Pear Pancakes with Cinnamon {Breakfast Recipe}

Every morning we wake up and decide what to have for breakfast. Sometimes it’s eggs, sometimes it’s yogurts and berries, and sometimes it’s cereal. But every once in a while we get a special treat.

Pancakes! 

Now, it’s not that pancakes are hard to make. Or that they’re labor intensive. We just don’t eat them all the time. So when we do, we make them special. And I have to admit, when I run out of my Alton Brown pancake mix, I grab a box mix.

But I don’t leave it at that! We spice up our pancakes with the fruit and spices we have on hand and make them extra special and nutritious. When my kids were small I would add different purees into their pancake mix but now that they’re older we like to dice up our fruit before adding it in.

And here’s how we do it:

Pear Pancakes with Cinnamon

  • 1 cup Trader Joe’s multigrain pancake mix
  • 1/2 cup milk 
  • 1 egg
  • 1/4 pear
  • 1 tsp cinnamon

1. Dice up the pear into small pieces.

2. Mix together the pancake mix, milk, and egg with a whisk until just incorporated. Do not over-mix.

3. Add in the diced pear and cinnamon. Fold in gently.

4. Let pancake batter sit while you prep the pan. Heat pan on medium heat.

5. Coat pan with butter. Take a towel and wipe off the excess batter (thanks, Alton, for that tip!)

6. Using a measuring cup, pour 1/4 to 1/3 of the batter onto the hot pan.

7. Let cook until batter is bubbling and edges look firm and underside is golden brown, about 1 1/2 to 2 minutes. Flip.

8. Let the other side cook until golden brown, about 2-3 minutes.

9. Repeat with the rest of the batter. If making large batches, store cooked pancakes in a warm oven (I set mine on the lowest setting and place pancakes on a plate with a towel on top to keep warm while I finish the rest of the batches).

10. Enjoy!

Makes 6 pancakes

Pancakes are so easy and versatile! Why stick with the same old plain pancakes when you can jazz them up? Switch up apples for pears and add some peanut butter on top and you have a tasty, and healthy meal perfect for this Fall!

Pumpkin Cupcakes with Maple Cream Cheese Frosting {Dessert Recipe}

As I mentioned before, I’m a bit obsessed with pumpkin. And as soon as I got a whiff of coolness in the air I got to baking. I’ve been craving these cupcakes since the first time I made them a few years ago and with a few minor tweaks I think I’ve perfected my recipe.

These were delicious! And even better when left in the fridge overnight and eaten for breakfast the next morning with a hot cup of coffee 😉 But if you can’t wait that long to savor the goodness just make sure to allow the cupcakes enough time to cool before frosting them. You won’t be disappointed!

Pumpkin Cupcakes With Maple–Cream Cheese Frosting

Cupcakes

  • 1 stick unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 1 cup firmly packed dark-brown sugar
  • 1/3 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 cups cake flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1/2 cup buttermilk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1 cup canned pumpkin

Frosting

  • Two (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
  • 1 stick unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 2 cups confectioners’ sugar
  • 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
  • 1 cup heavy whipping cream

 Preheat the oven to 350° (175°C). Line a cupcake pan with 18 liners.

Cupcakes:
Pour the milk into a measuring cup and add vanilla.

In a stand mixer, beat the butter and sugars on medium speed until fluffy, about 5 minutes. Meanwhile, sift the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, salt, and pepper into a medium bowl.

Add the eggs one at a time to the mixer, scraping down the sides after each addition. Alternate adding the flour and milk mixtures, beginning and ending with the flour. Beat in the pumpkin until smooth. Scoop the batter into the cupcake liners, about 3/4 of the way up. Bake the cupcakes until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 20 to 25 minutes. Cool the cupcakes on racks completely.

Frosting:
In a stand mixer beat all the ingredients on medium until fluffy but firm. Frost the cupcakes using either a spatula or a pastry bag w/ a large tip. Refrigerate the cupcakes for 30 minutes to set up frosting.

Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars {Dessert Recipe}

When Fall comes there is one thing I am most excited about. The return of canned pumpkin on the shelves! I start out small. Buying maybe 4 cans of pumpkin on my first spotting. Then I get a bit crazy. I need to stock up for the rest of the year. How can I not have 10 or so cans of pumpkin in my pantry by mid-October? And what do I use these cans and cans of pumpkin for? Healthier recipes!

