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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Grilled Peaches & Cream Cheese

Peaches are a fabulous summer treat. Besides being a tasty summer dessert, peaches do great things for our bodies. Loaded with anti-oxidants, Vitamin C and A , peaches are low in calories (39 in 100 grams). They contain flavonoid poly phenolic antioxidants such as lutein, zea-xanthin and ß-cryptoxanthin, which help act as protective scavengers against oxygen-derived free radicals. This helps protect us from various diseases. Rich in minerals, peaches contain potassium, fluoride and iron. Iron helps form red blood cells. Potassium helps regulate heart and blood pressure. Fluoride helps prevent cavities. Research also indicates that they help prevent obesity-related diseases such as diabetes, metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease.

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Winter Salad With Fruit & Poppy Seed Dressing

I love adding seasonal fruit to a green salad all year long. In the winter, the trick is to use fruits readily available at your local market. Make this easy winter salad in minutes for a bright, refreshing recipe full of sweet flavors and crunchy textures you’ll adore. It makes a satisfying appetizer or salad not only for the holidays but anytime in the coming months.

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Spinach Mushroom Quiche For A Meatless Meal

Lent will be observed from February 22 to April 8 this year. It is a period of religious observance in many Christian churches marking the 40 days that Jesus spent fasting in the desert, enduring temptation by Satan. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and ends approximately six weeks later with the celebration of Easter. Fasting before Easter can be traced back as far as the 2nd century.

Whether you are trying to eat less meat for your health or you are looking for meatless meals for Lent, a vegetable quiche is a great meal to add to the menu. Quiches may be served hot, warm or cold. I shared an asparagus & tomato quiche several years ago with fresh spring asparagus. Then that summer I offered summer squash quiche. Today I’m sharing spinach quiche which can be made year round with frozen spinach. If using fresh baby spinach, sauté it with the onion and garlic. Frozen spinach works well. Defrost it, and then squeeze all the water out with your hands. Then press it between paper towels. If you leave any water in the spinach, your quiche can be soggy. You can also add and delete ingredients in the filling to meet your family’s needs or what’s in the pantry. I am using feta cheese and cheddar. This quiche is easy to make and is perfect for breakfast, brunch or dinner.

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Parmesan Roasted Cauliflower

Several years ago I shared a recipe for marinated spicy roasted cauliflower. The marinade includes chili powder, cumin, and curry for a spicy flavor. Today’s recipe, parmesan roasted cauliflower is a simple but flavorful dish that many home cooks seem to overlook. This dish is perfect for winter, especially when paired with a side of roasted potatoes and meats or served with some warm pasta. Roasting the cauliflower brings out its natural nutty flavor, and the parmesan cheese adds a crispy richness that will have you craving more. A whole roasted head of cauliflower can be really impressive.

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Summer Nectarine Salad With Cucumbers & Tomatoes

For gardeners, summer can be a time of never-ending cucumbers and tomatoes. Even if you don’t grow your own, the supermarkets and farmer’s markets are loaded with summer produce.  Here’s a tasty salad  that goes great with grilled chicken or fish and is oh so easy to make. Use cucumbers with heirloom tomatoes,  but even grape or cherry tomatoes work well too.

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Mexican Corn on the Cob

Do you love the taste of fresh, sweet corn?  Today we’re talking about revving up corn on the cob with a spicy twist. Mexican Corn on the Cob (also called Mexican Street Corn and Elote Corn) is a favorite street food in Mexico that’s easy to make at home.  You can make it the traditional way on a grill or you can put it in the oven next winter when it’s too snowy to grill. For oven Mexican corn, put the corn with husk on directly on the oven rack and roast 40 to 45 minutes until tender. Then add butter and toppings. Still yummy!

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Low Carb Cauliflower Pizza Bites

Many folks are cutting back on gluten and carbs for their health. For some time, cauliflower has been used to replace carb-heavy foods like potatoes and grains. Remember creamy cauliflower mash with garlic ?  You’ve probably also heard of cauliflower pizza where cauliflower is used for the crust. Today I’m sharing cauliflower pizza bites which  are similar, and a crowd-pleasing fun food to eat.

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