Savory Oatmeal April 30, 2012

Oats are really just another grain. Just as you wouldn't think twice about eating a savory sandwich with bread made from wheat (another grain) once you try savory oatmeal, you'll see that there are so many new breakfast possibilities!

Savory Oatmeal
with spinach & egg

Break free of your oatmeal rut! Sweet, fruity oatmeal dishes can be wonderful but there is world of other flavor possibilities that are just too good not to try. I got the idea to try this combination from an recipe in Women’s Health Magazine printed last fall by contributing editor and Nutrition Expert Keri Glassman, RD. (Love her!)

Here is my spin on the dish:

Ingredients

-1/2 cup plain oats
-1/4 cup water, milk, or unsweetened almond milk
-1/2 cup chopped frozen spinach (or other leafy green)
-2 spoonfuls of walnut or pecan pieces
-Dash of paprika and your favorite savory herbs & spices
-(Optional) A spoonful of Gorgonzola  or blue cheese or Daiya Dairy Free

Method

1) Place oatmeal, frozen spinach, and water (or milk, almondmilk) in a microwave-safe ceramic bowl. You don’t need a lot of liquid because the frozen spinach will also give off moisture when cooked. Stir ingredients together and microwave on high for 2 minutes.

2) Carefully remove bowl (hot!) and combine remaining ingredients.

3) Top it off with one egg: scrambled, sunny-side up, or your favorite style.  If you are also including the egg, start your egg cooking first so it will be done when the oatmeal is done. I often just take about 2 tsp. peanut oil to coat a saucepan and cook an egg on the stove-top.

Green Bliss Smoothie March 16, 2012

Green Bliss Smoothie
with pineapple, banana, and spinach

Ingredients

-3/4 cup frozen pineapple chunks (unsweetened)
-1/2 cup frozen chopped spinach
– 1/2 ripe banana (fresh or frozen)
-3/4 cup unsweetened vanilla almond breeze (or coconut, or soy milk)

Method

Combine ingredients in your blender. The frozen pineapple and spinach are key for the texture. For a thicker smoothie use a frozen banana half (use fresh instead for a “less-spoon-required” version). Blend until smooth. Make sure the spinach is well blended so you do not end up with noticeable pieces in your drink.

Flavor Profile

The sweet flavors of the pineapple and banana make this a perfect green smoothie for green smoothie beginners. Pineapple dominates the flavors in this blend. If the thought of frozen spinach in your drink sounds daunting you will be pleasantly surprised by the mild flavor of the leaves which can rarely be detected past the sweet fruit flavors.

Nutrition Highlights

Sip this for breakfast and you will be one serving (1/2 cup) closer to meeting your choosemyplate.gov minimum 2.5 recommended daily cups of vegetables and 2 servings closer (1 cup) to meeting your minimum daily recommended 2 cups of fruit! The drink is packed with Vitamin C (over 70% of the DV), Fiber (24% DV), Folate (36% DV), and Vitamin A (beta-carotene form from spinach).

Use a calcium-fortified almond milk (or soy) to reach nearly 1/3 of the DV for calcium.

A Lighter Veggie Samosa January 16, 2012

These Vegetable Samosas are lightly seared in olive oil, making them a healthier alternative to deep-fried restaurant versions which are often full of oil and salt.

Lightened-Up Vegetable Samosas
with cilantro, peas, and corn

Vegetable samosas sound misleadingly healthy on the menu of your favorite Indian restaurant. These potato pastries are usually fried in plenty of oil,  are high in salt, weigh in at around 270 calories each, and thus do not make the list of healthiest dishes to order at Indian restaurants. You can make your own vegetable samosas to cut down on the oil and salt used while still enjoying the crisp flavor and spices.

Ingredients
-Nasoya All Natural Egg Roll Wraps
-3 large potatoes or 5 small potatoes (I used 5 small organic yukon gold)
-1 bunch cilantro
-1 whole yellow onion
-1/2 cup frozen green peas
-1/2 cup frozen corn
-4 cloves garlic minced
-1/4 cup frozen spinach
-8 tsp olive oil (2 tsp per batch of samosas cooked)
-1/4 tsp paprika
-1/4 tsp salt
-2 tbsp of your favorite samosa spices (such as curry spices)

Methods
1. Rinse potatoes and peel. Submerge potatoes in water in a large pot and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium high and maintain a high simmer for 40 minutes to an hour or until potatoes become soft. Drain water.

2. Chop onion and add to a medium saucepan with 1 tbsp olive (or canola) oil and cook at high heat until onions begin to brown. Stir frequently. Mince garlic and add to pan once onions have begun to brown (after about 5 min). Continue cooking for a few minutes then add remaining frozen veggies. Stir frequently. Add cilantro and spices.

3. After draining the water, you can use an immersion (hand) blender to puree the potatoes. If you don’t have a hand blender you can grate the potatoes instead once they have cooled.

4. Combine cooked ingredients in pot and stir well. Add about 2 tbsp of the mixture to each wrap, fold wrap, and cook in sauce pan with olive or canola oil. Use about 2 tsp of oil per batch of 3-4 samosas.

5. Serve hot. You can freeze some samosas for future meals and store the rest in the fridge.

Spinach & Artichoke Breakfast September 20, 2011

Veggies & Eggs Served in a different style for this breakfast dish.

Spinach & Artichoke Breakfast

Total prep/cook time: 20 minutes

Ingredients

1 “cage-free” egg
3 cloves garlic, chopped finely
3/4 cup frozen chopped spinach (pesticide-free or organic if possible)
1/4 cup frozen bell pepper slices (or fresh)
1 tbsp olive oil
1/4 cup fat-free European style or Greek plain yogurt
4-5 Artichoke hearts
Less than 1/4 cup fresh grated Parmesan or Parmesan blend

Methods

Heat the olive oil and chopped garlic in a skillet on the stove top at medium-low heat. When the garlic begins to brown slightly add in any frozen ingredients (spinach, bell pepper). Stir frequently. Crack the egg into a small mixing bowl and use a fork or whisk to whisk until the yolk and white are well blended. Add egg to pan and continue to stir frequently, continuing to cook at medium-low heat. When egg begins to cook (turns from clear to white) add in yogurt and stir well. After about 2-3 minutes add artichokes and, finally, the Parmesan cheese. Enjoy hot. Pairs well with toasted whole wheat pita slices.