Sauteed Mushrooms and Green Beans

There are so many ways to eat veggies, and it doesn't have to take a lot of preparation. I always stock my freezer with frozen steamer bags for days that I am super busy and don't have anything prepared. That wasn't the case today, but I wanted to add something to the mushrooms I started cooking. So I searched my freezer and pulled out a bag of green beans. Here's how it went down:

Sauteed Mushrooms and Green Beans

Ingredients:

2 (8 oz) cartons of sliced white mushrooms
1 steamer bag green beans
Garlic Salt
Pepper
Sherry cooking wine

Directions:

1. Heat a non-stick skillet coated with cooking spray over medium-high heat. Add the mushrooms and cook until soft, about 6-8 minutes

2. Meanwhile, follow package directions on the steamer bag of green beans. Once the mushrooms are soft and the green beans are steamed, add the green beans to the pan. Add garlic salt and pepper to taste. Add a splash of sherry cooking wine to the pan and toss to combine. Cook for about 30 seconds more then remove from heat and serve!

Rainbow Salad

If you think salads are boring, then you've been making them wrong! Salads are my go-to almost everyday and they always contain healthy fats, lean proteins, and loads of colorful vegetables. I always choose a base of dark leafy greens such as kale, spinach, or arugula. My main source of carbohydrates comes from roasted sweet potato or roasted butternut squash. One of my favorite vegetables to add are brussel sprouts. Roasting them brings out their rich, nutty flavor. Mushrooms, zucchini, asparagus, and bell peppers are some of my other favorite vegetables to roast or grill and add to salads. I always pick a lean protein such as chicken, fish, shrimp, tofu, or Beyond Meat Chicken Strips. My absoulte favorite dressing is so easy. Plus, it packs a ton of flavor with very little calories. There are so many ways to make salads delicious, filling and satisfying. Because let's face it, lettuce and grilled chicken is NOT going to cut it. The more colors you can add to your bowl the better!

Paprika shrimp, roasted sweet potato, tomatoes, blueberries, avocado, spinach, roasted brussel spouts and my Honey Mustard Dressing 

Broccoli Pesto

Sometimes I'm really sneaky with my veggies :) I always seem to find a way to add vegetables to all my recipes. This pesto is perfect on top of pasta, zucchini noodles, spaghetti squash, or as a spread for sandwiches and wraps. Also a tasty topping for fish or chicken. I topped my spiralized sweet potato "noodles" with the pesto for dinner tonight- such a great flavor combination! This recipe has less oil traditional pesto, and the broccoli gives it more nurtrients and fiber. Got to get those greens in!

Broccoli Pesto

Ingredients:

1 package steam-in-bag broccoli

1/2 cup tightly packed fresh parsley 

2 tablespoons pepitas (or other nut/seed)

2 cloves garlic, chopped

3 tablespoons vegetable or chicken broth

1/2 teaspoon olive oil 

1/4 teaspoon salt

Directions:

1. Cook broccoli in microwave according to package directions. 

2. Heat a nonstick pan over medium heat and add the pepitas to "toast" them lightly (only 2-3 minutes until lightly brown). You can skip this step, but it gives the pesto a great flavor.

3. Combine all ingredients in a food processor or blender. Store in the fridge or serve right away! 

Egg White Muffins

Here's another recipe that is perfect for making ahead, and grabbing on-the-go for busy mornings. I made them for my mom a few weeks ago and now all her friends have been asking for the recipe! They are so easy. This is my basic recipe, but feel free to try different kinds of vegetables, spices, and cheese. You can also add roasted or steamed potatoes, turkey bacon, turkey or chicken sausage, smoked salmon, ground turkey, etc. Perfect for using up leftovers!

Egg White Muffins

Ingredients:

1 egg
1/2 cup egg whites
1 Light Laughing Cow wedge
1/2 cup steamed broccoli, chopped
Salt and pepper to taste

Directions: 

1. Heat your oven to 350 F. Coat a muffin pan with cooking spray.
2. Whisk together the egg, egg whites, and salt and pepper.
3. Divide the chopped broccoli amongst three muffin tin slots. Pour the egg white mixture over the the chopped broccoli.
4. Break up your Laughing Cow wedge and drop in the center of each of your three muffins.
5. Bake for about 15-20 minutes, or until cooked through.

Makes 3 muffins