Tag Archives: Winter

Roasted Cauliflower with Tahini Sauce

Roasted Cauliflower with Tahini Sauce | GuessWhosCooking.com | Healthy, dairy free, vegan, vegetarian, low carb, gluten free, plant based

Goodbye steamed cauliflower. Bland vegetables are no match for caramelized, roasted cauliflower coated with a creamy sauce with a punch!

Roasted Cauliflower with Tahini Sauce

Ingredients

  • 1 head cauliflower (cut into 1 inch florets)
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/2 cup tahini
  • 1/4 cup lemon juice
  • 1/4 cup fresh parsley (minced)
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1 clove garlic (minced and mashed)
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

Directions

Step 1
Preheat oven to 400˚F. Toss cauliflower with olive oil and spread into an even layer on a baking sheet.
Step 2
Bake 20-25 minutes, flipping once or twice, until cauliflower is tender and caramelized.
Step 3
Meanwhile, whisk together tahini, lemon juice, parsley, garlic and salt. Add water 1 tablespoon at a time until reaching desired consistency, which should be thinner than a paste but not runny. Toss with cauliflower, garnish with parsley, and serve warm.

Roasted Cauliflower with Tahini Sauce | GuessWhosCooking.com | Healthy, dairy free, vegan, vegetarian, low carb, gluten free, plant based

Roasted Cauliflower with Tahini Sauce | GuessWhosCooking.com | Healthy, dairy free, vegan, vegetarian, low carb, gluten free, plant based

Carrot Pancakes

Carrot Pancakes | GuessWhosCooking.com | Healthy, easy, gluten free, dairy free, vegetarian, low carb

Carrot Pancakes

Serves 4
Prep time 10 minutes
Cook time 20 minutes
Total time 30 minutes
Meal type Appetizer, Side Dish, Snack
These carrot pancakes are healthy and delicious and make a great side dish.

Ingredients

  • 1lb carrots (grated)
  • 4 large eggs (beaten)
  • 1/4 cup almond meal, nut meal, or whole wheat flour (or other flour substitute)
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • salt to taste

Directions

Step 1
Combine carrots, eggs, flour, and salt and mix until well combined.
Step 2
Heat a large skillet over medium high heat with 2 tablespoons oil. Add 1/2 cup carrot mixture and flatten into a 1/2-inch thick patty and repeat until pan is full. Flip patties when the underside is golden brown. When both sides are golden brown, transfer to a paper towel to drain.
Step 3
Add 1/2 cup carrot mixture and flatten into a 1/2-inch thick patty and repeat until pan is full. Flip patties when the underside is golden brown. When both sides are golden brown, transfer to a paper towel to drain.
Step 4
Repeat step 3 until all carrot mixture is used, adding more oil to the pan as needed.

Carrot Pancakes | GuessWhosCooking.com | Healthy, easy, gluten free, dairy free, vegetarian, low carb

Peanut Butter & Chocolate Apple “Nachos”

Peanut Butter Chocolate Apple Nachos - healthy dessert that is gluten free, low in added sugar, and can be made dairy free and vegan. Guess Who's Cooking

This guilt-free dessert or appetizer is easy, requires very little cooking (microwaving), and is low in added sugar, gluten-free, and can be made dairy-free and vegan (depending on the chocolate chips). It only takes a few minutes to prepare, but is sure to please!

Peanut Butter Chocolate Apple Nachos

Serves 4-5
Prep time 10 minutes
Cook time 1 minute
Total time 11 minutes
Meal type Appetizer, Dessert
Misc Child Friendly
This fun-looking and fun-tasting dish is a great dessert with very little added sugar.

Ingredients

  • 3 large apples
  • 1/2 cup natural peanut butter (preferably organic and unsweetened)
  • 1/2 cup mini dark or semisweet chocolate chips (divided. Look for vegan chips to make this a vegan recipe)

Directions

Step 1
Cut apples into thin slices, about 16 per apple. Place on a large plate.
Step 2
Microwave the peanut butter in a small bowl on high until it becomes melted enough to drizzle, 15 seconds at a time. You may be able to skip this step if using a fresh jar of natural peanut butter because it will already be somewhat thin. Drizzle over the apples.
Step 3
Microwave 2-3 tablespoons of the chocolate chips in a small bowl on high for about 30 seconds. Stir, then continue heating 15 seconds at a time until completely melted when stirred. Drizzle over the apples.
Step 4
Garnish with the remaining chocolate chips and serve immediately. The apples will start to brown, so don't wait to long to serve.
Peanut Butter Chocolate Apple Nachos - healthy dessert that is gluten free, low in added sugar, and can be made dairy free and vegan. Guess Who's Cooking

25 Healthy & Fun Game Day Recipes

25 Healthy and Fun Game Day Recipes | Guess Who's Cooking | Recipes are mostly  minimally processed, plant-based, and low in added sugar and refined flours. Perfect for the Super Bowl!

