HEALTHY AND DELICIOUS THANKSGIVING RECIPE

In just a few days, we will be celebrating Thanksgiving. We would like to offer a warm thank you to all of our faithful blog readers! We are very grateful for your support and wish you a peaceful and joyous holiday. Here is healthy and nutritious Thanksgiving Day side dish that is guaranteed to get rave reviews.

Hugo's Cranberry Apple Slaw

1/3 cup organic honey
1/2 tsp dry mustard
pinch celery seed
dash sea salt
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup lime juice
16 oz bag of broccoli coleslaw mix (or shred your own cabbage and broccoli)
1.5 cups shredded carrots
1 cup apple. diced very small
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup green onions
3 tablespoons toasted sunflower seeds

1. To make dressing: In a large bowl, whisk honey. dry mustard, celery seed, sea salt, oil, and lime juice until well blended.

2. To make slaw: In a large bowl, mix together broccoli coleslaw, carrots, apples, cranberries and green onions. Pour dressing over slaw mixture.Toss well. Refrigerate overnight. Gently fold in sunflower seeds just prior to serving.

Hugo's Pumpkin Cranberry Muffins

We just turned our clocks back in Northeastern United States and the days are getting shorter and colder. Now is the perfect time to try some new simple recipes or revisit your old family favorites. Tonight's recipe is a simple and delicious pumpkin cranberry muffin from Chef Hugo. This nutritious little cake is great for breakfast when paired with a piece of fruit and some soy milk. It can also be enjoyed as a guilt free dessert. Enjoy!

Hugo's Pumpkin Cranberry Muffins

Serves 12

1 cup whole wheat pastry flour
1 cup bran flakes, crushed
1/3 cup sugar
1 tablespoon organic honey
dash salt
½ tsp baking soda
½ tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
½ teaspoon allspice
½ cup plain fat free yogurt
1 large organic egg
1 cup pumpkin cooked and mashed (or use canned)
Dash vanilla extract
½ cup dried cranberries


1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Lightly coat one standard muffin tins with non-stick vegetable oil cooking spray.

2. In a large bowl, combine whole wheat flour, bran flakes, sugar, honey, salt, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon and allspice. In separate bowl, combine fat free yogurt, egg, pumpkin and vanilla. Mix well. Combine ingredients from both mixing bowls together. Stir until just blended. Gently fold in dried cranberries.


3. Pour batter into muffin tins. Bake for 28 -30 minutes or until toothpick inserted into center of muffin comes out clean. Allow to cool for 20 minutes. Remove muffins from muffin tins. Serve and enjoy!

A PUMPKIN PIE SMOOTHIE IS A GREAT WAY TO START THE DAY

Most health experts agree that one of the building blocks to good health is eating a daily breakfast. For many families, mornings are a hectic experience with little time for food preparation or newfangled ideas. Here is an easy to prepare, nutritious breakfast recipe that will devoured by people of all ages. Best of all, this delicious drink is festive and in season right now.


HUGO'S PUMPKIN PIE SMOOTHIE

Serves 2

1 cup pumpkin , cooked and mashed (or use canned)
1 cup of soy milk or skim milk

1 tablespoon organic honey

1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup nonfat yogurt
1 small ripe banana
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
handful of ice cubes

1. Place all ingredients in blender. Puree on high speed until mixture is thoroughly blended. Serve immediately.

To boost this smoothie's nutritional value, add some flaxseed oil or some protein powder. Enjoy!

THE BEST PUMPKIN COOKIE RECIPE EVER!

Fall is finally here in the Northeast. The days are getting shorter and the winds are getting cooler. It's a great time to indulge your sweet tooth and whip a a batch of Guilt Free Pumpkin Carob Chip Cookies. This is a natural and relatively healthy cookie recipe. Best of all, it's easy to prepare. (and they are extra yummy when paired with a skinny maple walnut cappuccino or pumpkin spice latte)

Hugo's Pumpkin Carob Chip Cookies

1/2 cup light butter
2 organic cage free eggs, slightly beaten
1 cup dark brown sugar
2 tablespoons organic honey
1 cup pumpkin, cooked and mashed (or use canned)
2 and 1/2 cups of whole wheat pastry flour
1 tsp salt
2 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup skim milk
1/2 tsp cloves
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup walnuts
1/4 cup carob chips

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. In a large mixing bowl, cream butter. Add eggs and mix well. Gradually add dark brown sugar, organic honey, pumpkin, whole wheat pastry flour, salt, baking soda, skim milk, cloves. Mix well.

