Happy 4th of July to everyone here in the states!  Hope you have a wonderful weekend and enjoy being together with family &/or friends.  To those of you in other countries, hope you have a great weekend too!

I wish we could sit down at my table and have some homemade chewy fudge brownies and fresh-made lemon tea together.  I would tell you about the Mickey Mouse high chair that you can see in the picture.  It was our daughter’s and then our son’s high chair many years ago.  The last couple of years, it was used by our grandson “J,”  and then baby “C” came along and “J” graduated to a booster seat.  So now, “C” sits in the place of honor where his mommy sat 28 years ago.

Then I would probably show you the blue pottery between the plant and lamp.  Our son-in-law made that for me one time, I think for my birthday.  It’s one of my treasures because it was handmade by him.   There are a lot of other things we could talk about and I would love to hear about you!  That’s one thing I miss about the internet.  Everything is usually so fast paced and people are so far apart.  But I’m thankful that I’ve gotten to make new friends, and at least we can “talk” to each other online.

Here’s an easy recipe for the reduced-fat brownies you see pictured.  You cannot tell they’re reduced-fat. Our son (college age)  even commented that they were good brownies! (I used to always make things from scratch, but this past year I have gotten to the point sometimes of needing something easy and quick.  Walmart had these mixes on sale for 75 cents a while back, so that was really a great deal.)

Here’s the recipe:

INGREDIENTS:

• Duncan Hines Chewy Fudge Brownies mix for 13″x9″ pan
• 1 egg  (instead of 2 eggs – these were gooey brownies so you might want 2 eggs if you prefer a more cake-like consistency)
  
• 1/6 cup unsweetened applesauce
  
• 3 tablespoons water (instead of 1/4 cup)
  
• 1/4 cup oil (instead of 1/2 cup)

Mix the above ingredients until well mixed, about one minute.  Bake in greased 13″x9″ pan at 350 degrees according to directions on the box.

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My husband loves it when I fix a chef salad and add Hormel Natural Choice Turkey that I have fried in extra virgin olive oil.  Frying the turkey makes it taste more like bacon.  I use a mix of salad greens and chop up whatever fresh veggies I have in the fridge plus add green olives.  We top it with either my mother-in-law’s homemade salad dressing or maybe low-fat ranch dressing.  Sometimes my husband uses Ken’s Caesar Dressing.  (There are COUPONS for Hormel Natural Choice meats available.)

If you’re looking for a quick and healthy lunch, one with a complete protein, then rice and beans are great to have.  I had some left-over brown rice in the fridge.  I dumped it out in a skillet and made Spanish Rice using the following ingredients:

• * Brown rice, cooked (or white rice)
• * Salsa (from a jar)
• * Corn, I used a little frozen
• * Extra virgin olive oil

Heat the above four ingredients in a skillet, stirring occasionally.  Serve with refried beans.  By the way, the beans and brown rice are good for our hormones, girls!

Hormel Natural Choice Turkey is great to use in place of bacon when you are wanting to add large pieces of freshly cooked bacon to a salad or any dish.  Instead of bacon, cut up bite-size pieces of Hormel Natural Choice Smoked Deli Turkey.  My husband is impressed with it and says it tastes a lot like bacon.

• The secret is to fry the turkey in extra virgin olive oil until it is a little brown and starting to get crisp.

Here are the benefits of using Natural Choice Turkey:

• NO nitrates or nitrites
• 100% natural
• Low fat
• Low cholesterol
• Delicious!

Here’s a link for Hormel Natural Choice coupons.

I decided this could be done in the same pot…and it worked.  So easy!

