Chocolate Chip Gingerbread Cookies

Chocolate Chip Gingerbread Cookies

Do you want the softest, most perfect cookie to eat this holiday season? You've come to the right place! :) These little guys came out perfect, with just the right amount of sweetness and chocolate. I made them for a cookie exchange party and loved then so much that I made more and packaged them up as gifts. 

What's the best part? They are a healthier recipe than other Gingerbread cookies since we're excluding the butter and white sugar (you won't miss those ingredients though)!

Enjoy a moment to slow down and enjoy the smells of the season with some gingerbread-y molasses cookies. 

Happy Holiday Baking!

Recipe Inspiration from: runningtothekitchen.com 

Makes: 3 dozen cookies

Ingredients:

• 1 cup all-purpose (or oat) flour
• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup molasses
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 egg
• 2 tablespoons melted coconut oil
• 1/2 generous cup mini chocolate chips

Sugar coating:

• 4 tablespoons sugar
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

Instructions:

1. In a large bowl, combine all dry ingredients (first 6 ingredients).
2. In a small bowl whisk together remaining wet ingredients until smooth.
3. Add wet to dry ingredients and mix together until fully blended.
4. Add chocolate chunks and fold into batter.
5. Cover and refrigerate for 1-2 hours or overnight.
6. Once chilled, roll about 1 tablespoon of batter into a ball.
7. Combine sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl and roll ball until covered.
8. Place on lightly greased baking sheet and press each cookie down with a fork.
9. Bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes.
10. Remove cookies from oven and let cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack.
11. Enjoy and share your YUMMY cookies!

Turkey Lentil Chili

Turkey Lentil Chili

It's cold out and all I want is something warm and delicious for dinner....and easy to make! I threw all the below ingredients in a pot and let it simmer and vuala! Turkey Lentil Chili! 

Hope you enjoy this healthy meal. For two people, you'll have enough leftovers for your lunches tomorrow (which I always love to have)!

Have fun with this recipe and make it your own! 

Ingredients: (BUT feel free to add or sub out any veggies or spices) 

1 T. olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 lb ground turkey
1 can low sodium diced tomatoes
1 cup frozen corn kernels
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 can garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed
1 cup dried lentils, rinsed
1/2 cup quinoa (optional)
1 red bell pepper, diced
1 zucchini, chopped
1 1/2 t. cumin powder
1 T. chili powder
1/2 t. garlic powder
Dash of cayenne pepper 
2 1/2 cups (or more) vegetable broth

Directions:
1. Heat large pot on medium heat, add olive oil, onion and garlic. Cook until fragrant for a few minutes.
2. Add ground turkey and brown for about 5 minutes.
3. Toss in all other ingredients including spices and vegetable broth (add more broth to make more soupy).
4. Cover with a lid and cook on low for about 20 minutes, stirring every few minutes.
5. Taste test after about 15 minutes to make sure lentils soften and to add more flavor if desired.
6. ENJOY! 

Cocoa Trail Mix Cookies

Cocoa Trail Mix Cookies

 Hope you are having a wonderful November and staying warm! Thanksgiving sure snuck up on me this year! I am beyond excited about all my favorite dishes and the DESSERT! Pumpkin pie is a must, my mom always wants a pecan pie, and I like to try something new every year. I am leaning towards apple pie bars with a caramel glaze….BUT making a healthier version will be tricky! :)

SO, with these delish cookies, it all began when I was at the store yesterday and walked by the bulk section, which I’m a total sucker for, and saw a delicious mix of nuts, seeds, and dried fruit. I grabbed a couple handfuls and ran home to whip up healthy trail mix cookies, good enough to eat for breakfast! 

You could pick any kind of trail mix for these cookies, so pick whatever you want or create your own blend with your favorite nuts and seeds.

Time: 45 mins including baking time

Yields: 2 1/2 doz.

Ingredients:

Dry Ingredients

1 cup oat flour

1/2 cup wheat flour

1/2 cup rolled oats

1/4 cup coconut sugar or brown sugar

1/4 cup shredded unsweetened coconut

1/2 cup chocolate chips

1 cup trail mix

2 tablespoons chia seeds

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 cup cocoa powder

1/2 tsp fine grain sea salt

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

Wet Ingredients

2 eggs

1/4 cup nut butter

1/4 cup coconut or canola oil

1/4 cup honey (OR applesauce - I know that’s a weird substitute, but I’ve tried it and it’s yummy!)

