Healthy Almond Joys

Are you an Almond Joy lover, but trying to eat healthier?  This is for you.  It doesn't taste exactly like an Almond Joy but it is made with almonds and is a "joy" to the taste buds.  And it will be a "joy" to you because it's healthy!

Healthy Almond Joys

2 cups pitted dates
1 cup almonds
1/2 - 3/4 cup shredded coconut (I used unsweetened)
2 Tablespoons dark cocoa powder
1/4  teaspoon almond extract

Put almonds in high speed blender (I used my VitaMix) or food processor and blend until almonds are fine consistency.  Add the coconut and blend.  Then add the dates, cocoa and almond extract.  Blend until combined, scraping sides. (It will be lumpy, but that's okay.)

Line an 8x8 pan with parchment paper.  Put mixture into the pan and press with your hands and finger into pan.  Refrigerate and cut into squares.  Keep in an airtight container in the fridge.

Curry Chicken

Our family eats a lot of chicken, so I'm always looking for good chicken recipes.  Here is an easy chicken recipe that I think your family will enjoy.  My family loved it--and it is pretty healthy, no processed soups,etc.

Curry Chicken

Chicken thighs
1 cup orange juice
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 teaspoons curry powder
pepper to taste

Put orange juice, brown sugar, and curry in a saucepan and bring to a boil.  Mix until blended.  Put chicken thighs in a baking dish and pour mixture over the chicken.  Add pepper to taste.  Bake covered at 375 degrees for 1 hour, then uncover and bake additional 20-30 minutes to brown.

**Serve with rice and use broth as gravy.  Bon Appetite!

Crock Pot Red Lentil Soup

 

With the weather getting cold, there is nothing like hot soup.  This is a healthy soup made in the crock pot that is "umm umm good!"  And red lentils are really good for you!  I like mine thick, but if you want it more soupy, just add more water.

Crock Pot Red Lentil Soup

1 (16 oz.) package red lentils
2 teaspoons tomato bouillon with chicken flavor



2 teaspoons onion powder

1/2 tablespoon minced garlic
5 cups water

Mix all ingredients in a crock pot.  Cook on low for 5 - 6 hours.

**I found my red lentils at an Asian grocery store.

Walnut Vinaigrette Dressing

My sister always tries to eat healthy and eats lots of salads.  Her trainer gave her this great salad dressing recipe.  I made it in my VitaMix.  It is really good and best of all, good for you!

Walnut Vinaigrette Dressing

1.4 cup balsamic vinegar
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup walnuts
1/4 cup raisins
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 clove garlic
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme

Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls

Happy New Year!

Now is the time to make your New Year's resolutions.  Of course, I always have the same resolutions each year because I start off with a bang and then, POOF--they disappear.  Each year I say I'll do better.  So again this year I will try to do better.  One of my goals for 2015 is to EAT HEALTHIER!  I can't guarantee how long I'll keep it, but enjoy the healthy recipes while you can.

Here is a delicious, no bake, cookie dough that tastes like candy.  Healthy candy, of course.  See, I'm already thinking about candy and it's just the first day of the new year.  But this is healthy candy, right?  You're gonna love these! I sure do.  It makes about 14 balls and I could eat every one at one sitting!  But that wouldn't be healthy would it?!

Here's to you and me keeping our resolutions in 2015!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls

1 cup raw cashews
1/2 cup rolled oats
1 Tablespoon dark cocoa powder
1 Tablespoon maple syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 Tablespoons peanut butter
pinch of salt
2 Tablespoons chocolate chips

Using a VitaMix, blend the cashews and rolled oat together.  Add maple syrup, vanilla, cocoa and salt and blend/pulse until combined.  Mixture will be a little sticky and you'll need to scrap sides.  Add chocolate chips, blend.  Add peanut butter and pulse again, scraping sides.  Put mixture in a bowl and knead together.  Form into balls and enjoy.

Keep in an airtight container in the fridge--if they last long enough!

Red Cabbage

Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas!  I got some red cabbage in my co-op.  What do you do with red cabbage besides shredding it and putting it in salads?  Cook it, of course!  Well, I have never cooked or even tasted cooked red cabbage but was willing to give it a try.  Whoa!  It as delicious!  I love when I learn new things!

