Sunday, February 26, 2012

Healthy Pancakes

   Happy Sunday! Today I made myself a treat for breakfast: delicious and healthy pancakes! yum! The trick is whole wheat flower and greek yogurt :)  They turned out super good!
                   Yes, I know the formatting is weird, I don't know what happened.

Here's what you'll need:

  • 1/2 cup Greek yogurt

  • 3 ½ tablespoons whole wheat flour

  • ½ tablespoon sugar

  • ½ teaspoon baking powder

  • ¼ teaspoon salt

  • large eggs

  • ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract

  • 1 tablespoon milk



  • First, place Greek yogurt in a medium bowl. 



  • Add flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Stir together very gently. Stop short of the mixture being totally combined.






  • Then,  Whisk eggs in a separate bowl. 



  • Add vanilla to eggs and stir to combine.






  •  Pour egg mixture into the Greek yogurt-flour mixture. Stir together gently.  Add milk a little at a time if its too dry.







  • Pour the batter onto a griddle sprayed with cooking spray, ¼ cup at a time. 



  • Cook for 1 to 1 1/2 minutes, then flip the pancakes. Cook for another 45 seconds and remove to plate.



  •   






  • Top pancakes with syrup, fruit, or desired toppings.  I used Honey and strawberries!


  •  


  •  Enjoy!!








  • Teriyaki Chicken Dinner

        The other night I made a really tasty dinner and decided I should post it.  I don't have step by step pics this time, only a final picture.  I really like teriyaki chicken and I saw pineapple on sale at vons so I had to do it haha. This dinner is teriyaki chicken with brown rice, browned pineapple, and asparagus.  yumm!




    What You'll Need:
    1 thawed skinless chicken breast that has been marinated as it thawed.
    1 can sliced pineapple (4 slices)
    10ish asparagus
    1/2 cup brown rice


    First cook your rice, brown rice takes forever!


    Then sautee your asparagus and set in a bowl.


    Next, cook your chicken, once each side is somewhat cooked, pour in marinade liquid and cover on medium heat until sauce it thick it gone, flipping chicken occasionally.


    Then brown your pineapple on the asparagus skillet.


    When everything is finished, combine in a bowl.


    Enjoy!

    French Fry Fail

       So last night I decided to try to make healthy french fries, and they turned out good, until I left them in the oven for too long... The recipe I used said 400 degrees for 45 minutes, but after 30 they were burnt to a crisp, half were completely inedible and the other half were still not very good.  So, if you attempt this either turn the heat down or check after 15-20 mins!! These fries are healthier because they are baked instead of fried and olive oil is a good fatty oil.  So enjoy!!



    Here's What You'll Need:


    1 large russet potato
    olive oil to drizzle
    salt, pepper, garlic powder to taste.


    First preheat your oven, peel and wash your potato.


    Then, cut your fries, I used my mandoline for perfectly sized ones.










    Next, soak your fries in water for 30 minutes, this will remove the starch and allow the fries to crisp up!




    After they've finished their spa time, pat them completely dry!! completely!!
    If they're wet they wont crisp, they'll steam and stay soft.


    Then place them evenly on a baking sheet, drizzle olive oil over them, and add your seasonings.



    Bake for 20-45 mins (check often!)



    Enjoy!!

    Wednesday, February 22, 2012

    Chris' Reese's Birthday Cake

       Hey All, So it's my fantastic boyfriend's birthday today!! WOOO!! 21!! anyway, I made him a cake, Ill post a link to the recipe, but i'm mostly just showing off how awesome it turned out with all the pictures of it, enjoy!


    It's 3 layers of triple chocolate fudge cake, with peanut butter buttercream frosting, cut up reese's cups between the layers, and covered in dark chocolate ganache.


    and yes, it was as good as it sounds.










    Here's the link:

    Sunday, February 5, 2012

    Easy Sunday Brunch: Egg in Avocado

       Happy Super Bowl Sunday everyone!  I don't have cable so I can't watch the big game, and I am of course referring to Puppy Bowl XIII.  So to console myself I tried out a new recipe.  I saw a picture of this online and kind of winged it and it turned out delicious!  So if you feel like treating yourself to a fun, easy, healthy, yet kinda fancy breakfast, here's a cool idea!  Also, I just got a new camera and it takes MUCH better pictures than my old one so these pictures are the best yet :)




    What You'll Need:
     1 Avocado
     1 Egg
     Seasonings, I used salt, pepper, garlic salt, and cayenne pepper.
     Grated Parmesan Cheese


    First preheat your oven to 375 degrees.


    Then cut your avocado in half, but I made one half bigger.


    Crack the egg into the bigger half, there will be spillage, as you can see in the picture.  I used the other "half" of the avocado on my side salad.


    Next, season away, then add your cheese.


    Then put your avo/egg onto a baking sheet and bake for 10-15 mins.




    Enjoy the rich (but healthy fats) goodness!!