Coconut Chia Seed Pudding

I've been trying to include more healthy foods in my diet, especially since our son started eating all of the same foods as us. Chia seeds are a good for you seed you can add to smoothies or drinks. They swell when they get wet which is what makes them so filling. They have a ton of fiber and have omega-3 fatty acids, protein and magnesium.

This pudding is made from coconut milk and chia seeds. That's it! Here are the ingredients and how I made it.

1/3 cup chia seeds
2 cups coconut milk

toppings: blueberries, strawberries, almonds or cashews, shredded coconut, honey or agave

Mix chia seeds and coconut milk together. Let it sit in the fridge for an hour to thicken and chill. Serve and top with whatever fruit and nuts you want!

I've also seen a chocolate version that looks yummy. Maybe made with chocolate almond milk? I love this healthy and fun dessert!

Whole Wheat Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies!

I am obsessed with cookies. I force myself to make them as little as possible however, because I am not the type that can eat one cookie and call it a day. I'll eat them for breakfast, lunch and dinner until they are gone! One of my friends pinned this copycat Great Harvest Giant Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie a few months ago and I decided to give it a try. Anything to make them a little healthier- then I can have 5, right? ;)

They ended up being amazing and you can't even tell they're made with whole wheat flour. They still have butter and sugar, of course, but at least there's some extra fiber!

Here's the ingredients:

2 sticks of salted butter
2 cups brown sugar
2 eggs
2 tablespoons molasses (yes, you HAVE to add this! it makes them.)
1 tablespoon milk
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt (i use more than the recipe originally calls for and I use kosher salt)
2 cups oats (for them to be really chewy, don't use quick oats. We want whole oats)
2 cups whole wheat flour
1 1/2 cups chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350. Cream the butter with the sugar. Add eggs, molasses and milk, mix for 30 seconds. Stop mixer and scrape down the sides of the bowl to make sure everything is combined. Add baking powder, soda and salt. Mix for 10 seconds. Add oats, flour and chocolate chips. Mix JUST until everything is moist. Usually it takes me about 20 seconds MAX to get everything combined. Not over mixing cookie dough makes them light and delicious.

These were originally giant cookies, but I make them normal size and bake them for significantly less time:
The original source says to bake them for 12-14 minutes- I ALWAYS under bake my cookies. Bake these for 9 minutes! As in- they are still almost raw on top when I take them out.  Ever wonder why cookie dough is so dang good? It's not cooked, that's why. So who wants to eat over baked cookies? Not me. Plus, when under baked, they are softer and last days longer...if they aren't all eaten within 24 hours :)

Chocolate Cake Mix Cookies

This cookie recipe comes from my mom and it's my favorite. I don't like a lot of cookies, but I love these. I will warn you now...they are no where near healthy :)

Ingredients:

1 milk chocolate Betty Crocker cake mix

1 8 oz. pkg cream cheese (room temp)

1 cube butter (room temp)

1 egg

1 tsp. vanilla

Heat oven to 350 degrees

Combine cream cheese & butter.

Then add the remaining ingredients- cake mix, egg & vanilla.

Spoon dollops of cake mix on a greased cookie sheet, don't form balls, these are supposed to be kinda chunky and medium to big sized.

Bake for 8-10 mins, these are quite moist so be sure not to overbake them. Bake one sheet and let them cool enough to taste then adjust time from there.

My mom is also known for her cherry chip version of these cookies. Just replace the chocolate cake mix with Betty Crocker Cherry Chip cake mix. My brothers love them.

With my mom half a world away these make her feel a little closer.

Easy Strawberry Shortcake

I'm so glad Kristine introduced me to this easy, yummy dessert all those years ago :)

It's the perfect summer dessert because it uses up all those perfect summer strawberries. I LOVE summer fruit. This shortcake is so easy and yummy- everyone I've ever made it for LOVES it.

All she does is follow the instructions on the side of the Bisquick box for the shortcake, but instead of making individual ones, she puts the dough into an 8x8 pan and tops it with the sugar. Then when it's done baking, you slice pieces. It's much faster and easier. Fill with sugared strawberries and FRESH whipped cream for a super yummy dessert. I feel like all of the guys I've served this to especially love it.

Lemon Cookies

I first had these cookies at the sand dunes and haven't forgotten them since. They are so delicious! And seriously the easiest thing ever, which is good because I can cook...but I can't bake! So thank you to my sister in law, Brandi, for this fabulous and simple recipe.

Lemon Cookies

1 lemon cake mix*

2 eggs

1/2 c. oil

1 container of lemon frosting

Preheat oven to 350.

Combine lemon cake mix, eggs and oil in a bowl.

Roll out parchment paper on a cookie sheet, trust me you'll want to use this.

Roll dough into small balls about 1 inch. 

Back for 8-9 minutes and remove from oven. 

Allow them to cool a bit then frost one cookie and sandwich another one on top.

EASY, right? SO easy!

*I used Betty Crocker, my sister in law used Duncan Hines, we preferred my sister in laws a little more so I'd recommend Duncan Hines. But we are at a much high elevation so who knows if that was the difference, or if I really just can't bake! None the less, they are delicious!

Rice Pudding

If you like creamy vanilla desserts, then this is one for you! It's very easy to make and always a crowd pleaser. Plus, I love using up my leftover cooked rice from dinner.

