Want a new twist on regular baked potato fries?  Try this simple and nutritious recipe for a real treat:

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 pounds sweet potatoes
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 1/4 tsp pepper

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees
2. Slice sweet potatoes into wedges (think steak fry size)
3. Toss sliced potatoes and other ingredients in a large mixing bowl until evenly coated
4. Spread seasoned sweet potato fry slices on a baking sheet
5. Cook until golden brown (approx. 25-35 minutes)
6. Serve and enjoy!!!

Tired of paying top dollar for chemical filled cleaning products?  Try some of these clean & green alternatives that are cost efficient and chemical free:

Use white vinegar as a streak free glass and mirror cleaner (2 cups warm water to 1/4 white vinegar).

Drop a few orange and/or lemon rinds down the garbage disposal and turn on to sharpen your blades and deodorize the tank.

Mix 2 cups baking soda with 3 to 4 drops of your favorite essential oil (mix until the clumps are gone).  Sprinkle on your carpet and let sit for 10 minutes, then vacuum up.

Ceviche is the perfect summer meal.  It’s light, healthy, easy, and delicious.  Here is one of my favorite ceviche recipes that I like to eat with tortilla chips, on top of a tostada, or with crusty bread.  Enjoy!

Ingredients:

2 pounds of shrimp (you can substitute any white fish for the shrimp)
1 large red onion

3 medium tomatoes

3 cups orange juice (pulp free)
1 cup lemon juice3 tablespoons ketchup
1 tablespoon mustard
1 tablespoon fresh chopped parsley
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Cook shrimp or fish and place in refrigerator to chill
2. Slice onions into strips and put them in a bowl with water and 2 tablespoons salt
3. Let onions, water and salt rest/marinate for approximately 10 minutes, then rinse with plain water
4. Dice tomatoes and place them in a large bowl along with the onion, tomatoes, orange and lemon juices, ketchup, mustard, parsley, oil, salt and pepper, and chilled shrimp or fish
5. Mix gently with a spoon
6. Serve (preferably with something salty) and enjoy!!!

Long summer days can be exciting and with the sun going down so late at night it can be hard to settle down and go to sleep at night.  To help relax after a long summer day, try a nice cup of homemade hot mulled cider after dinner or before bed.  The cider will calm your nerves, relax your muscles, and you’ll get all the health benefits of cinnamon that we talked about yesterday!

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup granulated brown sugar
• 1 tsp whole allspice
• 1 tsp whole cloves
• 1/4 tsp salt
• Pinch of nutmeg
• 1 cinnamon stick (approx. 3-4 inches)
• 2 quarts apple cider
• 8 Orange wedges (one wedge per cup of cider)

Directions:

1. Place sugar, allspice, cloves, salt, nutmeg, cinnamon and cider in a saucepan and bring to a slow boil;
2. Cover and simmer for approx. 20 minutes;
3. Use a strainer or cheesecloth to remove spices;
4. Push cloves into orange wedges;
5. Pour cider into mugs and place 2 orange wedge (with cloves) into each mug; and
6. Serve, enjoy, and relax!

Cinnamon not only tastes and smells good, it is also good for you!  Cinnamon has been shown to:

• Lower cholesterol
• Lower blood glucose levels
• Combat yeast
• Inhibit growth of bacteria in and on food
• Boost memory

Cinnamon contains no calories and no carbohydrates, meaning you can enjoy it without any guilt!  My favorite uses for cinnamon are:

• Sprinkled over freshly sliced apples
• Mixed into coffee
• Sprinkled over granola, oatmeal, or cereal
• Mixed into applesauce or yogurt
• Snacking on a cinnamon stick

So what are you waiting for?!  Grab some cinnamon and sprinkle it over your favorite foods today!

Looking for fabulous fashion finds?  Don’t want to wear what everyone else is wearing, but don’t want to spend a fortune?  Check out these great websites to look fab for less!

www.shabbyapple.com

www.hautelook.com

www.bluefly.com

www.endless.com

www.6pm.com

www.makemechic.com

Happy shopping!!!

I am pleased to announce that we are getting very close to launching our new Quick & Easy Author e-book project!  Read more about the project on the “Works in Progress” page, or post a comment on this blog entry to subscribe to the Quick & Easy Author updates list.  Subscribers will also get a special introductory discount once the program launches (tentatively set for mid to late September 2010).

This delicious recipe ALMOST tastes just like the real thing, but has less calories and is super easy to make at home.  Try your hand at this refreshing summer treat today!

Ingredients:

6 ounces frozen orange juice concentrate
1 cup skim milk
1 cup water
1/2 cup sugar substitute (Splenda or Truvia are my faves)
1 tsp vanilla extract
9 large ice cubes

Directions:

Combine all ingredients in a blender (ice on top) and blend on high (use liquefy or ice crush setting) until you reach your favorite consistency, then serve and enjoy!

Want something hearty, warm, delicious, and easy to make?  Try this great vegetarian chili recipe tonight and take the leftovers for lunch tomorrow!

Ingredients:

• 1 can black beans
• 1 can pinto beans
• 1 can kidney beans
• 1 can diced tomatoes with green chilies
• 1/2 tbsp salt
• 1/2 tbsp seasoning salt (Johnny’s, McCormick’s, or make your own!)
• 1/4 cup diced onions (optional)
• 4 green onions, finely chopped (optional)
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Directions:

1. Place all ingredients except cheese in a sauce pot and stir well
2. Heat until nice and warm (about 10 minutes on medium heat)
3. Pour into 4 bowls
4. Top each bowl with 1/4 cup shredded chedddar cheese
5. Eat and enjoy!

Hummus is a great partner to crackers, chips, pita, veggies, or bread, and it is so healthy and delicious!  Try this great black bean hummus tonight with multi grain crackers or sliced veggies:

Ingredients:

• 1 clove garlic
• 1 (15 ounce) can black beans; drain and reserve liquid
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 1/2 tablespoons tahini*
• 3/4 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon paprika
• 10 Greek olives

 *You can purchase tahini in most world market type stores or middle eastern stores, in the health food/organic section of some major grocers, or you acan make your own by soaking sesame seeds in water for one day, the crushing them to separate the bran from the kernels.  Put the crushed seeds into salted water.  The bran sinks and ther kernels float.  Skim the kernels off the top, toast them, then grind them up (like making peanut butter, but with sesame seeds). 

Directions:

1. Mince garlic in the bowl of a food processor
2. Add black beans, 2 tablespoons reserved liquid, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, tahini, 1/2 teaspoon cumin, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
3. Process until smooth, scraping down the sides as needed
4. Add additional seasoning and liquid to taste
5. Garnish with paprika and Greek olives