Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Chili Cheese Mac

Hamburger Helper was one of my favorite meals growing up. And since my parents didn't know anything about nutrition, we had it quite often! This is a healthy but still comforting version of that old favorite. It's also an easy clean up one-pot recipe!

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Maple Bundt Cake

My partner's mother passed this recipe along to me and it is amazing! I used local Michigan maple syrup and it is perfectly sweetened without any added sugar.

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Biscuits and Gravy

This is one of the mainstays of comfort food that has been off of my menu for several years now. I was looking around in an Amish cookbook and figured I could easily modify this recipe to make it a little healthier and in line with my dietary needs.

Sunday, September 4, 2011

Banana Blueberry Ice Cream

Who doesn't love ice cream? However, I don't love the prices of store-bought vegan ice cream which can be over $6 per pint! This is a healthy, no-sugar-added recipe that is best served slightly softened. Best of all, you just put all of the ingredients in a blender and you're done in less than 5 minutes. If you're feeling a little more indulgent, scoop it into balls to make Unfried Ice Cream. I also turned this into a smoothie by adding some vanilla protein powder and enough soy milk to make it a creamy texture.

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Mediterranean Hummus Pizza

I can't remember where I saw the idea for using hummus instead of tomato or garlic sauce on a pizza but it sounded so good! I used tomatoes and peppers from my garden but feel free to mix it up. The tomato and basil flavored feta was amazing and really kicked it up a notch.

Sun-dried Tomatoes

I always love sun-dried tomatoes when I get them on an entree at a restaurant but considered them too expensive to buy. I never knew how easy they are to make yourself! I used 13 tomatoes from my garden and made almost 2 cups of these flavorful bites. I've used them on Mediterranean Hummus Pizza, a toasted sandwich with mozzarella, feta, lettuce, and avocado, and chicken pasta with tomato sauce.

Thursday, August 25, 2011

BBQ Chicken and Black Bean Burrito

This has just enough BBQ flavor without being overly sweet. It's chock full of protein! So quick and easy, too.

Chickpea Burgers

I was nervous about starting the Ripped in 30 meal plan because the calorie allowance was pretty low, but I soon realized that Jillian Michaels didn't let me down on great tasting meals, just like those in her cookbook! These remind me so much of falafel but without the added fat and calories from frying.

Blueberry Tart

I loved making this tart with local Michigan blueberries! It was so much simpler than I imagined it would be and tasted great. I used lemon juice and zest instead of the listed orange, but it came out just a little too tart so I suggest sticking to orange.

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Chicken Mole

This week I wanted to experiment with savory chocolate recipes. I love the pairing of dark chocolate and cinnamon. Chocolate gives this classic South American dish a rich depth that complements the spices perfectly. It isn't sweet at all but still feels very indulgent.

Sunday, July 24, 2011

Cinnamon Raisin No Bake Protein Bites

These are a scrumptious yet relatively healthy combination of chocolate no bake and cinnamon raisin cookies. Make some cinnamon raisin granola ahead of time and preparation is super quick. Michael loved these so much he shared them with his co-workers who felt the same way!

Cinnamon Raisin Granola

Fairly simple and delicious homemade granola that costs a fraction of the price in stores!

Friday, July 15, 2011

Black Bean Burgers

These burgers include just enough vital wheat gluten which helps the ingredients stick together and gives a slightly chewy, meat-like texture without being too dense. I've had many meat eaters tell me how delicious these are. You won't even want to put ketchup or mustard on them. Thanks to my friend Jameson for passing on this recipe!

Bombay Sloppy Joes

This is a great twist on American sloppy joes because of the intriguing flavors. The honey and raisins give hints of sweetness that really complements the spices. It's perfect served with naan!

Naan

This bread is quite easy to make at home and is the perfect addition to an exotic Indian meal.

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Vegetarian Chili

This is a super easy and quick way to make a healthy, thick chili that is packed with veggies and beans.

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Homemade Ketchup

So the next time we needed ketchup, I planned on buying some that didn't have any high fructose corn syrup. Then my local farmer's market posted this recipe for homemade ketchup that sounded very easy and yummy. It is! It's very flavorful and hard to remember that it's ketchup and not a dip.

Chana Masala

Indian is my favorite ethnic food because it's flavorful, healthy, and exciting. While the upfront cost for the spices is somewhat expensive, the vegetable ingredients are cheap and you only use a little of the spices at a time. You could also try to find a local Indian grocery store where they will likely be more affordable.

Pasta Salad

I was craving vegetables this week and a local farmer's market posted this recipe that is very easy to make your own.

