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spinach & artichoke flatbread pizza {meatless monday}

by Jackie Newgent | February 8, 2015 | 2 Comments

Cheesy pizza is a food that I simply don’t think I could live without! Luckily, as long as it’s not loaded up with greasy pepperoni and sausage, it can be good for you. And if you top it with plenty of vegetables, it can be extra good for you. That’s what I’ve done here with a luscious-tasting spinach-artichoke topping that was inspired by spinach-artichoke dip! It’s served on flatbread, like whole grain pocketless pita, to keep it simple. Enjoy it as a personal pizza anytime. Or arrange slices on a platter for a party appetizer that’ll impress your guests. Calories saved: 90 (or more!) Why it’s better for you? It’s loaded with veggie and whole grain goodness! Disclosure Note: One...

smoky pan-grilled baba ghanoush dip

by Jackie Newgent | January 22, 2015 | 6 Comments

I love good chips and French onion dip at a party. Perhaps too much! But rather than develop a new sour creamy-style dip, I opted for inspiration from my Lebanese roots (thanks to my mom!). The result is an updated classic baba ghanoush. When aiming for healthfulness, I figure you simply can’t go wrong by making a dip full of vegetable goodness! Another twist was tossed into my recipe development mix. For this month’s “Recipe ReDux” challenge, the goal was to focus on the trend of smoking … the culinary kind of smoking, of course. So I pan-grilled eggplant while keeping it covered with a lid to trap in all of the delicious smokiness. Then I added an extra kick...

dark chocolate dessert hummus

by Jackie Newgent | January 18, 2015 | 2 Comments

Nutella has been gaining in popularity. Unfortunately, its first ingredient is sugar. It contains artificial flavor, too. Yuck! There are several knockoffs of it now available—some made with “real” ingredients and healthier fats. My favorite is Nocciolata; but it’s rather rich to be eaten regularly. So I decided there needs to be another option—and I didn’t want to wait around for a food company to manufacture it. Here’s my result. I based it on hummus! Hummus is traditionally made with chickpeas, tahini (sesame seed paste), lemon juice, garlic, and salt. So I took that concept and kept the chickpeas and a little salt, but used nut butter instead of tahini and balsamic vinegar as the acid of choice. Don’t worry,...

general tso’s-style eggplant stir-fry {meatless monday}

by Jackie Newgent | December 29, 2014 | 4 Comments

I eat my fair share of Chinese food! But when I can make it at home, I feel so much better about what I’m putting in my body—because I know exactly the ingredients that I’m using. One of the dishes that always seems crave-worthy to me is anything labeled “General Tso’s.” Unfortunately, that usually means breaded, fried, and tossed in a decadent sauce. I don’t order it for that very reason. So I finally created a healthier homemade version of General Tso’s. This vegetarian stir-fry recipe is full of textures and colors, mainly from eggplant, edamame, and red bell pepper. It’s got a spicy kick, too. There’s no breading or deep frying required. It’s delicious as is or paired with...

fitter french fries {Recipe ReDux}

by Jackie Newgent | December 22, 2014 | 14 Comments

As a member of Recipe ReDux, the goal this month was to grab a book and cook. But not just any recipe; it needed to be chosen from page 42 or 142 in the book—to celebrate the 42 months that ReDux has been around! So I picked a cookbook that I thought was sure to have something decadent in it: Potatoes: Comfort Food by Jane Stacey (Smallwood & Stewart, Inc., 1997). What did I find on page 42? A recipe for “The Perfect French Fries!” Of course, I had to work my makeover magic on the recipe. I didn’t just spritz the potato slices with cooking spray, bake ’em, and call it a day. My goal was to create a...

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