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Parmesan Roasted Green Beans Recipe

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I love Roasted Green Beans a lot because boiled or mushy green beans don’t have great taste (in my opinion though). It adds more value and taste as a side to a dish like wrapped in bacon or Rosemary and Lemon Roasted Chicken. Well, parmesan roasted green beans come out tender, crisp and delicious and that’s what I like most in the roasted green beans. 

Also, Asparagus could be an alternative choice if you don’t prefer green beans in your dish. 

However, parmesan roasted green beans are one of my favorites and an easy side dish. You can add a little bit crushed red pepper to add extra flavor to the dish while seasoning them in your own way. Also, you can keep the Parmesan dairy-free by leaving the Parmesan off as well. 

And, I would suggest to use two baking sheets if you have any plan to make double the recipe. Make sure you serve them right after the oven to get the best taste of the recipe. And you can make this wonderful delicious recipe on the stovetop grill pan if you are not fortunate enough of having an oven. 

Parmesan Roasted Green Beans Recipe

How To Make Parmesan Roasted Green Beans? (Step-by-Step) 

Ingredients: 

  • ¼ tsp garlic powder 
  • 2 tsp olive oil 
  • 11/2 tbsp shredded Parmesan 
  • 12 ounces of dry, trimmed green beans. 
  • Fresh cracked pepper to taste 
  • Kosher salt 
  • Other Extra Ingredients: (If you wish to add them in the recipe) 
  • Mince garlic 
  • Sliced almonds 
  • Dried herbs 
  • Fresh pepper 
  • Butter 
  • Balsamic vinegar 
  • Shaved parmesan cheese 

Directions 

  • Prepare your oven first and preheat it to 425°F. Also, using a baking sheet with aluminum can make the cleaning easier. 
  • On the baking sheet – lay all of your green beans and drizzle oil on them. You can also season them with garlic powder, pepper and salt and toss to coat them evenly. 
  • Make sure you have used all the surface spaces of that sheet to spread them on it. It would help you to lay the green beans flat on the oven’s lower third section 
  • Now, this process should take up to 10 minutes, then make a shake to the pan to turn them. And again, bake for additional 5 minutes. That’ it. 
  • And now, you are ready to remove it from the oven and you need to sprinkle them with grated cheese for sure. 

Popular Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s) 

Question: Can I cook them on the grill in a grill pan? Would like to serve with the bruschetta chicken recipe. 

Answer: I don’t see why not & bruschetta chicken is an ideal recipe along with this roasted green beans. 

Question: Is it okay if I make mushroom alongside the green beans? Or, would they require a different temps/cook times? 

Answer: I think if the mushrooms were whole then, there shouldn’t have any problem (though I’m not 100% sure about it) 

Question: Can I use frozen green beans for this? 

Answer: Though it is quite exquisite, yes you can, as a matter of fact. 

Question: Can we make it along with Asparagus? 

Answer: Actually, this is how I make Asparagus, & to add a little kick, I like to use Cajun Seasoning. Though the Parm works well too. 

I hope, you have now a good idea on roasting green beans, right? Make the recipe and enjoy with your family. This could be a great dish idea for friends sleep over (I personally love it). To make the roasted green beans extra delicious, try adding other-optional ingredient I have mentioned above. Best of luck with the very tasty, delicious, a great side dish idea- roasted green beans.

Cacao Nibs-Banana Nicecream Bowl Recipe

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This summer I gave myself  the gift of exploring + getting creative with new fruit mixes and let me tell ya it’s been a lot of fun!

Photo by: Kayleen Mesa
Follow on Instagram: @dearpeachesandgrace

One of the things I love the most about smoothies, is that I can get a good punch of fiber, protein, healthy fats and cabohydrates- but why exactly is it important to add these to our diet?

Fiber — found mainly in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and legumes — is probably best known for its ability to prevent or relieve constipation. But foods containing fiber can provide other health benefits as well, such as helping to maintain a healthy weight and lowering your risk of diabetes, heart disease and some types of cancer.

Protein— is an important component of every cell in the body. Your body uses protein to build and repair tissues. It also makes enzymes, hormones, and other essential body chemicals. Protein is an important building block of bones, muscles, cartilage, skin, and blood.

Carbohydrates— play a number of important roles in your body. They are readily stored in your muscles for energy and they enable most of the protein you consume to be used for tissue synthesis (such as muscle building) rather than fuel.

