My Easy Non-recipe Recipe for a Smoothie

April 12, 2018

healthy snacks, healthy smoothies, easy smoothie recipe

I have been really into smoothies lately, even more than usual since I’m pregnant and eating more. I’m sure a lot of people drink smoothies for breakfast, and I sometimes do, but I mostly enjoy a smoothie as an afternoon snack when I’m craving something sweet and refreshing. I have been making a faux tropical smoothie drink pretty often (I mention the ingredients/method below) that makes me feel like I’m in Turks and Caicos or somewhere amazing with a high-calorie alcoholic beverage. Ha!

Smoothies are ideal for getting extra fruits and veggies in for the day. And, it’s a fantastic way to take advantage of seasonable produce like berries, which we always have a ton of in our fridge.

I have a feeling people feel overwhelmed about what to put into a smoothie to make it taste good. Honestly, I rarely follow a recipe. I usually throw whatever fruit is in my fridge or freezer, a handful of spinach, chia seeds and some collagen protein powder in mine. If I have baby kale, I’ll use that but it’s usually spinach. I’ve broken down my method to an easy smoothie below.

What goes in my non-recipe recipe for a smoothie

Fruit: this gives the smoothie the sweetness it needs to make it feel indulgent. I usually have frozen bananas in my freezer, so half a banana typically goes in, plus a 1/2 cup to a cup of whatever other type of fruit I want to throw in. I buy bananas every week at the store, and one or two always get to the point where no one in my house wants to eat it, so those are the ones that go into ziploc bags in the freezer. Then, you need another type of fruit that gives some sweetness such as berries, pineapple or mangoes. Frozen pineapple and mango are always in my freezer for smoothies as well. These are some of my favorite foods! I just love fruit, and I probably eat more than the average person. I’ve been buying a fresh pineapple every week because Braden loves it, plus they’ve been on sale, so I’ve been using them in smoothies quite a bit. You can add one or all of these fruits. Like I said, you have to determine the right combo that works for you. One other thing to note: If you feel like you need more sweetness at the end, you can always add a few drops of liquid stevia. I use Trader Joe’s organic liquid stevia everyday in my coffee and sometimes in smoothies if needed.

Veggie: Baby spinach is my go-to, and I don’t taste it at all. I feel good knowing I’ve pretty much eaten a cup of spinach that day in my smoothie. I know sometimes people are very anti-vegetable, which is sort of crazy to me, but you really can’t taste the spinach (or baby kale) if you just use a handful and the right mixture of fruit. Maybe start with half a handful if you’re skeptical. Or, if you don’t have this you can always omit. I put spinach in everything, and we go through at least 2-3 bags per week in my house because I use for salads, sandwiches, egg scrambles, or just sauteed with with a little garlic and olive oil. If you’re going to use kale, I find that baby kale is the way to go, as the more coarse, curly kale is a little much to break down in a smoothie. We eat curly kale all the time in salads, and we’ve been growing this in our outdoor garden. I have an awesome kale salad recipe I’ll share another day!

Protein: Collagen peptides are great if you want to add protein in your smoothie without the chalky taste that protein powder sometimes gives off. I also put this collagen peptide protein powder in my coffee most mornings. A serving is 2 scoops and has 18g of protein; in coffee, I usually only put one scoop. I highly recommend this brand, and you can get your hands on it thanks to Amazon. I’m sure there are other ways you can add protein in, but this is easy and it also has other health benefits such as promoting healthy skin, hair and nails. Plus, collagen helps with joint health. Seems strange to worry about that now, but once you hit your mid- 30s, kids, you start to feel things in your back and knees! 😉 Greek yogurt is another great source of protein, and I’ll put a a dollop or two of non-fat greek yogurt sometimes, which we always have in our fridge since it’s a regular snack for Braden and me. Or, you could try almond butter or peanut butter. I think it’s a little bit of trial and error or a case of “use-what-you-have-handy” to find out what you prefer.

Chia seeds: I love the nuttiness chia seeds give to a smoothie. I throw them into my yogurt as well. I buy these chia seeds from Trader Joe’ s, which I mentioned in my fave Trader Joe’s picks here. If you don’t have chia seeds, use nuts like walnuts which are yummy and have the omega-3s you need.

Liquid (optional): if you need to thin out the smoothie or add another splash of sweetness, add a bit of orange juice or almond milk. We buy unsweetened almond milk, and I will sometimes splash a little in. I’m talking 2 tablespoons if I had to ballpark. I know people who like to use vanilla almond milk, and I’m sure that’s good, too. I sometimes throw crushed ice in to make the consistency feel like a tropical beverage.

How do I quickly make my smoothies?