Looking for a healthier recipe to share during the big game? Here are 25 recipes that are healthy, fun and delicious. For those with special needs or tastes, many recipes are:

  • Made with whole, real foods
  • Vegan
  • Lower-carb
  • No-sugar-added

Appetizers, Sides, & Snacks

Asian Cole Slaw

Baked Falafel

Bean & Corn Dip

Brussels Sprouts Chips

Chex Mix Pumpkin Seeds

Eggplant “Fries”

Mexican Zucchini Fritters

Pizza Hummus

Rosemary Sesame Pecans

Salt and Vinegar Pumpkin Seeds

Savory Roasted Chickpeas

Vegetarian Baked Beans (lower sugar)

 

Entrees

Cajun Meatloaf

Cauliflower Pizza Crust

Copycat Chipotle Barbacoa

Fishy Nuggets

Mexican Taco Meatloaf

Personal Portabello Pizzas

Pizza Omelet

Slow Cooker Barbecue Chicken

Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken

White Chicken Chili (dairy-free)

 

Desserts

Black Bean Brownies

Buckeyes

Chickpea Blondies

 

French Toast Apples

French toast is a very popular breakfast item at restaurants, but is the opposite of a balanced meal. Traditional versions are prepared using white bread (refined flour) and high amounts of sugar, often followed by a flooding of sugary maple syrup or artificial “pancake syrup” or “original syrup.” Did you ever notice that those cheaper syrups at the grocery store aren’t even called “maple syrup”?

Instead, this recipe replaces the unhealthy white bread with much healthier apples, and contains no added sugar. Try serving this recipe with something other than syrup, such as fresh berries, nuts, and/or natural nut butter.

French Toast Apples | Guesswhoscooking.com | Healthy, easy, lower carb, no added sugar, no refined grains

French Toast Apples

This healthy recipe replaces white bread with apples to make a delicious French "toast."

Ingredients

  • 2 Medium to large apples
  • 1 Large egg
  • 1 tablespoon unsweetened almond milk
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon virgin coconut oil (or other medium to high heat cooking oil)

Optional

  • 6-8 drops liquid stevia
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

Step 1
Cut the apples into 1/2 inch rounds, then use a paring knife to cut out the core.
Step 2
In a medium bowl, whisk the eggs, almond milk, cinnamon, and if using, vanilla and stevia.
Step 3
Heat a nonstick skillet (non-Teflon preferred) over medium heat. Add the oil.
Step 4
Dip the apple slices into the egg mixture, then onto the skillet. When the bottoms become golden brown, about 3 minutes, flip the apples with a spatula and cook the other side until golden brown, about 3 minutes.
Step 5
Repeat step 4 until all apple slices are cooked. Remove from pan and serve with your choice of berries, a touch of maple syrup, or nut butter.

French Toast Apples | Guess Who's Cooking | Healthy, easy, lower carb, no added sugar, no refined grains. Great for breakfast, brunch, Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, or Father's Day

French Toast Apples | Guesswhoscooking.com | Healthy, easy, lower carb, no added sugar, no refined grains French Toast Apples | Guesswhoscooking.com | Healthy, easy, lower carb, no added sugar, no refined grains

French Toast Apples | Guesswhoscooking.com | Healthy, easy, lower carb, no added sugar, no refined grains

Spaghetti Squash with Green Beans, Arugula, and Truffle Oil

Spaghetti Squash with Truffle Oil. Guess Who's Cooking. Low carb, vegan, gluten free, dairy free, soy free.

This “pasta” dish is so full of flavor that you won’t care that it’s spaghetti squash, not spaghetti! The truffle oil is optional, but really gives this dish a huge boost in rich, earthy flavor.

Truffle Spaghetti Squash with Green Beans, Arugula, and Truffle Oil

This rich and flavorful pasta dish is so tasty that you will forget you're eating spaghetti squash, not spaghetti!

