Autumn Trail Mix

I love to create my own healthy trail mix, and this one is full of delicious ingredients that reminds me of why I love the Fall. Hello, Autumn Trail Mix!

Ingredients:

1 cup Pecans

1 cup Walnuts

1 cup dried Apricots (I suggest Unsulfured Apricots)

1/2 cup Pumpkin Seeds

1/2 cup raw Sunflower Seeds

Instructions:

Step 1) Combine all ingredients together in a bowl or a large (zip-lock) bag and mix well.

Notes: 

It’s unbelievable how easy it is to make your own healthy trail mix at home – and it’s a lot cheaper too! This Autumn Trail Mix is a delicious and healthy snack to enjoy during the Fall – or anytime during the year!

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Tags: Autumn, dried apricots, Healthy, Nuts, Recipe, seeds, Trail Mix

Banana Chips

Who else loves to munch on banana chips?! Who loves munching on banana chips that are full of sugar? Not me! I borrowed a food dehydrator from my wonderful sister-in-law (thank you!), and decided to take advantage of the situation by making healthy banana chips that have no added sugar!

I think you will enjoy this easy recipe. It’s so basic, can I really call it a recipe? Hmmm… I’ll let you be the judge of that.

Ingredients:

4 (or more) bunches of ripe Bananas

Spectrum® Coconut Oil Spray

Instructions:

Step 1) Peel the bananas and slice the bananas into 1/8 inch thick slices.

Step 2) Spray the dehydrator sheets with the Spectrum® Coconut Oil Spray. I recommend putting some paper towels underneath the sheets for an easier clean up.

Step 3) Place the banana slices on the dehydrator sheets.

Step 4) Follow the instructions from your dehydrator on how to dehydrate bananas. The dehydrator I used had be use the 135 temperature setting and I turned the machine on for about 8 hours.

Step 5) Remove the banana chips from the dehydrator sheets and enjoy!

Notes:

I suggest making as many banana chips as you can with the dehydrator that  you have access to. Also, you will want to make sure that you use ripe bananas, otherwise it can be a little mushy and I just don’t think that it’s the best texture for banana chips.

Tags: banana, Banana Chips, Healthy, no sugar, Recipe, snack

Tiger Prawns with Lime Zest

A lot of people enjoy Tiger Prawns at restaurants (or any shrimp for that matter), but they don’t feel confident in making their own dish at home. Here’s a gourmet tasting dish that is an extremely simple recipe that anyone can follow. 

Ingredients:

2 lbs raw Tiger Prawns

1 tbsp Coconut Oil

1 tbsp Minced Garlic

1/4 tsp Sea Salt

1 whole Lime (you will need lime juice and zest)

Instructions:

Step 1) Remove the shells and de-vein the tiger prawns.

Sometimes you will notice a black vein that runs across the back of the shrimp or prawn. I always check for this, and make sure that I remove it before cooking. Just rinse it off with water, and rub it off if needed.

These are edible, but I don’t recommend leaving them on since they have a gritty texture and taste like sand.

This is what a deveined tiger prawn looks like (see below)

Step 2) Add the coconut oil and the tiger prawns to a skillet on medium-high heat.

Step 3) Add minced garlic and sea salt to the tiger prawns once the meat is almost thoroughly cooked.

Cooking Tip: To prevent the minced garlic from being overcooked, wait for the tiger prawns to become mostly cooked before adding it to the hot skillet. Let’s just say, minced garlic burns easily…

Step 4) Squeeze lime juice on tiger prawns once they are almost done cooking.

Step 5) Once tiger prawns are completely cooked (they will be pink, and no gray will be showing on the meat), place the meat on a plate.

Step 6) Use a grater and use lime zest for added taste and as a garnish.

Notes:

Quite honestly, this is one of those dishes that you don’t have to measure out every single ingredient perfectly. This is an easy dish to make, and I am sure you are going to love it! Enjoy!

