Garlic Zucchini Noodles with Pesto

Photo Credit: Health is Wealth Photos.



This recipe is a real delight.  If you have a vegetable and herb garden, you can serve this meal to show off your homegrown zucchini, basil and tomatoes.  To that end, it's a great patio or alfresco meal to enjoy in the bountiful summertime.  The bright colours of this dish make it an appealing alternative to pasta offerings and it's oh so very healthy!

If you tried making my garlic parmesan chicken cutlets and took me up on my gourmet challenge, you might have already found a favourite Parmesan cheese that you can showcase in this dish too.  Add a high-quality pesto and you can really make this recipe sublime.

     

It's a very quick meal to make and I'll guide you through the steps.  We're going to turn that fresh garden zucchini into the perfect pasta substitute.

Ingredients:


• 4 small zucchini, trim their ends
• 2 cups of fresh basil leaves
• 5 cloves of garlic
• 1/3 cup of extra virgin olive oil
• 2 teaspoons of fresh lemon juice
• 1/4 cup of grated Parmesan cheese
• Salt and ground black pepper, to taste
• Cherry tomatoes



Photo Credit: Health is Wealth Photos.

Directions:

• Peel the zucchini into long julienne pieces.  To this end use a julienne peeler or a mandolin slicer.  Slice the julienne cuts long enough that they have a noodle-like quality.
• Set the sliced zucchini aside.
• Use a food processor and chop up the basil and garlic into a coarsely textured mixture.  Pour in the olive oil as you're doing so.
• Stop chopping and use a spatula to scrape the mixture back down to the bottom of container.
• Add the lemon juice and Parmesan cheese to the mixture.
• Blend some more and season with salt and pepper to taste.





Photo Credit: Health is Wealth Photos.

Photo Credit: Health is Wealth Photos.















Photo Credit: Health is Wealth Photos.



• Sauté the garlic with a bit of olive oil in a skillet on medium heat.
• Add in the zucchini noodles and continue sautéing for just a few minutes more.
• If you have pesto and cherry tomatoes stir them in.

Bon appétit!

You don't need to sauté the zucchini, you can serve them raw, tossed in pesto until they are well-coated.

The cherry tomatoes may be arranged on top for added presentation.

This dish is best served at room temperature or, if it's a hot day, serve them chilled.





Photo Credit: Health is Wealth Photos.

Healthy Banana Pancakes: Just Three Ingredients!

Photo Credit: Health is Wealth Photos.

How would you like to conjure up some delicious pancakes for breakfast this morning?  Now, how would you like these pancakes to be full of nutrients; I'm talking heaps of muscle-friendly potassium, phosphorus, protein and an abundance of healthy energy?  Are you still on the fence about this great breakfast decision?  Well, how would you like to be able to make this delicious recipe with only three ingredients?  That's right, just three ingredients.  I thought I'd get your attention!

I was quite curious to test the basics of this recipe in order to see how close it came to traditional pancakes.  I'm very happy to tell you that banana pancakes are absolutely delicious.  They're surprisingly filling and very close in appearance to their real, less healthy namesakes.



Photo Credit: Health is Wealth Photos.



You can top banana pancakes with fruit, sliced banana or a little maple syrup.  I'd recommend almond butter as an outstanding flavour and health choice!

Ingredients:

• 2 eggs
• 1 ripe medium-sized banana
• 1 tsp. peanut butter

If you're allergic to peanut butter substitute it with almond butter or coconut flour.



Photo Credit: Health is Wealth Photos.

Mash the banana thoroughly with a fork. Whisk two eggs and add the eggs right into the mashed banana. 

Photo Credit: Health is Wealth Photos.




Photo Credit: Health is Wealth Photos.

Stir in the teaspoon of peanut butter.

Photo Credit: Health is Wealth Photos.

Alternately, use a food processor to blend all three ingredients in one go, process the ingredients until they are smooth.











Photo Credit: Health is Wealth Photos.

Coat a pancake griddle with a little olive oil or coconut oil and place on low heat.

Pour your mixture onto the griddle forming small circles, about the size of your palm, form them no larger or they'll be hard to turn over.  Keep the heat on low for the same reason.

When the edges start to cook, turn them over.  Allow the mixture to cook right through.

Bon appétit!




Photo Credit: Health is Wealth Photos.











Garlic Parmesan Chicken Cutlet

Photo Credit: Health is Wealth Photos.

