A Clean Plate:: Healthy Black Bean Tacos

If there is one type of food that I crave it is Mexican.  The delicious combination of cilantro, mixed with creamy black beans and some cotijo cheese makes me salivate.  During the warmer months when it is too warm to turn on the oven, I like to opt for meals that are easy, fast and healthy.  I have been making these healthy black bean tacos for quite some time, and I thought that this is the perfect season to share them with you.  They combine good for your ingredients that can literally be thrown together in about fifteen minutes or less and are packed with ingredients that offer a nutritional punch.  

A Clean Plate:: Micro Green Arugula Salad with Fresh Mozzarella

Despite the amount of desserts that I bake and feature here, the majority of the time I am eating a very healthy diet consisting of a lot of leafy vegetables, fruits and healthy fats.  In fact, right now I am on a healthy cleanse (I am inspired by Bon Appétit's Food Lovers Cleanse) trying to get my body back on track. The steroid medication that my doctor subscribed must leave my body (this medicine can linger for over a month in your system), so I am trying to assist by eating very clean for at least one week, which means no added sugar, dairy or gluten, let's see how I do.  Yikes! (The recipe below includes dairy, in the form of mouth-watering homemade mozzarella, this was PC - pre-cleanse. )

In order to reflect that I am excited to start a new column here titled, Clean Plate, where I will dedicate posts to not only eating healthy, but simple meals that do not take a long time to prepare.  Oftentimes when it comes to eating healthy, time is of the essence, so each recipe that I share here will take this precious element into consideration.  I am starting off today with a Micro Green Arugula Salad with Fresh Mozzarella that not your typical greens, yet are a powerhouse of nutrients.  This salad is topped with my go to dressing for every salad - a lemony vinaigrette that features buttery olive oil, lemon juice and Dijon mustard and paired with fresh mozzarella, handmade at Caputo's here in Brooklyn.  

Spring Pea and Mint Soup

Easter weekend is one of my favorites - I love preparing a delicious brunch and gathering together with family.  If you are looking for a great starter for your weekend brunch I recommend this season appropriate soup, Spring Pea and Mint Soup.  After a winter full of heartier soups, this version is very refreshing combining sweet peas and cooling mint with spring garlic and onions and topped with crumbled feta.  Peas and mint are a dynamic duo when paired together, the former lends a subtle sweetness while the mint add a great herbal, cooling note.  If you are looking to make more of a meal out of this soup just add cooked quinoa or brown rice.   Continue for more...

Rosemary Parmesan Popcorn

Popcorn, the smell alone makes my mouth water. It's addicting nutty aroma is one of those things that when you are craving it nothing else will do.  I traditionally was held captive to the microwave variety - it was easy, no messes were left behind and it was consistent; however, the past few months we have been making our own popcorn where we can ensure that it is natural and season it as we please.  Making your own popcorn on the stove top is incredibly easy, but I will be honest I was a bit hesitant at first fearing that the hot oil and the kernels would pop out at me, so I reserved this job for the man of the house.  I recently gained the courage to make my own and seeing the yellow kernels blossom into white puffs is quite exciting.  I opted to make a savory (but I believe a sweet flavor is also in order so stay tuned) flavor so I added aged Parmesan Reggiano and fresh rosemary.  This recipe is fairly healthy as I did not use any butter, rather I incorporated extra virgin olive oil and only a dash of salt, since the cheese lends enough salty goodness. Continue for more...  

Berry Yogurt Pops

When it comes to frozen summertime treats it is a toss-up between the popsicle and ice cream. Since I do not have an ice cream maker yet (it is on my list, I just have no where to put it) I recently decided to venture into popsicle territory, which do not require any sort of machinery and are incredibly easy to make.  I settled on Strawberry and Blueberry Yogurt pops, a delicious recipe that fuses summer berries at their peak with creamy Greek yogurt and honey.  Continue for more...

Homemade Almond Milk

I recently became interested in almond milk when I had tried it incorporated into a smoothie.  It provided a creamy yet slightly nutty taste that really enhanced my snack between meals.  About six months ago, my fiancé decided to invest in the powerful Vitamix - the dynamo of a blender that can purée/ liquify just about anything in a moments time and let me tell you we have gotten a lot of use out of it from healthy green juices to silky soups.  One recipe that I wanted to try was homemade almond milk, which turns out to be so easy and less expensive then the store-bought counterpart not to mention much tastier.  Continue for more...