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Tags: coconut oil, Healthy, Lime, Minced Garlic, Recipe, sea salt, Tiger Prawns

10 Health Benefits of Watermelons

When I think of Summer barbecues, one of the first fruits I think of is a refreshing Watermelon slice! To celebrate Summer, I have listed some amazing health benefits that Watermelons come with, something we can all enjoy!

Watermelon Health Benefits

1) Watermelon is rich in a carotenoid antioxidant in it called lycopene, which is something tomatoes are famous for. Something you may not know, watermelon has more lycopene than any other fresh fruit or vegetable -including tomatoes -which are known to help reduce the risk of several types of cancers.

2) Watermelons are very low in calories, about 46 calories per cup. This is one of the many reasons that makes watermelon a great snack to have throughout the day, especially if you have a weight loss goal.

3) Watermelon contains arginine which is an amino acids that can help maintain arteries, blood flow and overall cardiovascular function.

4) When you eat watermelon, you consume zero grams of fat and cholesterol.

5) Watermelons are high in vitamin A which is an antioxidant and promotes eye health (just like carrots!)

6) Watermelons are rich in potassium, which may help control blood pressure and possibly prevent strokes.

7) Watermelon is fairly high in vitamin C, which is a great way to build up your immune system, prevent cellular damage, heal wounds, and even promotes healthy teeth and gums.

8) Watermelon is one of nature’s natural sources of some important electrolytes – sodium and potassium- which we lose when we sweat. This concept alone reminds me why watermelon is a great fruit to snack on during the hot Summer months.

9) I thought this was an obvious thing, but it’s important to realize that we can get water intake from the foods we eat. Some foods contain more water than others, and you guessed it – watermelon is full of water! With it’s high water concentration, eating watermelons is a great way to prevent dehydration.

10) If you want to avoid Genetically Modified (GM) foods, stay away from seedless watermelons. A side-effect of GM seedless watermelons is that there is a much higher sugar content in them, which isn’t always a good thing.

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Tags: Fruit, Healthy, low calorie, Nutrition, Weight Loss

Healthy Recipes for Memorial Day

This Memorial Day, why not try something new- and healthy!? Here’s some delicious meals you ought to try!

1) Mediterranean Portobello Burger

Who needs a greasy hamburger when you can make this? This burger is so packed with flavor that any meat lover wouldn’t feel deprived eating it. With only 301 calories, this burger is sure to become a new summer time tradition! You will find this recipe at delish.com – Enjoy!

2) Grilled Rosemary Salmon Skewers

When you combine salmon, tomatoes, and rosemary, you are going to enjoy a super healthy and delicious treat from the grill with very few calories – 246 calories to be exact! Find this easy to make recipe at EatingWell.com and start that grill up!

3) Chicken Salad with Almonds

You thought salad was just a bunch of boring leafy greens put together? Think again! This is a delicious salad that can serve as a main or as a side dish – you decide! This recipe can be found at ElenaPantry.com, along with plenty more mouth watering (and healthy!) meals.

4) Grilled Shrimp

I love seafood – it’s a delicious form of protein, healthy fats, with (usually) less calories! This delicious dish is no exception, with only 156 calories per serving,  you can enjoy this guilt-free! Find the recipe at Self.com and try to leave some for others to enjoy, will ya? ; )

5) Farro Salad with Grilled Eggplant, Tomatoes, and Onion

I love trying new things, such as Farro, and this is a great way to try Farro and still use the grill! You will find the recipe at FoodNetwork.com, along with very positive reviews!

6) Berry-Banana Smoothie

Try a refreshing drink that doesn’t hold the guilt – this only has 126 calories and it’s full of healthy fruit and a touch of honey for sweetness! That’s right, no processed sugar or artificial sweeteners added! What a treat! Find this ridiculously easy recipe at EatingWell.com and make a toast to your good health!

7) Berries and Goat Cheese Mini Pizzas

Just because you eat healthy, doesn’t mean you can’t have dessert! You just need to learn how to make and/or find healthy desserts that are yummy and don’t ask  you to add in sugar and other not-so-healthy ingredients. Find this fairly easy recipe at FamilyFreshCooking.com and you won’t be disappointed!

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Tags: Healthy, holiday, Memorial Day, recipes