Chocolate Heaven!

As the nights get chillier and we spend more time in the warmth and comfort of home - why not enjoy a nice warm cup of cafe mocha with someone you love! These are so easy to make - and they will keep your tummy warm on these cool Autumn evenings!

Here is all you'll need:

1/3 cup nonfat, dry milk
1 cup water
1 cup brewed coffee
4 Tablespoons hot chocolate mix
non-fat whipped topping (optional)
cinnamon (optional)

1. Heat reconstituted non-fat dried milk in saucepan until warm; do not boil.

2. Add coffee and hot chocolate mix. Stir well and heat to desired temperature.

3. Divide coffee mixture between two mugs. Top with non-fat whipped topping and cinnamon, if desired.

Note: You can substitute 1 cup skim milk for the reconstituted non-fat dried milk

So toss another log on the fire and cuddle up with your favorite someone and enjoy a heart warming cup of cafe mocha sometime soon! And why not enjoy a small serving of rich, dark chocolate to top off your day?

Warm Your Tummy with some Wholesome Pumpkin Bread!

Do you have any cans of pumpkin left over? Try some delicious - and wholesome - pumpkin bread this weekend! Pumpkin is full of good vitamins and healthy antioxidants and the pumpkin and whole wheat in this recipe will give you some healthy fiber!

Here is all you need:

1 can (15 ounce) pumpkin
1 & 1/2 cups brown sugar
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 cup yogurt, plain lowfat
1/4 cup local honey (if you have some)
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon of allspice
1 cup chopped cranberries

Let's get Baking:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

1. In a large mixing bowl, beat together pumpkin, brown sugar, oil, honey, and yogurt.

2. In another bowl, combine the flours, baking powder, soda, cinnamon, allspice, and salt; add to pumpkin mixture, stirring until just moistened.

3. Stir in chopped cranberries.

4. Pour into 2 greased 9x5x3 inch loaf pans and bake for 1 hour.

5. Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes; remove from pan and let cool.

Now share a loaf with one of your favorite family members or friends. They're sure to thank you!

Eating Healthy Foods is fun and easy during this special time of year.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Save Your Oven - Use the Barbecue

One easy way to keep the oven freed up for other tasty treats ( like the Turkey ) is to utilize your microwave and your barbecue grill for some of those Thanksgiving dishes! The recipe below is great year round and so easy to prepare! Enjoy some of your favorite vegetables - warmed together on the good old barbecue!

Here some easy ingredient:

4 large sweet potatoes ( chopped )
2 turnips ( chopped )
1 large onion diced
3 or 4 large carrots ( chopped )
4 tablespoon olive oil
a dash of cinnamon
salt and pepper to taste

In a big piece of heavy duty foil ( try doubling it up for even greater strength ) toss in your chopped vegetables. Add a few tablespoons of water and sprinkle a few tablespoons of olive oil on top. Add four or six thick slices of butter if you like. And top off with your favorite spices.

Fold up the foil and put it on the hot grill for 45 minutes! You might want to add some charcoal to keep that fire good and hot! Now go enjoy some beautiful Autumn scenery or catch some Thanksgiving Day football while your veggies are slowly warming their way into a delicious side dish!

While you're out enjoying the mild November weather this Thanksgiving - fire up the grill and keep that precious oven space for other dishes!

Keep eating healthy foods and Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Chili for the Big Game

Enjoy some classic Autumn fun this weekend watching your favorite teams while munching out on some Tasty chili!

This stuff is so easy to make. Stock up on some of these ingredients so you won't have to make last minute runs to the market.

Here is all you need.

One can ( 20 ounce ) of Campbells RoadHouse Chili.
One can ( 20 ounce ) of Campbells FireHouse Chili.

One can of Bush's HOT Chili beans
one can of Bush's mild chili beans
One can of Dark Red Kidney beans drained and rinsed.

Three cans of Rotel original peppers and Chopped tomatoes
one Green Bell Pepper - chopped
one Red Bell Pepper - chopped
A couple pinches of chili powder if you have any.
A few ounces of your favorite beer ( optional )


If you like more meat in your chili try one or both of these:

Optional - One package ( 5 or 6 ) of your favorite Hot links. Chopped
Optional - One 16 ounce Sirloin ( or your favorite steak ) cooked rare and sliced thin.

Pour everything in your largest Crock pot and cook on low for a few hours.

