Step up your Meatless Monday game with this delicious Fettuccine with Poblano Alfredo dish.

I’m sure you’ve tried poblano peppers at some point, either in a mild salsa or roasted and stuffed with cheese. But the sauce in this Fettuccine with Poblano Alfredo will really make you reconsider this incredibly versatile pepper.

The sauce is lighter in calories because I’ve substituted olive oil for the butter and got rid of the cream and used milk instead. The poblano peppers add an interesting depth of flavor and help thicken the sauce.

Don’t worry, this Fettuccine with Poblano Alfredo still has the Parmesan cheese.  I mean, it’s an Alfredo after all… you’ve gotta have the cheese!

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I originally developed this recipe for Mom.me, the one and only parenting and lifestyle brand for moms at every life stage, from pregnancy to empty nest!

Everyone knows how to make a fruit smoothie, right? But do you know how to make the perfect fruit smoothie?

Here’s are my 5 tips for perfect smoothies:

1. Add the liquids first. This will help blend all the ingredients evenly. Milk, soy milk, almond milk, coconut water, juice, tea and even kombucha or kefir are great base liquids.

2. Fat is your friend. As much as we want to save calories, using nonfat yogurt is NOT the way to go. It leaves the smoothie tasting like you’ve tried to pulverize sand and it’ll be grainy. Use low-fat yogurt instead.

3. Use frozen fruit. Frozen fruit thickens and adds flavor without diluting your smoothie. In the off-season, frozen fruit usually has more flavor than what you’ll find in the market. In season, put your fruit in the freezer for a few hours before popping it into the blender. Always pulse the blender a few times because the fruit can refreeze!

4. For a creamier (and healthier) smoothie, add ripe avocados or bananas. Those darker bananas will be sweeter so don’t worry about a few freckles! Honey, chia and flax seeds are also great thickeners.

5. Add the ice last. If you still want some icy-coldness, make this the last thing you put in the blender. Ice will thicken the smoothie without adding any additional calories.

Oh… and here’s one more important tip: always use the Hamilton Beach® Wave~Action Blender® for the creamiest smoothie!

My good friends at Hamilton Beach® sent me one of these good-looking babies to try out and, I’ve got to tell you, this blender is my go-to for smoothies. The Wave~Action blades continuously force the ingredients from the bottom to the top in a wave, so everything blends perfectly.

If you’ve got a big family, you’ll love the big 48-ounce glass jar (which is dishwasher-safe, by the way). The spout on the dispensing lid makes pouring super easy, with minimal drips. It also comes with a stir-spoon for thicker foods and mixtures.

Here’s the delicious Raspberries and Cream Smoothie I whipped up in the Wave~Action Blender!

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Poblano peppers are magical.

I’m sure you’ve dived into a plate of them, roasted and stuffed with deliciously gooey cheese. You’ve probably also chipped-dipped the heck out of them in a mild salsa.

Oh… but they’re so much more. They can help you eat healthier and lead a better life (well, eat healthier anyway). Like in this recipe for Fettuccine with Poblano Alfredo.

The poblano peppers add an interesting depth of flavor to this Alfredo sauce and help thicken it. The cream and butter are gone, but you’ll never miss them. I substituted milk for the cream and olive oil for the butter… and let the poblano peppers do all the rest. You’re welcome.

Here’s the recipe… you’re going to love it!

Don’t worry; I’ve still dosed this Fettuccine Alfredo recipe with freshly grated Parmesan cheese. I mean, it’s an Alfredo after all.

I’m not a heretic. (OK…maybe a little bit.)

How’re you doing with that New Year’s resolution to eat healthier?

Well, I’ve got one last rich dish to offer up before you pitch everything creamy and indulgent that’s still in the fridge:

Butternut Squash and Caramelized Onion Tarts.

My pals at Welcome Home Brands sent me these disposable oven-safe 4-inch ruffled baking cups… just perfect for making individual tarts. They’re great for any fun event (they come in a lot of other colors and shapes). Adds a pop of fun, don’t you think? You can also make this dish in a pie or larger tart pan, as in the recipe below.

So here’s the last blast… full of fat and flavor and, oh, so delicious: Butternut Squash and Caramelized Onion Tarts.

You’ll need a 2-lb butternut squash for this recipe. If your squash is bigger and you have extra, roast all of it and save it for later in the week… you are going to start eating healthier, right?

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