Studies indicate that children from families that eat together are less likely to suffer from anxiety, have higher self-esteem, and are more likely to grow up into more confident adults. Although it might not be possible to have all meals together, sharing a meal a day or over the weekends can significantly strengthen the family bond.
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Clean Eating, recipes, healthy diet, Eating more fresh, local produce, organic vs non-organic food, GMOs
Pumpkin Dip, A Tasty, Healthy Appetizer & Snack
Pumpkin is one of the favorite tastes of autumn. Pumpkin pie, cookies, and many other dishes offer a touch of fall with each bite of pumpkin and pumpkin spice. Earlier I shared a simple recipe for making your own pumpkin or pumpkin pie spice mix. The great thing making it: you can adjust the amount for each spice to meet your needs. Today I’d like to share a tasty, healthy dip for get-togethers and holiday gatherings. Many people have a version of pumpkin dip which often involves cream cheese, whipped cream, frozen topping, and lots of calories. My pumpkin dip is a simple one based on pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling), pumpkin pie spices, and low-fat yogurt with a touch of maple syrup. It’s easy to make and tastes great.
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Frugal, Easy Homemade Pumpkin Pie Spice Mix
A common spice for many fall recipes is the mix known as pumpkin spice or pumpkin pie spice. It’s a basic recipe that is great for beginners and advanced home cooks alike. Making your own spice mix really is less expensive than buying it at the store. Before you start, make sure to check the freshness of your ground spices. Look for the expiration dates, take off the bottle cap, and smell your spice. You should do this at least annually to gurantee great flavor when cooking. Spices lose their potency over time, and if they’re not adding flavor to your food, you’ll be disappointed. I recommend using spices for a mix that have a 2 year expiration date. This will make a spice mix that you can safely use for 1 to 2 years.
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Slow Cooker Pozole
Pozole or posole is a thick, hearty Mexican stew-like soup made with meat, hominy, and broth and seasoned with oregano and chiles. (The spelling depends on the region.) It can include pork, beef, chicken, or seafood. A mix of pork shoulder and chicken is common, but you can use just pork or chicken. Today’s recipe is this spicy comfort food from Mexico made in a slow cooker for ease. Mexican pozole is garnished with shredded cabbage, lime wedges, avocado, onion, radishes, cilantro, and, of course, warm tortillas. It’s definitely a one dish meal with the addition of the fresh toppings.
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Pecan Stuffed Medjool Dates
Dates are a healthy snack or dessert idea and stuffed with peanut butter are delicious on the go snacks for kids and adults. Because of their natural sweetness, dates are known as “nature’s candies.” Medjool dates are ideal for this recipe because of their size and plumpness. You can use creamy or crunchy peanut butter, or another butter like almond butter. They are made of only 3 ingredients: dates, peanut butter (or other nut/seed butter), and pecans. They are impressive to serve at a get-together but are extrememly easy to make.
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Blue Cheese & Pear Salad
Blue Cheese & Pear is a perfect salad for autumn and the holidays. It includes fresh greens, avocado, dried cranberries, chopped pears, caramelized pecans, and crumbles of blue cheese. The tangy mustard vinaigrette perfectly compliments the creaminess of the blue cheese. You can also use walnuts and tart apples in place of pecans and pears with good results. It’s a perfect side for special occasions but simple to make for everyday meals.
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Easy Roasted Eggplant With Lemon Tahini Sauce
Eggplant, also known as aubergine, is available year round. It’s a wonderful, hearty vegetable that can be used in amazing ways. One cup of cubed eggplant contains 20 calories, 3 grams of fiber, and 5 percent of your daily doses of both potassium and folate. It’s rich in flavonoids like chlorogenic acid and caffeic acid which may help fight cancer and protect cells from damage.
Today’s recipe is another veggie dish classic, Roasted Eggplant with Lemon Tahini Sauce. Choose medium or small eggplants that are shiny, smooth, firm, and heavy for their size. You can slice the eggplant in small circles or do long oval slices. It makes a great appetizer or side dish. For a main entree, add nuts such as pistachio nuts.
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Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup
Today’s easy-to-make recipe that’s sure to become a family favorite is Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup. It’s a comforting blend of tender chicken, savory spices, and a medley of veggies, all simmered to perfection in your trusty slow cooker. I’m trying to eat healthier and am using low-sodium chicken broth and boneless skinless chicken breast. You could use boneless skinless chicken thighs too. This soup is great year-round, but it’s really comforting when the temperature lowers. I’m using my homemade taco seasoning which saves me money and time. I love adding avocado and Greek yogurt as my optional toppings.
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