Yummy Vegan Summer Salads

I love salads.  I do tend to get stuck in one kind of salad and I love getting new ideas for healthy salads to have on a hot summer day.  Here are some that I found.

1. Black bean and corn salad

2. Chickpea Salad

3.  Healthy, Creamy, Mexican Kale Salad

4. Corn, Avocado, Tomato salad

Low Fat Vegan BBQ Recipes

Here are some yummy, healthy recipes I have found for summer barbecue days!

1. Veggie stuffed Quesadillas (substitute Daiya cream cheese to make it vegan)

2.   Healthy BBQ sauce

3.  Summer Vegetable Platter

4. Grilled Portobello Steaks

5.  Grilled Portobello Mushroom burgers

Easy Easter Cake ideas!

Here are some ideas for a fun cake for yummy Easter treat!

Easter Peeps Cake

Bunny Butt Cake

Easter Bunny Cake

Kit Kat Easter Basket Cake

Easter Basket Peeps Cake

Peeps Easter Bunny Dirt Cake

Easter Chocolate Bunny Cake

Easter Bunny Face Cake

Corn Tomato Avocado Salad

I LOVE new recipes and I love anything fresh and yummy. I guess that is one of the reasons why being a veggie works for me. I found this recipe recently and it is so good!!!

Corn Tomato Avocado Salsa Salad

Print
Prep time
15 mins
Cook time
5 mins
Total time
20 mins

This can be served as a salad or salsa. It goes perfectly with any barbecue.
Serves: 8 as a side dish
Ingredients

    1 tablespoon olive oil
    4 cups corn (frozen works fine)
    3 cloves garlic, minced
    1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
    1 red bell pepper, finely chopped
    1 avocado, chopped
    1 scallion, minced
    ¼ cup cilantro, minced
    ½ jalapeno pepper, seeds removed, minced
    juice of 2 fresh limes
    a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil
    ½ teaspoon ground cumin
    sea salt
    fresh ground black pepper

Directions
Heat oil in pan and add corn and garlic. Saute until corn has some brown spots. Toss all ingredients together in a large bowl and serve.

Yummy, Quick and Vegan Mug Cakes!

Chocolate Cake for one!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Mug Cake

One Minute Chocolate Cake

PanMugcakes

Banana Bread Mug Cake

Red Velvet Mug Cake

Pumpkin Pie In A Mug

Sweet Potato Mug Cake

Vanilla Mug Cake Recipe 

Skinny Apple Spice Mug cake

Vegetarian One-Pot Pasta Recipes

Here are some yummy vegetarian and vegan one-pot pasta recipes I found!
Click the pictures to go to the recipe.

1.

2.One-Pan Veggie Fajita Pasta

3. One Pot Spaghetti Alla Puttanesca with Chickpeas & Artichoke

4.  Rainbow Very-Veggie Pasta

5.  Mushroom Spinach Pasta

6.  One Pot Pasta – Road Tested

7.  One-Pot Tomato Basil Spinach Pasta

Italian Wedding Soup

Meatballs

• 1 lbs lean ground Chicken1 egg, slightly beaten
• 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
• 2 tsp oregano
• 1 Tbsp basil
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp pepper
• 1/4 cup parmesan cheese, grated

Soup

• 6 cup chicken stock (broth)
• 1 cup boneless cooked chicken breasts (baked & chopped into shreds)
• 2 cup spinach (frozen or fresh), cut into small pieces
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/4 tsp pepper 

Directions For Meatballs:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl
3. Form into very small balls (approximately 90 per 1 lbs of ground chicken). 
4. Place on a non-stick cookie sheet.
5. Bake about 10-15 minutes. 
6. Turn them halfway through the cooking time. They should be browned on the outside but are still soft.
7. Remove from oven and drain on a paper towel if necessary.

Directions Soup:

1. Place all ingredients, except spinach, into the crock pot with meatballs.
2. Cook on high for 4-6 hours or low for 8-10 hours (Add spinach during the last hour).
3. Remove bay leaves. Enjoy!