Up until two months ago or so, I was making smoothies in my blender. I had a blender, therefore, that’s what I used. Then, my husband starting going to work super early and he wanted to start making shakes in the morning so we bought this. GAME CHANGER. I’m not sure why we didn’t buy one sooner. Sometimes I’m stubborn and I don’t want to buy extra gadgets for our kitchen, but I highly recommend a Nutribullet. This is the version we have, and it is perfect! And, it’s only $60. Totally worth it. I love that it’s a one-stop shop, and you’re not creating a ton of dirty dishes, just the one you’re using. If you want one additional bigger cup, you could get this set instead for a tad more but still under $75.

Here are a couple of smoothie combinations I’ve been mixing up lately:

Tropical smoothie I mentioned earlier: Frozen mango and fresh or frozen pineapple + handful of spinach + splash of OJ + chia seeds + collagen protein + some shredded coconut on top
Easy everyday smoothie: Blueberries, blackberries and strawberries + handful of spinach + dollop of vanilla non-fat greek yogurt + chia seeds + collagen protein
Green smoothie: 2 handfuls of spinach + half an avocado + 2 dollops of non-fat vanilla greek yogurt + green pear + a couple of pineapple chunks + crushed ice
Smoothie bowl: Again, I follow the same general “throw-whatever-you-have-on-hand” rules I’ve mentioned above, but I also top with more whole berries, granola and nuts and eat in a bowl. Here’s an easy smoothie bowl recipe for inspiration.

And, if you’re really a recipe person, here are some easy, healthy smoothie recipes that you might try. Sometimes I look at smoothie recipes just to give me ideas on new flavor combinations.

Is anyone else a big smoothie lover? If so, what’s your go-to way to make a smoothie? I’d love to hear!

Photos by Jason Fitzgerald Photography

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Food Shopping

Trader Joe’s Staples

February 22, 2018

When it comes to food, I am a planner. I try to map out meals for the week, and we cook most our our meals from home because I like to know what I’m eating, and I feel like the only way you can truly do that is if you’re cooking it. I keep a lot on-hand to make quick and simple meals. I often have friends come over, and they seem to amazed at how much is in my fridge, pantry and freezer. I don’t think it’s anything extraordinary; it seems quite efficient and smart if you ask me.

That said, I thought I would share some of my Trader Joe’s favorites with you since many of these items help me make quick and simple meals for my family. I don’t get to Trader Joe’s regularly. I tend to go only once a month since the locations in Houston aren’t in my neighborhood. I’m really just about convenience, so I shop mostly at Kroger because it’s one street away. I only hit up Trader Joe’s if I am near it for another reason, otherwise I have to make special trip. I think going once every month or so is worth it to stock up on affordable food staples and produce.

Even before I became a mom, I just kept a well-stocked pantry. It’s how my family grew up, and I guess I just inherited that. I’m the best person to stay with during a hurricane because I already have everything, and I’m not scrambling like everyone else out there! We’re pretty healthy eaters because I dictate our meals, meal plan and and do our grocery shopping, but I am also very realistic. Until recently, I had a job where I was not getting home until 6pm or later most days. Even though I work from home now, and I’m not scrambling in the evenings as much, I still don’t want to be a slave in the kitchen because I want to spend my time with my kid and husband or wind down doing something relaxing for myself. I stick to real, organic foods most of the time and supplement with convenience foods as needed. I think there are a lot of good brands out there now (including great organic brands with affordable convenience items) that make life easy for you, so why not help yourself out a couple of nights a week so you can spend more quality time with your family? Some of these convenience items like Mandarin Orange Chicken aren’t necessarily the healthiest, but they taste great, can be made quickly and help satisfy our Chinese food takeout cravings. Again, I’m just realistic. I find myself supplementing my meal planning with items like this or a frozen pizza now that I’m a parent, and I don’t feel bad about it. I’m definitely live by the “everything in moderation” mantra. Good for you if you’re gluten free, paleo or on the Whole 30 bandwagon. I have never dieted in my life, and I am not a restrictive person. I’ve trained myself to like real food and I crave it, and this lifestyle has worked for me for the past 18 years. I have no plans of changing it up anytime soon and I’ve become even more flexible since being a mom.

All that said, here’s a highlight reel of some of my favorite Trader Joe’s staples.What are some of your favorite Trader Joe’s items? I love that they are constantly coming out with new things to try and I pick up something new or seasonal every time I go. I just picked up these creamy tomato soup crackers, but haven’t tried them yet, but Braden is obsessed with tomato soup so I feel like he’ll like them.

