Curried Squash Soup with Mung Beans |
My first hand account of the ongoing search for health and wellness through a conscious focus on nutrition, cooking, ingenuity, and physical exertion. As an active stay at home mother of two young children, I spend large portions of my day in my kitchen inventing new recipes and reinventing old favorites into fun, healthy and delicious meals my whole family loves... especially while on the run... literally.
Tuesday, November 10, 2015
Curried Squash Soup with Mung Beans
Labels:
beans,
cayenne pepper,
coconut milk,
mung beans,
Pumpkin,
soup,
squash,
vegan
Sunday, October 18, 2015
Homemade Pop Tarts
Homemade Pop Tarts |
Labels:
almond butter,
coconut oil,
Jam,
Nutella,
pie crust,
whole wheat
Tuesday, September 22, 2015
Peanut Butter and Nutella Bites
Peanut Butter and Nutella Bites |
Friday, August 14, 2015
Vegetable Lo Mein
Vegetable Lo Mein |
I made this meal back in the Spring before I had fresh veggies from my garden, but now that my garden is in full bloom (although not doing as well as past years), I figured I should post this recipe for all my fellow gardeners. I actually do have peas, peppers, kale, carrots, green onions, and basil all growing so this recipe is perfect, and I'll have to make it again soon. Of course you can always use whatever veggies you happen to have growing, or at your farmer's market, or even in your freezer, and could definitely add some cooked chicken, steak or tofu to the final dish to increase the protein content. I just like how quick and simple this recipe is because if you are like me and love carbs, Chinese noodles can sometimes be a diet nemesis. With this recipe you can control how much oil and sugar goes into the pot, so you end up doing your body a favor. I used whole grain organic soba noodles as the base, but you could also use your favorite type of spaghetti in this recipe as well. So forget the take out and get cooking with all the bounty growing right out your back door!
Labels:
Asian noodles,
lo mein,
noodles,
vegan,
vegetables,
vegetarian
Friday, July 31, 2015
Salted Caramel Walnut Butter
Salted Caramel Walnut Butter |
Just found this old draft in my folder and thought I would share it, seeing as I have been too busy recently to get a new post up. Definitely not one of the most healthy things I have created, but way too yummy not to share. The caramel sauce itself is just a pure indulgence, but the nut butter as a whole is actually a great high protein sandwich or toast spread. Unless you are a total health nut and never let yourself indulge in sweets, ever (which sounds rather unpleasant to me), I am sure you have found yourself topping a bowl of vanilla ice cream with a large melting spoonful of caramel sauce straight from a jar. Some specialty brands may have simple ingredient lists like this recipe, but most of them are full of corn syrup, artificial flavors and colors. So at least with this, you know what you are getting and can even use local, organic sources of butter and cream. I apologize in advance for not having a proper photo of the finished nut butter, and will add one as soon as I make this again, but from what I remember, my family and I ate it up so fast, I actually forgot to get a good photo. Sometimes when something is that tasty it's hard to pause for a picture. And if you want to make the caramel sauce healthier, why not use it as a dip for sliced apples? :)
Labels:
butter,
caramel,
cream,
nut butter,
salted caramel,
walnuts
Thursday, June 11, 2015
Strawberry Coconut Banana Pie
Strawberry Coconut Banana Pie |
This recipe is about a year old, but by the time I put the post together, strawberry season was long over. But it's June again, and my backyard strawberry patch is beginning to bloom, so what better time to share this delicious, out of the ordinary, pie recipe. I can't even remember where I saw my inspiration for this, using fresh bananas in a pie that you bake, which I had never heard of before. My mom, who is an amazing baker, even thought it sounded weird, but I was convinced it would add a layer of creamy sweetness to the dish. I must say, I was right. One of the ingredients, the sweetened coconut flakes, were new to me, something that my sister in law in Canada, where I baked this pie, had bought at Costco. Hopefully you can find them as well, or just substitute regular coconut flakes and add some sugar. The pie tastes like a tropical delight and is perfect for a warm summer day, either for breakfast, a snack, or dessert. Happy strawberry picking!!
