Tag Archives: healthy

Chard Wrapped Fish Filets

Posted on by Andrea

Here’s an easy and healthy way to cook fish filets. In this recipe I’ve used haddock and depending on the thickness of your fish filet, you may need to increase your cooking time. You can also use kale leaves, or parchement paper packets. The swiss chard is pairs really well with fish, it’s just delicious with it.

Chard Wrapped Fish Filets

adapted from a recipe by Jessica Seinfeld

Serves 2 (can be doubled, etc)

Ingredients:

2 5 ounce fish filets

2 large swish chard leaves, stems removed (and diced finely for use in this recipe)

1/4 cup onion, finely diced

1/4 cup swiss chard stems, finely diced

1/2 cup fennel bulb, thinly sliced

1/4 cup celery stalks, finely diced (preferably with leaves attached)

2 tbsp olive oil (or oil of your choice)

4 tsp basil pesto

juice of 1/2 lemon

salt and freshly ground pepper

some olive oil to drizzle

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Wash and trim swiss chard leaves. Remove stems and finely dice. Place leaves on baking sheet.

Place fish filets on top of chard leaves, on one side, so there is enough of the leaf to fold over.

Heat olive oil in medium-sized pan over medium heat. Add onions, diced chard stems, celery and fennel to pan. Add salt and pepper. Saute gently until softened – 5 minutes or so. Remove from heat.

Spread 2 tsp of basil pesto on top of each fish filet. Divide vegetable mixture and spoon on top of filets. Drizzle a little olive oil and lemon juice over the fish. Fold over leaf and adhere with a toothpick. (Can be prepared to this point and refrigerated to bake later).

Place into preheated oven and bake for 20 minutes, or until fish is cooked through.

Served with some simple boiled new potatoes. 🙂

Sauté vegetables until tender-crisp

Spread pesto on top of filet, followed by sautéed vegetables

Fold over chard leaf, secure with toothpick
Voila!

I am including some preparation alternatives as well:

Alternatives:

To cook fish in a parchement paper packet, follow the instructions, but place fish on a square of parchment instead of chard leaf. Wrap/fold edges to create a packet. (I used some chopped chard or kale leaf with this alternative, as I love the flavours together).

This is a halibut filet with the same ingredients but more chard leaf chopped up in the vegetable mixture
Parchment packets- you can google how to wrap these properly

Energy Snack Loaf (sugar free)(gf)

Posted on by Andrea

I love this loaf for many reasons. It’s refined sugar free, getting it’s sweetness from bananas and dried fruit. It’s an excellent snack between meals when you need something to get you through. I always bring this with me when I travel (sliced and individually wrapped), it’s proven to be a lifesaver during long waits between meals, great to take on a hike. It tastes amazing and it’s healthy. Once you have all the ingredients, it comes together quickly –it’s such a cinch.

*sub in your favourite dried fruits and nuts to make it your own

Energy Snack Loaf

adapted from a recipe by https://theviewfromgreatisland.com/

Ingredients:

Dry – mix together:

1.5 cups almond flour

1/2 cup all-purpose gluten-free flour (or regular)

2 tbsp hemp hearts

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

Wet – in processor (can mix by hand):

2 bananas – liquified (or mashed well with potato masher)

2 large eggs

1/4 cup of olive oil (or oil of your choice)

1/2 tsp almond extract

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Add ins – once everything is combined:

1 generous cup raisins or craisins (or dried fruit of choice)

1 generous cup pecans, roughly chopped (or nut of choice)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350F. Line a 9 x 5 inch loaf pan with parchment paper. Set aside.

In large bowl, mix together the first 5 dry ingredients– almond flour, Gf flour, hemp hearts, baking powder and salt. Set aside.

In a food processor (or by hand) liquify the bananas, then add in the eggs and mix well. Add almond and vanilla extracts and olive oil and mix well.

Add the liquid ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix well. Fold in the raisins and nuts, until well combined.

Scrape into prepared pan, smoothing top. Bake for 40-45 minutes until tester comes out clean and top is golden brown.

Remove from pan and cool. Wrap in fresh parchment and chill in fridge. It’s easier to slice when it’s cold. Enjoy.

I store mine in the fridge but it’s not necessary to do so.

Add wet mixture into the dry mixture
Fold in fruit and nuts and mix thoroughly
Bake till golden brown and tester comes out clean

Root Vegetable & Quinoa Rosti

Posted on by Andrea

 

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This is a really tasty recipe for this time of year, utilizing root vegetables.  It’s quite comforting with middle-eastern spices and works with your healthy diet plans. Feel free to  use what root veggies you have on hand – just be careful of your heat when cooking – the natural sugars can burn – so medium to medium-low heat and a sharp eye and nose is needed.

