Quinoa with Basil and Almonds
Quinoa is always a great addition to a nutritious meal. I consider it my protein-rich go-to grain (even though it is technically a seed). This recipe is quick and is a great way to use fresh-from-the-garden basil.
Pumpkin Surprise Bread
This bread is a fun departure from the ordinary. Carob chips and macadamia nuts are the perfect accent for tenderly moist pumpkin bread. Carob chips are a healthy, vegan alternative to traditional chocolate chips. They are made from carob powder, which is naturally sweet. However, don’t bite into a carob chip expecting it to taste like chocolate — it doesn’t! Carob has its own distinct and nutty flavor, which is easy to love.
Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars
These bars are so yummy and moist, without any dairy or refined sugar! Be sure to use a wholesome peanut butter, one that only contains peanuts — NO CORN SYRUP!! They also freeze very well, so don’t be afraid to make extra and save for a later date.
Peach (or Mango) Sorbet in a Flash
There is something about ice cream that simply makes my kids go crazy.
At about 4pm every afternoon an ice cream truck drives down the main road behind the back wall of our property, playing a catching tune over loud speakers. As it so happens the kids and I are almost always out back at that time, with me in the garden and the kids in their sandbox. My kids have never gotten ice cream from an ice cream truck. They can’t even see the darn thing since our back wall is so high. But it never fails, whenever that truck passes by they both start screaming for ice cream.
This quick and nutritious fruit sorbet recipe comes in handy at times like those!
Pineapple Zucchini Bread
This year my garden has been producing tons of zucchini, so of course I’ve been making zucchini bread! I like this recipe because it uses fresh pinapple which adds texture and enhances the flavor. This recipe makes 2 loafs, but feel free to double it and freeze a couple loaves.
Red Quinoa & Falafel Dinner (Gluten Free)
This dish is perfect for a nutritious summer dinner. I found the red quinoa at Trader Joe’s and the falafels at Costco. Serve it up with a heaping spoonful of hummus.
Creamy Summer Pudding
My kids love dessert, and there is nothing like the promise of a sweet treat to get even the most stubborn child to eat their veggies. The cool thing about kids (especially young ones) is that they will get excited about anything that you create when you call it dessert. Of course they want it to taste delicious and you want it to be nutritious, so this summer pudding is the perfect compromise. Made with butternut squash, a dash of sucanat and cinnamon and topped with bananas, this pudding is a total win-win.
