Healthy Recipe - Weeknight Greek Pasta Salad

This may be one of our new favorites. It is great for a busy weeknight because it is easy to prepare.

Weeknight Greek Pasta Salad

Ingredients:

20 oz Pasta - we used chicken stuffed tortellini but you could use your favorite. Bowtie or penne would be great as well

1-2 cups of grape tomatoes

1-2 cucumbers

1 cup olives - we like kalamata

1/2 small red onion 

3/4 cup feta cheese

2 sprigs of fresh dill

Dressing Ingredients:

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

3 Tbsp red wine vinegar

1 tsp minced garlic or 1 clove garlic finely chopped

1/2 tsp dried oregano

Salt & pepper to taste

Note: If you are in a pinch just use your favorite vinaigrette dressing such as Balsamic 1/4 cup. 

Preparations:

Cook pasta according to package directions. Cut red onion into thin slices. Peel and deseed cucumber. Chop cucumber into half moon slices. If olives are not already sliced go ahead and slice them now. While pasta is cooking prepare your dressing by mixing the above ingredients. I add the dressing with my veggies to marinate once dressing is ready. After pasta is cooked mix all ingredients together. Add cheese and dill last. What a wonderful easy meal. 

Healthy Recipe - Enchilada Bake

Ingredients: 
2 cups brown rice
2 1/2 cups cooked, shredded chicken
1 15oz can mild green enchilada sauce
1 4oz can sliced black olives
1 15 oz can of diced tomatoes or 1 1/2 cups of fresh chopped tomatoes
1/2 cup light sour cream
1 tsp of salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1 tsp ground cumin
1 15 oz can black beans, drained and rinsed
2 cups shredded cheddar or mexican blend cheese

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.
2. Cook rice according to package directions.
3. Place chicken, enchilada sauce, olives, tomatoes, sour cream, salt, pepper and cumin into a large bowl, mixing to combine. Pour cooked rice into prepared baking dish and layer beans on top of rice. Pour chicken mixture over rice and top evenly with cheddar cheese. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes. Makes 6 to 8 servings

Tips and Timesavers:
Use rotissery chicken and/or microwave rice packets for timesavers.
Can omit olives and tomatoes to family preferences.
Can add 1 cup of corn and substitute red enchilada sauce if desired.
Double recipe and freeze half for a later dinner and even greater time savings.

Healthy Recipe - Kale Chips

Confession time - I love chips! I love salty, crunchy chips! So when I heard about Kale Chips I had to give them a shot and that is not all of the confession. I can eat a whole bunch of Kale in the form of Kale Chips all by myself without sharing with anyone. I guess it is good to say that Kale is a guilty pleasure right?

So are you curious yet?

Ingredients:
1 bunch of Kale
2Tbs olive oil
1 lemon
1 pinch of seasoned salt

First you prepare your bunch of Kale by tearing off the leafy part and leaving the stalk and midrib behind. Try to inch square size pieces but if not that's ok. When you are finished removing the leafy part from the stems wash all the Kale and then dry thoroughly with a paper towel. Once Kale is dry add olive oil to your bowl of Kale. Make sure all of your Kale is coated. If there are dry sections you can add a little more oil till coated. Then squeeze on your lemon juice. If you like a lemony flavor use the whole lemon if you want a little less lemon flavor just use one half of the lemon or you can leave out the lemon all together if you don't like it. Toss/stir to coat Kale with lemon juice.
Now for the fun part. I have a microwave dehydrator from Bed, Bath and Beyond so I can make my chips in a flash. If you have one as well lay them out on top of the dehydrator and then sprinkle with seasoned salt. With my microwave it takes 3 minutes to make chips. I would recommend starting off with a minute and a half then check them if not crispy then add more time till they are dry and flaky.
If you do not have a microwave dehydrator take heart you can do this in your oven as well. Take a cookie sheet and lay out your kale on the cookie sheet. Then sprinkle with the seasoned salt. Crank the oven up to 275° F and bake for 20 minutes.

Let me know what you think of Kale chips!

www.gatewaybaycolony.com

Healthy Recipe - Week Night Pasta

This is one of our go to meals on a week night or whenever we are pressed for time. We usually make a big batch and use the leftovers for lunch the next day. 

