Tomato, Basil, & Mozzarella Panzanella

I love Panzanella.  My Pea Panzanella is to-die-for.  This recipe is a different take on the bread dish, with heart-healthy Mediterranean flavors.  The classic combination of tomato, basil, and Mozzarella come together in a different way, making for one tasty meal....actually, way beyond tasty.  My husband and I savored this dish--it is so so good.  Serve it as an entree or a side dish to a lean meat.
I adapted the recipe from one I found in Gourmet magazine.

Ingredients:
3/4 Loaf Italian or French Bread, cut into 1" pieces (1 day old is best)
1/4 Cup, plus 1 Tbsp. Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
1 tsp. Black Pepper
1 Garlic Clove, Minced

2 Tbsp. Balsamic Vinegar
2 Tbsp. Capers, Drained and Chopped.
15-16 oz Tomatoes, Cut into 1" pieces (or buy canned, diced, to save time--be sure to drain the juice)
8 oz. Fresh Mozzarella, cut into 1" pieces
6 oz. Diced Ham or Prosciutto (I just used deli sliced ham)
1/3 Cup Chopped Fresh Basil (3 Tbsp. Dried, but best to get fresh for this recipe)
1 Small Red Onion, thinly sliced (optional to add more flavor--I did not add--if you know my aversion to fresh onions, you understand).
Oh and ignore the lettuce in the photo at the right--we had a side salad with our meal, but the lettuce is definitely not a key ingredient.


Directions:
1.  Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Spray a large baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray (or line with foil and spray that with cooking spray).
2.  In a large bowl, toss bread pieces with 1 Tbsp. oil and pepper.  Spread bread mix onto baking sheet into 1 layer.  Bake for 8-12 minutes, or until bread is lightly browned (outer part will be crunchy and the middle will still be a little soft).
3.  Whisk together the garlic, vinegar, capers, and remaining 1/4 cup oil in large bowl.
4.  Add bread, tomatoes, Mozzarella, ham, and basil to bowl and stir and toss well to cat.  Let flavors sit for 20-30 minutes, at room temperature, before serving.  Or, make a couple hours ahead of time and chill in refrigerator (then serve at room temperature).

Enjoy!

Buffalo Chicken Meatballs

 Football season requires plenty of appetizers.  Wing sauce and meatballs are both classic favorites.  So why not marry them and make them a bit healthier?  :)  This recipes uses ground chicken and heart-healthy olive oil compared to fried foods and fatty meats.  Eat them by themselves, dipped in (fat-free or low-fat) ranch or bleu cheese dressing (or if you prefer less chemicals/preservatives, try my healthy Ranch Sour Cream Dip, in the photos), or paired with cheese and celery.

Ingredients:
3/4 Cup Wing Sauce (I used Ashanti, could use Frank's--but higher in sodium--you really gotta check the sodium on wing sauce--it can get c-r-a-z-y high), plus more to serve (optional)
1 Tbsp. Olive Oil
1 lb Ground Lean Chicken (as lean as you can find!)
1 Egg
1/2 Cup Plain Breadcrumbs (or Panko)
1/2 Cup Celery, finely diced
1/4 Cup Minced Onion
1/2 Cup Reduced-Fat Mozzarella Cheese (or use a Bleu--I just prefer mozzarella/ranch flavors with my wing sauce)
1 tsp. Minced Garlic

Directions:
1.  Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Cover a baking sheet with foil and spray with nonstick spray (butter flavored or olive oil is my preference).
2.  Combine all the remaining ingredients in a large bowl.  It will be pretty sticky.
3.  Roll the meat into 1" balls (use an ice scream scoop if you prefer consistency).  Place on baking sheet in single layer.  Bake until cooked through, about 15 minutes.
4.  Remove from oven and let cool a few minutes.  Place on dish to serve.  Drizzle extra wing sauce over meatballs if you prefer (I did not) and serve with dressing and celery.

Enjoy!

Chocolate Banana Oatmeal Bars

I seem to have ended up with more brown, ripe bananas and needed a recipe to utilize them (couldn't stand to throw them all out).  I could have made Banana Bread or Banana Walnut Muffins, but wanted to try something else.  I decided on yummy chocolate banana oatmeal bars.  This recipe incorporates a number of healthy ingredients (reminder: be sure to use organic if you can!), including heart-healthy oatmeal, potassium-rich bananas, and whole-wheat flour.  The chocolate chips (ok, and sugar and butter) add a little decadence, for a sweet treat you can enjoy knowing it's also sort of good for you.  :)  I hope you enjoy them as much as we did!


Ingredients:
1 Cup Whole Wheat Flour
1 Cup All-Purpose Flour
2 Cups Quick Oats
1 tsp. Baking Powder
1 tsp. Salt
1 tsp. Cinnamon
3/4 Cup Butter, Softened (1 1/2 Sticks)
1/2 Cup White Sugar
3/4 Cup Brown Sugar
2 tsp. Vanilla Extract

2 Eggs

1 1/4 Cup Ripe Bananas, Mashed (about 3 Large Bananas)
1 1/4 Cup Semi-Sweet or Milk Chocolate Chips

Directions:
1.  Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.  Spray a 9x13 (or 9" square for thicker bars) baking dish with cooking spray (I use butter flavored).
2.  Stir together the first six ingredients (whole wheat flour, all-purpose flour, oats, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon) in a large bowl.  Set aside.

