Chunky Cucumber Salsa

Salsa is a tasty way to eat your fruits and vegetables. Trying making your own tortilla chips with whole wheat tortillas. This saves fat, calories and salt. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place tortillas on baking sheet. Brush with olive oil and season to taste. Cut into wedges and bake 8 to 10 minutes until crispy.

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Asparagus with Balsamic Tomatoes

Spring is the time to enjoy asparagus at its finest. Look for firm stalks, with the buds still tight. Asparagus is incredibly versatile in that it can be grilled, roasted, steamed, or blanched as in this recipe or for a surprise addition to a veggie tray. Cook more than you need for a meal… there are always uses for leftovers.

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Easy Corn Casserole

This recipe is a lightened-up version of a holiday favorite.  It would also make a great addition to a Mexican meal with a dollop of salsa and a side of black beans.  If you can’t find no-salt-added whole kernel corn, you can substitute thawed and drained frozen corn.

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Mini Meatloaves

This recipe is a great way to portion control your meats and packs well for an easy lunch.  Since pre-ground meats often come in 1 lb. packs, try doubling this recipe and freezing the leftovers for another dinner.  The oats aren’t enough to add significant fiber, but they hold moisture.  If your family likes mushrooms, you can try adding some of those (chopped) too.

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Roasted Cabbage with Chive-Mustard Vinaigrette

There are lots of ways to incorporate cabbage in your diet, even after St. Patrick’s Day. Roasting vegetables is a heart-healthy cooking technique that produces tasty results. The basic components are a lower-moisture vegetable, some olive oil for water retention and a very high heat. One of the ways to decrease the fat content is to use a brush or olive oil mister to distribute the oil evenly without using more than is needed.

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Mexican Pasta Salad with Creamy Avocado Dressing

This covered dish favorite can be made a day ahead of time, with the dressing added up to an hour before serving.  Avocados are good sources of heart-healthy fats, and since this recipe only calls for half, try doubling the dressing and using the extra dressing on grilled vegetables. The acid in the dressing will keep the avocado from browning the way it would if left wrapped in the refrigerator.

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