Orange Vinagrette Dressing

Ingredients
1/4 cup mandarin orange slices ( I used one of those serving size cups that you get in a package of 4)
1 T Dijon mustard
2 T balsamic vinegar
2 T honey

Directions
Drain juice from mandarin orange slices.  Drink or save for a smoothie!
Add all 4 ingredients to blend and blend.
Serve over salad.
Refrigerate remaining dressing if there is any!

Creamy Broccoli Soup

Ingredients
1 large onion
6 cups of fresh broccoli chopped
1 large potato chopped
1 tsp. thyme
4 cups vegetable stock or broth (You can use just plain water too.  The soup is so flavorful)

salt and pepper to taste (I like to leave it plain and let others add the salt and pepper if I am feeding other people)

Directions
Saute onion.  Use water not oil.  Watch and stir.
Add thyme, potato, vege. stock and broccoli.
Bring to a boil.  Simmer for ten minutes or until potatoes are tender.
Puree in a blender. Careful to do small amounts and don't burn yourself!
Return to pot.
Serve with rice

Oatey Cocoa Sunflower Seed Balls

Ingredients
2 cups sprouted sunflower seeds ( See how to sprout sunflower seeds link)
1 1/4 cup pitted dates
1 cup raisins
2 T. Cocoa powder unsweetened
3 cups old fashioned oats
1 T honey

Directions
Put all ingredients in a food processor.
Blend until mixed.
Roll into bite sized balls.
Roll in oats
Refrigerate.

How to sprout sunflower seeds.
http://www.ehow.com/how_4430694_sprout-sunflower-seeds.html

Margarita Smoothie

Ingredients
1 cup ice
1 T 100% lime juice (Fresh or bottled.  Fresh is better.)
1 T 100% lemon juice (Fresh or bottled.  Fresh is better.)
4-6 strawberries
3 large slices of pineapple or 6-8 cubes
1 banana
1/2 or whole orange, start with half, add to taste.
1-2 T agave nectar - You can skip this.  It doesn't need it and adds many calories.

Directions
Put all ingredients in a blender and blend. :)

Optional
You can go two directions here...
1 direction (not recommended for health) - Add a shot of tequila.  This version is WAY less calories than the mix you get in the store.
Meal direction - Add a scoop of protein powder and you have a healthy meal or snack depending on your activity level.

*Remember it takes a deficit of 3500 calories to lose 1 pound.  

That's 500 calories a day.  

Make healthy choices!

Good Morning Breakfast Smoothie

 

Ingredients
1 cup frozen papaya
1 frozen banana
1/2 cup almond milk
1 cup fresh kale
1 scoop brown rice powder

Directions
Put into blender and blend.
You may need to add more almond milk or water so that it blends and is drinkable!

Cocoa Date Energy Bites

 

Ingredients

1 cup pitted dates

1 cup dried cranberries

1 cup walnuts or to be heart healthy sprouted sunflower seeds

2 TBSP cocoa powder

2 TBSP honey

Directions

Put all ingredients in food processor and pulse until mixture is able to form a ball in your hands.

Make rounded TBSP sized balls.

Refrigerate.

Blueberry Energy Smoothie

1 frozen banana

1 cup frozen or fresh blueberries

1 handful of fresh baby spinach

1 scoop protein powder

1 cup almond milk

3-5 ice cubes

Put all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.  Makes 2 servings.  Enjoy. :)