Sleepy Time Cookies

If you're ever having a hard time falling asleep...make these and you'll warm right up and feel ready for bed. Just make sure you brush your teeth before falling asleep.

Sleepy Time Cookies
1 stick of softened butter
2 eggs
2 1/2 cups of whole wheat flour
1 cup of white sugar
1/4 cup of light brown sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/4 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. vanilla

1. mix the softened butter with 2 eggs
2. slowly add the white sugar and stir
3. add the flour and brown sugar and mix well and hard
4. add in the salt, vanilla and baking soda
5. cover with saran wrap and place in fridge between 30 minutes to 2 hours

Preheat over to 425
Use an ice cream scoop spoon to form the cookie dough - use a fork the push down

Bake for 20 minutes - remove and allow to cool

Brew 1/2 cup of sleep time tea - (allow it to cool just a little bit - maybe 5 minutes)
Add in 2 cups of confectionery sugar and stir until smooth

Add the frosting onto each cookie.
Place in fridge for at least 4 hours to allow it to harden

Serve and Enjoy! 

Pumpkin Cheesecake Dip

Happy Fall!

So for fall, I am going to post 10 fall recipes. Each recipe I post in October and November will be 100% fall related.

Here is our first one:
(And yes I know it's not healthy, but we can't always be healthy)

8 oz. cream cheese
1/8 tsp. cinnamon
2 tbsp. sugar
1 package of instant pumpkin spice pudding
graham crackers

1. Soften the cream cheese and mix into the cinnamon and sugar
2. add in the instant pudding mix
3. place in fridge for 1 hour
4. serve with graham crackers

Graduation Hat Treats

So this graduation season!
I have a neighbor graduating from high school, I graduated high school 10 years ago, my cousins graduated college this year and many other people all around the globe graduated. So in honor of the graduates we will be making GRADUATION HAT TREATS. Yah! Congrats to all the grads!

Graduation Hat Treats

1 package of Peppermint Patties
Peanut Butters
M and Ms
Mini Reese's Peanut Butter Cups
Red Licorice (Not Twizzlers LICORICE)

1. open all the Mini Reese's up and spread across your table
2. Put a dab of peanut butter on the bottom of peppermint patties and then stick it to the cups
3. Cup the Licorice into small pieces
3. put another dab of peanut butter on top of the peppermint patties and stick on the M and Ms and Licorice on top.

All Done!

The "Healthy" and "Unhealthy" Watermelon Popsicle

So I saw these on pinterest and I just had to make them! They look like so much fun. There are two ways to have watermelon popsicles at your next summer BBQ. Here are both recipes. One is SUPER easy and one is pretty complicated but totally well worth it!

Easy and Healthy Watermelon Popsicles

Cut watermelon into triangles aka pizza slice looking pieces. Stick a Popsicle stick into the bottom. All done!

Hard and Unhealthy Watermelon Popsicles

1 small watermelon cubed
1 tsp. of lemon juice
handful of crushed ice
1 tsp. white sugar

12 kiwis - peeled and cubed
1 tsp. of lemon juice
handful of crushed ice
1 tsp. white sugar

coconut milk

12 popsicle sticks

1. in a blender blend the watermelon, lemon, ice and sugar together then pour into a popsicles dish and stick popsicle stick inside.throw some raisins inside. put in in the freezer for 4-8 hours
2. then pour a little coconut milk on top of watermelon and place back in freezer for 1-2 hours
3. in a blender blend kiwis, lemon, ice and sugar and then pour in top of the coconut milk. place back in freezer for 1 hour.

Remove and Serve!

Candy Blondies

Sometimes you just can't eat healthy and need to have a little something sweet. So here it is!

Candy Blondies
1 stick on unsalted butter
1 cup of light brown sugar
1 large egg
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 cup of 100% natural peanut butter
1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup of 100% whole wheat white flour
1 1/2 cups of your favorite crushed candy (M&M's, Butterfinger, Crunch, Heath, Kit Kat, Hershey's)

1. Preheat oven to 350 and line a baking dish  with parchment paper. Lightly grease.
2. In a large bowl combine the melted butter and brown sugar. Mix well and then add egg and vanilla
3. Mix the peanut butter and make sure all wet ingredients are mixed well.
4. Add salt and flour and 1 cup of your candies
5. Spread brownie batter in a the dish evenly and then sprinkle with remaining candies
6. bake for 25-35 minutes- test with tooth pick.

