my favorite chocolate chip cookies.

Everyone needs a good chocolate chip cookie recipe in their back pocket.  

I'm not much of a baker, although I do like to try!  This is the one "baked good recipe" that I now have memorized and actually never worry will turn out badly.  I found a version of it a few years ago, after years of searching relentlessly to find a cookie recipe my hubby approved of, and have used it ever since.

But - you have to love REALLY soft, almost under-baked cookies.

As I said, I found the original version years ago, but have since made my own adjustments,  adding more vanilla, baking a bit less, and almost always using dark chocolate chips.  Clearly that makes them healthier.

You will need:
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup white granulated sugar
1 stick of unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup oil
2 eggs
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
3 cups flour
2 tsp vanilla
1 bag (2 cups) of dark chocolate chips

To make: 

• Mix the sugars, butter and oil together until combined, then add the eggs and beat until fluffy.
• Add the rest of the ingredients and mix until well combined. 
• Grease a cookie sheet and place round dough balls that are a bit more than a tablespoon full - do not flatten.  I usually put 12 on a pan at a time, and this recipe will yield about 3 1/2 dozen...depending on how much cookie dough you or little people that are "helping" consume. 
• Bake at 350 degrees for NO MORE than 8 minutes.  They should barely browned on top - or not at all.  Let cool on baking rack.  They will flatten slightly.  They will be gooey and delicious.  If you like crispy cookies, this is not your recipe.  You could bake a bit longer if you want...but I wouldn't!  They are best while still gooey, but still quite good for a couple days after.

Happy baking!!!!! 

one food, five ways : bell peppers!

I shared on Instagram earlier this week that I didn't grow up as this kid that loved vegetables.  I realize that children like that do exist.  In fact, I believe my own kids like veggies a hundredfold more than I did! (Which is to say they tolerate them and even like a few!)   My hubby is a huge veggie-lover.  Eating them raw, unseasoned, undipped, as a snack.  I was (and still am) more of a bread and cheese kinda gal!
However, I've been branching out over the past year in an effort to dramatically increase my veggie intake.  I started with green smoothies - putting loads of spinach or kale into my concoctions - and more recently have been challenging myself to find more ways to enjoy them raw or in healthy recipes.

In recent months I have fallen in love with the bell pepper.  Any color!  Some recipes call for specific colors but I've found that I can make pretty much any color work if that what I've got.

Here is what I do : 

1) Buy a whole bunch of bell peppers at once, all colors!  (Or those fun little bags of mini sweet peppers will work, too!)

2) Slice a bunch up and keep the slices in a container in your fridge to use during the week.  The best tip for healthy eating is to have healthy options ready to eat immediately!  Pick one day (I do Sundays right after grocery shopping) when you set aside time to wash, cut, portion out and prep anything you might be eating during the week.

3) Slice the rest of the bell peppers (or chop for specific recipes!) and stock up your freezer!  I will have one bag of peppers sliced for general use, and smaller bags portioned for specific recipes, with the recipe/amount written on the outside of the bag.

These three steps will set you up for an easy transition to making the following five healthy and delicious recipes below (and whatever others you can come up with!)

Here are my five go-to recipes for using those colorful peppers...

#1 Egg White Burrito 

image source : team beachbody

We use a lot of eggs and egg whites for our breakfasts, to pack in the protein without a ton of calories.  I like to mix it up when it comes to the recipes, so as not to get burned out on a particular one, and this is one I found I found a while ago and really like!  I omit the turkey bacon, as I don't really like breakfast meats - but I promise, it is still super yummy sans bacon.  I will finely chop the peppers and onion and put it in a freezer bag portioned out to make two burritos - one for me and one for Hubby!  I also find it is really good to have a bunch of whole wheat tortillas in your freezer.  They thaw quickly and can be used for all kinds of wraps, as well as the flatbread pizzas in the recipe below!  Get the recipe here!

#2 Mediterranean Pepper Sandwich

You will need:

• one whole wheat sandwich thin (or bagel thin - again, have a bunch of these in your freezer to use when needed!)
• 2 TB hummus (any flavor will do)
• 3 slices of pepper
• 1 TB of reduced fat feta cheese
• 1/4 cup of spinach

To make: 

Simply spread the hummus on one half of the sandwich thin, top with feta, peppers and spinach.  This is such an easy lunch!  

