Air Fryer Banana Bread

This past Sunday I was feeling a little groggy and due to some heath issues and the cold rainy weather, I skipped church and stayed in my pajamas half the day. I hooked up my echo dot to my blue tooth and listened to the live streaming of the sermon. 

I was lazy all day but I did manage to vacuum and get a couple loads of clothes washed.

As I was cleaning up the kitchen I started to throw away one banana that had ripened. Then I thought, “ I could make a banana bread and just cut my moms recipe in half and make a small one. The original recipe calls for two bananas. I only had one. So I pulled out the other ingredients I needed and started mixing.

1 cup self rising flour.

2 Tablespoons butter.

1/4 cup of sugar.

1/2 teaspoon vanilla.

1 small egg or 1/2 large egg (Ill let you figure out how to half an egg.).

1 ripe banana.

1/4 cup of milk.

Nuts (optional).

Mix well and pour into a greased mini loaf pan.

Preheat air fryer for about 5 minutes at 325 degrees.

Bake for 20 minutes or until done. (I used the tooth pick test).

I wanted to try making this banana bread in my air fryer. The small disposable loaf pan I had was slightly too big for my air fryer basket so I bent it in a little to make it fit. 

I sprayed it with some cooking spray and poured in my batter.

Perfect!

20 minutes later, I had the perfect little loaf of banana bread. It was over enough for the two of us to enjoy after dinner. 

Did I mention how much I love my air fryer? It’s like an adult Easy Bake oven. 

Many ask what kind of air fryer I use. I uses a Ninja Max.

I got mine at Sams but you can find this one also on Amazon HERE.

As an Amazon Affiliate, this post may include marketing links,

 which means I make a small percentage on the sales 

but it in no way affects the price a buyer may pay.

Air Fried Kiwi Chips

I’m typing this post as I ride shotgun toward the coast. I worked a few hours then my chariot arrived and swept me away for a long weekend getaway. 

I wanted to share with you something new I tried. Do you like Kiwi fruit? I’m not a big fan but I tried this little trick and it was actually pretty good. 

AIR FRIED KIWI CHIPS

I started out with a couple clean scrubbed Kiwis. 

They feel like suede and I don’t like the fuzzy texture. So I scrubbed them really good. 

It did not help the texture but it eased my mind a little. 

Then I sliced the Kiwi thin and placed them in a single layer in the air fryer at 320 degrees for 8 minutes. 

No need to add any other flavors, oils or spices to them as they will have a bold taste alone. 

Note: I left the skin on (optional).

They turned out nice and crispy. Surprisingly the Kiwi skin was not tough nor did it feel fuzzy Ha. The cooked Kiwi had a unique taste. It’s hard to explain. I guess you can say it tasted somewhat like a baked apple but was very tart. 

Will I make them again? Probably. Because it is a healthy cheap snack and the sour bite curbs my appetite. 

Here are some health benefits in these little prickly fruits.

-Vitamin A which is good for the eyes.

-Regulates the digestive system and helps block E Coli bacteria.

-Vitamin E and Antioxidants that improves skin.

-Controls Diabetes.

-Rich in Potassium and polyphenols that improve heart health.

-Boost Immune system.

-Improves Iron absorption.

Do you like Kiwi? 

What is one of your favorite fruits? I am more of a melon eater than a fruit eater but I love pineapple. 

Air Fryer Salmon Patties

Growing up, Salmon patties were a regular in our house. Mom would make salmon patties with a side of black eye peas. I have never been able to make them like mom. Hers were always so good. I do not think she added much to the recipe but they were always smashed flat and fried with crispy edges. 

Me and Nick are always trying to decide what to make for dinners during the week. We both work so we like something thats quick and easy but we are just running out of ideas. It has been a while since we had salmon patties so I decided to prepare some the night before so all we had to do was cook them and add a side. 

We do not fry our foods in grease. We haven’t done this in a long time. About the only thing that gets fried around here is an egg. We usually use the oven, grill or airfyer. I used the air fryer for this recipe and they turned out puffy and delicious. And yes, I added a side of black eye peas. 

AIR FRYER SALMON PATTIES

12 oz canned salmon (Drain, skin and remove the larger bones.)

