Tag Archives: dinner

Swiss Chard Lasagna Rollups

Lasagna roll ups…Why on earth have I not made these before? This is my new favorite way to make lasagna. They are so easy and yummy! I used beautiful swiss chard from my Door to Door Organics Tristate delivery. You could also use fresh spinach leaves, but the swiss chard was just delicious and has so many health great benefits!

swiss chard lasagna rollup

I really like how you can use any veggie or meat combination per roll to satisfy any eater. Now my husband doesn’t have to pick out the extra mushrooms I just love. And my daughter, who’s currently on a “not eating anything green” kick had shredded carrots and cheese in hers. Go ahead and get creative!

swiss chard lasagna rollup

swiss chard lasagna rollup

did-you-know

Did you know Swiss chard is one of the most antioxidant-rich foods on the planet. It contains beta-carotene, vitamin E, vitamin C, zinc, lutein, zeaxanthin, quercetin, kaempferol, and many other disease fighting antioxidants.  Click here to learn more great health benefits about Swiss Chard.

swiss chard lasagna rollup

Ingredients

  • 6-8 cooked and drained lasagna noodles, depending on many people you will be serving
  • 1 small onion, diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, pressed
  • 1 small bunch swiss chard, chopped
  • 1 cup ricotta cheese
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • Handful fresh basil
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Fresh grated mozzarella or parmesan cheese for topping
  • Your favorite tomato sauce

Directions

  1. Pre heat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Place drained lasagna on parchment paper and lay out flat.
  3. In a skillet heat a tablespoon of oil and saute the onions for about 3 minutes and then add garlic and cook for another minute.
  4. Add chopped swiss chard and cook until wilted, about 4 minutes.
  5. Place ricotta cheese in large mixing bowl and add beaten egg, swiss chard mixture, herbs, and salt and pepper. Mix until combined.
  6. Spread cheese mixture onto the lasagna noodles and roll up.
  7. Place rolled up noodles in a baking dish coated with about a cup of tomato sauce. Once roll ups are in the dish top with additional sauce and cheese.
  8. Bake, covered for 30-35 minutes or until hot and bubbly.

Enjoy!

Mediterranean Pizza

Pizza time! I just love to make my own pizzas. It’s a great way to use up my leftover veggies and it tastes so much better than the frozen stuff. I usually cheat and buy the dough, so it only takes me a few minutes to assemble and bake. This is a perfect quick week night dinner, or a weekend lunch that can be nibbled on throughout the day. So get creative and add whatever you like!

This pizza I went Mediterranean.  I used:

  • tomato sauce
  • mozzarella cheese
  • fresh spinach
  • red onion
  • red pepper
  • kalamata olives, sliced
  • feta cheese

mediterranean pizza

mediterranean pizza

“Irish” French Onion Soup

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Nothing says Irish more than a Guinness, so why not add it to one of my favorite soups. French onion soup is easy to make, but it does take some time to caramelize the onions to perfection. But it is so worth it! Usually at a restaurant, french onion soup is loaded with cheese. Don’t get me wrong I love cheese, but I am trying to avoid extra calories.  You control the calories by the amount of cheese you use for the topping.

Irish French Onion Soup

tips&tricks To caramelize the onions, they must cook for about 40 minutes. Stirring about every 10 minutes to help them turn a golden brown. If the onions start to stick to the pan, simply add some Guinness to deglaze the pan.

Irish French Onion Soup

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 large onions sliced thinly, about 8 cups (this looks like a lot, but they will cook down)
  • 4 cloves of garlic, pressed
  • 1 teaspoon of dried thyme
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon of butter
  • 1/4 cup flour
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1 can of Guinness
  • 4 cups of beef or vegetable broth (used organic beef, but vegetable would work for vegetarians)
  • splash of Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tablespoon of dijon mustard
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • French baguette, sliced into 1/2 inch slices, brush lightly with olive oil and toast in the oven
  • shredded cheddar or swiss

Directions

  •  Add olive oil to a heated large pot or sauce pan of over medium heat. Add the sliced onions to caramelize. To caramelize the onions, see tips.
  • Add the brown sugar, garlic, thyme, and butter cook for  a few minutes.
  • Meanwhile whisk the flour and water until smooth. Add to pan and cook for about 3 minutes.
  • Add the Guinness and increase the heat to get it nice and bubbly. Reduce the Guinness by half.
  • Add the broth, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, salt, and pepper. Simmer for about 30 minutes.
  • Ladle the soup into oven proof bowls. Top with toasted baguette and cheese. Bake until cheese is melted and bubbly.

