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Home Articles written by Renee Shelton

Articles written by Renee Shelton

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Zucchini with Roasted Red Peppers and Pecans
A touch of butter gives the pecans a roasted flavor when cooked on the stove top and gives the vegetable dish a nice crunch. Use fresh or deli roasted red peppers.
Baked Spaghetti Squash with Sucanat
A simple and great tasting spaghetti squash recipe that is tossed with unsalted butter and slightly sweetened with sucanat, a dehydrated form of sugar cane.
Brandied Sweet Potato Pie with Low Fat Crust
This version of sweet potato pie is flavored with brandy before baking and uses fat free evaporated milk for richness. It is low in fat, and can be flavored as desired.
Sauteed Chayote Squash and Cumin Seed
Chayote squash is a fresh replacement for zucchini as a side dish vegetable. It keeps its crisp texture after cooking which makes it great when texture is important.
Orange and White Wine Marinated Grilled Chicken
Poultry, such as chicken and turkey, benefit from this simple marinade made from orange juice and white wine. Lightly flavored with garlic, shallots and spices.
Asparagus and Sweet Potato Vegetable Tart
Sweet potatoes and asparagus combine with red onion, zucchini and garlic to make an easy vegetable tart. It has a cornmeal herb crust and is topped with Parmesan Cheese.
Purchasing and Cooking Different Types of Rice
Rice is a great pantry grain item and is used in many cuisines. It is also low in fat, low in sodium and gluten-free, making it a quick cooking healthy starch as well.
Shaved Fennel, Cucumber and Orange Dill Salad
A simple fresh salad that can be served with both seafood and poultry dishes. Crisp cucumbers and fennel bulb are paired with vibrant orange segments and dill.
Citrus Provencal Broiled Vermilion Rockfish
This is a recipe for a quick and easy lowfat broiled rockfish dinner. Simply add the rockfish fillets with the vegetables and white wine and broil until the fish is done.
Choose Rockfish for Healthy Eating
Rockfish is a healthy fish species that can be both fished for and purchased from the local fishmonger. Here is a selection of popular rockfish species with cooking tips.
Sauteed Rockfish with Sweet Curry Coconut Sauce
This recipe for Sweet Curry Sauce is made with coconut milk, mango nectar and fresh ginger. Green curry paste is used for the seasoning along with garlic and onions.
Chicken Wrap Sandwich with Salsa Dressing
Here is a recipe for a quick and easy wrap sandwich made with chicken tossed in a salsa dressing that is easily customizable to suit a favorite flavor for lunch.
Low Fat Cream of Cauliflower Soup
This version calls for simmering cauliflower and vegetables in chicken stock and Madeira. After pureeing, the mix is added to a seasoned low fat white sauce for richness
What is Eau De Vie?
Eau de Vie means 'water of life' in French, and is used for desserts, cooking and for enjoying by itself. What sets it apart from other liqueurs is fresh fruit flavors.
Mango and Prickly Pear Sorbet with Dark Rum
This recipe uses prickly pear cactus fruit and a fresh mango puree. The sorbet is enhanced with a little dark rum and uses a food processor instead of an ice cream maker.
White Wine Poached Salmon Salad
A simple, healthy salad making great use of Omega-3 rich salmon and baby lettuces full of Vitamins A and C. It is topped with a Ground Black Pepper Garlic Vinaigrette.
The Benefits of Cooking with Prickly Pears
This fruit is popular in the Southwest regions of the US and in Mexico. The prickly pear has a figgish flavor and brings both a beautiful color to recipes and nutrients.
Garlic and Basil Five Cheese Manicotti Pasta
Five different cheeses make up the base for this meatless stuffed manicotti baked in marinara sauce. Sauteed garlic, fresh basil and parsley round out the flavors.
Low Carb Lentils, Sausage & Turnips
Lentils are a high fiber legume that pairs nicely with kielbasa sausage and red wine. Both turnip greens and turnips themselves are good vegetables for low carb diets.
How to Make Cardamom Badam Kulfi
Kulfi is an Indian frozen dessert that isn't churned like a traditional ice cream, just poured into molds and frozen. It is commonly flavored with spices and nuts.
Poultry and Wild Game Bird Classifications
While chicken is a great tasting and easily found bird, there are other domestic poultry and game birds to try, such as turkey, duck, partridge, squab, pigeon and geese.
