combine, chopped apples, lemon juice, and 1 tablespoon cinnamon. Heat over low heat until apples soften. Remove from heat and let cool completely.
In a bowl, combine oats, applesauce, yogurt, chia seeds, and remaining cinnamon. Distribute oat mixture evenly between two mason jars. Add walnuts evenly over the oats, then top with the cooked apples.
Seal with a lid and store in the refrigerator overnight.
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A comforting, satisfying plant-based bowl, this Roasted Root Vegetable Power Bowl is the perfect colorful fall dinner to cozy up to on a chilly night.
Fall is my favorite season! I just love the cool, crisp weather, the beautiful fall foliage, and of course the food!
This time of year, I find myself roasting vegetables daily. Roasting is one of my favorite cooking methods for veggies, but there’s something about cracking the windows on a cool fall evening and cozying up with fluffy blankets with a warm comforting meal.
Recipe ReDux members were challenged to create a plant protein power bowl, packed with protein, fiber and color, plant power bowls are trendy and delicious.
I decided to use sorghum as my whole grain in this recipe because I was inspired when I met Katie Cavuto, RD at the sorghum booth at FNCE this past weekend. She just released a new cookbook “Whole Cooking and Nutrition” and I was able to sample her sorghum recipe.
Have you ever used sorghum before? When I counsel clients, I encourage them to expand their variety of whole grains in their diet. I often see that their first swap is switching white bread to whole wheat bread or white rice to brown rice, which is great, but I don’t want them to just stop there.
Ancient grains, like sorghum, have more nutrition bang for your buck. Sorghum, which doesn’t have an inedible hull like some other grains, is commonly eaten with all its outer layers, thereby retaining the majority of its nutrients. One serving of sorghum contains 5 grams of fiber and is a good source of iron!
I absolutely love how colorful this recipe is. More colors = more nutrients. Another plus is it’s so simple to make. Simply place your veggies on a pan to roast as you prep the remaining ingredients.
If you want a shortcut, you can use Love Beets instead of the mess of peeling beets at home. Love Beets come peeled, steamed and vacuum packed.
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Coat a large baking sheet with cooking spray. Toss sweet potatoes and beets with 1 tablespoon olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake for 15 minutes.
Using a peeler, create long strands of carrots. Remove vegetables from oven, add carrots and toss. Bake for an additional 10-15 minutes until vegetables are fork tender. Remove from oven.
In a large bowl, massage Swiss chard leaves with olive oil and apple cider vinegar. Add garlic powder, salt and pepper. Add Swiss chard on a large baking sheet. Roast for 10 minutes until Swiss chard is tender (not crispy).
As vegetables are roasting, cook the sorghum. Add sorghum and water to a pot. Bring to a boil; cook 5 minutes. Turn heat down to low; cover and cook for about 45 minutes or until tender-firm. (for an extra boost of flavor, add a splash of vegetable stock with the water) Season with salt and pepper.
Assemble your bowls, by adding sections of sweet potatoes, beets, carrots, Swiss chard, and sorghum. Add a dollop of hummus and sprinkle with goat cheese. Serve warm.
A classic B.L.T. with a little twist! Adding the “A” (avocado) and a creamy spread takes this average BLT up a notch. Don’t skip out on quality ingredients when you assemble this sandwich. I received free samples of Sabra Spreads mentioned in this post. By posting this recipe I am entering a recipe contest sponsored by Sabra and am eligible to win prizes associated with the contest. I was not compensated for my time.
Have you seen the new Sabra spreads hit the shelves at your local grocery store? I was excited when Sabra sent me all three flavors to experiment with in the kitchen. The flavors are honey mustard, garlic herb, and sea salt and cracked pepper. I had so many recipe ideas running through my head. These spreads will definitely be making an appearance here in the future. With these fresh ingredients and flavors the new Sabra spreads will become a staple condiment in my refrigerator. When it comes to a BLT, you need quality ingredients. I decided just a BLT just wouldn’t suffice and needed a little extra flavor. I turned it into a B.A.L.T. with slices of avocado. I love sandwiches when you can really taste all ingredients in every layer.