Monounsaturated fats— are healthy fats found in olive oil, avocados and certain nuts. In fact, the evidence shows that monounsaturated fats have a number of health benefits. They can help with weight loss, reduce the risk of heart disease and decrease inflammation.

Check out the recipe below.

Ingredients:
• 3 Frozen super ripe bananas
• A lil organic vanilla extract
• 1 tbs of Cacao nibs
• A splash  of milk of your choice (I used low fat oat milk from @oatly) 

Toppings:
• Blueberries
• Shredded coconut
• Edible flowers from the Union Square Green Market

But you can top it with whatever makes your soul happy!

Instructions:
Throw frozen bananas into a blender or food processor—add vanilla extract, cacao nibs and 2-4 tbsp milk of choice for smoother blending and blend until you achieve a soft-serve texture. You can serve immediately, or transfer to a container and freeze an additional 30 minutes.

Isn’t amazing how you can benefit from nourishing your body & soul with healthy foods you actually enjoy? plus! smoothie bowls are sexy♡ Share with me below what you think of this recipe!

Photo by: Kayleen Mesa
Follow on Instagram: @dearpeachesandgrace

Top 5 Health Benefits of Drinking Beer

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Those of us who enjoy a good beer usually go into it accepting that it isn’t particularly good for us. That’s not really why we’re here, is it? Well you may be surprised to know that beer actually comes with a number of health benefits.

bartender pouring a draft beer
bartender pouring a draft beer

Here are the 5 things that beer is actually doing for your body.

1. Beer can boost your immune system.

That’s right, beer is full of nutrients like magnesium, calcium, and iron. It also has a strong antioxidant profile that can benefit your immune system similar to the way blueberries help you out. 

Antioxidants the body clean up something called free radicals which build up within the body causing oxidative stress on your cells. Foods and drinks that contain antioxidants can help prevent this.

So if you’ve never put a handful of blueberries in a pilsner or blueberry wheat, this is your wake-up call. It’s wonderful. 

2. Beer can lower your cholesterol.

A 2016 study showed that regular beer consumption within a safe range ( 12 ounces of 5% beer per day for women, twice that for men) was beneficial in lowering cholesterol in must individuals.

However it also showed that over consumption eliminates these benefits, so make sure you’re drinking in moderation if you’re going to try to drop your cholesterol with a brew. 

3. Beer can improve your psychological health.

We’ve all heard about the harmful effects that alcohol can have on the brain. These are not exaggerations. Over consumption of alcohol can do a lot of harm to the body and there are a lot of superstitions out there that aren’t doing you any favors. 

My personal least favorite is the idea of the nightcap. Drinking before you sleep does not help you sleep better, regardless of how sleepy a couple of beers may make you feel at the bar.

But beer can help you if you are struggling with stress and anxiety. Moderate consumption of beer has been shown to help reduce stress in most individuals, and as we all know, is a great way to relax and enjoy yourself. Just make sure that you aren’t going overboard.

4. Beer can be good for your bones.

Yeah you read that right. There’s something found in beer called dietary silicon which is really good for improving your bone health. Recent studies have shown that people who regularly consume beer are 38% less likely to get osteoporosis and are less prone to bone injury, 

5. Switching to beer can help prevent kidney stones. 

Researchers at the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart concluded that individuals who drink beer instead of things like soda and even wine or coffee have a lower chance of developing kidney stones.

This study showed that beer has a more hydrating effect than any of the other popular beverages that aren’t water. While you should still drink healthy amounts of water every day, if you are going to drink alcohol, beer is one of the healthier options. 

Conclusion

Well there you go, beer isn’t as bad for you as you thought. Though it may put a hurt on your calorie count, beer isn’t without its benefits. The moral of this story is moderation. Making sure you enjoy beer in a safe and responsible way will not only help you reap the health benefits on this list, it will help you enjoy life to the fullest.

So put your feet up, have a pint, try that blueberry thing (I’m serious guys, do it), and rest easy knowing that life is good and so is beer. 

GREENY-GREEN ALOE VERA DETOX SMOOTHIE RECIPE

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Photo by Kayleen Mesa
Follow on Instagram @dearpeachesandgrace

During the summer time I got to explore and play with some of my favorite foods! Aloe Vera vera happens to be one of them, not only because of its great digestive benefits, but also because since I was a kid this was my #1 natural remedy to treat sunburns, acne and dry skin.