Everyday Trader Joe’s items and Pantry Staples I love:

Organic Liquid Stevia – I use a few drops in my coffee every day. I have three in my cabinet right now, and this costs half as much as what you’d find at Whole Foods.
Everything but the Bagel Seasoning Blend – so delicious sprinkled on avocado toast, eggs or roasted veggies.
TJ Premium Extra Virgin Olive Oil – I know some people are really picky about olive oil, and I do know a little about olive oil because I previously worked on a few olive oil brands that we had as PR clients. Trader Joe’s Premium EVOO and their regular EVOO are both really affordable — I think around $6.99 for a 33 oz. bottle of the regular and $8 for the premium. I use both for everyday cooking. The Premium is slightly more fruity and comes in a quart container.
Organic EVOO spray – This non stick cooking spray isn’t in an aerosol can and has no propellents. I use olive oil spray for quick cooking things in like eggs all the time.
TJ Coconut Oil Spray – This non stick cooking spray is great for baking and high temperature cooking. It has a mild flavor either.
Organic condiments such as ketchup, yellow mustard, mayo etc. Organic condiments are expensive, but at Trader Joe’s they are typically less than half of what it cost at the mainstream grocery store. I think mustard is less than $2 and that’ll last a few months in our fridge.
Organic Coconut aminos – If you’re a Whole 30 or paleo devotee, you’re probably familiar with coconut aminos. It’s a seasoning sauce that can be likened to soy sauce or tamari, but less salty. I made this recipe for Sesame Orange Chicken in the InstantPot a few days ago, and it was AMAZING. I’ll definitely be making it again.
Ghost Pepper Potato Chips – these are like crack. I love them so much and they’re not healthy but they’re soooo good.
Roasted Plantain Chips – I love chips and these make me feel like I am getting that fix.

My Go-to Frozen Items from TJ’s:

Organic Brown Rice – We eat a ton of rice in our house, and I have a legit Asian rice cooker that we make jasmine rice and brown rice in, but you can’t beat brown rice in three minutes, especially for busy weeknights! We paired this with the Honey Sesame Chicken recipe I mentioned above.
Roasted Vegetable Multi-Grain Lasagna – this is actually quite good and I think it costs $6.99. Braden says it tastes like pizza and will eat a pretty large portion of it, and it has a ton of veggies in it. I typically pair with a salad for another quick, last minute weeknight meal. I think I have three of these in my freezer right now.
Mandarin Orange Chicken – I also have three bags of this in my freezer right now. I wouldn’t call this healthy maybe more healthy-ish, but my husband loves it, as does my toddler. We make the frozen brown rice I mentioned and steam some broccoli, and it gives us our Chinese takeout fix.
Fire roasted bell peppers – We make fajitas a lot in our house, which we can do on the fly since we typically have chicken or flank steak in our freezer. Like I said, I like to have things on hand that make meals and that includes staple proteins like chicken breasts, flank steak, ground beef or turkey. So, these peppers are great to add to fajitas or tacos.

Regular Fridge Items:

Organic greens – Trader Joe’s has a plethora of organic bagged greens such as arugula, kale and spinach at great price points. When I am there, I’ll pick up about three bags of things which is what our family consumes in a week’s time. This kale is perfect for kale chips. I would buy more if I could get them to last longer. I am a person who needs lettuce pre-bagged and ready to eat because it just saves me time.
Sliced mango – I just love mangos and could eat three a day so this is perfect for snacking since it’s all cut up.
Beets – perfect for quick salads
Salmon dip – I love smoked salmon on bagels but I don’t get to eat that too often. But, this cream cheese based dip when paired with everything bagel chips or pita chips reminds me of a lox bagel. Braden likes this dip a lot as well, and let’s face it. When you find something your 3.5 year old will eat a lot of it then becomes staple. My kid isn’t picky, but it’s hit or miss if he wants to eat.

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Food Gifts Holiday

Gift Guide for your Foodie Friends

November 30, 2017

foodie gift picks, gifts for food lovers

We all have a friend who is in-the-know about the latest restaurant, loves to cook and is just an all-around lover of all things savory or sweet. I might be that person among my friends, but I also have gals and guys in my life to talk shop with, so I’ve curated a list of gifts for favorite foodie friends in your life!

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11

A few notes on some of my favorites:

