strawberry, spinach and watermelon smoothie with flaxseed

Each week I have the same dilemma of having several items going ‘bad’ in my fridge. I have the best intentions of making multiple recipes in a week and even going as far as to meal plan each night. But, each week, I find myself feeling guilty for not utilizing the fresh produce I purchase.
This morning, I opened the fridge …
Sitting there was three pounds of strawberries looking lonely and weak …
Even with the upward smile that a cut watermelon mimics, somehow, (as if reading my emotions) now illustrated my sorrow with the rind forming a down-turned mouth of displeasure.
My produce was sad and I had to save it.
Nothing that a handful of phytonutrients and omega rich flaxseeds can’t fix

strawberry watremelon spinach smoothie 2 cups                       strawberries
2 cups                       spinach, loosely packed
1 cup                         watermelon
1 tbsp                        ground flaxseed
1 cup                         almond milk
1 tbsp                        honey, raw

{blend and enjoy}

 

cherry – walnut and honey mustard chicken salad wraps

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*trader ro’s

6             romaine leaves {you know, the big kind}
1             large can chicken in water, drained
1.5          cups cherries, pitted and semi-diced
1.5          cups chopped walnuts
2             tablespoons dijon mustard
1.5          tablespoons honey
2             tablespoons mayonnaise
.5            tablespoon garlic powder
salt to taste
pepper to taste

combine all ingredients in a bowl, mix, and serve on romaine.
enjoy.

cucumber sandwich

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{ kid food }

white bread
thinly sliced cucumber, peeled if eater desire
mayo

spread both sides with may and neatly arrange cucumber side by side
add top to sandwich
slice crust off, if necessary

making sure to cut your sandwich into neat squares (or rectangle) offers a more attractive “dish”
there is no need to pile on meat.
slice some cucumbers and try it.

bagel pizza

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{ kid food }

1 bagel
4 tablespoon pizza sauce or marinara
1/2 cup faux cheese  {or real if you prefer}
*sugar

heat oven to 350 and line baking sheet with foil
cut bagel in half with serrated knife
spoon and spread 2 tablespoons tomato product per pizza
*if using marinara, sprinkle a teeny bit of sugar over the top
sprinkle 1/4 cup cheese on
heat in oven for 10 minutes, or until cheese appears melted
let cool for 2 minutes
cut into squares with kitchen shears or use sharp knife.
{I prefer the shears}

enjoy.

egg in a basket {grandma style}

(This recipe was inspired by my amazing grandma, Rosemary. I remember this smell filling her kitchen like it was yesterday.)

* large spatula is needed for this recipe
1 slice of bread (preferably whole grain)
earth balance butter
egg
salt
pepper

Gently tear a hole in center of bread, making sure to appropriately tear or cut the hole only a fraction larger than yolk used.
In medium to large frying pan, heat butter on medium-high heat.
(approximately 2 minutes the butter should be sufficiently heated.)
Place torn bread in center of pan over the butter.
Crack egg and carefully pour into center of the bread.
Sprinkle/ Crack/Toss the salt and pepper over the top.
Allow egg to cook about 1 1/2 minutes or more. Using the spatula, free the underneath of the bread and egg from pan.
Once the egg is semi-solid  on top (still translucent), quickly flip.
Allow to cook for 45 seconds to a minute longer.
Flip over once more onto plate.
Enjoy.


chicken-less mandarin morsels {vegan}

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appearance: 9
texture:        6
taste:           9

VEGAN

I used the “pan fry” directions and it came out lightly crispy with a rough baked edge. It could be mistaken for the classic McDonalds chicken nugget any day.

The texture was a bit spongy as Trader Joe’s desperately tried to mimic a “nugget” texture. It could have been bound better with a firmer bite.

The flavor was outstanding. I mean, we are talking about a mandarin flavored morsel. Don’t expect to wow’ed by the extreme quality and complex flavors. Honestly, it is a (meatless) chicken McNugget in a lightly tangy orange-like sauce. Like the classic McDonalds golden nugget, there is little resemblance to actual chicken flavor. (This would pass the husband and child test.)

Home-run in my book.

mochi {vegan}

it is exactly what it looks like, folks.
vegan mochi.
the three flavors include : coconut, chocolate and mango

coconut: has that icy feel of frozen layers unlike the traditional mochi’s creamy inside.
chocolate: it tastes just like you’d want it to. this is the creamiest and best flavor in my opinion.
mango: honestly, is not my favorite. i don’t dig fruit flavored desserts and i don’t know why …