Creamy Fettuccine Alfredo- Weight Watchers Friendly

It's time to get back to some lighter eating now that the holidays are almost over, and I've got the perfect Weight Watcher friendly recipe to get you started!

Fettuccine Alfredo is a favorite of mine but it's high too in calories for daily consumption. Did you know that a small bowl of Fettuccine Alfredo has over 400 calories and that's for a just a 1 cup serving!! Yikes, but not to worry! Have I got a recipe for you!

Spinach Artichoke Dip - Low fat, Vegan, and Healthy

Enjoy your favorite dip with lower fat and calories.
Spinach artichoke dip has always been one of my favorite dips. However, not only is it extremely caloric, it is also very high in not so good for you type fat. The typical artichoke and spinach dip recipe calls for a good amount of mayonnaise and parmesan cheese which tastes great but is a little too rich for my weight loss diet. 

Celebrating Hanukkah or Christmas in Florida

Celebrating Hanukkah At The Beach In Florida

My Easy Potato Latkes Hack

Is it possible to get the homemade taste of grated potato latkes without having to peel and grate the potatoes? It kind of sounds like an oxymoron, but it can be done. This simple hack that I am sharing cuts the time in half, really works, and you don't have to peel or grate potatoes.

Easy Homemade Hot Cocoa

At the first sign of snow, I begin to think about warming up with a delicious mug of hot cocoa!
Did you know that you can make your own hot cocoa that tastes better and is much healthier than using the hot cocoa mixes?

Homemade Vitamin C Drink for Colds and Flu

Tis the season to be jolly,  but the party is over when you have a bad cold or the flu. Did you know you can make your own Immune boosting Vitamin C drink that may help you feel better using some simple ingredients that you might already have in your kitchen.

Nature's Mold Rx- Book Review

Book Review and Homemade Herbal tea and Green Smoothie :

Mold cannot be ignored. A mold infestation can ruin not only your home, but it can also adversely affect your health.  Nature's Rx , the Non-Toxic Solution to Toxic Mold- A Breakthrough Discovery By Edward R Close, PhD and Jacquelyn Close, RA. meticulously documents 30 case studies where mold was eliminated and controlled using only therapeutic grade essential oil.

read more

Sweet Potato Rounds

If you are looking for a new way to enjoy sweet potatoes, look no further.
These festive sweet potato rounds are easy to prepare, make a great presentations, and taste wholesome and delicious.

For this recipe, I've mixed the juice of a fresh orange and the warming flavor of ground cinnamon with the meaty flesh of the sweet potato! I added some dried cranberries and a little rosemary for decoration. The flavors blended beautifully and the taste was divine.

Incredible Salad 2019

Salad is always one of the special dishes on our Thanksgiving table, and this year will be no exception. Last Thanksgiving I made a delicious jeweled kale and roasted acorn squash salad sprinkled with pomegranate seeds. This year I am making an interesting tossed salad mixing romaine lettuce with salad fixings and some savory condiments.

Book Reviews

As a blogger, I often am offered books to review. 

Recently, I received a book called, Yes, It Really Is All About Me by Darleen Miller. 

Darleen's book is targeted for caregivers.

Darleen explains that she has been a lifelong teacher and caregiver to her parents, grandparents, and three children. When her husband became ill, she became his primary caregiver for twelve years.

Cocette's Moroccan Carrots

Moroccan spiced carrots are a tasty and popular side dish, but there are as many different recipes for these carrots as there are cooks. However one thing is almost always certain, Middle Eastern and North African recipes tend to favor savory and spicy flavors in their vegetables rather than sweet ingredients. 

Yda's Arugula Salad with Shaved Parmesan

Sweet red onion rings, slivers of colorful apple, peppery arugula, and shavings of Italian Parmesan cheese, burst with flavor when tossed in my homemade creamy lemon olive oil dressing.  This beautiful salad will delight your family and friends whether it's for a weeknight family dinner or upcoming holiday dinner.

I'm a lover of salads. In fact, we eat a salad everyday. However,  I do try to vary my greens and other ingredients to avoid boredom.

When I want to add some zing to my salads, I add a little arugula. This feathery simple green not only has a zesty taste, but it also provides powerful nutrients.

Wordless Wednesday -Everglades

My brother in law and sister in law live on the edge of the Everglades in Florida! I was visiting and took a walk in their neighborhood and the surrounding area - Nine Interesting photos of the Everglades

How to Chop Garlic for Greater Health Benefits

Garlic is good for you right? But did you know you have to cut it the right way to get the benefits!

I love to use garlic in my cooking and I appreciate the health benefits that fresh garlic offers, but I didn't know there was a correct way to prep garlic to get its full health benefits. Read what to do!

Wordless Wednesday - Halloween in the Neighborhood

I was taking a walk through my son's neighborhood and took some photos of 

Halloween decorations and some fall scenes on his street. 

Scroll down to see them all !

Happy Halloween and Fall  

Quick Peanut Butter Oatmeal-Weight Watchers Style

It is surprising how filling, healthy, and delicious a simple oatmeal recipe can be.

