Tag Archives: recipe

marvelous monday: chocolate strawberry coconut cookies

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Happy Monday, everyone!

I’ve been on a bit of a breakfast kick lately as a way to get my week started off right. As soon as I saw this recipe for “Dark Chocolate Strawberry Oatmeal Breakfast Cookies” on Reini Days {one of my favorite blogs — you should check it out!} I knew I had to try it out myself.

I mean, chocolate? For breakfast? How can you go wrong??

These were the perfect way to use up some leftover strawberries I had in the fridge. They smelled absolutely heavenly while baking! Another thing I love about these cookies is that they are healthy enough to justify eating for breakfast, yet also delicious enough to serve for dessert. I modified the recipe a little. Here’s my take on it!

chocolate strawberry coconut cookies

Ingredients:
– 1 cup uncooked oatmeal
– 1 cup flour
– 2 T ground flax
– 1/4 tsp salt
– 1/2 cup shredded coconut
– 1 cup unsweetened applesauce
– 2 egg whites
– 2 T honey
– 1 tsp vanilla extract
– 1/2 tsp coconut flavoring {if desired}
– 1/4 cup chocolate chunks or chips {could be dark, milk, or white chocolate, or a mix!}
– 1 cup strawberries, diced

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, and set aside.

2. In a large bowl, mix the oats, flour, flax, and salt.

3. In another bowl, combine the applesauce, egg whites, honey, vanilla extract, and coconut flavoring.

4. Pour applesauce mixture over oat mixture and mix well, until all is combined. Stir in chocolate. Then gently fold in the strawberries.

5. Using a tablespoon, place dough on the lined baking sheet. Bake 10-15 minutes or until lightly browned and firm to the touch.

These are especially delicious still warm and melty from the oven. Enjoy!

xoxo,
Dallas

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Time: 30 minutes {including bake time}
Cost: $5.00

cilantro-honey salmon

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I came across this recipe on the website All Recipes and I was intrigued by the tons of rave reviews. If you’re like me {unsure what a honey-cilantro marinade would taste like} … the answer is, AMAZING!

IThe sweetness of the honey contrasts really nicely to the cilantro and garlic flavors. Plus, it’s healthy {all those omega-3s!} and could not be easier to make. The original recipe is for grilled salmon, but I baked mine in the oven instead. I’m sure either way would be delicious!

cilantro-honey salmon

– 1 bunch chopped fresh cilantro
– 2 cloves chopped garlic
– 1/2 cup honey
– juice from one lime
– 2 salmon filets
– salt and pepper to taste

1. In a small saucepan over medium-low heat, stir together cilantro, garlic, honey, and lime juice. Heat until the honey is easily stirred, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat, and let cool slightly.

2. Place salmon steaks in a baking dish, and season with salt and pepper. Pour marinade over salmon, cover, and refrigerate 20 minutes.

3. Bake salmon at 375 degrees for 15-20 minutes, until salmon is firm to the touch and flakes easily with a fork.

I served mine with rice and a green salad. This salmon also goes great with these low-fat garlic cheddar biscuits!

Happy weekend!
-Dallas

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Time spent: 30 mins {including bake time}
Cost: about $10.00

marvelous monday guest post: energy-packed peanut-butter breakfast cookies

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Just like a calm, organized and productive morning can set a great tone for the rest of your day, a marvelous Monday helps set the tone for a marvelous week! Personally, the more “together” I feel on Monday, the more prepared I feel to tackle all the projects I want to get done over the week. And what better way to start your Monday off on a marvelous note than with a yummy, healthy and energizing breakfast? I’ve got a recipe for you today that I promise will do just that!

I am so excited to share a guest post with you today: a recipe from my wonderful cousin Julie! I tried making these over the weekend and I’m looking forward to eating them for breakfast all week. YUM! ❤

Here’s what Julie has to say about this delicious and healthy recipe:

“I’ve tried many variations on these cookies — by substituting different nuts and dried fruits, adding some shredded coconut, swapping a teaspoon of honey for some of the sugar, etc. — and they always come out delicious! These make a good hearty breakfast, but if you don’t like too much sweetness early in the morning, they are also great as an afternoon snack or a healthy dessert.”

peanut-butter breakfast cookies

{makes one dozen cookies}
– 1 cup peanut butter, creamy or crunchy
-1/2 cup sugar
-1 egg
-1/4 cup nonfat powdered milk
-1/2 cup raisins or other dried fruit
-chocolate chips, chopped nuts, and oatmeal to taste

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Beat egg into sugar. Add peanut butter, powdered milk, raisins, and chocolate chips/nuts/oatmeal.