This is a wonderful dish which is quite simple to prepare.  It serves 4 people, so I find it perfect for feeding my family.  As with all such dishes, the basic quality of the ingredients is what defines the meal.  Seek out organic chicken for a much richer flavour.  I also use fresh Parmesan cheese and flavourful, high-quality extra virgin olive oil to really bring out an incredible convergence of flavours.

 

Parmesan cheese has a very high level of glutamate, and our taste receptors receive high-glutamate foods as a unique taste known as umami.  Sweetness, sourness, bitterness, saltiness and umami make up the five known taste elements; as tastes they are truly separate from one another in how we perceive them.  I'd recommend going with the most flavourful Parmesan you can find for this recipe, it really helps make for that unique taste distinction.  With a thoughtful cheese selection you'll be serving your family or guests a truly memorable dish.     

Ingredients:

• 4 large skinless, boneless chicken breasts
• 1 large egg, beaten
• 1 cup unseasoned dry breadcrumbs
• 4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/2 tsp. garlic powder 
• 1/2 tablespoon dried basil
• 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
• Salt and pepper to taste

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.  In a bowl, combine the Parmesan, the bread crumbs, the garlic powder and basil.  Add a dash of salt and a few grindings of pepper to the mixture, do so to taste.

Mix these ingredients together well and then transfer the mixture to a plate.  Proceed to dip a chicken breast in the beaten egg first and then dip it in the Parmesan mixture, turn the chicken breast as you do so in order to coat all the sides.

Coat all 4 chicken breasts in this manner.



Photo Credit: Health is Wealth Photos.

Arrange the coated chicken breasts in a non-stick baking dish.  Drizzle them with olive oil and put them in the pre-heated oven.

Bake the chicken breasts until they are cooked through, about 25 minutes.
        


Photo Credit: Health is Wealth Photos.

Here's the final result.  I like to serve these chicken cutlets with baked sweet potato and baked garlic broccoli.

Let me know how this dish worked out for you in the comments below.  

Photo Credit: Health is Wealth Photos.

Bon appétit!


Carrot Juice Benefits and Nutritional Facts

Carrots are a root vegetable which is bright orange in color and has a sweet tasting juice. Carrot juice is an excellent nutritional health drink for dieters, providing you with array of benefits and rich supply of essential vitamins and minerals and that too without being accompanied by all of the calories that a health shake might give you. Carrot juice is very healthy and has a great deal of nutritional value. Pure carrot juice is a very low calorie juice to drink, one ounce of beverage yields just 10 calories usually.

Pure carrot juice in an eight ounce serving can provide up to 6% percent of your daily recommended intake level of calcium. It is very important to receive a healthy level of calcium in your daily diet. Bones and teeth are dependent on calcium for growth and formation, especially the skeletal structure and development of children. Calcium absorption should also be accompanied by vitamin D, which helps aid your body's intake of the mineral. Like potassium, calcium is important for neuro-transmition, and muscle movement and contraction.

When you drink a cup of carrot juice, you are consuming 340 percent of your daily recommended dose of vitamin A. Vitamin A is very crucial for expectant mothers and the unborn fetus. Although vitamin A is very important for your body, eight ounces of carrot juice can contain as much as 800% of your daily recommended dosage of vitamin A. Vitamin A is essential and necessary for tissue growth, especially within the bones.

Vitamin A is also very important in maintaining good vision. The old myth that eating carrots will help you see better is true, as vitamin A deficiencies can lead to vision problems such as night blindness. it is also important to maintain moderate levels of vitamin A intake, as too much can lead to liver toxicity, and other health problems.

Carrots juiced with celery or turnips can provide your body with a large intake level of potassium. Carrot juice is an excellent drinkable source of potassium. Potassium is very important in helping to maintain a healthy electrolyte balance and fluid level in the cells of your body. It's also necessary in muscle movement, such as contraction.

Carrot juice is also an excellent source of vitamin C. Vitamin C has a wide variety of uses throughout our entire body, such as collagen production of the mucous membranes, skin, bones, and teeth. Vitamin C is also a very crucial antioxidant.

Health Benefits of drinking carrot juice:

Carrots are popular for its famous ingredient carotene's, it is an awesome anti-oxidant that has powerful healing virtues for many diseases. Drinking a glass of carrot juice daily will do much more for you than many bottles of supplement and tablets. The vital organic alkaline elements in carrots help balance the blood acidity and blood sugar.

