Cooking in Ireland (where I’m currently on vacation) has proven to be somewhat of a challenge. We are renting a self-catering apartment, so I have a full kitchen at my disposal. However…

Nobody stocked the spice rack in this kitchen, so I’ve had to improvise with very little in the way of spices. But you know what, it’s worked out great! Particularly this dish. We had it for dinner tonight and it was wonderful and easy to put together. Just a little prep with your veggies and you’ll have dinner on the table in about 30 minutes.

Eat this as is, or serve it over brown rice like I did. It’s a very filling and satisfying dish.

Every parent needs an arsenal  of quick meals they can feed their kids on a hectic weekday evening. This dish not only accomplishes that, it also gives the kids something nutritious as well as something they will love for dinner.

No complaints and plenty of nutrition. Can’t beat it! But careful, because adults will love it too!

Spring is in the air and strawberries are coming into season (at least here in California they are…)! This is an excellent time of year to stock up on healthy desserts in the freezer. Fruits are a fabulously healthy way to enjoy dessert without destroying your eating plan.

Please note that these measurements are approximate. You can adjust any of the ingredients to create a warm chocolate that suits you. These measurements are just to get you started.

Not sweet enough for your tastes?
Add more sweetener.

Too thick to really dip the berries?
Stir in more oil until you get a nice consistency for dipping

Too runny?
Stir in more chocolate, a little at a time, until you get the thickness you want. Just be sure to melt completely before adding more.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! May the luck of the Irish be with you now and always.

Enjoy this healthy, minty treat and nobody will be able to pinch you today. Wearing green on the inside counts too. Right?!

Sea scallops are a wonderful treat. They can be a bit pricey, but they are worth every penny. Delicious, light and totally healthy, you can impress almost anyone by serving these at dinner.

Okay guys, I know this is basic. But one of the issues we have with food these days in America is that many people don’t bother to read the ingredient list on the foods they eat. They feel that because they are eating peanut butter and bread that looks brown instead of white, they must be eating something healthy. Oh, how I wish it was that easy…

The truth is, we as consumers have to educate ourselves about what is in our food. Big food companies are not going to volunteer the information, so it’s up to you and me to figure it out.

The next time you or your kids want a PB & J, consider what goes into this simple sandwich.

• Jam or jelly – Packed with sugar and often high fructose corn syrup, not to mention other things most of us shouldn’t want to eat in the first place.
• Peanut butter – What should be a healthy sandwich addition, can actually pack a detrimental punch if you buy the wrong stuff. Read the ingredient list! The ONLY thing that should be listed under ingredients, is “peanuts”. Some may have a little salt added, and that’s okay too. But if there is anything else listed, put it back on the shelf! If you haven’t read a peanut butter label lately, you’re in for a big surprise. All these little additions to our food add up over time. And all you have to do is switch brands!
• Bread – This one is tough for many people. Just because it says “multi-grain”, doesn’t mean it’s healthy. Again, read the label. They put all kinds of unwanted things in bread these days and those additions are not helping our waist lines any.

So how do you make a healthy PB & J?

It’s simple! When you are at the store, search for items that have a healthy ingredient list.

Now, for some of you, that may be a bit challenging. Especially if the only place you have available to purchase food for 100 miles is Walmart. This country is not set up to feed you truly healthy food. It really isn’t. You have to make the effort. And for some of you, that may mean doing some grocery shopping online. Sites such as Amazon.com have an amazingly large selection of clean foods. But I digress…

• Jam or jelly – Purchase 100% fruit spread. This will have fruit and maybe some pectin in it. But it’s truly all fruit. Some brands are Sorrell Ridge or St. Dalfour(kinda pricy, but good) and many health food stores have other brands. It’s worth the search to keep the garbage out of your eating plan. And if you can’t afford these smaller jars or have a large family that loves jam or jelly, consider making your own fruit spread. It’s simple! Here’s a recipe for one version and I’ll post more in the future.
• Peanut Butter – Most health food stores have their own brands that are healthy. Some even have machines where you can grind your own fresh peanut butter. But if you find yourself in a mainstream grocery store, the Adam’s brand seems to be pretty widely available.
• Bread – Truly healthy bread can be a bit of work to find. Health food stores that have bakeries often have their own brands that are pretty good. But the brand I’ve always used for my little guy is the Alvarado Street Bakery brand. It’s good bread, makes good sandwiches and has a healthy ingredient list. I checked with the company and they have confirmed that their ingredients are also non-GMO. Even better!

So there you have it. Instructions for building a health Peanut Butter & Jelly sandwich. Bet you never thought such a simple sandwich could be so involved…

Bone broth is excellent for your tummy and digestion. It also has many other health benefits. If you’re not vegetarian, give this a try! It’s so simple!

Smoothies are an absolutely fabulous way to get tons of nutrition, even when you’re in a hurry. And yes, smoothies can be healthy AND tasty. I promise.

If you’d like to add some extra nutrients to this, simply add 1 cup of raw spinach. The only difference will be the color. It won’t change the flavor at all. I swear!

P.S. - The kids will LOVE this one! And if you have any peanut allergies in the family, any nut or seed butter will work. It won’t have the exact same flavor obviously, but it’ll still be very tasty!

One thing I always struggle with is ideas for after school snacks. It’s not that I don’t know about a ton of them, it’s just that in the moment, I seem to forget them all. So I’ll be cataloging all my ideas here and the great part is, these are totally items you could pack in lunch boxes as well. These are not recipes per se, but when you’re at a loss, it’s great to have something to refer to.

Weekend or weekday, it’s always important to have a quick breakfast recipe in your arsenal.

This quick and delicious breakfast will keep you full and ensure you get some veggies for breakfast as well!