#3 Philly Cheesesteak Bake

(get full recipe at Skinny Mom here)

When I participated in the Skinny Mom 21-Day Shred a few months ago (and then again almost immediately after) this amazing recipe really stuck out to me as one of my favorites!  It is colorful and yummy!  I make it as a bake, but the original recipe has it as stuffed peppers.  Either way tastes AMAZING!  To make it as a bake, simple chop up all the peppers (including the green) and saute together, separately from your flank steak.  Another tip : to save money look for packages of thinly sliced flank steak in your meat department.  This is usually cheaper and in smaller amounts.  I have made the recipe with only 3/4 lb of thinly sliced steak and it was still great - and I saved cash!

#4 Bell Pepper and Pesto Flatbreads

This is a recipe I throw together whenever I am craving pizza but not wanting to totally blow my healthy eating plan.  Hubby loves them, too!  It makes a good "fast food" when you've had a couple glasses of wine at a happy hour, but don't want to get crazy and order an entire pizza or beg your hubby to go get you takeout! (Not that that happens in our house. Ever.)

You will need :

• 1 whole wheat tortilla 
• 2 TB basil pesto (or any kind of green pesto -- I like the skinny version found here!)
• sliced peppers (of course!)
• any other veggies you have lying around - I've used broccoli, tomatoes,  and even pineapple!
• 1/4 cup of finely shredded mozzarella cheese

To make :
Preheat oven to 400F.  Simply put your tortilla(s) on a cookie sheet, spread with the pesto, arrange toppings, and bake for 8-10 minutes

#5 Crock Pot Chicken Fajitas 

(get the full recipe here)

image source : Skinny Mom

This is another Skinny Mom recipe and will just make your life easier during the week!  I will have the peppers for this already sliced, frozen and ready to throw in the crockpot.  The other ingredients are ones you hopefully already have on hand as well.  Healthy staples like cans of Ro-Tel or simply diced tomatoes, frozen chicken breasts, lime juice, onions, and low sodium taco seasoning (homemade or the packets) are all things I typically buy in bulk to have on-hand because they fit in with so many healthy recipes.

There it is!  Five yummy and healthful ideas for a bunch of bell peppers.  Buy em, slice em, freeze em and you always have some healthy options!

+ + + + + +

What veggies do you love that can do double or triple duty throughout the week? 

 I love to hear about healthy eats that can be used in a wide variety of ways!

I hope everyone has a beautiful weekend!  

food love : pumpkin banana muffins

Sorry if you hate this word moist, but recently I made the most moist and delicious pumpkin banana muffins that I simply had to share the recipe!

These are made with apple sauce, no butter, and wheat flour...so they are reasonably healthy...as long as you don't slather butter all over them.  Oh, and they were enthusiastically approved by my two and four-year-olds!  (Believe me, when my picky son loves something, the recipe is worth sharing.)

Oh, and as with any banana bread recipe, they are better the next day!

What you'll need: 
1 1/2 ripe bananas
1/2 cup pumpkin puree
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup applesauce (I used natural, no sugar added)
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 TB baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla or maple extract (maple gives it an interesting twist)
1 egg

To make : 
Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.  Mash banana in large bowl.  Add pumpkin puree and sugar and mix together thoroughly.  Add the rest of the the ingredients and stir until just combined. Pour or spoon batter into a 12 muffin pan, either greased or lined with cupcake liners. Bake for twenty minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.    
(Recipe adapted from here.)

Makes 12 muffins.  Calories : 94  Fat : .5g Carbs: 21.1 Protein: 1.8g Sugars: 11.1g

Can you believe it is almost Thanksgiving?   I feel like I should already be in Christmas mode.  We are hosting the turkey feast again this year, and I am so excited (and slightly stressed, of course!) 

Best food day of the year!

What is your go-to dish to bring?  

Favorite to eat?

I'll confess, I'll always be a mashed potatoes and gravy kinda girl on Thanksgiving.

Hubby likes cheap-o store-bought pumpkin pie.

So as long as I go out and buy one of those, we are golden.

Have a fabulous weekend!

lime-crusted tilapia

I've been itching to be blogging more - but honestly have had a lot on my mind and schedule lately. That, along with a chaotic/messy house due to our current renovation project (the powder room..oy!) has made it difficult for me to get anything on 'paper.'