YUMMY!

Butterfinger Blondie 

M&M Blondie 

Candy Corn Blondie 

Sweet Potato French Fries

Let's face it everyone loves french fries! If you tell me you don't then you are lying. The best kind I think we can all agree is the golden arches famous fries AKA McDonald's. Ray Crock the founder of McDonald's was famous for his fries back in the day and even today all fast food restaurant chains are compared to greasy, crispy, thin, melt in your mouth, mouth watering high calorie but delicious beyond delicious french fries. This recipe I have created is almost as good as McDonald's. I say almost because even I know that nothing will ever compare to their's LOL

Sweet Potato French Fries
6 large sweet potatoes (I normally say that 1 potato feeds 2 people).
olive oil
cinnamon
salt
pepper
paprika
cumin
onion powder

1. Slice of the potatoes into thin - 2 inch - strips
2. pour oil over it
3. mix all spices together then pour fries in a bag and spices in as well.
4. mix it well. allow it to marinate it the oil and spices for a few hours mixing and rubbing every 30 minutes
5. pour olive oil into a pot and heat it up. place one fry in at  a time. THIS IS ESSENTIAL or it will clamp together. Remove once the fries turn golden brown. Pat hard with a towel removing all excess grease and unwanted fat and calories.

Serve with your favorite dipping sauce.

Hawaiian Chicken Kabobs

Eating outside is fun and this a fun dish you can easily make outside as well as eat outside with your family. It is super healthy and super tasty. I promise you that everyone in the family will devour it!

Hawaiian Chicken Kabobs
2 - 4 large boneless chicken breast
2 tbsp soy sauce
2 tbsp olive oil
1 clove of crushed garlic
1/4 tsp. dried ginger

1 pineapple cut up
2 green peppers
1 large red onion

1. In a bowl marinate the chicken in soy sauce, oil, ginger and garlic for 2 hours or overnight. The longer the better
2. preheat the grill and then put the chicken on the grill - for about 7 or 8 minutes on each side
3. the cut the pepper, pineapple and onions and throw in on the grill for about 5 minutes - or until lightly browned.
4. allow all food to cool long enough for you to be able to touch it.
5. then place then on the skewers alternating between each food.


Preheat oven to 350

place skewers in oven for 5 minutes to reheat. The serve! Delicious! 

Homemade Mozzarella Sticks with Marinara Sauce

So it's getting cold outside and I'm sure all you want is to be in the warmth of your home or in your car with the heat blazing....Or actually I'm sure you'd rather be in sunny Miami or San Diego, right? I know I would. This recipe will warm your body and your heart. It's ultimate comfort food done in a low fat healthy way. It will leave you feeling satisfied and good about yourself - not full, bloated or guilty.

Homemade Mozzarella Sticks with Marinara Sauce
10 string cheeses
1 egg
whole wheat flour
1 tsp. paprika
seasoned bread crumbs
olive oil for frying
marinara sauce

1. unwrap each string cheese and place in a bowl
2. then beat your egg in a separate bowl
3. sprinkle flour and paprika over a place and coat each string cheese in it
4. then dip each string cheese into the egg
5. put about a cup of the bread crumbs onto a plate and roll each string cheese into the bread crumbs

Repeat these steps for each string cheese

6. heat the oil in a pot and carefully place each string cheese into the oil - frying them until their golden brown. Remove from heat and place on paper towel

7. Warm up marinara sauce

Serve! Yummy in my Tummy!

Benefits of Olive Oil
Olive oil is a very healthy oil. It has healthy fats and has been linked to preventing cancer, Type 2 Diabetes. It also helps your nails to grow strong and your hair to grow, stay strong and stay shiny. People who eat a diet rich in olive oil as opposed to other fats live longer and healthier lives.

Banana and Peanut Butter Tacos

This is a super super super easy dish and really healthy. It's packed with protein, whole grains, healthy fats and fiber. It is perfect as breakfast or as a snack before or after a workout. I know you will love it! I wish I could vouch that it's healthy, but I am allergic to peanuts so have never actually had this one. Please leave your comments below!