Breakfast recipes do not have to be complicated, time consuming, or unusual to warrant a post.

Sometimes you may be looking for quick and simple with an interesting twist-! Peanut Butter Powder !!

Golden Lentil Soup- Instant Pot or Not

It's Fall and that means it's soup weather!!

I have quite a stash of lentil soup recipes, but this one is special. Why? It's made with two kinds of lentils- red lentils and brown lentils. The two varieties of lentils create a unique flavor and interesting soup. In addition it's flavored with turmeric, a golden spice now recognized for its anti-inflammatory properties.

Wordless Wednesday- Jerusalem

I visited Israel this past May. Here are some of the scenes from the old city of Jerusalem

Old City Jerusalem, Israel

Lebanese Moussaka

Do you love Middle Eastern cooking? I do, and this Lebanese Moussaka is fabulous! It's entirely different than the more commonly known Greek Moussaka, and there is a reason why!!

Acorn Squash with Apple Casserole

It's fall and I making baked corn squash with sweet apple casserole which makes a perfect side with what ever you are eating. It contains so delicate flavors that are sure to perk up your meal! Read how I make it.

Halloween Decor and Recipes

                     Welcome to Wordless Wednesday on Tuesday Halloween Decor + Recipes

Check out my Halloween and Fall Recipes Below and Decoration

Tomato Dal Soup - Americanized

Wow! This easy to make plant based Indian dal (soup) has lots of flavor, protein, fiber, and valuable nutrients!Tomato  dal is traditionally made from a whitish yellow colored split pea- called toor dal.

Toor dal is commonly used in Indian cooking; You can substitute easy to find yellow split peas instead. When I eat my dal as a soup, I add more broth otherwise eat it as a side dish over rice.
See how I made this warming, delicious soup!

Creamy Vegan Alfredo Sauce

If you love Alfredo sauce but don't love the heavy fat content from the cream and butter, this healthy vegan Alfredo recipe is for you! It is very easy to make, smooth and creamy, tasty and the perfect dairy free, nut free, parve and gluten free substitute for the traditional high fat and caloric Alfredo sauce. I'm excited about it and the possibilities. Weight Watchers are you listening?

Roasted Strawberry Parfait

I love this rich strawberry decadent parfait. 

It's fast and easy to assemble, makes a lovely presentation, and tastes divine. In addition, it's relatively healthy and uses only real whole food, making it a healthy snack even for kids! 

Did I mention it's gluten free, egg free and I offer a vegan substitution?

Carrot, Jicama,and Apple Coleslaw Recipes

If you are looking for an easy, but healthy simple vegan side dish, think about this sweet and juicy apple jicama coleslaw! 

Everyone seems to enjoy it, and it can literally be made in minutes using the shredding blade of your food processor. 

Vegan and Gluten Free Shabbat Dinner

This was Friday night Shabbat dinner for our Sabbath.

It's vegan, gluten free, filling, and healthy. 

Lots of greens and protein rich foods

A delicious vegan apple cake for dessert.

I think the photos say it all! 

I've included recipes and information about our traditions!

Energy Bites and Book Review - Eat Live Thrive Diet

Photo not from the book

These delicious energy bites are a recipe from the Eat Live Thrive Diet Book, by Danna Demetre and Robyn Thomson,  which I am reviewing today . The bites are made of healthy, real food ingredients, are easily assembled , and then simply rolled into balls- no cooking necessary!

Best Homemade Hummus

Have you ever thought about making your own hummus? 
It is really easy, and the taste surpasses anything you can buy in the store. 

Butternut Squash Sage Soup- Instant Pot and vegan

Butternut squash seasoned with fresh sage makes a delightful soup that is both soothing and delicious. The temperatures are getting a little cooler, and I'm starting to think about fall flavors and comforting soups. I made my soup in the Instant Pot, but it can also be made on the stove top for those of you or are still holding out. 

The recipe has only 7 ingredients and is easy to make. It's a light soup that is low in calories, low in fat but high in nutrients and fiber.

Carrot Apple Muffins - Gluten Free and Vegan

Anyone in the mood for carrot /apple muffins? 

These gluten-free muffins are a reliable recipe that come out good every time. It's a basic recipe that can be varied according to the season and your preferences. I sometimes make carrot\apple, sometimes blueberry or strawberry, sometimes pumpkin, and sometimes chocolate chip. 

Very Easy Gazpacho

Easy Tomato Gazpacho 

The end of summer is the perfect time to make tomato gazpacho when the local farmer's markets are overflowing with ripe fresh tomatoes, red peppers, and cucumbers!

Wild Blueberry Slushy

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This wild blueberry dessert is almost like blueberry ice cream, but a little slushier! Sometimes I'm in the mood for something cold, rich, and creamy but don't want to consume the calories or fat that are in traditional ice cream. In those moments, I make myself a decadent wild blueberry slushy low calorie dessert in just 5 minutes!  

