Microwave Popcorn

Healthy Popcorn Recipes

Cookie Dough Dip

Original Recipe

*I added 1/8 MORE peanut butter and 1 cup rolled oat that I pulsed in a food processor. I also used extra dark chocolate chips. Enjoy!

• 1 1/2 cups chickpeas or white beans (1 can, drained) (250g after draining)
• heaping 1/8 tsp salt
• tiny bit over 1/8 tsp baking soda
• 1 tbsp plus 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup nut butter of choice (You can get away with using only 3 tbsp. If you use peanut butter, some people say it has a slight “pb cookie dough” taste, so you can sub oil if you don’t want that.)
• 1 and 1/4 cups pitted dates (I used SunMaid, from a regular grocery store)
• 1/3 cup chocolate chips (see link below, for sugar-free option)
• 2 tbsp oats (You can omit if desired.)
• milk of choice as needed (depending on the consistency you want. I used a few tbsp.)

In a bowl, cover the dates with 1/2 cup water. Let this sit for at least 8 hours. Then add all ingredients (including the dates’ soaking liquid), except chocolate chips, to a food processor (for best results, not a blender) and blend until very smooth.
If you wish, you can use: Sugar-Free Chocolate Chips.
This can be served as a dessert dip, as a spread (maybe in between apple slices or crackers?), eaten with a spoon, mixed into oatmeal, stuffed into cupcakes, or even used to top pancakes!

Hummus

·  2 cups of canned garbanzo beans/chick peas OR 1 cup of dried beans/peas.

·  1 1/2 T Olive Oil

·  1 1/2 T Tahini (sesame seed paste) If you don't want/have/use tahini, just use oil or water in stead.

·  1 jumbo garlic clove (or small if you're a hater of garlic. I used a jumbo one in the batch I brought)

·  1/4 t salt

·  1/4 cumin

·  3 T fresh lemon juice (or bottle...whatever you have)

I soak my dried beans over night and then cook them on the stove top on medium low heat for an hour or until you can mash them easily between your fingers.

In a blender or food processor, combine all the ingredients. Then taste it. If it's bland, add a dash more salt. If it's too thick, add water or oil until it reaches the texture/smoothness you like. I like mine SMOOTH! OR add more  lemon juice if you like it to have a kick. I always double this recipe becausehummus freezes well and well, I love this stuff!

If you're feeling crazy and want variation try adding some cilantro or roasted red peppers, etc. We use hummus on our sandwiches/wraps/as a dip for veggies and pita chips.

The Ultimate Healthy Chocolate Chip Cookie

Ingredients

Wet

• 3/4 cup unsweetened apple sauce

• 1/2 stick butter (we use salted butter)

• 3/4 cup raw honey (pick up at your local health food store, substitute regular honey if that

is all you have)

• 2 tsp. pure vanilla extract (I advise against using imitation vanilla)

• 1 egg

• 1 egg white

Dry

• 1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour

• 1 cup whole grain rolled oats (I do not use quick oats, so I roughly chop these oats in my

food processors before adding to other ingredients)

• 1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg

• 1/4 tsp. cinnamon

• 1 tsp. baking soda

• 1 tsp. fine sea salt

Finishing touches

• 12 oz. package of Ghirardelli 60% Cacao Bittersweet Chocolate Chips

• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts

• 1/2 cup chopped craisins (a.k.a. dried cranberries)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Now just mix and bake them like a batch of normal chocolate chip

cookies. In a mixing bowl, combine all the wet ingredients (I partially soften the butter in the

microwave, just be careful not to melt it too much). Stir them together with a spoon. In a

separate bowl, combine the dry ingredients. Now carefully stir in the dry ingredients in with the

wet. Now stir in the finishing touches.

Place cookies on baking sheet and bake at 350 for 10 - 14 minutes (Betsy & I do 12 minutes),

depending on your oven and how well done you like your cookies. Enjoy fresh out of the oven,

or frozen then warmed in the microwave for 20 seconds.

