I have become somewhat obsessed with having a smoothie for breakfast lately. I have a Vita-Mix blender, which is a DREAM to use, and I appreciate that I can throw just about anything healthy in there and have breakfast in 5 minutes or less.

I have settled on this recipe for most every day, and it’s so good that I thought I would share it.  Improvise with the fruit you like, but this is a great combo. Best of all, my son, who has allergies to nuts and eggs, can drink it too!

1 Scoop Vanilla Protein Powder (I use Jay Robb)
1 Tablespoon Chia Seeds
1 Tablespoon Flax Seeds
1/2 Cup Plain Fat Free Yogurt
1/4 Cup Acai Juice and 3/4 cup Water (you can use more juice and less water, if you like)
1/2 Cup Frozen Blueberries
1/4 Cup Frozen Cherries
Handful of Ice
Small Squirt of Agave Nectar (to taste- you may not need it)
One Shake of Cinnamon

Blend these until smooth! Think about all that nutrition in one shake, and even if you have fries with your lunch, you’ve started your day with a nearly perfect meal. Omega 3′s, fiber, antioxidants, protein, and it tastes like dessert. Hope you like it!

Whenever I have to bring food to an event, I always offer to bring a savory food, and I always bring the same thing.  My favorite recipe has three ingredients, takes less than half an hour to make and is deliciously simple.

I took this recipe to a Halloween party last week, and it was a hit, as always. Let me say in advance that it’s not pretty to look at. But once you taste it, you won’t care one bit about how it looks!

Ingredients:
1 Pint Grape Tomatoes
8 oz. Log Goat Cheese
Balsamic Vinegar

Directions:
Form the log of goat cheese into a ball, and place it in the center of a 9×13 or smaller baking dish. Cut the tomatoes in half and place them cut-side down on the dish, covering all of the area that’s not covered by the cheese. Now, pour balsamic vinegar over the cheese and tomatoes up to about 1/4  of the way up the tomatoes. The amount of vinegar depends on the size of the pan, so just eyeball it.

Bake at 425 degrees for about 20 minutes or until the goat cheese is fallen and bubbly and the tomatoes have that yummy roasted look and have absorbed most of the vinegar. Be sure to let it cool a little before serving because this thing gets seriously hot.

Serve with bagel chips for the perfect appetizer!

Every once in a while, I come across a recipe that’s too good not to pass on.  This one has been a staple in my fridge ever since I discovered it a few weeks ago. It’s a little gem from the Weight Watchers recipe collection that I have changed just a little.

Not only is this a serving of fruit (mark one off the list for today!), it is easy, fast and works as a side item or snack. What more could you ask for? I hope you like this Apple Slaw as much as my family does!

Apple Slaw

Two medium-sized Apples, cut into matchsticks (I use Fuji); the same amount of Matchstick Carrots (I buy them already sliced, but you can do this yourself, too); 1 Tbsp Olive Oil; 1 tsp Sugar; Black Pepper to taste; and 1/4 cup Low Fat Feta Cheese.

Mix the oil, sugar, and pepper in a bowl. Put the apples, carrots, and cheese on top of the dressing, and toss to coat.  Stays good in the refrigerator for about three days – if it lasts that long!

(The original recipe includes some lemon juice to keep the apples from browning, but I don’t find it’s needed if using small quantities of apples, as above. Also, you may garnish with chives, if desired.)