Snacks

In the last few years, Kale has really become popular in the foodie realm.  If you are hesitant to test this popular vegetable out, we have 25 Delicious Kale Recipes already picked out that we know your family will love.  Not only do we include some yummy soups and salads as you would expect, but there are casseroles, a yummy breakfast and even a lasagna in this list.  Most of these recipes are even super easy to assemble and fairly budget friendly!

25 DELICIOUS KALE RECIPES

1. Copycat Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana Soup
2. Curried Butternut Squash & Kale Soup
3. Kale Apple Salad with Honey
4. Kale & Corn Fried Rice
5. White Bean & Ham Soup With Kale
6. Pork Chops with Mustard Kale Sauce
7. Kale Detox Salad
8. Baked Kale Chips
9. Kale & Brussel Sprout Salad
10. Mexican Kale Salad with Chili Lime Vinaigrette
11. Bacon, Tomato & Kale Quiche
12. Quinoa with Roasted Tomatoes, Kale & Feta
13. Sausage & Kale Lasagna
14. Kale & Apple Potato Salad
15. Swiss Chard, Kale & Potatoes
16. Vegetable Soup with Chickpeas & Kale
17. Spaghetti & Alfredo Sauce topped with Panfried Kale
18. Chicken, Kale, Tomato & Feta Pasta
19. White Bean & Kale Soup
20. Garlic & Parmesan Kale Chips
21. Spicy Kale Pizza Dough with Mushroom & Cheese
22. Italian Wedding Soup
23. Sweet Potato & Kale Pasta Skillet
24. Kale & Chicken Egg Rolls
25. Kale & Feta Breakfast Casserole

Kale no longer has to be a vegetable you avoid in the grocery stores.  Grab a bunch of kale on your next shopping trip to add to one of these delicious kale recipes that we love.  Chopped kale goes beautifully in almost any pasta sauce, soup or egg dish.  From quiche and casseroles to omelettes, you’ll love the richness and nutrient dense flavor this vegetable offers.  The burst of bright green color can even be added to your favorite fruit smoothie to add some extra richness and vitamins to boost energy throughout your day.

Check out some of our other favorite recipes! 

25 Weight Watchers Recipes Under 6 Points Per Serving

21 Awesome Cucumber Recipes

11 Tasty Quinoa Recipes

10 Delicious Low Fat Salads

26 Delectable Cookie Recipes

26 Hot Summer Drink Recipes

Growing up we ate a lot of vegetables, but asparagus wasn’t served at our house.  As an adult I found a new love for this beautiful crunchy green vegetable, and here are 50 Delicious Asparagus Recipes that are sure to delight your senses.  Not only did we include simple recipes that are bright, fresh and easy to make, there are classic meals that are beautiful enough to serve to special guests.  You’ll love all of the fun new ways to eat this vegetable, and so will your family.