Russian Sweet and Sour Cabbage Soup

Are you looking for a delicious soup recipe that the entire family will love?  This sweet and sour cabbage soup tastes like a tangy vegetable soup. My husband who is a lemon lover thought it was exceptional.

It is naturally gluten free, dairy free, nut free, and soy free- ideal for a group with diverse eating needs. It is also a perfect Passover soup. 

Fabulous Hummus Appetizer

Need a fabulous appetizer for your next party? Try this homemade hummus appetizer. It's a whole party of mezze in one. 

Mezze is a word associated with Middle Eastern appetizers which basically means small plates that are made with the intention of stimulating one's appetite.

Spinach, Capers and Cauliflower Rice Side Dish

This cauliflower rice and spinach side dish is a low carb, light, and fluffy recipe that is absolutely delicious. It is a quick and easy recipe that is a life saver for me in the summer when I don't feel like doing "real" cooking, yet I want something satisfying, low calorie, and low carb.

Zero Points on Weight Watchers

In fact, if you are following Weight Watchers this is considered a zero point side dish! Yay!

Vegetable Pakora Appetizers

Do you like Indian Cuisine?
I frequently order vegetable pakora appetizers when I dine in our local Indian restaurant.As much as I enjoy them, I never thought of actually making them at home. It turns out they are easy to make, baked, and very tasty!

Wordless Wednesday - The Shook in Jerusalem

A few photos from my trip this past May to Israel, Spain, Portugal,
Tangiers Morocco
for Wordless Wednesday : The Shook In Jerusalem

The  Shook ( marketplace) in the old city of Jerusalem 

Cucumber Melon Gazpacho

You know what they say, "cold soup is hot in the summer"!

This chilled cucumber melon gazpacho is a perfect hot humid weather soup.

The combination of sweet melon blended with juicy cucumber is light, not too sweet, and refreshing.

Wordless Wednesday-Parsley Caterpillars

Wordless Wednesday 

These beautiful green and black caterpillars ate every morsel of my parsley plant. One day it was lush and full of parsley and the next day all the curly parsley was stripped and gone!

So much for growing herbs on my deck!!

Pasta Puttanesca Bowl

Sometimes you are just in the mood for a big bowl of pasta (gluten free of course) with a great healthy topping.Whether you make traditional (gluten free) pasta or zucchini spiral pasta, this vegan Puttanesca sauce is sure to delight your taste buds especially in the summer when fresh produce it at it's peak. No cooking necessary!!

Healthy Vegan Wraps

Bright green collard greens stuffed with mixed colorful raw vegetables, a little avocado, and some flavorful hummus, make a satisfying vegan lunch and a delicious way to eat more greens!

Roasted Summer Zucchini Soup

Soup in the summer? Why not? 
Don't overlook this exceptional soup just because its hot outside. 
What spells summer more than fresh basil, fresh mint, and zucchini?

Summer soups can be enjoyed hot or chilled. Personally, I like my soup hot. However, if you prefer, this soup tastes equally as good chilled or at room temperature.

Easy Summer Appetizer

Cherry tomatoes make a wonderful appetizer when stuffed with hummus! I used a packaged artichoke and spinach hummus from my local supermarket  but you choose whatever you prefer from the many varieties available. Just follow my easy directions.

Chilled Summer Borsht

Borsht is a tangy soup that is popular in Eastern European countries like Russia, Poland, and the Ukraine. It is usually made with beetroot as the base, but every region of Europe has its own variation of vegetables and ingredients that go into this rich looking "good for you" soup.

I make it in my Instant Pot and here is how

Healthy Vegan Sandwich Spread

Looking for a delicious and healthy vegan/plant based sandwich spread ? 

This spread is one of my favorites. It's high in protein and fiber, good fat, tasty, and Weight Watcher friendly. In addition, it's naturally gluten free and dairy free. It all adds up to one word- HEALTHY!

Powerful Anti Cancer Smoothie

This smoothie is based on the suggestions of Dr. Kristi Funk who is a cutting edge doctor/surgeon who has treated many celebrities including Angelina Jolie! Dr. Funk does extensive research on the effects of food and lifestyle on cancer!

She is convinced by research that she can reduce women's risks of getting cancer by diet and lifestyle.

Which fruits have the most pesticides?

Do you know which fruits and vegetables are the heavily sprayed with lots of pesticides and potentially dangerous? 

Every year the EWG (Environmental Workers Group) publishes a list of the twelve foods that are most heavily sprayed with pesticides. They call it the Dirty Dozen. They also publish a list of the Clean 15.  I've included their suggestions in this post!

How To Make Almond Flour in Minutes

Got Almonds? You can make almond flour in minutes in your food processor.

5 Minute Red Pepper Soup-Zero Points

Red pepper soup is one of my favorite soups. But I often don't have the time or interest to heat up the oven to slow roast the peppers. After eating this delicious soup at a friend's house, I asked for the recipe. I was shocked to find out that she actually made this soup in just 5 minutes in the blender using a jar of roasted peppers! The results are a rich tasty soup that is both high in protein and flavor.