3. Spoon onto greased cookie sheets and bake for about 10 minutes.

You can make the dough ahead of time, keep it refrigerated, and make up as many or as few as you want at one time. {Making the dough the night before and popping a few in the toaster oven in the morning makes for a quick and tasty breakfast!}

Hope you enjoy! And thanks again Julie for sharing this recipe with us today!

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Time: 20 minutes {including bake time}

Cost: less than $5.00

low-fat garlic cheese biscuits

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I am not the biggest seafood fan {I like some fish, but not really shrimp, crab, lobster, etc} … but I have always loved going to Red Lobster, even when I was a kid and ordered the chicken tenders, because of the amazing garlic cheese biscuits they give to every table. YUM! I always want to gobble down two or three biscuits before the food even arrives.

So I was thrilled when I found this recipe for garlic cheese biscuits on the terrific food website gina’s skinny recipes. I love the recipes Gina creates because they’re delicious AND low-fat. I decided to try this recipe as a side to the cilantro-honey marinated salmon I made for dinner the other night {my new favorite way to cook salmon; I’ll post it here next week!} It was my first time making any sort of biscuits, and they turned out great!

Here’s the recipe:

  • 2 tbsp butter, melted
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced {I used 2 tsp of pre-minced garlic in olive oil that I found at the store}
  • 2 tbsp fresh chopped parsley
  • 2 cups Heart Smart Bisquick
  • 1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese {I got the reduced fat kind}
  • 2/3 cup fat free milk

1. Preheat oven to 400°. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.

2. Melt butter in a small frying pan, add half the garlic and saute on low heat about 1 minute. Remove from heat and add parsley.

3. In a large bowl, combine biscuit mix, cheddar cheese, and remaining garlic. Stir in milk and mix (do not over mix). Drop batter by heaping tablespoonfuls onto prepared cookie sheet.

4. Bake for 10 minutes. Brush or drizzle biscuits with melted parsley/garlic butter. Bake for 5 more minutes, or until lightly browned on the bottom.

These biscuits are delicious warm from the oven, and I actually thought they were even more flavorful warmed up the next day. Just store any leftovers in a plastic bag or wrapped tightly in aluminum foil. You can also freeze the batter if you’d like — then all you have to do is pop it in the oven and you’re good to go!

YUM! Please make these and share them with those you love! ❤

Always,
Dallas

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Time: 15 minutes
Cost: $3.00

stuffed chicken breasts

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My favorite homecooked meal {when I was a kid and still to this day} is this stuffed chicken breast recipe my mom makes. It was passed down through my family from my great-grandmother to my grandma to my mom, who learned to make it when she married my dad. It is the meal I always request on my birthday and whenever I go home and my mom asks me what I would like her to make for a special “welcome home” dinner. 

I wanted to share the recipe with you in case you are looking for a special and delicious recipe to serve for a nice night in with your sweetie, family or friends!

Great-Grandma Rahn’s Special Stuffed Chicken Breasts

For the chicken:
-8 chicken breast halves {though this recipe can easily be halved}
-7 oz can diced green chiles divided into 8 equal portions
-1/4 lb Monterrey Jack cheese cut into 8 strips
-1/2 cup Italian bread crumbs
-1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
-1 tbsp chili powder
-1/2 tsp salt
-1/4 tsp cumin
-1/4 tsp pepper
-6 tbsp butter

For the sauce:
-15 oz can tomato sauce
-1/3 cup green onions/scallions
-1/2 tsp cumin
-salt & pepper to taste

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

2. Pound each chicken breast to about a quarter-inch thickness. Put the chilies and cheese strips in the center of each chicken breast, then roll them, tucking the ends under.

3. Combine the bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, chili powder, cumin, salt and pepper into a pie tin or shallow bowl. Melt the butter in another shallow bowl. Then dip each chicken breast into the butter and roll it in the crumb mixture.