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Garlic Breadsticks

Came up with this recipe just before a late night trip to the store. We wanted warm flaky pizza crust but didn't want to go through all the trouble to make one.

Saturday, May 14, 2011

Turkey Egg Muffins

I love these even for dinner! They can be made quite spicy depending on the heat of your salsa. You could also use egg whites but it would require a full dozen which is quite wasteful, in my opinion.

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Sweet Potato Fries

I had an extra sweet potato left over from baking the cake and my mom was craving sweet potato fries so I came up with this recipe.

Sunday, May 8, 2011

First Farmer's Market of the Season

The local farmer's market had its opening day on Saturday. There wasn't much fresh produce yet, but I was able to get some asparagus and mushrooms along with some chicken breasts and sourdough bread. I also found a booth selling wood grilling planks and decided to try an oak one since it was only $1. It didn't seem to give the chicken a smoky flavor at all, but it did help slow down the cooking time and reduce the grilled char that is sometimes unappetizing. You can also use them in your oven.

Friday, May 6, 2011

Spiced Chicken and Lentils with Cucumber-Tahini Salad

This is surprisingly light and refreshing with the tomatoes and cucumbers. I am not normally a fan of lentils but they blend in well with the chicken. I absolutely love the addition of cinnamon into savory dishes. Lots of protein and fiber from the ground meat and lentils. You could also make it vegan if you omitted the meat and added more lentils or TVP. Another good substitution would be quinoa or millet instead of brown rice.

Thursday, May 5, 2011

Sugar-free Sweet Potato Chocolate Cake

I am so excited to share this recipe with you! Not only is it refined sugar-free, but it has healthy ingredients like sweet potato, millet, banana, and avocado. I was nervous about the strange components but it is very similar in flavor and texture to a banana cake that my mom makes.

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Chalean Extreme Burn & Push Circuits

I recently finished the 2nd phase of BeachBody's Chalean Extreme workout program. The program is broken up into 3 weight training days, 2 cardio days, and 2 rest days. Every 4 weeks you start a new weight lifting regimen, but the cardio stays the same until the 3rd circuit where you can substitute workouts on the deluxe version if you have it.

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Apple Cider Chicken

This tastes a lot like another recipe I have for orange chicken but is much simpler to make. I forgot to buy the peppers and didn't have any frozen veggies on hand so I omitted them but it would be great with broccoli as well.

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Pita Chips and Hummus

I love pita and hummus but the store bought stuff is so expensive and full of sodium. This is an easy way to make healthier and cheaper. I made these for my classmates who ate them all up!

Friday, April 22, 2011

Black Bean Calzones

This is one of my favorite recipes because it lets you indulge in the flaky pizza crust without the guilt from all of that oil and grease. Experiment with different flavor profiles, like traditional Italian with turkey pepperoni and marinara sauce. Beans are great because they provide lots of protein and fiber.

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Linguine with Lemon-Yogurt Sauce

I know, I know... a yogurt sauce? Trust me, it isn't as weird as it sounds. It's a healthy alternative to a cream- or alfredo-based sauce and doesn't retain its tartness. The whole wheat linguine provides fiber, while the yogurt and cheese are full of protein and calcium.

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake

I'm embarking on a refined-sugar-free journey until June but I couldn't resist sharing this amazing recipe for vegan cheesecake. I was hesitant about the texture and flavor since most vegan cheesecakes I've had fail in one or both areas. However, this recipe is very mousse-like and deliciously rich.

Sunday, April 17, 2011

Blueberry Chocolate Oatmeal

Simple oatmeal enhanced with fiber and protein powder for an extra boost. You will feel full and strong all morning. The combination of soluble and insoluble fiber helps you keep your digestive system regular. The 30 grams of protein provide a ton of energy for your workout.

Friday, April 15, 2011

Lazy Egg Scramble

This is a great light breakfast or snack. You can substitute the veggies for any you have on hand. I used these because I already had them cut up for salads. You could also make it into an omelet or add fresh herbs if you wanted to be fancy instead of lazy.

Welcome!

A friend of mine suggested that I start documenting the recipes I make along with my comments about the results. I suffer from Irritable Bowel Syndrome so most of the meals I make are dairy-free, contain whole grains, are low in fat and sodium, and are plant-based. Sometimes I'll include ingredients such as poultry, fish, or yogurt which can be substituted with vegetarian or vegan alternatives if you'd prefer. Most of my recipes come from other sites online or cookbooks so I will always include a link to the original source if it isn't my own creation.