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups cooked white rice
1/3 cup sugar
2 cups milk
1 egg
1/4 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup raisins (I leave them out sometimes)
1 teaspoon vanilla
dash of cinnamon + nutmeg


Directions:  In a saucepan, combine the rice and 1 1/2 cups of the milk. Bring to a simmer stirring quite often. Let it boil while stirring for about 5 minutes, or until the milk thickens up a little. Now combine the other 1/2 cup of milk in a bowl with an egg and beat it up. Slowly pour the egg/milk mixture into the saucepan while stirring the rice constantly. Keep simmering slowly, and add the salt, raisins, vanilla. Cook until it's your desired consistency (for me it's about 2 more minutes). Then serve it hot with your spices on top, or let it cool a bit (we like it warm) or stick it in the fridge and have it cold. It's good any way you have it! And leave out the raisins if you're not a fan. David is not a dessert guy, but he will gobble up two servings of rice pudding any day!

Chocolate Pudding Pie

This pie is sooo yummy and easy. You could make the chocolate pudding from scratch, but the day I wanted it, the weather was too hot to stand over the stove and stir pudding. You HAVE to make the whipped cream on your own- nothing beats fresh whipped cream.

 Ingredients:

12 oreos

Half a stick of butter, melted

Chocolate pudding mix

Whole milk

Whipping Cream

Sugar, about a teaspoon

Vanilla (optional)

Pulse the oreos in the food processor until they are crumbs, then pulse in melted butter. You want the crumbs to stick together when you pinch them between your fingers. Press the buttery crumbs into a pie plate. Make the pudding according to instructions, then pour it into the pie crust. Chill the pie until the pudding is set. Before you serve it, dump a small container of whipping cream into your kitchen aid or a bowl and use a hand blender, put it on high, add in a teaspoon of sugar. You can add a teaspoon of vanilla if you want, but it's good either way. This pie tastes way too good for how easy it is to make!

Natalie's Menu

It's already Wednesday! We skipped a few days of making dinner to meet up with friends we hadn't seen in years. But I'm back on track tonight! And I'm planning on making these yummy no-bake cookies since it's so dang hot.

source

Sunday: Homemade hamburgers, fresh cut french fries with lots of salt + pepper and salad.

Monday + Tuesday: Ate out

Wednesday: BBQ chicken drumsticks, roasted lemon broccoli, garlic bread

Thursday: Chicken enchiladas + green salad (we didn't end up getting to it last week)

Friday: We're shooting a wedding in LA so we'll grab dinner afterward.

I'm excited about chicken drumsticks tonight. We eat chicken breast every week and my husband likes a break with a little dark meat every once in a while and these organic ones I got were on sale for less than $3 for a pack of 5.

Pero + Milk

My newest favorite drink doesn't have a real name. I've called it cold Pero, milky Pero, iced Pero... Whatever you want to call it, it is delicious! I don't drink coffee but I've tasted it before, and I never really liked it.  My SIL used to drink it and introduced me to her alternative now that she doesn't drink it anymore.

Pero is a 'coffee substitute' that is most commonly made hot. It's instant powder that just has to be added to a liquid. I love that it's made out of chicory, rye and other natural things- but none of them have to do with actual coffee.

source

The other day I was at my SIL's house and she made me this drink. I fell in love! Perfect for a hot day. Also, a good alternative to chocolate milk.

Here's how I make it:

Fill a tall glass with cold milk. Add 1 or 2 teaspoons of Pero and mix. Add 1 teaspoon of brown sugar and mix. Top off with some ice. Enjoy!

Chocolate banana blueberry smoothie

I get on smoothie kicks every so often and I'm always looking for something new to try. A friend had mentioned how good dark chocolate almond milk is, so I decided to pick up a carton and I'm so glad I did! I love chocolate and any way to get it into a smoothie is ok with me! Here's what I put in it:



Frozen blueberries
a banana
a big glug of dark chocolate almond milk
sometimes I put some normal milk in it too, if i want it to be thinner

It makes a great breakfast or snack and really fills you up.

Lemon Ricotta Cookies

Whenever I make homemade lasagna, I always have leftover ricotta cheese. These are the best way to use it up. They are so soft and cake-like. Perfectly lemony...Giada is a genius.

Image via Food Network

Easter Cake

I love colorful things! This is a little remake on the rainbow cake, I guess. I recreated it from this blog

The only change i made to the recipe is that I added vanilla to the frosting. I don't think the actual flavor of the cake was anything super special, but it was really moist which is always a plus. Here are some shots of my cake:

Apple Turnovers

Based on Ina Garten's recipe.


1 1/2 apples, diced into little chunks
2 tablespoons sugar, plus extra to sprinkle on top
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
sprinkle in about teaspoon ground cinnamon
Pinch kosher salt
1 sheet of puff pastry, thawed (leave it out on your counter for a little bit before making the filling)
egg for brushing on top of the dough

Combine the apples, juice, zest, cinnamon, flour, salt and sugar into a bowl and let them sit for a bit. Slice the puff pastry into two triangles by cutting a diagonal line from one corner to the other. Fill each side with the apple mixture and fold the dough over to make a triangle. Use a fork to crimp all unsealed edges together. Do the same until you run out of apples. Brush the top of each with the water or egg and a little sugar if you want. Bake them on a cookie sheet for about 20 minutes at 400 degrees. You want them to be very golden brown all over. I like to serve them with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Cake Doughnuts

Last Sunday morning, cake doughnuts sounded really good so I decided to try to make them. I found this recipe and they turned out amazing. I made a glaze from melted butter, powdered sugar, a splash of milk and vanilla.

rainbow cake update

here is the link for the rainbow cake!

it was so fun to make! i would definitely make it if i had a baby or a kid having a birthday. instead i just made it for fun :) the best part is cutting it open, because i covered mine in white frosting so you couldn't tell what was inside.

coconut banana bread with lime glaze

this sounds like the perfect summer snack! i am totally going to try this out.

coconut banana bread with lime glaze

this blog is very inspirational