Give a little Texas to a friend who lives out of state with this Goode Company Pecan Pie! It ships really well and come on, who doesn’t love pecan pie?!
Graeter’s ice cream – if you haven’t had this, you NEED to try it. I will say, I didn’t know about it until it became a client of mine a few years ago, but now I know, and it is so, so good. It’s the No. 1 mail order ice cream, and I have gifted this to so many people who just love it. This is a super premium ice cream made with in small batches using a French pot process. They only uses high quality ingredients…I could go on and on, because it was literally my job to tell people how awesome this ice cream is, but it truly is! They have their seasonal flavors right now, but definitely try the signature flavor of Black Raspberry Chocolate Chip. They have dairy free sorbets and low glycemic options, and you can mix and match the flavors. This would make an excellent give to send to family when traveling to visit them and then partaking in a little of the gift when you get there. 🙂 Some flavors are also available in stores. I know Kroger in Houston carries it.
Penzeys Spices – this is a local spice store that has a location in my old neighborhood and they sell everything online. Their spices are amazing and a good price point. I’ve gifted the baking set many times with a pie dish and the receivers have always been fans. 🙂
Two of my favorites magazines are Southern Living and Cooking Light. I love gifting magazines to friends because I feel like it’s the gift that keeps giving. It’s nice to get a new magazine every month and relax for a few minutes perusing the beautiful photos. Why I love Cooking Light is because it’s very approachable. My everyday way of cooking mimics Cooking Light – fresh, healthy ingredients when possible and everything in moderation. I comb through each issue every month and am always trying a new recipe. Southern Living is very aspirational for me; I love Southern food, so I drool over most of the recipes in the magazine each month, occasionally make one, but mostly have intense cravings for things like chicken and dumplings and fried okra that are often featured. I also love the decor and home posts in the magazine, and my home style definitely leans toward Southern traditional. I told our builder when we met that I wanted a Southern Living style porch on our house and it was one of the things Ben and I agreed on. I was able to visit the Time Inc. studios earlier this year where all the work for these magazines are created each month. The test kitchens are jaw dropping and the food prop closet is UNREAL. Sort of a dream come true for a gal who has read these magazines for 15+ years!

I hope this gift guide was helpful. Check out my last one featuring gifts for the wine lover in your life. Happy shopping!

More soon,

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Fashion + Style Food

Fall Favorite Recipe: Pumpkin Bread

October 18, 2017

fall baking, kitchen

There are two things I believe you should go big or go home on: baked goods and cheese. I think lowfat or low-calorie homemade baked goods usually taste terrible or unsatisfying. Same on the cheese front. I would rather just indulge in something delicious and satisfying in a smaller portion so I don’t feel ripped off. Perhaps I just haven’t encountered a good recipe for a lowfat or healthy cake, pie or bread that I like, so I am certainly open to suggestions. I feel this way about ice cream, too, but I think there are some good alternatives with fro yo and coconut milk ice cream. But, I stand by the belief that you live only once and you might as well use some sugar or butter instead of unsweetened apple sauce to make something taste yummy. 😉

I eat pretty healthy most of the time, which basically forces my family to eat healthy, but as we enter my favorite season of the year, I want to start baking some of my go-to recipes that are more of a splurge from our regular eating habits. The world calls this season fall or autumn, but seasons can be so hit or miss in Texas.

So, I like to call this pumpkin season! ‘Tis the season for all things pumpkin, including this pumpkin bread my friend Jeanette shared with me years ago that I believe she got from her MIL. I’ve adapted it a little over the years since I’ve made it so much, and I’ve included those notes below. I try to eat organic most of the time, and I’ve made note of that below in the ingredient list, but use absolutely whatever is in your fridge.

I haven’t met a single person who didn’t LOVE this recipe. Braden is a big fan, and if he knows we have it, he’ll request it multiple times a day until it’s gone! It also makes such great gifts for friends, teachers, neighbors, coworkers, etc. I’ve passed the recipe along to a ton of people, so I thought it was only fitting to share it here as well.

Ingredient List

3 1/2 cups flour

3 cups organic sugar (I reduced from the suggested 3 1/2 cups)

2 teaspoons baking soda

2 teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon baking powder

2 teaspoons nutmeg

1 teaspoon nutmeg

1 teaspoon allspice

1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

4 large organic eggs, beaten

1 cup water

1 cup vegetable oil ( I have also used Canola oil and it turns out the same.)

2 teaspoons vanilla ( I use Mexican vanilla – my fave which I have also used in this recipe.)

1 15 ounce can organic pumpkin ( I stock up on Trader Joe’s canned organic pumpkin every year!)

1 cup chopped pecans

Directions

Sift dry ingredients together. Add remaining ingredients; mix well. Pour into 2 well greased and floured loaf pans. Bake 1 hour at 350 degrees.* Test with toothpick. Can be frozen for later use. (I’ve never done this but I’m told you can.) Refrigerate after defrosting.

*Some ovens vary. My oven tends to be on the quicker side, and I just watch it and it usually ends up around 50 minutes bake time. It also depends on the loaf pans. When I make mini loafs, they definitely take less time.

I love this fall loaf pan my friend gifted me a few years ago. Williams Sonoma still has it and it makes such a pretty loaf perfect for the fall season. Another pan I love is this ruffled loaf pan. Also, I always stock up on decorative, disposable mini loaf pans every time I’m at HomeGoods. These are perfect for teacher gifts, which apparently must be given at all times throughout the year. Who knew? I’m kidding (sort of). I didn’t discover this until this past year, so I’m all about the homemade baked goods as gifts since it’s something I can easily whip up with very little notice since I seem to forget that I need to do this until the night before. Also, this kitchen towel, y’all. Kind of the most adorable pumpkin thing I’ve picked up as of late. How cute would this be as a gift with some homemade pumpkin bread?!

