HEALTHY RANCH DIP

I really had hoped to post something a little sooner, but my plans were foiled a few days ago when my 2 year old spit an entire mouth full of apple juice right into the key board of my lap top. At the time I had one of those..."Why am I having another child??? moments". But I'm over it now, and my little r is once again the light of my life. She's just lucky she has a "computer nerd" daddy that knows how to fix just about everything electronic around here.

So I thought it only fitting that my first post of the new year, be something healthy. It seems like everyone I know has set goals for weight loss or healthy eating. One of the benefits of pregnancy at the new year; not really worrying about weight loss. However, I know that will be my number one goal come April. Anyway, this little recipe is one of my all time favorites.

Years ago, and I do mean many years, I really got into Body for Life. Some of you may have heard if it. It's a great program. I've done it twice in my life and both time lost a considerable amount of weight. The first time I lost 30 pounds and the second time I lost 25. I have many recipes from the program that have stuck with me over the years, not just because they're healthy, they also happen to be yummy. This was one of them.

I also thought this was a great fit for the upcoming Super Bowl Sunday. This is a perfect healthy munchie. Even my 2 year old gobbles this stuff up. She is a veggieholic though...strange but true.


HEALTHY RANCH DIP
(Recipe by Body for Life)

1 C. regular or low-fat cottage cheese
1 green onion, chopped
2 t. Italian seasoning
1/4 t. ground black pepper
1/2 t. salt

1. Combine the cottage cheese and green onion in a blender or food processor. Blend on high speed until smooth.
2. Stir in the Italian seasoning, pepper and salt.
3. Serve with Veggies, Pita chips, crackers etc...

OLIVE OIL PARMESAN BLACK PEPPER POPCORN

I love love love popcorn. It's definitely my "go to" savory treat. Watching my calories I try to satisfy most my cravings with the low-fat microwave kind...but every now and then when I really feel like indulging, I make the real stuff. You know...the old school on the stove kind. It's the only kind my mom made when we were growing up. Most the time I just use olive oil and a little sea salt, but when I really feel fancy I make this stuff. And it's always worth it!

(You may notice in my picture the cheese didn't quite melt onto the popcorn, but that's because I had a 2 year old emergency right when I was taking the popcorn off the stove and I added the cheese after the popcorn had cooled. It was still really good. But I promise if you add the cheese right away, it's melts great.)

OLIVE OIL PARMESAN BLACK PEPPER POPCORN
(Mindi Original)

1/4 C. olive oil
1/2 C. popcorn corn kernels
fresh ground black pepper to taste
sea salt to taste
1/4 C. fresh grated Parmesan cheese

1. In a large pot with a lid (at least 2 qt.), or stock pot with a lid, add the olive oil and popcorn kernels.
2. Place the lid on the pot and put the pot over high heat.
3. Allow to heat until the you start to hear sizzling and the popcorn start to pop, then reduce the heat to medium/high.
4. Watch the pot carefully and allow all the popcorn to pop. Once the popping slows down or stops, take the popcorn off the heat. Let it rest for about a minute (with lid on), then take the lid off and poor into a large bowl.
5. Immediately toss in the cheese, salt and pepper. Start with about 1 or 2 teaspoons of salt & pepper then add more to taste. (Make sure you add the cheese first when the popcorn is the most hot. This will allow the cheese to melt a bit and adhere to the popcorn.)

FLAXSEED OATMEAL CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

Summer is kicking my butt! I can't seem to stay on top of anything these days. My "to do" list is growing daily, with no end in sight. I don't really feel busy all the time, but at the end of the day I'm amazed at how little I seem to accomplish. I realize less time could be spent at the pool, or playing outside, or biking with little r...but what fun would that be. Besides, I'm all too aware that winter will be knocking on the door sooner than I would like, and I'll have plenty of time to tackle that "to do" list.

So hopefully you'll forgive me if I miss a post from time to time, or I'm a little late...It's not my fault. Just blame it on summer!

One thing I have had time to do...make cookies. Little r has been all about the cookies lately. If she had it her way, cookies would be on the menu at every meal. So I decided I better find a way to sneak some good stuff into her cookie treats. I did a little adaptation on an oatmeal cookie recipe and taadaa...a cookie loaded with all the goodness of flaxseed. She liked it too!

