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Decadent Dessert Recipes for Your Holiday Soiree

December 4, 2014 by

No holiday party is complete without something sweet for guests to nibble on after the big meal is over, and this special occasion requires a dessert that’s a bit more elegant than your usual cake or cookies. Here are a few festive dessert recipes that will make the perfect ending to any seasonal soiree.

Cream Puff Tower
While cookie tables are fairly casual, an artistic cream puff tower makes a much more decorative way to display self-serve desserts. This recipe shows you how to create light, fluffy cream puffs covered in a flaky pastry crust, and it also offers inspiration for artfully arranging them on a tiered stand.

Dark Chocolate Peppermint Brownies
Everyone loves a warm, chewy brownie, and this recipe adds festive red and white peppermints on top to make the old favorite more appropriate for the holiday season. Best of all, this recipe is best served the day after baking for a fudgier consistency, so you can even make them ahead of time.

Holiday Biscotti
If you plan on serving hot coffee after dinner at your holiday party, this holiday biscotti is the perfect accompaniment. Traditional cranberry pistachio biscotti cookies are dipped in white chocolate and covered in red and green sprinkles for a decorative look that’s also delicious.

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You Might Be Surprised That These Common Foods Are High in Sugar

July 24, 2014 by

Some foods are obviously high in sugar, such as cakes, sodas, and ice cream. But did you know that there are sneaky high-sugar foods that may be sabotaging your diet without you even knowing it? Here are a few foods that are surprisingly high in sugar.

  1. Fat-free yogurts. Sure, fat-free yogurts don’t contain fat, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re low in sugar, too! In fact, the majority of low-fat and fat-free yogurts overcompensate by adding quite a bit of sugar to sweeten up the taste. Be sure to check the label on your favorite sweet side, because some 0% yogurts can contain as many as 20 grams of sugar.
  2. Marinara sauce. Marinara sauce is often viewed as a healthy alternative to creamy Alfredo sauces, but this savory pasta topping can be packed full of sugars. Beware of store bought cans and jars especially, as they’re the most common culprits.
  3. Bread. Even supposedly healthy breads, like whole grain and wheat, can contain about three grams of sugar per slice. Processed breads are usually much higher in sugars than freshly baked options, so opt for a loaf from the bakery or a sprouted wheat bread from the health food store.

6 Surprising Sources of Sugar [Eating Well]
6 Hidden Sugar Mines in Your Diet [Next Avenue]
Sugar: Five Foods Surprisingly High in Sugar [BBC]

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Think Beyond the Salsa With These Cilantro-Centric Recipes

June 19, 2014 by

When you think of salsa, you likely think of the zesty flavor added by cilantro. Cilantro is also a great addition to many other dishes, however, even those outside of Mexican cuisine. These three recipes will have you rethinking the way you view cilantro in the most delicious ways possible!

Asian Noodle Salad with Chicken and Cilantro
Instead of the usual Southwestern cuisines, try cilantro in an Asian-cuisine-inspired dish for a change. This noodle salad requires no cooking at all to create a fresh, interesting meal with a traditional Vietnamese sauce. Top it with cucumber and cilantro for a bit of added flavor.

Miso-Maple Sweet Potato Tacos with Coconut-Cilantro Sauce
There are so many delicious flavors in this taco dish, your taste buds will hardly know where to begin. Tender sweet potatoes covered in a miso and maple syrup glaze take the place of the usual taco meat, and avocado, cilantro, and toasted pepitas make a tasty garnish. The cilantro comes in at the end, when it’s blended with coconut to create a uniquely flavorful sauce for topping.

Zesty Quinoa Salad
If you want to eat healthily without sacrificing taste, you’ll absolutely love this quinoa salad. Fresh vegetables and black beans make it bright and nutritious, while cilantro and black pepper add major flavor.

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Three Great Salad Recipe Websites

April 17, 2014 by

You might know how to prepare a basic Greek salad or a classic Caesar salad, but what about one with fried garbanzo beans? Have you ever thought of adding quinoa to your salad? If your salads need a bit of updating, these creative recipe websites can help.

Oprah.com
Oprah’s wonderful website is packed full of delicious recipes, but the salad tips are truly one-of-a-kind. Browse 45 fresh and healthy salad recipes for every occasion, from hearty, main course salad dishes to appetizer salads for summer gatherings. The Shaved Fennel and Grapefruit Salad is tangy and tart, while the salad with prosciutto and goat cheese perfectly complements Italian food.

101 Cookbooks
This stylish website offers a number of unique salad recipes for inspired lunches or dinners. The Avocado Salad doesn’t seem like much of a salad at all, with sliced, buttery avocados arranged over a bed of lentils, but its abundance of nutrients and low calorie content make it just as healthy. 101 Cookbooks features a variety of other bowls, dinner salads and side salads with ingredients that are much more creative than your usual lettuce.

Better Homes and Gardens
If you’re looking for modern updates to your favorite salad recipes, Better Homes and Gardens is just the place to look. They feature the very best ways to prepare herb salads, pasta salads and steak salads, and they’re so delicious that they might even feel new again.

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5 No-Bake Desserts to Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth

March 20, 2014 by

Sometimes you crave a sweet dessert after your evening meal, but digging out pans and preheating the oven just seems like so much work. If you want to create a tasty, creative dessert dish without messy baking, no-bake recipes are a convenient alternative.

You can make just about any type of treat with a no-bake recipe, from cookies to bars to candies. These five recipes are also perfect for last minute dinner parties or those times when the kids need a snack for school with little advance notice.

Double-Chocolate Mascarpone Raspberry Pie [Better Homes and Gardens]

Creamy Frozen Lime Pie [Recipe Lion]

No-Bake Snickers Caramel Apple Pie [Fox News]

Cookies & Crème Pudding Pops [Kraft]

Strawberry Freeze [Kraft]

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Unique Muffin Recipes You Can Bake at Home

February 20, 2014 by

From blueberry to chocolate, muffins come in an endless assortment of flavors for just about any occasion. Whether you’re looking for a nutritious breakfast treat or a sweet dessert, these unique muffin recipes will show you a number of different ways to make your favorite baked goods.

Easy Morning Glory Muffins
Rise and shine with these hearty, flavorful breakfast muffins. Full of shredded carrots, apples, and raisins and accented by crushed walnuts and spicy cinnamon, these easy-to-make muffins make a delicious treat to have with coffee or to toss in your bag when you’re late for work.

Apple Pumpkin Muffins
Perfect for cold weather seasons (or any other time of the year, for that matter!), these sweet apple and pumpkin muffins are filled with two of the most popular flavors. The warm, rich taste of pumpkin combined with the tangy sweetness of apple creates a flavor that is just perfect in muffin form.

Ginger-Lemon Mini Muffins
With a uniquely spicy zest, these mini muffins are better for pairing with tea than your usual coffee. The spice of ginger and the tartness of lemon create a sophisticated flavor that make this muffin recipe perfect for serving at a fancy party or giving as a gift to you foodie friends.

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