Creamy Kale Salad

This creamy salad is wonderfully delicious and very light. It is a great side dish to any meal and very refreshing. It is so easy to make and full of great nutrients.

Ingredients

1 ripe avocado, halved, seed removed
2 Tbsp. white wine vinegar
2 tsp. Dijon mustard
3 Tbsp. organic extra-virgin olive oil
Sea salt and freshly ground pepper
1/2 bunch kale, stemmed and coarsely chopped
1 small red beet,peeled and thinly sliced
1 sweet, crisp apple, cored and cut into thin wedges
1/2 cup walnuts, chopped

Preparation

1. Combine avocado, vinegar, mustard, and oil in a food processor.
2. Pulse until smooth. It will be thick.
3. Combine kale, beets, apple and walnuts in a large bowl.
4. Toss with avocado dressing. Season with salt and pepper.

Serve immediately

Enjoy!!!

Sylvie Thibert

Green Smoothie(detox)

This may appear very odd in color and not something that we are used to drinking.
Once you get passed the look of this fantastic smoothie you will be fine, trust me.

Ingredients

1 cup kale or collard greens, firmly packed, stems removed and
coarsely chopped
1/2 cup loosely packed fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves
1 Granny Smith apple, cored and coarsely chopped
1 large, ripe banana, coarsely chopped
2 1/4 cups filtered water

Preparation

1. Combine all ingredients in a blender and mix until smooth.
2. If it's too thick, add a little more water.

Enjoy!!

Sylvie Thibert

Fruit and Veggie Smoothie(detox)

A smoothie is a great way of getting all of the minerals and vitamins that your body is craving. It may seem odd to blend these ingredients together but just knowing that it is doing wonders for your body will soon become a favorite. It is all mind over matter , go ahead and surprise your body, it will thank you for it.

Ingredients

1 small red beet, peeled and coarsely chopped
1 medium-size carrot, peeled and coarsely chopped
1 sweet apple,cored and coarsely chopped
1 ripe pear, cored and coarsely chopped
2 cups of filtered water
2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
2 tsp. minced fresh ginger

Preparation

1. Steam beets and carrots until tender, about 10 minutes.
2. Let cool to room temperature.
3.Combine all ingredients in a blender and mix until smooth.

Great way to start your day!!

Enjoy!!

Sylvie Thibert

Fresh Fruit with sweetened Tahini Sauce (detox)

This is a wonderful breakfast or can also be served up as a healthy choice for a light dessert....your guests will be begging for more...
If the fruits are not in season, choose a frozen version,once thawed it will taste like it was freshly picked.

Ingredients
1/4 cup tahini
1/2 cup unsweetened organic applesauce
1 Tbsp. honey
2 Tbsp. filtered water
4 cups sliced fruit, such as mango, black grapes
plums, and citrus fruit
1/4 cup unsweetened organic coconut flakes

Preparation

-Combine tahini, applesauce, honey and water in a food processor.
-Pulse until smooth.
-Arrange fruit in serving bowls.
-Drizzle with tahini sauce and top with coconut.

Enjoy!!

Sylvie Thibert

Delicious Fruity Nut Bars

These fruit and nut bars are crisp and chewy in texture, they are full of dried fruits (cherries, dates, and apricots) and nuts (walnuts, almonds, pecans, or hazelnuts), that are held together with a batter that contains no butter or oil, just one beaten egg.
These make a healthy to-go breakfast, a great snack to pack in lunchboxes, or they would be perfect to take along on your next picnic or hike. The added bonus is that they will keep for several weeks when stored in the refrigerator.
This fruit and nut bar recipe calls for dried cherries, dates, and apricots. Now, don't feel you have to follow this recipe exactly, as you can vary the dried fruit and even the nuts as per your own taste. Just keep the amounts the same; that is, 3 cups of dried fruits and 1 1/2 cups of nuts.We are no longer limited to just dried dates and raisins.
Try to buy in bulk from a grocery store or natural food store that has a high turnover. Not only will the fruit be fresher, but you can see, smell, feel, and often taste the fruit to make sure it is fresh and of high quality. Pre-packaged fruit can also be excellent but it is harder to tell the quality of the fruit through the plastic bag.
Make sure to check the expiration date on the bag. Always look for dried fruit that is plump, moist, and has good color.

Fruit and Nut Bars

Ingredients

1/3 cup organic flour
1/8 teaspoon baking soda
1/8 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup sucanat ( organic brown sugar)
1 1/2 cups walnuts (can also use pecans, hazelnuts, or almonds), chopped
1/2 cup dried cherries or cranberries
1 1/2 cup dates, figs, and/or prunes (pits removed and cut into quarters)
1 cup dried apricots, cut into bite size pieces
1 large egg
1/2 teaspoon organic vanilla extract

Preparation

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F and place the rack in the center of the oven. Have ready an 8 x 8 inch square baking pan that has been lined across the bottom and up the two opposite sides with aluminum foil. Set aside.