Breaking out the fall clothes

Pumpkin season also means cozier fall clothes. I love this tie bell sleeve sweater in an oatmeal color. It’s pretty lightweight, so it’s very wearable right now. I love the tie detail on the sleeves- very on trend right now, but the color of this sweater still makes it classic so I know I’ll wear it beyond this season. The creamy color makes it versatile for wearing with normal denim or colored denim. These jeans are so comfy and are less than $70! The hem makes them ideal for wearing with ankle booties. I’ve worn this top with wine-colored denim and some burnt orange jeans (two of my fave fall hues!), too.

Let me know if you have any pumpkin recipes or other fall recipes I should try. I love to cook this time of year, and I plan to share more recipes soon!

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Food Holiday

Chocolate Fondue

January 31, 2017

I tend to be a savory over sweet person, but I certainly have my moments. I LOVE chocolate, and I also love my little mini-me who seems to be all about dipping lately. He loves to dip food into sauces. Ketchup, hummus, honey — you name it and he’s got his sticky little fingers in it. If that makes him eat more, I’m happy to oblige. I also love creating little traditions for holidays and other special occasions. Making fondue just seemed like the perfect Valentine’s day treat to make at home this year now that Braden is 2.5. Last year, we had a special Valentine’s Day family breakfast on the weekend where we exchanged a small gift or two (lots of Vday books for B) and ate heart shaped pancakes. This is something I hope to continue for years even when it probably becomes annoying and embarrassing for him!

We actually received this fondue pot as a wedding gift 11 years ago, but we’ve never used it. (Yes, I was a child bride.) I’m glad I kept it! You actually don’t need a fondue pot for making fondue. I think it makes it easier for serving and dipping, but I actually made the fondue in a regular pot on the stove then poured into the fondue pot.

What you need:

1 bag of semi-sweet chocolate chips (10 oz. bag) – I used Ghirardelli semi-sweet chocolate but dark chocolate or white chocolate chips would be work well, too. I just thought semi-sweet would be better for a toddler.
1/3 cup heavy cream – I usually shy away from using heavy cream in any recipes but since this is a holiday indulgence I decided to go big.
1/3 cup milk – I used organic 2% because that’s what B drinks, and I had it handy.
Dipping options:
- I found these adorable heart-shaped marshmallows and festive sprinkles. The sprinkles make it fun for kiddos. Braden also loves to sprinkle things on food when we’re making meals. He loves being a part of the cooking/prep! I hope that sticks around for life. 🙂
- Fruit cut up in bite-size pieces such as apples, kiwi, pineapple, strawberries and blueberries
- Angel food cake or brownies, rice krispie treats, etc. – my husband asked me where the angel food cake was when I was making this. :/ He has a major sweet tooth. You can dip whatever your heart desires into chocolate but I tried to stick to fruit this occasion.
- Suggestion: I think you could add a tsp of vanilla or hazelnut liquor to change up the flavor slightly. I’ve previously used Mexican vanilla and it was great.

Although I think Valentine’s Day is a bit of a manufactured holiday, I do love that it reminds us to take a moment to do something extra special for those we love. I prefer spending it at home rather than getting suckered into an inflated pre fixe restaurant dinner menu. And, I tend to have some pretty good wine at my house so that’s always a plus, too. 🙂

Do you have any Valentine’s Day traditions you love?

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Food Holiday

Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie

November 20, 2016

pecan-pie-6

pecan-pie-4

I’m always in charge of making the desserts for my family holiday celebrations. My husband is a really great baker and will often make an amazing apple pie. I think his love for baking is something he inherited from his grandmother who had amazing recipes her grandchildren often talk about. He makes a few like her famous pepperoni rolls. Maybe I’ll share those in a few weeks since we’re smack in the middle of holiday binge season! We don’t shy away from carbs around here. Since he is a big fan of desserts, I’ve inherited that from him and started experimenting with a lot of baking over the years. We are pretty healthy eaters in my house, but I don’t like to skimp when it comes to desserts and holiday favorites!

One of my go-to recipes around the holiday that always goes over really well is this chocolate bourbon pecan pie I discovered a few years ago. It’s a recipe from Food and Wine magazine, and I’ve adapted a little over the years. My version is listed below but I’ve linked to the original version here.

If you’re out and about doing your Thanksgiving holiday shopping, definitely try this one. People will gobble it up! I think guys really like it, too, especially if they’re bourbon lovers like my husband. I think the hint of bourbon (and my other alterations to the recipe) make it the BEST pecan pie. The biggest changes I’ve made include using a Pillsbury ready-made pie crust. When you can cut corners like this without sacrificing quality and taste, then I’m all for it. My choice is chocolate chips is important, I’ve found so I really recommend the mix and brand I’ve noted below in the ingredient list. I typically serve pie with Bluebell Homemade Vanilla ice cream because it’s Texas, y’all. Bluebell is definitely a favorite in my house.

pecan-pie-2

This beautiful pie pan is from William Sonoma, and I just love it. It was a gift we received a few years ago, and I actually went last week to the store to try to buy another one in white, but they were all sold out so I’ll have to buy one online.