Or cook it on the stove-top in a big Stainless Steel Pot. Pour in a few ounces of extra virgin olive oil , followed by the chopped tomatoes and then the rest of the ingredients. Heat on medium low for a couple hours!

Enjoy the game and all your favorite Fall fun! Keep eating healthy!

Apple , Peach Crisp

Who says eating healthy foods has to be boring? Apples are so plentiful this time of year and everyone agrees apples are one of natures superfoods! Try this delicious apple peach crisp with your next healthy meal!

Here is all you need:

1 20 ounce can sliced peaches, drained
3 or 4 Jonathon or your favorite tart Apples, peeled, sliced
Vanilla 1/2 teaspoon
Ground cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon
Flour 3/4 cup + 3 tablespoons
Brown sugar, packed 1/4 cup
3 tablespoons butter

So easy to make:

1. Preheat oven to 350˚ F. Lightly grease 9- by
9- by 2-inch casserole dish.
2. Combine peaches, apples, vanilla, and cinnamon
in a bowl. Toss well and spread evenly in
greased casserole dish.
3. Combine flour and sugar in small bowl. Cut in
margarine with two knives until the mixture
resembles coarse meal.
4. Sprinkle flour mixture evenly over fruit.
5. Bake for about 20 minutes until lightly browned and bubbly!

Enjoy with your family and loved ones and keep eating healthy!

Red River Salsa Dip

This weekend about a million avid football fans will settle into their living rooms and local watering holes to watch that annual Red River Shootout. Texas and Oklahoma will meet again to decide who gets bragging rights for the coming year.

Whatever game you end up watching - try this easy, heart healthy dip to help you enjoy the big game this weekend!

Just a few Simple and healthy ingredients:

1 can (15 ounce) dark red beans ( Rinse well )
1 can (15 ounce) black beans ( Rinse well )
1 can (11 ounce) corn ( rinse the corn too )
1 can Rotel chopped tomatoes ( or substitute a store brand and save! )
2 cups salsa ( We like Picante Medium - or try your favorite store brand )
1 chopped green pepper
1 chopped red pepper

Combine beans, corn, peppers, and salsa in a big bowl.

Mix and enjoy!

Grab a bag of baked or low-salt tortilla chips and enjoy eating healthy with this heart healthy dip!

Eating Healthy - Easy as ABC

Our bodies need a variety of vitamins and minerals to stay healthy! Fruits and vegetables contain essential vitamins, minerals, and fiber that may help protect you from chronic diseases. Compared with people who consume a diet with only small amounts of fruits and vegetables, those who eat more generous amounts as part of a healthful diet are likely to have reduced risk of chronic diseases, including stroke and perhaps other cardiovascular diseases, and even certain cancers.

Getting your proper level of vitamins is easier when you enjoy eating healthy foods! Here are just of few of the vitamins your body needs to stay healthy:

Vitamin A helps keep your skin healthy! It will also help keep your eyes healthy and able to adjust to dim light.

Its easy to get enough vitamin A eating dark green and deep yellow vegetables (such as broccoli, collards and other green leafy vegetables, carrots, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, and winter squash). Whole milk also has some vitamin A!

The B Vitamins: Thiamin ( Vitamin B1) helps body cells obtain energy from food and keep your nerves healthy. It also promotes a healthy appetite and digestion.
Food sources include: meat, poultry, fish, dried beans and peas.

Riboflavin (B2) Helps keep your eyes healthy and your vision clear. Vitamin B2 is most easily found in milk, liver, meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and green leafy vegetables.

Niacin (B3) Maintains health of your skin, tongue, digestive tract, and nervous system. You get vitamin B3 from liver, meat, poultry, and fish, peanuts and peanut butter, dried beans and dried peas, and enriched and whole-grain breads and cereals

Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) Helps form cementing substances such as collagen that hold body cells together - strengthening your blood vessels and hastening healing of wounds and bones. Vitamin C also increases your resistance to infections. It helps your body absorb iron.

We get vitamin C from the following food sources:
cantaloupe, grapefruit, grapefruit juice, honeydew melon, kiwi fruit, mandarin orange sections, mango, orange juice, papaya, strawberries, tangerines, asparagus, broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, sweet green and red peppers, and sweet potatoes.

Eating Healthy Foods is as easy as ABC. Get enough of the vitamins your body needs when you enjoy eating a variety of healthy foods!