2 eggs

¼ cup mayo

¼ teaspoon salt

½ cup breadcrumbs

Lemon zest of one lemon

1/2 teaspoon Dill weed

Add everything together and form into 4 patties.

Turn on air fryer to 390 degrees and preheat for about 3 minutes. 

Spray air fryer tray, place in patties and spray tops of patties. 

Cook for 8-10 minutes. 

I liked these better than the crab cakes I usually make. They are simple and quick. They can also be made ahead of time and placed in the fridge until ready to cook. 

Do you like Salmon patties? What are some meals you remember growing up on. 

Air Fryer S’mores Oatmeal

For the past two weeks, I have been doing a smoothie for breakfast. I’m getting tired of it. I like to eat my food, not drink it but I am always looking for healthy meal options. I have also been taking my lunches to work instead of coming home for lunch and pigging out. I have to limit my meals. Portion control is what I have to do if I want to lose weight. It’s not as much about what you eat but how much you eat. 

This morning I wanted to make a solid breakfast for a change. I started making an egg but ended up burning it. I guess I was out of sync. I used to always make an egg. I consider myself an omelet pro and I love my eggs over easy too. We grew up calling it “an egg with a moon on it” Only momma knew what we meant. 

So, since my egg didn’t turn out well, I resorted to a recipe I found for S'mores Oatmeal. I’m not a big fan of s’mores but this was a winner. It was like eating a dessert instead of breakfast. This is still considered “healthy”, It’s easy and can be made in your air fryer within 7 minutes. 

AIR FRYER S’MORES OATMEAL

1/3 Cup Quick Oats

1/2 Scoop Vanilla Protein Powder

1/4 Teaspoon Baking Powder

1/3 Cup Almond Milk

1/2 Sheet crushed Graham Cracker

Chocolate Chips

1/4 Cup Mini Marshmallows

Mix together, oats, protein powder, baking powder and Almond milk.

Pour into a Ramekin.

Stir in a few of the chocolate chips and marshmallows.

Top with crushed graham crackers, and the rest of the chocolate chips and marshmallows. 

Cook in air fryer at 350 degrees for 7 minutes. 

SPECIAL NOTE: Mash your marshmallows down a little so they do not fly around in the air fryer. 

After I ate breakfast, I went outside and ran/walked 3 miles. So I guess I can say this breakfast wasn’t heavy. But the 20lbs I have put on this year sure was. 

Original recipe was found at jhydefit on Instagram.

Follow her for more easy, quick and healthy foods. 

Air fryer Muffins

Muffins in an air fryer? Oh yes you can.

I got a set of these wonderful little silicon cupcake / muffin liners from my daughter. They look just like the little paper ones but these can be washed after using, non stick and not only oven safe, but work well in an air fryer too! 

yea, it doesn’t take much to excite me. 

I did not make a homemade fancy concoction. I just whipped up a batch of the Martha White muffin mix. It consist of just the powder mix and a 1/2 cup of water or milk. I always use water and they are delicious. I mean, why add the extra calories of milk when water works just fine and they are just as tasty?

I filled 6 muffin cups about half way or so. I just kept adding to them until I was out of mix. 

Then I placed them in my air fryer basket. The silicon cups are more sturdy than the paper ones so no need to use a pan. 

I cooked them at 350 degrees for 8 minutes.

 

They turned out a little wonky but thats ok. They were still delicious just the same. Someone told me that the air flow in the air fryer will make them wopsided. (Spell check is telling me its called “lopsided” but I disagree).

Any way, I am tickled to have a new way of fixing muffins and without the mess. Sometimes I will eat two but normally I like to have one most mornings with an egg. I do not have the same thing every morning for breakfast. I like to change it up so it does not get boring. Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day.

My favorite breakfast is waffles. Muffins come in at a close 2nd. 

But of course, I love biscuits and gravy with sausage or bacon but I do not eat like that anymore.

What is your favorite breakfast food?

Silicon cupcake/muffin liners by The Silicon Kitchen on Amazon.

As an Amazon Affiliate, the following is a Marketing Link, which means I make a small percentage on the sales but it in no way affects the price a buyer may pay.

Opinions are my own honest reviews.

