My husband I were recently discussing the fact that food has become boring, that we’re both sick of the same old stuff.

Perfect timing for me to receive a new cookbook.

Now my husband isn’t much for eating healthy, I have to trick him to get him to try new food- the last I tell him is that it’s healthy. But he loves seafood and coconut and wouldn’t you know it The Best of Clean Eating is full of recipes featuring one or the other. I’m not much for fish but I do love shrimp so there’s even recipes that both of us can enjoy. Especially the desserts.

The desserts are something hubby and I can both whole heartedly agree on - like on page 152, you get the healthy sweet snacks Power Yogurt for One and Coconut Balls- both recipes sound delicious. But it’s the real desserts that will make you crave healthy decadence. On page 232 I am seriously drooling over the Molten Lava Cakes made with cocoa powder. On page 230 I see a cake I am going to make for my chocolate and coconut loving husband- Coconut Chai Chocolate Cake. Wow it sounds so yummy my stomach is grumbling in sweet anticipation.

For those of you who love carrot cake you have to check out page 226 the recipe for Slow Cooker Carrot Cake and Cream Cheese Honey Drizzle will make non carrot cake lovers drool. Then there’s Almond Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies and Orange Chocolate Ricotta Cheesecake…On page 214 I spy the ultimate apple pie recipe- it’s a pairing of two of my favorite things- vanilla and apples. The Vanilla Bean Spiked Autumn Apple Pie is going on my Thanksgiving menu.

After going through this cookbook you’ll never ever again think that eating healthy is eating bland.

The full color photos are enough to inspire you into exploring new culinary delights then you read through the ingredients and your mouth will start to water.

So far I’ve only spoken of sweet delights but there’s so much more in The Best of Clean Eating, for both die hard foodies and those who simply love food or are looking to try something new.

Throughout the book you’ll find a huge assortment of recipes- gingery roasted squash, roasted cauliflower leek and garlic soup, golden mashed potatoes, apple grilled cheese, yummy hummus, clean eating tortilla chips, sweet potato spread, garlic bruschetta…is your stomach growling yet? Because mine is.

Breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, desserts…you’ll find clean eating recipes for it in this book.

My husband and I are currently marking pages and making a shopping list for all the amazing recipes we are going to try. I can’t wait- I’m actually excited about food again.

©iStockphoto.com - SharonDay

This combines the flavors of warm apple pie in a hearty, healthy breakfast cereal for chilly autumn mornings. Using certified gluten-free oats makes this appropriate for those on a gluten-free diet.

Rolled oats make a thicker, heartier cereal; however, quick-cooking oats cook up faster for a busy morning. Save a little morning prep time by chopping the apple the night before and sprinkling it with lemon juice to prevent browning in the fridge overnight. (continue reading…)

Tender green peas abound in spring. Buy them as fresh as possible from the garden or farmer’s market as they are best eaten right away. Put on some music and involve your kids by getting them to help you shell peas before dinner. In a pinch frozen peas will work fine, but take advantage of those early season beauties if you can!

The best part about this dish is not the simple flavors that allow the peas to really shine, it’s the fact that it’s a one-pot dish that is just as fast to cook as a box of macaroni and cheese. A great variation is to saute vegetables like onion, garlic, and zucchini to stir in, too, but that would require an extra pan. (continue reading…)

ⓒ Janet Harriett

This hearty vegan soup comes together in less than 20 minutes, and prewashed bagged kale makes this super-quick dinner even quicker. Add a loaf of crusty whole grain bread, and you’ve got a light, filling meal fast. As a soy-free alternative to the tofu, use 2 cups precooked (one can, rinsed and drained) garbanzo beans.

Unlike many soups, this one does not hold up well to long simmering times or reheating as leftovers the next day. The flavor will be fine, but the kale turns that unappetizing shade of greenish-brown characteristic of overcooked leafy greens. (continue reading…)

©iStockphoto.com - Fertnig

All of these hearty soups cook for 8 hours on the low setting in a 4-quart slow cooker. Throw them together in the morning, and dinner will be done when you get home.

Simply add the ingredients to the slow cooker in the order listed. Ingredient amounts are for a 4-quart crock pot. For the vegetable amounts, simply fill the pot, on top of the protein source, until the pot is 3/4 full then pour the liquid over everything. You can use fresh, frozen or dehydrated vegetables. If using dehydrated veggies, add extra liquid.
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©iStockphoto.com - FotographiaBasica

Southern tradition holds that eating black eyed peas on New Year’s Day brings luck in the new year. Whether or not they’re lucky, they are healthy. Black eyed peas are chock full of fiber, protein, potassium and iron. Their health benefits are usually outweighed by the sodium, nitrates and fat in recipes that call for cooking them with bacon, ham or sausage.

This vegan black eyed pea soup recipe is a simple start to the New Year.  Cooked in a slow cooker, the beans don’t need to be soaked the night before, so you preserve the nutrients and flavor usually lost with discarding the soak water. (continue reading…)

ⓒ Savneet Singh

Thanksgiving dinner is traditionally stuffed and glazed turkey. But let this thanksgiving be more meaningful, giving a chance to thank the turkey  by choosing vegan main course dishes rather than relegating vegan fare the side dishes. Appropriately planned vegan diets are nutritionally adequate, and provide healthful benefits like prevention and treatment of chronic diseases.

After all, Thanksgiving is all about connecting with family and relatives and expressing your love and gratitude. It is not only about having the traditional food at the dinner table. Let us pledge to save thousands of turkeys from being slaughtered each year by becoming vegan. There are many vegan dishes those can be replaced with turkey and other non-vegan dishes. You only have be little creative, like this alternative eggplant recipe. (continue reading…)