Fish Tacos

Fish Tacos

Looking for a delicious and healthy meal? Fish Tacos are the perfect choice!

Ingredients:

FISH
2 pounds cod fillets
3 Tablespoons lime juice (about 2 limes)
1 tomato, chopped
½ onion, chopped
3 Tablespoons chopped cilantro
1 teaspoon vegetable oil
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
¼ teaspoon black pepper
¼ teaspoon salt
SLAW
2 cups shredded cabbage (red or green)
½ cup chopped green onion
¾ cup nonfat sour cream or plain yogurt
¾ cup salsa  (try Food Hero’s Salsa Roja or Salsa Verde)
8 corn tortillas (6-inch)

Directions:

  1. Wash hands with soap and water.
  2. Rinse or scrub fresh vegetables under running water before preparing.
  3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  4. Place fish in a baking dish.
  5. In a medium bowl, mix lime juice, tomato, onion, cilantro, oil, peppers and salt. Spoon the mixture on top of fish.
  6. Cover dish loosely with aluminum foil to keep fish moist.
  7. Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until fish is opaque and separates easily with a fork. If you have a food thermometer, the internal temperature should reach 145 degrees F.
  8. For the slaw: In a large bowl, mix cabbage and onion. Add sour cream and salsa; stir until mixed.
  9. Divide cooked fish among tortillas. Add ¼ cup of slaw to each. Fold over and enjoy!
  10. Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours.

Notes

  • Freeze extra lime juice to use later.
Healthy Hummus

Healthy Hummus

Creamy homemade hummus —a classic Mediterranean dip perfect for sharing.

Ingredients:

  • 15 ounce can chickpeas/garbanzo, rinsed and drained well
  • juice from 1 lemon about 1/4 cup
  • 3/4 teaspoon kosher or sea salt
  • 1-2 cloves garlic very finely minced
  • 1/4 cup plain yogurt
  • 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil plus more for drizzling
  • 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • minced fresh parsley

Instructions:

  • In a food processor, combine the chickpeas, lemon juice, salt, garlic and yogurt. Process for 1 minute, then open the food processer and scrape the sides. Process for another minute.
  • While the processor is running, pour in the olive oil. Taste and check for smooth consistency.
  • If the hummus is too thick, add 1 tablespoon of water.
  • Just before serving, sprinkle with smoked paprika, fresh parsley and drizzle with additional olive oil.
  • Enjoy on pita bread, fresh vegetables like carrots and cucumbers, or as a spread in sandwiches and wraps!

Resource: steamykitchen.com

Asparagus Soup

Asparagus Soup

It’s Spring – Time for Asparagus 

By Laura Swanson

Every vegetable has its season, and for me, a favorite is “asparagus” season – when the first early Spring crops arrive and the price per pound drops.  There are so many ways to prepare asparagus – classic steamed; drizzled with olive oil and balsamic vinegar and roast with garlic of course; and pickled.  Yes, pickled asparagus spears – oh, yum!  

One of our family traditions is to prepare “Spring Asparagus Soup” for St. Patrick’s Day on March 17th.  It’s perfect for our Irish heritage (my mom’s maiden name was Fitzpatrick) to have green soup and corned beef.  This is a quick and easy soup to prepare, low in calories and asparagus is such a nutrient rich vegetable.

Asparagus is a young tender shoot (spear) vegetable, which emerges from its underground root system. Their use as food was well recognized by the ancient Greeks and Romans as a prized delicacy. One of the oldest recorded vegetables, its thought to have originated along the coastal regions of eastern Mediterranean and Asia Minor regions. Botanically, it is a herbaceous perennial plant (meaning it will come back year after year with a little attention and maintenance) belonging to the Asparagaceae family. It is closely related to the Liliaceae plants which also include onion, garlic, tulip, daffodil, etc – all the heralds of Spring.  Plant asparagus crowns in early spring, and once established, this plant can provide an abundance of healthy spears after a couple years.  Young scaly edible spears emerge from the underground extensive matted root systems, which can be ready for harvest in early Spring in some areas, usually by late Spring here on the Oregon Coast.  When I see my asparagus making an appearance in the garden, that’s when I know it’s Spring.

