Help Us Create a WestCare Cookbook!
Healthy Recipes for Better Self-Care and Wellness
In conjunction with our Health & Wellness Committee, we are pleased to announce that we will be creating a WestCare California cookbook! Recipes can range from main dishes to appetizers to salads to deserts, but in line with Health & Wellness, we ask that they lean towards the healthier side. We will also be including vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free recipes! See below for a few examples!
These can be your own recipes or something that you've found online that you'd like to share! We also ask that you please submit a high quality picture that best resembles your recipe. This can be uploaded within the form itself.
Submit your recipe here!: http://bit.ly/wccacookbook
Grilled Vegetable and Chicken Skewers with Creamy Pesto - Erin Shelton, Housing Matcher, Housing Services
Category: Main Dishes
Ingredients
- 3 cup(s) basil, lightly packed
- 3 Tbsp water
- 2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice, or less to taste
- 2 tsp olive oil
- 2 clove(s), medium garlic clove(s)
- 1/4 tsp table salt
- 1/8 tsp black pepper
- 1 pinch red pepper flakes
- 1 1/4 pound(s) uncooked boneless skinless chicken breast(s), cut in 16 chunks
- 1 large sweet red pepper(s), cut in16 chunks
- 1 medium uncooked zucchini, halved lengthwise, each half cut in 8 chunks
- 1 medium uncooked red onion(s), cut in 16 chunks
- 2 cup(s) Weight Watchers Whipped Reduced Fat Cream Cheese Spread
- 2 Tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- In a blender or food processor, combine basil, water, lemon juice, oil, garlic, salt, black pepper and red pepper flakes; process until smooth. Remove 2 tablespoons pesto sauce to a large bowl; add chicken, bell pepper, zucchini and onion to bowl and toss to coat.
- Add cream cheese and Parmesan cheese to mixture in blender; blend until smooth. Scrape creamy pesto into a serving bowl, cover and set aside for dipping sauce.
- Off heat, coat grill with cooking spray. Preheat grill to medium-high.
- Evenly divide chicken and vegetables among 8 skewers (if using wooden skewers, soak them in water 20 minutes prior to use to prevent charring).
- Grill skewers, turning as needed, until chicken is no longer pink in center, about 8 to 10 minutes.
- Remove skewers to a serving platter. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, if desired and serve with creamy pesto dipping sauce. Yields 2 skewers and about 2 tablespoons sauce per serving
Garbanzo Bean Brownies (Gluten-Free) - Raymond Gonzales, Outreach Specialist, San Joaquin Valley Veterans (Fresno)
Category: Gluten-Free
Ingredients
- 1-1/4 cups dark chocolate chips
- 1 can garbanzo beans rinsed and drained
- 2 eggs
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 tablespoons raw cacao powder
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract see note
- 1/2 cup coconut sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- Confectioner’s sugar for garnish optional
Instructions
- Add the chocolate chips to a small sauce pan and heat over medium low. When the chips begin to melt on the bottom, slowly stir with a spoon until chips are completely melted. Although this may take a couple of minutes, I prefer melting chocolate over the stove as opposed to the microwave to ensure it does not overcook or get burned. Set melted chocolate aside.
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.
- Add all ingredients (except chocolate) to a blender and blend until completely smooth.
- Add the melted chocolate and blend until combined. The batter will be very thick – this is marvelous.
- Line an 8” x 8” baking dish with parchment paper (or lightly oil it with olive/grapeseed oil). Pour the brownie batter into the parchment-lined dish and smooth with a knife. The batter will not change form very much (it won’t rise much or spread out), so make sure it appears the way you want it to.
- Bake brownies for 28 to 30 minutes (28 was the magic number for me) and test the center with a toothpick to be sure they’re cooked all the way through.
- Allow brownies to cool a few minutes then pull the edges of the parchment paper to remove the whole brownie block and set it on a cutting board. Use a sharp knife to cut brownies and garnish with powdered sugar if desired.
- Serve fresh out of the oven and refrigerate any leftovers
Mini Vanilla Bean-Pomegranate Cheesecake Tarts - Erin Shelton, Housing Matcher, Housing Services
Category: Desserts
Ingredients
- 30 item(s) mini phyllo shell(s), thawed if frozen
- 8 oz low fat cream cheese, at room temperature (use 1/3-less-fat variety)
- 1/4 cup(s) fat-free plain Greek yogurt
- 2 Tbsp sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 item(s) vanilla bean(s), pod
- 1/2 cup(s) pomegranate seeds
- 1/4 cup(s) fresh mint leaves
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Place phyllo shells on a baking sheet and bake until lightly toasted, about 5 minutes; let cool.
- Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, briskly whisk together softened cream cheese, yogurt, sugar and vanilla extract until smooth. Split vanilla bean pod in half and scrape seeds into bowl; gently combine into cream cheese mixture.
- Evenly divide cheese mixture among shells; top each with some pomegranate arils and a mint leaf. Serve immediately or cover and refrigerate up to 4 hours.
WestCare California, Inc.
For over 40 years, WestCare California has been providing an opportunity for individuals to lead fuller, richer lives. Our team of multi-cultural, experienced and credentialed staff is dedicated to providing the best care to everyone who enters our doors. Our goal is to uplift the human spirit by providing the skills and support necessary for individuals to achieve their dreams and transform their lives.
WestCare provides a wide spectrum of health and human services in both residential and outpatient environments. Our service domains include mental health & wellness, substance abuse and addiction treatment, housing opportunities, education & prevention, criminal justice and veterans programs. These services are available to adults, children, adolescents, and families.
Dedicated to working in partnership with the communities and agencies we serve, our philosophy is to empower everyone who comes into contact with us to engage in a process of healing, growth, and change that will benefit them, their families, their coworkers and their communities.
Email: info.ca@westcare.com
Website: www.westcare.com/california
Location: 1900 N Gateway Blvd, Fresno, CA, United States
Phone: 559-251-4800
Facebook: facebook.com/WestCareCalifornia
Twitter: @WestCareCA