Island Girl Caviar

You may have heard of Cowboy Caviar but now it’s time to give it some Aloha. Healthy, clean, versatile and delicious, you will be using this recipe for dips, sides, and as a topping on your favorite protein. Let’s get chopping.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup olive oil

• 2-3 Tbsp maple syrup

• 1/4 cup white wine vinegar

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 1 cup cherry tomatoes diced or 6 Roma’s diced

• 1 (15 oz ) can black beans, rinsed and drained

• 1 ( 15 oz) can of cannellini beans

• 2 cups fresh pineapple diced ( may sub mango)

• 1 (11 oz) can sweet corn, drained

• 1 avocado diced

• 1 large cucumber, seeded and diced

• 1 medium red onion, diced

• 1 diced orange or yellow bell pepper

• 1 diced red bell pepper

• 1 cup chopped cilantro (1 lg bunch)

• 3-4 tbsp fresh lime juice

• salt to taste

• 1-2 jalapeno pepper, finely diced (optional/ you can de-seed these for less heat and good flavor)

Instructions:

In a lg mixing bowl whisk to combine olive oil, maple syrup, and salt ( if you have a favorite dressing you can sub that for these ingredients later after all the ingredients are combined )

Add in the remaining ingredients ( except lime and cilantro)

Toss until combined

Add lime and cilantro and mix gently again

Adjust to taste and chill.

Serve with tortilla chips, cucumber slices, lettuce wraps or add on any protein.

If you want to save some time you can use a dicing blade on your food processor for some of the ingredients. But I think chopping is half the fun!

Healthy Hummus

Add some protein and fiber to your diet as well as some powerful B vitamins, folate and iron! The perfect, quick, high protein snack that can be used as a dip with veggies, in a wrap, or even in a recipe to add flavor and texture. Tip: You can find this in any grocery store in a small container ( and grab some baby carrots) for a last minute Grab and Go snack!

Ingredients

• 2 (15oz) cans of chickpeas drained ( reserve the liquid)

• 4 Tbsps. of fresh lemon juice

• 1/4 cup sesame tahini ( use a brand that is a not too thick)

• 1-2 cloves of garlic grated

• 1 tsp salt

• 1/4 tsp cumin

• Dash of cayenne pepper

• 2 tbsp olive oil for drizzling

• c hopped parsley for serving

• Paprika for serving

To Prepare

In a food processor combine the chickpeas, lemon juice, tahini, garlic, cumin, cayenne pepper, salt, olive oil, and ⅓ cup of the reserved liquid from your chickpeas.

Process for several minutes until smooth and creamy.

Add more liquid and process again if it seems too thick.

Adjust to taste garnish.

May be made a few days ahead for easy prep.