Enjoy!

Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie

Ingredient List

1 Pillsbury refrigerated pie crust

2 cups (about 7 ounces) pecans

3 large eggs

3/4 cup dark brown sugar

2/3 cup light corn syrup

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

3 tablespoons bourbon

1/2 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup semisweet or bittersweet chocolate chips.

I use this total amount but I mix together Ghirardelli chocolate chips – ½ semisweet and ½ 60% cacao bittersweet chips. (I’ve found them at Kroger and World Market.)

Directions

Preheat the oven to 375°. On a rimmed baking sheet, toast the pecans for about 8 minutes, or until fragrant; coarsely chop.

Note: I only need to toast them in my oven for about 4 minutes, otherwise they burn really quickly and if you over toast them it definitely changes the flavor. I recommend monitoring this really closely and check after 3-4 minutes and add more time if necessary since ovens differ.

In a large bowl, whisk the eggs with the brown sugar, corn syrup, and vanilla, melted butter, bourbon and salt until blended. Stir in the pecans and chocolate chips until evenly distributed.

Pour the filling into the pie shell. Bake on the bottom shelf of the oven for about 55 minutes, or until the center of the pie is set. Tent the crust with foil halfway through the baking time if the edge is browning too quickly. Transfer the pie to a rack and let cool for at least 1 hour before serving.

Note: I cook my pie for about 45 minutes because my oven cooks fast. I tent the crust about halfway through, around 22 minutes to prevent it getting too brown and crusty.

Make Ahead

The pie can be stored at room temperature for up to 1 day. Rewarm at 325° for 15 minutes.

Note: I make my pies either the night before I need them or in the early morning day-of to help free up my oven before I need it for all my other holiday cooking.

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Food Healthy Living + Food

Skinny Chicken Parmesan with Zoodles

August 16, 2016

If you follow me on Instagram (reenlucas) or Snapchat (laureenlucas9) you may have seen me share my love of zoodles, aka zucchini noodles. Braden is pretty good about eating veggies if he’s in the mood (#toddlerproblems) but he won’t eat zucchini, which is something we roast or grill quite often. But, when we make zoodles, this kid wants to eat them up and will even eat them plain! When I discovered this, I felt like I hit the jackpot! Braden is a pretty good eater, but skeptical at first. However, he did not hesitate with the zoodles. He loves watching us make them, too and will often say, “Watch!” or “Braden help, Momma!” because he’s the best little kitchen helper in all the land and likes to be a part of the spiralizing process. Because of all of this, zoodles have been a weekly staple in my house since I received the Spiralizer as a Christmas gift. I know there are other spiralizer gadgets out there, but I am a big fan of this version. My friend Paige says she has a manual version of it, and she doesn’t love it so I say go with this one because I love it. 🙂

A recipe we make quite a bit is Skinny Chicken Parmesan from the Skinnytaste cookbook. There are tons of Skinnytaste recipes on Pinterest, too. This is such a great cookbook filled with easy and healthy recipes that my whole family loves. I would highly recommend it. The recipe in the cookbook doesn’t have zoodles paired with it, but I really love how it goes together really well and gives a nice portion of protein and veggies all in one dish.

Skinny Chicken Parmesan

Serves 6

Ingredients:

Cooking spray

3 boneless , skinless chicken breasts (8 ounces each)

3/4 tsp salt

1/2 cup seasoned whole wheat bread crumbs

3 Tbsps grated parmesan cheese

2 teaspoons melted unsalted butter

1 Tbsp olive oil

2 cups Marinara sauce ( I used 1 28 ounce jar I had in my pantry.)

9 Tbsps part-skim mozzarella cheese

basil ( optional)

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Lightly spray a large baking sheet with oil.

Slice the chicken breasts in half horizontally to make 6 cutlets. Season both sides with salt.

In a shallow bowl, combine the bread crumbs and parmesan. In a small bowl, combine the butter and olive oil. Brush the butter and oil on both sides of the chicken, dredge the chicken in the bread crumb mixture, and put the chicken on the prepared baking sheet. Lightly spray oil on top of the chicken.

Bake until golden on the bottom, about 20 minutes. Turn the chicken over and bake until the center is cooked through and the bottom is golden, 5 to 6 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a large skillet, cook the the marinara sauce over medium heat until heated through, 2 to 3 minutes.

In separate skillet, saute your zoodles. See instructions below.

The recipe from Skinnytaste says to next place the baked chicken in the skillet and top each piece with 1 1/2 tablespoons of the mozzarella. Cover the pan and cook until the cheese melts, 3 to 4 minutes.* Serve hot.

