Beet Salad

 A quick salad is always a treat.

Especially during the warmer months when we have plenty of fresh vegetables and a lighter meal is in order.
I like to try various combination with my salads.  Changing up the greens or the vegetables I use.  Add some protein and possibly some fruit and you have one heck of a salad.  The combinations are endless!

Today's salad is a Beet Salad.  Beets, raspberry vinaigrette, and apples make this salad the perfect answer to a sweet craving.  

This is a fantastic salad!  I love the flavor combination of the beets.  If you don't have fresh ones take some help and buy them packaged.  Trader Joe's has delicious baby beets packaged and ready to go.  Also as a quick tip, some grocery store salad bars have sliced beets, and may carry hard boiled eggs and artichokes.  It's easy to pick up just a few so that you don't have to buy in quantity.  So easy!

Hope you enjoy a new, fresh salad!


Beet Salad

Serves 1

4 cups mixed greens
1 crumbled hard-boiled egg
3 sliced baby beets
1/2 cup apple slices
2 artichoke heart quarters
1 tablespoon sliced almonds

2 tablespoons bottled fat-free raspberry balsamic vinaigrette
fresh ground black pepper  
2 graham cracker squares

In a bowl combine all ingredients from the mixed greens to the almonds.  Drizzle with vinaigrette and fresh ground black pepper.  Toss to combine.  Serve with graham crackers.

How to Build a Balanced Breakfast

I know I've posted a lot of yummy breakfast dishes over the past several years.   Sinful ones, and healthier ones.  But those sinful breakfasts are usually saved for special occasions or a nice weekend meal.  

So what do you eat every day?  Me?  I'm always on the run getting ready for work and usually end up taking breakfast to work.  A grab and go breakfast is perfect for me, and I bet a lot of you too!

So I was browsing recipes on the internet and came across this wonderful formula for making a balanced breakfast.  Easy to put together and even easier to take along with you.  How perfect is that?

I thought this was a perfect post for today since I'm running out the door and don't have time for much of a breakfast myself.  So my breakfast of today consists of:

Whole grain toast
2 T low sugar blackberry jam
Smoothie (recipe coming soon!)

When compiling your first meal of the day, remember this simple formula:

Whole grain + dairy/protein + fruit = healthy breakfast

     

Include whole grains for the starch portion of your meal. This will be your main carbohydrate source. The dairy/protein digests more slowly than carbohydrate, helping you feel satisfied. And fruit is rich in essential vitamins, minerals, and fiber -- plus it's a healthy carbohydrate source.

Here are 6 healthy breakfast ideas.  All low in calories, carbs, and a good source of fiber, protein, and vitamins.

 

Healthy Breakfast #1: Sausage and Cheese English Muffin

Whole Grain:
--Whole wheat English muffin
--1 teaspoon light vegetable oil spread
Dairy/Protein:
--Morningstar Farms Original vegetable sausage patty
--3/4 ounce reduced-fat cheese
Fruit:
--3/4 cup blueberries

    

Healthy Breakfast #2: Cereal and Milk

Whole Grain:
--1 cup Kashi GoLean cereal
Dairy/Protein:
--3/4 cup fat-free milk
Fruit:
--1/2 cup strawberries, sliced

   

Healthy Breakfast #3: Blueberry Muffin

Whole Grain:
--Fiber One frozen blueberry muffin, thawed
Dairy/Protein:
--Hard-cooked egg
Fruit:
--1 cup cantaloupe cubes

  

Healthy Breakfast #4: Apple and Cheese

Whole Grain:
--Amy's Apple Toaster Pop, toasted
Dairy/Protein:
--Light string-cheese stick
Fruit:
--Small apple

   

Healthy Breakfast #5: Bagel with Peanut Butter

Whole Grain:
--Thomas' 100% Whole Wheat Mini Bagel
Dairy/Protein:
--1 tablespoon Smucker's Natural Creamy Peanut Butter
Fruit:
--1 large orange

  

Healthy Breakfast #6: Cinnamon Swirl Bread and Spread

Whole Grain:
--2 slices Pepperidge Farm 100% Whole Wheat Cinnamon with Raisins Swirl Bread, toasted
Dairy/Protein:
--2 tablespoons reduced-fat cream cheese
--1 teaspoon honey
Fruit:
--1 kiwifruit

 

Here's to a healthier breakfast, and one's that grab 'n go!!!

Enjoy!

Pictures and recipes courtesy of DiabeticLivingOnline.com

Heirloom Pizza

 It's time to sit back and relax with a pizza.

I hope that everyone had a wonderful and safe holiday.  We were out of town and had such a relaxing time that it was almost impossible to come back and get in the groove again!  So much so that I haven't felt like cooking.  Do you ever get that way?

So we've been eating super simple things like sandwiches, some salads, and then I decided to make us a pizza.  There's something comforting about pizza.  Just chillin' and eating pizza watching Modern Family on the TV.  

The question that may pop up is how do you make a homemade pizza on a weeknight?  Yeast dough isn't the most "speedy" item to make.  So what I usually do is to make a batch of my the BEST pizza dough ever, on the weekend.  This recipe makes 2 crusts, so we cook one and freeze the other for later.  So when you want pizza on a weeknight you just need to thaw the dough that day and there you go...fresh pizza dough.

If you don't want to hassle with that then you can pick up pizza dough at most grocery stores these days.  Just make sure to let it sit out for a good 45 min to come to room temp so the dough doesn't keep springing back on you when you roll it out.

The rest is simple.  Fresh heirloom tomatoes, a smidge of sauce (store bought or homemade) and some excellent fresh mozerella cheese.  The heirloom tomatoes lend a freshness to pizza that you will just adore.  Simple, good food.  I always say that good ingredients equals good flavor!

Enjoy!

Heirloom Pizza

1 portion of pizza dough (my recipe or store bought)
1/4 c pizza sauce 
2-3 different colored Heirloom tomatoes, thinly sliced
5-6 slices of fresh Mozerrella

Preheat oven to 450 degrees.  Roll pizza dough out to your desired thickness and then place on a prepared pizza pan, either using cooking spray, or a light cover of cornmeal.  

Top with a thin layer of sauce, the tomatoes, and cheese.  Place in the oven and bake for 10 minutes or until golden brown, and toppings are bubbly.