Labels:
banana,
coconut,
pastry,
pie,
strawberry,
whole wheat
Monday, May 18, 2015
Eggplant Caponata
Eggplant Caponata |
This is a dish I cooked back when it was still warm outside and I wasn't eating every meal on my back deck, or on the way to a Spring sporting event. But now that my garden is beginning to bloom, I thought it was time to share a recipe that I would be happy to make again when I have my own fresh eggplant, tomatoes and herbs to work with. I like to think of this dish as an Italian version of a Mexican mole because of the use of cocoa powder. And of course anything made with chocolate is a favorite of mine! I also like how versatile it is because not only can it be served hot over pasta, like I did here, but it is also great room temperature and would make a fantastic appetizer on crusty bread while sitting out on my deck this summer as well. It doesn't take very long to cook, is full of intense flavor, nutritious vegetables, herbs and spices. So try something a little adventurous the next time you are entertaining and incorporate cocoa into the main meal as well as dessert!
Labels:
cocoa,
eggplant,
Italian,
mole,
vegan,
vegetables,
vegetarian
Thursday, April 23, 2015
Lemon and Garlic Chicken Bake
Lemon and Garlic Chicken Bake |
Wednesday, April 15, 2015
Buon Appetito!
One week ago today I was in Sorrento, Italy, celebrating my 10th wedding anniversary with the love of my life. It was the vacation of a lifetime, a dream of ours since we first got married and couldn't afford a honeymoon. Not a moment went by during our trip when we didn't acknowledge and appreciate how incredibly lucky we were to be able to visit such an amazing country, experience their culture, and do it all while knowing that our children where being lovingly taken care of by my parents. It was an unforgettable experience, and although I had already been to Italy three times (my husband had not, and the last time I went was in 2003), I had never gone with someone I loved, and had the freedom to see, taste and experience so much.
As expected, the most striking thing about Italy, along with the incredible ancient architecture, is the food. I don't know if it is something in the water, the soil or the air, but everything, and I mean EVERYTHING, tastes so much better. It's honestly on a different level than anything I could ever imagine cooking myself or ordering in a fancy restaurant on this side of the Atlantic. From the indescribable bread, the creamy and pungent cheeses, to the cured meats (which I actually did try this time), everything is better. The pasta is perfect, usually freshly made and perfectly al dente, the wine tastes like magic, and if you have never tried Italian canned tuna in extra virgin olive oil you have never lived (in my humble opinion). Even their ice cream (gelato) is beyond comparison and having been in Sorrento, my love affair with lemons (and Lemoncello) was thoroughly satisfied.
Luckily for my husband and I we did a tremendous amount of walking during our eight day visit so we kept working up an appetite for another meal, and I was able to try a lot more foods than I have ever before. I ate mussels for the first time (not bad), a whole fish (which was thankfully "cleaned" for me shortly after it was served), enjoyed numerous desserts, more bread than I usually eat in a year, and only one not so great experience when I ordered "pesce fritto" and literally was served a plate of about 20 small, whole, fried fish, which my husband and I aptly named "the plate of death." It was hard to look at, but my husband lovingly took my plate, put it out of view and worked through it well enough to provide me with a decent meal. Now if that isn't love, I don't know what is.
To be sure, we had a few extravagant meals, most notably for our anniversary night dinner, where the plates where small and artistically decorated with such offerings as grilled octopus, gluten free arugula (which they comically translate to "rocket") risotto, roasted quail (another first!), and more desserts and Prosecco than my husband and I could even finish. But the most memorable meals, to be honest, were the simplest. Dishes I have made myself, and love, but something about being in Italy made them so much better. A few of these almost brought tears to my eyes after the first bite. It was literally like tasting a bit of heaven. Here are a sampling of my favorites:
* I have to thank one person in particular for this meal, and for a very personal, informative, amazing tour to Mt. Vesuvius and Pompeii while I was visiting Sorrento.... he runs a private tour company that is worth every penny. If you are ever in the Naples/Sorrento/Amalfi region you need to book at least one day with Rosato tours.
http://rosatoprivatetour.com
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rosato-Private-Tour/175958529161353?fref=ts
As expected, the most striking thing about Italy, along with the incredible ancient architecture, is the food. I don't know if it is something in the water, the soil or the air, but everything, and I mean EVERYTHING, tastes so much better. It's honestly on a different level than anything I could ever imagine cooking myself or ordering in a fancy restaurant on this side of the Atlantic. From the indescribable bread, the creamy and pungent cheeses, to the cured meats (which I actually did try this time), everything is better. The pasta is perfect, usually freshly made and perfectly al dente, the wine tastes like magic, and if you have never tried Italian canned tuna in extra virgin olive oil you have never lived (in my humble opinion). Even their ice cream (gelato) is beyond comparison and having been in Sorrento, my love affair with lemons (and Lemoncello) was thoroughly satisfied.
