11 Ways to Make Tastier, Healthier Hummus

You should think of hummus as a white canvas and vegetables in your refrigerator or herbs in your garden as the paints to create a colorful work of art.  This painting will not go on the wall but in your belly. Hummus is simple to make and will pair well with almost any flavor you want to add.  Although the basic recipe includes olive oil and tahini (sesame seed paste), too much can be a little too much--it can taste bitter, and it does contain a lot of fat, though it is the good-for-you kind. In my recipe, I reduced the amount of tahini and replaced it with drained and rinsed white kidney beans. 

6 New Uses for Roasted Peppers

Roasted peppers are perfect for rounding out a dish, enjoying as a snack, or even using as a food wrapper!
 
Whom should we thank for such a versatile vegetable that adds so much smoky sweet flavor to an endless amount of dishes?  Some would say Mother Nature and others a cook... I'm going with both.  The earth provides us with the vegetable, but it's the roasting technique that gives it that subtle smoky flavor.
 
First, let's learn how to make them, and then we can talk about the many ways to use them.
 
While red peppers are the most common, you can roast orange or yellow ones, too. The roasting mellows their flavor and adds a smoky sweetness.

Lighten Up Pasta with Garden-Fresh Zucchini

Pasta may be too heavy for a hot summer night, but you can lighten it up by substituting or swapping it out with vegetables.
 
Zucchini pasta is super easy to prepare and perfect for anyone who is gluten-intolerant, diabetic, low carbing it, a raw food lover, or those like me that are up to their ears in zucchini from the garden.  Zucchini pasta is nothing more than raw zucchini that has been cut to mimic traditional pasta: fettuccine, linguine, and yes even lasagna. 

Save Time & Money: 15 Ways to Use Leftover Chicken

For busy families that are short on time, leaning on leftovers is a great way to ensure that everyone gets a filling, nutritious meal. Preparing big batches of basic cooked chicken (and turkey) is one way to save time and money, while always having the foundation of a healthy meal on hand.

It's easy to place a couple of extra chicken breasts on the grill, in the slow cooker or in the oven. The same holds true for a turkey breast in the smoker or oven. Both lean proteins can be transformed into something new and special, days or even months down the road if you freeze the extras. 
 
Your premade cooked chicken will be much cheaper than the rotisserie bird you'll pick up at the checkout line, and because you are cooking it alongside another meal, no extra cooking time will be involved. If you're heating up the oven (especially in summertime), you might as well fill it up! 

Healthy Homemade Popsicles

Oh the sweet sounds of summer! The birds are chirping, the kids are yelling as they pelt each other with water balloons with the yard, and, in the distance, a familiar melody tinkles. As the ice-cream truck rounds the corner, they race inside to the coin jar. The screen door slams, and they're back outside, lining up for sugary treats.

In the good old days, the ice-cream man's arrival meant a special treat, but with treats accessible at every event at school, friend's houses, and even sporting events, those treats seem like overkill.

No need to ban treats on hot summer days. But kill two birds with one stone by making your own frozen treats with foods that are healthy and naturally delicious, like fruit and yogurt. 

Make a Better, Healthy Burger

I love a good burger--turkey, beef, pork, chicken, veggies, you name it! With my current focus on weight training, I think my body is craving extra protein.  For me a lean burger is a quick, easy meal that, with added toppings, will never look or taste the same twice  It's one of those "crowd pleaser" meals because the every member of the family can make each his or her own signature meal. 

My slim-it-down tip (without taking out the taste) is that I usually do not eat hamburgers with my fingers.  I use a fork because I almost always only eat one half of the whole grain bun.  By doing this I trim close to 60 calories, and the fork forces me to slow down and enjoy the meal.  (If I really want to use my fingers, I choose a low calorie thin whole grain bun.)
 
 
Though you can't go wrong with the classics, I like to get creative with my burgers. Here are some of my favorite toppings. Try them at your cookouts today!
 

• Corn and poblano pepper salsa with salad greens
• Shallot or tomato jam with soft goat cheese
• Roasted red peppers, onions, and summer squash and diced tomatoes
• Pesto, melted provolone, and arugula
• Turkey bacon, melted Swiss cheese, and sautéed onions
• Sliced avocado, heirloom tomatoes (because they are so juicy) and alfalfa sprouts
• Caramelized red onions, shredded romaine and melted smoked Gouda
• Mango salsa with loads of chopped cilantro and parsley
• Black bean and corn salsa with a thick slice of red onion and tomatoes

8 Quick, Healthy Lunches for Kids

In summertime, many of us moms feel like the kid in "Home Alone"--or at least we feel like making that face! The kids are hot, hungry, and tired, and so am I! What do I feed them that is healthy and quick. It only adds to the drama if you're at work and you have teens at home alone or a babysitter with limited cooking skills.
 
Everyone will smile with these simple and easy healthy lunches for your tots, pre-teens and full-blown teenagers that eat like adults (I have three of those myself!).  Bonus: Most of the meals can be made ahead and changed slightly to yield a new lunchtime menu.
 
Get your summer kitchen ready and organized!

The Secret to Healthier Cream Sauces

Sauces can make or break a dish, both in taste and in nutrition. Take the classic cream sauce, for example. Delicious, yes. Healthy, no way! The ingredients are usually white flour, butter, and heavy cream, with some whole milk added for good measure.
 
Thankfully, we can improve on the classics to make them a welcome addition to the healthy kitchen.
 
Let's edit the name ever so slightly. Rather than a cream sauce, we're creating a creamy sauce.
 
Rather than heavy cream, start with flavorful liquids that have little to no salt, such as homemade stock.