*I prefer not to put the chicken in the pan with the marinara but rather just create plates with a layer of zoodles, chicken breast, then top that with marinara and cheese. I like to do it this way because there are typically leftovers, and I kind of like to keep things separated. I also add some chopped basil for garnish and added freshness/flavor.

Directions for Zoodles:

4 or 5 zucchini (Try to buy zucchini that are as straight as possible, as it makes it easier to spiralize.)

Cut off the bottom end of 4 or 5 zucchini. I used 4 medium zucchini for this batch. This is the perfect amount for this dish. Once spiralized, saute with about 2 tablespoons of olive oil and salt and pepper in a large pan. I don’t think you can really mess this part up. I usually saute for less than 5 minutes but you just have to watch them.

***

What I love about this recipe is that it doesn’t really feel like a “skinny” dish. It’s flavorful and everyone in my family loves it. According to the Skinnytaste cookbook it’s only 174 calories per serving and 7 g of fat, too!

We make turkey meatballs with zoodles and even throw in yellow squash into the mix, too. You really can’t go wrong with zoodles or any veggie made with the Spiralizer. Do you have any zoodle recipes to share? Extra points if they’re kid-friendly! 😉

Enjoy!

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Food

Blueberry Banana Bread

July 5, 2016

We always try to eat and cook using seasonal ingredients. We eat a TON of blueberries in our house. My husband loves putting them in his cereal, and I usually eat daily for breakfast with my yogurt or snack on them plain. And, blueberries are the ultimate go-to toddler snack since they are perfectly bite-size.

I came across this Giada recipe two years ago and I’m so glad I did! It’s full of blueberries and makes a great breakfast or sweet treat.

It’s also an easy way to get some fruits into your kiddo’s diet, too. Braden loves it!

Similar to my banana bread muffin recipe I previously shared, I like to use my secret ingredient.

It seems like all I do is share carbs, but I actually cook pretty healthy most nights, but I have to give in to those cravings. I definitely believe in the all about moderation and with two bananas and one cup of blueberries in this recipe, I don’t’ feel too bad about eating this.

Enjoy!

Ingredients:

Butter, for greasing the loaf pan

1 ½ cups all purpose flour, plus a little extra for dusting the loaf pan

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp fine salt

½ tsp baking powder

½ tsp ground cinnamon

½ tsp ground nutmeg

1 cup sugar

½ cup vegetable oil

2 large eggs

2 tsps vanilla extract (but I change it up and use this instead)

2 ripe bananas, mashed

1 cup fresh blueberries

Directions:

Place an oven rack in the center of the oven. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter and flour a 9- by 5- by 3-inch loaf pan. Set aside.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, baking powder, cinnamon and nutmeg. In a large bowl, beat the sugar, oil, eggs and vanilla until blended. Stir in the bananas and blueberries. Add the dry ingredients and stir just until blended.

Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan. Bake until a cake tester inserted in the center of the loaf comes out clean, about 1 hour. Cool for 15 minutes. Remove the loaf from the pan and cool completely on a wire rack, about 2 hours.

Prep time: 15 minutes. Cook time 1 hour. It took about 55 minutes in my oven, so I would recommend watching it and checking with a toothpick starting at 50 minutes.

Makes 1 loaf or 6-8 servings. I think this is more than 8 servings in my house.

Recipe courtesy of Giada De Laurentiis and can be found here.

Blueberry Banana bread – Braden approved! My little kitchen helper is like my shadow in the kitchen these days.

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Family Food

Stuffed Shells

May 11, 2016

I’m a fan of Italian food, but it’s a little heavy to eat more than once or twice a week in my opinion. I tend to cook a little lighter. Sorry, Giada. I do get in the mood for the cheesy goodness that many pasta dishes offer and this recipe for Stuffed Shells never disappoints. My 21-month-old loves it, and so does my 416-month-old, making this recipe a family-friendly winner. 🙂

I really have been just trying to survive lately, prepping more food on the weekends to avoid making choices I know I’ll regret on weeknights. Or, I often make super simple non-recipe meals on weeknights – i.e. salmon, sweet potato + salad – since I get home after work and I want to spend as much time with the kiddo versus getting stuck in the kitchen. That’s why recipes like this that can carry over for more than one weeknight meal are perfect for me. I usually pair it with a salad or another veggie I already have in my fridge. And, this since they are individual shells, it’s built-in portion control.

Before going into the oven

B loves to hang out in the kitchen while I cook.

I think pasta often gets a bad wrap for the carbs, but when you eat it in moderation and you serve with something green, it can be a healthy meal. My motto is to live a little or you’ll end up binge eating later. I eat pretty healthy 80% of the time, but sometimes I just need something a little more hearty like this!

Turkey and Artichoke Stuffed Shells

Serves 6 to 8 (This is a perfect meal to give to friends, a new mom or for a potluck. You can freeze it, too!)

