What you need:

• Cooking spray
• 4 (4-ounce) skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
• 1 1/2 teaspoons grated lemon rind, divided
• 2 tablespoons honey mustard
• 1 (14-ounce) can fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
• 1 cup whole-wheat couscous
• 1/4 cup sliced pimiento-stuffed olives
• 1/4 cup sliced pitted kalamata olives
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper

Procedure: (more…)

How did spring rolls get their name? This delicate but filling appetizer has its origins in the annual Chinese Spring Festival. The first spring rolls featured fresh vegetables from the harvest; meat was added later. To transform vegetable spring rolls into a truly vegetarian appetizer, use vegetarian oyster sauce (made with mushrooms).

What you need:

* 2 ounces cellophane noodles or rice vermicelli
* 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
* 1 onion, finely chopped
* 2 cloves garlic, chopped
* 2 tablespoons peeled and grated fresh ginger
* 2 cups shredded green cabbage
* 2 carrots, peeled and grated
* 1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro
* 1 cup fresh bean sprouts, rinsed
* 2 teaspoons fish sauce
* 2 teaspoons cornstarch mixed in 2 tablespoons water
* 18-20 frozen spring roll wrappers, thawed
* Vegetable oil for deep frying
* Thai sweet chili sauce for serving

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Cauliflower gains incredible sweet flavor when roasted. Here, it is paired with healthy chicken and tossed in a homemade olive, almond, and parsley pesto-like sauce.

What you need:

• 1 head(s) (2 1/2- to 3-pound) cauliflower, trimmed and cut into 1 1/2-inch chunks
• 2 tablespoon(s) extra-virgin olive oil
• Salt
• Pepper
• 1 pound(s) chicken breast tenders, cut into 1 1/2-inch chunks
• 1 teaspoon(s) freshly grated lemon peel
• 1/4 cup(s) slivered almonds
• 1/3 cup(s) pitted green olives, rinsed well
• 1/4 cup(s) packed fresh flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped, plus additional for garnish

Procedure: (more…)

Make it a special night with easy, elegant appetizers. The Blue Bacon Stuffed Mushrooms!

What you need:

• 3 strips bacon
• 6 large mushrooms
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1/2 onion, diced
• 1 clove garlic, sliced
• 3 ounces cream cheese
• 3 ounces blue cheese
• 1/3 cup bread crumbs

Procedure:

1. Cook bacon strips in a large skillet over medium heat until crispy; drain on paper towels. While the bacon is cooking, remove stems from mushrooms. Set caps aside, and chop stems.
2. Add butter to skillet with bacon grease. When melted, stir in mushroom stems, onion, and garlic. Cook, stirring frequently until the onions caramelize, 15 to 20 minutes.
3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spray a small baking dish with cooking spray.
4. Once the onion mixture has reached a deep, rich brown color, place into a blender along with bacon, cream cheese, blue cheese, and bread crumbs. Blend on low until ingredients are roughly chopped and evenly combined. Stuff cheese mixture into mushroom caps and place into prepared baking dish.
5. Bake in preheated oven until bubbly and lightly browned, 10 to 15 minutes.

Are you into S and M? (Snacks and munchies, that is.) If your answer is “Yes” then crack open a package of organic fruit leather – it’s a healthy way to satisfy your sweet tooth while you’re at school, on the trails, or tied up in your favourite underground dungeon. Try this one:

• Clif Kid Twisted Fruit – four tasty flavors of fruit ropes from the folks who brought you Clif Bars.
• FruitaBü Smoooshed Fruit – widely available, chewy goodness; five flavors .
• Bear Fruit Bars – thicker and heartier fruit leather option, in apple, apple blueberry, and apple raspberry.

Here are some benefits; it is much healthier than masochism. A nationwide study found that 62% of the people don’t eat fruit on a daily basis. These snacks deliver a small dose of nutrients, corn syrup-free. This is also less of an earth-lashing. Fruit leather is more concentrated than fresh fruit, so the pesticides are more concentrated too. Stick with organic. And you can satisfy your sweets fetish.