Pumpkin is a great ingredient in baking, cooking and no-bake recipes such as this one. It’s simple and easy to use and best of all… it’s super tasty and healthy! Now I’ve already been making my pumpkin waffles, pumpkin muffins and even a pumpkin oatmeal shake. But I hadn’t yet tried anything with pumpkin and cheesecake before. So this past weekend I decided to try out a no-bake recipe for pumpkin cheesecake bars. And they were delicious.

If you have a can of pumpkin lying around you have to try it!

Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars

  • 1 package (8 oz.) neufchatel cheese, softened*
  • 1 cup canned pumpkin
  • 1/3 cup agave nectar (or 1/2 cup sugar)
  • 1/2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
  • 1 tub (8 oz.) Cool Whip Free whipped topping, thawed, divided
  • 1 package graham crackers (about 24), crushed
  • 4 tablespoons light butter, melted

Line an 8×8 or 9×9 baking dish with plastic wrap. Mix graham cracker crumbs and melted butter until the crumbs resemble moist sand. Push crumb mixture into dish with your fingers evenly to create a level crust on the bottom. Make sure to get the crumbs into the corners of the dish as well.

Beat cream cheese, pumpkin, agave and pumpkin pie spice with electric mixer on low speed for one minute. Increase speed to medium and mix for another 3 minutes or until no lumps are visible. Gently stir in 2-1/2 cups of the whipped topping. Cover and refrigerate remaining whipped topping for later use.

Spoon cream cheese mixture into crust and refrigerate 3 hours or overnight. Serve topped with remaining whipped topping. Store leftover cheesecake in refrigerator.

*How to Soften Cream Cheese
Place completely unwrapped package of cream cheese in microwavable bowl. Microwave on HIGH 10 to 15 seconds or until slightly softened. If you cannot find neufchatel cheese in your grocery store just go for the reduced fat cream cheese. Same thing, different name.

Serves 16 | 5 WW+ Points

Low-Fat Turkey Chili with Beans {4 WW pp+}

Turkey Chili with Beans

One thing that has become very apparent these past two weeks is that it is, in fact, football season again. My tv is once again taken over and Sunday afternoons and Monday nights are filled with the sound of yelling and cheering.

I have to be honest though, I’m not really that into football. But I am into football food! The excuse to invite people over to sit around and eat appetizers and yummy bbq is just too enticing. And one of my favorite go to recipes to make is a delicious turkey chili with beans.

Not only is it quick and easy, it can simmer in the slow cooker all day and be used as needed for munching. Plus it’s versatile. We put chili on just about everything. Hot dogs, nachos, fries, etc. It makes just about anything better. And it’s low fat! That’s right. This recipe is filled with low fat turkey chili, tons of veggies, and spices and seasonings to create a flavor you will love. [Read more…]

Overnight French Toast with Pecan Praline Topping {Breakfast Recipe}

I love having people over. I enjoy being forced into cleaning my home and making yummy food for my guests to enjoy.

I recently hosted a My Favorite Things party and similar to my first My Favorite Things party, I included a menu that highlighted my favorite eats. Since I hosted this event in the morning I served my favorite overnight french toast. It’s simple and easy to make the night before and tastes amazing after a whole night of soaking the flavors in.

Plus it’s topped with an out-of-this-world pecan praline mixture before it’s baked. Heaven! [Read more…]

Lighter Sesame Chicken {Dinner Recipe}

Since I’m back on track and counting points, I’ve been reverting back to old favorites! Favorite recipes that is. I absolutely love how simple and delicious this meal is. I can make it under 30 minutes and the longest part is waiting for the rice to finish cooking.

If you’re looking for a quick and easy take out meal without the cost of take out, try your hand at this delicious lighter sesame chicken! Feel free to play around with the flavors a bit as well. Add a little orange zest, or maybe some flaked red pepper. This dish is so versatile and can be changed up to fit any flavor profile.

Lighter Sesame Chicken

  • 3 tablespoons honey
  • 2 tablespoons sesame seeds
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1 clove garlic, finely chopped
  • 2 large egg whites
  • 1/4 cup cornstarch
  • 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 2-inch chunks
  • Coarse salt and ground pepper
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 4 scallions, thinly sliced

In a small bowl, combine honey, sesame seeds, soy sauce, and garlic; set aside. In a large bowl, whisk together egg whites and cornstarch. Add chicken and season with salt and pepper. Toss to coat.

