Dani's Corner

Dani Spies is a Certified Health and Nutrition Counselor, Fitness Trainer and Mom who is passionate about finding simple ways to make real, whole, nutrtious foods a part of an everyday kitchen. More about Dani »

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Mango and Chickpea Brown Rice Salad

Mango and Chickpea Brown Rice Salad
Gotta love a quick meal that comes together with no plan... just a few random ingredients hanging around the kitchen and BAM...

Black Bean and Kale Topped Sweet Potatoes w/ Avocado Mash

Black Bean and Kale Topped Sweet Potatoes w/ Avocado Mash
Slight change of plans from the weekly menu plan!  Originally these were going to be Black Bean Tacos but I couldn't resist the big fat pre-cooked sweet potatoes sitting in my fridge!  So I took the same idea BUT swapped sweet potatoes for the taco shells and let me tell you...

Lentil Joe's

Lentil Joe's
I grew up eating the real-deal Sloppy Joe's (a.k.a. "Manwich")  and I'm not gonna lie... they were one of my favorites!  But as my eating habits shifted, Sloppy Joe's just kind of fell off the radar.

Quick and Simple Lentils with Dandelion Greens

Quick and Simple Lentils with Dandelion Greens
Have you guys tried the pre-cooked, vacuum packed, lentils from Trader Joe's?

They are super simple, really convenient and quite tasty!

Simply Steamed Broccoli & Sweet Potato Bowl

Simply Steamed Broccoli & Sweet Potato Bowl

As much as I love to cook, I'd be lying if I said I that I am always in the mood to cook.  On the other hand, I could count on one hand the seldom times in my life when I have not been in the mood to eat!  So what's a girl to do when she is in the mood to eat, but necessarily in the mood to cook? 

Cranberry Studded Bean Dip

Cranberry Studded Bean Dip
Rich, creamy and oh-so-satisfying, you would never know this tasty Bean Dip was packed with so much nutritious goodness!

Curried Black Bean and Sweet Potato Skillet

Curried Black Bean and Sweet Potato Skillet

Although it is still 75 degrees and sunny here in So.Cal you can still begin to sense that fall is right around the corner.  The nights are a little cooler, the days are a little shorter, and the only place I want to be is in the kitchen whipping up some of my warm and comforting fall favorites like this Curried Black Bean and Sweet Potato Skillet!

Whole Wheat Penne w/ No-Cook Tomato Sauce & White Beans

Whole Wheat Penne w/ No-Cook Tomato Sauce & White Beans
I know I left you guys high and dry this Labor Day weekend but the truth is I didn't do much cooking.  I'm headed to Jersey later this week to spend a week down the shore with my family so I was laying pretty low this weekend.  But I did get to make this Whole Wheat Penne w/ No-Cook Tomato Sauce and White Beans!

Cabbage and Butter Bean Soup - Video

Cabbage and Butter Bean Soup - Video

I'm not really a winter girl. Although I love a good snow fall for the most part I'm not a huge fan of being cold... but with that being said, sometimes I like it. Which brings me to my point. If I had to choose one month that I most relate to it would have to be March.

Black Bean and Quinoa Pita Pockets - Video

Black Bean and Quinoa Pita Pockets - Video

Okay, so I got a little distracted with Valentine's Day (Chocolate Covered Strawberries can do that to me) but I haven't forgotten this months Food Focus... Quinoa!  

I've got more Quinoa recipes coming your way, starting with my Black Bean and Quinoa Pita Pockets

Sweet Potato and Black Bean Enchilada's

Sweet Potato and Black Bean Enchilada's
Are you looking for a warm, nutritious, comforting meal that will knock your socks off??  Well, my friends... look no further because this is the one!

I saw this recipe over at Karina's Kitchen (a gluten-free blog), and loved it so much I made it twice in one week. Yep.  Twice.

Black Bean and Avocado Salsa

Black Bean and Avocado Salsa

Just made this for dinner along with a very simple Teriyaki Tuna that I threw on the Foreman Grill (actually my husband did the "grilling... what is it with guys and the grill?).

This is definitely one of my go-to side dishes. 

Greens and Beans (Yum!)

Greens and Beans (Yum!)

Here's a little trivia for you guys...

What's the number one ingredient missing from the American diet?  Now I don't wanna give it a way or anything, but I'll give you a hint... look at the picture above. 

Yep... you guessed it, dark leafy greens or any dark greens for that matter.  Crazy, right?

 

Cumin Scented White Beans

Cumin Scented White Beans

Yikes, I almost forgot... this is the Cumin Scented White Bean recipe that I promised!  I served them with my Simply Seared Tuna w/ Triple Herb Sauce. They literally take all of ten minutes to throw together!