Broccoli Bites

Going green for tonight’s St. Patty’s festivities! That’s right, we’re finally going out for St. Patrick’s day. We have an overnight sitter and we’re ready to party! Back to the broccoli bites. We’re having some friends over before our big night on the town, and I needed a quick and easy snack. These are not only festive, but really good. They’re full of veggies and make a great healthy snack. I think I may just need to make some extras for a snack later this week.

broccoli bites

did-you-know

Did you know broccoli contains high levels of both calcium and vitamin K, both of which are important for bone health and prevention of osteoporosis.  This is great news if you’re not a fan of milk.  Click here for more great health benefits from broccoli.

broccoli bites

Ingredients

  • 1 medium head of broccoli, cut into very small pieces
  • 1 small carrot , peeled and shredded
  • 1 garlic clove, pressed
  • 3/4 cup cheddar cheese
  • 3 eggs, beaten
  • 1 cup of panko or bread crumbs
  • 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

  • Pre heat oven to 350 degrees. Steam broccoli pieces for a few minutes, until they turn a nice bright green. Let cool.
  • In a large bowl combine all ingredients and mix well.
  • Shape into bite size broccoli balls.
  • Bake on parchment paper for about 18-20 minutes or until golden brown.

nutritional fact - broccoli bite

Thai Peanut Chicken Pasta with Vegetables

So you’re probably thinking…Peanut butter and pasta, really? Don’t be fooled, it really is a great combination!  In fact, this is one of the most requested meals by my husband. It’s not very spicy and the peanut butter sauce adds a nice sweetness to the dish so if you’ve never had Thai food before, this is a great recipe to start with.

peanut chicken pasta

tips&tricks

Ginger root is typically large and most recipes call for only a few teaspoons. Don’t let that ginger go to waste. Freeze it. When you need to use it again no need to defrost, it actually is easier to grate while frozen. Just simply peel away the skin and grate. Ginger root will last about 6 months in the freezer. Click here for more information about ginger root.

peanut chicken pasta 02

Ingredients

  • 2 carrots, peeled
  • 2 teaspoons sesame oil, divided (you can use olive oil if you don’t have sesame)
  • 2 teaspoons grated fresh ginger
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 cup low sodium chicken or vegetable broth
  • 1/2 cup of peanut butter (creamy or chunky, whatever you have)
  • 1/4 cup low sodium soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 3 tablespoons rice vinegar (white vinegar will also work)
  • 1 teaspoon of chili garlic sauce or sriracha (you can find this in the Asian section of the grocery store)
  • 1 cup canned lite coconut milk (found in the baking isle or Asian section)
  • 1 lb chicken breasts cut into strips
  • 1 large red pepper cut into thin strips
  • 1 pound green beans or snow peas
  • 1 box of whole wheat spaghetti or linguine, cooked
  • 1/2 cup fresh cilantro
  • 1/2 cup peanuts for topping (optional)

Directions

  1. Shave carrots with a vegetable peeler and set aside in a bowl.
  2. Heat a sauce pan over medium heat and 1 teaspoon of the oil. Add ginger and garlic, saute for about 30 seconds. Add broth, peanut butter, soy sauce, brown sugar, vinegar, and chili sauce. Stir together until peanut butter is smooth. About 5 minutes. Add coconut milk and stir until heated. Remove sauce from heat and keep warm with a lid on top of pan.
  3. Heat 1 teaspoon of oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add peppers and green beans or snow peas, saute for about 5 minutes. Remove from skillet and set aside.
  4. Add chicken strips. Cook chicken strips until no longer pink, about 10 minutes.  Turn off heat.
  5. Add the carrots, sauted vegetables, pasta, and peanut sauce to the cooked chicken in the skillet. Toss well so everything is covered with the sauce. I found that using tongs worked best.
  6. Top with fresh cilantro and peanuts.

nutrional facts - thai peanut pasta

Enjoy!