Banana and Peanut Butter Tacos
3 whole wheat tortillas
100% natural peanut butter
3 bananas


1. spread the wraps flat on a plate
spread the peanut butter across the wraps
peel the banana and place it down in the middle of the wrap and then roll it
slice into thirds

Serve! Delicious! 

Frozen Fruit Pops

Frozen Fruit Pops

Ingredients/Directions:

Sliced mangoes, sliced strawberries, sliced kiwis, sliced pineapple.
Mixed water and 100% apple juice (half/half)

Pour into 8 oz. plastic cups. Stick a pop sickle stick in it. Then place it in the freezer overnight. The next next day you'll have a yummy and light frozen fruit pop!! 

Easy Healthy Homemade Banana Ice Cream

This is a wonderful summer, fall, winter or spring recipe. It's low in calorie and will hit your sweet tooth without adding on the pounds. Enjoy!!

Easy Healthy Homemade Banana Ice Cream
3 Frozen Bananas (Sliced)
1 1/2 cups of nonfat plain yogurt
1 tsp. honey
1 cup of vanilla almond milk
1/2 cup of crushed ice
tsp. of white sugar
chocolate or caramel fudge


Mix all the ingredients (besides for the fudge) in a blender and blend on high. Once it is smooth, add in the fudge and stir well. Then place it into a container and freeze it for at least 3 hours. Remove from freezer 20 minutes before serving. Serve with nuts or more sliced bananas!

Delicious and Very Healthy!!
  

Pumpkin Ice Cream Cookies

It's almost fall! I love fall. I love the smell of freshly sharpened pencils. I love the smell of a new notebook. I love new folders and I love how everything is starting fresh. I love when the leaves change colors. I love Thanksgiving. I love Halloween - I love seeing all the cute kids in their adorable costumes. And if you're team is in playoffs - fall is a great time of year. Go Braves!! And when I was a kid and used to watch all those teenage shows, I loved the season premiers after a summer of re-runs. You see fall is a really fun time of year. Don't you think? In honor of fall I thought I would post a yummy fall dish - that still has a speck of summer in it.

Saying goodbye to summer and hello fall...Labor Day Weekend Special!

So fall is all about pumpkins! And summer is all about ice cream. So why not combine the two?!!

Pumpkin Ice Cream Cookies
1/2 cup of brown sugar
1/2 cup of white sugar
1 cup of pumpkin puree
1 egg
1 cup of oatmeal
1 cup of whole wheat flour
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda
1 cup of raisins
1/2 cup of melted butter
Ben and Jerry's Vanilla Caramel Frozen Yogurt

1. Mix your dry ingredients together: flour, sugars, oatmeal, cinnamon, baking soda and salt
2. Then mix in your wet ingredients: egg, butter and pumpkin and raisins
3. Cover and place in fridge for 1 hour
4. Preheat oven to 375 - form cookie dough into round 3 inch cookies and bake for 20 minutes - let cool. During this time you should take out your frozen yogurt and allow it to soften. Once they're easy to handle and the ice cream is softened put a scoop on a cookie and then take another cookie and place on top.
5. Wrap each sandwich in saran wrap and place in freezer for at least 3 hours.

When you're ready for eat it take it out and Enjoy a delicious fall/summer treat- guilt free! 

Bery Berry Smoothie

So it's summer time and what is better than a cold milkshake? A smoking body. That is what is better, a smoking body. But then I ask you is it worth it to through the entire summer without a milkshake? No! We want both. Try this amazing smoothie that will truthfully leave thinking you had a milkshake and you will keep your fit body. I made this for my family and they loved it AND I know that you will too!!

Bery Berry Smoothie

6 oz. nonfat plain Greek yogurt (80 calories)

1 c. frozen berries (blueberries and strawberries

1/2 c. crushed ice

1 tbsp. honey

1 tbsp. natural peanut butter

2 splashes of vanilla almond soy milk

In a blender mix all the ingredients together and enjoy! Yup, that's it!

Apple Cookie Slices

So I was busy pinning and looking for recipes to pin and I found this amazingly cute recipe. I love it because you can alter it to your taste and personal nutritional needs. I found it on rachelschultz.com. I highly recommend you going to her site - she's got lots of cute recipe ideas. I made this for my mom and she loved it. She thought they were so yummy!!

