Lovely to look at and fun to eat, this smoothie bowl is packed with flavor and nutrition. 

Thanks to the National Processed Raspberry Council for sponsoring this post!  All opinions expressed are my own. 

I’m fascinated with smoothie bowls.  Thicker than a smoothie and eaten with a spoon rather than being sipped through a straw, a smoothie bowl is a heartier, kicked up version of a traditional smoothie.  And in case you haven’t noticed, they’re all the rage right now in the food world.  Just check out Instagram and you’ll find tons of amazing photos of smoothie bowls.  It seems like people love to use smoothie bowls as a canvas to express their creativity.  With their bright, vibrant colors and elaborate garnishes, many of these bowls look like more like works of art than actual food.

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All of the flavors of a leisurely Sunday brunch baked into a muffin that’s perfect to take on the go. 

Now that my daughter Sienna has started preschool, our mornings have become quite a whirlwind as we get her ready for school and ourselves ready for work.  And like her mommy, Sienna definitely likes to sleep until the last possible minute!  So although I hope to be able to sit down to a nutritious, homemade breakfast as often as possible, the reality is that there will be plenty of days when I’ll need a faster breakfast option. Enter these delicious savory breakfast muffins!   

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Oats, walnuts, blueberries, and apples are baked together in this hearty breakfast dish that's so good it almost tastes like dessert!

I received free samples of California walnuts mentioned in this post. By posting this recipe I am entering 
a recipe contest sponsored by the California Walnut Commission and am eligible to win prizes associated with the contest. I was not compensated for my time.

If you have never experienced the wonders of baked oatmeal, then you must try this dish!  Oats, walnuts, blueberries and apples are baked together in a hearty and comforting breakfast dish that tastes so good it almost feels like dessert.  And the best part is, it tastes even better the next day. 

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Take your next brunch from ordinary to extraordinary with these delicious and easy chilaquiles. 

Every year around this time, my entire family gets together and goes on a family vacation.  For the past several years, we’ve traveled to Mexico.  What’s not to love about Mexico?  Beautiful beaches, friendly people, and of course, amazing food!  It was on one of these trips several years ago that I first discovered chilaquiles.  Tucked away at the breakfast buffet next to the pancakes, eggs and waffles, I found what looked at first to be a very unassuming dish but ended up being quite a hidden gem. 

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5-Minute Pineapple Frozen Yogurt

Disclosure: As a Stonyfield blogger, I received free samples of Stonyfield organic yogurt to develop this post.  All opinions expressed are my own.  


My daughter Sienna has very interesting eating habits.  Like many kids her age, one day she’ll love something and the next day she’ll refuse to eat it.  But there’s one food that’s remained a constant in her diet from the beginning- yogurt.  She’s loved yogurt since she was a baby and we first introduced her to solids.  If it were up to her, she would probably eat yogurt for breakfast, lunch and dinner!  

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This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #BakeItWithMotts #CollectiveBias

At less than 150 calories and almost no fat, these healthy muffins are the perfect, guilt-free snack.

I have a confession to make- I love to bake.  It’s funny, most chefs fall firmly on one side of the savory or sweet fence- they're either savory chefs or they’re bakers, but usually not both.  It’s probably because with savory dishes, you can be more experimental while baking is much more of an exact science.  With savory dishes, you can add a little bit of this or a little bit of that, mixing ingredients until you achieve the right balance of flavors.  But with baking, you have to be very precise, measuring each ingredient; otherwise your pastries may not rise or have the proper texture.  In culinary school, practically every student in my class except for me dreaded the mandatory 6-week pastry module (of course I mean the cooking part, not the taste testing!).  I love cooking savory dishes but I also love to bake.  I guess it’s my background in science, but I actually enjoy measuring out ingredients.  Plus, it’s amazing to me that you can mix together a few simple ingredients like flour, eggs, sugar and oil and just a short while later, you have a delicious baked confection.

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These lovely gluten-free mini quiches are the perfect addition to your Easter table.


Like many chefs and foodies, I usually get excited when spring is right around the corner.  It’s nice to see the winter squash and root vegetables at the market making way for the fresh spring vegetables that are suddenly abundant like ramps, fresh peas, asparagus, artichokes, radishes, garlic scapes, and leeks.