In a large nonstick skillet, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium-high. Add half the chicken; cook, turning occasionally, until golden and opaque throughout, 6 to 8 minutes. Transfer to a plate.

Repeat with remaining tablespoon oil and chicken. Return all the chicken to skillet; add reserved sauce and scallions, and toss to coat.

Serve sesame chicken with broccoli and rice.

Serves 4 | 6 WW points

Healthy Ranch Yogurt Dip {Snack Recipe}

Yogurt Ranch Dip

My family is absolutely obsessed with ranch dressing. If the kids have veggies, they want to dip them in ranch. So I’ve tried to change up the way we make ranch and have ditched the sour cream!

Now sour cream isn’t bad. I love the stuff. But by swapping out sour cream with greek yogurt I not only am cutting calories but I’m increasing protein! All in all I’m very excited about the swap and the kids can’t seem to tell the difference.

And Greek yogurt can be subbed for more than just sour cream. I also swap it out for mayo in some recipes.

Yogurt Ranch Dip ingredients

Ranch Yogurt Dip
  • 1 cup greek yogurt
  • 2 tablespoons ranch mix (see below for ranch mix)

Mix ingredients together until well combined. Let sit in the fridge overnight. Serve with your favorite veggies or chips.

 
Ranch Dip Mix
  • 2 tablespoons dried parsley
  • 3/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon seasoned salt
  • 1 teaspoon dried dill
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/8 teaspoon dried thyme

Combine ingredients and store in an air-tight container for up to 3 months. Feel free to double or triple and use as needed.

Keeping Kids Healthy with Great Snack Options {Back to School Special}

Keeping Kids Healthy with Great Snack Options

Now that the kids are going back to school and the craziness of summer is coming to an end, it’s time to start talking healthy snack options!

One of my main concerns with my kids is the fact that they want to snack all.day.long. So I’ve tried my best to offer a variety of foods to not only keep them open minded about what they eat, but also keep them aware of the colors they eat and trying to make sure they get to every color of the rainbow!

If they’re going to snack, they’re going to snack the right way.  [Read more…]

“Roasted” Whole Chicken {Slow Cooker Dinner Recipe}

With the heat of the summer upon us the last thing I want to do in the afternoon is prepare for dinner. I don’t want to go anywhere near a stove or oven and have been quite bad about forgoing a traditional meal for one my husband can pick up on the way home more than once.

Since I am over being lazy about my health I decided to cook a whole chicken in the crock pot this week so that I could not only enjoy delicious, slow roasted goodness, but also have leftover chicken for meals later on in the week (as well including a great topping for salads for lunch)!

Not only is this chicken super easy to make, it’s tasty as well! And can be made in 3-4 hours. So if you forget to set the slow cooker in the morning and are home in the afternoon, there’s still hope for dinner!

“Roasted” Whole Chicken in the Slow Cooker
  • 1 whole chicken
  • 2 teaspoons red curry powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon sage
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne (red) pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 onion
  • 2 garlic cloves, whole

Chop up the onion and place 3/4 of the onion on the bottom of your slow cooker. Set 1/4 aside.

Remove all giblets and neck from chicken (set aside if you want to use it to make chicken stock afterwards). Pat chicken dry.

Combine all herbs and spices in a bowl. Rub spice mixture onto skin of chicken making sure to get every inch covered.

Stuff chicken cavity (you know… were the giblets were?) with onion you set aside and garlic cloves. Place chicken breast side up on top of onions in slow cooker.

Set slow cooker on low and let cook 3-4 hours or until tender.

What do you do with leftover chicken?

 

Smores Brownies Recipe

Did you know it’s National S’mores Day? No, seriously! It is.

And you know any dessert that has it’s own day needs to be celebrated. The right way. With lots and lots of dessert!

Hershey’s chocolate, Jet Puffed marshmallows and yummy Honey Maid graham crackers are the perfect way to satisfy any sweet tooth. But I was sick of the same old s’more recipe. I wanted something different!

So I gathered my s’mores ingredients and took them to the next level. And the end product… well, it was totally worth it.



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