To build your perfect B.A.L.T. you have to start out with quality bread. I like a hearty whole wheat bread. Next, comes the bacon. Not all bacon is created equally. Look for pork shoulder bacon, it is a much leaner choice. Pork shoulder comes from a leaner part of the pig (the shoulder) which contains less fat than pork belly, which majority of bacon comes from. Then comes the avocado. You can mash it. I decided to keep it as slices. Whatever you like best! The lettuce I chose was a Boston bib lettuce. The leaves are tender. If you prefer more of a crunch, go for romaine. Of course, this jersey girl has to choose a juicy plump jersey tomato sliced on top.
The part that ties it all together is the Sabra spread. This is a much healthier choice than adding mayo as a condiment. The new Sabra spreads contain 75% less fat than mayo and are convenient for sandwiches now that it is in a squeeze bottle. Of course you can add any of the new flavors, but I wanted to keep it in the simple side and added the sea salt and cracked black pepper.
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I feel like poor Brussels sprouts have always had bad reputation. Don’t turn up your nose to nutritious Brussel sprouts. Cook them in flavorful ways like these Sautéed Brussels Sprouts with Apples and Chicken Sausage. Growing up did your parents tell you to “eat your Brussel sprouts!”? Some still cringe when they hear that. I would guess 9/10 times those people were eating boring, unflavored, under seasoned sprouts.
I find that with many vegetables. Try cooking veggies in a variety of cooking methods and season in different ways. I showcased this idea in a cooking class once, where we cooked cauliflower in 4 different ways: steaming, boiling, roasting, and mashing with a variety of spices and herbs. It was interesting to hear everyone’s views of which method they preferred. Just because you don’t like a vegetable one way, doesn’t mean you won’t like in another way.
Don’t count out Brussels sprouts just yet, until you try this Sautéed Brussels Sprouts with Apples and Chicken Sausage recipe! Brussels sprouts are part of the Brassica family of vegetables, which also includes cabbage, broccoli, kale, and collard greens. They are rich in many valuable nutrients. They are an excellent source of vitamin C and vitamin K. They are a very good source of numerous nutrients including folate, vitamin A, manganese, dietary fiber, potassium, vitamin B6 and thiamin (vitamin B1) and a good source of omega-3 fatty acids, iron, phosphorus, protein, magnesium, riboflavin (vitamin B2), vitamin E, calcium, and niacin. What is your favorite way to enjoy Brussels sprouts?
1 pound Brussels sprouts, shaved with a food processor or roughly chopped
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1 honeycrisp apple, julienne
salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
Slice the chicken sausage on a bias (or simply on an angle). In a large pan, heat 1/2 tablespoon olive oil and cook chicken sausage. Remove from pan and set aside.
Add remaining olive oil in the pan and sauté onions and garlic until caramelized. Add shredded Brussels sprouts and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes or until desired doneness. Add apple cider vinegar and cook for an additional minute.
Add apple slices and cook until just warmed through. Add the chicken sausage back in and toss until combined. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
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Imagine the sweet indulgent taste of black forest cake, but a healthier version for breakfast. This Black Forest Smoothie Bowl will feel like an indulgent treat, but healthy for delicious and filling breakfast. Disclosure: I was not compensated for this post, however I did receive free samples of Kura. All opinions are my own and not influenced in any way.
I will be the first to admit, sometimes these pretty looking bowls end up in a tumbler cup as I am rushing out the door. It’s so important to take the time to sit down and enjoy a breakfast. I personally am trying to be more mindful of that myself. I know I’ve talked about this before, but enjoying a smoothie bowl vs. a smoothie drink (even with the same exact ingredients) can help practice mindful eating.
Making a smoothie bowl instead of an on-the-go drink can help practice mindful eating and encourage slower eating. It’s easy to suck down a smoothie in a few big gulps. By enjoying a smoothie bowl with a spoon it can help you slow down, be more aware of what you’re eating and pay attention to whether or not you are actually hungry.
