Looking for something different to pack your child’s lunch with for school? This tasty combination will have them asking for more!
Extra Easy Hummus
Homemade hummus is simple to make and easy to enjoy! Try our recipe with vegetables, toast, chips, or spread on a sandwich.
- One 15-ounce can of unsalted garbanzo beans drained liquid reserved
- 1 garlic clove crushed
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- In a blender or food processor combine all ingredients.
- Blend on low speed, gradually adding reserved bean liquid until desired consistency is achieved.
Banana Apple Muffins
This banana-apple muffin is a yummy way to provide a nutritious start to your family’s day or as a snack to refuel kids after school. The whole-wheat base, and mix of applesauce and bananas, makes these muffins an easy way to incorporate whole grains and fruit into your day. We like to pair a muffin with fruit and low-fat yogurt for a simple, yet filling breakfast. After school, this muffin and a side of fruit is perfect served alongside homework!
- 1 1/2 cups white whole wheat flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1/4 cup skim milk
- 1/4 cup granulated white sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 large egg
- 2 medium ripe bananas peeled and mashed
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Wash your hands and clean your cooking area.
- Combine white whole wheat flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
- Whisk applesauce, milk, sugar, vanilla, and egg until well combined. Gently add bananas to wet ingredients.
- Fold flour mixture into wet ingredients, just until combined.
- Divide muffin batter among 12 lined muffin tins.
- Bake 18-20 minutes, until cooked through.
Roasted Cauliflower and Grapes
This unexpected combination of a fruit and a vegetable makes for a delicious side dish! The grapes in this dish are a great way to get antioxidants and fiber in your diet.
- 2 lb cauliflower florets
- 1/2 lb red grapes halved
- 1 tbsp minced garlic
- 2 tsp rosemary (fresh or dried) chopped
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1/3 cup pecans chopped
- Cut cauliflower into florets and place in large bowl.
- Slice grapes and place them in the bowl with the cauliflower.
- Mince garlic and chop rosemary and add to bowl with the grapes and cauliflower.
- Pour olive oil over cauliflower mixture.
- Toss well. Spread cauliflower mixture onto a foil lined baking sheet, add a small pinch of salt and pepper, place in the oven at 425 degrees for 25 minutes. In the last 5 minutes of cooking, sprinkle chopped pecans across the sheet pan and continue to bake for remaining 5 minutes.
Parmesan Celery Salad
This is a simple recipe that makes a great side dish for dinner! The combination of celery and pecans might seem odd but they are perfectly combined in this dish. The pecans and nuts in general are full of protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants and the American Heart Association recommends nuts as part of a healthy dietary pattern.
http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/GettingHealthy/NutritionCenter/SimpleCookingwithHeart/Go-Nuts-But-just-a-little
- 8 sticks celery
- 1 cup pecans toasted and chopped
- 1/4 cup sliced green onion
- 1 tbsp whole grain mustard
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1/4 cup shaved Parmesan cheese
- Chop celery and place in large bowl.
- Toast pecans and add to celery.
- Whisk together green onion, mustard, lemon juice, and olive oil.
- Pour over celery and pecans.
- Top with shaved Parmesan cheese.