Healthy Banana Oatmeal cookies (sugar-free)

3 ripe bananas
2 cups rolled oats
1/4 cup pecans (optional)
1 tsp vanilla
1/3 cup oil (substitute applesauce)
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg

Mash bananas in bowl. Add remaining ingredients and mix well. Let mixture sit for 15 minutes. Place spoonfuls on greased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes.

(I cookie using applesauce is 52 calories)

Nuts about Berries

Ingredients: 

1 cup romaine lettuce

1 small handful blueberries

1 small handful raspberries

4 strawberries (sliced)

1 small handful blackberries

poppy seed salad dressing (optional)

6 cinnamon sugar almonds crushed

If you visit the street fair in Huntington Beach on Tuesdays, you can pick up a snack pack of cinnamon-sugared almonds for $3.

Pasta Putanesca

I came across this recipe the other day and realized it was also a vegan recipe, so I thought I'd try it out and see how it tasted. It's good and it had just the right amount of spice to it.

Group 1:

1/4 c. olive oil
2-3 tbsp. coarsely chopped garlic
1 tsp. rosemary
1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper

GROUP 2:
1/2 c. chopped black olives (kalamata best)
1 tbsp. capers
Optional: Sliced artichoke hearts

GROUP 3:
1 c. chopped plum tomatoes
1/4 c. tomato puree (tomato paste)
*asparagus or any other vegetable you want

Saute group 1 in heavy skillet. Add group 2. Saute briefly. Add group 3. Cook 10 minutes. Meanwhile cook spaghetti. Toss cooked spaghetti and sauce in a serving bowl. Serve with grated cheese and chopped parsley.

The Best Chocolate Frosting Ever

4 squares unsweetened bakers chocolate
1/4 cup butter
1 16 oz pkg powdered sugar
2 eggs
1/2 cup milk
1 tsp vanilla

1 pan ice water*

Melt chocolate and butter over low heat (warm setting if your stove has it). Combine everything else in a bowl. Set bowl in pan of ice water. Blend all ingredients and slowly add chocolate mixture to bowl. Beat until stiff (this takes between 5 and 10 minutes).


*I use a large cooking pot that my mixing bowl fits into perfectly.

Pasta Primavera

whole wheat penne pasta
1 cup spaghetti sauce
1 small can sliced olives
1/2 cup sliced cremini mushrooms
1/2 cup spinach leaves
7 stalks asparagus (chopped in 1-1/2 inch pieces)

Boil water for pasta. While water is boiling, combine all ingredients (except pasta) in frying pan and saute on medium until asparagus is tender. Once pasta is cooked, coat with sauce.

Pesto Sauce

Pesto:

3 cups Basil (packed) -large basil leaves
1/2 cup Walnuts
1/2 cup olive oil
3 cloves garlic finely chopped
1 1/2 tsp coarse salt
2 teaspoons lemon juice

Preheat oven to 350. Place walnuts on cookie sheet and toast for 10 min. In food processor or blender add basil, walnuts, garlic, and salt. Slowly and evenly add olive oil until blended. Add Lemon juice and pulse to blend.

Normally pesto has plenty of cheese in it, but I didn't even miss the cheese with this tasty treat. I couldn't get enough of it last night...

Black Bean and Tomato Quinoa

Ingredients:
2 teaspoons grated lime zest
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled*
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 teaspoon sugar
1 cup quinoa
1 (14- to 15-ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
2 medium tomatoes, diced
4 scallions (green onions), chopped
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

Whisk together lime zest and juice, butter, oil, sugar, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4teaspoon pepper in a large bowl.

Wash quinoa in 3 changes of cold water in a bowl, draining in a sieve each time.

Cook quinoa according to package directions.

Add quinoa to dressing and toss until dressing is absorbed, then stir in remaining ingredients and salt and pepper to taste.

Serves 3-4. I ate it with corn chips at it was yummy!

* Leave out the butter if you want it to be vegan.

To Answer Lindsey's question: Quinoa is a grain that is similar to rice, except that it is a complete protein (one of the only grains out there that is). I bought it at Trader Joe's.