How to roast nuts

Roasting...that one word brings to mind wonderful memories of sitting under the Eifel Tower eating Roasted Chestnuts with my husband, watching people gaze at the magnificent structure in front of us, and just being in perfect bliss and contentment. It also reminds me of the Autumn season and that I can turn my oven on after a long summer hiatus. Whoohoo! 

Black and Tan Clusters

I just LOVE the combination of chocolate and dried cherries and truly believe they are the perfect match. Just a little warning, if you are on a diet or have a chocolate addiction...don't make too many of these! It is SO hard to just eat one!!! :-)

Seared Polenta with a Zesty-Tomato and Shrimp Sauce

 

Ever tried polenta before? If you haven't, you are missing out. It's a great alternative to rice or pasta and it's very simple to make. You can pan fry it, bake it, or BBQ it. Make sure you spray your BBQ or pan really well with cooking spray, because each polenta circle is super-duper sticky. 

Healthy Pumpkin Muffins

These pumpkin muffins are the perfect way to start out your Autumn season (don't you think they would pair well with a pumpkin spiced latte? Check out a homemade version here ).  Be sure to try and find whole-wheat pastry flour since that will keep them moist and it won't feel like you are eating a bran muffin. :) You can either have them for a snack, or they would make a great breakfast meal on the go.

Tuna Melt with Avocado

Add some chopped avocado and tomatoes and you will have transformed your plain old tuna melt recipe. The lemon juice also gives it a nice fresh flavor that goes well with the tuna. 

This is a very easy lunch or dinner dish that is perfect if you don't have much time, don't want to break the bank but still want to provide something healthy for your family.