Sweet Winter Kale Power Salad

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I have been making this yummy salad for lunch and I love it! Instead of beans, I also use rotisserie chicken breast. This salad is filling and hearty just like a salad should be. I love this because it is so clean, healthy, and every bite is packed with anti-oxidants. You can add your favorite salad toppers to this so there is no wrong way to make this. I also add feta or blue cheese to this occasionally for even more of a perfect salad!

Ingredients:
1 package of cut kale; pre-washed, ribs removed (about 5 cups)
2 tsp + 1 tsp olive oil
1 lemon
1/4 cup raisins
1 shallot; finely chopped
1/4 of your favorite nut mix (I used pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, almonds, and walnuts)
1 can of kidney beans
1 can of corn; drained
1 cucumber; peeled, seeds removed, and chopped
1/4 cup dried cranberries
1/4 tsp garlic powder
Salt and pepper to taste

Steps:
1. Place kale in a large bowl. Squeeze the juice of one lemon and add 2 tsp of olive oil. Massage kale )with your hands)  with olive oil and lemon until it feels tender. This is extremely important because it softens the kale so it is easier to eat. The color of the kale will also turn bright green and look very fresh. Continue to massage for about 3-5 minutes.

2. Bring a frying pan to medium heat. Add 1 tsp of olive oil and shallots. Sauté for 2 minutes and then add raisins. Sauté for another 2 minutes until shallots look cooked and raisins look plump. Pour mixture over kale and stir until combined.

3. Add your favorite nut mixture, beans, corn, cucumbers, cranberries, and season with garlic powder, salt, and pepper.

****Another great alternative for a salad topper instead of beans, is rotisserie chicken.
*****This is great for make-ahead lunches, the longer the kale sits; the better!
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9 Sweet Halloween Treat Ideas!

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Halloween is right around the corner and that means treats, sweets, and more sweets! Check out some of these cute sweet treats I stumbled upon! Don’t worry..I also found some cute ‘healthy’ treats that look too good 🙂

 

1. Easy witches broom that take seconds to make with Reeses peanut butter cups. Recipe from: One Hundred Dollars a Month
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2. Cute little pretzel chocolate pumpkin bites. Recipe from: After the After
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3. Homemade chocolate chip cookies with a spooky spider twist!  Recipe from: I am Baker
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4. Creepy spider deviled eggs. Recipe from: Family Corner
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5. Candy Corn Fudge.  Recipe from: Tip Junkie
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6. Healthy banana chocolate ghosts and pumpkin oranges. Recipe from: The Green Divas
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7. Candy dipped pretzel rods with sprinkles. Recipe from: A Thrifty Mom
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8. Cute little pumpkin rice krispy treats. Recipe from: Urban Bush Babes
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9. Healthy orange and pineapple candy corn parfait. Recipe from: Love It So Much
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Food Network’s 5 Best French Toast Recipes

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Whether you like your French Toast the traditional way.. crispy on the outside and sweet and warm on the inside…or if you like to kick it up a notch with some of these sweet treats below, French Toast is delectable in any way you cook it.  A sweet sticky drizzle of maple syrup and a perfect pat of butter gives French Toast the ultimate breakfast or brunch feeling that is so irresistible. There are so many ways your can spice French Toast up a bit and our favorite Food Network Stars below have the perfect recipes!

5. Guy Fieri’s: Texas French Toast Bananas Foster

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4. Claire Robinson’s: Chocolate Hazelnut Stuffed French Toast
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3. Ina Garten’s: Challah French Toast
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2. The Pioneer Woman’s: Cinnamon Baked French Toast
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1. Alton Brown’s: French Toast
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Best 5 French Toast Recipes by: Food Network

Cowboy Cookies

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Yield: 8

Ingredients:
3/4 cup butter; room temperature
1 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup honey
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups uncooked oatmeal
1 cup rice crispy cereal
1 cup flour
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup chocolate chips
1/2 cup shredded coconut*optional (I personally don’t like coconut but I heard it would go great with this recipe!)

Steps:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. With a mixer, beat together butter, sugars, honey, and vanilla until combined..texture will become creamy.
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2. Reduce speed on mixer and add in oatmeal, rice crispy cereal, flour, salt, baking soda, and chocolate chips. Mix until cookie dough is formed.image

3. This is a little trick that works great and makes all of your cookies the same shape! With a mini ice-cream scooper, scoop dough balls and place on an cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Place 1 inch away from eachother and bake for 14-16 minutes. Let cool and then serve! These are also delicious for dunking in a cold glass of milk 🙂
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Banana Nut Bread Oatmeal

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Love banana nut bread? Try this healthy spin on an oatmeal!

Yield: 1-2 (depends on how hungry you are!)

Ingredients:
1 cup milk or almond milk (unsweetened, vanilla flavored)
1/2 cup oats
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp brown sugar
1 Tbsp honey
1 Tbsp roasted walnuts
1 banana

Steps:
1. In a medium saucepan, add milk, oats, vanilla, cinnamon, brown sugar, and honey. Let simmer and stir constantly on medium heat for about 7 minutes. Then add in 1 tsp of walnuts and half of banana (you can slice or chop it). Continue stiring for another minute or 2 until oatmeal thickens. Top with rest of walnuts, sliced banana, drizzle of honey, and a dash of cinnamon. Done! Healthy and tastes just like banana nut bread!