Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Hakuna Frittatas!


These mini frittatas are one of the easiest and most delicious recipes!  They are definitely real crowd pleasers, and upon having them, some of my friends changed the words of the song "Hakuna Matata" to Hakuna Frittata!

What exactly is a frittata?  I suppose if you are the type of person who reads food blogs, then you would know, but I have been surprised by the number of people I know who have no idea as to what a frittata is.  Well, a frittata is essentially a baked omelette.  The preparation is very similar, but instead of cooking it on the stove, you bake it in the oven.  This recipe is baked in a muffin pan and is a wonderful way to use up eggs.

Sunday, November 27, 2011

Homemade Cranberry Sauce

Cranberry sauce is definitely one of my favorite parts of Thanksgiving, and this recipe is so delicious I sometimes eat it by itself!  It is super easy to make too!
The "before"

And "after"- such a beautiful color!


Saturday, October 29, 2011

Pumpkin Cupcakes with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting



I can't believe the month of October is nearly over!  That being said, I knew I needed to post a pumpkin recipe, and these pumpkin cupcakes are delicious!  These cupcakes have very little fat due to the pumpkin and applesauce, and you can't tell that whole wheat flour was used!

Sunday, September 18, 2011

Guilt-free?


I absolutely love looking at recipes on various blogs and websites!  In fact, I'm sort of obsessed with it.

However, the other day when I was recipe hunting, I felt disappointed by how many recipes contained the words "guilt-free" in the title or introduction.  I am aware of how many of us like desserts or other "guilty" foods and am also aware that people, in general, want to be healthier, or even lose weight without "giving up" their favorite "indulgences".  On the surface, this is a nice idea.  I know I might even be more likely to click on a recipe that is "guilt-free".

But, what do the words "guilt-free" mean for our society?  Why do we attribute the word, or the feeling, "guilt" with foods?  There are people everywhere who struggle with food.  We fight cravings, diet, binge, eat too little, make excuses, and engage in many other behaviors that wreak havoc on our mental health.  On top of this, we are constantly bombarded with images of what we should look like or what is "healthy".

What I want to propose is that we stop attaching the word "guilt" to what we eat, whether it is "healthy" or not.  As a human being, you do not deserve to feel inferior or worse about yourself because of what you eat.  You should eat what you want and not have second thoughts.  I know it's hard to do this with negative messages surrounding us, but try to dismiss the shoulds and can'ts and guilt from your vocabulary.

Obviously, health is still important, and I know I am personally always open to a healthier re-make of another recipe I enjoy.  However, if you try to stay balanced and listen to when you are full for the most part, you don't have count every calorie you consume, or worry about consuming your favorite treats.

Have a wonderful day, beautiful people!

Sunday, September 11, 2011

BEST MAC AND CHEESE EVER!!!! (and it's healthy too!)


I love macaroni and cheese.  I think I could honestly eat it every single day.

So, you can imagine how thrilled I was to discover a much healthier version of the classic that is prepared a little differently.  Basically, in this recipe, you cook the pasta in milk instead of water.  As you are cooking, some of the milk cooks out and the starch released by the pasta helps thicken the sauce, without using cream or other sources of fat.

Sunday, August 28, 2011

Banana Cream Pie Smoothie


When life gives you very ripe bananas, make a smoothie!

Banana Cream Pie Smoothie
Makes about 2 cups of smoothie

Monday, August 8, 2011

Chocolate Almond Oat Snack Balls!




I am sure everyone can relate to the times when you are extremely hungry and craving something sweet instantly. Being a college student, this is a great recipe I created for these "must eat right now" moments!

Chocolate Almond Oat Snack Balls