Cinco de Mayo Skinny Recipe Roundup

Ok guys, I told you I just had to do one more Mexican-themed post! But, it’s Cinco de Mayo this weekend, what do you expect?!

Although I love Mexican food, it will often cost you a LOT of calories. Between all of those chips, sugary margaritas, huge portions, and tons of cheese, you can consume an entire day’s worth of calories in one sitting.

I have made you a list of 10 great Cinco de Mayo recipes! And you know what the best part of this list is? These are all pretty healthy options! You can still enjoy the day with these recipes without feeling guilty the next day. And aside from the pork tacos, these are all vegetarian options! Trust me when I say that with these recipes, you will not miss all the calories!

Cinco de Mayo Skinny Recipe Roundup

(from left to right, top to bottom)
1. Easy Mexican Rice
2. Baked Southwestern Egg Rolls
3. Teedo’s Famous Salsa
4. Crazy Guacamole
5. Chili Lime Pulled Pork Tacos
6. Spicy Black Bean Enchiladas
7. Corn Salsa
8. Southwest Chicken Salad with Avocado Lime Dressing

Cinco de Mayo Skinny Recipe Roundup

9.  Skinny Raspberry Margaritas
10. Skinny Strawberry Margaritas

Teedo’s Famous Salsa

Teedo's Famous Salsa

Ok, so I’m starting to think that I am part Mexican. I just can’t stop posting Mexican recipes. I’m not sorry! Aside from maybe a Cinco de Mayo roundup, I will take a break from all the Mexican, okay? Good. Great. Wonderful.

Many of you might know Jenny from Picky Palate. If you don’t know Jenny, then you must visit her blog immediately! Jenny’s blog is amazing and has pretty much any recipe you will ever need!

Jenny wrote her first cookbook last fall. I received a copy of the book for Christmas and just had to dive right in. I basically want to make every recipe in this book! One recipe that has been on my list for some time is the Teedo’s Famous Salsa recipe. Teedo is the nickname Jenny has for her father and this salsa recipe is his specialty!

Teedo's Famous Salsa

While I am constantly making guacamole around this house, I have not yet made my own salsa, until now! I don’t know why this took me so long because it is so easy to make! One of the ingredients that really stood out to me in this recipe was the addition of avocados. Avocados in salsa! What a brilliant idea! The avocado adds a slightly creamy texture to this salsa which is just wonderful! Next time I make it, I think I will do less time in the processor. I tend to prefer chunkier salsas!

Teedo's Famous Salsa

Teedo’s Famous Salsa

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Yield: 10-12 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 14.5-ounce can fire roasted tomatoes (you can also use petite diced tomatoes)
  • 1 10-ounce can diced tomatoes with green chilies
  • 2 avocados, peeled, seeded, and mashed
  • 1 1/2 cups fresh cilantro
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1/2 lime, juiced
  • 1/4 tsp. kosher salt
  • 1/4 tsp. ground black pepper

Instructions

  1. In a food processor, add in all of the ingredients and pulse until the salsa reaches your desired consistency.
  2. Serve or cover and keep in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.

Notes

This recipe has been reprinted with permission from the author, Jenny Flake Picky Palate, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2012

http://eat-drink-love.com/2013/05/teedos-famous-salsa/

Teedo's Famous Salsa

This post contains affiliate links.

Fruit Salad with Honey Lemon Dressing

Fruit Salad with Honey Lemon Dressing

Why must weekends be only two days? Weekends are not long enough. Saturdays are always spent running around, grocery shopping, and then Sundays are spent cooking and taking photos. I want a day of complete laziness!

Luckily many of the recipes I make are relatively easy because well, I just don’t have the time or energy for more difficult ones. This fruit salad is ridiculously easy, but it is so good, it might just be my new favorite thing. It’s getting to be so dang hot here, I have been craving lots of cold fruit and smoothies. I just couldn’t resist buying so much of it so I could make this salad! The honey lemon dressing is light, but gives the salad the perfect touch of sweetness!

You can use whatever fruits you want for this. I used strawberries, bananas, cantaloupe, honey dew, grapes, and oranges. Pineapple or other berries would also be great! Live it up, go crazy!

Fruit Salad with Honey Lemon Dressing

Fruit Salad with Honey Lemon Dressing

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Yield: Serves 4-6

Fruit salad tossed with honey lemon dressing - the perfect summer treat!