Ingredients

  • 1 Medium spaghetti squash
  • 1/2 to 1lb green beans (trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces)
  • handful baby arugula
  • drizzle of extra virgin olive oil
  • garlic powder to taste
  • salt to taste

Optional

  • dash of truffle oil

Directions

Step 1
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Slice the spaghetti squash in half and remove the seeds and stringy flesh. Drizzle with olive oil, rub the oil over the inside and outside of the squash, and place face down on a baking sheet.
Step 2
Bake for 30-40 minutes, until squash is fork tender or flakes easily with a fork. Let cool.
Step 3
Bring a saucepan of water to a boil, then add green beans. Blanch for 2-3 minutes for thin beans and 4-5 minutes for thick beans. Drain.
Step 4
Once the squash is cool enough to handle, shred the flesh into strands with a fork. In a large bowl, combine the squash, green beans, and arugula. Drizzle with oil, and sprinkle with salt and garlic powder to taste.

Pan-Fried “Noodles” with Vegetable Stir Fry

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Pan-Fried "Noodles" with Vegetable Stir Fry

Pan-Fried “Noodles” with Vegetable Stir Fry

This recipe replaces unhealthy fried refined noodles with light pan-fried spaghetti squash. It's delicious!

Ingredients

  • 1 Medium spaghetti squash
  • olive oil
  • 1lb chicken, fish, or scallops (bite-sized pieces)
  • 1 egg white
  • 2 teaspoons corn starch
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 Medium yellow onion
  • 1/2lb snow peas
  • 1/2lb shiitake mushrooms
  • 1/4lb bean sprouts
  • 1 tablespoon Shaoxing rice wine (or substitute dry sherry)
  • 2 tablespoons low-sodium tamari
  • 1/4 teaspoon white pepper
  • peanut oil

Directions

Step 1
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Cut the spaghetti squash in half and remove the seeds. Brush with olive oil, then place face-down on a baking sheet. Bake for 30-40 minutes or until tender. Let cool.
Step 2
Meanwhile, whisk the egg white in a medium bowl, then add corn starch, salt, and protein of choice (chicken, fish, or scallops) and combine. Cover and refrigerate for about 20 minutes.
Step 3
Combine the Shaoxing rice wine, tamari, and black pepper, then set aside.
Step 4
Heat 2 tablespoons peanut oil in wok or large pan. Add the chicken, fish or scallops and stir fry for a few minutes until mostly cooked. Set aside in a dish, leaving excess oil in pan or letting oil pool in the dish and adding any remaining oil back to the wok.
Step 5
Add 1-2 tablespoons peanut oil to the pan, less if some oil remains from the previous step. Add the onion and cook for a few minutes, stirring occasionally, until it starts to become translucent. Add the mushrooms and cook until they are mostly soft, stirring occasionally. Add the snow peas and cook another 2-3 minutes, until they are bright green and no longer dull. Add the bean sprouts and cook 1 more minute.
Step 6
Add the chicken, fish, or scallops back to the wok, then add the sauce and combine. Set aside in another dish, then wipe out the pan.
Step 7
Once the spaghetti squash has cooled, use a fork or spoon to scoop out the flesh, which will resemble noodles.
Step 8
Heat the wok over medium heat, then add 2 tablespoons peanut oil. Add enough spaghetti squash to form a solid layer about 1/2 inch thick on the bottom of the pan. Once it starts to become golden brown on the bottom, flip the spaghetti squash and cook until the other side starts to turn golden brown. Repeat with remaining squash if necessary. Place the squash on a serving plate.
Step 9
Top the squash with the vegetable stir fry and serve.

Pan-Fried "Noodles" with Vegetable Stir Fry

Holiday Gingerbread Granola

Give a healthier gift this year! This homemade granola is lower in sugar and added fat than most recipes. The gingerbread flavor and the colors, red cranberries and green pistachios, make this a festive treat. Substitute pumpkin puree for the applesauce for pumpkin gingerbread granola. One batch will fill about 2-3 standard size mason jars, which make a great gift! Recommended serving size is 1/4 cup. Try this granola over plain yogurt or with a little bit of milk or milk alternative.

If you need this recipe to be gluten-free, look for gluten-free oats.