4. Place the chicken, seam side down, in a glass baking dish. Once all eight have been done, drizzle with the remaining of the melted butter.

5. Bake uncovered for 20 minutes, or until chicken is done.

6. While chicken is baking, make your tomato sauce: in a small saucepan, combine the can of tomato sauce, cumin, sliced green onions, salt and pepper. Heat over medium-low heat.

7. To serve, top the chicken with tomato sauce. I like to serve this dish with mashed potatoes and some sort of vegetable, though it is also nice over rice.

Hope you enjoy!

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Time spent: 1 hour
Cost: about $10

marvelous monday: good morning sunshine muffins

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Hi everyone! Happy Monday! How is your week going so far? Grrrreat I hope! ❤ It’s been H-O-T here but I am trying to remember all the snowy winter days when I was aching for sunshine … it makes me feel grateful for these blazin’ summer days! {I am also grateful for A/C and electric fans!}

I have a recipe to share with you that I hope will brighten your week. I call these muffins “good morning sunshine muffins” because they are yummy, healthy, and guaranteed to give you some up-and-at-em energy and bring a smile to your face. {And also because one of my favorite things to hear in the morning is, “Good morning, sunshine!” How can that not get your day off to a good start?}

I adapted this recipe from this one for Oat Flour Morning Glory Muffins.

good morning sunshine muffins

-3 egg whites
-3/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
-1/2 cup plain yogurt {I used plain Greek yogurt for some extra protein}
-2 tsp vanilla
-2 cups flour {you could use whole wheat flour or oat flour if desired; I just used plain white flour because it’s what I had on hand}
-1/2 cup rolled oats
-1 & 1/2 tsp baking powder
-1 tsp baking soda
-1/2 tsp salt
-1 tsp ground ginger
-2 tsp cinnamon
-1 cup shredded carrots
-1/4 cup chopped walnuts
-1/2 cup flaked coconut
-1/4 cup honey

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Spray a muffin tin with nonstick spray.

2. In a large bowl, whisk together the egg whites, applesauce, Greek yogurt, and vanilla.

3. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, rolled oats, baking powder, baking soda, salt, ginger, and cinnamon. Slowly add the dry ingredients to your applesauce mixture. Mix well.

4. Add your carrots, coconut, walnuts and honey.

5. Pour batter into muffin cups and bake for 15-20 minutes, or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.

YUM!

Have a marvelous Monday!

-Dallas

patriotic fruit cobbler

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Happy 4th of July! Hope you’re celebrating with family, friends, sunshine and good food. On this day {well, every day, but especially today!} it’s important to remember and thank all of the men and women who have served and continue to serve our country. Here is a nice way you can let current service members know they are appreciated: A Million Thanks letter-writing campaign.

I have a quick dessert recipe to share with you today — it’s a great way to use up delicious summer fruit, and you can make it patriotic if you throw in some strawberries, raspberries and blueberries. Add some whipped cream and you’ve got a red, white, and blue dessert, perfect for a 4th of July barbeque or potluck!

patriotic fruit cobbler

-1 box pie crust mix {I used Jiffy}
-4 cups diced summer fruit {I used blueberries, strawberries, one pear and one apple)
-1 tbsp flour
-1/4 cup sugar
-1 tsp cinnamon
-1 tbsp lemon juice

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a baking dish.

2. Prepare pie crust as directed and press dough into bottom of baking dish in a thin layer.

3. Core and dice the fruit. Gently mix it together with the flour, sugar, cinnamon and lemon juice.

4. Pour fruit on top of pie crust. Bake for 20 minutes, or until fruit is starting to bubble.


Let cool for five minutes, then serve with whipped cream or iced cream.

YUM!

Happy Independence Day!

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Time: 30 minutes (including bake time)
Cost: $5.00

my favorite mashed potatoes

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Mike loves potatoes. Baked, fried, mashed … if a potato is somehow incorporated into a dish, odds are Mike will be a fan! I tease him that someday he needs to go to a restaurant and order a meal entirely made up of potato side dishes: “I’ll have a baked potato with a side of mashed potatoes and potato salad and some french fries for dessert.” You think I’m joking, but if Mike ordered such a meal he would enjoy every bite.

