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Homemade Chocolate Chip Cookies with Stevia

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One of my favorite desserts to enjoy after a long day is a chewy homemade chocolate chip cookie.  Yet, as I get older I find myself wanting to lessen the amount of refined white sugar that I consume in my homemade baking products.  I have been told that you can use a natural sugar substitute, but I was Stevia in the Rawconcerned about how it might change the taste of my cookies.  I finally decided to give it a try anyway using Stevia. It’s a sugar alternative that is surprisingly affordable.  I was pleasantly surprised at how lightweight the package was in comparison to the weight of white refined sugar.

When I returned home, I was anxious to start baking with Stevia. The results were great — I was amazed that when I used the Stevia in the recipe it did not change the taste, texture or awesomeness of my cookie! Here is the recipe I used:

Ingredients

Homemade Chocolate Chip Cookies with Stevia2 Cups All Purpose Flour
1 Teaspoon Baking Powder
1 Teaspoon Salt
1/2 Cup Semi- Sweet Chocolate Chips
1 Cup Light Brown Sugar
1 Cup Stevia Sugar in the Raw
1 Stick of Butter (melted or softened at room temperature)
1 Egg
1 Tablespoon Vanilla

Instructions

In a large bowl add:
Butter
Stevia Sugar
Egg
Vanilla
Mix well with a large spoon and set aside

In a medium bowl add:
Flour
Baking Powder
Salt
Mix well

Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and mix
Add chocolate chips

Cookie dough should form into a ball.
Cover dough and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes
Preheat oven 350*
Remove dough from refrigerator and use a ice cream scoop to place dough onto non-stick cookie sheet
Bake for 10-13 minutes

Enjoy your homemade chocolate chip cookies made with Stevia!

Posted by Eve

Easy Bake Chicken Dinner Recipe for Two

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This easy bake chicken dinner recipe is super easy to make.  

Like many people, my schedule is quite hectic.  I don’t like the idea of resorting to fast food for dinner. So I sat down one day and wrote down a list of quick and easy recipes that are healthier than fast food but yet very easy to prepare. This chicken dinner’s ingredients are basic (you probably already have them in your fridge or cabinets) and the preparation is simple. Just add the vegetables and chicken parts that you like best (we like drumsticks at our house), mix everything up with a spoon or your fingers, and bake.

Ingredients

4 Chicken Drumsticks, Thighs or Wings
1 Large Potato
5-7 Baby Carrots (or chopped if you prefer)
1 Stalk Of Celery
1/2 Teaspoon Of Onion Powder
1/2 Teaspoon Of Garlic Powder
1/2 Teaspoon Of Salt (to taste)
1/2 Cup Of Water

Instructions

Preheat oven 350*

Clean chicken to remove excess fat.
Peel and cut your vegetables.
Place chicken and vegetables in a Dutch oven or casserole dish that has a lid.
Sprinkle seasonings on top.

Add water.
Cover and cook 45 minutes with lid on.
For the last 15 minutes of cooking, remove lid to allow the skin to get crisp on top.

Chicken and Potatoes

* If you’d like you can also add a bit of citrus flavor to your chicken by squeezing in a bit of lemon.

Serve with a side of rice and/or salad. And there’s your Easy Bake Chicken Dinner for two — enjoy!

Posted by Eve

Photo credit: Flickr/sintages

 

 

15 Bean Soup and Rice Recipe

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I had a bag of 15 bean soup sitting in my cupboard for the longest time, so I decided to finally use it. It came out so good and so tasty! It was good in that way that you know you’re eating something really healthy and antioxidant rich while also tasting delicious, so you want to drink up every bit of the sauce at the end of each bowl (or sop it up with a piece of Italian bread). Here is how I made my 15 bean soup and rice.

**Keep in mind that you need to soak the beans in water overnight or for at least 8 hours. Also, this is a slow cook meal so start it in the early afternoon for dinner.

Ingredients

– 1 pack of 15 bean soup
– 1 package of turkey kielbasa (or your favorite sausage) sliced into small pieces
– 2 slices of bacon for flavor (optional)
– 1/4 cup of olive oil
– 4 handfuls of spinach
– 1/2 thin sliced white onion
– 1 half of a chicken bullion cube
– 3 pinches of 3 Italian cheese mixture (parmesan, romano & asiago)
– seasonings (a pinch of turmeric, salt, pepper, cayenne pepper, paprika, garlic powder) – start with about a teaspoon of each (other than the turmeric) and add as needed to your taste

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Instructions

Soak the beans in a pot of water for at least 8 hours or overnight. Pour out the old water and boil the beans in a separate large pot of clean water (fill about half the pot). Add the rest of your olive oil. Add all seasonings and the half a cube of chicken bullion.

Fry the bacon, then remove it and chop them up into smaller pieces. Remove the bacon grease from the pan and add olive oil. Fry the kielbasa or your sausage of choice until it’s browned with your sliced onions. When they’re cooked and tender, add that mixture and the chopped bacon to the boiling pot of beans.

Allow the beans and meat to cook on medium-low heat for about an hour. Then add your spinach, mix into the soup and allow to slow,cook on low heat for another hour or longer. About a half an hour in as it’s thickening, add your 3 pinches of 3 Italian cheese mixture. Taste the soup to see if you need more seasoning. (If you like it a bit thicker, add a bit of corn starch mixed with water.)