Luckily for my husband and I we did a tremendous amount of walking during our eight day visit so we kept working up an appetite for another meal, and I was able to try a lot more foods than I have ever before. I ate mussels for the first time (not bad), a whole fish (which was thankfully "cleaned" for me shortly after it was served), enjoyed numerous desserts, more bread than I usually eat in a year, and only one not so great experience when I ordered "pesce fritto" and literally was served a plate of about 20 small, whole, fried fish, which my husband and I aptly named "the plate of death." It was hard to look at, but my husband lovingly took my plate, put it out of view and worked through it well enough to provide me with a decent meal. Now if that isn't love, I don't know what is.
To be sure, we had a few extravagant meals, most notably for our anniversary night dinner, where the plates where small and artistically decorated with such offerings as grilled octopus, gluten free arugula (which they comically translate to "rocket") risotto, roasted quail (another first!), and more desserts and Prosecco than my husband and I could even finish. But the most memorable meals, to be honest, were the simplest. Dishes I have made myself, and love, but something about being in Italy made them so much better. A few of these almost brought tears to my eyes after the first bite. It was literally like tasting a bit of heaven. Here are a sampling of my favorites:
Vegetable and Cheese plates, with bread a "light snack" while touring Rome |
Pizza with Vegetables
in Sorrento Italy, one hour from Naples
(where I guess the pizza is even better!) |
* I have to thank one person in particular for this meal, and for a very personal, informative, amazing tour to Mt. Vesuvius and Pompeii while I was visiting Sorrento.... he runs a private tour company that is worth every penny. If you are ever in the Naples/Sorrento/Amalfi region you need to book at least one day with Rosato tours.
http://rosatoprivatetour.com
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rosato-Private-Tour/175958529161353?fref=ts
Orange and Fennel Chicken Bake
Orange and Fennel Chicken Bake |
Thursday, March 26, 2015
Thai Sweet Potato Stew
Thai Sweet Potato Stew |
Labels:
coconut,
peanut butter,
stew,
sweet potato,
Thai,
vegan,
vegetables,
vegetarian
Sunday, March 22, 2015
Walnut Brownie Cookies
Walnut Brownie Cookies |
* http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2014/05/19/7-walnuts-benefits.aspx
Labels:
chia,
chocolate,
cinnamon,
cocoa powder,
coconut oil,
cookies,
dessert,
fudge,
honey,
vegan,
walnuts
Blueberry Beer Biscuits
Blueberry Beer Biscuits |
Labels:
beer,
beer biscuits,
Biscuits,
Blueberry,
whole wheat
Raspberry and Cocoa Beer Biscuits
Raspberry and Cocoa Beer Biscuits |
I couldn't stop with just one variation on my Beer Biscuits, so the weekend after I first made my Blueberry Beer Biscuits, I changed the recipe a little more and made these. They are so moist, and delicate, with a rich chocolate flavor, that I almost felt guilty eating them for breakfast, but not for long. You could easily substitute the butter in any of these recipes for coconut oil for a different flavor and nutrient content, and as I stated with the blueberry ones, any type of beer and mix in would work as well. My favorite part is that from start to finish, it only takes about 30 minutes and my family can enjoy a healthy, slightly indulgent, home baked breakfast. And if you have left overs, they freeze great and are perfect to pack into a kids lunch for a treat all their friends, and teachers, will want to try!
Labels:
beer,
beer biscuits,
chocolate,
cocoa,
raspberry,
whole wheat
Friday, March 6, 2015
Strawberry Decadence Bars
Strawberry Decadence Bars |
Feel the need for something sweet today? This recipe uses 100% healthy, natural, powerhouse foods and doesn't even require any baking. And unlike a lot of "raw", "vegan", "paleo" posts I see circulating around social media, this doesn't have any weird ingredients that you have never heard of before. Just simple, healthy fruits, nuts, cocoa, maple syrup and coconut. It only took me about 20 minutes to assemble and they lasted in the freezer for over a week, and after a few minutes thawing on the counter, tasted just as good each time I served them. Both of my kids loved them and I love the bright pink, all natural, color of the middle layer. A slightly thicker chocolate layer, might be nice next time so if you want a little more chocolate I would recommend doubling up on the final three ingredients. And you could always use a different fruit or nut depending on what you have in your kitchen or what your family prefers. And then serve this treat knowing that you are providing a healthy snack disguised as a dessert!
