Creamy Mashed Avocado Corn Salsa

Did you know summer is corn and avocado season? I did. And I LOVE IT. Especially since these are two of my favorite things in the fresh produce section. Then even more so when you can make a decadent, delisious salad topper, dip or side for next to nothing. Ladies and gentlemen, please enjoy this recipe - and if it is in the summer, at a crazy affordable price!

 

Ingredients

• 1 Avocado
• 2 ears of corn
• GOOD balsamic
• 1 tablesoon fresh salsa or 1 small tomato, chopped
• feta cheese
• salt and pepper to taste

Roast corn on the cob. I do this by turning on my gas burner to low and putting a de-husked corn directly over flame, lightly browning all sides. Set corn to the side to cool.

In a large bowl, place avocado flesh. Mash to desired consistency.

Cut corn off of the cob. Add to large bowl with avocado then add salt and pepper (to taste), tomato and/or salsa, and about a tsp good balsamic. Mix together so it is all incorporated. At this point you can add in feta if you would like or just use as dip. I like to put greens on the side then sprinkle feta and balsamic on it and eat it as a salad. My 6-year old daughter loves it! She loves corn and the creamy avocado, if mashed and blended enough, is hidden in the dish.

Enjoy! :)

Strawberry Lemonade Sangria

This one goes out to reminiscing about last summer with my sister... although she can't enjoy these until NEXT summer with me. Which is a good thing for two reasons 1) Summer is almost over, and more importantly, 2) she is blessing me with my first niece of nephew soon!

Anyways, this was amazing, fresh, sweet, yummy and shall I dare say "healthy"?! Here's the recipe...

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup Fresh Strawberries (can use frozen too)
• 1 1/2 - 2 cups White wine
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 cup strawberry lemonade

Make a "loose simple syrup" with 1/2 cup water and 1/4 cup sugar over the stove. Chop up straberrys (or throw in whole if using frozen) and add them to the pot once syrup begins to form. Cook on medium-low for about 5 minutes, when the strawberries really start to break down and mix in to the syrup.
Add white wine and lemonade. You can adjust this measurement, depending on how strong you like your drinks ;)
We then put ice in it to cool it down and threw it in the now empty strawberry lemonade jug to then easy transport to our picnic lunch at the springs!

Enjoy! <3

Choco-Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal Treats

I have been craving chocolate! ...and sweets! ... and chocolate! Not a good sitation to be in when you are not supposed to have them. After worrying these cravings might mean I have become part of the 2012 baby boom that is going on... I decided to suffice my cravings with a sweet HEALTHY and low-cal treat. Brainstorming session occured - and these DELICISIOUS treats/cookies were born! YUM!

At less than 50 calories a POP, and FULL of nutrition, don't feel bad... enjoy!

Choco-Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal Treats

1 very ripe banana

2 tablespoons peanut butter

1 block/cube dark chocolate (I used 85% Godiva)

3 tablespoons non-fat greek yogurt (plain or vanilla)

1 tablespoon unsweetened almond milk (any milk will do)

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

3/4 cup oats

(recipe can be doubled, tripled, etc depending on how many bananas you have ;) )

Pre-heat oven to 350.

In a bowl, microwave dark chocolate piece for 20 seconds. Stir in peanut butter, yogurt, almond milk and vanilla. Mash banana directly in to mixture. Add the oats and stir. Here you can add nuts or chocolate chunks, if you would like. Let the batter sit for 20 minutes. Heat in oven for 12 minutes. Take out, let cool and throw in fridge or freezer for a cool HEATHLY savory treat!  

Black Bean Sweet Potato Burgers

So sweet potatoes are less than 50 cents a pond right now... so it is a good thing I love sweet potatoes because with how many Ive been eating I am a little worried I may turn orange! With so many sweet potatoes and a little left over black bean soup from Panera I started getting creative while simmering my chopped sweet potatoes, Brussels sprouts and rice... and the result was a wonderfully healthy and delicious burger!

Ingredients 

• 1/2 cup sweet potato (1 small sized) cubed and simmered in tomato broth 
• 1/2 cup drained black bean soup 
• 1/4 cup rice
• 1/4 cup oats (quick oats) 
• 1 tbs whole wheat flour 
• 1 tsp balsamic vinegar 
• 1/2 tsp chili powder
• 1/2 tsp cumin 
• no salt - enough in left over panera soup!

Preheat oven to 400*

Start by taking simmered and soft sweet potatoes and mashing in a bowl. Combine black beans and mix, lightly mash. Then combine all other ingredients and stir together. It should be a sticky, moist batter. You should be able to form a patty though, if too moist, add a little bit of oats and let sit so they can suck out some of that stickiness. 

Form in to patties. This recipe makes 3 - 4. Bake in oven for 25 - 30 minutes, or until your house smells great and patties are dry enough that they can be easily taken off sheet tray and placed on your plate! 

Banana Almond Super Food Oatmeal Breakfast

I loveeee waking up and eating a good bowl of oatmeal, which got me thinking how I can make my usual breakfast even more amazing while keeping all the health benefits? This dish was the answer. The yummy answer I must say! Enjoy! 

Ingredients (makes one serving) 

• 1/3 cup quick oats (or rolled oats) 
• 1/3 cup almond milk
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/2 banana, sliced 
• 1 tsp chia seeds
• 1 tsp ground flax
• walnuts and sliced banana to top

Combine oats, almond milk, water and sliced banana in a pot on the stove. Mix to combine. Set on med to med high temp and let simmer for about 5 minutes. The mixture should just be getting thick. Stir for 1 to 2 minutes, continuously, until a little runnier than desired consistency. Turn off heat and add chia and flax. Mix. Let sit 2 - 3 minutes. Serve and top with walnuts and sliced bananas.