Apple Cookie Slices (Serves 2)
2 apples
4 tbsp. natural peanut butter (or use Nutella, soy butter, almond butter or caramel butter)
raisins
chopped peanuts
chopped pecans
sliced pecans (chopped)
chopped cashews
chocolate minis or peanut butter minis

1. slice the apples by the core
2. spread the peanut butter, nutella, or any of the spreads that you used
3. then put the chopped toppings

Enjoy!!

   

Caramel Nut Bars

So this recipe is by no means healthy except for the fact that it has nuts which have lots of good protein. And the caramel is homemade - so you might say it is natural. But besides for that it isn't healthy, it is not low in calorie and it may leave you feeling a bit guilty. But it will also leave you feeling satisfied, feeling in love with this recipe and feeling like you want more. In this recipe my motto is to love a little. Counts you licks...not your calories! Enjoy!!


Caramel Nut Bars
1 cup of cashew halves
1 cup of crushed almonds
1 cup of salted peanuts
1 cup of pretzel thins crushed
1 cup of crushed graham crackers
2 tbsp. honey
dash of cinnamon
1 cup of sugar
1/2 cup of half and half cream
6 tbsp. on unsalted butter
dash of salt

Add Chocolate (optional)
6 oz of semi sweet chocolate chips
1 tbsp of butter (melted)

1. mix your cashew halves, crushed almonds, peanuts and pretzel thins together - set aside
2. in a medium saucepan pour 1 cup of sugar and continually stir until it turns in a dark brown
3. add in the butter and slowly allow it to melt into the sugar
4. add in the salt and cream and continue to stir until it becomes a thick brown cream
5. set aside for it to sit for 2 minutes - use immediately. You can though store it for up to 1-2 weeks but make sure that you reheat it before you use it.

6. place the crushed graham crackers down on top of a baking dish or wax paper.
7. pour the caramel on top and then add the crushed nuts - don't worry if they mix together or not.
8. cover and place in freezer for 1 hour
9. in a medium sauce pan melt semi sweet chocolate chips with 1 tbsp. of melted butter
10. drizzle the chocolate over the nuts
11. allow it to thaw and for the chocolate to dry - about 30 minutes.

Serve! I know it isn't really that healthy but I promise you it will be tasty.

Salmon Zucchini Cakes

I came up with this recipe when I was trying to figure out a creative way to make my ever famous salmon patties which my mother adores yet my father just likes. My goal is to always make a hit- something that will leave my customers wanting more of whatever it was that I served. So when I thought about adding the zucchini into - it seemed perfect. It adds a little more taste to it and it is super (!!) healthy. And for those of you that don't like zucchini you can either just put less in or skip it...But I think yo should try it.


Salmon Zucchini Cakes

2 6 oz. canned salmon
1/2 cup of shredded zucchini
1/8 tsp. of onion powder
1/8 tsp. of salt
1/8 tsp. of dry mustard
2 eggs
1/2 cup of whole wheat bread crumbs
1 tbsp. of low fat mayo

1. shred the zucchini
2. drain and mash the canned salmon and then add in the zucchini, onion powder, salt, dry mustard and mayo and mix well.
3. add in 2 eggs and the bread crumbs
4. spray a pan with Pam cooking oil and allow it to heat for 2 minutes
5. form the paste into mini pancakes and place on pan and cook for on medium heat for about 5 minutes on each side- flipping it periodically
6. serve with ketchup, mustard, sour cream or whatever your heart's desire!

Homemade Granola

So many people (almost all) believe that granola is healthy, well as a matter of fact it is not. Granola has a lot of fat in it (not the good kind) and it is very dense, which means if you have 1/4 cup of granola you just consumed 90 calories, 3 grams of fat, 15 grams of carbohydrates - and you're not full and you just ate pretty unhealthy. And then you need to take into account that who eats just 1/4 cup of granola- the average person eats between 3/4 cup to 1 1/2 cups which would be just enough to finish a glass of milk or an 8 oz. yogurt. Here is a recipe for granola cereal that has less fat, less carbohydrates, less guilt and more health.

Homemade Granola

3 cups of quick oats
1 cup of raisins
1 cup of dried cranberries
2 tbsp. of flax seed (so healthy!!)
 1/4 cup of crushed almonds (also so healthy!!)
1/4 cup of crushed unsalted peanuts (also so healthy!!)
2 tbsp. honey
3 tbsp. of brown sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 cup of coconut oil (healthiest oil!)

