Category: Recipes

I think one of the best things we can do to stay healthy, not just during this outbreak, but all year round is to increase the immune-building foods that we eat.

Vitamin Booster Smoothie

Up your vitamin quota with help from this bright and fresh smoothie. Orange, carrot, celery and mango pack a nutritious punch

adapted from goodfood.com

Ingredients

• 1 orange, peeled and roughly chopped
• 1 large carrot, peeled and roughly chopped
• 2 sticks celery, roughly chopped
• 1 mango, roughly chopped
• 1 cup water

Put the orange, carrot, celery and mango in the blender, top up with water, then mix until smooth.

White Bean Dip

A dip filled with beans that are filled with beta-glucan and zinc – all immune-boosting properties.

adapted from Food Network.com

1 (14 ounces) can cannellini beans, rinsed and drained

1 clove garlic

1 1/2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

4 sprigs fresh mint leaves

6 sprigs fresh thyme leaves, stripped from stem

Coarse salt and black pepper

3 tablespoons chives, chopped

Pulse all ingredients except chives in a food processor or until a smooth paste forms and transfer to a bowl. Serve on bruschetta or as a dip for fresh veggies and garnish with chopped chives.

Chicken and White Bean Soup

Rotisserie chickens can really relieve the dinner-rush pressure-especially in this Italian-inspired soup.

adapted from Eatingwell.com

• 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 leeks, white and light green parts only, cut into 1/4-inch rounds
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh sage, or 1/4 teaspoon dried
• 2 14-ounce cans reduced-sodium chicken broth
• 2 cups water
• 1 15-ounce can cannellini beans, rinsed
• 1 2-pound roasted chicken, skin discarded, meat removed from bones and shredded (4 cups)

Heat oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add leeks and cook, stirring often, until soft, about 3 minutes. Stir in sage and continue cooking until aromatic, about 30 seconds. Stir in broth and water, increase heat to high, cover and bring to a boil. Add beans and chicken and cook, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until heated through, about 3 minutes. Serve hot.

Egyptian Tossed Salad

adapted from EatingWell.com

This superfood salad will boost your immune system. You can eat it in a pita or on top of a chicken cutlet or on its own.

Ingredients

Ingredient Checklist

• 2 tablespoons lime juice 
• 2 teaspoons distilled white vinegar
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1 ⅓ cups diced cucumber
• 1 ¼ cups diced tomatoes
• 1 cup chopped fresh parsley
• ⅔ cup diced green bell pepper
• ½ cup diced radishes
• ⅓ cup diced yellow onion

Whisk lime juice, vinegar, cumin and salt in a large bowl. Add cucumber, tomatoes, parsley, bell pepper, radishes and onion; toss to combine.

I made this recipe for my youngest daughter and a bunch of her friends over the past weekend. Everyone loves Mexican food and I thought this looked so good and was so easy to make. I served it with chips, salsa and guacamole (the whole foods one is really good though I like to add a little more lime juice!!!). They all loved it and went back for more and more..

Ingredients

1 rotisserie chicken

2 packets Frontera Enchilada sauce.

2 bags Mexican Shredded Cheese

Corn Tortillas

Directions:

Shred the chicken and place in a bowl

Line baking dish with tortillas

Add chicken and cheese to the inside of the tortilla and roll.

Repeat. Place all the rolled tortillas side by side in the baking dish.

Pour the Enchilada sauce on top and sprinkle with remaining cheese (be generous!!)

Bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes

Serve with a dollop of sour cream or plain Greek Yogurt (optional)

When I was in Miami last week, this Super Bowl punch was the drink of choice all over town.  If you are hosting a party tomorrow, this is a must!!!  It is soo good and really easy to make!!! It is sure to be the hit of the Super Bowl!!!!!

One of the requests I received for new year posts was for easy healthy family recipes.  I saw someone post this on Facebook the other day and decided to try it.  This crustless quiche was amazing.  I served it with some chicken soup.  I really like the skinnytaste site they have some really good lite recipes.  Stay tuned for more…Bon Appetit!!!