I also associate Easter with the beginning of spring.  Did you know that Easter always falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the vernal equinox?  For those of you who don’t remember your 8^thgrade Earth Science, the vernal equinox (March 20) is significant because it’s one of the two days of the year when day and night are about equal in length all over the world.   

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Break out of your breakfast boredom with my Strawberry Stuffed French Toast. 

I’m always looking for healthy and delicious breakfast ideas.  On workdays, I’m usually rushing out the door in the morning and prefer portable breakfasts to take on the go.  But on my days off, I love having a relaxing breakfast at home with my family.  When I have a good, hearty breakfast in the morning, it puts me in a good mood and gives me the energy to get my day going.

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Chocolate for breakfast?  Not only is this satisfying smoothie bowl delicious, it’s good for you too, packed with almost 12 grams of protein and 8 grams of fiber!

I was asked to participate in the @CocoaVia #HeartMonth campaign as a member of the Healthy Aperture Blogger Network. I was compensated for my time.

In case you haven’t noticed, smoothie bowls are all the rage right now.  Thicker than a traditional smoothie, smoothie bowls are eaten in a bowl with a spoon rather than being sipped through a straw.   A smoothie bowl is a more substantial meal than a smoothie and is a great way to jumpstart your day.  And you can have fun with smoothie bowls, customizing them with your favorite ingredients and toppings.  People go all out on social media creating beautiful smoothie bowls that look like pieces of artwork.  I was inspired to create my own delicious smoothie bowl that would satisfy my appetite, give me a boost of nutrition, and also provide me with enough energy to get through the morning.  

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I hope you all had a wonderful holiday!  This year, we had a quiet Christmas at home.  It was just my husband, daughter and I, but we couldn't have asked for a better day.  Watching Sienna open all of her gifts was so much fun.  And when she was done playing with her toys and jumping around in the wrapping paper, she took a much needed nap.  She passed out surrounded with her new toys while still in her Christmas jammies and Cinderella dress- it was the cutest thing!

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Enjoy the delicious flavors of fall with this hearty and nutritious breakfast parfait. 

Disclosure: As a Stonyfield Blogger, I received samples of Nature's Path and Stonyfield products for use in this post. As always, all opinions expressed are my own.

Are you a fan of the pumpkin spice craze that occurs this time of year?  Once fall comes around, the stores start lining their shelves with pumpkin spice products and the internet abounds with pumpkin recipes.  Personally, I’m still a fan of pumpkin spice because I love this time of year.  Since I moved to South Florida, I definitely miss the change of seasons (but not the brutal winters!).  It’s just not the same drinking a pumpkin spice latte in 80 degree weather.  But even if I can’t have the fall weather, I can still enjoy the wonderful autumn flavors.

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These nutty, no-bake granola bars are packed with nutrition and flavor!

Happy Nut Day!  No, I’m not nuts- today is actually National Nut Day!  And it just happens to coincide with this month’s Recipe Redux post day so we were all challenged to share a healthy nut-filled recipe. 

   

I love using nuts in all forms in my recipes- whole, sliced, chopped, nut butter, you name it!  They are actually one of the most nutritious snacks you can eat and are packed with many beneficial nutrients including heart-healthy unsaturated fats, protein, fiber, vitamins and minerals.

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My Banana Flax Bread is packed with nutritious whole grains, flaxseed and Greek yogurt.  When it’s baking in the oven, it will make your whole house smell absolutely delicious! 

Banana bread is the ultimate fall comfort food.  When the weather starts to get cooler, I often crave warm, comforting foods, and banana bread definitely fits the bill.  

We buy a lot of bananas in my house.  When they get a little past their prime and start to turn brown, I either freeze them for smoothies or make banana bread. And when it comes to making banana bread, the browner the better.  Brown bananas will be softer and sweeter- perfect for a delicious and moist final product.  

When I heard that this month’s Recipe Redux theme was Fantastic Freezer Meals, I knew I had to make my Banana Flax Bread.  Quick breads like banana bread are perfect for freezing.  When I get in a baking mood, I often bake large batches of cakes, cookies, muffins, etc. and then freeze them.  This way you always have a convenient, heat-and-eat breakfast or snack when you want one.

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