Serve over garlic rice.

Enjoy!

Posted by Jasmine

 

 

 

 

Homemade Mini Chimichangas Recipe

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Homemade chimichangas are one of my favorite recipes to make at home.  They are delicious little flaky pockets filled with Mexican inspired ingredients.  I can remember the first time that I tried them.  It was a cute Mexican restaurant located on West 4th Street in Manhattan.  It was love at first bite!  I was totally surprised to find out, later on, that they were not originally an authentic Mexican dish.  I also, realized that there is no wrong way to make them.  Chimichangas are basically burritos that are deep fried.  However, I do my best to stay healthy, so needless to say, that I am not keen on deep frying anything these days!  I figured out a healthier version that maintains its flavor and is very satisfying.

Ingredients

image58-10 Tortillas
1- 2 Skinless Chicken Breast
1/2 Cup Mozzarella Cheese ( or cheese of your choice )
1/2 Cup Refried Beans
1/4 Cup Finely Diced Mushrooms ( optional )
1/2 Cup Finely Diced Onion
1/2 Cup Finely Diced Green Pepper
2 Tablespoons Chipotle Peppers In Adobo Sauce
2 Teaspoons Garlic Powder
2 Teaspoons Onion Powder
1 Tablespoon Cumin
2 Teaspoons Salt
1/4 Cup Vegetable (or Peanut) Oil
4 Tablespoons Water

Instructions

In a large non stick skillet, set heat on medium, add two tablespoons of water and add chicken breast to thoroughly cook breast(s) for about 3-4 minutes each side.
Remove breast from skillet and shred breast in a large plate using two forks.

image1Now, on medium heat, add to skillet:
Onions
Green peppers
Mushrooms
Sauté until soft

Add shredded chicken to skillet and add:
Garlic powder
Onion powder
Chipotle
Cumin
Salt
Water
Combine well

image2Simmer for about 3 minutes and remove from heat with lid on

In a large skillet place 1/4 cup of vegetable oil on medium high heat

Assemble the chimichangas.
First, warm tortillas in microwave for 30 seconds. Then, spread approximately 1 teaspoon of refried beans on a tortilla, image4add cheese and 1 tablespoon of chicken mixture.  Next, fold tortilla in half, then fold in the sides and roll over. Repeat.

Place Chimichangas in oil, folded side down until golden brown on each side.

Optional Garnishes
Sour cream
Salsa
Pico de gallo
Guacamole
image3Iceberg lettuce (shredded)

Enjoy this Homemade Mini Chimichangas Recipe!

Posted by Eve

Homemade Banana Cake Made Easy

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I love baking for my friends and family. Especially, in the winter months. An added bonus is the lingering aroma of freshly baked goods, that permeates throughout my home. What everyone should realize is that, baking delicious desserts doesn’t always require purchasing expensive ingredients. For example, just last night, I realized that my bananas were turning brown. So, instead of throwing them away, I decided to make a homemade banana cake to enjoy with a freshly brewed cup of coffee. This recipe is super easy and quick to prepare.

Ingredients

2-3 Ripe Bananas
1 Cup Flour
1 1/2 Teaspoons Baking Powder
2 Teaspoons Butter
3/4 Cup Sugar
1 Egg
1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
1/2 Teaspoon Salt

Directions

Preheat Oven 350*
Now, in a medium size bowl add peeled bananas and mash with a large fork. In a large bowl, add sugar and butter. Blend until creamy.
Add egg, vanilla and bananas and stir together until blended. Add flour, baking powder and salt to the batter.
Pour batter into a nonstick cake pan.
Bake for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown (you will know it’s done when you insert a butter knife into the middle of the cake and knife comes out clean)

Enjoy your homemade banana cake!!!

Posted by Eve

Easy Spicy Thai Noodles with Shrimp Recipe

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Every so often, I really enjoy eating spicy Thai inspired cuisine. I first, had Thai noodles, at an upscale Asian restaurant in my hometown. I was shocked at the cost of the meal when reading the menu. I thought to myself, “I could make a more affordable version at home!” So that’s what I decided to do. All I needed was a few key ingredients purchased from my local Asian market. To my delight, it was a great success the first time I made this Easy Spicy Thai Noodles with Shrimp Recipe. I now make it on a regular basis for friends and family.

Ingredients

1 Tablespoon Olive or Vegetable Oil
1 Small Onion Diced
1-2 Teaspoons Thai Chili Paste
8-12 Ounces Medium Shrimp (Raw & Deveined)
4-6 Ounces Fresh Mushroom (Canned is OK)
2 Tablespoons Fish Sauce
2 Tablespoons Soy Sauce
8-10 Ounces Wide Rice or Egg Noodles (Cooked)
1/4 Cup Finely Chopped Cilantro For Garnishment (Optional)

Directions

In a large sauce pan or wok on medium heat:
Add oil & onions
Sautée 1-2 minutes
Add:
Raw shrimp
Mushrooms
Fish sauce
Soy sauce
Chili paste
Toss 3-4 minutes until shrimp is cooked
Add:
Noodles
Combine all ingredients together for 1-2 minutes
Top portions with cilantro

Keep in mind that this recipe for Easy Spicy Thai Noodles with Shrimp works well with thinly sliced pork loin or chicken breast. If you like your foods extremely hot use more chili paste.

ENJOY!!!!!

Posted by Eve