Chicken Classifications and Descriptions
Chicken is a great tasting, inexpensive form of protein and is a great meat to use in healthy cooking recipes. Here is information on the different classes of chicken.
Pearl Barley Water with Fresh Lemon and Honey
While this may be a British favorite, barley water is a great drink staple for any summer table. Lightly sweetened, barley water is the strained water from cooked barley.
Apricot Breakfast Sweet Rolls
Commercially prebaked and ready-to-bake breakfast rolls and quick breads may be ready to serve and easy to prepare, but are usually high in saturated fats and sugar.
Roasted Pepper and Fresh Corn Cous Cous Salad
Instead of a high fat, mayonnaise based salad for the next barbeque, try this cous cous salad with roasted peppers, corn and flavored with cilantro and lime.
Five Great Lean Beef Cuts for Healthy Cooking
Here are five different cuts of lean beef for healthy cooking with the best methods for preparation. Search for one when looking for lowfat beef ideas for dinner.
Marinated Flank Steak or London Broil
Flank steak or 'London Broil' is a lean cut of beef that is easily grilled or broiled. Here is a simple marinade made of red wine vinegar, soy sauce and dry vermouth.
Pearl Barley Risotto with Shitake and Crimini Mushrooms
Pearl barley is a great alternative to rice and potato side dishes. Both high in dietary fiber and protein, pearl barley can also be served as a main dish course.
Halibut Veracruz
Halibut is a lean white meat flatfish with a neutral flavor that is easy to use in many dishes. Here is a recipe using halibut with red and yellow peppers.
All About Legumes
Legumes are a great addition to any healthy diet. Here is a guide full of information about all types of legumes, including beans, peas and lentils.
Hearty Country Lentils with Red Wine
Here is a recipe for a rich and low fat lentil dish simmered in dry red wine, chicken broth and flavored with garlic and herbs.
Rice Syrup and Barley Malt Syrup as Sweeteners
Artificial sugars are often used in place of granulated sugar in recipes. Here are two popular natural liquid sweeteners that can be used in place of sugar.
Buttermilk Banana Bread with Sunflower Seeds
Sunflower seeds are added with buttermilk for an easy and versatile quick bread. Serve warm as a dessert with frozen yogurt or cold as a snack.
What is Mesclun?
Using mesclun for salad greens, baby dark greens and specialty lettuces, will give a nutrient boost to an ordinary green salad. Here is a guide for mesclun salad leaves.
Oatmeal Pancakes
Grinding up oats in a blender or food processor and adding it to a pancake batter gives a healthy kick to ordinary pancakes without changing the flavor.
Oregano Paprika Chicken with Dry Vermouth
When compared to white meat, dark meat is an inexpensive yet flavorful option for poultry. This recipe for baked thighs and legs is easy to prepare ahead of time.
Grilled Tofu and Asian Slaw Salad with Edamame
This Asian-style salad is made from Napa cabbage, cilantro and a dark sesame ginger dressing. Serve with tofu that is grilled after marinating in soy and sherry vinegar.
Tortellini Pasta Salad with Sun Dried Tomatoes
This pasta salad uses spinach and ricotta filled tortellini and is tossed with julienne sliced sun dried tomatoes, roasted vegetables and black olives.
Lemon and Wild Blueberry Roulade
This easy-to-make lemon jelly roll cake is filled with a 100% fruit wild blueberry spread and served with a homemade lemon and blueberry sauce.
Best Ways to Cook and Prepare Eggplant
Eggplant is popular in vegetarian and ethnic cuisines but is also great for those wanting to experiment with different ways to cook eggplant and to use it as a side dish.
Mexican Inspired Scrambled Egg Breakfast Wrap
Quick to prepare and assemble, these breakfast wraps are good for on-the-go morning meals and for a satisfying lunch. Chipotles in Adobo sauce are used in the guacamole.
Peppercorn and Rosemary Crusted Baked Pork Loin
Pork tenderloin is a great choice for quick-fix and low fat weeknight dinners and can be easily made into a great company entrée. Three different rubs are included.
Eggplant, Roasted Peppers & Feta Greek Wraps
This recipe is for wraps or roll-up sandwiches. A Greek vinaigrette is tossed with baby spinach leaves and rolled up with Feta and eggplant in a Sun Dried Tomato Wrap
Chicken Thighs with White Wine and Peppers
Skinless chicken thighs are browned then simmered in a sauce made with onions, bell peppers and garlic. Fire roasted tomatoes, dry white wine and herbs finish the dish.