50 DELICIOUS ASPARAGUS RECIPES

1. Lemon Pepper Asparagus
2. Bacon Wrapped Asparagus
3. Pesto Tortellini Salad with Asparagus
4. Roasted Asparagus with Dijon Dressing
5. Cream of Asparagus Soup
6. Fresh Asparagus and Hollandaise Casserole
7. Grilled Asparagus with Parmesan Ranch Dressing
8. Asparagus Quiche
9. Lemon Butter Asparagus
10. Asparagus Gruyere Tart
11. Asparagus Delight
12. Easy Grilled Asparagus
13. Ginger Chicken & Asparagus Stir Fry with Pistachios
14. Steak and Asparagus Breakfast Wrap
15. Lemon Asparagus Orzo
16. Chicken Asparagus Pasta Salad
17. Asparagus, Goat Cheese & Pearl Onion Quiche
18. Cowboy Quiche
19. Roasted Asparagus with Garlic & Balsamic Vinegar
20. Asparagus and Broccoli in Gingery Orange Sauce
21. Kielbasa and Asparagus Pasta
22. Roasted Asparagus Wrapped in Puff Pastry
23. Tortellini and Asparagus in Light Lemon Sauce
24. Roasted Red Pepper & Asparagus Quinoa
25. Asparagus Soup
26. Fettuccine Alfredo with Asparagus and Sun Dried Tomatoes
27. Parmesan Roasted Asparagus
28. Asparagus Casserole
29. Pesto Ravioli with Asparagus and Cherry Tomatoes
30. Asparagus, Prosciutto and Goat Cheese Appetizer
31. Easy Oven Roasted Asparagus
32. Ham and Asparagus Frittata
33. Baked Eggs with Asparagus and Parmesan
34. Asparagus Carbonara
35. Bacon, Chicken and Asparagus Pasta
36. Garlic Lime Asparagus (second recipe on page)
37. Zesty Grilled Asparagus Sandwich
38. Chicken and Asparagus Penne
39. Purple Asparagus with Enoki and Brown Butter Garlic
40. Steak and Asparagus Rotini
41. Shrimp Asparagus Stir Fry with Lemon Sauce
42. Mini Asparagus and Pancetta Frittatas
43. Crunchy Baked Asparagus
44. Orzo with Black Olives and Asparagus
45. Shaved Asparagus Salad
46. Asparagus Quiche
47. Lemon Asparagus Quinoa
48. Frittata with Ham and Asparagus
49. Asparagus with Prosciutto and Cream Cheese
50. Asparagus Tomato Parmesan Squares

Gone are the days of fighting your kids to eat their vegetables.  These delicious asparagus recipes are sure to please everyone in your family!

Check out some of our other favorite roundups of awesome recipes!

Asparagus and Quinoa Side Dish

25 Delicious Kale Recipes

21 Awesome Cucumber Recipes

26 Delectable Cookie Recipes

This Hearty Homemade Spaghetti Sauce is one of those recipes that came from me cleaning out the fridge and dumping things into a pot to simmer.  However, the end result was seriously the best sauce I have ever made.  I will be honest, my homemade spaghetti sauces have usually been lackluster.  I just couldn’t get the flavor just right.  Sometimes it felt more like chili than spaghetti sauce. Yes, seriously – that bad.  I have usually let my Beau make it, or resorted to one of our favorite brands of homemade sauce.  This time, I hit it out of the ballpark. Seriously, this stuff is the most amazing thing I have created.

Hearty Homemade Spaghetti Sauce

First off, I have to explain why this is now one of those recipes where you have a secret ingredient that you just know makes it better than anything you’ve ever had before.  What is in this batch of sauce is about average of what I or my Beau have made in the past.  There are two differences though.  I needed a bit more sauce, but didn’t have any tomato paste or sauce to make it work. I did however have this carton of tomato basil soup.  I also have never added red wine to a pasta sauce, but people kept telling me it was better that way.  So, for once, I did what others had suggested and made my sauce a bit drunk.  I guess you could say I sauced my sauce.

I diced up my bell pepper and onion, then grabbed some crushed garlic out of the fridge (yes I cheat and buy it in a jar in oil – it’s just so much easier).  I started it cooking and once it got mostly soft, I added in the whole package of ground meat I had on hand.  Yes, I wasn’t thinking. I usually make a much smaller batch. There are only 3 of us here – this was really too much for us, but I had already dumped it in and said, oh well it will be a great freezer meal later maybe.

Once the meat and veggies were cooked, I started pouring in my diced tomatoes, tomato sauce and seasonings.  I looked into the pot and knew I needed something else.  That’s when I went to my pantry and thought, “this soup can’t hurt”.  So I added that, then the wine.  I let it simmer for about 45 minutes on medium heat.  I would walk in the kitchen and stir it here and there, but it was really a set and forget pot of sauce.

At some point, about halfway through cooking, my Beau went in and tasted it.  I heard moans from the kitchen. Yep, that is right. Moans.  He came into the office where I was at the time, with a cracker that had a bit of sauce on it.  Um, wow.  I took a bite and I swear my eyes rolled back in my head.  I asked if he had added something to it, and he said not a thing.  (He is infamous for adding more salt to everything I cook – this needed nothing.)

