Healthy and Delicious Snacks to Get You Through the Workday

You have a ridiculously busy week of work ahead and you know that when 3 pm rolls around you’ll get that sudden craving for something you know you shouldn’t be having like that bag of potato chips or that candy bar packed with caramel and peanuts.  And with the vending machine strategically positioned just around the corner, what’s stopping you other than your conscience?  You’ve made a plea to yourself to make healthier eating decisions, and that applies to snacks as well.  But healthy doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice deliciousness, ever!  So say goodbye to the alluring vending machine, because there’s a whole new set of snacks coming to town!  This snack list is meant for the busy professional who is limited by time and who suffers from great taste :-)  Many can be prepared ahead of time so that you have one less thing to stress about come Sunday night and for the rest of the work week.

As featured on The Daily Muse and Yahoo! Shine.

Superior Shrimp Scampi with Roasted Asparagus

Have I got a recipe for you!  

So delicious, so simple and so healthy.

Shrimp is low in saturated fat and a great source protein as well as Iron, Zinc, Phosphorus, Niacin, Vitamin B12 and Selenium.  I serve this with asparagus, as well as a side of simple wild rice.

This dish is a MUST-MAKE and a MUST-EAT.

I am so excited for you to try!

Ingredients:

1 lb uncooked shrimp (peeled and deveined)
1/2 cup olive oil

1/3 cup chopped cilantro

3 large cloves garlic crushed

Juice of 1 lemon

Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1.  First preheat your oven to 350 degrees.  Combine olive oil, cilantro, garlic, lemon juice, salt and pepper and set aside.

2.  Then, wash and pat dry the uncooked, peeled and deveined shrimp (I used wild Atlantic) and place them into a Pyrex dish.  Add the olive oil/garlic/lemon/cilantro mixture on top of the shrimp making sure it is well distributed and place into the preheated oven for 12-15 minutes.  Remove from oven and that's it!

For a complete meal, you can simultaneously prepare and pop this wonderful asparagus accompaniment into the oven (along with the shrimp) in a separate Pyrex dish!  And it takes just minutes to do and is such a palate pleaser!


All you need is:
1 bunch mini asparagus
About 1/4 cup olive oil
1.5 tablespoons Parmesan cheese
Salt and freshly ground pepperto taste


All you need to do is:


Trim about a 1/2 inch off the stems of the mini asparagus.  Wash, dry and place them into the Pyrex dish.  Add olive oil, cheese, salt and pepper and toss until all pieces are well coated.  Pop this into the oven at the same time as the shrimp at 350 degrees as well and allow to cook for ~15-20 minutes.

Bon appétit!

Guilt-free Samosa

I am a huge samosa fan but let's face it...these deep fried curry puffs typically made with ghee (aka clarified butter) aren't the healthiest things out there.  So this was my effort to enjoy this fabulously delicious spicy potato treat without the guilt.  My version does away with the pastry portion and deep frying stage (as well as subbing olive oil in for the ghee) so it's lower in carbs and fat (not to mention much easier and quicker to make)!

I hope you enjoy this samosa version, guilt-free!

Broccolicious Basil Pasta

As promised on my Facebook page, today I'm going to share one of my favorite pasta dishes with you.  You'll be especially enthused to know that this yummy dinner will be ready in under 15 minutes!  I love broccoli.  Not only are these tiny trees incredibly delicious but they are packed with nutritional value...Vitamins A, C, K, fiber, folate and the list goes on and on.  Over the weekend, I usually pick up a few bags of broccoli florets, wash them and keep them in tupperware in the fridge for an easy grab-and-go snack during the work week and also for easy peasy recipes like the one I'm about to share with you.  This dish is super tasty and the coolest part is it will leave you with minimal dishwashing after!  That's right!  All of the work is done using just one pot because who wants to wash a whole stack of dishes during the week?  Not me! :-)  Enjoy!

Healthy Chicken Cheesesteak

As a Philadelphia native I have a very special place in my heart for all things Philly particularly the Philly cheesesteak.  Having lived in many different states, I have tried their unsuccessful attempts at the "Philly cheesesteak" but none have come even remotely close.  These imposter-steaks are often misnamed as a Philly cheesesteak and not only look but definitely taste nothing like the original.  The result?  True and utter disappointment as well as consuming way too many calories that aren't even packed with true Philly deliciousness.  After multiple let-downs, I decided why not create my own? 

Mouthwatering Mediterranean Panini Pizza

This pizza is one of my go-to dinners on busy weeknights.  I always make sure to have most if not all of these ingredients on hand so that when I get home on those long workdays, this is a quick, delicious and healthy option.  It always hits the spot.  Feel free to get creative with the ingredients.  I use all kinds of veggies- broccoli, zucchini, spinach, roasted red peppers and the list goes on...  In under a half hour, I promise you'll have a totally tasty and satisfying dinner.  Enjoy!

Pomberrytastic Health-Boosting Smoothie

Topped with some delicious, frozen berries

The days are getting longer...the weather is getting warmer...it's the perfect time to get back on a smoothie kick!  Try this delicious, refreshing, energizing and health-boosting smoothie!  To show you just how awesome the ingredients are, I'd like to focus on each for a moment.

First off, we have the pomegranate.  Not only is this fruit incredibly tasty, but it has such strong anti-oxidant and immune boosting properties.  As if that weren't enough, this fabulous fruit has been shown to decrease blood pressure, cholesterol AND inhibit abnormal platelet aggregation that could potentially result in heart attack and stroke.  The pomegranate is my favorite fruit-if you're looking for an easy, fun way to enjoy one check out my video here.  Add berries (raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, strawberries) to the mix and you're tacking on even more health benefits.  Studies have shown that different types of berries can reduce cognitive decline, possibly prevent Parkinson's Disease and Alzheimer's, boost heart health, lower blood pressure and prevent cancer.  And finally, the amazing Greek yogurt  that promotes digestive and bone health as well as functioning to boost the immune system.

So here it is...The incredible Pomberrytastic Health-Boosting Smoothie!

Ingredients:
1/2 cup pomegranate juice (no sugar added)
2/3 cup frozen mixed berries
1/2 cup nonfat Greek yogurt
2 tablespoons agave or honey
5-6 ice cubes

Directions:
Using a blender, blend all ingredients.  Serve into your favorite icy glass and drink up all that delicious, health-boosting goodness!

Delicious Fig and Gorgonzola Appetizer

I am a huge fan of both gorgonzola cheese and fig separately...what happens when the two are paired is one of the best things in the world in my opinion.  If you like fig and gorgonzola cheese as much as I do, you will love this delicious and ridiculously simple recipe.  The hot, melting gorgonzola combined with the fig and onions along with the crunchy texture of the almonds makes me extremely happy.  This recipe is perfect as an appetizer/finger food for entertaining- just slice it into small wedges and serve.  Or, enjoy it all by yourself for no special occasion at all for lunch or as a treat.  Don't you owe it to yourself? ;)