Low Carb, THM S

Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies

• 1c natural peanut butter
• 1 egg
• 2 donks stevia
• 1/2tsp baking soda
• 1/2tsp baking powder
• 1/4tsp salt
• 1tsp pure vanilla

1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Mix all ingredients well in bowl. 
3. Dip out on lightly greased cookie sheet and press with fork. 
4. Bake 11-12 minutes.

THM S
Makes 12

Tastes Like Bread

This is a healthy THM S friendly 'bread' that tastes like yummy bread!

• 2 eggs, 
• 2T coconut flour, 
• 1T psyllium husk, 
• 1T ground flax 
• Pinch of salt

 Makes 3

1. Combine ingredients
2. Spoon into pan.  
3. Really tasty cooked in butter in a cast iron skillet and then cut open and toasted a little with butter.

Dairy Free Cream Sauce

• 1 (8 ounce) package silken tofu
• 1 1/2 cups soy milk
• 2 tablespoons soy margarine
• 2 tablespoons minced garlic
• 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• 2 teaspoons dried dill weed (chipotle seasoning is also good)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt-free herb and spice blend
• 1/4 cup water
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch

1. Crumble tofu into a blender or food processor. Puree briefly, then add the soy milk, margarine, garlic, nutritional yeast, paprika, dill and spice blend. Process the mixture until it is smooth.
2. Pour the mixture into a medium saucepan and cook over medium heat until it comes to a boil. Combine the cornstarch and water, pour into pan with the sauce. Continue cooking over medium heat until sauce has thickened, about 1 minute. Remove from heat and allow sauce to cool slightly, adjust flavors to taste and serve over pasta or roasted vegetables.

Newfie bread and onion pudding

This is a classic Newfoundland dish that usually accompanies a Jigg's Dinner. I list some of our other favorite accompaniments here on this post.

• 6 slices of bread torn into small pieces
• 1 large onion cut into very small pieces
• Pinch of salt
• Teaspoon onion powder
• 2 tablespoons butter

1. Mix together well with your hand. 
2. Mix in 1 tablespoon of flour, then pour 2-3 tablespoons of water over top and squeeze through.
3. Dip pudding bag into the pot liquor, when bag is cool to the touch, put your bread pudding inside. 
4. Leave a little room for it to swell, and tie it off. 
5. Dip the pudding (in the bag) down in the pot, pull back up and sit it on top of the vegetables, cover and allow it to cook for 30-40 minutes.
6. Turn out onto a plate, slice, and enjoy!

Highlights

Here are some of my favorite low carb recipes that I have shared.

Easy Stir Fry (low carb, clean eating, Paleo, low fat)

Pancake Crepes (Low Carb, Vegetarian, low fat) 

Salsa Cheddar Chicken (clean eating. low fat, low carb)

Pudding in a mug (paleo, low carb, lower fat)

Egg Roll in a Bowl (Paleo, low fat, lower carb, Trim Healthy Mama S)

Beef & Bacon Chili (Low Carb)

• 8 thick or 12 thin slices of bacon
• 2 diced red bell peppers
• 1 Tbsp minced or jar garlic
• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 Tsp cocoa
• 1 Tbsp garlic powder
• 2 Tbsp ancho chile pepper powder or Mexican-style chili powder
• 2 Tbsp paprika
• 1/4 tsp cayenne (or more to taste)
• 2 tsp cumin
• Salt and Pepper
• 1 can roasted diced tomatoes (I used a 14.5 oz can because I wanted it really thick, but I would totally use 28 oz can if I was looking to make it more soupy)
• ¾ cup beef broth (I left this out make it thicker)

1. Dice bacon and cook until crisp
2. Add peppers and garlic
3. Add ground beef, cocoa, garlic powder, chili powder, paprika, cayenne, cumin
4. Cook until beef is browned.  Drain. 
5. Add diced tomatoes and broth and heat through. 
6. Top with your favorite toppings.

I LOVE how easy this recipe is and how easy it is to double or triple to make a big batch for my big family.

