Enjoy Pasta Night Without the Guilt!

Ever since buying a Veggetti Spiral Peeler, I've been hooked and swapping pasta for zucchini noodles ever since. It's the best way to enjoy pasta night without the guilt! 

I've found this peeler to be the easiest way to make zucchini noodles, cucumber noodles, sweet potato spirals, spiraled beets and more. It's definitely one of my favorite cooking gadgets. But, anyway, back to the zoodles! 

Zucchinis are low in calories and rich in vitamins. They have a high water content and are full of fiber. This means they satisfy your appetite without spiking your blood sugar. Thanks to their antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties, they are even great for dry skin! 

There are so many ways to prepare zucchini, here's one for you to try:

Zoodles! 

Ingredients: (serves 2)

Two zucchinis

Organic tomato sauce

2 cups Spinach

1 small Eggplant, diced

1 cup Mushrooms

1/2 Onion, chopped

Garlic powder

Parsley

Red pepper flakes

Sea Salt, to taste

EVOO

Directions:

Prep your sauce on the stove top.

Add veggies, spices and a splash of EVOO to your pot of sauce and sauté on medium for 25-30 minutes, stirring often

Spiralize the zucchinis and add to sauce pan to sauté for the last 4 minutes 

Serve hot and enjoy! 

Note: To use the Veggetti, just insert the vegetable into the desired end (there is an option for thick or thin noodles) and turn it to make the noodles come out. For larger vegetables like sweet potatoes, you'll have to cut pieces that are small enough to be inserted into the end. Also, if you don't cut a slice halfway into the vegetable before you start to make the noodles you'll end up with l-o-n-g strings of vegetables which would be pretty difficult to eat! 

Three Easy Recipes to Try this July 4th Weekend!

We have been cooped up all winter waiting for a long and hot holiday weekend! 

So let's face it, this Independence Day weekend is going to be filled with besties, burgers, and most likely, some booze!
By lightening up your choices in appetizers and desserts, you can save yourself from some unwanted hidden sugars.  




Here are a few recipes to try: 

          Blueberry Pineapple Salsa

• 2 cups fresh blueberries
• 1 cup finely diced fresh pineapple
• 1 jalapeno pepper, seeds and membrane removed, minced
• 2 to 3 tablespoons lime juice
• 3 tablespoons chopped cilantro
• 1/4 cup diced red onion

Combine blueberries, pineapple, jalapeno, lime juice, cilantro and red onion (you can add a pinch of sea salt to taste) and serve with tortilla or veggie chips. 

Easy Watermelon Feta Salad

• 1/2 small watermelon, cubed
• 1 cup feta, crumbled
• 2 tablespoons basil, chopped
• Organic baby spinach 

Mix watermelon, feta, basil and spinach together in a bowl & serve! Doesn't get much easier. 

These are crazy good.

Frozen Banana Bites

• 2 Bananas
• 1/4 cup of dark cacao chips (anything over 80% dark cacao)
• 1/4 cup of raw almond butter

Cut up the banana into good-sized chunks. Two bananas will get you about 10-12 pieces. 

Heat the almond butter and cacao chips in the microwave on high for one minute. Stir until smooth. Dip the bananas into the mixture; then place on parchment paper, leaving some space between them. Top them off with the chocolate-butter mixture that is left over. Freeze overnight.  

Oh, and here is the recipe for Sangria

• 1 bottle Organic Red Wine
• 1/2 lemon and 1/2 orange - thinly sliced
• 1 apple - cubed
• 1 tablespoon of lime juice
• 1/2 cup orange juice
• 1/4 cup Brandy and 1/4 cup Grand Marnier
• 1/2 liter seltzer water

Take your fruit and cover with Brandy, Grand Marnier, lime, orange juice and stir. Let sit for a few hours, then an hour before the party starts, mix the fruit combo with wine, seltzer water and ice and serve!  

Enjoy yourself this weekend! Just remember... everything in moderation :)