Peach & Mint Rolls

With peach season right around the corner, this fresh summer salad alternative is a show stopper and a mouth watering alternative for a salad or appetizer. Now, it looks fancy...and let people think it is, but I promise you this can't be any easier.

If you have never worked with rice paper let me explain the basics...take one out, put it in water - your done. Easy enough, right? As if you need to make it any easier, here is a tip for the best set up. You want to create an assembly line. Take two dinner plates. Fill one with warm water and the other leave dry. Place the rice paper sheet onto the plate with water & let set for 30 seconds or so. You will know when it is ready as it becomes like a wet noodle & easy to work with. Now, I have not mastered the rolling process to perfection, but I have mastered the eating them part. I am half way there...

Peach & Mint Rolls

Spring Salad Mix
Rice Wine Vinegar
Olive Oil
Salt
Pepper
Fresh Mint Leaves
Ripe Peaches
Thinly Sliced Avocado
Cold Cooked Shrimp (*optional)
Balsamic Vinegar

Take a small bowl and add spring mix. Lightly dress the greens with a splash of olive oil, rice wine vinegar, salt & pepper. Give that a toss with your hands. If you feel the dressing is to heavy, just add a few more greens...keep it light though. A little bit of dressing goes a long way. Put to the side

Slice your peaches & avocado. Clean your mint leaves, remove from stem and pat dry. If adding shrimp, Cut into mirrored halves long ways. Prepare a rice wrapper in water. Then move to the dry plate. Begin to layer ingredients. Remember, the wrappers are transparent so place ingredients so you can see them. I would suggest layering: (3) shrimp, If not using shrimp, then (3) slices of avocado, salad greens, (3) mint leaves, then (3) peaches. Do not over stuff!

To wrap simply take the "ends" in first then roll. The package will show you how to roll as well. They are sticky, and will self close. They also don't tear easily so don't be scared to pull them tight. If you mess up, just start over (they come in a package of a million). Place rolls on a plate & refrigerate while you prepare the balsamic reduction.

Reduction: Place 1 cup balsamic vinegar in a microwave safe bowl. Microwave in 1-2 minute increments. The vinegar will boil and slowly reduce to a syrup like texture. Arrange your rolls on plate & drizzle with reduction. All I can say is YUMMY. I could eat a whole plate of these!

Alternative options are:
strawberries & goat cheese
kiwi & matchstick carrots (add a drizzle of honey in the dressing)

Mac-sans-Cheese

Let's just get one things straight...I am a cheese lover, and I certainly don't have anything against cheese. But this healthy alternative has that same creamy gooey yumminess without all that added fat & packed with goodness! Feel good about serving this to your kiddos or a side at a BBQ knowing you can now have dessert!

Mac-sans-Cheese (serves 4-6)

(1) box Quinoa pasta (I am partial to the shells for this one)
3/4 C. Fat Free Cottage Cheese (* vegans substitute vegan sour cream)
1/2 C. Fat Free Greek Yogurt (* vegans substitute vegan cream cheese)
1 package (thawed) puree winter summer squash (found in frozen vegetable section)
1 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon ground coriander
a few dashes of Tabasco

Preheat oven to 375. Cook pasta per package. In a bowl mix all other ingredients (use a hand held blender to make smooth  & creamy). Add pasta to creamy mixture & place in an oven save dish. Sprinkle the top with course sea salt (about a tablespoon). Bake uncovered @ 375 for approx. 15 minutes or until the top gets crispy.

Garnish with fresh Parsley & sliced cold avocado (tastes good & it makes it look pretty :-).

Konjac Noodles with Jalepenos & Mushroom

It doesn't get any easier than this one...and packed with fiber and so low in calories it can be a snack or a meal! Make ahead for lunch and warm it up...easy peasy!

(1) package of Konjac Noodles - any style, but I prefer the spaghetti

(1) cup of baby bella mushrooms

(1) tablespoon minced garlic

Jalapenos (as many as you'd like)

Braggs Aminos

* You can add cooked shrimp, chicken, squid, edamame, or tofu to this. A great idea is to have these items ready to throw into a meal ahead of time. I like to buy frozen pre-cooked shrimp - take a few out and run them under water, and they are ready to go!