Hearty Homemade Spaghetti Sauce

 

Print

Prep time

10 mins

Cook time

1 hour

Total time

1 hour 10 mins

 

Serves: 12

Ingredients

• 2 pounds ground meat (we use lean grass fed ground beef)
• 1 yellow onion, diced
• 1 green bell pepper, diced
• 5 cloves garlic, crushed
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 20oz. diced tomatoes
• 8oz tomato sauce
• 1 carton Simply Balanced Tomato Basil Soup
• 1 Cup Red Wine
• 1 tablespoon oregano
• ½ tablespoon basil
• 1 teaspoon thyme
• 1 teaspoon marjoram
• 2 teaspoons onion powder
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1 package preferred pasta, cooked as directed on package

Instructions

1. In large stockpot, heat olive oil, bell pepper, onion and garlic.
2. Cook on medium high heat for 5-7 minutes or until onions are turning translucent and starting to soften.
3. Add in ground meat and cook for additional 5-7 minutes on medium high heat or until cooked through and no pink remaining.
4. Drain any excess oil off at this point
5. Add in remaining ingredients (except pasta).
6. Simmer on medium heat for 45 minutes stirring every 7-10 minutes to prevent sticking. If your stove tends to run hot, you may want to put this down on low so it is a super low but steady simmer.
7. Serve over favorite pasta

3.3.3070

If you love nice hearty pasta dishes, we have a few others that our favorites for you to check out. 

Easy Chicken & Spinach Pasta

Garlic Tomato Halibut Pasta

Easy Chicken Noodle Bowl

Gluten Free Oven Baked Chicken Parmesan

Rustic Chicken Cacciatore

We love this Healthy Dill Salmon Dip Recipe as a protein-packed easy snack or meal idea for the busy fall season.  As partners with StarKist Selects E.V.O.O. this month, it was my pleasure to share a favorite family recipe that is full of delicious flavor and is an easy option for busy moms.

Healthy Dill Salmon Dip Recipe

We were sent a selection of StarKist Selects E.V.O.O. Tuna and Salmon products recently to try in our back to school meal planning.  As a newly diagnosed diabetic, I was excited to test out a product that is full of protein and healthy fats.  These are just the type of foods I want in my pantry for those days when I need a fast snack that won’t cause my blood sugar to spike or get too low. I was able to try the StarKist Selects E.V.O.O.™ Yellowfin Tuna, StarKist Selects E.V.O.O.™ Yellowfin Tuna with Sundried Tomatoes and the StarKist Selects E.V.O.O.™ Pink Salmon.

StarKist Selects E.V.O.O. products are packed in cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil.  This is perfect for adding a rich flavor that is also ideal for your favorite healthy recipes.  Wild-caught Albacore and Yellowfin Tuna and Pink Salmon are the stars of these products with minimal additional ingredients.  For a mom seeking a healthy option like I am, this means a lot.

Ingredients for Healthy Dill Salmon Dip Recipe

1 package StarKist Selects E.V.O.O. Pink Salmon

1 tablespoon whipped reduced fat cream cheese

1 tablespoon nonfat plain Greek yogurt

1/8 teaspoon horseradish

1/8 teaspoon dill

1/8 teaspoon garlic salt

Black pepper to taste

Directions for Healthy Dill Salmon Dip Recipe

In a medium bowl, mix together all ingredients until smooth and flavors well incorporated.

Add black pepper to taste.

When possible, chill for at least 1 hour prior to serving alongside your favorite multi-grain crackers.

Makes 2 servings

We love making this easy healthy salmon dip recipe to have with crackers in the afternoons as a protein-packed snack.  Some multi-grained crackers pre-portioned make a great way to serve this.  The hint of kick from the horseradish along with the dill in this recipe creates a flavor profile that is far from basic!

This post was written by me on behalf of StarKist Selects E.V.O.O.