Alternate/additional finishing touches (add whatever you have a taste for here and substitute it

for the finishing touches above, here are some ideas for additional )

• 1/2 cup pureed banana (In our next batch we will use this in place of chopped craisins to

switch up the taste)• 1/2 cup shredded coconut• 1 cup Rice Krispies• 1/2 cup chopped raisins

**Remember…these cookies freeze well, can be eaten as a breakfast meal and are a great healthy treat for any time of day

Smokey Corn and Black Bean Pizza

Ingredients:
1 Plum tomato, diced
1 cup Canned black beans, rinsed
1 cup Fresh corn kernels (about 2 ears)
2 tablespoons Cornmeal
1 pound Prepared whole-wheat pizza dough
1/3 cup Barbecue sauce
1 cup Shredded mozzarella, preferably smoked mozzarella


Directions:
1. Preheat grill to medium.

2. Combine tomato, beans and corn in a medium bowl.
Sprinkle cornmeal onto a large baking sheet. Stretch the
dough into about a 12-inch circle and lay it on top of the
cornmeal, coating the entire underside of the dough.

3. Transfer the crust from the baking sheet to the grill. Close
the lid and cook until the crust is puffed and lightly browned on
the bottom, 4 to 5 minutes.

4. Using a large spatula, flip the crust. Spread barbecue
sauce on it and quickly sprinkle with the tomato mixture and
cheese. Close the lid; grill until the cheese is melted and the
bottom of the crust is browned, 4 to 5 minutes.

Chicken and Broccoli Pasta

Ingredients:
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - cut into 1 inch pieces
1 tablespoon chopped onion
2 cloves garlic, chopped
2 (14.5 ounce) cans diced tomatoes
2 cups fresh broccoli florets
salt and pepper to taste
1 pinch dried oregano
18 ounces dry penne pasta
1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, cut into thin strips
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese


Directions:
1. In a large skillet over medium heat, warm oil and add chicken;
cook until slightly brown. Add onion and garlic to cook for about 5
minutes or until garlic is golden and onions are translucent.
2. Add tomatoes, broccoli, salt, pepper and oregano; stir well and
bring to a boil. Cover and turn down heat to simmer for about 10
minutes.
3. Meanwhile, bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil.
Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until tender; drain and add
back into pot. Pour chicken sauce into pot and mix well.
4. Add basil and toss well; top with Parmesan cheese. Serve.


Number Of Servings:8

Preparation Time:20 minutes

(submitted by Heidi Rose)

Artichoke Spinach Lasagna

Ingredients:
cooking spray
9 uncooked lasagna noodles (may also use no boil noodles)
1/2 onion, chopped
1 1/2 tsp chopped garlic
2 c. chicken broth
1 can artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
1 (10 ounce) package frozen chopped spinach
1 (28 ounce) jar tomato pasta sauce
1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
1/3 c. herb and garlic feta, crumbled

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spray a
9x13 inch baking dish with cooking spray.

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add noodles
and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.
Spray a large skillet with cooking spray and heat on medium-
high. Saute onion and garlic for 3 minutes, or until onion is
tender-crisp. Stir in broth; bring to a boil. Stir in artichoke
hearts and spinach; reduce heat, cover and simmer 5
minutes. Stir in pasta sauce.

Spread 1/4 of the artichoke mixture in the bottom of the
prepared baking dish; top with 3 cooked noodles. Sprinkle 3/4
cup mozzarella cheese over noodles. Repeat layers 2 more
times, ending with artichoke mixture and mozzarella cheese.
Sprinkle crumbled feta on top.

Bake, covered, for 40 minutes. Uncover, and bake 10
minutes more, or until hot and bubbly. Let stand 10 minutes
before cutting.