Ingredients

  • 4 cups chopped fruit of your choice
  • 3 tbs. honey (or to taste; can also use agave nectar)
  • juice of one lemon (can also use the zest if desired)
  • Suggested fruits:
  • strawberries
  • bananas
  • mango
  • cantaloupe
  • honey dew
  • pineapple
  • grapes
  • oranges
  • apples

Instructions

  1. Combine all of the chopped fruit into a large bowl.
  2. In a small bowl, whisk together the honey and lemon juice.
  3. Pour the dressing over the fruit and toss to combine. Cover and chill for about 30 minutes and then serve.
http://eat-drink-love.com/2013/04/fruit-salad-with-honey-lemon-dressing/

Fruit Salad with Honey Lemon Dressing

No-Bake Energy Bites

No-Bake Energy Bites

So it turns out that when you try to take pictures of brown balls, they either look like a). meatballs or b). poo. Yes, I just said poo in a food blog. Forgive me.

No-Bake Energy Bites

But really, these are neither of those things. They are tasty little no-bake energy bites that I can’t stop eating. And the great thing about them is that they are healthy! These little bites are packed with fiber, antioxidants, and omega-3 fatty acids. These bites will fill you up and satisfy any sugar cravings (without there actually being a ton of sugar in them). And at only 90 calories per bite, you don’t have to feel guilty about eating them! They would also be perfect for an after-school snack for your kiddos.

No-Bake Energy Bites

Since these bites are no-bake, feel free to play around with the ingredients! I just added some mini chocolate chips to mine, but you could also add raisins, dried fruits, coconut, or nuts. Oh, and did I mention that they are also gluten-free and vegan?! You can’t go wrong with these little bites, so go make a batch right now!

No-Bake Energy Bites

No-Bake Energy Bites

Total Time: 40 minutes

Yield: About 20 bites

Serving Size: 1 bite

Calories per serving: 90

Fat per serving: 5.3 g

Ingredients

  • 1 cup quick oats (use gluten-free oats if you want to for these to be gluten-free)
  • 1/2 cup natural peanut butter (or any nut butter of your choice)
  • 1/4 cup agave nectar (you can also use honey or maple syrup)
  • 1 tbs. melted coconut oil
  • 1 tbs. chia seeds
  • 2 tbs. flax seed meal
  • 3 tbs. mini chocolate chips
  • pinch of salt
  • 1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
  • Other add ins:
  • raisins
  • nuts
  • dried fruits
  • shredded coconut

Instructions

  1. In a large bowl, mix together all of the ingredients until well-combined. Cover and refrigerate the mixture for about 30 minutes.
  2. Using your hands, roll the mixture into balls. Mine were about 1-1 1/2-inch in diameter.
  3. Place the bites into an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for about 1 week.
http://eat-drink-love.com/2013/04/no-bake-energy-bites/

No-Bake Energy Bites

Baked Southwestern Egg Rolls

Baked Southwestern Egg Rolls

You guys know me by now. I have told you time and time again that I love snack-type foods and I love anything southwestern/Mexican. So what happens when you combine the two?

Pure bliss. That’s what.

Baked Southwestern Egg Rolls

I guess the inspiration behind these are those Southwestern Egg Rolls from Chili’s. It’s been years since I have been in a Chili’s. I stopped going after realizing that even their salads were over 1,000 calories. But oh man, those egg rolls are so dang good.

Baked Southwestern Egg Rolls

This was my first time making egg rolls. I had this idea that making egg rolls was difficult. But you know what? It’s not. And now I want to make like 100 different types of egg rolls. Perhaps it is because I chose to bake them instead of frying, but these are pretty easy to put together and they are perfect to serve for a party or just a snack at home. They also freeze well if you need to do that. This recipe is vegetarian, but you could also toss in some shredded chicken if you wanted.

Baked Southwestern Egg Rolls

Baked Southwestern Egg Rolls

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes

Yield: 12 egg rolls

Serving Size: 1 egg roll

Calories per serving: 125

Fat per serving: 4.2

Ingredients

  • 1 cup corn (fresh or frozen)
  • 1 (15-ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 California avocado, diced
  • 3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 2 tbs. freshly chopped cilantro
  • 1 green onion, chopped
  • 1/2 cup finely diced tomato (can also use chunky salsa if desired)
  • 1/4 tsp. chili powder
  • 1/2 tsp. cumin
  • 1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 1/4 tsp. black pepper
  • 1 lime, juiced
  • 12 egg roll wrappers
  • cooking spray
  • sour cream, Greek yogurt, ranch dressing, guacamole, or avocado lime dressing

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
  2. In a large bowl, combine all of the ingredients though the egg roll wrappers.
  3. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or a baking mat.
  4. Take one of the egg roll wrappers and lay flat with one corner facing you, scoop about 2 tbs. of the mixture into the center of the wrapper. Roll the corner that is facing you over the mixture and lightly tuck the corner under. Then take the two sides that are facing outwards and fold over the first fold. Then roll the egg roll until the last corner is wrapped around the rest of the egg roll. As you roll, use your fingers to keep the mixture tight in the center. Finally, place some water on your finger and brush it on the tip of the wrapper, and then press down to seal. Place the egg roll seam side down on the baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining egg rolls.
  5. Spray the tops of the egg rolls with cooking spray and bake for about 10-15 minutes until the tops start to turn golden brown. Gently flip over and bake for another 5 minutes. Remove and let cool for 5-10 minutes before serving.
http://eat-drink-love.com/2013/03/baked-southwestern-egg-rolls/

Baked Southwestern Egg Rolls

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Join I Wash, You Dry and A Southern Fairytale California Avocado Cinco de Mayo Recipe Fiesta, sponsored by the California Avocado Commission.