Healthy Chicken Salad

There are many foods in life that are well-worth the indulgence like a rich, velvety chocolate layer cake, truffled french fries and lobster macaroni and cheese and must never be deviated from, but then there are those dishes that you can play with and make lighter and healthier. One of my favorite recipes to transform is homemade chicken salad that is equal parts delicious and creamy but without the added fat.  In this recipe, I swapped out mayonnaise and added tangy non-fat Greek yogurt.  Initially, I was unsure if poultry would mix with yogurt, but it does, it does and has left me preferring this variety over the other.  I also added a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil to make it a bit richer and added some chopped shallots and celery, which I then served atop a bed of red leaf lettuce. 

Garlicky Kale and Wheat Berry Salad

I love going to the fresh market this time of year, because it is over flowing with so many different varieties of fruits and vegetables, some that only stick around for a short while.  One of my favorites is spring garlic, a milder version of the variety that you can find at the store.  I was recently craving a healthy salad for lunch so I decided to combine spring garlic with kale and wheat berries for a nutrient packed lunch. I bet you wouldn't know it since I have a strong love, okay obsession, with baking and baked goods but I usually eat very healthy.  I love incorporating fresh vegetables into my diet as much as possible. Continue for more...

Vegetable & Farro Soup

Growing up, one of my favorite soups included barley, or as the Italians called it, farro.  Even this day, I still love to incorporate this healthy grain into my homemade soups, especially since it holds it's form so well, making for a heartier soup and it is also packed with nutrients and fiber.  I recently made this Vegetable and Farro Soup and was very happy that I got to eat it for about four days for either lunch or dinner. This soup pairs perfectly with a grilled cheese or a light salad. Continue for recipe...

Winter Citrus Salad

I hope that everyone had a fabulous and safe New Years! It was nice to take a bit of a break from blogging, but it feels good to be back.  I am not sure about you, but there is only one thing that I have been craving since Christmas - healthy and refreshing meals.  Right now, I have been in the mood for anything citrus, as I love how when added to a meal  they bring a bit a sunshine, especially during the winter months.  Today I am sharing with you one of my favorite side dishes during the winter, a Winter Citrus Salad with Orange Vinaigrette.  It is so light and healthy (not to mention a heavy dose of vitamin C) - you will feel as if you negated all of those sweets during the holidays, if only!

Citrus Pomegranate Spritzer

I am popping in to share with you a recipe for a citrus pomegranate spritzer, the perfect way to begin your New Year. I love that citrus fruits like oranges, grapefruits and clementines are in season and provide a burst of freshness and sunshine to a cold day.  This drink is incredibly healthy and light, if you would like to incorporate it into New Years Eve, add a dash of vodka to spice it up.  I hope that everyone is having a great week, I will be back in full force next week. Until then, enjoy!

The Dinner Table:: Cauliflower and Leak Soup with Grilled Cheese Croutons

When the weather turns cold (and believe me we have already had our first burst of cold here in New York, including our first snowfall!) I find myself craving soup.  There is something about sipping a bowl of soup on a cold day that can really warm you from the inside out.  Soup is a healthy and can serve as a hearty meal or a great compliment to a salad or sandwich.  Today I am sharing with you an incredibly healthy and easy soup, Cauliflower and Leek soup that has been blended to perfection and topped with grilled cheese croutons.  Continue for recipe...

Healthy Apple Cinnamon Granola

I currently have an over-sized bag of apples sitting in our apartment from our recent apple picking excursion.  I can guarantee that they will be gone before too long, since I have been eating about three to four a day and I keep thinking of ways to incorporate them into meals.  I love granola, but only when it is homemade. I feel that store bought has way too much unnecessary sugar and fat.  I decided to bake healthy Apple Cinnamon Granola to eat for breakfast layered between Greek yogurt or just to nibble on as a snack. Continue for recipe...

The Dinner Table: Quinoa Cakes

 For as much as I love to eat something sweet, you will find me more often than not eating healthy foods rich in nutrients. One of my favorite sources of protein and fiber is quinoa.  I love this grain for it's nutty taste, so I decided to make Quinoa Cakes, perfect for breakfast, lunch or dinner.  Continue for more...

Kale Chips

 I am always looking for ways to incorporate more greens into my diet - spinach, arugula, Swiss chard and kale.  I was recently at Whole Foods and they were sampling homemade kale chips, they were amazing. Who would have thought that a green that is a little too bitter for my liking can be transformed into a crunchy and delicious, not to mention very healthy snack. Their version was dressed with a bit of extra virgin olive oil and garlic salt.  I tried to duplicate that recipe and the results were just as good. This proved to be an excellent snack and tasted much better than something that comes out of a bag.