Holiday Gingerbread Granola

Serves 18
Prep time 10 minutes
Cook time 30 minutes
Total time 40 minutes
This holiday granola has less added fat and sugar than most traditional recipes, and is made with whole, natural ingredients. The red cranberries and green pistachios make it a festive gift that would look beautiful in a decorated mason jar!

Ingredients

  • 2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened coconut flakes
  • 1/2 cup slivered almonds
  • 1/2 cup organic unsweetened applesauce (or substitute with pumpkin puree)
  • 2 tablespoons virgin coconut oil, or other oil (melted)
  • 1 1/2 tablespoon molasses
  • 3 tablespoons maple syrup (or more to taste)
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup dried cranberries
  • 1/2 cup shelled pistachios

Directions

Step 1
Preheat oven to 325° F.
Step 2
In a large bowl, combine oats, coconut flakes, and almonds. Sprinkle ginger, cinnamon, and salt in the bowl and toss.
Step 3
Over the oat mixture, pour coconut oil, applesauce, molasses, maple syrup, and vanilla, then stir to until oat mixture is well coated.
Step 4
Spread granola mixture evenly on a baking sheet and bake for about 30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes and watching carefully and stirring every few minutes for the last 10 minutes to prevent burning. Remove from oven when granola is golden brown and almost completely dry.
Step 5
Let cool, then add pistachios and dried cranberries.

 

 

Rosemary Sesame Pecans

Give a healthier gift this year! These savory roasted pecans are free of added sugar but full of flavor. Serving size is about 1/4 cup, so this recipe makes about 16 servings. Pack them into mason jars for festive and healthy holiday gifts!

Lightly adapted from this recipe.
Rosemary Sesame Pecans = Healthy homemade Christmas or holiday gift - low carb, dairy free, gluten free, sugar free. Guesswhoscooking.com

Rosemary Sesame Pecans

Serves 16
Prep time 5 minutes
Cook time 25 minutes
Total time 30 minutes
Meal type Appetizer, Snack
These savory roasted nuts make a healthy Christmas or holiday gift without all the added sugar of most holiday treats.

Ingredients

  • 2 egg whites
  • 1/4 cup sesame seeds
  • 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary (minced)
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1lb pecan halves, raw (about 4 cups)

Directions

Step 1
Preheat oven to 300 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
Step 2
Whisk egg whites in a large bowl.
Step 3
Mix sesame seeds, rosemary, and salt in a small bowl.
Step 4
Add pecans to egg whites and stir to combine well. Add sesame seed mix and stir to distribute evenly.
Step 5
Spread pecans evenly on the baking sheets in a single layer. Bake 20-25 minutes until coating is dry.

Rosemary Sesame Pecans = Healthy homemade Christmas or holiday gift - low carb, dairy free, gluten free, sugar free. Guesswhoscooking.com

White Chicken Chili (Dairy-Free)

Traditional white chicken chili recipes call for dairy, usually in the form of sour cream. This easy slow cooker recipe leaves out the dairy altogether, yet is still hearty and full of rich flavor. Use the highest quality of chicken you can afford (free-range organic preferred).

White Chicken Chili - Dairy-free, low-carb. guesswhoscooking.com

White Chicken Chili

Serves 8
Prep time 10 minutes
Cook time 8 hours
Total time 8 hours, 10 minutes
White chicken chili recipes without dairy are nearly impossible to find. This easy slow cooker recipe leaves out the dairy, but is still supremely flavorful and hearty.

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 large onion (diced)
  • 2 cloves garlic (minced)
  • 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 1 pound)
  • 1 bell peppers (diced)
  • 2 cups cauliflower florets (fresh or frozen)
  • 1 can white beans (rinsed and drained)
  • 2 cups low sodium chicken broth
  • 1 4 oz can diced green chilies
  • 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast
  • 1/2 tablespoon cumin
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne (optional)
  • salt to taste
  • green onions and avocado (for garnish)

Directions

Step 1
Heat olive oil in a large saute pan over medium heat. Add onions and cook for about 5 minutes or until they start to turn light brown. Add garlic and cook for 30-60 seconds, until fragrant. Remove from heat.
Step 2
Combine all remaining ingredients in a slow cooker except for green onions and avocado. Cook on low for 8-10 hours.
Step 3
Shred the chicken by removing and shredding with two forks, or mash it up in the slow cooker. Also mash the cauliflower. Add salt to taste if necessary. Serve with avocado and green onion.

White Chicken Chili - Dairy-free, low-carb. guesswhoscooking.com