So I'll start off easy...a recipe.

I had made this a couple times in the past, but Hubby claims he doesn't remember and that this was the most amazing thing he's eaten in ages! (Totally paraphrasing there.) This doesn't shock me because with two small children I have been making a lot of, well, "kid-friendly" dishes as of late.

There are a lot of foods I regret eating, because they make me feel kind of icky afterward.  But you know what I NEVER regret eating?  Fish.  Fish and veggies and a big glass of red wine.  To me, that is the perfect meal.  Absolutely no guilt, yet fully satisfied.

This dish is perfect for summer because of the lime kick added to the fish.  Lime and summer go together perfectly, don't they?  (Can I get an "Amen" from Corona drinkers???)

Lime Crusted Tilapia

(adapted from this recipe)

Ingredients:

(for the fish)

4 tilapia filets

1 cup Panko bread crumbs

juice from two limes

1/2 cup olive oil

(for the dressing)

1/2 cup mayo

2 TB balsamic vinegar

2 TB honey

1. Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees.

2. Spray a glass baking dish with oil. 

3. Whisk together ingredients for dressing in a small bowl and set aside.

4. Put the Panko in a shallow bowl and whisk the olive oil and lime juice together in another.

5. Coat one filet in the oil and juice mixture, dredge in the Panko crumbs until covered, then place in dish.  Repeat with other filets.  Make sure you use all the Panko.  Just sprinkle whatever doesn't adhere to the filets evenly over the tops before baking.  For an added kick - sprinkle with more lime juice, also!!!!  Go wild, it's summer.

6. Bake for 12-15 minutes.

7. Serve over a bed of spinach and halved cherry tomatoes.  Drizzle liberally with the creamy vinaigrette. 

Enjoy! So, so good!

spinach from my teeny tiny veggie garden -- and can you tell which one tomato is, too? :D

Hope to be back soon with some renovation updates, a lil Stitch Fix action, and, (grandparents, I didn't forget you!!!!) sweet kiddo pics/updates!

strawberry + brie salad

I made this salad because I was inspired by the one I mentioned in this post.
It was so good and I knew I had to have it again.  I love brie, in general - right up there with goat cheese!  However, I had never had it in a salad before, and I have to tell you it is a lovely change from the typical feta I throw in to my normal weeknight salads.  

You will need: 
2 c strawberries, thinly sliced or quartered
brie wheel, cut into very thin wedges - use a little or a lot
1/2 c sliced almonds (I candied mine, but you don't have to)
1 bag of baby romaine
1/2 c dried cranberries
poppyseed dressing
(***you can also add some thinly slice red onion - the original had it and it did add a nice crispness!)

To make:
Pile greens on individual plates or a serving platter and top with all ingredients, arranging brie around on the side.  Add a thinly sliced grilled chicken breast to the top make this your main course.

What is your go-to salad?   Have you ever tried to recreate a restaurant version?  

g

sweet corn, tomato & basil pizza

I am always happy to add a good pizza to my recipe collection.

This one comes from Martha Stewart and it is completely delish.

I know what you are thinking: sweet corn on a pizza?  Just trust me - it's good.

I didn't do it completely a la Martha, as her recipe calls for grilling the pizza as well as letting your dough sit for four hours, and I wasn't up for the extra mess and time commitment these two elements would entail.  I am messy and impatient, clearly.

So I made a quick and simple pizza dough {the 'just add water' kind}, followed the package directions to make it 'thin and crispy,' and baked my pizza in the oven like the lazy mama that I am.  ;)

For you ambitious cooks, here is the full recipe in all it's Martha Stewart wonderfulness.  {Let me know how it comes out, as grilled pizza dough sounds SO good!}

For the rest of us, here is how I did it...

You will need:
-pizza crust of your choice {thin crust is great for this sweet/savory pizza.}
-1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
-2 ears of sweet corn
-2 whole peeled garlic cloves
-1/2 tsp. coarse salt
-2 tsp of olive oil, and more for drizzling
-2 Roma tomatoes, thinly sliced
-4-6 oz mozzarella cheese, shredded or sliced
-fresh basil leaves

To make:
1. Prepare the dough/crust of your choice.  Spread onto lightly oiled pizza pan or seasoned stone.
2. Puree in a food processor the corn, parmesan cheese, garlic cloves, olive oil, and salt until mixture is smooth with some small chunks.
3. Thinly slice 2 Roma tomatoes.
3. Drizzle a bit of olive oil on your pizza crust, then top with a thin layer of the corn mixture, the tomato slices, and sprinkle generously with shredded mozzarella cheese.
5. Bake 8-10 minutes at 425 degrees {or 350 if you are using flatbread} or until cheese is melty and crust is golden brown.
6. Top with fresh basil leaves and enjoy!

g

blueberry {superfood} salad

I love fruit in my salads, 

but I'd never tried blueberries until now.

