Several of us enjoyed Easter festivities over the weekend which often includes delicious [and not always  healthy] treats like chocolate, Honeybaked Ham, cheesy potatoes, and baskets full of candy.  This delicious ‘Nothing Bundt Cake‘ [pictured right] was on our Easter brunch table… yummy, but laden with calories!

So if you’re like us and you’re ready to DETOX from all that sugar and saturated fat, we’ve got a great recipe for you this week!

[Guest Blog Post by SK Palmer]

After a long day, I know how easy it is to just stop on the way home at McDonald’s.  Maybe you get a salad, maybe not. That’s not typically the healthiest idea in the world, so here’s a dinner recipe that will make you forget all about the McDouble.

Pan-Seared Salmon with Kale and Apple Salad

Ingredients
Four 5-ounce center-cut salmon fillets (about 1-inch thick)
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
3 tablespoons olive oil
Kosher salt
1 bunch kale, ribs removed, leaves very thinly sliced (about 6 cups)
1/4 cup dates
1 Honeycrisp apple
1/4 cup finely grated pecorino
3 tablespoons toasted slivered almonds
Freshly ground black pepper
Directions (Makes about four servings)
Bring the salmon to room temperature 10 minutes before cooking.
Meanwhile, whisk together the lemon juice, 2 tablespoons of the olive oil and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a large bowl. Add the kale, toss to coat and let stand 10 minutes.
While the kale stands, cut the dates into thin slivers and the apple into matchsticks. Add the dates, apples, cheese and almonds to the kale. Season with pepper, toss well and set aside.
Sprinkle the salmon all over with 1/2 teaspoon salt and some pepper. Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-low heat. Raise the heat to medium-high. Place the salmon, skin-side up in the pan. Cook until golden brown on one side, about 4 minutes. Turn the fish over with a spatula, and cook until it feels firm to the touch, about 3 minutes more.
The total time that this will take is about thirty+ minutes – I know that it seems like a long time, but I promise that it’ll be worth it when you’re feeling good about what you’re eating without ruining your workout!

Pan-Seared Salmon with Kale and Apple Salad

Recipe & Photo Credits: Food Network

[Guest post blogger S Palmer]

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and also the hardest to fit into a busy life, (especially when you’re running late). Personally knowing these things I try to fit in some type of fruit or a bowl of Kashi, but eventually I miss real foods. Real foods being the kind that require ingredients and assembly.  I don’t want it to be high in fructose corn syrups or anything else that might make me tired during the day. So after recipe searching, I think I found a couple of tricks that could be helpful if you’re like me and only have a few minutes.

Banana Oat Pancakes

• 2 bananas 
• 2 eggs
• ½ cup of oats
• ½ teaspoon of baking powder
• Optional fresh fruit and maple syrup to serve with the pancakes

1. Turn on pan to a medium heat.
2. Blend the bananas, eggs, oats, and baking powder with a blender – make sure you don’t let it get too thin otherwise the pancakes won’t cook properly.
3. Spray coconut oil on the pan before ladeling out the pancake batter.
4. Check the pancake side facing down on the pan – flip it once its turned a golden brown color.
5. Once the other side of the pancake is a golden brown shade too, you’re done!

Finish making all of the pancakes, this recipe should make about 4-6 pancakes depending on the size you make them.

recipe from Simply Delicious

Overnight Oats

• ⅓ cup of rolled oats
• ⅓-½ cup of milk (depending on how thick you eat your oatmeal)
• ⅓ cup of plain yogurt
• ½ banana
• ½ tablespoon of chia seeds
• pinch of salt
• pinch of cinnamon

Mix ingredients in a bowl and place in the fridge overnight. You may want to place your oats in a travel container if you know you’re gonna be on the go.

I like both of these recipes!  If you’ve got some time to spare, you can go for the banana oat pancakes. And if you know you won’t have enough time in the morning, you can prepare oats the night before and just grab and go!

Do you have a favorite (easy) morning recipe?  We want to know!