In a saute pan mist with olive oil. Add garlic & mushrooms (or other proteins as desired). Open bag of konjac noodles, place in strainer & rinse well. Once at a desired softness add jalapenos. I like the canned jalapenos with carrots for crunch, but that's just me. Add Braggs Aminos (about 1/4 cup) to sauce pan - you can always add more if needed. Include noodles to pan. Mix & saute together until all are warm.

Garnish with fresh cilantro or parsley.

* Hint: If you haven't cooked with Konjac Noodles they have a bit of a fishy smell when you open them. Don't be alarmed - just rinse them well and that goes away quickly. They do not taste fishy at all - no worries!

Chocolate Brownie Cakes with Vegan Ice Cream

Don't think for a second you will not feel the indulgence of this one...it takes seconds and can be done for a group. Oh, and did I mention no oil? Can you say "impressive"???

Makes (4) servings (can easily be doubled)

1 cup Rice Flour

1 cup Sugar (or Splenda)

1/2 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. sea salt

1/2 cup cocoa powder (for extra chocolate you can add vegan chocolate chips as well)

2 cups Vanilla Almond Milk

1 tbsp. vanilla extract

1 medium avocado

Mix dry ingredients in bowl. Add in liquids, avocado & mix VERY well. I like to use a hand held blender (Cuisinart makes a fantastic one) which creates a silky smooth texture like no other...but a typical hand held mixer will work (just make sure to use the "whip" setting).

Pour equal parts into (4) ramekins. Careful not to fill past 3/4 or they will over flow when baking. Microwave for 1 minute - allowing them to rest for 30 seconds in between - continue to microwave in 30 second increments until edges are cooked and center is still soft (typically no more than 2 minutes is needed). They will continue to cook while they rest.

Serve warm with a scoop of your favorite coconut or soy ice cream...my favorite is vanilla coconut milk ice cream with a sprig of mint...can you say "YUM"?

* Hint: for entertaining mix all dry ingredients together in a Tupperware - and same for the liquid. Then quickly remove the lids, add the two together, mix, microwave and serve...all done within 5 minutes. No one will even know you are gone from the table!

It's a stock your pantry party!

Let's face it, a stocked pantry doesn't mean a WELL stocked pantry. You can have hundreds of items tucked away in your cupboards and cabinets, but nothing to make with them. I keep the same items in my pantry at all times...these are the staples to making any meal, anytime. I am always coming across new things - and you will too! 

Here are the items you must have to be a menu manipulating master :-)...

Fat free Greek yogurt (or vegan sour cream)
Vanilla Almond milk (no sugar added)
Original Almond Milk

Braggs Aminos

Lemon juice

Jar of pre-minced garlic

Jar of Jalapenos

Ginger paste

Wasabi paste

Olive Oil Spray

Honey

Organic peanut butter (nothing but peanuts)

Individual packaged applesauce

Craisins or dried cherries

Raisins

Pistachios (shelled)

Oats

Quinoa pasta (several shapes and sizes)

Konjac noodles

Rice wrappers

Cans of beans (all types, colors & sizes)

Fat free refried black beans (canned)

Can of diced black olives

Diced tomatoes

Organic tomato soup

Vegetable broth

Avocados

Pink lady apples (or your favorite type)

Bananas

Romaine lettuce

Pre-sliced baby bella mushrooms

Green Grapes

Grape Tomatoes

Cucumber

Bag of washed & ready green beans

Microwavable sweet potatoes

Frozen blueberries

Frozen winter squash (cubed & pureed)

Frozen Rice Flour pizza Crust

Frozen Edamame (shelled)

Frozen Diced Onions

Frozen Green Peas

Frozen Sweet Corn

Frozen Red, Yellow & Green Pepper mix

Vanilla

Sea salt

Red pepper flakes

Chinese 5 spice

Cumin

Chili Powder

Cinnamon

Pumpkin pie spice

Dried garlic slices

Cocoa powered

Baking powder

Gluten free flour mix

Rice flour

 

Once you have a well stocked pantry you'll be whipping up a meal quicker than you can say "let's eat!"...or better yet, "bon appetite"!