Friends and Fitness Enthusiasts,
While I was running the other day, Barefoot Contessa was on. She made this incredible dish that I couldn't wait to make. So, Kelby and I made her fantastic, succulent roast chicken with carrots, and potatoes. I have to share this recipe because it was easy to follow and tasted incredible. Unfortunately, I have no picture of it because we sliced it and devoured it too quickly for me to snap a shot. Anyway, here's the link. Go impress someone with your kitchen prowess. This chicken is not greasy, fatty, or anything. It is simple and delicious. Bon appetit, y'all!
In health,
Lauren
Showing posts with label delicious. Show all posts
Showing posts with label delicious. Show all posts
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Monday, March 7, 2011
230/365 Happy Snack Tip 2: Granola Bars with Protein
Friends and Fitness Enthusiasts,
When deciding what to snack on, choose something with protein and good fats. Where carbohydrates take about an hour to digest, protein takes 2, and fat takes 4. The point of a snack is to keep you satisfied until your next meal right? A happy snack choice would be something that can do that. Go for protein!
Granola bars can be great sources of that ideal mix of macronutrients. Brands I recommend are Clif, Kahshi, FiberOne, and Odwalla. The goal is something with protein, fiber, and healthy fat that is also tasty. As always, be wary of high fructose corn syrup and other synthetic products that your body won't recognize. If your body doesn't register it as energy, you will continue to crave food until you reach something that is recognizably calorie dense and nutritious.
What are your favorite granola bars to snack on?
In health,
Lauren
When deciding what to snack on, choose something with protein and good fats. Where carbohydrates take about an hour to digest, protein takes 2, and fat takes 4. The point of a snack is to keep you satisfied until your next meal right? A happy snack choice would be something that can do that. Go for protein!
Granola bars can be great sources of that ideal mix of macronutrients. Brands I recommend are Clif, Kahshi, FiberOne, and Odwalla. The goal is something with protein, fiber, and healthy fat that is also tasty. As always, be wary of high fructose corn syrup and other synthetic products that your body won't recognize. If your body doesn't register it as energy, you will continue to crave food until you reach something that is recognizably calorie dense and nutritious.
What are your favorite granola bars to snack on?
In health,
Lauren
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
225/365 Bread Pudding
Friends and Fitness Enthusiasts,
For my own little Oscar party, I had some Brie cheese and wine served with slices of apple and chunks of a French Baguette, a combination I learned from my dear friend Cole. I couldn't finish the baguette that day (I would be shocked if I or anyone else could single handedly) and was left with a hard loaf two days later. This inspired me to make some bread pudding.
Bread pudding is really easy to make. I didn't have all the ingredients for this recipe, so I made these changes:
- I only had 3 cups worth of old bread
- 1/2 cup sugar instead of 1
- 2 egg whites, 2tbsp butter, and 2 tbsp applesauce because I didn't have 2 eggs
- I didn't have pumpkin spice, vanilla extract, or raisins so I used 1/4 cup of chocolate chips and 1/4 cup craisins
- I also added 1/4 of flaxseed for extra fiber
- I didn't make the custard
Be as creative as you can with this sort of thing. You could add nuts to make it more filling and more nutritious.
In health,
Lauren
For my own little Oscar party, I had some Brie cheese and wine served with slices of apple and chunks of a French Baguette, a combination I learned from my dear friend Cole. I couldn't finish the baguette that day (I would be shocked if I or anyone else could single handedly) and was left with a hard loaf two days later. This inspired me to make some bread pudding.
Bread pudding is really easy to make. I didn't have all the ingredients for this recipe, so I made these changes:
- I only had 3 cups worth of old bread- 1/2 cup sugar instead of 1
- 2 egg whites, 2tbsp butter, and 2 tbsp applesauce because I didn't have 2 eggs
- I didn't have pumpkin spice, vanilla extract, or raisins so I used 1/4 cup of chocolate chips and 1/4 cup craisins
- I also added 1/4 of flaxseed for extra fiber
- I didn't make the custard
Be as creative as you can with this sort of thing. You could add nuts to make it more filling and more nutritious.