1 (12 ounce) box jumbo pasta shells

3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

1/2 large yellow onion, chopped (about 1 cup)

1 pound ground turkey ( I used 93 % lean)

1 ( 8- to 10-ounce) package frozen artichokes (I used a whole 12-ounce package I found at Kroger)

1 (15-ounce) whole milk ricotta cheese ( I used part-skim ricotta)

3/4 cup Parmesan cheese

2 eggs, lightly beaten

1/4 cup chopped fresh basil

2 tablespoons chopped flat-leaf parsley (I used 1 tbsp dried)

2 jars marinara sauce ( I used approx. 1.5 jars of organic marinara I had in my pantry. I opted for this since I wanted to make it toddler-friendly. The original recipe calls for Arriabiata and although it’s delish, it can be a little spicy.)

1 1/2 cups grated mozzarella cheese (about 5 ounces; I just eyeball this and probably use less)

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and partially cook until tender but still very firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, 4 to 5 minutes. Drain.

Meanwhile, in a large, heavy skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the onion and the garlic and cook until the onion is soft and starts to brown, about 3 minutes. Add the ground turkey, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp pepper and continue to cook, stirring occasionally until the meat is lightly golden and cooked through. Add the artichoke hearts and stir to combine. Remove from the heat and let cool.

In a large bowl, combine the cooled turkey mixture with the ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese, eggs, basil, parsley, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp pepper. Stir to combine.

Cover the bottom of the a 9 x 13 x 2-inch baking dish (I used 3 different baking dishes so I could give one to a friend) with 1 cup of marinara sauce. Hold a shell in the palm of your hand and stuff with a large spoonful of turkey mixture, about 2 tablespoons. Place the stuffed shell in the baking dish. Continue filling the shells until the baking dish is full; you should have about 36 shells. Drizzle the remaining marinara sauce over the shells and top with the grated mozzarella. Bake until the shells are warmed through and the cheese is beginning to brown, about 25 minutes.

After

TIPS: I have adapted this recipe to make it easier on me, using some store bought items like jarred marinara, which I always have handy. I’ve made notes in the ingredient list. Do NOT use canned artichokes. I personally don’t like the taste of them, and I once used and it did not taste right. Lots of places sell frozen artichokes such as Whole Foods, Trader Joes and Kroger. I think I have used hot Italian turkey sausage before. You can swap out the protein for others like sirloin, ground chicken, etc. and I’m sure it’ll turn out just as well.

IF FREEZING: Cover tightly with plastic wrap and place in the freezer for 1 day and up to 1 month. To bake, preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Bake until the shells are warmed through and the cheese is beginning to brown, about 60 minutes (20 minutes if shells are unfrozen.)

Original recipe by Giada De Laurentis can be found here.

Enjoy!

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Food

Bananas for Banana Nut Muffins

April 19, 2016

Y’all, these banana nut muffins are THE best. My husband always makes fun of me for saving my old bananas in the freezer, but they’re great for making muffins whenever you’re in the mood. I had two over ripe bananas on my counter, and I took two frozen bananas from my freezer stash to make this recipe.

There are two amazing ingredients in this recipe that absolutely make it: cream cheese and Mexican vanilla. The latter is my way of doctoring it up. I think Mexican vanilla has such a flavorful taste and we use it to punch up a lot of baked goods, homemade waffles, etc. We definitely aren’t paleo is my house! I just believe in eating a little of what you want or you’ll obsess over it.

This is a recipe I found in Southern Living a few years ago and I’ve altered a little. My version is below, but you can find the original recipe here along with how to turn it into bread, too. I prefer muffins since its kind of built-in portion control.

They’re definitely a crowd-pleaser. I’ve brought these to work before and gifted them to neighbors and friends who recently brought home babies. I’ve never met anyone who didn’t love these muffins! And, they’re kid-friendly, too. Braden LOVES them. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

3/4 cup butter, softened

1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened

1.5 cup of sugar

2 large eggs

3 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1.5 cups mashed bananas ( 4 medium bananas)

1.5 cups chopped pecans, toasted

1/2 tsp Mexican vanilla extract

Recipe:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Beat butter and cream cheese at medium speed with electric mixer until creamy. Gradually add sugar, beating until light and fluffy. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating until just blended after each addition.

Combine flour and next 3 ingredients gradually add to butter mixture, beating at low speed just until blended. Stir in bananas, pecans and vanillas. Place liners into4 paper-lined muffin cups. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes or until wooden toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. (My oven takes about 23 minutes, so watch it and test with a toothpick.)

Cool in pans 10 minutes. remove from pans and cool completely on wire racks.

Makes 24 muffins. (I always seem to have extra so I end up make one mini banana nut loaf, too.)

Prep time: 15 minutes. Bake time: approx. 25 minutes.

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