In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Stir in the brown sugar, walnuts, and dried fruit. Use your fingers to make sure that all the fruit and nuts have been coated with the flour mixture.

In a separate bowl, beat (with a wire whisk or hand mixer) the egg and vanilla until light colored and thick (this will take several minutes). Add the egg mixture to the fruit and nut mixture and mix until all the fruit and nut pieces are coated with the batter. Spread into the prepared pan, pressing to even it out.

Bake for about 35 to 40 minutes, or until the batter is golden brown and has pulled away from the sides of the pan. Remove from oven and place on a wire rack to cool. When cooled, lift the bars from the pan by the edges of the aluminum foil. Use a sharp knife to cut into 16 squares.

Can be stored for about 10 days at room temperature or longer if refrigerated.

Makes 16 - 2 inch squares.

These great bars are wonderful to take along with you if you know that you will be out for a while and will need to replenish your energies.

Enjoy!!!

Sylvie Thibert

Three Low-Fat Christmas Baking Recipes...mmmm....

Thumbprint cookies

Enjoy these little cookies with a cup of nonfat cocoa. This is the perfect cookie recipe for kids to make.

Ingredients:

-1/4 cup organic butter, softened
-1/2 cup organic sucanat sugar (just like brown sugar)
-1 organic egg
-1 tsp vanilla extract
-1 1/2 cups organic flour
-1/4 tsp sea salt
-1/2 cup home made raspberry jam

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

1.Line a large cookie sheet with parchment paper.
2.In a large bowl, cream butter and brown sugar together using an electric mixer. Add egg and vanilla, and mix until blended.
3.Whisk together flour and salt in a small bowl. Gradually add flour to wet ingredients, and mix with a wooden spoon, forming a large ball.
4.If the dough is sticky, refrigerate for an hour before proceeding. Otherwise, go ahead and form 1-inch balls and place them 1-inch apart on the cookie sheet, making a deep thumbprint in the center of each.
5.Bake for 10 minutes. Remove from oven. After one minute, place on a wire rack to cool. Ad a little raspberry jam to the center of each cookie.

Makes about 20 cookies.

Gingerbread men recipes



Cut the fat not the flavor. These gingerbread men use half the butter normally used in most gingerbread cookie recipes. Applesauce helps the cookies retain their moisture and gives them a soft texture.

Ingredients:

•1/4 cup organic butter, softened
•3/4 cup organic sucanat sugar (just like brown sugar)
•1/2 cup organic unsweetened applesauce
•1 organic egg
•1/3 cup dark molasses
•3 cups organic flour
•1 tsp baking soda
•2 tsp ground ginger
•1 tsp ground cinnamon
•1/2 tsp allspice
•1/4 tsp ground cloves

Preparation:

Preheat the over to 350 degrees.

1.In a large mixing bowl, beat butter, sugar and applesauce until smooth. Add egg and molasses and mix well. In another large bowl, combine flour, baking soda and spices. Add to sugar and molasses mixture, stirring well. Divide dough in two; cover with plastic wrap and chill for 2 hours.
2.Roll out dough to 1/4 or 1/8-inch thickness. Cut gingerbread men with a cookie cutter. Add raisins to decorate. Place 1-2 inches apart on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake 10-12 minutes. Add frosting or more decorations when cool.

Makes 30 cookies.

Chocolate chip cookies



By using half the normal amount of butter, and substituting an egg white for a whole egg, these make a wonderful and almost guilt-free indulgence. The chocolate flavor is enhanced by using cocoa powder as well as the chocolate chips. And by using mini chocolate chips, we're making a smaller quantity go a long way.

Ingredients:

-1/4 cup organic butter, softened
-1/2 cup organic cane sugar
-1/4 cup organic sucanat sugar (just like brown sugar)
-1 egg white
-1 tsp vanilla extract
-1 cup organic flour
-1/2 tsp baking soda
-1/4 tsp sea salt
-1/4 cup organic cocoa powder
-1/3 cup miniature dark chocolate chips

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

1.In a large bowl, beat butter and sugars together with an electric mixer until creamy. Add egg white and vanilla and mix until well blended.
2.In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking soda, salt and cocoa powder. Gradually add flour mixture to egg and sugar. Use a wooden spoon to work the dough together. Don’t worry if the dough seems a little crumbly at first. Stir in chocolate chips.
3.Drop cookie dough by the teaspoonful on to a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.
4.Bake for 8-10 minutes. Cool on cookie sheet for 1 minute, then transfer to wire rack to cool completely.

Makes 30 cookies

You can go ahead and enjoy these with your loved ones with a little less guilt. Its all in moderation but at least you know that they are home made and with the best ingredients...

Merry Christmas from my kitchen to yours...enjoy!!!

Sylvie Thibert