Thai Sweet Potato Stew

Thai Sweet Potato Stew

It is definitely early Spring here in Pennsylvania, in the sense that it is pouring rain and cold outside. So although the birds are chirping and the sun (when it's showing) is higher in the sky, there is still snow on the ground and a chill in the air.  So why not warm up the house, and your soul, with this incredible sweet potato stew.  I saw a recipe like this in a magazine at my mom's house a few months ago, so I cut it out, rewrote it, changed a few things, and came up with this amazing masterpiece.  I honestly think it is one of my favorite dinners ever and I am so glad that I still have a large container of it waiting in the freezer for me to heat up later today. The ingredient list literally reads like a "top ten best foods" compilation and although the stew is relatively high in fat with both the coconut milk and peanut butter, it is the type that your body and your brain crave, so it leaves you satisfied, fulfilled and content with the knowledge that you just refueled your most precious resource with something delicious.

Walnut Brownie Cookies

Walnut Brownie Cookies

I have definitely found my favorite dessert.  If you are like me and love dark chocolate, and like it to be extra dense, rich and fudgy, then these treats are for you.  And if you look at the ingredient list, you can easily see another reason why they are my favorite: they are a big bite of health disguised as a cookie.  The main ingredient is raw walnuts, sweetened with raw honey, coconut oil and cocoa powder.  Walnuts are honestly one of the healthiest foods on the planet and an everyday staple in my kitchen.  They are full of "rare and powerful antioxidants" and are proven to promote heart health and reduce cancer risk.* You do need a food processor to make these from scratch, but I am sure you could use a store bought walnut butter if you had to. I promise that if you try these cookies just once, you will be hooked and want to share the recipe with everyone you meet.

* http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2014/05/19/7-walnuts-benefits.aspx

Blueberry Beer Biscuits

Blueberry Beer Biscuits

"We're eating beer?!"  My kids always think it's hilarious when I bake with beer.  I just think it's delicious.  Beer biscuits have become a weekend morning staple in my house because they are quick, easy, delicious and full of healthy fiber.  They taste great plain, with butter, jelly or as a base for a magnificent breakfast sandwich. But with all the choices of flavored beers available these days, I couldn't just stick to my basic recipe. I am not sure if the beer flavor actually adds a whole lot of difference to the recipe, but it is fun to use as inspiration. These would be even better in the summer with freshly picked blueberries, but frozen ones work just as well.  So pick up your favorite beer and get baking! (you should also try my Raspberry and Cocoa Beer Biscuits for an even sweeter treat!)

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!

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!

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!