I often make a quick stock by pouring boiling water over dried mushrooms, which serves two purposes: the steeping liquid becomes the stock, and the mushrooms add texture to the sauce. When combined with a roux, that flour-and-fat combo that is cooked to create a thickener, the thin stock yields a velvety sauce the plenty of "mouth feel"--no cream needed.
 
Thankfully, you can re-create a "creamy" taste and texture with foods that are low in fat and calories. Swap heavy cream and whole milk for skim milk, unsweetened soy or almond milk, silken tofu, nonfat Greek yogurt, or (my favorite) evaporated 2% milk, which is what I used to trim the fat in Chef Meg's Light Alfredo Pasta with Veggies.  The end result is a creamy dish that's light enough for summer, which is great because it pairs so well with all those garden-fresh vegetables!

9 Better-for-You Turkey Burgers

Ladies and gentleman start your grills!  Grilling is an excellent way to cook lean meats and add a lot of flavor without a lot of fat. 
 
Burgers are the go-to meat for most of us, but to keep your meal healthy, reach for extra lean ground turkey. Turkey burgers are lean enough to grace the grill every night of the week, but their leanness also makes them a little bland on their own. Let's take a closer look at turkey, and talk about ways to keep this bird burger juicy, healthy, and delicious! 

Smarter Sips: Try These Low-Cal Beverages for Summer

These days you're more likely to buy a powdered mix, gel, or bottle of flavored tea or lemonade, but these classic drinks are easy to make and a great way to stay hydrated in the summer months.
 
And though commercial versions can be loaded with sugar and other sweeteners, these drinks can be quite low in calories.
 
Let's compare some common summer drinks:

A Super Protein-Packed Snack

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When hunger hits, Chef Meg reaches for protein-packed Greek yogurt, crunchy almonds, and super fruits. Watch how she makes this super snack -- and learn her secret to speeding up snack time.

3 Good Sources of Omega 3s

You probably already know that salmon and other fatty fish are a great source of Omega-3 fatty acids, those fats that boost brain and heart health while helping lower bad cholesterol.
 
Did you know that there are several other super sources of Omega-3 fatty acids, and they're easy to prepare! All you need to do is open the can and start cooking.
What are these fish? Anchovies, sardines, and mackerel. Don't wrinkly your nose! Keep reading to find out how to prep these fishy little fish and reap their health benefits.
 

No More Dried-Out Dinners: The Trick to Tender Slow-Cooked Meat

Who can pass up a moist and tender barbecue sandwich, pulled chicken simmered in a slow cooker until it's falling apart, or, my favorite, Kentucky Burgoo, with several tender cuts in one bowl. 
 
These recipes, while quite different in ingredients, are all ideal for the slow cooker, and they yield the same fork-tender, falling-apart meat. What's the secret?
 
What do all three of these recipes have in common? What's the common thread?
Let's shift from the art of cooking to the science for a moment. That common thread is collagen, the connective tissue in meat.
 
We all know that meat is basically bundles of muscle cells, with fibers embedded within that allow the animal to move.  Connective tissue connects cells and tissues within the meat, like support hose or an athletic bandage. As you move, the fabric stretches and moves with you, supporting your movement.  As the animals grow the muscle bulks up and the connective tissue toughens, offering more support. 

How to Choose, Prep, and Cook Shellfish

Did your grandmother ever tell you not to eat shellfish in the months that don't contain a letter "R"? Once upon a time, dear grandma would have been right, but that old wives' tale is no more.

The months that don't contain the letter "R" just so happen to be the hot summer months--May through August. Before the days of refrigeration, reports of illness due to bad shellfish were high, but now you can eat shrimp, mussels, scallops, and clams year-round.
 
That doesn't mean that you don't need to worry about shellfish going bad after you bring it home.  How do you know if your shellfish has spoiled? The nose knows.  If you smell ammonia or iodine, make chicken instead!
 
Aside from the occasional shrimp dish, most people steer clear or cooking shellfish at home, but it's easy and delicious. Learn how to choose, store, prep and cook your favorite shellfish.  

Be a Healthy, Happy Hostess

I was raised in the south by a British mother, and chose a career that trains people to entertain.  You would think I would have my bases covered when it comes to hosting guests, but the rules changed and it's hard to balance normal life for all the people you live with, let alone a few extras.
 
Whether you're hosting a meeting for a school project, a casual BBQ with the neighbors, or a sit-down dinner for eight, the goal of entertaining is to satisfy your guests. If you are the host, be happy--you are in control!  As the host you will be wearing several hats. Among them: detective, decorator, housekeeper, and, of course, cook. Don't panic and don't cancel. Entertaining--for an hour or a weekend--is easier than it seems.
 
Here's what works:
 
Get to know your guests before they come to your home.  Any food allergies?  Pet allergies?  Do they eat early or late?  If you do the front-end work, your guest will appreciate your efforts and everyone will have an enjoyable time. 
 
Is the event casual or formal?  It really doesn't matter. Most people just want to be together and visit with friends or family.   Take a trick from industry: if it is a casual event and you want people to mingle don't have as many seats as you do butts.  You want to encourage people to move around so keep some of them on their feet. 
 
Animals should be considered within the floor plan.  If you have a lovely dog that sits in the middle of the floor or hides under a table you might want to change up its routine.  Guests who are new to your home might trip or frighten the animal. 
 
When the guest is staying the night, make sure you give them a tour and keep hallway lights on so that they can find their way around in the middle of the night.
 
I love to decorate with food and flowers.  A rule of thumb is that table arrangements should be low enough that your guests can see each other from across the table.  I also try to stay away from flowers with strong scents at the table or in guest bedrooms.  What you might love may not be a favorite of your guest--and could trigger allergies.