Cauliflower "Mac" and Cheese Casserole

Low Carb Yummyness

Ingredients:

• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 large head cauliflower, cut into small florets
• Vegetable oil spray
• .75 cup heavy cream
• 2 ounces cream cheese, cut into small pieces
• 1.5 cups shredded sharp Cheddar (.5 of it is used to top casserole)
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 8 by 8-inch baking dish

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Spray the baking dish with vegetable oil spray.
2. Cook the cauliflower in the microwave or on stove top with boiling water until tender, about 5 minutes. 
3. Drain well and pat dry between paper towels. Put the cauliflower in the baking dish and set aside.
4. Bring the cream to a simmer in a small saucepan and mix in the cream cheese pieces until smooth. 
5. Stir in 1 cup of the cheese, salt, pepper and garlic mixing until the cheese melts. 
6. Pour over the cauliflower and stir to coat cauliflower. 
7. Top with the remaining 1/2 cup cheese and bake until browned and bubbly hot.

Serves 4-6 people

Bacon Cheeseburger Skilet {One Pot}

While blog-hopping, I discovered this simple recipe that looks fabulous and that my family would love!  It can easily be doubled to serve my big family and so I wanted to save it here so that I can try it!

Bacon Cheeseburger Skilet {One Pot - Pasta too!}

• 1 lb lean ground beef
• 8 slices of bacon, cooked and chopped
• 2 Tbsp dried minced onion flakes
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 2 cups low-sodium beef broth
• 1 (10 oz) can Rotel tomatoes (regular or mild)
• 1/2 cup onion and chive cream cheese, softened
• 8 oz campanelle pasta (or penne)
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp pepper
• 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded

In a 12-inch oven safe skillet, cook ground beef until no longer pink. Drain fat. Add onion flakes,  broth, tomatoes, cream cheese, pasta, bacon, salt and pepper and stir.

Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and cover skillet. Simmer for 15-20 minutes, until pasta is tender.  

Remove skillet from heat and stir in half of the cheese. Top with remaining cheese. Broil until cheese is melted and bubbly.

Cheese Stuffed Meatloaf (low carb)

 

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 lb mild sausage
• 1/2 red bell pepper diced
• 1/2 red onion diced
• 2 eggs
• 6 sliced American cheese
• 2-3 Tbs of low carb BBQ sauce (or low carb ketchup if you'd prefer)

1. Preheat over to 375. 
2. Combine first 5 ingredients and split in half. 
3. Form half the meat mixture in the bottom of a meatloaf pan. 
4. Layer in 3 cheese slices leaving a small gap between the cheese and the pan. 
5. Layer another 3 slices the same way. 
6. Form the other half of the meat mixture on top. 
7. Bake for 40 minutes. 
8. Top with BBQ sauce and spread it evenly over the meatloaf and bake an additional 5 minutes. 
9. Let cool for 10 minutes and serve.

I have done this with cream cheese in the middle instead of sliced cheese and it is SOOO good!

Egg Crepes (vegetarian, low carb, low fat)

• 6 large eggs; or a combo of whole eggs & egg beaters
• 1/3 cup soy milk or almond milk or cream 
• 1/2 teaspoon salt  
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper for savory crepes 
• Pam cooking spray 

1. Whisk the eggs, milk, salt, and pepper in a medium bowl.
2. Heat a 6-inch nonstick skillet over medium-low heat and spray with Pam spray.
3. Pour 3 tablespoons of the egg mixture into the pan, swirling to coat the bottom of the pan evenly.
4. Cover and cook until the egg crepe is just set, about 1 minute.
5. Invert the skillet over a plate, and allow the egg crepe to drop onto the plate.
6. Repeat until all of the egg batter is used up you'll get about 10 crepes, using Pam spray as needed

Number of Servings: 10

TIPS and USES:  

1. These egg crepes are a great low-carb substitute for lasagna noodles, manicotti, cannelloni or tortillas for enchiladas. 
2. You can fill them with berries/unsweetened coconut/sf preserves/plain or sf yogurt for dessert crepes. 
3. Or stuff them with your favorite mixture of savory fillings, top with sauce and/or cheese and bake in the oven. 
4. A great vegetarian filling can be made of sauted zucchini, mushroom, onion, tomato, parmesan cheese, farmer's cheese or ricotta if you'd like, shallot & herbs. You can fill the crepes & top with cheese & more parmesan & bake