1. mix the oats, raisins, dried cranberries, flax seeds, crushed almonds, peanuts, salt and brown sugar together
2. then mix the honey and coconut oil (make sure it is melted and measure afterwards)
3. place a baking sheet on a pan and then flatten the granola on top- cover and refrigerate for 1 hour
4. preheat the oven to 350* and bake for 20 minutes
5. let cool completely before cutting into bars or crushing for cereal

Best served with non fat Greek yogurt, almond milk, soy milk or low fat 1% milk and fresh fruit!!
 

Patriotic Fruit Sticks (4th of July Post 1)

I will be posting numerous recipes for the 4th of July, but my first one is dedicated to the flag. On the 4th of July we tend to eat a lot, which is fine after all it is a holiday but knowing that bathing suit season is in full swing we need to watch what we eat and pace ourselves. If you're having a party or just a snack these are perfect. Serve them as your guests arrive- I promise you that they will love (love, love) them!


Patriotic Fruit Sticks
Sticks (the kind you use for kabobs)
4 bananas
1 pints of strawberries
2 pints of blueberries 

1. cut the strawberries in half
2. cut the bananas into 1 1/2 inch thick slices
3. stick 5 sticks with strawberries, 5 sticks with bananas
4. cut 5 sticks a little smaller and stick them with blueberries
5. lay out the stiks with bananas and strawberries- rotating everyother creating a the strips of the flags
6. then put the sticks with the blueberries in the corner - you can create multiple fruit flags depending on how many people you are serving.

Yum!!

5 Layer Dip

Happy Superbowl Sunday!! It's that time of year where people get out their 50 inch wide screen TVs, invite the friends and crack out the chips, fried foods and beer....Well there is a much healthier way to spend the day. A way where you will enjoy your food yet have it be healthy and lessen the guilt at the end of the game - you'll wake up Monday morning feel good about the night before even if your team doesn't win.

6 Layer Dip
1  tomato
1 cup of chopped romaine lettuce
1 15oz can of black olives (you won't need the whole can about 3/4 of it)
1 15oz can of baked beans
1 tbsp. of low fat Thousand Island dressing
1 cup of low fat shredded cheddar cheese
Your favorite kind of chips (I recommend blue chips or multi grain chips- it's the healthiest kind)

(the key is by the way ditch the sour cream!) 

1. drain the baked beans and mix it with the tbsp; of low fat dressing (spread it on a large plate making a thin layer)
2.  take the chopped the lettuce and sprinkle it over the baked beans
4.  chopped the tomato and then sprinkle it over the lettuce
4.  sprinkle the cheese over the tomato
5. take 3/4 of the can of the black olives - cut the olives into halves- sprinkle it over the cheese
6. serve with your favorite kind of chips and enjoy!!

Delicious Real Carrot Muffins

This recipe I thought of after eating my mom's amazing squash muffins. I thought I am sure carrots would be just as good as the squash. So I tried it and sure enough it was! This is a great dish because you can have it as a side with dinner as your starch or vegetable, although I suggest you don't count it as your veggie or if you add frosting to it it can made into your healthy dessert!
 
Delicious Real Carrot Muffins

1 1/3 cups grated raw carrots (its about 3 large carrots)
1/2 cup of apple juice
1 1/3 cups of whole wheat flour
3/4 cups of white sugar
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 cup of vegetable oil
1 eggs
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

1. preheat oven to 350*

2. mix the sugar, whole wheat flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon and salt together.
3. then mix in the apple juice, carrots, egg, vegetable oil and vanilla.
4. mix well
5. lightly grease and flour 12 muffin pans
6. bake in a preheated oven at 350* for 30 minutes
7. let cool on racks for at least 30 minutes

Frosting- option for dessert
Buy cream cheese frosting or vanilla frosting or if you are like me and hate eating anything store bought you can make them at home- Here are the recipes:

Vanilla Frosting-
2 cups of confectionery sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1/4 cup butter melted
2 tbsp. water

Cream Cheese Frosting (this is probably best with these muffins)
16oz of cream cheese softened
1/2 cup of butter melted
2 cups on confectionery sugar
1 heaping tsp. of vanilla extract

once the butter is melted and the cream cheese is softened just mix it all together and frost your muffin