Aloe vera may help decrease irritation in the stomach and intestines. The juice may also help people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and other inflammatory disorders of the intestines.

Follow this simple and healthy recipe for making an easy green apple smoothie, with lots of spinach, healthy fats, fiber, refreshing green apple and of course aloe vera!

BENEFITS

• Boosts immune function
• Powerful anti-inflammatory
• Great for skin health
• Accelerates recovery after exercise
• Potent antioxidant
• Reduces high blood pressure
• Alleviates joint and muscle pain
• Boosts physical endurance
• Stabilizes blood sugar in diabetics
• Helps lower high cholesterol
• Excellent for digestion, and been shown to alleviate and even cure acid reflux, ulcers, and eliminates constipation
• Anti-cancerous


RECIPE

Serves: 1 
Total Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:
• 1 Frozen banana
• 1/2 Lime
• 1 cup Spinach
• 1 medium aloe vera leaf, filleted (approximately 1/2 cup)
• 1 scoop of collagen peptides (I like to add these to my smoothies for an extra collagen recharge!)
• 1/2 Green apple
• 1/2 Cucumber
• Chia Seeds (to taste)

Instructions:
Combine all of the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.

I hope you enjoy this recipe! and remember – this is not about what works well for others, its about what works well for YOU. Be sure to keep bio-individuality in mind and have fun experimenting.

Photo by Kayleen Mesa
Follow on Instagram @dearpeachesandgrace

Healthy Peanut Buttery Protein Protein Bars Recipe

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Ingredients

  • Coconut Oil Cooking Spray
  • 2/3 cup Uncooked Quick-Cooking Oats
  • 1/3 cup Buckwheat Flour
  • 1/4 cup Ground Chia Seeds
  • 1/4 cup Chopped Walnuts
  • 1/2  teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
  • 2 Medium, Mashed Bananas
  • 1/4 cup Creamy. Low-Sodium Peanut Butter
  • 15 drops Chocolate-Flavored Liquid Stevia Sweetener
  • 2 teaspoons Stevia Sweetener  or 4 packets Stevia Sweetener (organic or natural)

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly spray a 13 by 9 by 2 – inch baking pan with cooking spray. In a small bowl, stir together the oats, flour, chia seeds, walnuts, and cinnamon. In a medium bowl, stir together the banana, peanut butter, chocolate-flavored liquid stevia sweetener, and stevia sweetener. Pour the flour mixture into the bowl, stirring until the mixture is moistened and flour is not visible. Spread the mixture into the baking pan. Bake for 12 to 17 minutes (or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean). Cool for 20 to 30 minutes before cutting into 6 bars.

Nutritional Information

Calories: 220; Total Fat: 11.5g (Saturated: 1.5g, Trans: 0g, Polyunsaturated: 5.5g, Monounsaturated: 4g); Cholesterol: 0mg; Sodium: 24mg; Total Carbohydrate: 25g (Dietary Fiber: 6g, Sugars: 5g, Added Sugars: 1g); Protein: 7g

peanut butter on cutting board

Reference

American Heart Association. (2019). Peanut Butter Banana Protein Bars. Retrieved from https://recipes.heart.org/en/recipes/peanut-butter-banana-protein-bars

QUICK OAT + BANANA SOFT COOKIES

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banana soft cookies with a dog in the background
Photo by: Kayleen Mesa
Follow on Instagram: @dearpeachesandgrace

So! So! So! Yummyy!!

One thing about me is that I’m all about MAXIMIZING time. I’m not much of a recipe creator. I Personally feel best just eating simple meals, but I know not everyone is the same so it always goes back to playing and exploring to find what works best for you. The biggest purpose of my content is to inspire you and encourage you to try new things!

These delicous and easy soft cookies are the perfect move for a quick breakfast or pre/post workout snack!

I LOVE oats, not only do they lower your cholesterol levels which in turn helps you prevent developing heart disease or diabetes, but they also energize you with good carbs and nutrients to keep you going for longer during the day.

Those nutrients include manganese, good for bone production and skin integrity as well as magnesium – important for energy production to make you feel more awake.

Same with bananas “the favourite fruit among athletes”not only because they contain a decent amount of good carbs but for being the big players in the potassium game.

Potassium is a very important nutrient for avoiding fatigue and muscle cramps. Pretty good if you’ve got a hard day ahead of you.

RECIPE

Serves: 7-8
Total Time: 30 min.

