Cheesy Egg White Scramble with Potatoes & Ham – Under 200 Calories

I love a good, hearty and satisfying meal. Bonus points if it is healthy, which is why I can’t get enough of this Cheesy Egg White Scramble with Potatoes & Ham – Under 200 Calories. The recipe is super simple, customizable and uses ingredients I always have on hand. Without further ado, here is the recipe…

Cinnamon Blueberry Muffins with Oat Crumble Topping – Pantry Muffins from the Tightwad Gazette

I’ve been on the hunt for simple, versatile recipes using pantry staples and I have found a great one! I came across this recipe from the Tightwad Gazette and I knew I had to give them a go. I love how this recipe doesn’t give you the exact ingredients, instead it tells you what ratio you should use for each type ingredient so that you can use whatever you have on hand and really make them your own.

After School Banana Bread (An Adaptation of Joanna Gaines’ Recipe)

We love banana bread in our house and I am always up for trying a new recipe. So naturally, when I picked up Joanna Gaines’ cookbook, Magnolia Table, there is no way that I was going to not try her recipe for After School Banana Bread.

Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins

Banana Muffins, Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins – nothing new, nothing fancy, but oh so delicious. I have tried numerous recipes looking for the perfect muffin and this is it and I have to add that my boys love them.  Like, really, really love them.  Whenever I ask them what they want for breakfast these Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins are in their top three items they will ask for.  And….I have to admit they are one of my favorite breakfasts as well.

I was given this recipe by a teen that used to watch my boys.  He was telling me about these amazing muffins that his mom always made and actually had the image of the recipe on his phone. He said that so many people asked for the recipe after tasting the muffins that this is how his mom would give out the recipe.

These are a basic banana muffin – but a really, really good muffin. There is no fancy ingredient or big secret, just the perfect combination and proportions for a scrumptious treat.  They are moist and fluffy, but not dense or dry.  I attribute the perfect, moist texture to using oil instead of butter. While butter gives great flavor and I would never use anything else for cookies, these muffins benefit in a major way from using oil.  I also find that the rich, delicious flavor of the bananas is elevated by using oil.

These are great any time and keep well, but are especially fantastic right out of the oven.  There is nothing like watching the steam escape the inside of the fluffy muffin as chocolate chips slowly melt onto the delicate crevices.  When I feel like being a real rebel I love to slather mine with butter. Nothing like some additional fat added to the all-purpose white flour baked goodness to really put you into a full on food buzz.

Try these, you won’t regret it.

Oatmeal Cookie Smoothie – Healthy & Dairy Free

It is the New Year and like many people I indulged and enjoyed in glutenous baked goods and enjoyed many, many, many savory appetizers at holiday parties.  I didn’t want to be rude and not eat.  So I am feeling a little bloated and am looking to lighten up my diet up a bit so feel healthier and more energetic.

In an effort to try and feel less bloated I decided to try this smoothie I saw featured on YouTube and wow – it is really, really good.  The original recipe was featured on Miss Glamorazzi’s channel where cookbook author and blogger Claire Thomas shared several recipes that were quick and healthy.  You can see the video featured here that also has other delicious recipes.  In the meantime, here is the recipe for the Oatmeal Cookie Smoothie that is amazing!  Enjoy!

Oatmeal Cookie Smoothie Ingredients
Oatmeal Cookie Smoothie Ingredients

Oatmeal Cookie Smoothie
Ingredients
1 frozen banana
1 1/2 cups unsweetened vanilla almond milk
1 tsp. chia seeds
2 T. agave nectar (I didn’t have this so I used brown sugar – YUM! (perhaps why I have gained some weight…))
1 pinch of salt
1 T. unsweetened cocoa powder
2 T. flax meal
1/3 c. gluten free oatmeal
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1 cup crushed ice

Directions
Put all ingredients in your blender for about a minute and enjoy!

Banana smoothie and fresh banana on wooden background.