Month: March 2021

Dark Chocolate Chip Cookies

Dark Chocolate Chip Cookies

My family loves dark chocolate and these cookies do not disappoint! There is melted dark chocolate in the dough, dark chocolate chips mixed in, then the cookies are topped with 1-2 more chocolate chunks in case there wasn’t enough chocolate already.  Recipe adapted from Food 

Dark Chocolate Chipotle Cookies

Dark Chocolate Chipotle Cookies

My 11-year-old was watching Halloween Baking Championship with me and saw spicy chocolate cookies in one episode.  He loves chocolate and he loves spice, so he asked me to make some spicy cookies for him.  Recipe adapted from Food Network Ingredients: 3 cups all-purpose flour 

Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese (with whole grain pasta or zucchini noodles)

Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese (with whole grain pasta or zucchini noodles)

As usual I made this dish two ways: whole wheat pasta for my kids and over zucchini noodles for me.  I love the flavor of buffalo chicken and cheese.  This is a cheesy dish with a zing you will be sure to enjoy. If using pasta only use 1 pound.  If using zucchini noodles only use 4 zucchini.

Recipe adapted from Food Network

Ingredients-

8 ounces whole grain pasta and 2 zucchinis cut into thin strips

1 small onion chopped

2 stalks celery chopped

3 cups diced chicken breast (cooked)

2 cloves garlic minced

¾ cup mild Buffalo sauce (I use Sweet Baby Rays)

2 tablespoons all purpose flour

2 teaspoons dry mustard

2 ½ cups half and half

1 pound yellow sharp cheddar cut into 1 inch cubes

8 ounces shredded pepper jack cheese

2/3 cup plain nonfat Greek yogurt

2 tablespoons chicken or vegetable broth

2 tablespoons butter

Toppings:

½ cup crumbled blue cheese

1 cup panko break crumbs

2 tablespoons butter

2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees if preparing to serve now.  This dish can be prepared in advance and refrigerated until ready to heat.
  2. Spray a 9×13 or two 8×8 dishes with olive oil spray.
  3. Bring a large pot of salted water to boil.  Cook pasta until al dente.
  4. If using zucchini noodles- saute over low heat with 1 tablespoon chicken or vegetable broth for 5 minutes.  I added 1 garlic clove minced to this.
  5. Spray a nonstick pan with olive oil spray. Cook onion and celery with 1 tablespoon chicken or vegetable broth for 5 minutes.
  6. Stir in the chicken and garlic and cook 2 minutes. 
  7. Add ½ cup Buffalo sauce and simmer 1 minute.
  8. Melt 2 tablespoons butter in another saucepan over medium heat.
  9. Stir in the flour and mustard with a wooden spoon until smooth.
  10. Whisk in half and half and ¼ cup Buffalo sauce.  Stir 2 minutes.
  11. Whisk in cheddar and pepper jack cheeses.
  12. Whisk in yogurt until smooth.
  13. Spread the pasta/zucchini noodles in the prepared baking dish.
  14. Top with chicken mixture.
  15. Pour the cheese evenly over the top.
  16. Toppings: I only added blue cheese and parsley to the zucchini noodles.  I melted butter and used ½ cup breadcrumbs to top the dish with noodles. 
  17. Bake 30 minutes if serving fresh.  If cooking after refrigerating bake for at least 45 minutes to warm through.
  18. Let rest 5-10 minutes before serving. 
  19. Enjoy!!
Zucchini mac and cheese topped with blue cheese and parsley
Whole wheat pasta mac and cheese topped with breadcrumbs
Healthy Hash Browns with Parsnips and Potatoes

Healthy Hash Browns with Parsnips and Potatoes

This was my first time ever making hash browns and it is a recipe I will be making again.  My kids devoured these and didn’t notice they were made with half potato and half parsnip. Recipe adapted from Food Network Ingredients: 2 parsnips peeled and 

Omelets with Pepper Jack Cheese, Mushrooms, Peppers, Tomatoes, and Onions

Omelets with Pepper Jack Cheese, Mushrooms, Peppers, Tomatoes, and Onions

Whenever I make breakfast for dinner I almost always make omelets.  I love how easy it is to mix up different ingredients and throw it in my omelet maker.  These have a little kick from the pepper jack cheese and are full of veggies. Ingredients: 

Hazelnut Chocolate Chip Banana Waffles

Hazelnut Chocolate Chip Banana Waffles

I love the flavor of hazelnuts mixed with chocolate and banana.  These waffles taste amazing and can be topped with Nutella, vanilla Greek yogurt, syrup, peanut butter, or honey.  They are made with whole wheat mix and have some added protein to boost their nutritional power.

Recipe adapted from Food Network

Ingredients-

1 mashed banana

2 cups whole wheat waffle mix

1 scoop chocolate protein powder

2 tablespoons powdered peanut butter

2 tablespoons unsweetened apple sauce

1 ½ cups almond milk

½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (plus a few for an optional topping)

2 tablespoons chopped hazelnuts

2 tablespoons brown sugar

Toppings: Nutella, nonfat vanilla Greek yogurt, chocolate chips, pure maple syrup

Directions:

  1. Pre-heat waffle maker.
  2. Mash a banana in a large bowl. 
  3. Add the waffle mix, protein powder, peanut butter, applesauce, almond milk, brown sugar, chocolate chips, and hazelnuts.  Mix.
  4. I have a Belgium waffle maker.  I made 4 waffles using 1 cup of batter for each waffle.  If you have a smaller waffle maker ½ cup may suffice. I spray my waffle maker with butter nonstick spray before adding waffle mix each time.
  5. Note: You can also make these as pancakes.
  6. Add toppings and enjoy!
Cauliflower Pizza Crust

Cauliflower Pizza Crust

I love pizza, but I hate feeling weighted down by a ton of carbs.  I have experimented with several cauliflower crust recipes and this is my favorite. You can top this pizza with any of your favorite toppings.  Ingredients: 3 cups cauliflower (and/or broccoli) florets