2. Gently fold in walnuts and carob chips.

3. Drop batter in small balls on a cookie sheet light coated with non stick vegetable oil spray. Bake in oven for 12-16 minutes or until lightly golden. Allow to cool on wire rack. Enjoy!

Hugo's Cream of Pumpkin Soup Recipe

Hugo and I are loving the warm fall weather we are having here in Delaware. Here is an easy recipe for a delicious fall soup that will surely please your crowd.


Hugo's Cream of Pumpkin Soup

Yield 5 servings


1 15 ounce can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 large Vidalia onion, chopped fine
1 cup skim milk
2 cups pumpkin, cooked and mashed (or use canned)
1 1/2 cups apple cider
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
½ cup nonfat yogurt
1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil
salt and pepper to taste

1. In food processor or blender, process black beans, onion and skim milk until very smooth.
2. In a large stockpot over medium high heat, add mashed pumpkin, cider, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Salt and pepper to taste. Mix well.
3. Gradually pour black bean and milk mixture into stockpot.
4. Cook soup over low heat for 20 minutes, just until heated through. Ladle into portions and serve with dollop of nonfat yogurt. Sprinkle with fresh basil. Serve.

HAPPY FALL!

Fall is finally here and we hope you are enjoying this beautiful season. We look forward to sharing lots of our favorite pumpkin and apple recipes with you. Here's a simple and delicious recipe for Apple Quesadillas. These make a great breakfast entree and are also a healthy and innovative dessert. Enjoy!

Apple Quesadillas

Serves 2

¼ cup Nuefatchel or nonfat cream cheese, softened or whipped

1 tablespoon organic honey

2 whole wheat tortillas

1/2 cup apples, cored and diced small

2 tablespoons raisins

2 tablespoons chopped walnuts

In small bowl, beat together cream cheese and honey. Carefully spread ½ cream cheese mixture on each tortilla. Place apples on top of cream cheese. Sprinkle evenly with raisins and walnuts. Fold tortilla in half. If desired, lightly toast or place in microwave for 30 seconds. It is also delicious if served cold. Cut in half or fourths and serve.

RECIPE FOR PEACE..PEACEFUL PEACH PIZZA, THAT IS

"If you hold an anti-war rally, I will not attend. If you hold a pro-peace rally, invite me."
Mother Teresa


I love this quote by Mother Teresa and think of it often during election time. I am most interested in candidates who are "for" the issues and causes I am passionate rather than globally"against" things. In my personal and professional life, I find that I am most effective when I working toward a solution rather than fighting against negative situations.

What are you"for" in life? How can you transform something you are against into something that you stand up for?

Here's a recipe for Healthy Peaceful Peach Pizza for you!

Enjoy!



Peaceful Peach Pizza


For the pizza crust:
1/2 cup transfat free margarine
1 tsp cinnamon
1/3 cup sugar
2 tablespoons organic honey
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 large egg
2 cups whole wheat pastry flour
2 teaspoons baking powder

For the pizza topping :
8 ounces nonfat cream cheese, softened
3 tablespoons organic honey
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups fresh peaches, cored and diced
2 tablespoons golden raisins, seedless


1. Preheat oven to 375F.
2. To make pizza crust, Combine margarine, cinnamon, sugar, honey, vanilla and egg in a large bowl. Beat well. Add flour and baking powder and stir until blended.
3. Spread mixture into a 9 X 13 baking pan.
4. Bake for 10 to 13 minutes or until crust is lightly golden on top. Cool for about 30 minutes.
5. To make icing, combine softened cream cheese, honey, cinnamon, and vanilla. Spread over top of pizza crust.
6. Place peaches on top of crust. Sprinkle raisins on top of pizza. Slice into pizza triangles and Serve.