Culinary Nutritionist And Popular Blogger Amie Valpone Celebrates Clean Eating For Spring

"The Healthy Apple" personal chef shares recipes and tips using almonds

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Mar 20, 2013, 08:00 ET

MODESTO, Calif., March 20, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Spring has finally sprung, and it's the perfect time of year to clean out the pantry and lighten everyday meals with delicious, nutritious ingredients. To celebrate this joyous season, The Healthy Apple blogger and culinary nutritionist Amie Valpone has created a free booklet filled with light recipes and tips for fresh, seasonal dishes that are sure to satisfy appetites without overloading on calories. Illustrated with her beautiful photography, the booklet includes quick breakfast ideas, a full menu for a spring dinner party and satisfying snacks on the go.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130320/LA80075)

Created to delight the palate and the senses, "Clean Eating for Spring, with Amie Valpone" is the result of a partnership between Valpone and California Almonds. Each tip and recipe features simple, fresh and on-trend ingredients like quinoa, fresh orange zest, raspberries, almonds and fresh mint. For those with dietary restrictions, she has included modifications for gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian and dairy-free recipes, so everyone at the table can celebrate the joy of spring. To download the booklet, visit AlmondBoard.com/AmieValpone.

"Spring is my favorite time of year, and I love the way food takes a lighter spin during these warmer months. Our comfort food cravings dwindle and we yearn to eat clean," Valpone says. "For my 'Clean Eating for Spring' booklet, I've developed nutrient-rich recipes bursting with bright spring flavors."

Tips involve how to make:

Dairy-free French toast
A quick and easy Mediterranean almond dip
A delicious breadcrumb alternative
A healthier, satisfying spin on a decadent hot fudge sundae

The dishes featured in the booklet begin with her Warm Almond Quinoa Breakfast Sundae and the perfect mid-morning snack – Almond Ricotta Toast. For spring dinner parties, Amie has included Cream of Carrot Soup with Almond Croutons to start, followed by a Roasted Radish, Spinach and Almond Salad with Balsamic-Coconut Vinaigrette with Almond-Crusted Salmon with Chickpea, Cherry and Almond Quinoa as the main attraction. For the grand finale, she has whipped up Spring Fruit & Herb Crumble, her own take on a traditional fruit crumble, without the heavy dough topping.

For more information on Amie or to download her free recipe booklet, visit AlmondBoard.com/AmieValpone.

About Amie Valpone
Amie Valpone, HHC, AADP, is a Manhattan-based personal chef, culinary nutritionist, professional recipe developer, food photographer and blogger at The Healthy Apple, specializing in simple, gluten-free, clean recipes for the home cook. She also contributes to top outlets including the Huffington Post, Glamour.com, The Daily Meal, Food Network's Healthy Eats blog and Examiner.com. As a personal chef, she cooks for a variety of clients including celebrities and people with busy lifestyles who enjoy healthy, fresh food.

About California Almonds
Consumers all over the world enjoy California Almonds as a natural, wholesome and quality food product, making almonds California's leading agricultural export in terms of value. The Almond Board of California promotes almonds through its research-based approach to all aspects of marketing, farming and production on behalf of the more than 6,000 California Almond growers and processors, many of whom are multi-generational family operations. Established in 1950 and based in Modesto, California, the Almond Board of California is a non-profit organization that administers a grower-enacted Federal Marketing Order under the supervision of the United States Department of Agriculture. For more information on Almond Board of California or almonds, visit AlmondBoard.com.

SOURCE Almond Board of California