Healthy Dill Salmon Dip Recipe

 

Print

Prep time

5 mins

Total time

5 mins

 

2 SmartPoints per serving on Weight Watchers Freestyle, Flex, and Your Way Plans 5 SmartPoints per serving on Weight Watchers Beyond the Scale Plan 5 PointsPlus

Serves: 2

Ingredients

• 1 package StarKist Selects E.V.O.O. Pink Salmon
• 1 tablespoon whipped reduced-fat cream cheese
• 1 tablespoon nonfat plain Greek yogurt
• ⅛ teaspoon horseradish
• ⅛ teaspoon dill
• ⅛ teaspoon garlic salt
• Black pepper to taste

Instructions

1. In a medium bowl, mix together all ingredients until smooth and flavors well incorporated.
2. Add black pepper to taste.
3. When possible, chill for at least 1 hour prior to serving alongside your favorite multi-grain crackers.

3.5.3251

This high protein black bean brownies recipe and post is sponsored by Acorn. 

We are always looking for delicious low carb and high protein recipes and this high protein black bean brownies recipe is a new favorite!  I already know that black beans offer the texture and high protein I want, but considering our goals of gaining more muscle and increasing our protein with our recent dietary choices, the idea of including a protein powder in this recipe appealed to me.  When I was invited by Acorn and Walmart to check out the Purely Inspired® organic protein powder and Mission1™ bars this month, I knew just what I wanted to make.

High Protein Black Bean Brownies

When you are looking for a delicious low carb and low sugar treat, black bean brownies are a great choice.  You can easily make them without flour, and the extra protein of the beans is ideal for helping build strong muscles, keep you satisfied longer and of course ultimately burn fat.  Adding 6 scoops of Purely Inspired® organic protein powder available at Walmart into your classic recipe is just another level of health improvement. It makes having a high protein snack so much easier to manage!

While there are many protein powders out there to choose from, very rarely do you find one made with all organic ingredients.  Since this is super important to our family, picking the Purely Inspired® brand is ideal.  It’s affordable at only $19.97, tastes great in smoothies (or other recipes) and, of course, is free of all the nasty chemicals we don’t like putting into our bodies.  We love that is is made from vegan plant proteins so all of our friends can enjoy without any problems!  It is smooth and mixes seamlessly into our recipe.  To me, one of the best things was how I can grab at my local Walmart when shopping for other items instead of going to a specialty store or ordering online!

Chocolate + Protein = Delicious Brownie Treat!

Eating a snack before or after a workout is a great way for us to stay healthy and have plenty of energy, but I honestly don’t always have the time to drink an entire smoothie or shake that has been enriched with protein powder.  Now I have not just one, but two great options.  I can make my own tasty and simple high protein black bean brownies and grab one before or after a workout.  Or, I can grab one of the great Mission1™ protein bars and toss into my gym bag!

We had the chance with this opportunity to test out not just the Chocolate and Vanilla Purely Inspired® organic protein powder, but the Mission1™  protein bars in both cookies & cream and chocolate chip cookie dough.  I expect that you sense a theme here.  Chocolate is definitely a must in our home, and being able to have it in a healthier way? Totally down for that!  Many protein powders and bars have a not so great aftertaste or texture.  We found that both flavors of bars were tasty and satisfying.  The protein bars are so convenient for those who don’t have time to bake like I do!  The powders mixed in easily into our morning smoothies, shakes by themselves or of course, in the black bean brownie recipe listed below.  All with great flavor and seriously affordable!

Check out our favorite high protein black bean brownie recipe and print it below!

High Protein Black Bean Brownies

 

Print

Prep time

10 mins

Cook time

25 mins

Total time

35 mins

 

Serves: 9

Ingredients

• 1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
• ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 6 scoops Chocolate Purely Inspired Protein Powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¼ cup molasses
• ¼ cup coconut oil
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• ½ cup Mini chocolate chips (optional)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. Spray 9x9 dish with non-stick cooking spray
3. In blender or food processor add black beans, molasses and coconut oil and pulse until pureed.
4. Mix in dry ingredients until everything is blended well.
5. Pour into dish and top with mini chocolate chips
6. Bake for 20-25 minutes. Brownies will be soft and moist.

3.5.3208

 Add this black bean brownie recipe featuring the tasty chocolate Purely Inspired® organic protein powder to your menu plan this week.  Not only will this give you a healthy treat, it will help you keep on track with your diet and exercise program.  When you feel satisfied you are less likely to indulge in bad foods, and more likely to stick to your workout and diet routine!