Simple Baked Apples

This is my new favorite addition to my morning oatmeal. It's super fast and easy, and you don't even have to get a pan dirty! Just microwave the apples on high for 1-2 minutes, depending on how firm you like your apples.

Ingredients:
1 apple, peeled & sliced
1/2 t. cinnamon
1 t. water
1 t. stevia (or to taste)

Orange Cranberry Bread

My search for the perfect cranberry bread has come to an end! This version from All Recipes is seriously the best holiday bread you will ever taste! I doubled the fruit & nuts when I made it. I like a cranberry in every bite. :)

Ingredients:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon grated orange zest
• 1 1/2 cups fresh cranberries
• 1/2 cup pecans, coarsely chopped
• 1/4 cup butter, softened
• 1 t. cinnamon
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 egg
• 3/4 cup orange juice

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9x5 inch loaf pan. Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. Stir in orange zest, cranberries, and pecans. Set aside.
2. In a large bowl, cream together margarine, sugar, and egg until smooth. Stir in orange juice. Beat in flour mixture until just moistened. Pour into prepared pan.
3. Bake for 1 hour in the preheated oven, or until the bread springs back when lightly touched. Let stand 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack to cool. Wrap in plastic when completely cool.

Orange Julius Protein Shake

I came up with a new creation...and it's delicious! Tastes just like (ok, pretty close) an orange julius! And it's a great way to sneak in extra protein, or curb hunger between meals. I love me some protein shakes!

Ingredients:
1 c. almond milk
1/2 c. orange juice
1 scoop vanilla whey protein
Ice

Combine all ingredients in a blender & enjoy!

Healthified Zuppa Toscana

Ingredients
1 lb. low-fat Italian sausage
1 onion, diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 t. red pepper flakes
1/2 t. pepper
4 c. low-sodium chicken stock
2 c. water
2 cans white beans, drained & rinsed
1 head kale, washed & chopped
1 c. non-fat half & half

Directions:
1. In a large pot, brown the sausage over medium-high heat.
2. Add the onion and cook until tender (5 min)
3. Add garlic and cook until fragrant (30 sec)
4. Stir in pepper, stock, water, beans & kale. Cook until kale is tender (20-30 min)
5. Stir in the half & half. Season with salt & pepper if desired.

Low Calorie Pumpkin Cream Cheese Bread

Thanks to Pinterest, I've stumbled upon yet another food blog. It's called Sunday Baker, and it's filled with healthy recipes. I made this pumpkin bread last night for book club. It was delicious! No one could tell that it was low-fat, low-cal. That's right folks, this sweet & creamy bread is only 50 calories a slice! Nice way to get your treat and avoid that unwanted holiday weight. I made only two small changes to the recipe: added more cinnamon (1 t. instead of 1/2 t.) and sub'd stevia for sugar in the cream filling.
Batter:
1-1/2 c. pureed pumpkin
1/2 c. unsweetened applesauce
1 whole egg
3 egg whites
1 c. all-purpose flour
2/3 c. whole wheat flour
1/2 c. Stevia
1/2 c. sugar
1 t. baking soda
1 t. ground cinnamon
1/2 t. ground nutmeg

Cream filling
8 oz. reduced fat cream cheese
1/4 c. stevia
1 T. all-purpose flour
2 egg whites
1 t. vanilla extract

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2.Beat eggs, applesauce and pumpkin together until smooth.
3. In a separate bowl, combine the dry ingredients for the batter. Add to egg mixture slowly & mix until just combined.
4. In another bowl, combine all ingredients for cream filling. Beat until smooth.
5. Grease two loaf pans and separate half of the batter into the two pans. Next add the cream filling. Finally, top off with remaining batter.
6. Bake for 40 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.

Baked Potato Soup

We usually eat pretty healthy around our house. I cook almost all of our meals, so I can control what my family eats. But we've all been sick for the last week so...there hasn't been much cooking going on. Luckily my little family has survived thanks to cold cereal, fruit, yogurt, and a few meals from family & friends. Last night we had a Christmas party that we couldn't go to, and my sweet neighbor dropped off some leftovers from the party. A huge plate of ham & baked potatoes. So I took that, plus a few things from the pantry and made an easy crock pot soup. Not the healthiest, but quick and easy and good on a sore throat!

Ingredients:

6 baked potatoes, peeled & diced

1 onion, diced

1/2 t. pepper

1/2 t. garlic powder

1 can cream of chicken soup

1 can creamy potato soup

1 qt. chicken broth

1 c. diced ham

Directions:

1. Combine all ingredients, except ham, in a crock pot and cook on high for 5-6 hours.

2. 30 minutes before it's done, take a potato masher & smash some of the potatoes in the pot. This will make the soup thicker. Add you ham and let it heat through.

3. Serve with a sprinkle of cheese on top & some crusty bread.

Healthy Oatmeal Pancakes

For those of you who read this blog who have tried the Scarce Egg recipe, these pancakes remind me a lot of those...but heartier & healthier. My whole family loved them!

Ingredients:

6 egg whites

1 c. rolled oats

1 c. low-fat cottage cheese

1 t. vanilla

1 t. cinnamon

1 t. agave

1 scoop vanilla whey protein

1 T. ground flax seed

Directions:

1. Blend all ingredients until smooth.

2. Cook on a hot griddle.

**Makes about 9 small pancakes**