Asparagus is a very low-calorie vegetable. 1 cup (134 g) fresh spears carry just 40 calories.  Fresh asparagus is a good source of dietary fiber, Vitamins A, C, E and K, as well as the B vitamins. Asparagus is an excellent source of minerals, copper, iron,. calcium, potassium, manganese, and phosphorus. 

This soup is so easy to prepare, elegant and very nourishing.  And if Spring had a flavor or taste – it’s Asparagus soup! Serve it for your Easter dinner, and when it’s spring asparagus season – stock up!  The soup freezes well, too.  You can use vegetable stock and then it is vegan/vegetarian and is also gluten-free.

SPRING ASPARAGUS SOUP

  •  2 1/2 lbs. asparagus
  • 3 T. butter
  • 1/2 C. minced onion
  • 4-6 cloves of garlic, minced
  • 1/2 t. ground coriander
  • 4-6 C. chicken or vegetable stock
  • Salt and White Pepper

1.  Steam asparagus to tender, bright green.

2.  Cut tips and reserve.  Cut remaining stalks into 1″ pieces.

3.  Sauté onion, garlic and coriander in butter in large heavy pan, until soft, not browned.  

4.  Add asparagus stalks.  Simmer 10-15 minutes

5.  Puree in blender or with submersible blender

6.  Pour back in pan; add stock; add asparagus tips.  Heat to hot.

7.  Add white pepper and salt to taste.

Healthy Carrot Cake Cookies

Healthy Carrot Cake Cookies

Deliciously soft cookies brimming with wholesome ingredients like oatmeal, carrots, and raisins. A fantastic choice for a nutritious treat or snack that’s sure to be a family favorite!

Ingredients

  • ½ cup packed brown sugar
  • ½ cup sugar
  • ½ cup vegetable oil
  • ½ cup unsweetened applesauce or fruit puree
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup whole-wheat flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon nutmeg
  • ½ teaspoon ground ginger
  • 2 cups old fashioned rolled oats
  • 1 ½ cups finely grated carrot (about 3 large carrots)
  • 1 cup raisins (or any type dried fruit)

Directions

  1. Wash hands with soap and water.
  2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a baking sheet.
  3. In a large bowl, stir together the sugars, oil, applesauce, eggs and vanilla. Mix well.
  4. In a separate bowl, stir together the dry ingredients.
  5. Blend the dry ingredients into the wet mixture. Stir in the carrots and raisins.
  6. Drop the dough by a teaspoon onto the baking sheet.
  7. Bake 12 to 15 minutes until golden brown.
  8. Store in an airtight container.

For more local health and wellness information, visit www.tillamookcountywellness.org or follow Tillamook County Wellness on Facebook and Instagram.

Banana Oatmeal Bread

Banana Oatmeal Bread

Warm and comforting whole-wheat banana bread that is perfect any time of day. Oats add to the moist texture.

Ingredients

  • 1 cups oats (quick-cooking or old fashioned rolled)
  • ¼ cup nonfat or low-fat milk
  • 2 eggs
  • ⅓ cup vegetable oil
  • ½ cup sugar
  • 1 cup mashed ripe banana
  • 1 ½ cups whole-wheat flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ¼ teaspoon salt

Directions

  1. Wash hands with soap and water.
  2. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease the bottom and sides of an 8- or 9-inch bread pan.
  3. In a medium bowl, mix together the oats, milk, eggs, oil, sugar and mashed banana. Let this mixture stand for at least 10 minutes.
  4. In a large bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
  5. Add the wet oat mixture to the dry flour mixture and stir gently to combine. Be careful not to overmix.
  6. Pour the mixture into the bread pan and spread evenly.
  7. Bake a 9-inch loaf for 45 minutes or an 8-inch loaf for 50 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean. If you have a food thermometer, the center of the loaf will be at least 190 degrees F.
  8. Remove from the oven and let cool in the pan for 10 minutes.
  9. Remove the loaf from the pan and let cool completely on a rack. Slice to serve.
  10. Wrap to store for several days or freeze for up to a month.

Recipe from Foodhero.org

Other wellness questions? Email us at info@tillamookcountywellness.org. For more local health and wellness information, visit www.tillamookcountywellness.org or follow Tillamook County Wellness on Facebook and Instagram.