Tiny But Powerful Goji Berry…

goji berriesThe incredible edible Goji Berry.

This little but power packed berry has been around since the early days of Chinese medicine (they are still used to treat eye, liver and kidney issues) and has recently surfaced and regained popularity.

Goji berries, considered both a fruit and an herb are native to parts of Asia (popular in the Himalayas and Tibet) and Europe and are sometimes referred to as “wolf berries” and “Tibetan goji.” [Read more…]

The Incredibly Versatile Sweet Potato…

sweet potatosThe incredible sweet potato. This high powered super food deserves a article of its own for what it contributes to our health and well-being.

Sweet potatoes are root veggies (meaning they grow below ground) that are treated in similar ways to butternut squash, turnips and parsnips.

There are about 400 different varieties with the skin and flesh appearing from white to cream to yellow, to orange (these are the most common) to pink and deep purple. They are often mistakenly grouped together with yams but they are a different food family altogether. [Read more…]

Yummy Lemon Kale Cheesecake

kaleKale in a cheesecake? You bet!

All hale the kale! Without a doubt, Kale has surfaced as a trendy but here to stay super-food. There are a few different varieties of kale available that include dinosaur kale, curly kale, baby kale, flat Tuscan kale and Red Russian kale. Kale is also known as borecole or cow cabbage.

This green powerhouse veggie sports a broad nutritional value. [Read more…]

Delicious Chocolate Zucchini Cheesecake

Zucchini CheesecakeSuper foods are an amazing source of minerals, vitamins and super-antioxidants (to fight disease). All the attention, focus and trend towards incorporating them into our diets is here to stay.

Every year new superfoods are being discovered and catapulted high on the health and nutrient list and each one has its own army of supporters and devotees. [Read more…]

Pumpkins Pay Big Health Dividends…

pumpkin and seeds2Pumpkins are oftentimes associated with the fall season, but this stand-out super-food is an excellent ingredient to use year round in both savory and sweet dishes.

The beautiful orange unique globe shaped squash is low in calories with only 83 calories per cup and provides us with an abundance of disease-fighting nutrients including potassium, magnesium, pantothenic acid, vitamins C (17% of your daily requirement in just one cup) and E and a wealth of fiber. This helps to keep us to feeling full and satisfied. [Read more…]

Protein Fluff Your New Favorite Dessert

Protein FluffDo you love ice cream but hate the effects if leaves your body with?

Do you wish someone would create a frozen decadent dessert that was not loaded with dead calories?

Your dream has come true.

You need only 3 ingredients to make an awesome, frozen, thick, “marshmallow” airy light, pudding-type ice cream appropriately called “Protein Fluff – Ice Cream of the Gods. It is extremely light in weight and voluminous. [Read more…]

Create Healthy Brownies with Coconut Oil and Avocado…

chfitness_browniesWithout a doubt, coconut oil is a super-star ingredient that I use a lot in my recipes including my newest veggies based dessert recipe book.

Coconut oil offers so much. It helps to simulate the thyroid which in turn increases your metabolism and helps to burn stored fat. It improves digestive health and immunity with its natural antibiotic effect and is proving to assist with slowing the aging process as well as being a powerful agent assisting us in our battle to lose weight. [Read more…]

Yummy Green Coconut Fudge…

chfitnessAdding taste and color to desserts using veggies is not a new idea but is gaining serious attention once again as more and more people get focused on getting nutritional benefit from every bite they eat…including dessert.

Let’s face it, the Internet is making people much wiser.  They understand that it’s not about the amount of calories eaten but more about what those calories offer or lack when it comes to nutrition that really matters.

Truth is, calories are not created equal and if optimal health and weight maintenance are important to you every calorie that goes in does matter. What good does it do anyone…especially you if what you are eating is foods that do nothing but rob you of your vitality and in the end your health? Is it really worth that small “pleasure”…that momentary high to jeopardize your future? [Read more…]

Banana Cream Pie With Benefits…

banana cream pieIn all probability you’ve likely enjoyed numerous cream pies throughout your lifetime including the luscious, delicious banana cream pie.

But, have you ever enjoyed Banana Cream Pie that offers health benefits? Your answer is probably no because back in the days that our grandmothers and moms were creating these delicious desserts, the focus was not on how healthy they are but more focused on flavor and texture.

Those times have passed. These days veggies are being invited into all kinds of dessert recipes to shift them from “empty calories” to calories with benefits and this version of Banana Cream Pie includes green leaves (either spinach, Swiss chard or kale). [Read more…]

Veggies Play an Important Role in Snacks, Treats and Desserts…

veggie dessertsThe world of vegetables is filled with color from bright yellows, reds and oranges to greens, purples and blues and color translates to nutrient dense; loaded with vitamins, minerals, enzymes and flavor.

Unfortunately for the most part (there are a few exceptions), the vegetable’s role in our diets has been as the “side-kick” at a meal not the star and rarely has the vegetable been viewed as an important ingredient in a dessert.

But in reality, they are the perfect “hidden dessert ingredient” with the power to deliver color, moisture and texture as well as an incredible array of nutrients.

Carrots are the perfect example of this. [Read more…]