8 Sauce Enhancers

Sauces can enhance even the simplest of foods. But all too often, these tasty additions add lots of unwanted calories and fat. Not so if you follow a few easy rules.

Mushrooms, Onions, and Peppers

This delectable medley can be served as a side dish or used as a topping for baked chicken, fish, or omelets. It also makes a great addition to a sandwich. Enjoy the wonderful natural flavors the vegetables have to offer.

Makes 4 servings

2        teaspoons canola oil
1        large green bell pepper, thinly sliced
1        large onion, thinly sliced
2        cups sliced mushrooms
Salt and pepper to taste

To keep the body in good health is a duty

Some wise words from Buddha. 

7 Healthy Hints for Fish

Many varieties of fish and seafood are low in fat and fit nicely into a balanced diet. Often, if dishes are high in fat, it is not the seafood that is the culprit, but the way in which it is prepared. When I prepare fish, I am careful to choose ingredients such as lemon juice, broth, and vegetables, along with a delectable array of spices. Below are 7 healthy ways to prepare fish, so now you too can have the flavor without the fat.

Quick Onion Biscuits

Turn refrigerator biscuits into hot onion rolls with just 2 extra ingredients.

Makes 5 biscuits

2½     teaspoons margarine, melted
2½     teaspoons minced onion flakes
1         5-ounce package refrigerator biscuits

Try to Be Like the Turtle

"Try to be like the turtle - at ease in your own shell."- Bill Copeland 

5 Tips for Healthy Appetizers

Appetizers set the tone for the rest of the meal. Since they are the "first act" of the meal, I like them to be a positive indication of the delicious tastes that follow. Here are some tips to keep your appetizers healthy and delicious. 

Irish Soda Bread

Just in time for St. Patrick's Day! This bumpy, crusty bread and its nice texture make it a perfect accompaniment to you St. Patrick's Day celebration.

Makes 16 servings

3        cups all-purpose flour
2        tablespoons sugar
1        tablespoon caraway seeds (optional)
1        teaspoon baking soda
1        teaspoon baking powder
1        teaspoon salt
½       cup raisins
1¼     cups plus 2 tablespoons skim milk
1        tablespoon vinegar
2        tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons canola oil

The Part Can Never Be Well

“The part can never be well unless the whole is well.” -Plato 

Basic Cooking Times for Legumes

Beans are actually legumes, which are the seeds from certain pod-bearing plants. Among the most popular types of legumes are kidney beans, pinto beans, chickpeas, Great Northern beans, black beans, split peas, and lentils. Beans are low in fat, high in fiber, and contain iron, B vitamins, and minerals. This post contains how to prepare and cook beans, so you get the best beans you've ever tasted.

Dijon Vinaigrette

Try this tangy dressing on steamed broccoli or asparagus as well as on a tossed salad.

                        Makes 4 servings

                                                                      (2 tablespoons each serving)

3        tablespoons red or white wine vinegar
2        tablespoons water
1        tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon canola oil
1        tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
¼       teaspoon garlic powder

Be a Friend

 "The most I can do for my friend is simply be his friend." -Henry David Thoreau

Baked Sweet Potato Chips

My thrifty 20 something is back again and this time she is making baked sweet potato chips. Don't they just look delicious? Since they are baked she is cutting fat calories and she can monitor how much oil and salt she adds to her chips.

I was craving a salty and sweet snack and wanted to make it on the cheap, so I decided to try to make Sweet Potato Chips that I had in a restaurant. I don't have a deep fryer (and really don't want one) so I decided to bake these crisps and share them with Milly. Take a look and let me know what you think!