Foods High In Iron

Looking for a quick and easy homemade soup?  Creamy Potato Leek is an all time healthy favorite. I used organic red potatoes, organic onions and organic leeks in this filling, satisfying, and soothing soup . It's a perfect choice for these chilly nights. Serve it with a salad, some cheese, or an entree. Would I make this soup for Thanksgiving?   Why not? It's delicious, gluten free and vegan-  If you are having guests, chances are that someone has special eating needs and can't eat this or that. This soup meets most allergy needs. ( GF, DF, Nut Free, egg free, vegan). It is a good standby, I used a combination of leeks and onions in this recipe . Leeks add a rich flavor to the soup and make it taste extra special. However, leeks can also be pricy. So, if you want to cut down on the price ( and don't mind sacrificing a little of the flavor ) , you can just use an additional large onion to the recipe and skip the leek! If you are not ready to make it- don't forget to...

      Squash Skewers are a simple, yet clever, way of serving butternut squash especially for the fall holidays. It makes a great appetizer and eating the squash off a skewer is fun and easy to eat. My friend Laura mentioned to me that she likes holiday recipes that can be eaten at room temperature so she doesn't have to keep heating and reheating to try to get the timing right for the meal. Roasted butternut squash tastes great at any temperature. Whether served hot out of the oven, eaten an hour later at room temperature, or finished off the next day cold right out of the refrigerator, it's always delicious! I bought my wooden skewers at my local supermarket ( they came in two sizes and were inexpensive- about $1.59) and roasted the winter squash first and then slid the roasted squash cubes on the skewers. My photo shows the basic idea, yet you could serve it with many variations. Some additional ideas to assemble the skewers Some additional ideas to assemble the skewe...

This is a fabulous Paleo side for your Thanksgiving table! It's colorful, festive, and incorporates a variety of delicious fall seasonal fruits and vegetables. The sweet roasted butternut squash mixed with roasted apples and slightly tart cranberries not only makes a beautiful presentation, but are healthy to boot! Allergy Friendly  It's a great choice for a Thanksgiving side because it will satisfy vegans, vegetarians, and those who are gluten free, Paleo diets, nut free diets, and egg free diets. So matter who is coming to dinner, and no matter what his/her dietary preference, this recipe is a winner! The combination of ingredients is a sweet treat, but with no added sugar. In fact, my husband thought it was as tasty as an all natural pie filling. My CSA farm share is still active through November . I got sweet potatoes, leeks, lots of varieties of greens, garlic, onions, cauliflower, and butternut squash this week. The local farms are ripe for apple picking too. Hence the ...

Skinny Zucchini pasta ( spiralized zucchini)  is a delicious substitute for a regular bowl of high carb/ high calorie pasta . Remember, even gluten free pasta is also high in carbs and calories! I find that spiralized pasta made from a zucchini is the way to go. It's low calorie and low in carbs making it the perfect and delicious meal! Many zucchini pasta recipes serve the zucchini noodles raw; I like to lightly saute mine. I love the zoodles ( zucchini noodles)  prepared this way. It satisfies me as much as real pasta. In fact, I like it so much, I usually make it for lunch or a side dish at least two or three times a week. It's versatile and lends itself to many variations. Don't overcook it or it will become watery!! This is such a fast and easy recipe! Basically, you just need to spiralize your zucchini, which takes about one minute. If you are not familiar with how to do this, go to my zoodles post which explains in detail This is a simple vegan and gluten free reci...

Golden Cauliflower Soup is as healthy as it is delicious!  You'll be happy to know that this quick and easy yet highly nourishing vegan soup is very low calories as well as low in carbs! In fact just like my zero points plus spinach soup , this soup is also counted as zero points on Weight Watchers. Don't you love a guilt free soup that can be eaten as a healthy snack or starter for lunch and or dinner that won't pack on the pounds? This Youtube Video explains why I need to make zero points plus soups! ( just for fun!) If you are trying to add more vegetables into your weekly menus , this is the way to do it! Homemade soup provides valuable nutrients and fiber. And my quick homemade soups are easy and quick to make! There is nothing more important to your health than building a strong immune system. Healthy vegetables and spices are key to giving your immune system a boost. I've been reading lately how a strong immune system is paramount to not just fighting flu virus...

Turn your "mini pumpkin" into a serving piece in 3 easy steps! Just slice off the top, scoop, and fill! I simply took one of my mini pumpkins - the ones that sell for about a $1.00 in most supermarkets or road side stands-, sliced off the top ( this is the tricky part- see instructions below ),  scooped out the seeds and filled the pumpkin with dip- turning my pumpkin into a pretty fall "serving piece". I decorate my kitchen with all kinds of colorful pumpkins and fall squashes this time of the year. I usually have at least 4 or 5 of the mini pumpkins as accents on my shelves. This is the first time I ever thought of actually scooping one out and trying to use it ! I love this idea for a Halloween party, Thanksgiving dinner, Succot, or any fall party. If you entertain a small crowd, you could make one for each person at his/her seat, or for a larger crowd make a few and use them for appetizers accompanied by crudite, GF chips, apple slices, etc.  My mini pumpkin pho...

Do you love sauteed spinach and garlic? Then you will love this low calorie spinach vegetable soup which is perfect for fall and can be made in just 20 minutes.  AND if  you following Weight Watchers or just want to lose weight, this delicious soup is a dream come true. A hearty bowl is low calorie, low carb, vegan, and Zero Points Plus on Weight Watchers  according to my calculations. Yet it  is f lavorful, fast, and full of fiber. This healthy soup is a winner! The main ingredients are generous amounts of  spinach, celery, onions and garlic simmered for just 5-7 minutes in a vegetable broth ( or chicken broth if you are so inclined) and then pureed. The soup boasts powerful immune building protective antioxidants which is a plus during the fall and winter flu season ! Yes, fall is officially here and the weather is getting chillier. Wouldn't a hearty bowl of hot soup  warm the soul and the belly? Zero Points Plus on Weight Watchers! The best part is t...

Looking for healthier dessert alternatives? Tis the season for pumpkin, and these adorable healthy pumpkin cake pops are easy to make, nutritious, and look like little pumpkin donut holes. Made from healthy real food ingredients, they bake up in just 20 minutes in the oven or in 5-8 minutes in the cake pop machine. I found pumpkin decorated paper straws that we inserted into the pops as a stick. It worked great, but the majority of the pops we just popped in our mouths without a stick and were delighted with the simple but rich pumpkin treat! These seasonal snacks are healthy for kids of all ages. They pack easily into a lunchbox, are perfect for after school, and especially fun for Halloween! They are nutritious as well as grain free, gluten free, and can be made vegan making them ideal for many types of allergies. The sweetness comes from a ripe banana and a 1/4 cup of coconut crystals ( per 20 pops). They look cute and taste moist and delicious.  Add a few dark chocolate chips o...