Oven Baked Popover - Tasty Breakfast Pancake
Thin yet puffy popover-style oven baked pancake recipe that can be served plain or with fruit yogurt and preserves. This recipe is great for breakfast or brunch.
Hearty Mostaccioli Pasta and Butter Bean Soup
An easy and low-fat way to warm up is eating homemade soup. This one has mostaccioli pasta, chopped vegetables, spinach and butter beans all simmered in chicken broth.
Mediterranean Olive Medley and Hummus Salad
Marinated mixed olives, homemade hummus and Feta cheese are served with tomatoes, fresh basil and pita or flatbreads.
The Differences Between Regular and Greek Yogurt
Plain yogurt has long been used in baking in place of heavy cream and sour cream. Greek yogurt is thicker and will not separate making it a great choice for cooking.
Better Choices for Selecting Fruits & Vegetables
While a healthy diet includes fruits and vegetables, making better choices on selection and menu planning is also important. Here are some tips on how to do just that.
6 Tips for Eating Healthy
Wanting to eat healthier in the coming year? Making simple and better choices may be all that it takes to accomplish that, and here are six great ways to reach that goal.
Reduced-Sugar Chocolate Chip and Pecan Cookies
This is a great cookie recipe using Splenda Sugar Blend and Splenda Brown Sugar Blend. It will be a hit for all members of the family with chocolate chips and pecans.
Cooking With and Finding Foods High in Vitamin D
Vitamin D is often added as a dietary supplement to foods but is also naturally occurring in fish, egg yolks and beef liver.
Non Dairy Milk Choices for Drinking and Cooking
There are many different kinds of non dairy milks to choose from. Lactose-free with no cholesterol, these milks also provide great flavor for cooking and drinking.
Chocolate Zucchini Spice Cake with Pecans
Perfect for any holiday, this simple and low fat chocolate zucchini cake has orange liqueur and grated orange zest baked in.
Moist Orange Scented Chocolate Zucchini Cake
A great and tasty way to use both zucchini and chocolate in the same recipe. Use the glaze with the recipe or serve lightly dusted with confectioner's sugar.
Healthy Holiday Roast Turkey with Fresh Herbs
Thanksgiving and special dinners with baked turkey can be high in sodium. Here is a recipe for roast turkey that has no added salt. Fresh herbs and vegetables are added.
How to Use Fines Herbes in Healthy Cooking
Fresh herbs contribute flavor and texture to dishes, and using the classic combination Fines Herbes can elevate simple egg and vegetable dishes.
Swordfish Escabeche
Escabeche is a cooked fish dish placed in a vinegar marinade overnight. The recipe here uses swordfish with olive oil, basil and dried Mexican oregano.
Albacore Salad Nicoise
Fresh albacore tuna poached in a flavorful court bouillon served with a salad of fresh vegetables, Romaine hearts, eggs, kalamata olives and red wine vinaigrette.
Family Night Spaghetti and Meatballs
Getting the whole family to eat healthy starts with recipes everyone can relate to. Children lean toward simple foods and meatballs with spaghetti is a great one to try.
Bay Scallops Seviche
The fresh squeezed lime and lemon juices cook the scallops overnight in the refrigerator. Serve this appetizer chilled with tomatoes and avocado in small dishes.
Sockeye Salmon and Black Bean Sandwich Filling
Canned red sockeye salmon makes a good protein source for sandwiches and spreads for breads and crackers. This recipe is easy to make ahead for lunches.
Roasted Cauliflower and Black Eyed Pea Salad
The combination of protein-rich black-eyed peas and fiber-rich cauliflower makes this salad a heart healthy one.
Curried Cauliflower and Israeli Cous Cous
Serve this recipe for vegetable curry containing cauliflower florets, carrots and green beans with garlic in yogurt sauce over large grained Israeli cous cous.
Growing Cauliflower in the Garden
Cauliflower can be temperamental to grow. This vegetable prefers moisture in a well-drained, cool environment, and the leaves need to be tied on some varieties.
The Skinny on Dietary Fats
While dietary fat is something every body needs, there are good and bad choices in choosing ones to cook with. Here are the basic types, examples and substitutions.