Carrot juice detoxify the liver, thus overall effective for acne which are caused by toxicity of the blood. Carrot's molecules are closest to human's hemoglobin molecules, making it very beneficial in blood-building.The highly cleansing power of this miracle juice scrubs away even the old build-up of arterial deposits, reducing the risks of heart diseases and stroke.

Some studies show that adding one carrot per day in our diet significantly reduces cancer risks. Carrot juice is very effective in dispelling mucus from the ear, nose and throat area, easing nasal congestion, sinusitis, phlegm and mucus in the throat.

Beta-carotene, lutein and zeaxanthin are some of the finest nourishment that help keep the optic system in tip-top condition, with special protection against astigmatism, macular degeneration and cataracts. Its anti-inflammatory effect greatly helps reduce arthritis, rheumatism, gout and other inflammations.

It boost the immune system by increasing the production and performance of white blood cells; building resistant to various kinds of infections. The high quality vitamin C and other rich nutrients in carrot juice efficiently nourish the skin, preventing dry skin, psoriasis and other skin blemishes.

The abundance of nutrient present in carrots helps nourish cells that have been starved of nutrients which result in ulcers. Carrot juice is diuretic and helps to eliminate excess fluids from the body, reducing water retention, especially for women during their monthly menstruation cycle and in pregnant women.

Paleo Dark Chocolate-Covered Strawberries

These strawberries are a treat, but if you use good dark chocolate,  it’s not too bad. Whether covered, dipped, or as part of a dark chocolate bar, dark chocolate fruit has always been a favorite of many. Dark chocolate, in moderation of course, is actually good for you and is loaded with antioxidants.






Scrambling to put together a sweet treat for Valentine’s Day? Well, even if you’re not, dark chocolate
covered strawberries are a relatively guilt-free little indulgence for any special occasion. Chocolate-dipped strawberries are the classic Valentine’s Day treat. You can also dip dried fruits, shortbread, even marshmallows.

Ingredients:

12 large long-stemmed strawberries
4 oz. bar of dark chocolate
2 tsp coconut butter

Directions:

Rinse and thoroughly pat dry all your strawberries. Next, break the dark chocolate bar up into small chunks and place them in a small bowl.

Melt the chocolate and coconut butter over a double boiler on low. Just dip each strawberry into the melted chocolate and lay out on a piece of wax paper. Holding the strawberries by their stems, dip them into the chocolate so they are about three-quarters covered. Place in the fridge to set and refrigerate until you’re ready to serve. Enjoy!

Balsamic Caramelized Onions and Cheese Sandwich



Photo Credit: Health is Wealth Photos.



For the caramelized onions:

2 teaspoons Coconut oil

1 large onion, thinly sliced...

black pepper

Salt

Balsamic vinegar

For the grilled cheese:

1 Tablespoon unsalted butter

2 slices brown bread

2 slices sharp cheddar cheese

Make the caramelized onions:

Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat. Add the sliced onions, salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are very soft, about 10 minutes.

Add the balsamic vinegar and reduce the heat to low. Continue cooking the onions, stirring occasionally, for about 15 minutes until they are very soft and dry.

Slices of bread with the butter and set them aside.

Assemble the grilled cheese sandwiches by stacking one slice of cheese atop one slice of bread (the non-buttered side) and topping it with half the caramelized onions, a second slice of cheese. Top it with another buttered slice of bread (buttered side on top).

Heat a large skillet or sauté pan over medium heat. Place sandwich on the skillet and cook until the bread is toasted and golden and the cheese begins to melt. Flip sandwich once and continue cooking until the opposite side of bread is toasted. Slice and serve. Enjoy!

Baked Chicken with Yogurt and Parmesan

Photo Credit: Health is Wealth Photos.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup plain Greek yogurt
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon prepared yellow mustard
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 3 skinless chicken breasts, pounded 1/2-inch thick

 

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Stir the yogurt, Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, mustard, and pepper together in a bowl. Spread yogurt mixture over each chicken breast to coat completely.
• Transfer the coated chicken breasts to a baking dish.
• Bake the chicken breasts in the preheated oven for about 20 minutes.
• Turn on the oven's broiler.
• Broil the chicken breasts.  Turn them once until Parmesan cheese is toasted and the chicken breasts are fully cooked, about 2-4 minutes per side.

Bon appétit!