Bruschetta seems like a trendy, modern appetizer, but it actually dates back to 15th century Italy when hunks of bread were rubbed with garlic and olive oil, topped with seasonings and heated to a crisp over open flames on a grill. This updated version gets its rich, smoky flavor from sundried tomatoes and feta cheese, with chopped cashews sprinkled on for added crunch. Use storebought Italian bread to save time!
School’s almost out, which means end-of-year celebration notices are flying home in the kids’ folders. Sports awards ceremonies, classroom parties, graduation get togethers—whatever the occasion, chances are you’ll be invited to least one potluck, which means you get to pick a dish, any dish, to share with your kids’ friends and their families. Rather than bringing in yet another iceberg lettuce salad or box of processed supermarket cookies, why not impress the crowd with something creative?
A boiled chicken breast, some celery sticks and half an apple. Sound tasty? Not exactly, but chances are, it sounds very familiar to many. Over two-thirds of Americans are overweight and many have tried a broad range of diets, including some that would consist of foods that are indeed healthy, but not enough of them and certainly not prepared in a way that’s actually appealing to the smell, sight or taste buds!
Craving a sweet treat? You can still enjoy cookies, cake, pies and all of your favorite desserts as part of a clean eating lifestyle. Simply replace refined white sugar in your recipes with a natural sweetener, such as stevia. Extracted from the leaves of the stevia plant, this remarkable substance has an exceptionally sweet taste, zero calories, and it can be used in just about any recipe that calls for sugar.
Not one but two healthy surprises come with this clever “pasta” dish. The noodles are actually made from fresh, raw zucchini, and the creamy “alfredo” sauce is just a simple, light coating of Greek yogurt. No cooking required! Bon appétit!
Cooking with wine is a wonderful way to enhance the flavor of dishes and to tone down unwanted effects (such as acidity or saltiness) of overpowering ingredients in a recipe. But sometimes, leaving it out is a must—whether a dinner guest has dietary restrictions or you simply don’t like the taste.
In the heart of winter, nothing seems to take the chill off like a steaming bowl or mug of soup. Cooking a soup meal can be a lovingly drawn out affair, or as simple as opening a can. Many people have found a happy medium by buying ready-made beef, chicken or vegetable broth, and adding their own fresh root and green vegetables in a slow simmer.