Red Wine Braised Eggplant and Yogurt Tomatoes
This eggplant dish comes with a light tomato topping made of yogurt, tomatoes and fresh herbs. Give it a little spice by adding in chiles, coriander and fresh cilantro.
Roasted Beet and Orange Salad
This recipe incorporates sweet oven-roasted beets with orange segments and fresh basil for quick salad. Fresh orange juice gives the dressing a light, sweet flavor.
Growing and Planting Beets and Swiss Chard
Beta vulgaris is the botanical name for beets which are high in Vitamins A and C and rich in folate and fiber. Grow this variety for the beetroots or the greens.
Roasted Pumpkin Seeds for a Healthy Snack
Pumpkins are great for roasting and incorporating into recipes and being used as side dishes. Save the seeds after using the flesh for a tasty, nutritious snack.
Oat Bran, Nuts and Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Diets
The use of certain foods in diets can help lower cholesterol. Items like oatmeal, nuts and salmon have special components in them to reduce the levels naturally.
Low Fat Whipped Toppings for Desserts
A piece of pie or a slice of cake seems incomplete without a sauce or whipped cream alongside it. Try these recipes in place of whipped cream for a sweet dessert topping.
Roasted Eggplant Artichoke Crostini
An appetizer made with roasted eggplant and Roma tomatoes and homemade marinated artichoke bottoms spooned over toasted French bread.
Growing, Planting and Harvesting Eggplant
This popular fruit grown as a vegetable can be found in different cultures all over the world. Varieties vary in color, size and shape making it appealing to gardeners.
Complementary Protein Sources
Mixing different grains, seeds, beans, peas and low fat dairy products together in the right combinations will make complete proteins
Traditional Minestrone Low Sodium Style
Minestrone soup is great served before dinner or even for dinner itself. Low in salt and in fat, this makes a great summer meal, and is comforting enough for the fall.
Stir Fried Beef and Asparagus with Ginger
Top round is a lean cut of beef and is perfect with fresh asparagus. Both are stir fried in a ginger and garlic sauce with dry sherry and soy.
Cannellini and Great Northern Bean Chili
Virtually fat free and very quick to prepare, this chili recipe made with prepared cannellini and Great Northern beans can be incorporated into any menu.
How to Adopt a Lower Sodium Diet
Following a reduced sodium diet can be easy. Make available lower sodium pantry staples and incorporate more salt free seasonings like herb blends and spices.
Training Climbing Vines
A climbing vine can add visual appeal to an open area of the garden or can be incorporated into a landscaping theme. It can also help to hide problem areas.
Vinaigrette Vegetable Skewers
Vegetables skewered together and marinated in a simple vinaigrette complement many entrees or can be served by themselves with pasta as a light meal.
Cous Cous Salad Three Ways
Turn a basic cous cous recipe into three distinctly different salads from a handful of ingredients. Each one can be served warm for dinner or chilled for a picnic.
Grilling With the Onion Family
The flavors of the onion family are by no means tame, and leaving them out of a grilled vegetable platter can leave the selection pretty boring.
Summer Vegetable Grilling Primer
Now that your summer bounty is here, why not spend time outdoors cooking them on the grill? Here are some tips to grill your favorite summer vegetables.
Asian Style Turkey Breast and Garden Cucumbers
Summer cucumbers are refreshing and cooling when eaten plain, in sandwiches or mixed with salad greens and vegetables. They are also great sautéed.
Classic Blueberry Muffin Recipe
July is National Blueberry Month and summer is the perfect time to make blueberry muffins. Try one of the variations below or add your own favorite flavor combination.
Skewered Pork with Cantaloupe and Tomatoes
These skewers are a change from the everyday burgers and brats that cover the barbeque grill each summer. Lean pork tenderloin goes well with the honey citrus flavors.
Rhubarb and Strawberry Pie
Rhubarb is an old-fashioned hit for pies, and is a perfect partner for strawberries. They complement each other with flavor, texture, and even color.
Grilled Summer Squash and Herbs
Summer squash tossed with white wine and garden herbs is a great combination. The ease of grilling in foil takes the fuss out of making a side dish when cooking outside.
Choosing Summer Melons
Chilled, sweet melons are a treat when the weather is hot, and knowing what to look for will make choosing a ripe one easy.
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