Which goes to say that I have experimented with many different recipes featuring potatoes. The tried-and-true classic, and perhaps my favorite way to eat a potato, is mashed. My mom makes the best mashed potatoes in the universe, so in my mind I can never compete with hers. But I’ve come up with a recipe that Mike really loves, so I wanted to share it with you. I’m a fan because: 1) it’s pretty quick; 2) it’s pretty simple; and 3) for mashed potatoes, it’s pretty healthy, featuring vitamin-rich potato skins, skim milk, fat-free sour-cream, and still plenty of flavor and a great creamy texture.

In the next couple of days I’ll post a recipe for my great-grandma Rahn’s stuffed chicken breasts, which I made the other night alongside these mashed potatoes for a truly delish meal.

my favorite mashed potatoes

-2 lbs of your favorite potatoes {I used regular old russets but am also a fan of yukon golds}
-1/4 cup butter, softened
-1/4 cup skim milk
-2 tbsp fat-free sour cream
-2 tsp chopped garlic {or, in a pinch, you might use garlic powder}
-2 tsp dried basil
-salt & pepper to taste

1. Cube the potatoes {leave the skin on} and bring a pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Once the water is boiling, carefully drop the potatoes in, and cook until tender, which for me usually takes about 15-20 minutes.

2. Drain the water from the potatoes and dump them into a bowl or back into the pot. Mash them to desired texture {I use a potato masher and like to leave them a little lumpy}

3. Add the milk and sour cream and mix well. Season with garlic, basil, salt and pepper. Enjoy!

I’ve also found some potential recipes for using up leftover mashed potatoes that I am planning to try soon … I will keep you posted!

Happy cooking & yummy eating!
-Dallas

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Time: 30 mins
Cost: $3.00

blueberry pie

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Looking for a quick, easy, and antioxidant-filled summer dessert? Try this blueberry pie! I had never made a blueberry pie before so I was a little anxious about how it would turn out, but all I did was throw the ingredients together in a pie crust and pop it in the oven.

I modified the recipe from this one I found on Food.com and served mine with whipped cream.

Blueberry Pie

-1 pie crust {I used a premade shortbread pie crust but I think a graham cracker crust would be nice, too}
-1/4 cup sugar
-2 tbsp flour
-2 {overflowing} cups blueberries
-1 tsp lemon juice
-pinch of salt
-whipped cream {if desired; I used the Kroger-brand fat-free kind}

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Pour blueberries into a strainer and rinse them. Pat dry with a paper towel and pour them into a large bowl.

2. Add the flour and toss to coat the blueberries. Then add the sugar, lemon juice, and salt. Mix well, being careful not to mash the blueberries.

3. Pour the berry mixture into the pie crust.

4. Bake for 45-60 minutes, or until the blueberries start to bubble.

5. Top with whipped cream if desired.

YUM!

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Time spent: 10 minutes prep, 45-60 minutes baking
Money spent: $6.00

marvelous monday: the cherimoya

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I’m back in Lafayette for the summer, and I celebrated by scoring a new find in the exotic fruits aisle: the cherimoya! {if you missed my post back in April about our adventure eating the horned melon, here it is}

I’ve actually been on the lookout for a cherimoya for quite a while, after I found a quote by Mark Twain describing the cherimoya as “the most delicious fruit known to man.” Wow! Its taste is described as a mixture of banana and pineapple. I just had to try it for myself!

Even if I hadn’t read testaments of the cherimoya’s deliciousness, I would have been intrigued enough to put it in our cart based on its appearance alone!

Here you can see what it looks like on the outside and inside. The big black seeds are supposedly poisonous, but they are easy to avoid, so do not fear!

After researching on the internet, I found out that you can tell a cherimoya is ripe when it has a little give, like a ripe mango or avocado. Some people recommended shaking it; if you hear a rattling sound, there is a good chance it is ripe. The cherimoya is a good source of Vitamin C and antioxidants.

YUM! Healthy and delicious!

To eat, slice it open and use a spoon to scoop out the soft, custard-like insides.

I was surprised by the texture most of all. The taste is hard to describe … definitely reminiscent of a banana to me. Next time I try one, I want to let it ripen even more!

Anyone else tried the cherimoya? What did you think?

Happy summer!
– Dallas