Ingredients:

Box Bow Tie Pasta or preferred pasta

1/4 c Olive oil

1lb Shrimp or Chicken

1 single serving Frozen Sweet Peas

1 small Tomatoe

3 Halves Artichoke Hearts

2 Tbsp Capers

1 Tbsp Minced Garlic

1/2 small Onion

8 Mushrooms

1/3 cup Parmesan Cheese shaved

2 Tbsp Basil Pesto

3-4 Fresh Basil Leaves

Cayenne

Salt 

Pepper

Instructions:

Begin by boiling your pasta using the directions on the box to reach desired tenderness. While pasta is cooking prepare the rest of your ingredients. Chop onions, mushrooms, and tomatoes. Set aside tomatoes. Saute onions, garlic, capers and mushrooms in olive oil until mushrooms are cooked and onions are transparent and lightly caramelized. Remove mushrooms and onions from pan and begin to saute shrimp. Add a pinch of cayenne pepper, black pepper and salt to shrimp. Drain pasta, toss with onions, mushrooms, tomatoes, peas, capers, artichokes and parmesan cheese. Once shrimp is cooked add to the pasta mixture. The final touch is to add your basil pesto, stir all ingredients and top with fresh basil. 

Healthy Recipe - Quick On the Go Lunch Wrap

Turkey Lettuce Wraps
Iceberg or Leaf Lettuce ( 1 leaf per wrap)
1 tsp Hummus per wrap
Sliced Avocado
Sliced Turkey
Sliced Cucumber
Seasoning like Mrs. Dash
Toothpicks

Other filler options : Shredded Carrots, Tomatoes, Salsa, Herbs, Tuna

Flatten out lettuce leaf. If midvein is large it can be removed to make wrapping easier. Spread hummus on to lettuce. Layer on the turkey and lettuce until all are on the lettuce. Sprinkle on seasoning to taste. Roll lettuce a quarter inch on two sides to form top and bottom to prevent spillage, then complete by rolling from the sides and securing with a toothpick.
This is a quick lunch or snack that can be made when you are on the go and is a healthy alternative to a hamburgers and french fries.

Snack Recipe - Fruit Kabobs

Here is a really healthy alternative to sweets such as cupcakes and cookies for kids snacks. These work especially well for School and Day Care events like Birthdays.

Fruit Kabobs

Wooden Skewer Sticks (I used the small ones @4inches)
Suggestions for filling the Kabob:
Strawberries
Pineapple
Grapes
Blueberries
Kiwi
Watermelon
Blackberries
Marshmellows (Explore Fun shapes and flavors)
Cheese

There are lots of different ways to make a great kid friendly kabob treat. First make sure all fruit has been prepped by washing and/or peeling if required. Use your firm fruits or items on the ends to hold everything together and get to putting your items on the stick. If you want to get really creative you can use cookie cutters to create fun shapes with some of your fruit and cheese. Refrigerate if not eating right away but eat and enjoy as soon as possible.
Fruit kabobs can even be dipped in a healthy flavored yogurt dip. Find your favorite flavor of yogurt and get to dipping.


Visit our Pinterest page for more kabob options on our Fun Food For Kids Board.
http://pinterest.com/gatewaybaycolny/

Leave us a comment or let us know what other recipes you have or would be interested in us featuring!

Make Eating Healthy Fun!!

Make Eating Healthy Fun for you and your Family!

Get creative and try to get a variety of 

vegetables & fruits in your diet.

Have kids take the fruits and vegetables and write their names. 

A great alternative to unhealthy vegetable dip is to substitute Fage Greek Yogurt in place of the Sour Cream. Use cookie cutters on the softer fruits like watermelon. 

Get fit, lose weight, be healthy, and be a good example to your kids by making small changes that over time have big results. 

For more healthy tips visit:  www.freakofnaturefitness.com

Special thanks to our guest posterTosha from http://www.freakofnaturefitness.com/! Visit her blog for more health and fitness tips.
Visit our website at www.gatewaybaycolony.net