Author Archives: Sharde

Banana Chocolate Chip Chia Seed Breakfast Muffins

Posted in Breakfast by

I’m a big believer in breakfast.  As in, I rarely skip breakfast.  Even if I’m running late, I’ll grab something as I’m heading out the door.  What better way to start of your morning than to avoid being hangry? Tone It Up posted this banana chia seed recipe just as I was looking for a new make-ahead breakfast.  I modify mine a bit from their recipe, but I cannot tell you how amazing these are (also, have you tried TIU’s workouts?!).  They’re healthy and make a great light breakfast or mid-morning snack.  I love how you can mix up the add-ins just like you would with banana bread.  You can top them with sliced bananas, add chopped walnuts or eat them without any add ins.  Meet your new favorite breakfast.

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Joy the Baker’s Honey Oatmeal Bread

Posted in Appetizers/Snacks by

Homemade bread is one of those things that take a bit of work, but is so worth it.  I made this honey oatmeal bread as part of Joy the Baker’s “baking bootcamp.”  I’ve made honey oatmeal bread before, it’s one of my favorites, but decided to take part in this fun challenge and put a healthier spin on it with one of my favorite secret ingredients: coconut oil.

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Bailey’s Irish Cream Chocolate Chip Cookies

Posted in Dessert by

Since it’s March and all, what do you say we prep for St. Patrick’s Day a little early? I’m a big fan of Bailey’s Irish Cream and I’m not letting the fact that I don’t have a drop of Irish blood stop me from finding new excuses to enjoy it.  My boyfriend is Irish, so I guess there’s that? The alcohol actually burns off, so you’re left with the delicious flavor and you can leave these in your office kitchen without getting in trouble.

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Almond Flour Brownie Bites

Posted in Dessert by

Nothing says, “I love you so much I don’t even mind if you gain a couple of pounds” like a batch of brownies.  Fresh baked brownies are the perfect way to show someone you really care.  It takes a lot of restraint not to polish these off.  I made my boyfriend some of these brownie bites without telling him they had a little secret…almond flour! The best substitutions are those for which you can’t even tell there is a substitution and these brownie bites fit the bill.  Why not make them a teensy bit healthier? I’m not ashamed to admit there are some really good boxed brownie mixes.  These are fudgy (that’s a word…) like the good boxed mixes, but you know every single thing going into them. I don’t ruin my brownies but adding icing or powdered sugar. These don’t need them. Pure chocolate goodness. DSC01938

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Refreshing Ginger Grapefruit Juice

Posted in Cocktails & Drinks by

Hi friends! It’s been a while.  What have I been doing? Working, making lots of trips to Home Depot, and a little bit of travel in between.  This year is off to a busy start! This past weekend I busted out my juicer again to make use of all of the extra fruit I have around.  Since I live in Los Angeles, it is pretty much mandatory that I own a juicer.  Aside from the fact that you might ingest too much sugar if you make a purely fruit juice too frequently, I love experimenting with new juices and find that they make a great post-workout treat.  After participating in Cycle for Survival (click here to donate to this awesome cause) and a trip to Home Depot (of course), I recovered with this refreshing juice.

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Roasted Chickpea and Feta Kale Salad

Posted in Main Dishes, Side Dishes, Vegetarian by

This New Years Resolution-worthy kale salad is one of my favorite quick dinners.  It is healthy and the roasted chickpeas make it filling.  Not to mention the fact that the roasted chickpeas are an addictive snack on their own.  The spiciness of the red pepper flakes add just enough of a kick to balance out the feta cheese.

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