Avocado Grilled Cheese Recipe

This has got to be one of the best grilled cheese sandwiches I’ve ever made.  All I can say is WOW!

I made this sandwich in my cast iron skillet, which is my absolute favorite pan to cook with.  They’re very inexpensive and cook your food to perfection. I could talk about this pan all day.  Right…back to the grilled cheese sandwich. From the crispy bread and gooey cheese, to the fresh avocado, I can’t decide which part I like best.

avocado grilled cheese 02

did-you-know

Did you know avocados can help fight both oral and breast cancer?  Research has shown that certain compounds in avocados are able to seek out pre-cancerous and cancerous oral cancer cells and destroy them without harming healthy cells. And it’s high in oleic acid, which has been shown to prevent breast cancer in numerous studies.  Click here to learn more.

avocado grilled cheese

Avocado Grilled Cheese
Serves 1
Write a review
Print
Total Time
5 min
Total Time
5 min
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size
557g
Amount Per Serving
Calories 656
Calories from Fat 356
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 41g
63%
Saturated Fat 15g
76%
Trans Fat 0g
Polyunsaturated Fat 4g
Monounsaturated Fat 19g
Cholesterol 59mg
20%
Sodium 898mg
37%
Total Carbohydrates 49g
16%
Dietary Fiber 16g
63%
Sugars 5g
Protein 31g
Vitamin A
652%
Vitamin C
176%
Calcium
90%
Iron
68%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your Daily Values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
Ingredients
  1. 2 slices of your favorite bread, I used a marble rye fresh from the bakery
  2. Little bit of coconut or olive oil to spread onto bread
  3. 1 teaspoon pesto sauce
  4. Fresh baby spinach leaves
  5. 1/2 of a ripe avocado, sliced
  6. 2 slices of cheese, I used pepper jack, but I think fresh mozzarella or cheddar would also taste great
Instructions
  1. Heat skillet on medium heat.
  2. Spread a thin layer of oil over one side of each slice of bread. Flip over and spread the pesto sauce onto each slice of bread.
  3. Add slices of cheese to each slice of bread. Top with spinach and avocado.
  4. Fold together to create a sandwich.
  5. Place in heated skillet and cook for about 3-4 minutes on each side. I like to put another heavy pan on top of the sandwich to make it a pressed sandwich.
Kim's Healthy Eats https://www.kimshealthyeats.com/
 

Follow us on Facebook to receive alerts of all our new and exciting recipes.

Cheddar Vegetable Chowder

Between work, the gym, and dance classes for my daughter, it’s tough to find time during the week to make dinner. So on Sundays I like to make a few meals to prepare for the busy week.  I try to keep them simple and healthy. You may want to double this one though, since most of it was gone by lunch.

vegetable chowder

vegetable chowder 02

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 small onion, finely chopped
  • 2 carrots, finely chopped or shredded
  • 2 celery stalks, finely chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves, pressed
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 4 cups vegetable or chicken broth (low sodium)
  • 2 large potatoes, peeled and chopped
  • 1 tablespoon flour
  • 1/2 cup of water
  • 2/3 cup of milk (I used almond coconut)
  • 2 cups broccoli, chopped into small pieces
  • 1 cup of cheddar cheese

Directions

  1.  In a large pot heat olive oil and add onion, carrots, and celery. For easy prep I used the food processer attachment from my immersion blender to chop this veggies quickly. Saute veggies for a few minutes and add pressed garlic and cook for 2 more minutes. Add salt and pepper.
  2. Add vegetable or chicken broth and potatoes and bring to a boil. Cook until potatoes are tender.
  3. In a small bowl mix water and flour and add to soup. Bring to a slight boil and heat for a few minutes until thickened.
  4. Add milk and broccoli. Cook until broccoli is tender about 5 minutes.
  5. Add cheese and stir until melted. I used my immersion blender to make the soup a little smoother, but this step is not needed.