1 tsp vanilla

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350F and lightly spay baking sheet.
2. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together all of the dry ingredients.
3. In another medium sized bowl, stir together the wet ingredients.
4. Add the wet mixture to the dry mixture and stir until combined.
5. Spoon small balls of dough (just smaller than golf balls) onto your baking sheet, spacing them a couple inches apart. Use a fork to press down slightly on each cookie ball.
6. Bake cookies for 15 minutes, the cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack. The cookies will break apart easily before they are cooled all the way, so be careful. 
7. EAT UP with a glass of milk and store the rest in an airtight container.

H

H

Decadent Zucchini Brownies

ZUCCHINI BROWNIES! 

I can't take credit for the photos, because we ate these before I could even snatch a picture, BUT these zucchini brownies are the bees knees! I made them a couple weeks ago for a dinner party and we all loved the first serving so much that we brought the pan to the table and just about ate the whole thing! They are very healthy, but yes, do include sugar. You will also be using a much healthier carbohydrate with oat flour. I really like Bob's Red Mill oat flour from the grocery store in the organic section. It's smooth and bakes really well.

Hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I have...and my husband, and friends :)

HAPPY BAKING! 

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 cups oat flour
• 1/2 cup cocoa powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup vegetable/canola/coconut oil
• 1/2 cup coconut sugar 
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 cups shredded zucchini (~2 zucchinis)
• 
  
• Any of the below are optional add-ins:
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
• 1/2 cup shredded coconut

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly spray an 8x8" baking pan. Set aside.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
3. Using an electric mixer, mix together the oil, sugars, and vanilla until well combined. Add the dry ingredients and stir with spatula. Fold in the zucchini thoroughly. Let the mixture sit for a few minutes so the batter can absorb the moisture from the zucchini. The batter will start to get less powdery and more doughy so keep folding and stirring. Add a tablespoon of water if it's too dry.
4. Add chocolate chips/walnuts/coconut, if desired. Spread in prepared pan.
5. Bake 30 minutes until the brownies spring back when gently touched. Let cool for at least 10 minutes before cutting.
6. Store in an air tight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

YUM!

One-pot Thai Peanut Pasta

What are you making for dinner tonight? 

One-pot Thai Peanut Pasta?

 

SO EASY!

Place all the below ingredients in a large pot, bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes, stirring every couple minutes! See bottom for substituting noodles for zucchini noodles!

Ingredients:
12 oz. whole wheat thin spaghetti
2 C. vegetable broth
2 C. water
4 cloves garlic, diced
1 tsp. ground or fresh ginger
2 large carrots, peeled and diced
1 red bell pepper, diced
2 jalapenos, diced
1/2 onion, diced

1 cup cooked chicken chunks (or nix and keep it vegetarian)
1/2 C. chopped roasted peanuts
2-3 Tbsp. peanut butter, smooth or crunchy
1 Tbsp. fish sauce (can sub for soy sauce)

Optional: Toss on right before you eat:
Juice of two limes, 1 cup of chopped cilantro, and some chopped peanuts.

EVEN HEALTHIER: ZUCCHINI NOODLES 

Simply sub out the spaghetti pasta for 2-3 spiralized zucchinis and cook until noodles soften, about 5-7 mins. *Only add one cup of water or vegetable broth.

Happy Cooking!!!!

Apple Pumpkin Crumble

APPLE PUMPKIN CRUMBLE

I hope you are having a great fall so far! I can't tell you how excited I've been to stock up on pumpkin, squash, and all the other delicious seasonal veggies. Make sure you get out to a pumpkin farm at some point to pick up some goodies, then you'll be ready to bake!  

SO, I know I have some unique recipes on my blog, but this one is totally delicious and I had a lot of fun creating it so I hope at some point this fall you give it a whirl. I would also suggest topping your crumble off with a scoop of vanilla greek yogurt or ice cream! Enjoy! 

Let's get started: Preheat oven to 350F and lightly grease 8x8in baking dish.