So. glad. I. did.

Sorry for the photo quality -- I made this at about 9pm with no natural light! :(

Super easy.  Super healthy. Super-foodie!  

{walnuts, spinach, blueberries!}

You will need:

1 pint of blueberries

1 package of baby spring mix or baby spinach

1 4 oz. tub of crumbled feta 

1/2 cup of walnut pieces 

{I toast mine in a single layer on a baking sheet for five minutes at 350}

optional: 1 chicken breast, cooked and sliced

Dressing: 

 1/3 cup olive oil

2/3 cup red wine vinegar

1-2 tbsp dijon mustard - depending how tangy you like it

To make salad: Arrange greens on plates, add blueberries, walnuts, feta and chicken {if using} and drizzle with dressing.

{recipe based off one I saw recently in a Kroger mailer - however I made a few small changes and the dressing I concocted.  not sure how to cite that as I have nothing to link it to, but thanks Kroger peeps!}

Makes 2 large meal-size salads, or 4 side salads.

So good! 

Have a {fabulous} weekend!

g

PS - another 'my life' post next friday!

sorry -- been busy with projects and slacking on the writing...

settling catan...and eating pizza!

We recently had friends over to play that game that my husband loves {as do many others} and I put up with because I also have a dad and brothers that love it as well:

Settlers of Catan.

Anyone else have Catan lovers in their house?

It's kind of like Risk.

I'm more of a Balderdash girl, myself.

Anyway, having a game night gave us an excuse to invite some fun friends over,  make a bunch of yummy pizzas and drink lots of beer...and wine.

The menu:  Chicken and Garlic Pesto, Margherita flatbread, and {my fave} Pear and Goat Cheese pizzas.  Also, salt & black pepper kettle chips, red grapes {I'm addicted and have these around constantly} and a veggie tray with yummy Greek yogurt ranch dip.

And beer.  And wine.

 The game: Settlers of Catan

 The flowers: Sunflowers!

 Margherita flatbreads being prepared.

 Before going into the oven and then being topped with fresh basil and balsamic vinegar.  Mmmmmm...

 Had to have something wildly unhealthy around...wait, I think I got these in the all-natural section???

 This wine is good -- and even better if you aerate it first. 

 So I didn't get any nice photos of the finished pizzas...just this sad one!  Oops.

 An "intense" game of Catan in progress.

 Me: "Uh...anyone got any rock?  How 'bout some sheep?  Anyone? Okay, I'm getting more wine."

Hubby won.  Of course.

Cheers to a fun game night!

g

easy guacamole

There are a lot of lists floating around out there regarding things that everyone should know how to make, from memory, when they leave the nest.  

 I knew how to make exactly zero things from any of these lists when I left home and went to college.  In fact, I knew zero when I got married.  Especially not from memory -- yeah right.

I was petrified of making anything for anyone.  The perfectionist in me didn't want it to turn out badly, so I just never tried.  I've since completely changed my attitude -- and learned to LOVE trying!

The fact is, cooking and baking take practice, and some failure.

Hopefully my kiddo will have some practice under his belt by to time he heads off to college. 

So what should he know by the time he is 18?

The overachiever in me say, "Everything!"

The realist in me came up with the following so far:

1. guacamole

2. tomato salsa

3. chocolate chip cookies

4. a good burger

5.  a grilled cheese sandwich

To me, that seems like a good foundation, but I'd like to come up with a solid list of ten.  

Help me out with this one, my lovely blog friends, 

in the comment section below!

*  *  *  *  *  

Anyway, here is how I make easy guacamole.  Not sure if there is such a thing as "difficult guacamole."  

Am pretty sure it is always pretty easy!