nutrional facts - veg chowder

Thin Sliced Roasted Potatoes

February is National Potato Lovers Month!  To celebrate I made my favorite roasted potato recipe.  These are easy to make and are a great side dish with almost any meal. Crispy and delicious, you’ll keep going back for more.

potatoes

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs potatoes (any kind will work, I like red or yukon gold)
  • Drizzle of olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon Montreal Steak Seasoning
  • Parmesan cheese (optional)

Directions

  1. Heat oven to 400 degrees. 
  2. Cut potatoes in thin slices and spread in a single layer on a baking sheet. (I use a stone which I feel works best). Drizzle with olive oil and steak seasoning.
  3. Bake for about 20 minutes, or until potatoes are nice and crispy.
  4. Top with parmesan cheese.

Mexican Twice Baked Sweet Potato

I’ve never been a huge fan of sweet potatoes…Boy did this recipe change my mind.  These aren’t just good, they’re amazing, oh and they’re healthy too!

Mexican Twice Baked Potatoes

Recipe from Pinch of Yum.

Ingredients

  • 2 or 3 medium sweet potatoes
  • 1 can of black beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1 can of corn, drained, I like shoepeg, or fresh off the cob is the best
  • 1 small onion, diced
  • 1/2 cup red pepper, diced
  • 1 small jalapeño, diced (if you like spicy)
  • 1 clove of garlic, pressed
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • sprinkle of cumin
  • 1 ounce light cream cheese
  • 1/4 cup of greek yogurt or sour cream
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • handful of chopped fresh cilantro
  • 1/2 cup of cheese, I used cheddar, you could use Monterey Jack, Colby… anything really


Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and baked sweet potatoes for about an hour, until soft. Check by poking with a fork.
  2. Heat a skillet (cast iron is the best) over medium high heat. Do not add any oil or butter, and add corn to pan. Sprinkle with chili powder, cumin, salt and pepper.  Do not stir.  Let the corn roast for a few minutes before stirring. Roast for about 10 minutes until nice and brown. Set aside in a bowl with black beans.
  3.  Heat a tablespoon of oil and saute onions,  peppers, and garlic. Set aside.
  4.  Remove sweet potatoes from the oven and let cool for a few minutes.  Cut sweet potatoes in half and scoop out flesh. Leave a little lining of the flesh inside to help keep the shape of the sweet potato.
  5.  In a large bowl mix sweet potatoes, cream cheese, yogurt or sour cream, and mix using a hand mixer.
  6.  Careful mix black beans, roasted corn, sauteed onions, peppers, garlic, and cilantro into the sweet potato mix.
  7.  Scoop the filling into sweet potato skins. Top with cheese and broil for 5 minutes, until cheese is nice and bubbly. I had filling leftover, so I put it in a casserole dish, topped with cheese and baked.

nutrional facts - mexican twice baked potato

Yummy!

Wonton Wrapper Cheese Raviolis

This week I am cleaning out my fridge and pantry. I had some leftover wonton wrappers and some ricotta cheese. So I came up with these raviolis for dinner.  They also make a great finger appetizer since they crisp up so nicely in the oven, just serve with a small bowl of tomato sauce or pesto to dip.

Cheese Ravioli

Ingredients

  • wonton wrappers (found in the refrigerated produce section)
  • ricotta cheese
  • handful of  shredded parmesan cheese (next time I want to try with goat cheese)
  • 5-6 fresh basil leaves or chopped spinach leaves
  • 2 cloves fresh garlic, minced
  • dash of nutmeg
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • your favorite tomato sauce

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. In a large bowl mix cheeses, basil or spinach, garlic, nutmeg, salt and pepper.
  3. Spray baking sheet with cooking spray. Lay wonton flat on baking sheet and add about 1 teaspoon of the cheese mixture. Fold wrapper into a triangle and seal edges with water (I just dipped my finger in a bowl of water and smoothed around edges).
  4. Brush ravioli with olive oil and sprinkle with some parmesan cheese.
  5. Bake for about 15 minutes or until crispy. Watch, they brown up quick.
  6. Serve on a plate with sauce, or on a large serving tray with a small bowl of sauce to dip for an appetizer.

Enjoy!