Lemony Potato Salad

Lemony Potato Salad

After posting those decadent Nutella cheesecake brownies on Monday, I think we need something a little lighter today, don’t you think?!

Along with the brownies, I also brought this potato salad to my potluck party last week. You’ve all heard me say before how picky I am when it comes to potato salads and chicken salads. This potato salad is a great alternative if you do not like the traditional potato salad that has mayo. This lemony potato salad is light and fresh and of course, lemony!

Lemony Potato Salad

This is also the type of dish that you can serve when warm, at room temperature, or cold, which makes it the perfect dish to bring to a party as you do not have to worry about keeping it cold or warm. I tasted some right after I mixed it up (so it was still warm), at the party (at room temp.), and then again the next day when it was cold and I liked the way it tasted every time! I think I am slightly partial to having it warm or at room temperature, but you really can’t go wrong with this one!

Lemony Potato Salad

Lemony Potato Salad

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Yield: 4-6 servings

Ingredients

  • 6 cups baby red potatoes, cubed
  • 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 lemon, juiced
  • 1 tbs. red-wine vinegar
  • 1 tbs. minced garlic
  • 2 tbs. finely chopped fresh parsley
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • fresh chives, chopped (for garnish, optional)

Instructions

  1. Boil the potatoes in lightly salted water until fork tender, about 10-15 minutes. Drain the water and pour the potatoes into a large bowl. Let cool for about 10 minutes.
  2. In a smaller bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, red-wine vinegar, garlic, and the parsley.
  3. Pour the dressing over the potatoes and gently toss to coat all of the potatoes with the dressing. Add salt and pepper to taste. Garnish with freshly chopped chives (or green onion) if desired. Serve at room temperature or cover with foil and refrigerate until ready to serve.
http://eat-drink-love.com/2013/03/lemony-potato-salad/

Lemony Potato Salad

Mushroom Spinach Pappardelle

Mushroom Spinach Pappardelle

One of my favorite things to do as a blogger is take dishes that I have at a restaurant and try to recreate them at home. It’s like a fun game! Last summer, we went up to Montreal as I had a conference for work and were staying at Le Westin which was a wonderful hotel. As much as I wanted to try and get out to explore the city a little, I had a badly sprained ankle and then my first day there, I came down with the plague. Needless to say, we did not get out very much. Thank goodness for room service!

Mushroom Spinach Pappardelle

The first night we arrived it was very late and we had not yet had dinner so I was starving. I ordered the mushroom spinach pappardelle that was tossed in a tasty white wine sauce. It seems so simple, but it was so so so good! It was so good that I ordered it like two more times that weekend.

Mushroom Spinach Pappardelle

I adore these thick and ribbony noodles. This dish was so simple to make. The sauce is very light, but also very flavorful. I used mushrooms and spinach, but you could really use whatever veggies you like and you could also add chicken if you wanted to.

Mushroom Spinach Pappardelle

Mushroom Spinach Pappardelle

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes

Yield: 3-4 servings

Ingredients

  • 8 ounces pappardelle pasta
  • 2 cups fresh baby spinach
  • 1 1/2 cups cremini mushrooms, sliced
  • 3 tbs. extra virgin olive oil, divided
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1/4 cup white onion, finely chopped
  • 1/2 cup dry white wine
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • fresh grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions

  1. Prepare pappardelle according to the package instructions. Drain the pasta and set aside.
  2. In a saute pan, heat 2 tbs. of the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until translucent, about 2 minutes. Add in the mushrooms and the spinach. Cook for about 2-3 minutes until the spinach has wilted and the mushrooms are cooked.
  3. Add in the garlic and and the white wine. Let it simmer for a few minutes.
  4. Spoon the pasta into the pan, add the remaining tablespoon of olive oil and toss the pasta until it is well-coated. If it seems dry, you can add in more olive oil if needed. Add salt and pepper to taste.
  5. Transfer the pasta to a serving bowl or onto plates. Sprinkle some of the Parmesan cheese on top and serve.

Notes

Feel free to add some fresh lemon juice to the pasta for extra flavor!

http://eat-drink-love.com/2013/02/mushroom-spinach-pappardelle/

Mushroom Spinach Pappardelle

Strawberry Banana Muffins (Dairy-Free)

Strawberry Banana Muffins

It’s Tuesday and I made you some strawberry banana muffins. And guess what? They are dairy-free and vegan!

