Heart Healthy Honey Mustard Dressing

This is my go-to dressing!  I love it best on a salad made with fresh veggies, raisins, diced apples and a few nuts sprinkled on top. Trader Joe's has a broccoli slaw that tastes great as an addition to any salad.

• 2 t honey
• 2 t Dijon mustard
• 1 t red wine vinegar
• 3-5 shakes of Penzi's Fox Point Seasoning
• fresh cracked pepper to taste

Microwave the honey for about 10 seconds so that it is easy to whisk it together with the other ingredients.  Taste it and then add more of this or that until you like it!  I mix the dressing in the bowl that I'm going to eat my salad out of so that there is one less dish to clean and I also mix it with the fork that I'll use.  I used to make this with olive oil, but one day I thought I'd just try it without adding the liquid fat and low and behold, it is quite delicious and doesn't change the taste at all!  Hope you also enjoy! 

Zeb's Waffles from "My Beef with Meat" and adaptations by Mom

2 1/2 cups old fashion rolled oats
3/4 cup finely chopped walnuts
1/4 cup flax seed meal
Zest of 1/2 orange
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 medium banana, smashed
1 to 1 1/2 cups almond milk
1 t baking powder
1 t baking soda

Preheat a waffle iron.

Mix the dry ingredients and place two thirds in a food processor and mix until a flour like substance. Or blend all of it if you want a smoother texture.

Add the other ingredients to the dry, mix thoroughly with a fork. Add more Almond Milk at this time if the mix seems too thick. 

I could not get enough oil on my cheap waffle iron for it not to stick, so we turned them into pancakes which were delicious!  We think it would work on a Belgium waffle iron.  

Anne's Pumpkin Muffins from "My Beef with Meat" with adaptations by Mom

One 14 oz can of pure pumpkin puree (no sugar added)
2 ripe bananas mashed
1 cup unsweetened applesauce
2t or so of pumpkin pie spice
1t vanilla extract
3 cups oat flour
1t baking soda
1t baking powder
1/2 t sea salt (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Set out a silicone muffin tray or nonstick 12-well muffin pan.  Oil pan or cupcake liners, they will stick if not oiled!

In a large bowl, stir together wet ingredients and the pumpkin pie spice.  In a separate bowl combine the dry ingredients.

Mix everything together.  Spoon the batter into the muffin tins and bake for 33 minutes.  Set aside to cool for a few minutes. 

Serve with honey.  Katelyn likes these with peanut butter and honey for breakfast!

Marinated Vegetable Couscous
3T extra virgin olive oil

3T Red Wine Vinegar
2 garlic cloves
2 t ground cumin
1/2 t ground cinnamon
4 small zucchini, cut into matchsticks
1yellow, orange or red pepper, cut into matchsticks
1 large onion
1 1/2 cups chickpeas, or black eyed peas or white beans
15oz can diced tomatoes with their juice
3/4 cup tomato juice
1/4 chopped fresh cilantro leaves
salt & freshly ground pepper
1 1/2 cup couscous

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees.  Lightly oil a large shallow roasting pan.
In a large bowl combine oil, vinegar, garlic, cumin and cinnamon then add the vegetables except for the tomatoes and toss to coat.  
Roast for 30-40 minutes until the vegetables are tender and lightly browned, stirring occasionally.
Cook the couscous as recommended. should take approximately 10 minutes.
Add the beans, tomatoes and tomato juice along with the cilantro, salt and pepper to taste to the roasted vegetables.
Serve the roasted vegetables over the couscous.

Dad added red pepper flakes & I added a little extra red wine vinegar to my dish.

This meal smelled amazing when I came home from work and Mom was cooking!  Enjoy!

Quinoa Taco Salad

Ingredients

• 1 cup quinoa
• 1 chopped onion
• Mom's Taco Seasoning
• Italian Dressing (I like Newman's Own)
• Romaine Lettuce  - chopped

Optional Ingredients: 

• Black Beans
• Pinto Beans
• Kidney Beans
• Black Olives
• Yellow, Orange or Red Peppers
• Jalapeno Peppers
• Can of Green Chilies
• Corn

Prepare quinoa as directed and add onion and at least a Tablespoon of Mom's Taco Seasoning.  Spread the quinoa on a plate and put it in the freezer until it is cool to add to the salad.  

Mix the lettuce and other ingredients in a big bowl, add the quinoa and top with the Italian Dressing.  Top with salsa or hot pepper sauce.  Enjoy!  

Welcome to the Hackbarth Healthy Family Meals Blog! This site is available to share the healthy recipes that we create at home and want to share with our loved ones!!