I am a total appetizer, cheese and cracker kind of person, but as you can imagine, you can’t indulge in such things very often. So in my quest to find a truly health replacement for the cracker I came up these little beauties, Rosemary Cauliflower Cheese Crisps. Sort of reminiscent of the crispy edges to cauliflower pizza crust with a rosemary twist. Maybe not completely quilt free but I’m getting closer.
This is just one of the many delicious and healthy recipes that you will find in Weekly Menu Plans in Your Inbox. Each week you’ll receive 5 entree recipes, a combo of 5 breakfast, lunch, snack and dessert recipes, plus a ready made shopping list to make staying healthy a breeze!
My only complaint and I use that term loosely, is that they don’t stay crisp if you so happen to have any leftovers. Still delicious, but just a little softer. My solution is not to have any leftovers! So the next time you’re trying to think of a quick and easy appetizer, but one that will still impress your friends, I hope you try these Rosemary Cauliflower Cheese Crisps. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.
In a food processor, mince/chop 1 small head of cauliflower. You'll definitely have more than 1 cup in the end, but save and make cauliflower "fried" rice or cauliflower soup with the leftovers.
Combine cauliflower, cheese, rosemary, garlic powder and salt and pepper.
Spread mixture evenly on a parchment lined cookie sheet in a thin layer. Shape into a rectangle, making sure there are no "holes".
Bake for about 10-15 minutes or until the edges become brown. Remove from the oven. Using a pizza cutter, cut into small squares.
Return to oven and broil for an additional 3 minutes to crisp up the top. Remove and serve immediately for the crispest texture. However, they are delicious no matter what!
These Black Bean Brownies are one of my favorite go to deserts!
So healthy you can actually eat them anytime and not feel guilty.
Ingredients
1-1/2 cups carob semisweet chips or dark chocolate 70% cacoa
2 can black beans, drained and rinsed
4 eggs
2/3 cup agave nectar or 1-1/4 cup coconut sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
chopped walnuts (optional)
shredded coconut (optional)
Directions
1. Place carob chips in a heat-resistant bowl on top of a boiling pot of water until melted.
2. In blender or food processor, combine beans and eggs.
3. Add sweetener, baking powder and melted chips, process until smooth.
4. Pour batter into an approximately 9-inch nonstick pan or into cupcake papers
5. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes for pan, 18 mins. for regular size cupcakes or 12 mins. for minis
6. Top with walnuts and coconut, and sprinkle with a few extra chips if desired
7. Allow to cool cut and serve.
These are surprisingly delicious, and nobody will be able to guess that they are made from beans!
When you have picky eaters at home, it can be difficult to decide on a recipe that everyone loves! That’s why these “choose your own adventure” vegan muffins are perfect. Start with a simple, proven base recipe, and let the kids (and the adults) throw in whatever ingredients they like! Fruit, chocolate chips, nuts – it all works to make for a moist, light muffin that all the people in your family will enjoy.
The Vegan Muffin Base:
1.5 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup hazelnut flour
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup melted coconut oil
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 cup pumpkin puree
1 cup almond milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
Custom Options:
Choose a couple or more of these to throw in! Or, add your own chosen ingredients. Just about anything will work!
Chopped pecans
Coconut flakes
Mini dark chocolate chips
Peanut butter chips
Fresh blueberries or strawberries
Chopped, dried fruit
Slivered almonds
Method:
Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.
Combine all dry ingredients in a bowl and mix well.
Add melted coconut oil, vanilla, almond milk, and pumpkin puree and stir into dry ingredients.
Mix in your custom items (or divide into separate “mini batches” for each person!)
Bake for 20 minutes, or until done.
Let cool before eating.
What mix-ins did you add to your muffins? We’d love to hear about them in the comments below!
Smoothies are an excellent way to start your day. Nutritious, filling, and portable, they’re easy to grab and go on your way to work! Plus, you can easily prep and freeze the ingredients ahead to just throw into the blender when you wake up.