INGREDIENTS:

• * 1 cup brown rice
• * 2 1/2 cups water
• * 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• * 1 large can turkey breast, 12.5 ounces (we get it at Sam’s)
  
• * 1 can 98% fat free cream of mushroom soup, 10.5 ounces
• * frozen broccoli
• * freshly ground salt & pepper
• * (Optional -  stir in 1/2 cup sharp shredded cheese)
  

Cook brown rice in water and olive oil according to directions on the package.  As soon as it’s done, add the turkey and soup.  Stir.  Add just a little more water if necessary.  Place the frozen broccoli on top (break it apart), place the lid back on top of the pan, and cook on medium low for 15-20 minutes until broccoli is tender.  Add salt and pepper to taste.

* You can substitute canned chicken breast for the turkey.

With spring already here and summer fast approaching, it’s nice to have a light dessert or snack such as fresh fruit.  And since this is the time of year when fruit is at its best, this is just too good to pass up.  Kids will think it’s fun eating fruit off skewers.  Our 20 month old grandson loves to dip food into sauces, so even young children will have fun eating fruit.

This healthy recipe comes from Coming Home With Gooseberry Patch at   GooseberryPatch.com

INGREDIENTS:

• 6 cups bite-size pieces of fresh fruit such as strawberries, melons, pineapple, & kiwi
  
• 1/2 cup vanilla yogurt
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 2 teaspoons lime juice
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon poppy seed
• 6-8 wooden skewers

Arrange fruit on skewers. For Poppyseed Dip, mix remaining ingredients. Serve dip alongside fruit kabobs.

Mix the following in a blender for a tropical smoothie:

• 1 6-8 ounce carton pineapple yogurt, low-fat
  
• 1 cup fresh, ripe pineapple chunks
• 1 banana
• Sweetener to taste
• 6 ice cubes
• 1/4 cup water, if needed

This is a very healthy salad with the dark green, leafy Romaine lettuce which is a great source of vitamins K, A, & C, folate, manganese, and other nutrients.

The tuna and walnuts provide essential fatty acids which the body needs for many things, including healthy skin and hair.

Apples are the best source for the mineral boron which is good for bone growth and a great source of fiber.  Apples are also rich in quercetin, phytonutrients, and flavonoids which may reduce the risk of certain cancers.  The best way to get all of the health benefits of apples is to always eat organic apples with the peeling!

Cherries are considered to be a “Super Food,” containing beta carotene, vitamin C, potassium, magnesium, iron, folate, melatonin and also fiber.  They help with inflamation and cholesterol as well.

INGREDIENTS:

• Fresh Romaine lettuce or your favorite green lettuce
• Albacore Tuna in Water, drained
• Apple, chopped  (If it’s an organic apple, don’t peel.  If it’s not an organic apple, then peel because of the high concentration of pesticides on non-organic apples)
  
• Dried tart cherries
  
• Walnuts
• Extra virgin olive oil
  
• Salt & pepper to taste

Place lettuce in bowl and top with tuna, apple, cherries, and walnuts.  Drizzle with olive oil and add salt & pepper to taste.

This is such a healthy recipe!

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 medium red onions, cut into 8 sections
• 2 yellow squash, cut into slices
• 2 zucchini, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
• 1 green bell pepper, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
• 1 red bell pepper, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
• 1 yellow bell pepper, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
• 1/2 pound carrots, thinly sliced
• 4 cloves garlic, cut into thin pieces (or 2 teaspoons garlic from a jar)
• 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
• 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• 1-2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon oregano
• salt & pepper to taste

Mix above ingredients well and place in a large baking dish.  Bake in a 425 degree oven for about 12 minutes.  Stir.  Bake for an additional 12 minutes or until veggies are tender crisp.

OR

Cook on low in a crock pot for 7-9 hours until veggies are tender.

INGREDIENTS:

• 6 chicken breasts, boneless & skinless
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1/3 cup lemon juice
• 1/4 cup soy sauce

Combine honey, lemon juice, and soy sauce.  Brush half of this onto the chicken and bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.  Baste often.  Then brush on the rest of the honey mixture and bake for 35 additional minutes or until done, basting often.   Makes 6 servings.