Red Cabbage

1/2 red cabbage shredded
2 Tablespoons of Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 small onion sliced
1/3 cup white or apple cider vinegar (I used white because I had it)
2 Tablespoons sugar (can use Stevia instead)
1 teaspoon ground mustard
Salt and pepper to taste

Heat skillet over medium high heat.  Add oil and onion and saute for 2-3 minutes.  Add cabbage and saute until it looks wilted, 3-5 minutes.  Add vinegar and mix.  Add sugar and mustard, mix again. Season with salt and pepper to taste, reduce heat and continue to cook for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until ready to serve. 

Gluten Free Peanut Butter Cookies

I'm always looking for good gluten free recipes.  My niece's friend, Jenny, gave her this recipe and she shared it with me.  Actually, Jenny's mom makes these for my niece who is gluten free.  These cookies are absolutely, unbelievably DELICIOUS!  Everyone will love these--gluten free or not!

Gluten Free Peanut Butter Cookies

1 cup peanut butter (I used creamy)
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon baking powder

Beat peanut butter and sugar with hand mixer.  Add egg and baking powder.  Roll into balls, then roll in some extra sugar. (You could use red or green sugar to make them for Christmas!)  Place on a cookie sheet.  Press each cookie with a fork.  Bake at 350 degrees for 12 minutes.

 

Hope you have a very 

MERRY  CHRISTMAS!

Monster Cookies

I don't know why these are called Monster Cookies  Maybe because they have a monster of a good taste.  Sounds like a Halloween cookie but would be great for that Christmas Cookie Swap using the red and green Christmas M&Ms..

Monster Cookies

12oz jar creamy peanut butter

4 ½ Cups of quick oats (not instant) oatmeal
1 Cup of granulated sugar
1 ¼ Cups of packed light brown sugar
3 eggs
1 stick of butter (softened)
1 Tsp of vanilla extract
½ Tsp salt
2 Tsp baking soda
¾ cup of chocolate chips
Approx. ½ cup of M&Ms

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper (not essential, but helpful). In a large bowl combine eggs and sugars; add in salt, vanilla, butter, and peanut butter. Stir in chocolate chips, baking soda, and oatmeal.

Drop in heaping teaspoons onto cookie sheet. Bake 10-12 minutes. Pull out of oven and while cookies are still piping hot press M&Ms into tops of cookies. Remove from cookie sheet and allow to cool.

Makes about 3 dozen.

Enjoy!

Honey Cake

My sister will admit that she hates to cook.  When she does, she makes sure it is easy to do.  Here is her simple Honey Cake that is so good, you'd think she slaved in the kitchen and made it from scratch. 

Honey Cake

1 box Duncan Hines Spice Cake Mix
1 cup honey

Follow directions on cake box to make spice cake.  Add 1 cup of honey.  Mix and bake according to box directions. 

There you have it--Honey Cake!  Delicious!

Crock Pot Cinnamon Almonds

Looking for something to give your friends and neighbors during the holidays?  Try these cinnamon almonds.  They are delicious!  It was like eating candy and I couldn't stop eating them.  Hope there's some left for my friends and neighbors :-)

Crock Pot Cinnamon Almonds

1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
3 Tablespoons of cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 egg white
2 teaspoons vanilla
3 cups almonds
1/8 cup water

In a bowl, mix together sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon and salt.  Set aside.
 
In a separate bowl, whisk the egg white and vanilla until it begins to get a little frothy.  Stir in the almonds until they are well coated in the egg white and vanilla mixture.  Add the almonds to the cinnamon mixture and toss until completely coated.

Spray your crock pot with non-stick cooking spray.  Cook the almonds on high for 2 hours, stirring every 20 minutes.  After 2 hours, pour your water over the almond and mix well to make sure there are no clumps.

Reduce heat to low and cook for 1 more hour, again stirring every 20 minutes.  Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and evenly spread the almonds to cool and dry on the paper.

**Your house is going to smell delicious and you'll be tempted to eat some almonds before they even cool.  I say go ahead!  They're delicious hot, too.  Guess you know who fell into temptation :-)