Friday, March 18, 2011

Cream of Broccoli Soup

A green veggie soup for a green kind of week, as yesterday was St. Patrick's Day :)


Cream of Broccoli Soup



Ingredients included:
2 tbsp margarine
1 small onion, chopped
1 celery stalk, chopped
6 cups of broccoli, chopped
3 cups vegetable broth
2 cups skim milk
3 tbsp whole wheat flour
ground pepper to taste

First I started by melting one of the tablespoons of margarine on the stove top. Onion and celery were then sauted and broccoli and broth were added and left covered to simmer for about 15 minutes. Puree contents and then return to stove top. While pureeing is taking place, or even finished melt the remaining tbsp of margarine with the milk and whole wheat flour. When this is bubbly add the pureed vegetables and mix everything together. Season with pepper and enjoy!

Broccoli is super nutritious and high in vitamins A, K, and C as well as antioxidants.  This is a healthier version from a traditional cream of broccoli soup as it's low in fat and hence calories and makes about 5 servings so when you think about it it's at least one vegetable serving per dish!  

I paired this with multi-grain bread slathered with roasted red pepper hummus.

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Happy Pancake Day!

Everyone loves pancakes :)  One of the great things about them is they work well with almost anything you want to throw in them!  For some more unique, but healthy takes on pancakes check out the recipes below...

Apples, oatmeal and cinnamon
http://www.canadianliving.com/food/apple_oatmeal_pancakes.php

Banana bran
http://www.mrbreakfast.com/display.asp?categoryid=4&subcategoryid=4&recipeid=2397

Blueberry flaxseed
http://www.mrbreakfast.com/display.asp?categoryid=4&subcategoryid=4&recipeid=2370


Looking to be really adventurous and try vegetable pancakes?

For sweet potatoes 

or Zucchini


I personally haven't tried these recipes yet, but they are certainly on my to make soon list.  Hope you enjoy!

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Chocolate Chip Cookies

These were the cookies featured at the NL Wedding Show last weekend. Healthy, high fibre, but still the goodness of the original classic chocolate chip.

Ingredients used:
3/4 cup rolled oats
3/4 cup whole-wheat flour
1/4 cup white flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup margarine
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup chocolate chips

Mix dry ingredients in one bowl, wet with sugar in another and mix together. Fold in chocolate chips.
Bake at 350°F for about 10 minutes. Makes about 20 cookies.

These were a huge hit, and we ended up running out early! It was funny how people reacted after trying one
once they had heard these were a healthy take on the original version. "Wow, these actually taste good!" :)

Healthy eating not only should be good for us, but it needs to taste good too!