In health,
Lauren
Saturday, February 19, 2011
214/365 DIY Junk Food: Chocolate Chip-Pistachio-Cranberry Biscotti
Friends and Fitness Enthusiasts,
I picked up a book at my local public library called Biscotti and Other Low-Fat Cookies by: Maria Robbins. I took her recipe at tweaked it to make it a little more healthy (and because I didn't have all her ingredients).
Ingredients:
2 c. whole wheat flour (don't worry, there isn't any bitter after taste when they're done)
3/4 c. sugar
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
2 large eggs
2 large egg whites
1 tbsp grated orange zest
2 tsp pure vanilla extract
3/4 c shelled pistachios
3/4 c chocolate chips
1/2 dried cranberry
1/2 c. ground flax seed
Recipe:
1. Preheat oven to 325F
2. Whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt
3. In a small bowl, whisk together eggs, egg whites, orange zest, and vanilla extract.
4. Make a well in the dry ingredients bowl. Pour the wet mix into the well. Gently stir together making a sticky dough that holds together. Mix in pistachios, chocolate chips, cranberry, and flax seed.
5. Divide dough. Place on lightly floured surface. Shape into 2 logs about 12 inches long and 2 inches thick. Place onto baking sheet. Flatten out so that they are 3 inches wide. Bake for 30 minutes so they are firm to the touch.
6. Remove baking sheet to a wire rack. Reduce temperature to 300F.
7. With a spatula, remove biscotti logs to a cutting board. Slice diagonally into 1/2in slices with a serrated knife. Arrange back on baking sheet, cut side down.
8. Bake for 10 minutes. Remove, flip to other side and bake another 10 minutes.
9. Remove biscotti to a wire rack and let cool completely before storing in air tight container. They will keep for 1 month.
Seriously, these are delicious and a healthier biscotti than most. Since it's got the pistachios and flax seed, it's got good fat that should tide you over for awhile. The cranberries taste wonderful with the chocolate chips. You can hardly tell that you used whole wheat flour and that there's even flax seed in it!
In health,
Lauren
I picked up a book at my local public library called Biscotti and Other Low-Fat Cookies by: Maria Robbins. I took her recipe at tweaked it to make it a little more healthy (and because I didn't have all her ingredients).
Ingredients:
2 c. whole wheat flour (don't worry, there isn't any bitter after taste when they're done)
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
2 large eggs
2 large egg whites
1 tbsp grated orange zest
2 tsp pure vanilla extract
3/4 c shelled pistachios
3/4 c chocolate chips
1/2 dried cranberry
1/2 c. ground flax seed
Recipe:
1. Preheat oven to 325F
2. Whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt
3. In a small bowl, whisk together eggs, egg whites, orange zest, and vanilla extract.
4. Make a well in the dry ingredients bowl. Pour the wet mix into the well. Gently stir together making a sticky dough that holds together. Mix in pistachios, chocolate chips, cranberry, and flax seed.
5. Divide dough. Place on lightly floured surface. Shape into 2 logs about 12 inches long and 2 inches thick. Place onto baking sheet. Flatten out so that they are 3 inches wide. Bake for 30 minutes so they are firm to the touch.
6. Remove baking sheet to a wire rack. Reduce temperature to 300F.
7. With a spatula, remove biscotti logs to a cutting board. Slice diagonally into 1/2in slices with a serrated knife. Arrange back on baking sheet, cut side down.
8. Bake for 10 minutes. Remove, flip to other side and bake another 10 minutes.
9. Remove biscotti to a wire rack and let cool completely before storing in air tight container. They will keep for 1 month.
Seriously, these are delicious and a healthier biscotti than most. Since it's got the pistachios and flax seed, it's got good fat that should tide you over for awhile. The cranberries taste wonderful with the chocolate chips. You can hardly tell that you used whole wheat flour and that there's even flax seed in it!
In health,
Lauren
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
56/365 Banana Bread is Beautiful
Friends and Fitness Enthusiasts,
Some days, you just need to bake...or read a book, go for a walk, etc. However you unwind, do it. Relax and do something you enjoy.
