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Have you ever had one of those nights when you are cooking dinner and a tasty idea pops into your head? That happened to me recently and resulted in what I call “Pumpkin Coconut Crusted Chicken.” In the fall I am all about pumpkin: pumpkin pie, homemade pumpkin ice cream, pumpkin bread, and pumpkin smoothies – it is all good! But last week I was in the kitchen cooking my usual batch of chicken, when an urge for pumpkin occurred. I decided to whip together a few of my favorite things, and experiment with a new fall-inspired dish. According to my taste test subjects it came out simply delightful and I could not agree more!

It is that time of year again – school is back in session! Last year I did a post featuring some “Essentials for Back to School” and this year, I want to feature a recipe to provide your child with a nourishing, yummy snack for his or her lunch box. These homemade chewy, energy bars also make for great after school pick-me-ups!

Snack bars seem to flow in abundance at grocery stores, markets, gas stations, and more. Who doesn’t like a quick energy fix? But not so fast. Sadly, it should not come as much of a surprise that most snack bars are full of empty calories, refined sugars, and preservatives. Unfortunately, this can lead to feelings of never being full, energy crashes, and further cravings. Thankfully, there are better options, and ones that you can easily make in your own kitchen! (1) (2) 

It seems like everywhere we turn, butter coffee is all the rage. Signs displaying “add some good fats to your coffee” are now popping up in local cafes and grocery stores around the country---and we’re hooked! This new and improved morning routine has become such a staple, we can’t even imagine coffee “the old way.”

Doesn’t summer just scream smoothies?! I don’t know about you, but I love smoothies. And during this season, with the hot weather and ocean breeze, they taste all the better. Smoothies offer an icy, simply, and irresistible way to quench your thirst and nourish your body, all at the same time. Is anybody else’s mouth-watering? On some days, particularly when the weather is intensely hot, a real meal doesn’t always seem appetizing. This is when a mason jar of blended goodness seems like the perfect match. However, there is no reason why a smoothie should be any less nutrient dense than a fully cooked meal. And that will be the focus of my post today! How can we combine amazing nutrients and flavors into one perfectly poured, convenient cup?

We’re all about fueling the body with healthy and sustainable energy so it should come as no surprise that breakfast is our favorite meal of the day! Our ideal breakfast holds a blend of healthy proteins, fats, and energy-generating ingredients. It’s simple to make, travel-friendly, able to be made in bulk and refrigerated for later, and hunger satiating. Can you guess what checks all these boxes? You got it...the protein pancake!

School's out, wedding season has begun, the nights are warmer and the parties last longer. In short, summer is here! We begin this beautiful season with the daunting task of keeping our kids busy all day every day. Knock, knock, it’s creativity here! Outdoor activities, pool time, beach time, build-a-slip-n-slide in your backyard time, camp, playdates and anything else you can think of to keep them entertained. As parents, this is a great time to come up with out-of-the-box activities, and what better way to do that than encouraging your children to explore their creativity in the kitchen.

There is nothing like the smell of fresh baked chocolate chip cookies coming from the oven. Ooey, gooey, and melting in your mouth… they are simply irresistible! What is even better? A little fresh, real sea salt sprinkled on top. There is something about that sweet, chocolaty taste, combined with coarse salt that just makes your mouth water.  

Tonight my family had bacon for dinner. Yep, it was one of those nights where everybody wanted breakfast for dinner and bacon sounded too good to pass up. What I love most about cooking bacon though, is all that yummy, nutrient dense fat that pools in the bottom of the skillet. The best part is, when it comes time to fry the eggs, they are cooked in the delicious taste of the bacon “leftovers,” and it got me thinking about the benefits of animal fats. Lard is that famous fat that grandparents use to love and save jars of in the pantry. So what exactly is it? 

Confession: I love pudding. Smooth, melt-in-your mouth swirls of it, topped with angelic wisps of whipped cream and garnished with delicate slivered nuts...sigh.  Layer it into a darling parfait dish or bake it in a ramekin and I find the stuff to be completely irresistible. While I enjoy most flavors, I have always been particularly fond of pistachio pudding, with its sophisticated taste and charming pale green color. One thing is for sure however...a dessert this good shouldn’t come from a box mix, nor should it be something that is sacrificed for those needing to avoid dairy. So, here is a cunning no-cook, dairy-free version that uses the natural coloring of an avocado, the robust sweetness of a banana and the creamy texture of coconut milk to create an easily-digested, satisfying mousse-like treat in minutes.