Who says healthy can't be delicious?

Over the holidays, two of my teenage cousins were complaining about their mom cooking healthy food.  They were expecting "healthy" food to taste bad, so it did.  I tried to explain to them that, "Turkey sausage is never going to taste like pork sausage because it's not pork sausage.  Turkey sausage can be delicious, but you have to sit down and plan to enjoy TURKEY SAUSAGE.  If you're expecting it to taste like pork, it won't taste good." 

This conversation inspired me to start posting some "healthy" meal ideas.  Damon and I love food, but we realize that making healthy food choices is essential to a healthy lifestyle.  We've begun to choose egg substitute or egg whites instead of regular eggs when eating out.  We've come to enjoy turkey bacon, turkey sausage, and turkey hot dogs nearly as much as pork.  I've learned to make better use of tofu, as well as a variety of fish.  So far, the only dish-gone-wrong was tofu meatloaf.  However, the dogs really enjoyed it!

Here's a dish that is quick, easy, healthy, and delicious:

Ingredients:

1. Aidells Chicken & Apple Smoked Chicken Sausage.  It's made with chicken raised without hormones.   It's gluten and MSG free.  Only 180 calories per sausage link!  http://www.aidells.com/product/27
2. Rising Moon Organics Garlic & Basil Gnocchi.  It's certified vegan, and only 220 calories per serving.  Add a splash of extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar for a fuller flavor.  (If you don't care for balsamic vinegar, it tastes very good with just olive oil.)  http://www.risingmoon.com/productlist.aspx?catid=Ravioli    
3. Pinon (Pine) Nuts . These nuts come from the Pinon, the Official State Tree of New Mexico.  A handful of these, mixed with a splash of extra virgin olive oil can enhance the flavor of many dishes.  http://www.pinonnuts.com/
4. Carrots.  Add a touch of your favorite vegetable oil blend butter alternative, such as Brummel and Brown, and a touch of Lea & Perrins Original Worcestershire Sauce for a flavorful side dish.

          http://www.brummelandbrown.com/product1.aspx
          http://www.leaperrins.com/products/the-original-worcestershire-sauce.aspx

Directions  (This meal serves two.)

Boil water in pot for gnocchi.  Add a touch of extra virgin olive oil to pan for sausage.  Slice sausage and add to pan.  After water is boiling, lower heat and add gnocchi.  Stir both sausage and gnocchi occasionally.  Add pine nuts to sausage.  Once gnocchi rises and appears "pillowy", remove with strainer spoon.  Splash gnocchi with olive oil and balsamic vinegar.  It should take about 10 minutes for sausage to cook and pine nuts to brown over medium heat.  For carrots, simply slice, steam, and season to taste.  This meal should take less than 15 minutes to prepare.  Enjoy!


Served with an applesauce based muffin for desert, this meal is healthy and delicious!