3.  Using a blender, or in your Kitchenaid, mix together the butter, white sugar, and brown sugar.  Add in the vanilla and eggs, and continue mixing.  Mix in the bananas until well combined.
4.  Slowly mix in (about a cup at a time) the dry ingredients, just until combined.  Don't overmix.
5.  Stir in by hand the chocolate chips.  Spread mixture into baking dish.
6.  Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until lightly browned and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
7.  Cool and cut into bars.

Enjoy!

Pumpkin & Pecan Bread with Streusel Topping

I decided to make some good breakfast and snack bread and wanted to make use of the abundance of pecans I was given by my Mom.  I decided on pumpkin-pecan bread with a sweet streusel topping.  This bread is sinfully yummy, but also good for you due to the use of whole-wheat flour, beta-carotene in the pumpkin, antioxidantly-powerful (I made that word up) cinnamon, and healthy fats in the pecans.  Yum.  The recipe I make below includes enough for one regular size loaf (9"x5") and one mini-loaf pan.  Eat one now and freeze one for later!

Ingredients:

• 1/2 Cup Unsalted Butter, Softened
• 3/4 Cup Brown Sugar, Packed 
• 2 Eggs
• 2 tsp. Vanilla
• 1 Can Pumpkin Puree
• 1 Cup Whole-Wheat Flour
• 1 Cup All-Purpose Flour
• 1/2 tsp. Sea Salt
• 1 tsp. Ground Cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp. Ground Cloves
• 1/2 tsp. Ground Nutmeg
• 1/2 tsp. Ground Ginger
• 1 tsp. Baking Soda
• 1/2 Cup Warm Water
• 1 Cup Chopped Pecans, Toasted

Streusel Topping:

• 1/2 Cup Brown Sugar, Packed
• 1/2 Cup Chopped Pecans, Toasted
• 3 Tbsp. Butter, Softened
• 1 tsp. Ground Cinnamon

Directions:
1.  Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.  Lightly grease and flour a 9"x5" loaf pan and one mini-loaf pan.
2.  In medium bowl, stir together the flours, sea salt, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, ginger, and baking soda.
3.  In a large bowl with an electric mixer, or with your Kitchenaid mixer, combine butter and sugar.  Next, beat in the eggs, one at a time.  Beat in vanilla and pumpkin.
4.  Slowly mix in the flour mixture, just until moistened.  Beat in the warm water.
5.  By hand, stir in the chopped pecans.
6.  Pour batter into loaf pan.
7.  In small bowl, mix together the Streusel topping ingredients.  Sprinkle over the top of the batter.
8.  Bake at 325 for 35-40 minutes for the mini-loaf and 45-60 minutes for the large loaf, or until set and toothpick comes out clean.

Cool on wire rack.  Enjoy!

If you plan on freezing the bread, wrap tightly in plastic wrap and then in aluminum foil.  Date and be sure to eat within 3 months.

"Indulgent" Banana Bread

I think I may have finally perfected my Banana Bread recipe to a point where it tastes completely indulgent, but is really pretty healthy and good for you.  There is minimal sugar, only 1 egg, and made with whole grains, fruit, and cinnamon (did you know cinnamon can reduce your blood sugar and cholesterol, improve cognitive performance, fight infections, and ease body pains?).  You could experiment with substitutes for the brown sugar (honey, juice, applesauce) if you wanted it healthier yet.  I've tried egg substitutes, or egg whites, but just wasn't quite happy enough with, so have settled on 1 whole egg.  Let me know if you like it!

Ingredients:

5 Dry Ingredients:
1 cup Whole Wheat Flour
1 cup Bread Flour (combo of Whole Wheat & Barley Flour)
1/2 tsp. Salt
1 tsp. Baking Powder
1 tsp. Baking Soda

Other Ingredients:
1 Egg
1/2 cup Brown Sugar
1 1/2 cups Mashed Ripe Bananas (4-5 Bananas)
1 tsp. Skim Milk
1 tsp. Cinnamon
2 tsp. Vanilla Extract

Optional Add-in Ingredient:
6-10 oz Chocolate Chips or Chopped Walnuts

Directions:
1. Preheat Oven to 350 degrees.
2. Combine the dry ingredients in separate bowl.
3. In Kitchenaid mixer (or regular bowl with hand-mixer), combine "other ingredients" (egg, brown sugar, bananas, milk, cinnamon, and vanilla) on medium speed until well-combined.
4. Reduce mixer speed to medium-low.
Slowly add in dry/flour mixture, just until combined (don't overmix).
5. Optional: Fold in chocolate chips or walnuts
(I added chocolate chips).
6. Pour batter into greased and flour-dusted bread pan.
7. Bake at 350 for 40-45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
8. Transfer to wire rack and let cool.

PS--My Camera is BACK! Fixed for "only" $211 (sigh).