Italian Lentil Salad

Giada made this on her show today. It is easy and healthy. Another recipe I'm going to try.

~ 1 pound green lentils (recommended: Sabarot)
~ 2 scallions, chopped
~ 1 cup halved seedless green grapes
~ 1 cup halved seedless red grapes
~ 1 cucumber, peeled, seeded and diced
~ 1 red bell pepper, seeded and diced
~ 1/2 cup coarsely chopped skinned and toasted hazelnuts
~ 2 teaspoons lemon zest (from about 2 lemons)

Vinaigrette:

~ 1/3 cup fresh lemon juice (from 1 to 2 lemons)
~ 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
~ 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
~ 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

For the Salad:

Directions
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the lentils and cook until tender, stirring occasionally, about 18 to 20 minutes. Drain and let cool for 5 minutes. Place lentils and remaining salad ingredients in a large salad bowl.

For the Vinaigrette:
Place the lemon juice in a small bowl. Slowly add the oil, whisking constantly, until combined. Season with salt and pepper, to taste

Pour the vinaigrette over the salad and toss well.

Breakfast Bars

My sister-in-law sent me this yummy recipe (her first submission of many, I hope!) that I can't wait to try.  She and my niece made them together and everyone in her household liked them!   Way to go, girls!  This recipe is from the Heart & Stroke website.

~ 3/4 c. packed brown sugar

~ 1/2 c. sugar

~ 1/4 c. soft non-hydrogenated margarine

~ 1/2 c. mashed banana

~ 1 c. plain non-fat yogurt

~ 2 eggs

~ 2 tsp. vanilla

~ 1 1/2 c. whole-wheat flour

~ 1/4 c. ground flax seed

~ 1 tsp. baking soda

~ 1 tsp. cinnamon

~ 3 cups oats, uncooked

~ 1 c. chocolate chips

How to:

Heat oven to 350F.  Beat sugars and margarine together.  Add banana, yogurt, egg and vanilla. Combine flour, flax, baking soda and cinnamon in separate bowl.  Add flour mixture to the wet ingredients.  Mix well.  Stir in oats and chocolate chips.  Spread dough onto ungreased 13 x 19 inch baking pan.  Bake 25 to 30 minutes.  Once cooled, cut into 24 bars.

Nutritional information per serving:

Calories: 154

Protein: 3 g

Fat: 6 g (Saturates 2g, Dietary Cholesterol: 16mg)

Carbohydrate: 25g

Dietary Fibre: 2g

Sodium: 92mg

Potassium: 150mg

~ Courtesy of Lianne V.