Fried Chicken

When I hear the words “fried chicken”, my mind goes back to Grandma. I remember family dinners at grandmas house every Sunday. The main meat was fried chicken. It was real chicken too. I’m talking about the kind of chicken where she would actually ring their necks, drain their blood and pluck their feathers. Then she would skin them and fry them up crispy and place them beside a bowl of mashed potatoes. The smell of fried chicken was set in the walls of grandmas house. 

Later in the years, she would buy chicken to fry. Until the day she passed away, you could visit her house any time and she would have cold fried chicken sitting in paper towels on the stove next to a pan of cornbread. I never knew how much I would miss the little things like this until she was gone. 

My mom and Uncles carry on the tradition by bringing fried chicken to our annual family dinners. 

Now days, I do not eat a lot of fried foods, but since I have an air fryer, I can make foods look and taste fried without actually frying them. I love it. 

The other day I found some chicken legs on sale and decided to make air fried chicken for supper. 

I love how it turned out and tasted almost as good and grandmas. Almost. 

I skinned and washed each leg then rolled them in seasoned bread crumbs and place in the air fryer at 390 degrees for 23 minutes. 

I think if grandma was still here today, she would love how the air fryer cooked up delicious chicken this quick and I didn’t even have to turn em. 

Mini Lava Cake

Monday night I was fixing some air fried carrot chips when all of a sudden my air fryer just shut off. I checked the receptacle to make sure I did not blow a fuse or something and there was nothing wrong there. It was confirmed,“time of death, 4:52pm”. My air fryer bit the dust. It just died. I was upset as this has been my favorite kitchen appliance since I got it in May a year ago as a gift. I use it almost every day.

I immediately jumped online and searched for new one. On Tuesday, Nick and I took a ride across town to check some out. The first store we visited was Target. They had a few different brands. The one that caught my eye was the Ninja 5.5qt air fryer but it was out of stock. They said they could have one for us by Friday. We denied it and went to Best Buy. They had the same air fryer at the same price. Unfortunately they were out of stock too but said they could have one to my door on Thursday......Sold! 

I made supper with it tonight and it worked great. We had chicken breast and corn on the cob. It turned out delicious. I did not stop there. I wanted to play a little more and found a recipe for mini lava cakes. Oh my goodness, let me tell you, “ they were awesome!”

I tweaked the recipe a little and made two mini lava cakes. My remkins were a little large so they did not get as thick as I thought they would. Next time, I will use my smaller remkins. The size did not take away from the rich flavor of these gooey chocolatey desserts. 

The recipe was simple and made with ingredients you probably have in your pantry right now. Be careful, this is not a diet friendly dessert. Each little cake is 483 calories and 43 Carbs. 

Want the recipe? Here ya go.....

Air Fryer Mini Lava Cakes

3 Tbs. Butter

1/2 Cup Chocolate Chips

1 Egg

1 1/2 Tbs. Sugar

3/4 Tbs. Self Rising Flour

-Melt Chocolate chips and butter in microwave (30 seconds at a time).

-Mix until smooth.

-In another bowl, Whisk Egg and Sugar together until smooth.

-Pour in the Chocolate mixture and mix well.

-Add flour and continue to mix until smooth.

Pour into two remkins or mugs and place in air fryer for 10 minutes at 370 degrees. 

Let cool for a few minutes and dump onto a plate and top with ice cream or whip topping. 

(Center will be moist and gooey).

Enjoy.

Air Fryer Pound Cake

If you know me, you know I love my air fryer. My daughter and her boyfriend got it for me over a year ago for my birthday. I have used it almost every single day since. It has basically replaced my oven and frying pan. My air fryer has even been taken to the beach with us to use in the camper. 

Any thing you can cook in the oven, you can basically cook in the air fryer. Just in a smaller portion. I have made everything from steaks, to cobblers in that thing. When I realized I could make cake in it too, I had to give it a try. I decided to make a pound cake. I did not use my own pound cake recipe. I used one found online that called for yogurt since I was out of milk at the time. The recipe yielded 3 mini loaves, so I cut the recipe down to 1/3 to make just one. 

It turned out delicious. This did not compare to my moms or my daughters pound cake but I was impressed that I could make one almost as good using my air fryer. This one will be added to my recipe book. 

