Make it Your Own! MYO

Make it Your Own

I will be adding to this post the kind of recipes that are better when you make it your self.  When I say better that might mean.......more healthy, less sugar.  I also might add things that just are better when you make it your self.  

Chocolate peanut butter and Almond!

So here is my very first attempt at homemade granola bars!  

3/4 cup peanut butter

3 tbsp cocoa 

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp B. powder

 chopped almonds

4 cups Oats

1 cup whole wheat flour

(optional add in some flaxseed, coconut, chocolate chips)

1/3 cup honey

2 tbsp canola oil

2 eggs

2 tsp vanilla

2 tbsp Truvia

(taste after mixing before you add to the dry ingredients.  Add more of any of the ingredients to make it to your liking.  

(if you really need to sweeten it more, add a little brown sugar. 1/4 cup should be plenty)

Mix wet and dry. Once you have mixed wet and dry check the consistency.  Add a little more oats if you think its too wet, and add more oil or honey if too dry. 

Cook at 325 for about 30 minutes.  Let cook on rack and cut into strips after 15 minutes.  Store in container.  I thought they were better the second day.

 Dried fruit Granola bar

This recipe I tweaked from Shape Magazine October 2007.

This what I did different.  Instead of 2/3 cup brown rice syrup I used 1/3 cup honey.  I also added some cream cheese frosting on one for my children to try.

Make it your own - Taquitos
These are not healthy in the sense that yes they fried, however so much better when you make something fresh your self, you know what is in it and its not a frozen dinner.

 Leftover shredded meat of any kind.  What made them really good was the leftover meat from my Pork Pozole!  1/2 the meat was taken out and saved!  I added one packet taco seasoning.

These corn tortillas where gluten free.  

I had a hard time at first.  HERE'S the TRICK and TIP!  

Roast corn tortilla as pictured below on med heat comal or a frying pan of some sort that is lightly sprayed with oil till a little golden brown on one side.  Then remove and place on a plate or cutting board and add 1-2 tbsp of your shredded meat in the center.  Roll on up and stick it with 1/2 a tooth pick in two spots. 

Place in your Med High heat oil and cook till browning, turn over repeat and take out.

 Remove tooth picks before eating and enjoy with or with out dipping sauce.  SO GOOD!  Not recommended to eat more than once a month.

Light for Lunch!

Light for Lunch

When you need a little something more this is the best if you like Salmon

One piece of wheat bread or bagel, thin round...whatever  you choose!

Cream cheese, light

Spinach

tomatoes

Smoked salmon- you find this usually by the fish/meat area of the grocery store-it looks raw but is not.  Thinly pre sliced in the package.  

Put it all together and you are in love

                                                      Open Faced Smoked Salmon!

Indian Vegetables over Coleslaw

I bought a bag of broccoli slaw or coleslaw mix, a bag of pre-shredded carrots, peanuts and Indian paste with Light Coconut milk.  I ate these ingredients the last three days for lunch in a few different ways. 

1. First you have to choose your vegetables, choose at least two for variety and texture.

Carrots-1 to 2

broccoli a few flowerets

parsnip 1

zucchini 1/2 

peppers, mini sweet or regular. 1

?????  You fill in the blank 

2. Put 1 tbsp olive oil in a frying pan on med. heat and stir fry no longer than 5 min or till broccoli is slightly tender, so it doesn't get soggy.  Remove from pan and set aside.

3. Take a flavorful Indian paste of your choice and serve about 1-2 tbsp with your coconut milk, cook in on the stove separately from vegetables.  Note*  If you are the only one eating the amount of sauce will be more than one serving so use what you want for desired sauce and save the rest.  

4.  Take your broccoli Slaw or Coleslaw and put it at the bottom or your dish, cover with your stir fried vegetables and top with desired amount of sauce.  Toss with some peanuts on the top and Enjoy.

5.  Other ways you can switch this up

       a) I added a spicy Pineapple salsa by Wholly Salsa,  really good.

       b) You can add meat with your vegetable stir fry.  No longer than 5 minutes or no longer pink.

       c)  Add Chili Garlic Paste ( pictured below)  Spicy!

      d)  Put the combination on a lettuce leaf and wrap it or on any kind of wrap!

If you like your sauce spicy, Chili Garlic sauce with make it HOT!  A little goes a long way.  Even a tsp.

Why make things more difficult, if you're like me and you feel like you're in the kitchen all day, then you don't want lunch to be drawn out and you certainly don't want to skip lunch either.

What makes lunch easy for me some days....leftovers.

Try to utilize what you already have in your fridge, this not only will help you eat your leftovers but it will also be easier on your budget and save you time in the kitchen!

Lov'n Fresh Sandwich round skinny thins

Theses whole wheat rounds had only whole wheat flour, no enriched or bleached or unbleached anything.

These round save you 100 calories then a normal whole wheat bread sandwich with two pieces.

Red roasted  pepper hummus on both sides of bread.

Carrot sticks, mini pre cut

Spinach leaves

Black beans and corn with a little lime juice

( You can eat a little fruit on the side, smoothie on the side, or some healthy chips)

Pita Sandwich

I love toasted warm bread

We have something called a comal and you can use to warm bread, tortillas or to grill a sandwich.

This can make eating pita bread feel like SOUL FOOD!  Just for variety.  This will be more calories than a thin round but might leave you feeling more satisfied.

I added Hummus once again to the bread, cucumbers, sweet peppers, spinach and you can even throw in some leftover seasoned meat from a night before and call it good!

Breaded Chicken Tender SALAD

 So I think almost any mom or busy person at some point during the week is pulling out some Tyson chicken nuggets, tenders, patties, or anytizers.  With that being said, I love to eat more healthy than not but sometimes I do need a quick fixer for the family.  You can do this for lunch or dinner.
Take any kind of breaded chicken after its baked and then cut it up and throw on top of a bed of greens.  Then while you enjoy the sinful taste of breaded chicken you can also enjoy the healthy greens.
I also like to top with what I have around the kitchen.

You can take this and make it into any of the following:

Chinese style by adding-Mandarin oranges, Crunchy Rice sticks ( not chow mein noodles)
 Dressing-Mix about 1 tbsp vinegar, dash sugar, soy sauce to taste, and a little olive oil or veg oil.  This is a hard one because its mostly to taste.  Give it a try.  Top it off with Almonds!

Chicken with Apples.
Cut up apples, almonds, raspberry vinaigrette or light Poppy seed dressing

Mexican style
Chicken with salsa, peppers, black beans, avocado etc....

Keeping checking back for more!