Creatively Cooking Healthy
Being a wiz in the kitchen and cooking healthy doesn’t take a trip to culinary school. Learning how to be resourceful, creative and clever is the name of the game when it comes to eating right. Here are some of our favorite quick tips and tricks to make cooking fresh, fun and healthy!
Betsy’s Best Tips for Creatively Cooking Healthy
SOAK BITTER GREENS Give those bitter greens a bath! Soak your greens in a bath of ice water in the fridge for 1 hour to make them come to life and take the “bitter” out of the bite.
NUT-TING HEALTHY Replace breadcrumbs in any dish with ground nuts for a healthy crunch in each bite. Or top soup with a dollop of cashew cream to get the richness and texture of a cream soup without all that cholesterol and saturated fat. For more healthy and tasty nut recipes check out Betsy’s Best Eat at Home Recipes!.
JAMMIN’ IN A JAR Have you ever heard of a Jamminagrette? Don’t let that last spoon of jam go to waste! Add equal parts oil and vinegar to a jar and give it a shake. Your salad will thank you.
BOUQUET OF HEALTH Store fresh cut herbs just like you would a bouquet of flowers. A jar with water on the countertop will keep them hydrated. Just snip to get cooking!
FREEZER FRESH Freezing fresh ginger keeps it fresh for months. You can also grate ginger while frozen to garnish smoothies or soups.
OOOO-ONIONS While sautéing onions, throw in a pinch of baking soda. It cuts the cooking time in half and speeds up the browning process.
MASSAGE & MASH Mash a banana to make a quick puree for any dish. For a fresh, easy to digest, tender kale salad, massage fresh kale with a sprinkle of sea salt for 2 minutes to gently wilt the leaves.
CUBE TO-DO Get creative with ice cube trays! Add a few frozen blueberries or lemon slivers to cubes before you freeze to make a refreshing treat. Puree fresh fruit or veggies and pour them into cubes for a quick flick into a smoothie. Add broth to the ice cube trays and store for broth base, or use in place of oil when sautéing. You can also freeze cubes of coffee to give breakfast smoothies a kick.
Start using these creative tips in your kitchen and you will soon see that cooking healthy is a snap!
Homemade Snacks That Satisfy
Finding healthy snack ideas that excite my family at home does not have to be a chore. Tasty snacks can be healthy too, and just a little creativity in the kitchen is all it takes to make delicious, nutritious! Try avoiding those packaged and processed snack packs. Although they may seem convenient, they are usually nutritionally empty. Try filling up on healthy, wholesome foods such as apples, celery, carrots or other produce. Our family loves to dip everything in Betsy’s Best for fiber and a nutrient-rich snack that keeps us coming back! Check out our recipes section of the site for healthy snack ideas from the Betsy’s Best kitchen – like this Homemade Sprouted Buckwheat Granola!
From my kitchen to yours, have a healthy day!
Fudge Peanut Butter Brownies
Who say’s you can’t make a delicious brownie using healthy all-natural ingredients? Not Betsy. Moist and nutritious, her fudge peanut butter brownie recipe uses ingredients like Betsy’s Best all-natural Peanut Butter, flax seeds, and zucchini. It will be #LoveAtFirstTaste!
Brownie Ingredients:
1 Cup Betsy’s Best Cinnamon Peanut Butter
2 cups shredded zucchini
1 flax egg: 1 Tbsp flax + 3 Tbsp water (or 1 egg)
1/3 cup maple syrup
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
3 Tbsp cocoa powder
1 tsp baking powder
Step By Step Recipe Directions:
Step 1: Preheat oven to 350°F.
Step 2: Combine all ingredients in food processor.
Step 3: Mix well.
Step 4: Pour batter into 8 x 8 pan, lined with parchment paper.
Step 5: Bake 45 minutes.
Step 6: Brownies might seem undercooked but harden after cooling.
Step 7: Let brownies cool completely before removing from pan.
Step 8: Store in airtight container in refrigerator for up to a week, or freeze for longer.
Step 9: Enjoy your fudge peanut butter brownies!
If you are looking for a delicious, fool-proof way to get your loved ones to eat more vegetables, Betsy’s fudge peanut butter brownies are for you. You can’t taste the zucchini and in fact the veggie makes the brownie very moist. Your kids will be clamoring for more!
