Easy, Healthy Recipes For Your July 4 (or Any Day) Celebration

These recipes are great for your July 4th celebration or for any other day. The Baked Apple Crisps give you the flavor of the All-American Apple Pie without the crust. These filled apples are sure to be a hit whether it's July 4th or Thanksgiving. Tired of the old standbys of burgers and hot dogs? Try grilling these Grilled Lime-Teriyaki Shrimp instead.

BAKED APPLE CRISPS
3 tbsps butter, chilled
1 cup quick oats
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp nutmeg
6 large Granny Smith apples
2 1/2 tbsps butter
1 cup Caramel Apple Dip
Whipped cream, if desired

To make the Crisp Mixture:

Cut the 3 tablespoons of butter into the oats, sugar, flour, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg until mixture is crumbly. Cut 1/3 off the top of the apples. Core out the center of the apples using a melon baller. Mix the cut-off apple pieces with the crisp mixture. Spread the remaining butter inside of the apples. Fill the hollow of the apples with the crisp mixture, pressing the mixture firmly into the apples. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Remove from oven and top with the caramel apple dip. Return to oven and bake another 20 minutes. Serve topped with whipped cream sprinkled with cinnamon, if desired.

GRILLED LIME-TERIYAKI SHRIMP

3 tbsp lime juice
2 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp reduced-sodium teriyaki sauce
1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
1 tbsp Dijon mustard
1 tsp garlic powder
6 drops hot pepper sauce
6 uncooked jumbo shrimp, peeled and deveined

Combine the lime juice, olive oil, teriyaki sauce, balsamic vinegar, mustard, garlic powder, and hot pepper sauce in a large zip-top bag. Add shrimp to the bag, seal bag and turn to coat the shrimp. Refrigerate up to 1 hour, turning occasionally.

To grill the shrimp, coat grill rack with nonstick cooking spray before lighting. Drain shrimp and discard the marinade. Thread shrimp onto 2 metal or soaked wooden skewers. Grill, covered, over medium heat or you can broil 4-inches from heat, 3 to 4 minutes on each side or until the shrimp turn pink.

Note: This recipe is for 2 servings. Double recipe for 4, triple for 6, etc.

Enjoy!

For more of Linda's easy recipes visit her blog at http://grandmasquickfixrecipes.blogspot.com
For more of her recipes and diabetic information go to http://diabeticenjoyingfood.squarespace.com

Quick and Easy Breakfast Treats - Breakfast Wraps, Healthy Smoothies, and Hot Orange Tea

You don't need a lot of time to prepare a good breakfast. Breakfast doesn't have to be sugary cereal to be quick. We offer recipes for Breakfast Wraps, Tasty Healthy Smoothies, and Hot Orange Tea. In the wraps, you have sausage, egg, and fresh fruit. And they are ready in minutes. And a cup of hot orange tea is always refreshing.

BREAKFAST WRAPS

3/4 lb sausage, crumbled
4 green onions, sliced
2 apricots or peaches, pitted and sliced
4 eggs, beaten
4 burrito-size flour tortillas

In a greased medium skillet over medium-high heat, cook sausage until browned, stirring to break up. Drain meat and wipe skillet of excess fat. Return meat to skillet; add onions and fruit. Cook another minute and remove from the skillet. Again, wipe skillet with paper toweling. Spray skillet with nonstick cooking spray and add the eggs. Cook eggs, stirring constantly until thoroughly cooked. This will take a couple of minutes. Heat tortillas by wrapping in paper towels and heating for a few seconds in microwave. Divide the egg mixture and sausage mixture evenly between the four tortillas. Roll tortillas to wrap around sausage and eggs. For the smoothies, you toss the ingredients into the blender, blend, and enjoy. And they are perfect for an on-the-go fruit, juice, and milk treat.

TASTY HEALTHY SMOOTHIES

These smoothies are great for a quick breakfast or anytime you want a milkshake but realize you should do something healthier.

1 cup fat-free milk
1/4 cup orange juice
2 tbsp vanilla yogurt
1 tbsp honey
1 small banana, sliced and frozen
2/3 cup frozen blueberries
1/2 cup chopped peeled mango, frozen
1/4 cup frozen unsweetened peach slices

In a blender container, combine all the ingredients, cover and process until smooth. Pour into chilled glasses and serve immediately.

Yield: 4 servings of 3/4 cup each = 107 calories, 24 g carbs, 3 g protein OR 2 servings of 1 1/2 cups each = 214 calories, 48 g carbs, 6 g protein

HOT ORANGE TEA

1 tea bag
hot water
1 tsp orange juice
1 tsp honey
fresh orange slices, optional

Place tea bag into a mug or cup and pour boiling water into the cup. Allow tea to steep for 3 to 5 minutes. Remove the tea bag, pressing out the liquid. Stir the orange juice and honey into the tea. Garnish with an orange slice, if desired.

Enjoy!

For more quick and easy recipes visit my blog at http://grandmasquickfixrecipes.blogspot.com For more of Linda's recipes and diabetic information go to http://diabeticenjoyingfood.squarespace.com