Root Vegetable & Quinoa Rosti

adapted from I Quit Sugar

Serves 4

Ingredients:

1 small onion, chopped finely

1 large clove of garlic, minced

2 medium carrots, peeled and grated

1 small sweet potato (or 1/2 large), peeled and grated

1 medium parsnip, peeled and grated

1/2 cup ground almonds or almond meal (sub in 1/2 cup more cooked quinoa if you don’t have any)

1 cup cooked quinoa

1/2 cup  gluten-free all-purpose flour (I’m using PC)

3/4 tsp salt

1/2 tsp ground pepper

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp ground cumin

2 tbsp tahini

1 tbsp curry paste (I used Patak’s mild yellow curry paste)

2 eggs

cooking oil of our choice (I use ghee)

Directions:

In a small frying pan, with a bit of cooking oil or ghee, saute onion on medium heat until somewhat browned, about 5-7 mins. Add garlic and stir around for one minute. Remove from heat.

Combine all the ingredients, including the onion/garlic mixture, and mix well, until all the flavours are well incorporated.

You can make them into large burger shapes, or like a rosti, as I’ve done here.

In a 10 inch cast iron or non-stick skillet, melt one tablespoon of ghee or cooking oil of your choice over medium heat. Tip mixture into pan and using a spatula, press down and go around edge and tuck it in and press it down and make it tidy.

Cook slowly – being careful of your heat, remember not to let it get too hot  – these veggies have lots of natural sugars and will burn. After about 10 minutes, place a plate over the rosti. Flip the pan over, and the rosti should now be on the plate. Place pan back on heat and put another tablespoon of cooking oil or ghee in your pan. Once melted, slide the rosti back into the pan so the other side can cook.  Cook for an additional 6-8 mins, being careful of your heat. Slide out onto plate.

Cut into wedges and serve with a chunky raita.  Here’s how I make mine:

Raita:

1 cup plain yogurt, 1/2 cup diced cucumber, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp ground cumin, 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro.

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Healthy Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Raisin Breakfast Cookies

Posted on by Andrea

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Here’s a ‘no refined sugar’, gluten-free healthy breakfast cookie that’s great for breakfast on the run,  bedtime snack and I love them for travelling as well.  They freeze really well and you can modify the ingredients as you see fit.

Ingredients:

makes about 20 three inch cookies

3 large ripe bananas, mashed (1.5 cups)

2 tbsp coconut oil, melted

1 egg

1 tsp vanilla extract

2.5 cups rolled oats (I use large flake)

1/3 cup unsweetened coconut flakes

1/2 tsp sea salt

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 cup raisins or dried cranberries

1/2 cup dark chocolate chips

Method:

Preheat oven to 350F.  Prepare baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone liners. Set aside.

In medium bowl, mix together oats, coconut, salt, cinnamon, baking powder, raisins and chocolate chips. Set aside.

In food processor, puree bananas (or you can mash by hand). Add in egg, coconut oil and vanilla. Blend well. Add wet ingredients to oatmeal mixture and mix well.

Drop by 2 tablespoon sized dollops about 2 inches apart on cookie sheet.  Bake for 13-15 minutes, until bottoms are brown. You may need to rotate your pans halfway through or leave them in a little longer, depending on your oven, and their size.

Cool. Keep in an airtight container in the fridge. Enjoy!

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Homemade Hummus

Posted on by Andrea

 

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Homemade Hummus

Some simple ingredients are all you need to whip up this basic recipe for hummus.  You can adjust the flavour by adding more lemon juice, cumin, olive oil, smoked paprika…It’s delicious and healthy as a dip with veggies or pita, as a spread on a sandwich or wrap,  or even spread on a plate and topped with salad or curry.  Super versatile – don’t just think ‘dip’.

Hummus

adapted from the book Jerusualem

makes 4 cups

3 cups chickpeas (cooked or canned)

1 cup tahini

4 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice

4 cloves garlic

1 1/2 tsp salt

1/2 cup ice cold water

Method:

Drain chickpeas and place into food processor, blend until it forms a thick paste. Add tahini, lemon juice, garlic and salt. Continue to blend, scraping down sides until mixed. Pour ice water through feed tube while leaving the processor to run for 5 minutes. Let hummus rest for 30 minutes. Adjust seasoning to taste.

Will keep for approx. 4 days in fridge.

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Homemade Hummus

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Homemade Hummus

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