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Diet

RECIPES

Home Cookin’: Homemade Healthy Pumpkin-Vanilla Ice Cream

Pumpkin-Vanilla Ice Cream

Strange, but true fact about me: I am obsessed with pumpkin, so much so that 100% pure canned pumpkin ranks among my favorite pantry staples.  Low in calories and packed with both fiber and vitamin A, canned pumpkin can be used in everything from soup, to homemade pasta, smoothies, or your morning oatmeal.  I also frequently use it as a healthy swap for eggs and oil in baked goods (see my post on using canned pumpkin for fudgey brownie bites here).

So, clearly when I bought my ice cream maker this summer, pumpkin ice cream was on my shortlist of recipes to whip up.  Inspired by another Boston blogger, Healthy Food For Living’s, recipe for Vegan Maple Pumpkin Ice Cream, I tweaked to incorporate another ingredient obsession of mine, Whole Foods Vanilla Soymilk and added a bit more spice.  The result…divine, spicy pumpkin-ness.

Homemade Pumpkin-Vanilla Ice Cream

Ingredients:

Pumpkin-Vanilla Ice Cream Mix

-1 can of 100% pure pumpkin puree (NOT pumpkin pie mix)
-1.5 cups of vanilla soymilk (I like Whole Foods 365 brand)
-1/2 cup honey (I used clover, but it’s up to you)
-1 tsp. ground cinnamon
-1 tsp. ground nutmeg
-1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
-1 tsp. pure vanilla extract

-In a medium bowl, mix the pumpkin puree and soymilk. Once incorporated, add in honey and vanilla extract.
-Slowly add in the spices one tsp. at a time. I recommend using a whisk to ensure that they are incorporated evenly. The mix will be slightly thicker than the consistency of water and that’s normal.
-Cover with plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for two hours.
-Place in ice cream maker and make according to your model’s specifications (mine took 20 minutes).

If making for a dinner party, I would recommend making that night, because this recipe is best served freshly made.  Because of the low fat content, once it’s in the freezer for awhile the consistency is more like an ice cream-y Italian ice.  Nevertheless, the taste is still delicious!  Hope you will enjoy as much as I do.

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RECIPES

Home Cookin’: Parmesan “Breaded” Chicken

Parmesan Chicken

Ideal for a busy professional, this easy entree can be prepped the night before.  Start by coating four boneless, skinless chicken breasts with dijon mustard (Annie’s Naturals is yummy).  Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and coat a cookie sheet or baking dish with nonstick spray.

On a clean plate, spread a thin layer of finely ground parmesan cheese (Whole Foods has a fantastic store brand one) and top with ground black pepper, crushed red pepper, ground or freshly minced garlic, dried or fresh rosemary.  Do NOT top with salt, as the cheese is already salty.

Coat both sides of the chicken breast in the parmesan cheese and spice mix and place in the baking dish.  Continue the process until all four chicken breasts are evenly covered.  If popping into the refrigerator overnight, make sure the chicken is at room temperature before placing in the oven.  Bake for 20-30 minutes depending on the size of the breasts.  Cook until the insides are tender, but not pink.

The result is a juicy, flavorful piece of chicken with hints of cheese and kick of spice from the crushed red pepper.  Serve with a side salad, or green beans and brown rice.

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BOSTON, ENTERTAINING, RECIPES

Easy Entertaining: The Cocktail Club

Bloody Mary Cocktail Club Event

With new roommates come new traditions.  Instead of hosting a typical dinner party each month, my new roommate and her friends take turns hosting “The Cocktail Club.”  Created as a way to taste and learn how to make classic cocktails outside of a bar, the monthly host selects a signature drink and pairs it with a suitable entree.

Last month’s cocktail club was inspired by brunch.  A Bloody Mary bar allowed guests to learn how to mix their own drinks as spicy or mild as they desired.  Only half of the guests had tried a Bloody Mary before, making it a great opportunity to expand their mixologist skill set.

Ellie Krieger's Blueberry Almond French Toast Bake

The dish of the night was Ellie Krieger’s Blueberry Almond French Toast Bake.  Perfect for busy professionals, the recipe must be prepared the night before and can be popped into the oven as guests arrive.  In contrast to the spicy Bloody Mary, the french toast bake was sweet, yet filling.  To round out the meal, serve fresh fruit and a veggie platter for guests to nosh on in advance of the main entree.  To view the recipe from the Food Network’s website, click here.

RECIPES

Home Cookin’: Spicy Turkey-Mango Wrap

Spicy Turkey-Mango Wrap

Simple, yet flavorful this wrap can be prepared in a flash.  Start by spreading a thin layer of hummus on an 8-inch whole wheat wrap.  Next, add two or three slices of oven roasted turkey (chicken also works well).  Top with a handful of spinach and 1/4 cup of sliced mango.  Add a few dashes of hot sauce and voilà – a quick meal or snack.  For a heartier meal, serve with a side salad, veggies and dip, or yogurt.

Grocery List: Hummus, Oven Roasted Turkey Breast (lunchmeat or shredded), Whole Wheat Wraps, Spinach, Mango, Hot Sauce

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RECIPES

Cosmo: 13 Healthy Foods That Can Make You Fat

Making Sushi at Home by Merlijn Hoek From Flickr

I’m a strong believer that when it comes to healthy eating, knowledge is power!  Today my inbox presented me with a Cosmopolitan.com slideshow of the ’13 Healthy Foods That Can Make You Fat,’ and it’s very compelling. I already knew that spicy-mayo and tempura sushi rolls have a higher calorie count than the grilled or steamed veggie variety. I also loathe that my beloved granola will cling to my waistline more than should be allowed for something that’s so yummy. That doesn’t mean that I don’t savor them from time to time, but I appreciate knowing what I’m getting myself into.

What I found interesting were the comments about sandwich wraps and foods with high levels of sodium. Wraps seem more innocent than their sandwich counterparts, plus they’re a standby at work lunches. And, I’ll admit to purchasing the occasional low calorie frozen entree when they’re on sale. It’s sad to think that fat, calories, fiber and protein often catch my eye before sodium levels.

Care to see for yourself? Please click here to view the full slideshow. You can thank me later. Talk about food for thought (yes, I did just drop that line).