It could pass as sushi!

Hey guys- Happy April! Obviously, I am a little behind on the posts for April...but man it started with a bang and kept on running! I thought I would share a quick, SIMPLE, healthy recipe that I did for a cooking demo last week at work; I did this demo to round out the end of March aka National Nutrition Month. The theme this year was eating right with color. This is a simple way to add a ton of color in the way of vegetables to your lunch or the next party you attend...

It's a Veggie and Hummus Pinwheel that could pass as sushi!

 

Quite impressive...right?

Perfect for a lunch box or as an appetizer at a cocktail party!

Veggie and Hummus Pinwheels

Serves 4
Ingredients:
4 Tbsp hummus
1/8 C. Tomato
2 spinach or tomato tortilla
1/8 C. Red onion
¼ yellow pepper
1/8 C. Spinach
¼ of a cucumber
2 Tbsp Garlic-basil cream cheese

Directions:
1. Spread cream cheese out on tortilla and then spread layer of hummus over cream cheese.
2. Chop all vegetables and lay flat covering all hummus.
3. Roll tortillas up jellyroll style. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 hours.
4. Remove from refrigerator and slice at ¾ inch intervals. Arrange on tray and serve.

Nutritional analysis (per wrap): ~ 250 calories, 7.5 gm fat, 1 gm protein

Oatmeal Banana Chip Cookies

Oh yes, I said it! Oatmeal Banana Chip Cookies...your probably thinking, all those awesome ingredients in the SAME cookie?! Oh yes! SO Sinful, right?
Think again!...you think your Smart Snacker would set you up for a diet sabotage? No way! I am on your side and that's why you have got to get in your kitchen and bake these tasty, healthlier treats that will satisfy your taste bud without undoing all your hard, healthy work!

Recipe adapted from carrotsncake.com

Makes approximately 25 cookies

Ingredients:

1/2 cup whole wheat flour

1 cup oats

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp cinnamon

1 tbsp ground flaxseed meal

1/4 cup agave nectar

1/4 cup soy milk

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1 tbsp canola oil

1 ripe banana

1/2 cup chocolate chips

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350*F. Combine all ingredients in a large bowl. Mix well until batter is blended evenly.
• Use a tablespoon to portion cookies on a greased baking sheet, approximately 1-2 inches apart.
• Bake cookies for 10-12 minutes.
• Remove cookies from baking sheet and allow to cool on wire rack.
• Eat and enjoy!

The skinny: 78 calories a-pop, 2 gm fat, 2 gm fiber, 1 gm protein

 (Nutrition provided by my at home food processor)



From my Kitchen to Yours!

You know I am ALL ABOUT sneaking in veggies some HOW, some WAY (ie.  like here and here)! Well, I have mastered it this time folks! Check it out...

Like I said from my kitchen to yours...share this awesome recipe with your family and friends and get them eatin' their veggies :)

Inspired by a recipe "Clean-out-the-pantry Minestrone" who wouldn't want to eat this? 

I got this fabulous cookbook back in December from my Mom and I use it every time I want to create a masterpiece in my crock pot...simply "Set it and Forget it" right!?

In the POT:
2 (16 oz.) cans of beans (your choice; from my pantry I had a can of black and a can of pinto)- rinse the bean funk off 

1 can of corn and the juices

1 can of tomato and their juices

2 cups of chopped veggies (your choice; I cleared out my everlasting-bag of carrots, celery and some frozen brocc)

3 cups of chicken or veg broth

S & P to taste

What to do--> Simply pop the cans and toss it all in; remember to only rinse the bean funk and keep all other juices! Cook low for 8-10 hours or high for 4-6 hours.
I cooked on high for 4 hours! This yields 6-8 servings and then some! I STILL have leftovers...

SMART SNACKER TIP: Freeze leftovers and pull them out on a day you don't feel like cooking or find yourself in a bind for time!

The POT working it's magic!

Even my not-so-loving of veggies friend LOVED this :)
I witnessed her clear her bowl!

Grain-ola

Gosh I am one of those people that LOVE granola. Problem is store bought granola can be overloaded with sugar and through-the-roof in calories! Not to mention, I bet there's some devious items hiding in the ingredient labels. Coming back to the importance of cooking and going homemade; YOU KNOW WHAT'S IN YOUR FOOD! 

So the only way the Smart Snacker could resolve the issue...is bake some! Now I can eat my granola and feel great about it too! It is something that CAN be healthy and serve as a great source of fuel. Providing protein, fiber, complex carbohydrates (whole grains) and no cholesterol.
Now it's purely GRAIN-ola [A wholesome, easy on the heart, fiberlicious snack].

I found this great recipe in my newest real simple mag (thanks to cait...she got me the subscription for my birthday last year!). Since you obviously can't read the fine print (and it's too new to be on the website) let me recap:

"Easy Granola" (they aren't lying!!)

Hands-on time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Makes 6 cups

4 cups old-fashioned rolled oats (not quick cooking) 

1 cup sliced almonds

1/2 cup shredded coconut (preferably unsweetened)

1/4 cup unsalted pepitas (hulled pumpkin seeds)

1/2 cup pure maple syrup

2 tablespoons canola oil

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup dried fruit (I used raisins because that's all I had...wishing I had craisins)

-Heat oven to 350. On a rimmed baking sheet, toss the oats, almonds, coconut and pepitas with the maple syrup, oil and salt

-Bake, tossing once, until golden and crisp. 25-30 minutes (mine took a little longer)

-Add the dried fruit and toss to combine. Let cool.

Store in air tight container for up to 3 weeks (personally, mine won't make it that long ;) )

per 1/4 cup: 141 cals,6 g fat, 19 g carbohydrates, 9 g sugar
4 g protein, 2 g fiber, 22 mg calcium, 0 mg cholesterol
Nutrition Information provided by real simple


Smart Snacker Modifications: I cut down on the oats to 2 cups (that seemed like plenty), you can add flaxmeal for additional nutrients (gooooomega 3s) and sugar-free maple syrup can be used as well (diabetics). If any modification is made, keep in mind it will alter the nutrition information.






Two things I love about real simple mag: great recipes (both healthy and affortable) and they provide you with all the nutritionals (even for funky beverages)! What's not to love?










See ya!! off to RPM soon!