Today I decided to make banana bread. This was mostly due to the fact that I had some over ripened bananas that needed to be utilized but, also because I was feeling stressed and knew that a baking session would cheer me up.
This recipe is from the Better Homes recipe book that my roommate has. It's fantastic!
Quick Banana Bread Ingredients:
2 cups flour
1 and 1/2 tbsp baking powder
1/2 tbsp baking soda
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp nutmeg
1/2 cup chocolate chips, nuts, etc. (if desired)
1 and 1/2 cups mashed bananas
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter
2 eggs, beaten
Topping Ingredients:
1/4 cup brown sugar
3 tbsp flour
2 tbsp butter
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
2. Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, salt, and nutmeg in a large bowl. Make a well in the middle of the flour mixture.
3. Combine mashed bananas, sugar, butter, and eggs in another bowl.
4. Add in banana-egg mixture all at once into the flour mixture.
5. Gently fold in; batter should be clumpy. Don't overdo it or it might get way too fluffy.
6. Pour into loaf pan(s) until 2/3 full.
7. Coat topping on top of batter (see recipe after this one)
8. Bake for 55 minutes if using 9 inch rectangular bread pan. The smaller the pan, the less time you'll bake it for.
9. Once removed, let cool for 10 minutes then remove from pan onto wire rack or plate. Let cool completely then wrap a towel or saran wrap. Let the ingredients mingle and settle for 8 hours or overnight.
10. Enjoy! It's so delicious and just right at the end of a long day.
Topping Recipe:
1. Pour brown sugar and flour into a bowl
2. Cut the 2 tbsp butter into the bowl (really just try to slice the butter into the sugar-flour mix)
3. With a fork, chop the butter so that it gets coated with the sugar-flour mixture as best you can.
In health,
Lauren
Some days, you just need to bake...or read a book, go for a walk, etc. However you unwind, do it. Relax and do something you enjoy.
Today I decided to make banana bread. This was mostly due to the fact that I had some over ripened bananas that needed to be utilized but, also because I was feeling stressed and knew that a baking session would cheer me up.
This recipe is from the Better Homes recipe book that my roommate has. It's fantastic!
2 cups flour
1 and 1/2 tbsp baking powder
1/2 tbsp baking soda
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp nutmeg
1/2 cup chocolate chips, nuts, etc. (if desired)
1 and 1/2 cups mashed bananas
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter
2 eggs, beaten
Topping Ingredients:
1/4 cup brown sugar
3 tbsp flour
2 tbsp butter
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
2. Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, salt, and nutmeg in a large bowl. Make a well in the middle of the flour mixture.
3. Combine mashed bananas, sugar, butter, and eggs in another bowl.
4. Add in banana-egg mixture all at once into the flour mixture.
5. Gently fold in; batter should be clumpy. Don't overdo it or it might get way too fluffy.
6. Pour into loaf pan(s) until 2/3 full.
7. Coat topping on top of batter (see recipe after this one)
8. Bake for 55 minutes if using 9 inch rectangular bread pan. The smaller the pan, the less time you'll bake it for.
9. Once removed, let cool for 10 minutes then remove from pan onto wire rack or plate. Let cool completely then wrap a towel or saran wrap. Let the ingredients mingle and settle for 8 hours or overnight.
10. Enjoy! It's so delicious and just right at the end of a long day.
Topping Recipe:
1. Pour brown sugar and flour into a bowl
2. Cut the 2 tbsp butter into the bowl (really just try to slice the butter into the sugar-flour mix)
3. With a fork, chop the butter so that it gets coated with the sugar-flour mixture as best you can.
In health,
Lauren
Saturday, August 28, 2010
39/365 Fruit Finale
Friends and Fitness Enthusiasts,
Admittedly, I have a sweet tooth. I enjoy a good cookie from time to time or a cupcake from Cargo Trike Cupcakes. Desserts like these are “sometimes foods.” If you can help it, try for one a day. For a greater challenge, maybe only 4 times a week. Desserts pack in a lot of calories. It’s especially hard when the portion is already selected for you. In our dining hall, I will often split the dessert being offered in half.
