Vanilla Cherry and Peach Crisp

Before the topping...

We made this fruit crisp last week as a “thank you” to my stepdad for coming over everyday when Scott was gone and walking the dog (or was it the dog walking him?) He loves cherries and, since I had plenty of fresh cherries, I pitted them and added them to some frozen peaches, and topped the fruit with a crumb topping. Here is our “spur of the moment” recipe:

Filling:

  • 1 lb frozen peaches
  • 1 1/2 cups pitted and sliced cherries
  • 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 Teaspoon cornstarch
  • 2 Tablespoons Agave nectar or honey
  • 2 Tablespoons butter spread ( I use Earth Balance Soy Free)
  • 2 Teaspoons Cinnamon
  • 1 Teaspoon Vanilla extract

Stir lemon juice and cornstarch together. Place butter into a saucepan over medium-high heat. Allow to melt and then add in fruit. Add lemon juice mixture. Stir into fruit. Add cinnamon and agave nectar. Allow fruit and juices to come to a boil, take off heat, and stir in vanilla. Pour into a greased 2 qt dish or 8×8 pan.

Crumb Topping:

  • 1/4 cup whole grain flour
  • 2/3 cup old-fashioned oats
  • 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 cup extra light virgin olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon organic sugar

Combine all ingredients together except for the sugar. Mix with fingers until moistened and crumbly. Spread over the top of the fruit and then sprinkle with the sugar. Bake at 375 for about 25 minutes or until brown and bubbly.

Crumb topping- the best part!

One Fat Nation

 A new report is out and it’s not pretty. It shows just how “fat” this nation has become. In 1995, no state had an obesity rate above 20 percent. Now, all but one- Colorado-  does. Here is a snip-it of the report from Fox News. Or watch this Fox News video “The State of Obesity”.

An annual obesity report by two public health groups looked for the first time at state-by-state statistics over the last two decades. The state that has the lowest obesity rate now — Colorado, with 19.8 percent of adults considered obese — would have had the highest rate in 1995.

“When you look at it year by year, the changes are incremental,” says Jeffrey Levi, executive director of the Trust for America’s Health, which writes the annual report with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. “When you look at it by a generation you see how we got into this problem.”

The study, based on 2010 data, says a dozen states top 30 percent obesity, most of them in the South. Mississippi topped the list for the seventh year in a row, with Alabama, West Virginia, Tennessee and Louisiana close behind. Just five years ago, in 2006, Mississippi was the only state above 30 percent.

Go to the CDC website and watch the map below “in motion”. It shows, year-by-year, how our country’s obesity rate has crept from “blue” (low obesity rates) to “red” (high obesity rates). This is a great visual tool in order to see just how quickly we have become overweight.

$1.50 Coupon for Alexia Fries

Be one of the first 5,000 customers to rate an Alexia product and get a coupon for $1.50 off one of their products! Sweet! (pun intended)

“Eating Clean on the Cheap” – Grilled Spicy Tuna and Avocado Pizza

Grilled Spicy Tuna and Avocado Pizza

  • 1 ball pizza dough* (Publix sells their 5-grain bread dough as pizza dough as well- ask if you can get this one at the sale price)
  • 1 can tuna in water, drained*
  • 1/2 of an avocado, chopped*
  • 2/3 cup shredded carrots
  • 1/3 cup reduced-fat cream cheese
  • dash of sea salt* and pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon crushed  red pepper flakes
  • 2 tablespoons ginger dressing (found coupon on bottle!)
  • 1 tablespoon cilantro, chopped
  • Olive oil

*On sale this week at Publix

Heat grill to medium heat. Mix cream cheese, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and red pepper flakes. Roll out pizza dough. Spray both sides with olive oil. Grill 3 minutes per side. Remove dough from grill and spread on cream cheese. Top with tuna, avocado, and carrots. Place back on grill for another 3 minutes or so. Remove from grill again and drizzle with dressing and garnish with cilantro.

Fitness Magazine – $3.73/Yr

One of my favorite magazines – Fitness Magazine- can be snatched up today for just $3.73. Best Deal Magazines is offering Fitness for just $4.39 a year and, when you use the code PXSS724, it’s an additional 15% off.

Thanks Mom for the Stuffed Zucchini!

My mom used this stuffed zucchini recipe from Rachel Ray. They (yes, I ate more than one!) were wonderfully delicious! She replaced the white bread with whole wheat bread to make it even healthier. It’s summer and these vegetables are a dime a dozen all around the country so take the few extra minutes to create this seasonal treat!

  • 4 small zucchini, 5 to 6-inches long, 1 1/2-inches thick
  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 12 crimini mushrooms, chopped
  • 1 small to medium yellow onion, chopped
  • 3 to 4 cloves garlic, grated or chopped
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 vine ripe tomatoes or Roma tomatoes seeded and chopped
  • 2 slices white toasting bread
  • Softened butter
  • A small handful flat-leaf parsley
  • A few sprigs fresh tarragon or a small handfulbasil leaves
  • 3/4 cup shredded Parmigiano-Reggiano
  • 1 egg, beaten

Directions

Heat the oven to 425 degrees F.

Halve 4 of the small zucchini lengthwise and scoop out the seeds and soft center flesh with a spoon to produce a set of shallow shells to hold the stuffing. Reserve the center flesh. Arrange the small hulls in a baking dish. Drizzle with a little extra-virgin olive oil and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Chop the reserved zucchini flesh and set aside.

Heat the remaining extra-virgin olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat and saute the mushrooms, onions and garlic for 5 minutes. Add in the reserved zucchini and tomatoes, season with salt and pepper, to taste and heat through for 1 minute, then remove from the heat.

While the veggies cook, toast the bread in a toaster, then spread liberally with butter and tear into pieces. Add the bread to a food processor along with the parsley and tarragon or basil, and pulse into herb crumbs.

Fold the herb crumbs into the veggies along with 1/2 cup Parmesan and the egg. Mound the zucchini stuffing in to the shells and roast for 15 minutes. Remove from the oven, sprinkle the tops with remaining cheese and broil for 2 to 3 minutes to brown.

“Dining Out While Traveling” Guide

Traveling? Looking for a healthy spot to dine? Check out this site-  Eat Well Guide. Just plug in your location, and find a list of restaurants, farmer’s markets, co-ops, and more. A great tool to use to explore your local area tool!

Clean Eating Magazine – $5.99

Clean Eating magazine is a great resource for wonderful recipes that are whole foods focused. A one-year subscription is just $5.99 with the code ‘EATING’ on Tanga right now. Enjoy!

July – National Ice Cream Month!

I have to admit that I am not a big ice cream fan- except when it comes to mint chocolate chip! Recently, I purchased Stonyfield’s Organic Low-Fat Minty Chocolate Chip Frozen Yogurt. This little carton of bliss contains just 140 calories per 1/2 cup serving and has the same live active cultures as their yogurts. I love this little treat with its chunky, chocolate chips and minty taste! It satisfies my occasional sweet tooth, and it is a dessert that I can feel good about giving to my kids. They do also offer non-fat flavors and premium ice creams too. Look on their website for a coupon as well.

Mango Peach Smoothie

Because we have mangoes coming out of our ears, this smoothie has become a favorite and regular around the Terry household.

Mango Peach Smoothie

  • 1 medium mango, peeled and sliced

  • 1 peach, peeled and sliced

  • 1 banana

  • 1/4 cup orange pineapple concentrate, thawed (my secret ingredient!)

  • 1  cup low-fat/skim milk or milk substitute

Place all ingredients into blender and mix until smooth and frothy. Makes 2 servings.