FLAXSEED OATMEAL CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

(Recipe adaptation from All Recipes)

¾ C. butter (1 ½ sticks)
¾ C. granulated sugar
¾ C. lightly packed brown sugar
1 ½ C. flaxseed, lightly grounded
2 large eggs
1 t. vanilla
1 ¾ C. whole wheat flour
½ T. baking soda
1 ½ C. oatmeal
1 ½ C. chocolate chips (optional)

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
2. In a medium bowl, cream the butter and sugars; add flaxseed and set aside.
3. In another small bowl, beat eggs and vanilla together. Combine with flax mixture.
4. Sift together the flour and soda. Mix in oatmeal and combine with other ingredients.
5. Add the chocolate chips and mix well.
6. The dough will be thick. Form into balls and place on a baking sheet about 2 inches apart.
7. Cook for 10-12 minutes.
8. Makes about 3-4 dozen.

A "Super" delish thumbs up!

This is just a little something I whipped up on Super Bowl Sunday. I had some ripe avocado's that were at the "use or throw away" stage. For some reason I wasn't in the mood for just plain old guacamole, so I decided to be creative. The risk paid off. This got a "super" thumbs up from my hubby!


BLACK BEAN CORN AND AVOCADO SALSA
(Mindi Original)

1 Can Mexican style diced tomatoes; do not drain
1 Can black beans; drained and rinsed
1 Can sweet corn, or 2 C. frozen corn; defrosted
2 avocados; diced
½ large red onion; finely diced
½ C. cilantro; chopped
2-3 T. lime juice
1 t. cumin
3 cloves garlic; crushed and minced
salt & pepper to taste

1. In a large mixing bowl combine all the ingredients and gently stir to combine.
2. Serve with chips, on tacos, or over fish or chicken.

Want to start a creepy tradition...

I'm so excited for Halloween! I don't know why. It's always been my least favorite holiday. I've never really thought much about it until this year. I'm sure it has something to do with little "R". I know she won't remember this Halloween and the whole dressing up and trick-or-treating may just freak her out...who knows! But I'm so excited to find out. Honestly, I'm pretty sure she's going to love it. As soon as she gets one taste of the good stuff...the treats...I think she'll be a fan.

As many of you know, well most of you probably don't, I didn't get married until I was 32. Little "R" was born when I was 34. So I had many years of childless years waiting for my turn to bask in the joy of kid loving holidays.

My sister however was married at 18 and now has 3 teenagers, who still love Halloween! Probably because she always made it, and all other holidays, special and exciting. My sisters pretty crafty and amazing! She has been brilliant at creating the best traditions for her family; both meaningful and whimsical.

One such tradition that I think is pretty cool; Halloween inspired dinners. The week or several days leading up Halloween, she always makes spooky, gross, or scary snacks and meals for the kids. They love it and always look forward to her annual creepy creations.

This year little "R" isn't quite old enough to really appreciate or "get" the concept of creative cooking, but by next year I'm hoping to start this same tradition. If you think this would be a cool tradition as well. Click here for some awesome Halloween inspired recipes that are sure to please all the little goblins in your house.

Recipe and photo's from "Family Fun Magazine"

Swamp Juice

Mummy Pizza's

Carrot Finger Food

Apple Bites

Up to my elbows...

in peaches. That's pretty much what most of this week has consisted of; drying peaches and making peach pie. Yes, I finally got to make my fresh peach pie. I made 3 of them. don't worry, I shared them with my neighbors. If I hadn't, it would have been my breakfast, lunch and dinner all week. That's how much I love Fresh Peach Pie! (For those of you that missed that post...scroll down a little for the recipe.)

Anyway, there really isn't a recipe for dried peaches. But I wanted to throw the idea out there. There is nothing like fresh dried fruit. It has no added sugar, no preservatives and it is the most healthy and delicious snack; loved by kid and adult alike.

The other day I was watching the Bunker boys. Big "H" wanted a snack, this was our conversation:

M - Have a dried peach.
H - What's a dried peach. Is it a chip? (with a look of disgust)
M - Well kind of I guess, but it's kind of chewy as well. I promise you, just take a bite. You will like it.
H - I don't know about this. (Hesitantly he takes the smallest of nibbles.)
M - Oh come on, take a big bite. It's really yummy.
H - (Daringly dives in. After a bit of chewing,) Man! This is really good!
M - I told you.

He couldn't get enough! Happy ending. "H" you're always welcome to come over for some dried peaches.

Other fruits we love to dehydrate include: pears, pineapple, and apples.


The recipe...well there really isn't one but...

All you have to do is buy a food dehydrator; definitely worth the investment. Slice your fruit of choice 1/16" to 1/8" thin (I use my mandolin slicer), and let the machine do the work. Bonus...it will fill your house with the most yummy sent.

*If you're looking for other excuses to buy a dehydrator, I also use it to dry herbs, tomatoes, and flowers. If you have a food dehydrator and use it for anything fun and creative, I'd love to hear about it.