Today you can find me over on my friend, Joleen’s blog, Love, Joleen. Joleen and I use to go to high school together when I lived in California so we go way back! Joleen is not a food blogger, but she is an amazing photographer and crafter. I’m super jealous of her artistic abilities! Joleen is a new mommy and is moving across the country this week so she asked me to post for her while she is in transit.

Strawberry Banana Muffins

Joleen had one request for me: Whatever I made had to be dairy-free. I don’t usually bake without dairy, but I was up for the challenge! I was very pleased with how these muffins turned out. I was worried they would be dry, but they were very moist from the coconut oil. Coconut is seriously amazing (in case you didn’t already know that!). I didn’t use very much sugar in these muffins so they are great for breakfast or a snack and are also great for kids!

So, please hop on over to Joleen’s blog for the recipe!

Strawberry Banana Muffins

Strawberry Banana Muffins

Browned Butter Gnocchi with Broccoli

Browned Butter Gnocchi

Brown butta…say it with me now!

Is there anything better in this world than browned butter?

No, I didn’t think so.

Browned Butter Gnocchi

Brown butter is wonderful on so many dishes, but it is just ridiculously good on this gnocchi and broccoli. And another thing about browned butter is that because of that perfect nutty flavor, you really don’t need a lot of it for your dish to taste good. And then if you throw a bunch of broccoli on top, then that totally negates the brown butter all together. Right? Am I right??

Browned Butter Gnocchi

Browned Butter Gnocchi with Broccoli

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes

Yield: 6 servings

Calories per serving: 368

Ingredients

  • 2 (16-ounce) packages prepared gnocchi
  • 5 cups chopped broccoli florets
  • 2 tbs. unsalted butter
  • 2 tbs. extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 cloves of garlic, minced (optional)
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 3 tbs. pine nuts, toasted
  • shaved or grated fresh pecorino Romano cheese or Pamesan

Instructions

  1. Prepare the gnocchi according to the package instructions. During the last minute of cooking, add in the broccoli. Drain and set aside.
  2. In a large skillet, heat the butter and olive oil over medium high heat. Cook for about 5 minutes or until the butter has browned, stirring constantly.
  3. Add in the gnocchi, garlic, broccoli, and black pepper. Toss until the gnocchi is well-coated in the brown butter sauce. Sprinkle some of the cheese on top and serve!

Notes

Recipe from Cooking Light

http://eat-drink-love.com/2013/01/browned-butter-gnocchi-with-broccoli/

Browned Butter Gnocchi

Corn Salsa

So, there is this thing called the Super Bowl coming up soon. As far as the game goes, I really don’t care. I prefer the Puppy Bowl. In previous years, my husband hasn’t really cared either, but since there wasn’t any hockey games on this past fall, he had to get his fill of man-ness, so he has been watching football and will probably want to watch the Super Bowl this year. We might be fighting over the remote. There are supposed to be hedgehog cheerleaders on the Puppy Bowl this year. I am not missing that.

Let’s face it though, Whatever game we end up watching, the best part of the Super Bowl is the food. You know this to be true. I love making fun party snacks. I could make a meal out of just dips. Sadly, most dips and Super Bowl food are usually not very healthy. But, I’ve got a great recipe for you that you can enjoy without all the guilt!

This corn salsa is a great snack to serve yourself and your guests! It’s light and fresh, and best of all, low in fat and calories! I love this salsa. I actually make a small batch of it for lunch sometimes and eat it with a handful of whole grain chips and I am one happy girl!

Corn Salsa

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

Yield: Serves 4-6

Calories per serving: about 98 calories (if divided into 6 servings)

Ingredients

  • 4 medium-sized ears of corn, shucked
  • 1/2 medium red onion, diced
  • 1/2 cup cilantro, chopped
  • 2 limes, juiced
  • 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
  • salt to taste

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of water to a light boil over medium high heat. Add the ears of corn and cook for about 5 minutes or until the corn is cooked and tender. Fill a large bowl with cold water. Using tongs, remove the ears of corn from the water and place into the cold water to cool.
  2. While the corn cools, chop the onion and cilantro.
  3. To remove the kernels from the cob, hold the ear upright over a large cutting board or bowl. Take a sharp knife and slide the knife down the cob, cutting the kernels off. Work your way around the cob until all of the kernels have been removed. Repeat with the remaining cobs.
  4. Place the corn into a bowl. Stir in the onion, juice of the 2 limes, cilantro, garlic powder, and the salt. Mix until thoroughly combined.
  5. Cover and chill for at least 20-30 minutes before serving.
http://eat-drink-love.com/2013/01/corn-salsa/

If you like this recipe, then you might also like my Crazy Guacamole!