AIR FRYER POUND CAKE

(Makes one mini loaf)

1 Cup-All purpose flour

3/4 teaspoon- baking soda

3/4 teaspoon- baking powder

1/3 teaspoon- salt

3/4 Cup- Greek yogurt

1/3 Tablespoon- vanilla

1 egg

3/4 Cup- sugar

1/4 Cup- butter

Mix dry ingredients in one bowl

Mix wet ingredients in another bowl

Then combine the two and mix well.

Pour into a greased mini loaf pan

Air Fry 320 for 20 minutes. 

(Do the toothpick test to make sure its done through). 

Full recipe can be found at ForktoSpoon.com 

I plan to try more cake recipes soon. 

Do you own an air fryer? If so, what are some of your favorite things to make?

Cinco De Mayo

Happy Cinco De Mayo yall!. Do you celebrate this day? It’s not a big deal for us but it is a fun excuse to eat Mexican food. Ha.

The day did not go exactly as I had planned. My plan was to order some street tacos from a real taco truck. You know, those little taco trucks you see in parking lots or on the corners of intersections. I have never tried one and I thought this would be the perfect time since it’s also “Taco Tuesday” at most Mexican restaurants. 

So we headed out to find a Taco truck. I do not think Nick was onboard but he was trying to make me happy. I did not want to go across town because it was getting late. We found a little truck in a parking lot near by so we pulled in and got in line. We were only 2nd in line but there were about 7 other orders ahead of us and it was coming up a storm. When we felt the first rain drop, we left without ordering. Boohoo. I WAS SO CLOSE!

We resorted to plan B and drove to a little joint uptown just another block away. We walked in to order takeout (Thats all anyone could do). They would not take our order as they were overwhelmed with orders and told us they are about an hour and half behind. So we left. Next we called another Mexican restaurant. They had a 45 minute wait. I JUST WANT A TACO! 

We gave up and headed home. We decided to make some Mexican style street corn and cheese quesadillas. They were just as good (I think) as a taco for anywhere else. This was the first time making this kind of corn. I popped two cobs in my air fryer and cooked it for 10 minutes at 400 degrees. Instead of making my own rub, I cheated with a pack of mix. 

I just had to add 3/4 cup of mayonaise to the mix and it was ready to rub on cooked corn then topped with cilantro. Delicious! 

Now for some fun facts about Cinco De Mayo:

• Cinco de Mayo is NOT “Day of the Dead”.
• Cinco de Mayo is not a federal holiday so the day is just like any other day for most people in Mexico. (Think about it. You do not see Mexicans celebrating, they mostly cater to everyone else celebrating).
• Cinco de Mayo is NOT Mexican Independence Day- Mexico celebrate independence day on September 16th. 
• Cinco de Mayo started in the US in 1960 after Latino activist raised awareness for the holiday. This Holiday is now widely celebrated because of the growing Hispanic Population. 

Did you do anything to celebrate? 

I still want to try a taco truck one day. 

Air Fryer Cobbler For One

Have I told you how much I love my air fryer? Of course I have. Like, only million times! When I received my air fryer for my birthday last year, I have used more than my oven! You can literally cook anything in this thing that you can in an oven and in half the time.

As I was eating breakfast, I got to thinking about all the ways to use my air fryer. Yes, I might be a little obsessed. 

Then I got to thinking about moms cobbler. I make moms cobbler every year at my New Years dinner and it’s always a crowd pleaser. It is so easy and only calls for a cup of this and a cup of that (that's what my mom says every time I ask for a recipe). 

I started craving some cobbler but did not want to make a whole one. So I decided to try making a single serve by breaking down the ingredients to fit in a cup. In 15 minutes I had a tiny tasty mouth watering blueberry cobbler. 

So if you have an air fryer an oven proof dish like a ramekin, then I am sharing the recipe with you. I will also tell you at the end how to make the *regular size one in the oven for those that do not have an air fryer. Now, grab an apron and lets get going....Just kidding, you will have this made before you can even tie an apron.

Single Serve Air Fryer Cobbler

Turn on the air fryer at 350 degrees and set timer for 17 mins (that's 2 minutes to preheat, 15 minutes to cook).

• 2 Tablespoons butter.
• 1/4 cup self rising flour.
• 1/4 cup sugar.
• 1/4 cup milk.
• 1/4 cup fruit.