Labels:
almonds,
chocolate,
cocoa powder,
coconut cream,
coconut oil,
dates,
dessert,
maple syrup,
strawberries,
vegan
Sunday, March 1, 2015
Orange Blondie Brownies
Orange Blondie Brownies |
This past Christmas, my family was fortunate to spend a week in Florida. While I was there I picked up a jar of fruit sweetened tangerine marmalade that has since been sitting in the back of my fridge waiting to be enjoyed. I am not one to often eat toast and jam and for some reason most of my family doesn't like orange marmalade, despite loving orange juice, so I decided to use it to bake with before it got forgotten behind the cartons of milk and became a science experiment. Since it is March 1st, and although it is snowing, I feel glad that the coldest, stormiest month of the season is (hopefully) behind us, and what better way to celebrate than by baking a little sunshine into my kitchen. These treats are made with organic whole wheat flour, almond flour,coconut oil and Greek yogurt, so there are plenty of nutrients your body needs and a sweetness your taste buds want. Now if it would only stop snowing!
Thursday, February 26, 2015
Cherry Almond Beer Bread
Cherry Almond Beer Bread |
It's another snowy day here in PA, and what better way to warm up than to bake a loaf of bread! OK, I know it might be more fun to sit under a blanket with a good book or watch a movie while snuggling someone you love, but honestly, I don't think there is any better smell in the world than bread baking in the oven. And when it only takes a couple of minutes to mix a dough from scratch, I swear the aroma is even sweeter. This recipe is a simple twist on my original Beer Bread, with a few extra flavor enhancers added in. The result is a bread with just enough sweetness to serve as a dessert, but not so much that you think it's a cake. I like using different flavors of beer as the inspiration and with all the varieties available today, the options are honestly endless. So experiment with your favorite and get baking!
*I know I usually take a photo of the bread after cutting a few slices, but this bread was so delicious that as soon as I cut it and tried a piece, my kids and I devoured it. Sorry!
Labels:
beer,
beer bread,
cinnamon,
cranberries,
pistachios,
whole wheat
Monday, February 16, 2015
Exotic Bean and Barley Soup
Exotic Bean and Barley Soup |
Labels:
barley,
beans,
chicken,
coconut milk,
fiber,
mung beans,
soup,
turmeric,
vegan
Tuesday, January 27, 2015
Snickers Birthday Cake
Snickers Birthday Cake |
I can honestly say that this recipe is probably the most unhealthy post I have made to date, but it is so delicious that I had to share it regardless. It is a birthday cake, so obviously it is not something you should eat on a regular basis, but if the love of your life is turning 39 and you happen to have a one pound Snickers bar left over from Christmas, this cake is perfect. Because on your birthday you should be able to eat whatever you want and turning 39 is worth celebrating, as is every age (because the alternative to getting older is... well, not worth celebrating, obviously). So go ahead, make yourself happy, and indulge in this amazing dessert with the people who you love!!
Sunday, January 18, 2015
Oatmeal Blueberry Muffins
Oatmeal Blueberry Muffins |
Ever have left over oatmeal that you don't want to throw away, but definitely don't want to eat as a bowl of mush again? I know I sometimes do, so when that happens and I know I will have time within the next couple of days to do some baking, I turn to a recipe like this one. I actually made this on request from my sister in law in Canada who loved my recipe for Blueberry Steel Cut Oatmeal Scones last year. I had planned to just make the same thing again, but to be honest, I didn't feel like grating up a stick of butter. I usually get my husband to do that task, but he was busy helping his dad on a construction job, so I made up a muffin recipe instead. I totally made this one up out of my head using left over steel cut oats from breakfast, adding a little of this and a little of that until the batter looked right, and they turned out fantastic. To be honest, when they first came out of the oven and then fell apart when I tried to take them out of the pan too soon, I got worried. But once they cooled completely, they came out of the papers just fine and were extremely moist, sweet and amazingly popular with my four year old nephew. They honestly taste like a mini bowl of oatmeal in portable cupcake form, so they were an easy way to get my kids and my nephew to eat a healthy breakfast while running around dressed in superhero costumes. I am sure you could easily substitute regular oats and could definitely use canola oil instead of butter, and the end result would be just as good. And the best part is that it uses frozen berries so there is no excuse as to why you can't make them in the middle of the winter as well!
Labels:
Blueberry,
muffins,
Oatmeal,
steel cut oats,
whole wheat
Thursday, January 8, 2015
Gingerbread Pancakes
Gingerbread Pancakes |
Labels:
buttermilk pancakes,
chia,
gingerbread,
pancake,
spices,
vegan,
whole wheat
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