Besides, these are things I seem to always have around the house, which makes it

"convenient guacamole. "

:)

What you need:

3-4  ripe avocados 

1 red onion

several tomatoes {I use 2-3 Roma}

fresh cilantro {or one tablespoon dried}

juice of one lime
salt and pepper

1. Cut the avocados length-wise and spoon out into a large bowl, removing pit.

2. Add chopped onion and tomatoes.

3. Add lime juice and cilantro.

4. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

5. Mash to desired consistency.  

I like mine on the chunky side, rather than really creamy...

but that is up to you!

Serve with tortilla chips as an app, 

or alongside the sour cream with tacos or quesadillas.  

Pure yumminess -- and healthy, too!

So...what would be on your list?

g

wine wednesday: middle sister 'rebel red'....& tuna farfalle with mushrooms

I guess you could call me a "middle sister."  I am a sister.  I am in the middle - of an older sister and brother, and a little brother.  So I thought it was fitting for me to try a Middle Sister wine.  Any excuse to try a new wine, right?  :)

After checking out 'the girls' on their adorable website I had to choose this fine lady - "Rebel Red":

I wasn't disappointed.  It actually reminded me a lot of the Cupcake Red Velvet that I recommended recently here - very fruity but yet has substance, delicious particularly when it first hits your tongue, with a strong taste of raspberries.  Yum!  Especially as summer is just around the corner.  This tart but smooth red lives up to it's quirky, rebellious name.

And you can't have wine without good food, right?  Well, you can...but you might get drunk that way.  So I paired miss 'Rebel' with a yummy pasta - tuna farfalle with mushrooms.  Oh, and anchovies.  I'd never cooked with anchovies before, so I was a little skittish at first.   However, they get sauteed, chopped up very finely, and end up adding a lot to the flavor.

Hubby gave this one his 'seal of approval.'

For the full recipe, click {here} - so good!

So here's to all you 'middles' out there -- with the responsible 'oldests' to live up to, and the adorable, spoiled 'babies' who unintentionally stole your thunder.   Raise your glass, ladies {or gents!}  :)

g

mama&baby weekend: girl food and chick flick reviews!

It was our first solo weekend together...just me and this guy...

...well, and this guy, too:

Believe me, I missed my Hubby greatly!  However, there were two perks to a weekend alone {well, after baby went to sleep}:

1. I ate whatever I wanted!!!  I love cooking, and especially love cooking for Hubby; however, sometimes it's nice to choose foods completely based on my own whims.  When I was single and living on my own I lived on: pizza, rice, cereal, and store-bought pastas.  My tastes were simple {carbs!!!}, my budget was small.   Now I know how to cook...but still crave some of my old indulgences.   Let's just say that one of my meals may or may not have consisted of a whole box of Raisinettes and tater tots dipped in barbecue sauce.

Okay, well I wasn't completely unhealthy!  Friday night I made this pear and arugula pizza, a recipe I posted about {here} -- was just as delicious this time around.  I basically ate one of these myself:

 This is the wine I drank this weekend {not all at once, don't worry!}

I won't give it a resounding plug  -- it was nothing to rave over.  But I will share a fantastic red on Wednesday, I promise!

#2.   Chick flicks!!!  I rented two.  Friday night I chose one that I had really high expectations of: My Week with Marilyn.  All the Oscar buzz had me thinking this would be a fantastic film.

But while Michelle Williams does an amazing portrayal of "Miss Monroe" - the overall film wasn't that great, in my opinion.  I was mistakenly expecting to admire Marilyn and come away from the film with warm, fuzzy feelings about her.  Not even close, in fact, I realized how little I knew about her life and personality.  That is all I will say.   Oh, and Kenneth Branagh was a standout, of course, as Laurence Olivier.

The other chick flick I rented was What's Your Number? a comedy starring Anna Faris.

My expectations were low, even though I adore Anna Faris.  I pretty much want her to be my best friend.  Anyway, the movie ended up being hilarious.  I highly recommend renting for a light-hearted watch  - would be great for a girls night in!

Overall, the weekend had it's lovely moments {Kentucky winning!!!} and it's not-so-lovely {Baby Cormac decided to regress back to waking up during the night and became extremely clingy to me without his Dada around.}  I love all the snuggles and kisses I got from him...but there was also a lot of screaming and crying, particularly surrounding bedtime.

Any other mamas have these issues when daddy's not around???

Also, I'd love to hear other opinions on the two movies...

Happy {almost} Monday!

g