Number Of Servings:6

Preparation Time:15 min

Tuna Salad

(8 servings)

Ingredients:

2 (7 ounce ) cans white tuna (I prefer Kirkland brand Albacore), drained and flaked
¾ cup mayonnaise or salad dressing
2 tablespoons Parmesan Cheese
½ teaspoon dried onion flakes
½ teaspoon curry powder
2 tablespoons dried parsley
1 teaspoon dried dill weed
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder

Directions:

Mix well and serve with crackers or on a sandwich.

(submitted by Wanda Husted)

Ranch Dip

Ingredients:

1 pkg. ranch dressing powder mix
1 16 oz. carton cottage cheese

Directions:

Mix ingredients together. Serve with vegetables, chips, or crackers.

(submitted by Marianne Woodbury)

Homemade Popcorn

Ingredients:

1/4-1/3 c. popcorn kernels

Directions:

Place kernels in brown lunch sack. Roll lunch sack securely closed and place in microwave until popping decreases.

(submitted by Abrey Enszer)

Oatmeal Cookie Granola

Ingredients:

8 c. oats
1/2 c. ground flaxseed
1 c. sucanat OR brown sugar
1/2 t. nutmeg
1/2 t. salt
1 t. cinnamon
8 T. coconut oil
2/3 c. honey
1 t. vanilla
1/8 t. butter flavor, optional
raisins, optional

Directions:

Preheat oven to 300. Combine dry ingredients. Melt coconut oil, honey, and vanilla together. Pour over dry ingredients. Mix up thoroughly to coat well. Place on 2 greased cookie sheets and bake for 20 minutes or so stirring once. When finished let it cool then add raisins if desired and put into container of choice.

(submitted by Janis Hansen from simplehealthytasty.blogspot.com)

Thai Pasta

Ingredients:

1 c. green onions, chopped
1 c. grated carrots (I usually add lots more and whatever other veggies I want)
1/2 c. peanut butter
2/3 c. soy sauce
2/3 c. olive oil
4 T. chili oil or powder OR 1/2-1 T. chili paste (red rooster chinese bottle)
1 T. sesame oil
6 T. honey
2 lbs. noodles
mandarin oranges, optional
shrimp, chicken, pork, beef, optional

Directions:

Cook noodles. Toss with onions and carrots. Whisk all other ingredients together. Mix sauce with pasta. Chill. Even better the next day.

(submitted by Janis Hansen)

Best Yet Whole Wheat Bread

(yields 2 loaves)

Ingredients:
1/3 Cup honey
1/3 Cup extra virgin olive oil
2 1/2 Cup Warm Water
1 1/2 Tablespoons Yeast
1 Tablespoon Real Salt
6-7 Cups Fresh Ground Whole Wheat Flour (I used hard white wheat)
1 1/2 Tablespoons Vital Wheat Gluten

Directions:
Combine the warm water, yeast, and 2 Cups of fresh whole wheat flour in a large mixing bowl. Allow to sponge for 15 minutes. Add the honey, oil, Vital Wheat Gluten, salt and 4-5 Cups additional flour until the dough begins to clean the sides of the mixing bowl. Do not allow the dough to get too stiff (too dry). Dough should be smooth and elastic. It is a common mistake for the beginning bakers to add too much flour.
Knead the bread by hand 7-10 minutes or until it is very smooth, elastic, and small bubbles or blisters appear beneath the surface of the dough. If you are kneading by hand, be sure to add the minimum amount of flour to keep the dough soft and pliable by using a tsp of oil on your hands and kneading surface.
Form the dough into 2 loaves and put in greased loaf pans or 5-6 loaves balls if making bread bowls and place on cookie sheet. Allow to rise in a slightly warmed oven or other warm place until doubled in size (about 30-60 minutes).
Bake loaves for 25-30 minutes in a 350 degree oven. Bread is cooked through when it sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom, and when the top and sides are a golden brown color.
This Bread Recipe is VERSATILE! Use it to make cinnamon rolls, pizza, bread sticks, and more.
(submitted by Janis Hansen from simplehealthytasty.blogspot.com)