Ingredients:
• 3 mashed bananas
• 135g Oats
• 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 20g Grated coconut
• Tbsp of chia seeds
• Tbsp of organic cacao powder
• Cacao nibs to taste
• Pinch of salt

Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a baking pan with parchment paper and set aside.

2. In a small bowl mix mashes bananas and the rest of ingredients until evenly distributed.

3. Roll 2-3 TBS (depending on how large you like your cookies) of mix at a time into balls and place them evenly spaced on your prepared cookie sheets. (alternately, use a small cookie scoop to make your cookies)!

4. Bake in preheated oven for approximately 18-20 minutes. Take them out when they are just BARELY starting to turn brown.

5. Let them sit on the baking pan for 2 minutes before removing to cooling rack.

I hope you enjoy this fun and easy recipe!! I’d love to know what’s your favorite quick breakfast meal. Share with me on the comments below⇣

Photo by: Kayleen Mesa
Follow on Instagram: @dearpeachesandgrace
Photo by: Kayleen Mesa
Follow on Instagram: @dearpeachesandgrace

5 REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD EAT BREAKFAST

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Starting the day with a nutritious meal is essential for our health and weight management, but not having it at all might not be the best option.

Having breakfast in the morning comes with amazing health benefits. That includes promoting psychological health, energizing the body, supporting cardiovascular health, promoting weight loss, support a healthy eyesight, controlling appetite, boosting immune system, maintaining cholesterol levels, and strengthening the bones.

Creating the habit of taking at least 10 minutes to make and eat some nutritious food in the morning before starting your day can be simple. Fresh fruits, oatmeal, low-fat greek yogurt, whole grain breads with low-fat cheese, or hard-boiled eggs are just some of the quick and nutritious breakfast options, which will not take much of your time, however it can make a great difference in your health, mood, and looks.

Choosing nutritious options for breakfast is vital for achieving optimal health. Protein, Fiber and Whole Grains make for a breakfast that will keep you energized and sharp throughout the day.

Protein in the morning will jump-start your metabolism and make you feel fuller longer helping to avoid those mid morning temptations and cravings.

Fiber from fruits, vegetables and whole grains are essential for digestion. It’s recommended that men should consume 38 grams per day, and women should get 25 grams, including soluble and insoluble fiber. Three grams of soluble fiber in the diet can have cholesterol-lowering effects.

Many breakfasts are full of carbohydrates, so this is the perfect opportunity to make those whole-grain choices. Whole grains are rich in the B vitamins thiamine, riboflavin and niacin, which provide energy.  To keep you marching through your day.

5 REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD EAT BREAKFAST

1. Starting your morning with breakfast will boost your metabolism and keep your blood sugar levels stable during the day.

2. A morning meal helps energize your body, keeping you active and productive until lunch.

3. A nutritious breakfast reduces risk for overeating and cravings later in the day.

4. Eating breakfast has been associated with a lower incidence of heart disease.

5. A morning meal is necessary not only for your body but for the brain as well. Eating a nutritiousbreakfast helps improve your concentration and productivity.

BREAKFAST AÇAI BOWL RECIPE

Serves: 1 
Total Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients:
• Açai Purée
• Strawberries
• Blueberries
• Chopped Red Apple
• Chopped Banana
• Pistachio Butter
• Almond Butter
• Honey (optional)
• Granola (optional)

Instructions:
1. Prepare acai purée: In a blender, add banana, acai pulp, strawberries, blueberries and a splash of milk of your preference. For this recipe, I used almond Milk.
(TIP: Add to blender in that order as adding softer ingredients first makes it easier on your blender blades.) Blend on low until larger chunks are broken down, then gradually increase speed, adding a splash of milk at a time, and stopping to scrape down sides of blender if needed. When ingredients have mostly come together and all of milk has been added, blend on high for 15 to 20 seconds more.

2. Add toppings: Pour acai purée into a bowl and arrange toppings- banana, red apples, almond butter, pistachio butter Sprinkle with granola and drizzle with honey (if using).

I hope this simple and super delcious recipe inspires you start the day with a mindful approach to make better decisions! and remember- health is a journey, not a destination. By taking small steps that feel easy, you’ll be more successful over time. Trust your instincts and know that each change you make has a tremendous impact on your present and your future.

Photo by Kayleen Mesa.
Follow on Instagram: @dearpeachesandgrace