-Melt butter and ad to a bowl, mug or ramekin.

-In separate bowl mix flour, sugar and milk.

-Pour mixed batter into the butter (do not stir into the butter).

-Add fruit (again, do not stir).

-Place ramekin in Air Fryer and bake for 15 minutes. (If you do not think it’s done enough, just bake for another 3 minutes.)

Caution: Will be hot.

Top with ice cream (optional).

*For the regular size cobbler.

Make the same way but with one stick of butter and 1 cup of everything else instead of 1/4.

Put in a 2 quart casserole dish and bake at 325 in oven for 1 hour.

Easy Air Fryer Crab Cakes

Today I would like to share with you these delicious crab cakes. This is one of my favorite air fryer recipes and can be whipped up in just minutes making them a great last minute meal.

“Don’t worry mister crab, these are made with imitation crab meat”. 

I have been making these at least once a month. They make up quick and easy and have been a table pleasure. If you do not have an air fryer, I assume you can bake them in the oven just the same. I honestly do not know. I have rarely used my oven since getting an air fryer. I absolutely love that thing. 

Now, head to the store and grab these simple ingredients:

• 8 oz pack of imitation crab meat ( chunks or shreds. I doesn’t matter. Your gonna chop it anyway).
• 1/3 cup of bread crumbs ( I used two pieces of hard toasted wheat bread).
• 1/2 cup green pepper (finely diced).
• 1 egg.
• 1/4 cup mayo.
• 1/2 juice of a lemon.
• Cooking oil. 
• 1 teaspoon Old Bay Seasoning ( or any other seafood seasoning).

-Chop the crab meat fine (I added it to my food chopper for best results).

-Mix all ingredients together and form patties. 

-Place patties in air fryer and spray with oil. 

-Cook for 10 minutes on 380 degrees (I flipped once but optional).

Enjoy on a bun as a sandwich or alone with a meal. 

You can add other ingredients to your liking such as red peppers, onions, etc.

Makes 4-6 patties. Refrigerate left overs. 

Sweet and Sour Tofu

This past weekend I had a little extra time in the Kitchen to cook up something instead of our normal quick meals that we come up with each night. The fridge and pantry were low on foods because we have been trying to just go to the grocery store once a week instead of 4 times a week. We are always going back to get stuff we want instead of making do with the things we already have.

I decided to make sweet and sour tofu. We didn't have any chicken!
I had a pineapple on the table that was looking pretty, but seriously needed to be used. I have never cut a pineapple before so this was all new to me.

I got creative and decided to make pineapple bowls. I cut the pineapple in half after trimming the crown. Then cut the pineapple into chunks. "Isn't there suppose to be a core in the center?" I didn't see it, so I kept cutting. Later I realized some of the chunks were hard. "Ah, that must have been the core". Oh well.

Cutting the pineapple was the hardest part, but even that was easy.
It turned out pretty, dontcha think? In just 30 minutes and 4 easy steps, dinner was served...Fancy.

Sweet and Sour Tofu.

First:
1 block- Firm Tofu drained very good and cut into chunks
Put in Air Fryer at 400 for 12 minutes. (toss around half way).

Second:
Make sauce
1/8 Cup of ketchup (don't worry it wont taste like ketchup).
1 Tsp- Soy Sauce.
1/4 Cup Corn Starch.
1/4 Cup Sugar.
1/2 Cup Water
1 Tbsp.- Rice Vinegar (or apple cider vinegar).

Third:
Fry to a medium crisp.
1-  Chopped Green Pepper
1- Chopped Onion

Fourth:
Add sauce, cooked tofu, pineapple chunks and toss till covered and sauce thickens.
(this happens almost instantly due to the cornstarch).

That's it.

Enjoy with a side of rice or noodles.

You can also add cherries for more sweetness and color.

Air Fryer Steak

OK this one is for all my meat eating friends out there. No veggie bowls or smoothies today. I wanted to share with you a nice juicy steak I made in the air fryer the other day.

We met some friends at the beach that recommended putting a steak in the air fryer for eight minutes and it was as good as grilled and faster too.

While shopping for some dinner the other night, Nick and I decided to have just a simple salad and baked potato. As I was passing the meat counter, I remember the steak idea my friends suggested and grabbed a nice little sirloin steak and placed it in the buggy.