Ingredients: 
Crumble:
1 cup rolled oats
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/4 t salt
1 t. baking powder
1 t. baking soda
1 1/2 t. cinnamon
4 T. Honey
1/2 cup plain greek yogurt
2 T. oil (melted coconut, olive or canola oil)
1 t. vanilla

Pumpkin layer: 
3/4 cup pumpkin puree
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 t. cinnamon

Apple layer (pretty simple): 
1 large green apple, diced small (I cut slices instead of diced and they took a lot longer to soften upon the oven)

Directions:
1.Sift together oats, flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, and cinnamon in a large bowl.
2.Whisk together the honey, yogurt, oil, and vanilla in small bowl.
3.Combine wet and dry ingredients. Split crumble mixture in half and press into bottom of baking dish. Setting the other aside for the top layer.
4. Mix pumpkin puree, sugar, and cinnamon in a small bowl and spread evenly over the crust. 
5. Spread green apple pieces over the pumpkin layer.
6. Use your fingers to sprinkle the other half of the crumble over the apple pieces. For a finishing touch, sprinkle some walnuts or pecans on top.
7. Bake for 25 minutes. 
8. Let cool and enjoy with yogurt or ice cream on top! YUM.

HAPPY FALL BAKING! 

EASY Fruit Crisp Topping

EASY Fruit Crisp Topping

 Peaches!!!.....from Thorps, WA 

If you have berries, peaches, pears, apples or heck, even plums or nectarines, MAKE FRUIT CRISP! What are you waiting for?!?!?! It’s one of my favorite desserts AND it’s pretty darn healthy, sooooo it’s a done deal. You’re making this tonight, and lots of other nights.

Hope you enjoy! I have tried numerous crisp/crumple recipes, healthy and unhealthy, and I would like to think this is a happy middle…..mostly healthy and a lot of YUM.

Ingredients and directions: 

1. Preheat oven to 350 and lightly spray 9x9 pan

2. Cover bottom of pan with 2 generous cups of diced fruit or berries 

3. Mix together in medium bowl crisp ingredients:

1 1/2 cups rolled oats

1/4 cup whole wheat flour

2 T brown sugar

1 tsp cinnamon

1/8 t salt

2 T lemon juice

2 T honey (or pure maple syrup)

1/4 cup coconut oil (or olive oil)

1 tsp vanilla

4. Crumple together with folk or fingers and sprinkle over fruit in baking pan (use all of the crisp topping)

5. Bake for ~20 minutes or until the fruit is bubbling on sides or the crisp starts to brown slightly on top

6. Let cool and enjoy with a scoop of honey greek yogurt (or ice cream) :)

Whole Wheat BERRY Chia Muffins

Whole Wheat BERRY Chia Muffins

Say whhaaaat?! I know what you're thinking, that's a lot of healthy stuff for one muffin, but that's the best part. You can enjoy a muffin (or two....or three) without the sugar/fat overload you would get from a muffin at a coffee shop or bakery. I know it's WAY easier to buy one there, but I'm telling you, make a big batch and you'll have them to enjoy for the whole week. Not to mention, it's a lot better for your wallet! 

Nerd-alert! BUT, the picture above is of me and my husband berry picking last month. We go every summer to stock up on berries for summer and fall. This year, we went to a raspberry and blueberry u-pick farm and had a fantaaaastic time eating berries all day till we were sick. I then proceeded to make berry crisp everyday that week....whoops! :)

Recipe inspiration: http://www.domesticate-me.com

Ready for action? 
Makes: 18 muffins
Time: 45 mins

Ingredients:
1 large egg
½ cup granulated sugar
¾ cup non-fat Greek yogurt (honey, vanilla or plain)
¼ cup melted coconut OR canola oil
2 tablespoons honey

½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract

¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 tablespoon lemon juice
1½ cups whole wheat flour (you can also blend whole wheat and all-purpose flour)
1½ teaspoons baking powder
¼ teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon salt
1 generous cup fresh or frozen berries (I used the frozen berry blend from Costco - blueberry/blackberry/raspberry)

2 tablespoons chia seeds

Directions:

1. Pre-heat oven to 375.  Spray muffin tin with cooking spray and set aside.
2. In a medium bowl whisk the egg and sugar for about a minute. Add the yogurt, canola (or coconut) oil, honey, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and lemon juice and whisk until well combined.
3. In a separate mixing bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
4. Pour the wet ingredients over the dry ingredients, and mix until just combined. Don't over mix to avoid dense muffins. The batter will be pretty thick, which is just fine.
5. Gently fold in the berries and chia seeds.
6. Spoon batter into the prepared muffin tin, about 1/2 full. You should have enough batter for about 18 muffins.
7. Bake for 15 minutes, using a toothpick to make sure the center is cooked through and the toothpick comes out clean.
8. Carefully transfer muffins to a rack to cool....then EAT! 

