New Year's White Bean Dip

Let me just say, this dip is so good you will want to put in on EVERYTHING! I found this on a recipe site and altered it a bit for taste. Serve it with homemade wheat pita chips and a variety of veggies that your children enjoy. We like it with cauliflower, carrots, red pepper, broccoli and asparagus best. It's tasty, full of good fats, fiber, protein and anitoxidants. And moms-it's figure friendly!

White Bean Dip
1 14 oz can white beans, rinsed and drained
1 large clove of garlic, chopped
Small handful of italian parsley, chopped
Juice of one lemon
1/4 C. Olive oil(up to 1/3 cup if it seems like it needs more)
salt and pepper to taste

Combine all ingredients in a heavy duty blender or food processor and blend until smooth and creamy. Serves 4-6.


Pita Chips
Whole wheat pita cut into wedges(I use 1/2 to 1 per person served)
olive oil spray
salt and pepper
dried oregano, rosemary or thyme

Preheat oven to 350. Spray baking sheet lightly and layer pita triangles in a flat layer. Spray tops with olive oil and sprinkle with salt, pepper and herbs. Bake until lightly browned and crisp, about 7-10min.

This makes a great appetizer that keeps well in the fridge for a couple of days or a nice snack/lunch alternative. I have even stuffed a pita with some dip and cucumber, spinach leaves, tomato slices and sprouts. Very yummy!

Pita Pizzas

What kid doesn't love pizza? Well, I have yet to meet one that doesn't inhale it, so I came up with a quick and easy version that my son enjoys for lunch from time to time. I also serve them on game days and for a quick week night dinner with a green salad. Experiment with different toppings like pineapple, peppers, mushrooms, lean ham, etc to let your child come up with their own unique and healthful alternative to the regular pizza delivery.

Pita bread(We like The Alternative Pita Bread whole wheat pitas I buy at Sprouts).
Good quality marinara or pizza sauce
Grated or sliced provolone cheese
Veggies or lean ham for topping
Thinly sliced/chopped flat leaf parsley or basil

Start the broiler. Place pitas on a baking sheet and put a generous amount of sauce on the pita and spread leaving a 1/4 inch at the edge. Top with veggies,herbs, ham, etc and then layer on a small amount of cheese(doing it this way keeps the veggies from getting picked off...just dice them small). Broil for a few minutes until the edges of the crust start to brown and the cheese is melted and bubbly. Cool for a couple of minutes and cut into triangles! Yummy...and simple!

*Hint: I sometimes add pureed carrots or spinach to my marinara sauce to add a little more nutrition. This way my son gets what he needs without objecting to it! To puree, just steam or boil your veggies(steaming is better because it preserves the nutrients) and puree until smooth. You may need to add a little of the cooking liquid to work out the lumps. You can freeze the rest in 1/2 cup increments for later use.