jenny can cook

Mar 1, 2013

Sweet Potato Chocolate Cake

Sweet Potato Chocolate CakeWhy is this cake so unique?  It’s a sweet potato chocolate cake! Yes, it’s made with sweet potatoes.  Not only does it have health benefits, it’s also a heavenly, fastastically, stupendously delicious moist chocolate cake!  It has almost no butter so I love that it has very little saturated fat. This recipe was in my first cookbook and was the second most popular recipe in the book (my meatloaf was first).

Cooked sweet potato is the highest vegetable source of betacarotene, which boosts your immune system and even gives you glowing skin. If you’re looking for a healthy chocolate cake I promise you… everyone will love this moist & delicious sweet potato chocolate cake! Click here for the recipe. – Jenny Jones

Filed Under: Sweets
2 Comments
Feb 28, 2013

Best pepperoni pizza ever!

Homemade Pepperoni PizzaIf you like super crispy pizza like I do, you will LOVE this recipe.  It’s a healthier pizza than most, and the crust is so crispy you can hear it crackle when you slice it. That comes from using a pizza pan with holes. And by using instant yeast, you don’t have to rise the dough so that saves almost an hour.  You do all your prep while the oven heats up and 15 minutes later…  you and your pie hole will be very happy. Yes, you can make a healthy homemade pizza and nothing else compares. “Best Pepperoni Pizza Ever” is my most watched video on youtube!  Click here for the recipe. – Jenny Jones

Feb 25, 2013

I love my vegetable pasta!

Easy Veggie PastaI got a late start thinking about dinner and decided to make my vegetable pasta. As simple, easy recipes go, this is the best, and one of the healthiest. As long as you have some fresh vegetables in the fridge, you can put this together in 20 minutes. Tonight, I made it with broccoli, asparagus, kale, spinach, and bowties. Try it yourself and this could become your favorite meal or side dish, too. Click here for the recipe. – Jenny Jones

Feb 11, 2013

A Caramelized Apple Pancake for your Valentine

Caramelized Apple PancakeHow much do you love your Valentine? Show him or her with a spectacular breakfast – maybe even breakfast in bed! It’s my Caramelized Apple Pancake recipe that’s oven-baked and served upside down and it’s crazy good! Once you try this easy recipe, you won’t wait for the next Valentine’s Day to make it again. It’s one of my favorite weekend breakfasts (or it is breakfastses?) It looks beautiful and is surprisingly easy to make… and healthy of course.

Click here for the recipe.

Filed Under: Breakfast
2 Comments
Feb 7, 2013

Greek Lemon Potatoes

Greek Lemon PotatoesI made chicken cutlets tonight with Greek lemon potatoes. How much do you love Greek food? My stepmom is Greek and I grew up loving this healthy recipe. Greeks use lots of olive oil, oregano, and lemons. So these potatoes are roasted in lemon juice and chicken stock with onion, garlic, and spices… and heart-healthy olive oil of course. These tender potatoes are so lemony and delicious my mouth is still watering. I took this quick snap shot tonight. Click here for the recipe. – Jenny Jones

Feb 5, 2013

My marinated pork tenderloin dinner

Marinated Pork Tenderoin

Show some love to the pork tenderloin! It’s one of the leanest (and cheapest) meats around and it cooks really quickly. It’s always tender as long as you don’t overcook it, so a meat thermometer is very useful here. My marinated pork tenderloin comes out so tender and flavorful and this easy recipe takes very little work. Everything cooks in the oven at the same time… in 30 minutes! I love all-in-one meals and besides the good-eatin’ combo of spiced up pork and roasted veggies, the leftover pork slices up into some awesome sandwiches! – Jenny Jones

Click here for the recipe.

Jan 31, 2013

The secret to great potato pancakes

PotPanck_8837Whenever I order potato pancakes at a restaurant, they’re so greasy I can’t eat them. So naturally, I had to find a way to make my own healthy potato pancakes. After a few attempts I finally made some on Tuesday that turned out great with very little oil. The trick for me was draining the potatoes well but saving the starch and using a cast iron skillet. Finally… healthy potato pancakes! I’ll be posting the easy recipe soon.

Jan 30, 2013

Make the best nachos ever for Superbowl

Superbowl Nachos from Scratch

Do you spend Superbowl Sundays on the couch eating unhealthy snacks, watching guys in better shape than you play football? Is your fridge the only place you’ll ever see a 6-pack? Then try what I think are the best healthiest nachos ever.

They are low fat and I use so many healthy ingredients, you can have these nachos for dinner. They take a little work but you won’t feel like an over-stuffed football by the second half… you won’t need a time out to take a nap… your waist band won’t snap from too many chicken wings… the sofa springs won’t be audible every time you sit down… you won’t need double coverage to hide your stomach… your stomach won’t hurt from having one turnover too many… your friends won’t be scrambling to get your heart started again… your trip to the bathroom won’t be third-and-long… I think I will cut back on these really bad jokes… but make sure you roll out my nachos… they are the bomb. Jenny Jones

Click here for the recipe.

Click here for the video.

Jan 15, 2013

Salmon Patties

Easy Salmon PattiesFor quick healthy meals, I always keep canned  salmon on hand for these delicious patties. I make them with red pepper, parsley, onion, soft whole wheat breadcrumbs and egg, browned in olive oil with a side of steamed vegetables.

Salmon is one of the best sources of omega-3 fatty acids that protect the heart so I eat a lot of salmon sandwiches, too. I think it’s a Canadian thing… Click here for the recipe.

Jan 13, 2013

What to eat to prevent the flu

It’s flu season and eating certain foods can help keep you well.  Here are some suggestions from someone who hasn’t had a cold or flu since… well, the last time I was sick I stayed home in bed listening to some 8-track tapes.

Red Peppers – Vitamin C helps prevent the body from getting viruses and a red bell pepper has twice as much vitamin C as an orange.

Garlic – Eating garlic stimulates the body to multiply white blood cells making it easier to prevent the flu.

Salmon – The omega-3 fatty acids in salmon enhance the immune system function.

Sauerkraut, yogurt & pickles – They all contain  probiotics, which add healthy bacteria to the intestinal track. A healthy gastrointestinal track can bolster your defense and help resist flu viruses. Make sure the yogurt has active cultures.

Sweet Potatoes – They are loaded with a healthy dose of beta-carotene, which creates vitamin A in the body. This crucial nutrient boosts immune function by lowering the amount of free radicals, helping to eliminate the cause of sickness.

Green Tea – Polyphenols, potent plant antioxidants, are what’s believed to give green tea its immune-boosting effects. One  type of polyphenol called catechin may kill influenza viruses. But don’t add milk, because the proteins will bind to the polyphenols, making them ineffective.