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Spicy thai tuna stuffed avocados

Tuna stuffed avocados are an easy yet impressive meal that definitely need a spot in your healthy New Year menu. No fatty mayonnaise here! Just tasty tuna, creamy avocado, and loads of fresh and delicious extras. This is one of those great recipes that is super customizable. Don’t like cilantro? Leave it out. Don’t like things spicy, leave those ingredients out. Have extra peppers or carrots at home? Add those right in. What you have is a healthy base of protein-packed white tuna and avocado full of oh-so-satisfying healthy fats. (It’s also low carb if you’re looking to make up for a few holiday cookie crimes you have have committed last month.) Whatever your preferences, this is sure to be a winning recipe in your house this year. Also see, 10 easy ways to start a healthier lifestyle.  Spicy Thai Tuna Stuffed Avocados Makes 2 servings  Ingredients 1 12-ounce can…

Vegan Thai-inspired snow pea salad with peanut dressing

Crunchy, colorful and full of flavor. This crisp Thai-inspired salad tossed in a mildly spicy peanut dressing is a total powerhouse of nutrition. Carrots, snow peas, cabbage, quinoa — it’s going to be your new salad obsession. You can instantly add more oomph with grilled chicken, beef, or shrimp, but it’s just as satisfying and filling without any animal protein added. Vegetarians might already know that quinoa and peanut butter are both excellent sources of plant-based protein. (Quinoa brings about 8 grams of protein per cup, and peanut butter brings about 8 grams per two tablespoons.) This superfood salad is addictive! The peanut sauce is similar to that served at your favorite Thai restaurant with chicken satay or with fresh spring rolls, but it’s easy to whip up with ingredients common at your everyday supermarket. You’ll want to put it on everything! Get creative with your salad. Add anything from…

Avocado Whole Wheat Pasta Salad Recipe

When your avocados are ready, they’re ready. There is no waiting until tomorrow because they can seemingly go from perfect to spoiled overnight. This avocado whole wheat pasta salad recipe is great since you can use up two or three ripe avocados at once, and most importantly, do it in the most delicious way. This recipe can be a weeknight time-saver, too. Prep the veggies ahead of time and set aside in a covered bowl. Ripe, summer tomatoes, fresh cilantro, crunchy green onions, crisp bacon and creamy avocados are a team made in heaven to tempt you tastebuds. Add the smooth, silky dressing to healthy whole wheat pasta, and you have one incredible meal — trust me, this pasta salad is something special. I’ve added some flaky tuna in the past for some extra protein, and it tasted great. I’d imagine you can easily add chicken or shrimp to this…

Refreshing pineapple, cucumber salad

Summer is the season to celebrate with fresh fruit salads. There is such a bounty of fruits and vegetables and you can enjoy them individually of course, but you can also put them together in unusual ways and get excited about bright new flavors pairs. This is one of my favorite fruit salads to share. People are always surprised at how well this colorful combo works together. Sweet pineapple is balanced by the bite of the lime and the crunchiness of the cucumber. The cilantro brings it all together — herbs are good like that. Truth-be-told, this recipe is just a variation of a pineapple salsa recipe I make — just with bigger pieces of pineapple and cucumber so it’s easier to eat with a fork (and not just a tortilla chip). But, that said, if your crowd appreciates a little heat, you can consider adding the diced jalapeños back in. They…

Citrusy, cilantro pasta salad with peas, green beans and almonds

Pasta salads are one of the most simple and versatile dishes around. There’s a seemingly endless combination of delicious pastas, veggies, herbs and spices out there. With fresh ingredients, they rarely fail. This pasta salad uses whole wheat penne for a hearty base and matches it with the snap of green beans, the pop of peas, and the crunch of almonds. Yet, it’s the citrus and cilantro that take it to the next level. Enjoy this light and summery pasta salad with chicken, fish or even on its own. (Use fresh green beans for best flavor. You may substitute Royal Burgundy (Phaseolus vulgarism) for a purple pop along side the green peas and oatmeal colored pasta. The color combo is a real show stopper!) Citrusy Pasta Salad with Peas, Green Beans Prep time: 30 minutes, Serves 3-4 Ingredients 8 ounces whole wheat pasta (I like the shape of penne to match the beans) 4 cups…

Simple watermelon salsa is sweet, mildly spicy

Who would have thought watermelon and jalapeño would be such a delicious pair? What’s better, is that this quick condiment only requires six ingredients. I’ve been experimenting with a lot of watermelon lately, so get ready for quite a few juicy recipes coming up.. This one was one of my favorites, since it’s a perfect match-up of sweet and spicy, combined with saltiness from the chips. I’ve only tried it as a salsa so far, but I could see this going great with grilled chicken or fish, or atop a grilled vegetable dinner. Watermelon Salsa Serves 6-8: Prep time 10 min Ingredients 4 cups watermelon (seedless, or seeds removed and chopped) 1 cup cucumber, chopped 1 cup red onion (about 1/2 large onion, chopped) 2 medium jalapeños (remove seeds for less heat, chopped) 1 cup fresh cilantro, chopped 1 lime, cut in half salt (to taste) Directions Add watermelon, cucumber, onion,…

Make your own caribbean inspired seasoning for this tropical summer feast

Once you make your own spice blends, you’ll never go back. This seared tuna recipe couples sweet, tropical spices with savory herbs and just enough heat. The best thing about making your own spices is that you know exactly what you’re eating. (Where do all of those ingredients in McCormick’s come from anyway?) If that’s not convincing enough, you’ll be surprised how much better it tastes than pre-mixed spices off of the store shelf. If that’s still not enough, know that you can save tons of cash by making your own — spice mixes can be expensive! Give it a try by starting with this delicious Caribbean inspired jerk blend. Smother your favorite seared fish in the seasoning, top with pineapple salsa and serve with coconut rice for a summer celebration at home inspired by the flavors of the crystal blue waters and tropical tastes off of our southern shores. Jamaican Jerk Seasoning Recipe Ingredients 2-3 tbsp coconut…

History of Mexican Salsa

Salsa has been around for thousands of years. Its history can be traced to the Aztecs, Mayans and Incas who used various combinations of chilies, tomatoes and other spices as a type of condiment atop turkey, venison, lobster and fish to give their food more flavor. Salsa didn’t spread outside of Central American cuisine until the Spaniards arrived and conquered Mexico — between 1519 and 1921. Even then, the tomato-based condiment didn’t have a commonplace name. It wasn’t until 50 years later, in 1571, that a Spanish priest, missionary, and grammarian gave it the simple name salsa. Directly translated from Spanish, “salsa” simply means “sauce.” Today, salsa is a mix of Old World and New World ingredients. The tomatoes, tomatillos, and chillies are native to the Western Hemisphere, while many of the added spices such as onions and garlic have Old World origins. An increase in the popularity of spicy foods…