Apple Oat Pecan Drops

These are a great substitute for those cookies I (don't) miss eating.

1 1/2 C rolled oats
2 T whole wheat flour
2 medium apples, grated
1/2 t vanilla
1 T oil
2-3 T water
1/2 C raisins
1/4 C finely chopped pecans

Combine first six ingredients well in a bowl.  Add raisins and pecans and mix well.  Form into 16 balls, pressing the mixture together.  Bake at 350 for 12 minutes.

My husband *loved* these!!! My kids, minus my raisin picky daughter, enjoyed these as well.  I think these are a great tasting treat!!

Cauliflower Pizza Bites

If you are thinking "That sounds disgusting!" or "what the heck are those?" then you're normal.  But! Don't let the name scare you off, these are in fact delicious. In fact, my whole family, kids and father in-law included, said these were yummy!  If you're expecting pizza, then you'll be disappointed.  If you are expecting something yummy and healthy, then you are in for a good time.  I loved these!  They are easy peasy to make!

1 head cauliflower
1 1/2 Cup shredded cheese
1/2 t oregano
1/2 t garlic powder
1/2 t dry or fresh basil
1/4 t salt
1 egg

Shred using blender or food processor until the consistancy of rice and cook in skillet for 5-10 minutes to remove as much liquid as possible. Mix all the ingreidents well. Press into paper lined cupcake tray and bake at 425 for 15-18 minutes.  Serve with marinara sauce.

Raspberry Vinaigrette

Raspberry Vinaigrette

1/2 C water
1/4 C olive oil
1/4 C balsamic vinegar
2 Tbs honey
1/2 tsp mustard
1/2 tsp  salt
1 C fresh raspberries

Put all those ingredients in your blender and blend baby, blend!  This is a really delicious dressing!

Chick Pea Avocado Salad

This stuff is delicious! The only thing I did differently was cook about 1/3 C quinoa and add it at the end.  So yummo!  I put this on our lettuce salads today and it made a really delicious topping!

http://www.forksoverknives.com/recipes/chickpea-avocado-salad/

Zuchinni Pizza

Ahhhh I am so glad I made this discovery.

I sliced a large zuchinni about 1/2" thick and broiled each side for 6-7 minutes.  Then topped that with spaghetti sauce, a little sprinkle of parmesan and some cheddar cheese and broiled that for about 5 minutes.  It was amazing!

What else is amazing is how eating healthy whole foods has totally changed what I think is delicous.  Yes greasy pizza still sounds good.  But when I think of actually eating greasy pizza, it doesn't sound good.  It sounds gross.

Anyway, you should try this.  It was great!  Two of my four children loved it!

Homemade Ranch

If you're expecting something to taste like the bottle you would buy from the grocery store, this is disappointing.  If you are ok with dressing tasting different but still yummy, then read on.

Homemade Ranch that my family likes
1-2 cloves of crushed garlic, depending on your own preference
1 C of plain Greek yogurt
Few shakes of parmesan
1/3 C oil
2 t dill
1/4 t salt

Put all the ingredients in a blender or food processor and mix it up good and long!  The oil should be combined well.  This dressing has to be shaken up before each use to spread out the dill.

Zucchini, Black Bean and Brown Rice goodness

Recently I had to feed my husband's family of 30 people dinner at a reuinon in Yellowstone.  My husband grew up eating sugar cereal with added sprinkled sugar for breakfast, meat for lunch and meat for dinner with lots of cookies and chips in between.  :)  Every kid's dream right?  I wasn't sure how to feed everyone who is used to eating like that in a way that wouldn't be disappointing but I decided I was going to make a healthy meal and hope no one cared.  Everyone loved it!  I had endless comments about how good it was to eat something so delicious and healthy.  I had a big fruit salad, a really great lettuce salad, non GMO whole wheat bread and butter, homemade hummus with veggies (it was amazing with olives!) and zucchini, black bean, and brown rice skillet with cheese to sprinkle on top. It was a big hit!  I wish I could post a picture of this meal, because it was every bit as delicious to look at as it was to eat.

Here is the recipe for the skillet, and to our way of thinking it is very delicious!

1 zucchini quartered length wise then sliced
1/2 of a green bell pepper chopped
1 can fire roasted tomatoes
1 can black beans
3/4 C water
1 C instant brown rice
Shredded cheese for the top

Sautee the zucchini and bell pepper in a skillet for about 6-7 minutes.  Add the tomatoes and black beans, heat through.  Add water and brown rice. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer and cover for about 7-8 miuntues or until the rice is tender and most of the liquid is absorbed.  Cover with cheese and serve it right out of the skillet.

This is another meal that even the pickiest eater at my house loves!