Skinny Broccoli Tortellini Salad

This dish makes a great appetizer. Pasta salads full of deliciousness are the best. The BEST! This Skinny Broccoli Tortellini Salad has been on the top of my list for years, and now I’m sharing it with you.

What's so great about Apple Cider Vinegar?

Do you have a bottle of Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) in your pantry? Ever use it as a medicine?

Product Review: Brad's Raw Crunchy Kale

 

I have been waiting impatiently on a sale to try Brad’s Raw Crunchy Kale and was surprisingly disappointed. I don’t like to post negative reviews, but also don’t like to see people waste their money.  

Everyday Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing

This is the balsamic vinaigrette I make for my salad everyday. I don't know how, but I haven't gotten sick of it yet. It's quick and simple (four ingredients). When I have more time or for a special occasion, I make a more complex version of this (post coming soon), but here is the simple version that is full of flavor. Great for when you are on the go.

To help you along, here is my FIRST (here goes!) how-to video to help you make this amazing dressing. Let me know what you think, friends!

 

Fall Veggie Pizza

Are you in the mood for a pizza? Fall vegetables? How about a Fall Veggie Pizza? Well good because that’s what is in store here. My Fall Veggie Pizza is loaded with butternut squash and kale, this is a great way to get your veggies, while also enjoying an American favorite. Fall is all about comfort food, getting into the season of giving and many times that means sharing food with friends and family. Right? This Fall Veggie Pizza is great for serving to guests. My (unbiased, not paid, I promise) taste testers gave me two thumbs up on this one.

Classy Quesadilla

Cheesy goodness between two pieces of bread, the adult grilled cheese if you will, who doesn’t love a quesadilla? Usually not the poster child for health, but sometimes they boast redeeming qualities… sometimes. Many menus offer a veggie quesadilla or a side of fresh salsa to make it seem healthy, but usually they still end up greasy, normally filled with meat and cheese, right? That's where the Classy Quesadilla comes in. This recipe transforms this street food into a healthier and yes, classier meal. Maybe you’ll even eat it with a knife and fork (haha).

Kale Tips & Tricks

Kale is a unique leafy green that people seem to either love or hate. I hope you are reading this because you love kale or you are ready to give it a second chance. In my clean eating adventures I’ve had a great experience with kale, and now I want to share some of what I’ve discovered with you. In case you missed the memo, Kale is also full of nutrients...

Kale and Beet Salad with Honey Mustard Vinaigrette

Kale can stir up mixed emotions, people either love it, hate it, or as I say - haven’t had it prepared well yet. Here is your chance to try it in a flavorful combo with beets, carrots, pecans, cranberries and feta. I’ll explain how to turn your kale from dry and gritty to soft and chewable in simple steps.

Turkey Sausage Rigatoni Bake

Warm and hearty pasta like this dish is great for fall meals! Pasta bakes are diverse, allowing you to bake ahead of time and warm up when you need it, or re-heat the leftovers. Also, easy enough to make anytime of the week. 1.Cook pasta 2. Cook sausage and onions 3. Mix all ingredients together and bake – done!

Sweet Potato Boats with Avocado Salad - $$

Sweet potato season is here!  In the fall they are easy to turn to for a healthy comfort food.  For me sweet potatoes are a standard during the holidays and have recently become a staple in my kitchen. They also make a great snack by themselves. Check out my chip recipe here.  Or baked – cut one in half and pop in the oven for 20-30 minutes and then add a little butter. Easy. The sweet potato boat improves upon this 10-fold. This recipe takes one of my favorite healthy snacks to a new level – the dinner table! You could eat these by themselves for lunch or as a side with dinner (or I’ve eaten a couple “boats” as my dinner on a night I’m not super hungry).

Quinoa Veggie Salad - $$

I must admit, I haven’t been very creative using quinoa until now, partially because it’s still new to me. I put it on salads and even eat it plain with oil for a quick healthy snack, so creating this recipe was out of my comfort zone and I second guessed myself a hundred times. One thing I try to remember with my recipes is that it’s ok to mess up. Luckily this was not one of my mess ups.

Honey Lemon Vinaigrette Dressing - $

This simple vinaigrette is quick and effortless, just like a salad dressing should be. I would describe it as light, sweet and tangy. I’ve tried this on different types of salad and it’s always good. For freshness I try to use hand squeeze the lemon, but lemon juice from the fridge is fine too. If you are using this dressing on a kale salad I recommend adding the dressing about 20 minutes before you eat to let the leaves soften (let the oil and ACV do their job!). 

Fruit & Walnut Salad - $$

Since I’ve been eating so many fruit smoothies lately, (checkout my top smoothie recipes here) I forgot how easy it is to throw together a fruit salad – there really is no rhyme or reason to what you include. Mix in your favorites and serve. This one started off as a melon salad and I added the grape for the color and the strawberries are just a must have for me. I’ve been adding them to everything this summer, from green salads and breakfast bowls to smoothies and desserts. It makes me wish I had kept up with the strawberry plants my dad bought me when I was a half-hearted 4-H member in elementary school. As always – if you grow any fruit you can save yourself some serious cash. If not this salad could easily cost $10 (but that’s for a large bowl that serves 4-6 people). I used about a half of the cantaloupe and melon so there was plenty of leftover un-cut for other uses throughout the week.

DIY Spicy Chicken Marinade - $

Just in time for the holiday weekend, here is a new marinade to try on the grill or in the oven. Quick and easy is the name of the game so this recipe doesn’t require a food processor for peppers or other ingredients, just a good old whisk.

Lean Green Smoothie - $$

Sometimes I just need to hit the reset button on a slow morning or post weekend after I’ve over indulged on treats. Why not drink your way to feeling better? With whole food ingredients, smoothies are a great way to get vital nutrients, especially when you are in a rush to quickly cleanse your body and give you fuel for the day. Hard to go wrong sipping one of these babies!