I mentioned to Nick that I would like to try the air fryer trick and only purchased one steak to share. That way, if it was not good then we only wasted one steak. Besides, we were not in the mood for a big dinner anyway.

By golly it worked!

Set heat to 400 and let the air fryer heat up for 3 minutes then just throw the steak(s) in there and cook for 8-10 minutes, flipping it once. No need to add any oil. Just add the spices you normally use with the grill. 

I cooked mine for 10 minutes and it came out medium-well. It was nice and tender with lots of flavor, just like grilled.

Air Fryer Fried Watermelon Rinds

It’s finally Summer! Nothing says Summer here in the South more than fresh juicy watermelon. OK...Maybe iced tea and cherry pie but we will just leave it at that.

I wasn't always a fan of watermelon until the past few years. I have adapted a love for this red sweet melon that is full of health benefits. You can read a lot of them HERE.

Did you know you can eat the entire parts of a watermelon? You can spit the seeds to see how far they go but that's your own game. You can even eat the watermelon rind.
Hold on...this is real.

I read where it was good deep fried, so I had to give it a try.

Word has it, that you can not make these in an air fryer, but I wanted to try it anyway.
Hey, whata ya know, it worked!
I'm sure the greasy deep fried way taste a lot better, but what I created in my air fryer was delicious all the same.

• After you cut up your watermelon, wash the rinds and cut into fries.
• Roll in flour/cornmeal mixture (equal amounts of each mixed together).
• Salt and pepper and place in air fryer (or recommended deep fryer).
• If using an air fryer, coat each side with cooking spray.
• Cook in air fryer 400 for 25 minutes (or until brown) flipping over every 5 minutes.
• Let cool for few minutes as the inside is extremely hot.
• Enjoy alone or with your favorite Ranch dressing or dip.

Oh boy was it good! Seriously!

What did it taste like?
Honestly, It did not taste like watermelon at all. It tasted like sweet fried squash! It was awesome and makes a delicious healthy side dish or TV snack without any guilt!.

Oh and did you know that watermelon rind is good for your sex life? 

EAT MORE WATERMELON!

Weekend Celebrations

I hope everyone had a great Memorial Day weekend. I have trouble saying “Happy” Memorial Day because I feel it’s a sad day, but a day worth remembering and respecting. So many lives were sacrificed for our freedom. I can’t help but think of how young most of these soldiers were and the pain of the Mothers that had to let go of them.

My weekend had lots of celebrations. Four birthdays were celebrated. Mom invited us all over for steaks on the grill. My dad, brother, sister and me all have a birthday in May just days apart. Mom makes us our own cake. I requested a pound cake. It was delicious. I just can never seem to get a good photo of the food at Moms because everyone starts digging in as soon as the blessing ends. No one in my family understands why I want to take photos of food and when I say the word blog, I get funny looks. They have no idea what a blog is. My mom is the only one that reads my blog. All the others could care less. 

Just look at these two cute gifts from my sister. A hat and a bucket list bucket. Haha.

 

I had to work on Memorial Day but the boss let me slip out early. Me and Nick spent the rest of the day walking the strip malls and then to the grocery store. We were gonna put some fish steaks on the grill but we both agreed to settle for a good ole fashion hot dog instead. He threw some wieners on the grill while I made homemade slaw and tossed some french fries in the air fryer. Afterward, we enjoyed a nice walk around the neighborhood and settled in with a slice of cheese cakes later. 

Now it’s back the regular work days and routine afternoons. 

What did you do special for Memorial Day?

Air Fryer Veggies

I'm a little behind on my blogging. I have been pretty busy though. Every afternoon it seems there is something to do. We go for our walk if it’s not raining. I have been filling some crochet orders. This means trips to Hobby Lobby. I love going there so when someone asks me to crochet something for them in a color I do not have, I’m like “yes!” I need to go to Hobby Lobby. Then I'm in there for 30 minutes just to pick up a roll a yarn.

Ha.

Now that I'm finally settled down, I want to share with you some veggie recipes that I've made in my new air fryer. I have used it every day since I got it. Everyone asks me what kind of air fryer I got. It is a 5 qt.“Gourmia digital air fryer”. It was a sweet gift from my daughters boyfriend. Yep he's a charmer.

