Zucchini and Pasta Sauce

Tasty, filling, light and summery...

Sautee some zucchini and add some tomato sauce and italian spices (with or without meat).  I added parmesan cheese at the end, and it was delicious.  The zucchini was the main portion of my meal, so it is not a sauce with zucchini, although it could work that way too!

Buttermilk Pie and The Best Pie Crust

As you may know, Joe is not a fan of pie.  However, the following crust and pie have received Joe's stamp of approval.

Buttermilk Pie
http://www.food.com/recipe/buttermilk-pie-56

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup butter, melted
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 3 tablespoons flour
• 3 eggs, beaten
• 1 pinch salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 deep dish pie shell ( either your own recipe or storebought)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400°F.
2. Beat the butter and sugar together until light.
3. Add the eggs and beat; then beat in vanilla.
4. Sift the dry ingredients together and add to the batter alternatively with the buttermilk; beat until smooth.
5. Pour into a deep dish pie shell and bake at 400F for 10 minutes, reduce heat to 350F and bake for 50-60 additional minutes.
6. Pie should turn a nice golden brown and a knife inserted should come out clean.
7. I think it is absolutely best when it is just still warm. (Not too hot, or it will be like napalm.

Watch the pie so it doesn't get too brown.  I would cover with foil during part of the baking time.

Joe's Favorite Pie Crust

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 cups white flour
• 2 tbsp. sugar
• 1/4 tsp. salt (Use more salt if the dough is for pot pies)
• 1/2 cup cold butter, broken into small pieces
• 5 tbsp. cold vegetable shortening
• 8 tbsp. ice water

Directions

1. Measure the flour, sugar and salt together. Stir to combine.
2. Add the chilled butter pieces and shortening to the bowl. Cut them in with a pastry cutter or knife. Don't over mix.
3. Add the ice water. Mix until the dough holds together (add a bit more water, if necessary).
4. Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface, knead it together, then divide in half.
5. Flatten each half into a disk, Chill in saran wrap - ½ hour.
6. Roll out one of the disks on a lightly floured surface until you have a circle that's about 12 inches in diameter.
7. Put the circle in a 9" pie plate, trimming any extra dough from the edges with a sharp knife. Refrigerate until you are ready to make the pie. Add filling (see below)
8. Roll out the second ball of dough and cover top. Use a fork or your fingers to pinch the edges together. cut a couple slits in the top

Healthy Chocolate Pudding

This is too easy.  And very yummy.

2 avocados
2 heaping Tablespoons of cocoa powder
Honey for sweetening, as desired

Mix in a blender or a Ninja (yay for Ninjas!)  Chill in fridge if you can wait that long.  Use crackers or fruit for dipping.

Note on the avocados... if they are really avocado-ey then you might detect a small taste, but catch them  before they are overripe, and you've got a delicious "healthy fat" treat!  With chocolate!  Can't go wrong with that!

Healthy Hot Chocolate

I love hot chocolate, but hate the sugar.  So I found a healthy alternative.

In a mug, add 2-3 Tablespoons of cocoa with 1/4 cup water.  Microwave for 15-20 seconds and then stir.  Add in 1 cup of milk and microwave for 1:30 minutes or 2 depending on how hot you want your cocoa!  Sweeten with honey to taste.

Yummy!

Healthy Ice Cream

This recipe provides a soft serve ice cream alternative!  I have enjoyed adding in new things and changing up the taste.

Put these ingredients in a blender:
1 frozen banana (as soon as I see bananas going brown, I freeze them for future smoothies (ice cream) or banana bread)
1/4 cup of milk or a little more, depending on how soft you want your ice cream - or smoothie
Blend!

Add-ins:
*Add 2 Tablespoons peanut butter powder (a great use for food storage!)
*Or add 2-3 Tablespoons cocoa powder (the banana sweetens the ice cream)
*Or both
*Vanilla
*Frozen berries

The list could go on and on, but these are pretty healthy, and add a clean variety of flavors!

Healthy Snack: Roasted Chickpeas

These are great as a handful of yummy crunchies or on a salad.

1 can chickpeas
Olive oil
Salt and other toppings of your choice (seasonings, honey, whatever...)

Open and rinse out chickpeas (get rid of the foam)
Mix with olive oil and spread out on a pan.
Bake at 400 for 30-40 minutes until toasty colored
Season with salt or other seasonings
Let cool
Snack or put aside for salad toppings

Apple pie in a mug

This is a favorite hobby of mine...... making and eating yummy things from mugs!

2 apples, your favorite for baking with
4 graham crackers

Toppings: whipped cream, frozen whipped topping, frozen yogurt or ice cream, cinnamon for dusting


Directions:

1 Cube apples and place in 2 microwaveable mugs.
2 Microwave each mug of apples for 2 minutes on high.
3 Stir to combine, cook for another 2 minutes each to fully soften and cook the apples.
4 Add 2 crushed crackers for each mug 

5 Add your choice of whipped cream, frozen whipped topping, frozen yogurt, or ice cream, dust with cinnamon, and serve.

YUMMY!