October 9, 2010

Healthy and Comfort Food Recipes

Hummus

Ingredients:
2 cups canned garbanzo beans, drained
1/3 cup tahini (sesame seed paste)
1/4 cup lemon juice
1 tsp salt
2 cloves garlic, halved
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 tsp paprika
1/2-1 tsp ground cumin

Directions:
Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Transfer to a serving bowl and sprinkle with paprika.

**An option to give the hummus some kick--add 1/2 cup cilantro and a jalapeno or two--so good.


Granola Bars


Ingredients:
2 cups oats
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup wheat germ
1/4 cup ground flax meal
3/4 tsp cinnamon
3/4 tsp salt
1 cup flour (I use 1/2 wheat)
1/2 cup honey
1 egg, beaten
1/2 cup canola oil
2 tsp vanilla
1 cup chocolate chips


Directions:
Preheat oven to 350. Generously grease 9x13 baking pan. In a large bowl mix together the oats, brown sugar, wheat germ, flax, cinnamon, salt, flour. Make a well in the center, and pour in the honey, egg, oil, and vanilla. Mix well. Pat the mixure evenly into the prepared pan. Bake for 20 minutes. Cut into bars while still warm.

Apple Snack

Slice Apples, spread with peanut butter and place miniature marshmallows in a row and top with another apple slice.

Brown Sugar Oat Muffins

Ingredients:
1 cup Old-fashioned oats
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 Eggs
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
3/4 cup milk
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:
1) In a small bowl, combine the oats, flours, baking powder and salt. In another small bowl, beat the eggs, brown sugar, milk, oil and vanilla. Stir into the dry ingredients just until moistened.

2) fill greased or paper-lined muffin cups two-thirds full. Bake at 400 for 15-17 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack.

Yield: 1 dozen.

Nutrition Facts: 1 serving equals 192 calories, 7 g fat (1 g saturated fat), 37 mg cholesterol, 189 mg sodium, 30 g carbohydrate,
2 g fiber, 4 g protein.


Pumpkin Pie Squares

crust:
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup oats

filling:
2 eggs
3/4 cup white sugar
1 (15 ounce) can pumkin
1 (12 fluid ounce) can evaporated milk
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

In a meduim bowl, cream together better and brown sugar. Mix in flour and oats. Press into a 9x13 baking pan. Bake for 15 minutes, until set.

In a large bowl, beat eggs and white sugar. Beat in pumkin and evaporated milk. Mix in spices. Pour over baked crust. Bake for 20-30 minutes, until set.

Let cool before cutting into squares.