And this smoothie will make you feel great. It’s packed with antioxidant-rich foods, and it’s like a bolt of energy to get your day started the right way. Here is a little about some of the great ingredients in this green smoothie:
Matcha powder – available at most health food stores or online. Made from high-quality tea, it’s a more potent source of nutrients than green tea, and is an excellent source of antioxidants and EGCG. Plus, it contains caffeine!
Maqui – available at Whole Foods and similar stores. A Chilean purple berry that’s rich with anti-aging anthocyanins, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory compounds.
Chia seeds – available at your regular grocery store. These seeds contain a lot of fiber, protein, Omega-3 fats, and other good-for-you vitamins and minerals.
Ingredients:
1 cup Almond milk (or milk of choice)
Frozen Mango
¼ teaspoon Matcha green tea powder (a little goes a long way!)
Big handful of fresh Spinach
1/2 of a frozen banana (halve bananas and keep them in the freezer to make smoothies easier!)
1 teaspoon of Maqui powder
2 tablespoons of chia or flax seeds
Sweetener of choice (not necessary, but an option if you like your smoothies a little sweeter)
Method:
Add all ingredients to your blender and blend!
Of course, there are lots of ways you can customize this green smoothie to your own taste. Leave out the Matcha or Maqui powder if you don’t have those ingredients on hand. Add a sweetener like honey or agave nectar if you like your smoothies a little on the sweeter side. Or even mix up the fruit if you have something else in your freezer!
The important thing is that you’re starting your day with a great breakfast, full of anti-oxidants, and other great ingredients. Enjoy!
Looking for a warm meal to come home to after a long day at work? This slow cooker African stew is perfect! It’s very simple, and can be customized however you like it (vegetarian, spicy, etc.). Just prep everything in the morning (or the night before) and toss it in the crockpot; it’s that simple!
Ingredients:
1 Can of garbanzo beans (drained and rinsed)
1 Can of black beans (drained and rinsed)
2 Cloves of garlic, minced
1 Onion, chopped
1 Bunch of kale, chopped
1 Parsnip, roughly chopped
1 Red pepper, chopped
½ Teaspoon cumin
1/2-cup Coconut milk
Homemade veggie broth (I made that a week ago and kept it in the fridge, but boxed is fine)
½ Teaspoon curry powder
Pinch of salt
Pinch of pepper
1 Cup of TVP (textured veggie protein)
Chili powder, to taste
Method:
Put all the ingredients in a slow cooker and cook on low all day (at least 6-8 hours)
Add chopped or whole roasted peanuts in at the very end and garnish with chives
There are lots of ways that you can mix up this recipe, too! For example, if you don’t want to go the vegetarian route, replace the textured veggie protein with ground beef or turkey! You could also add more chili powder if you like your food a bit spicier.
We’d love for you to give it a try and let us know how you like it in the comments below! Did you add your own spin to this delicious, African stew?
This Mediterranean Salad is perfect for a lunch or light dinner! It works well for meal prep, or to take and eat at the office. You can also customize with your favorite veggies. So give it a try and let us know how you like it!
Ingredients:
Romaine lettuce
Tomatoes
Roasted Red Peppers
Kalamata Olives
Roasted Veggies: Eggplant, Zucchini, Yellow Bell Peppers, Onions, Garlic
Feta Cheese
Balsamic Glaze, to taste
Olive oil, to taste
Pink Himalayan Salt, to taste
Fresh Ground Pepper, to taste
Directions:
Preheat Oven to 400 degrees
Cut up all veggies to be roasted into pieces about 1/2 inch in size
Roast Veggies 45 min, turning once halfway through
When veggies are done, remove and let cool while you prepare your salad
Chop lettuce, tomatoes, roasted peppers; mix together in large bowl
Add Kalamata olives
Mix in roasted veggies and Feta cheese
Whisk balsamic glaze with olive oil, salt and pepper and drizzle over salad
For extra protein:
Try adding grilled, organic, hormone-free chicken and/or hummus to your Mediterranean Salad. Feel free to leave out the Cheese if you don’t eat dairy.
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