HAPPY BAKING! 

Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread!

Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread!

My wonderful friend, Erin passed along her recipe for Zucchini Bread and included one of her home-grown zucchini's to bake with (it's the size of a melon, see below)! 

I adapted her recipe a bit to include some whole wheat flour and chocolate chips....because 99.9% of my recipes include chocolate so it has to be in there somewhere :) I think this turned out preeeeeeetty darn great and baked perfectly, too.

Makes: 2 loaves
Time: ~1 hour

Directions
Preheat oven to 325 F

In Mixer: beat 3 eggs
Add: 2 cups sugar
1 cup canola oil
2 tsp. vanilla
2 cups grated zucchini

In a separate bowl, sift together:
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 cups whole wheat flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
3 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. nutmeg

- Add dry ingredients to mixer, mix into batter
- Stir in a generous 1/2 cup of chocolate chips 
- Pour into two lightly greased bread pans (I sprinkled chopped walnuts on top as shown below)
**Bake both loaves for 50-60 mins**













HAPPY BAKING!

Fit Summer Circuit

Fit Summer Circuit

I JUST did this circuit today with two of my fit-crazed coworkers (like myself hah) during our lunch break and it was a blast! 

We got through it in about 20 minutes, with a short pause between each full circuit to catch our breath. Talk about some serious endorphans! :D I hope you give this a try and feel yourself getting stronger....or at the least, proud of yourself for trying something new and challenging. Remember, you gotta start somewhere, so if 4 times through is just too much, try 2 circuits and see how you're feeling, then go from there.

***Do note***if you're not sweating profusely and breathing heavy, you need to keep pushing!!! Why work out if you aren't exhausted and sweaty afterwards?!? You'll be SO glad you did!

GOAL: 4 stations, 1 minute each, 4X all the way through

NEED: a bench, mat and to get pumped up before you start ;)

1. CARDIO - fast toe taps on bench

2. SQUAT with single leg side extension (switch leg after each squat)

3. AB leg extensions on mat - slow and controlled, keep back flat on the mat and squeeze in!

4. PLANK elbows to hands, (start on opposite arm after 30 seconds)

Now crank up the music and get er' done!

The Everything Healthy Muffin

The Everything Healthy Muffin

This recipe started when I realized I had an annoying amount of oat bran left in my cupboard from a previous recipe. I also had 4 very ripe bananas that desperately wanted to be baked into something yummy. 

bananas + oat bran = MUFFINS! 

I always love a healthy muffin that I could eat with coffee in the morning or before/after working out. 

I bake like most people cook.....throw in some seeds or nuts, a little extra vanilla extract or cinnamon, and of COURSE a extra chocolate chips, so have your fun with this recipe! :D

ENJOY! 

Time: 45 mins. Makes: 30 muffins

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 1/2 cup oat bran

• 1/4 cup ground flax seed

• 2 teaspoons baking powder

• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

• 3-4 very ripe bananas, mashed

• 1/4 cup honey or agave

• 1/2 cup nonfat plain or honey greek yogurt

• 1 whole egg plus 1 egg white

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 1/4 cup chia seeds

Extras:

2 handfuls of any seeds or nuts

1/2 cup toasted shredded coconut 

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Spray 12 cup muffin tin with nonstick cooking spray or grease with coconut oil

2. In a medium bowl whisk together oat bran, flax, baking powder and cinnamon; set aside.

3. In a large bowl, mix mashed banana, honey, greek yogurt, eggs, and vanilla together until well combined and smooth. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and mix until just combined. Add any additional ingredients as well.

4. Divide batter evenly into 12 muffin cups and bake for 15 minutes or until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean. Transfer to a wire rack to cool for 10 minutes, before putting in a tupperware.

5. EAT UP!