I never used to be a fan of protein powders, because majority of them have a lot of weird sounding ingredients and additives in them and even have a weird after taste, but now there are more options out there from real food ingredients. I always promote real food first, but sometimes protein powders can be a great supplement to the meal. Key word = supplement. Protein powders alone shouldn’t replace a full meal. Take this smoothie bowl for example, it contains three food groups with a balanced mixture of carbs, fats, and proteins, coming from it’s wholesome ingredients – fruit, almond milk, yogurt, almond butter, and chia seeds. The protein powder is supplementing the meal to add that extra little boost of protein. I was intrigued about Kura with it’s grass-fed dairy protein and probiotic blend. Again, the protein powder is meant to supplement the meal with adding an additional 14g of New Zealand grass-fed dairy protein, which is proven to have higher levels of omega-3s than grain-fed dairy protein. (source)
Have fun with the toppings and add your favorite healthy options!
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Looking for a new dip for your veggies? Try baba ganoush – a signature Middle Eastern roasted eggplant puree enriched with tahini and seasoned with lemon juice and lots of garlic.
My favorite part of this dip is the smokiness that the dish brings when roasting the eggplant. I additionally roasted the garlic for this dip too. Have you ever roasted garlic before? It adds that same smokiness but also a subtle sweet flavor. Simply add cloves of garlic (you can even do the whole head of garlic at once!) in a little tin foil pouch, drizzle with some olive oil and sprinkle a little salt and pepper. Seal up the foil and roast along with the eggplant. This will also help incorporate the garlic flavor throughout the dip because it is much easier to blend since it is softer when you puree the dip.
I picked up a bunch of eggplant at my last farmer’s market visit. It’s been sitting in my refrigerator because I just couldn’t decide what to make. I had so many recipe ideas running through my head. #foodbloggerproblems My extended family decided this year to do a big fantasy football draft. It was pretty entertaining. One thing about our family is that we are all very loud. So all of in the room trying to have an organized fantasy draft = chaos. Everyone was just talking over each other, but once we figured everything out, everyone picked their teams. Wish me luck this season!
Baba ganoush is very similar to hummus, but instead of chickpeas being the base, roasted eggplant is. Don’t skimp on the tahini (ground sesame seeds). It really adds that extra boost of flavor, plus heart healthy unsaturated fats.
You can use baba ganoush like in any application where you would use hummus. Spread it on a sandwich instead of mayo. Swirl it in to mashed potatoes or mashed cauliflower to kick it up with some flavor. Or just simply dunk with your favorite veggies or pita chips.
Slice eggplant into 1/4 inch rounds and place on a large baking sheet. Drizzle with 1 tablespoon olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
On a small piece of tin foil, add the garlic cloves, drizzle over 1/2 tablespoon of olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Loosely wrap the foil around the garlic. Place the wrapped garlic on the baking sheet with the eggplant.
Broil for 5 minutes, turn eggplant and broil for an additional 5 minutes. Turn broiler off, but do not remove eggplant from the oven. Heat oven to 350 degrees and roast for an additional 25 minutes.
Remove from pan, wrap the rounds in foil to lock in moisture; let sit for about 5 minutes.
Peel away most of the skin of the eggplant and add flesh to a food processor. It should be soft and tender and the skin should come off easy. Add the roasted garlic tahini, lemon juice, remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil, and parsley. Process until smooth and creamy. Season with salt and pepper.
Garnish with additional parsley. Serve with pita chips and veggies.
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The Recipe ReDux challenged members to see how low they can go and make a meal for less than $3 per serving.
Ever since then I’ve been more conscious of my spending when at the grocery store. I loved that this Recipe ReDux theme was this month because I had fun shopping to see how low I can go with the cost per serving. This definitely busts the myth that “healthy eating is expensive”, considering this recipe totals to $1.06 per serving made with healthy and wholesome ingredients.
Here’s the breakdown:
