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! 

6 Tips for Children's Lunches

Kids can be very picky eaters, but if you follow these 6 tips you will know that your children have a healthy nutritious lunch that will devour in no time.

Potato Topper

Turn your potatoes into an elegant dish without adding fat. This simple mixture also doubles as a salad dressing, and the herbs can be varied to accommodate everyone's taste.

Makes 4 servings

(¼ cup each serving)

1 cup plain nonfat yogurt

            ½ teaspoon dill weed

¼ teaspoon salt

⅛ teaspoon pepper

2 teaspoons imitation bacon bits

2 teaspoons dried chives

The Years Teach Us Patience

"It is strange that the years teach us patience; that the shorter our time, the greater our capacity for waiting."  -Elizabeth Taylor