Since I have been eating healthier, fried foods is something I have stayed away from. But now I can enjoy the taste of fried foods without actually frying them. We usually cook anything we want to be crispy on a baking sheet and place in the oven. The oven takes 10 minutes to preheat, and baking something for 20 minutes can heat a kitchen up therefore keeping the air condition running during the Summer. We usually take it to the grill at that point but sometimes that's a hassle. Now I have this cool little cooking vessel that will cook just about anything an oven or microwave will cook without using oil and in just half the time. 

Here are a few veggie sides that I have made so far. 

Enjoy.

Zucchini Fries (rolled in pork skin).

Wash and cut zucchini. Roll in egg and milk mixture and toss in 

crushed pork skins as you would bread crumbs. 

Spray with olive oil.

Cook 400 degrees for 15 minutes.

Frozen Veggie Tots

Open bag pour into fryer. 

Cook 400 degrees for 10 minutes. Shake to toss half way through.

Chick Peas

Drain can of chick peas. Pat dry and pour into air fryer. 

Season to taste (I just added a little salt and pepper).

Cook 400 degrees for 15 minutes. 

*These turned out like crunchy nuts and made a great healthy snack. 

Frozen Broccoli

Open bag and pour into air fryer. Season to taste.

Cook 400 for 15 minutes.

2 Ingredient Bagels

(I know this is not a veggie, but too cool not to share)

Make a dough using 1/2 cup Greek yogurt and 1/2 cup Self rising flour.

Shape into bagels. Brush with egg wash.

Cook 350 for 15 minutes. 

I prefer fresh or frozen veggies over the breaded veggies but I really wanted to try those tots. We also did okra and sweet potato chips. 

Here are some tips to remember.

If using frozen foods there is no need to spray with oil.

If using fresh or canned you should spray with cooking spray. 

I have yet to cook any meats in the air fryer but you can actually cook a whole turkey breast or chicken in this thing!

Do you own an air fryer? If so, what are some of your favorite things to make in it?

Air Fryer Pop Tarts

If you have been around me or follow me on social media, then you know I have been wanting an air fryer. We use the oven a lot to bake our veggies. During the hot months of Summer we really hate to use the oven, so this is a perfect alternative.

My daughters boyfriend met up with us last weekend for dinner. He handed me flowers and an early birthday present. Hes a sweetheart, right?

The gift was an air fryer. I was so excited and told him I could not wait to get home and play with it. I was serious. I have used it every night so far. Last night, I made these delicious Pop Tarts. 

These pop tarts are made using only two ingredience, three if you count the jelly in the center. The original recipe calls for Greek yogurt and self rising flour but I chose to use Nutrisystem’s vanilla protein shake instead. It worked up nice and the vanilla flavoring gave the dough just enough sweetness. Needless to say, they are healthier than regular pop tarts. 

Air Fryer Pop Tarts.

2 cups- self rising flour

1/2 cup - Nutrisystem Shake. ( I used the pre made shakes but you can mix the powder too).

Roll dough thin and cut into triangles.

Layer jelly between to layers and seal the edges with a fork.

Place two or three at a time in air frier.

Cook 400 degrees for 8 minutes, flipping half way through. 

(Makes about 6 at approx 140 calories each.)

Icing is optional.

They tasted great but I will warn you not expect them to taste like Kellogg's. The husband gave them a thumbs up so thats a win.

For dinner each night I have had fun cooking my veggies crispy. We normally do this in the oven but the air fryer is easier and quicker.

I call it my “easy bake oven” which I never had growing up by the way. 

I plan to use my air fryer for a more healthy way of cooking without oil. Since being on a diet, I rarely eat any fried foods any more. Now I can have the taste and texture of deep fried or oven fried foods with out the guilt. 

If you are looking to loose weight the right way, join Nutrisystem like me. 

This has been the only thing that has worked for me and as a result, I lost 50 lbs. and feel the best I have felt in years! 

(Results can vary. Expect to lose 1-2 lbs on Nutrysystem)

Use my link below and get 40% off! 

https://www.nutrisystem.com/Lisa40

I found the Nutrisystem pre mixed shakes at Harris Teeter grocery store.