Something you can try that is a two-fold healthier way of satisfying that sweet tooth is by eating fruits as your dessert. A ripe peach is fantastically sweet with every bite of its juicy, nutritious goodness. The more you substitute naturally occurring sweets for baked or prepared desserts, the more you will crave them. You may find yourself as I do turned off to ultra sweet treats that I used to enjoy.
So try a peach or a handful of berries as your dessert instead of those tired packaged cookies. You will find yourself satisfied from tongue to tummy.
In health,
Lauren
Admittedly, I have a sweet tooth. I enjoy a good cookie from time to time or a cupcake from Cargo Trike Cupcakes. Desserts like these are “sometimes foods.” If you can help it, try for one a day. For a greater challenge, maybe only 4 times a week. Desserts pack in a lot of calories. It’s especially hard when the portion is already selected for you. In our dining hall, I will often split the dessert being offered in half.
Something you can try that is a two-fold healthier way of satisfying that sweet tooth is by eating fruits as your dessert. A ripe peach is fantastically sweet with every bite of its juicy, nutritious goodness. The more you substitute naturally occurring sweets for baked or prepared desserts, the more you will crave them. You may find yourself as I do turned off to ultra sweet treats that I used to enjoy.
So try a peach or a handful of berries as your dessert instead of those tired packaged cookies. You will find yourself satisfied from tongue to tummy.
In health,
Lauren
Sunday, August 1, 2010
12/365 Say Yo to Yogurt
Friends and Fitness Enthusiasts,
I adore breakfast as you know. It should be your most calorie packed meal. The more you have to start your day, the fuller you'll feel and the less you'll need by the end. You must eat breakfast!
One of my favorites to eat is yogurt. It counts towards your three servings of dairy a day and tastes delicious when you eat it with the right stuff. I recommend non-fat french vanilla flavored yogurt because it masks the inherent sourness. Don't go for the "Lite" variety because I guarantee that if you look on the back, it will say high fructose corn syrup or something equally bad under the ingredients. The generic brand is okay by me.
I say this because I have a gripe with Activia. This brand claims to have special bacteria and can "contribute to the improvement of digestive comfort." They make it seem like Activia has something that other yogurts don't. However, this is false. All yogurts have good bacteria called probiotics. These little guys help the good microorganisms inside of your digestive tract grow. In turn the microorganism will help regulate everything that's going on as well as provide other benefits. You can read more here.
I eat 1/2 a cup of yogurt with two handfuls of blueberries or a few sliced strawberries or half a banana or whatever fruit you can find, fresh preferably. Then I top it off with granola or high fiber cereal for some added calories and crunch. Delicious!
Pictures to come as well as recipes for your own granola and yogurt smoothie!
In health,
Lauren
I adore breakfast as you know. It should be your most calorie packed meal. The more you have to start your day, the fuller you'll feel and the less you'll need by the end. You must eat breakfast!
One of my favorites to eat is yogurt. It counts towards your three servings of dairy a day and tastes delicious when you eat it with the right stuff. I recommend non-fat french vanilla flavored yogurt because it masks the inherent sourness. Don't go for the "Lite" variety because I guarantee that if you look on the back, it will say high fructose corn syrup or something equally bad under the ingredients. The generic brand is okay by me.
I say this because I have a gripe with Activia. This brand claims to have special bacteria and can "contribute to the improvement of digestive comfort." They make it seem like Activia has something that other yogurts don't. However, this is false. All yogurts have good bacteria called probiotics. These little guys help the good microorganisms inside of your digestive tract grow. In turn the microorganism will help regulate everything that's going on as well as provide other benefits. You can read more here.
I eat 1/2 a cup of yogurt with two handfuls of blueberries or a few sliced strawberries or half a banana or whatever fruit you can find, fresh preferably. Then I top it off with granola or high fiber cereal for some added calories and crunch. Delicious!
Pictures to come as well as recipes for your own granola and yogurt smoothie!
In health,
Lauren
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