Back to Basics 19 - Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Cookies

Behold, the humble chocolate chip cookie. Is there a better dessert? I think not. You can make it crispy or chewy, thin or fat, fill it with whatever you want, and it comes in a nice little convenient package. All you need is one free hand to savor it and you're good to go.
My favorite is thick and chewy, with dark chocolate chips and nuts. And to make us feel less guilty, we make it with whole wheat flour and oats, we also replace some of the butter with canola oil. Perfection.
Now, stop drooling over that picture and let's see how you can make these.

Back to Basics 14 - Spinach Mac & Cheese

Hey guys! Wow, it's been a while huh?? It's been a little hectic. I got a new job in the field I went to school for (YAY!) and I started working more hours in the other job I had so by the time I got home, I didn't really feel like pulling out my camera and taking pictures for every single step while making dinner. But now my routine is a little less crazy so I have more time to devote to the blog.

I came back with a really really great recipe for you guys. I mean, who doesn't love mac & cheese? And one you can feel good about eating? Well, that's even better!! I got this from, where else, EATINGWELL! Let's just get right into it.

Buffalo Chicken Casserole

If you love buffalo sauce but are understandably afraid of eating it because of the calories, this is the meal for you!
This casserole is amaaaazing. You won't believe it's healthy. Seriously. Pasta, chicken, creamy buffalo sauce with blue cheese?! Doesn't sound diet to me..
But, it is.
This is adapted from EatingWell. I do pretty much everything the same, except I like to add 2 little blocks of Laughing Cow Light Blue Cheese. I also switch up the pasta shape every now and then.

Farro with Pistachios

I love farro! I discovered it fairly recently and I'm just in love. It's chewy, nutty and so versatile. It's also really good for you. You can add it in place of rice, quinoa, oats and even pasta. Seriously, it's so good. You can find farro almost anywhere nowadays. I've gotten mine before at Shaw's or Stop & Shop. The first time I made this dish, I did a happy food dance. I have made that dance every other time I've eaten this dish. It's that good.

Butternut Squash Risotto

This is a picture from the Eating Well website, where I got the recipe

I love cooking seasonally. Not only do you get food that's fresher and cheaper, but it also gets you in that holiday mood. It makes me feel more involved. Like I'm participating in a nationwide party. Or something....?

Anyway, the word "risotto" might make you feel like you want to skip this and go on to a different recipe because it's going to take you forever. You might think I'm culinarily gifted because I can make RISOTTO. That's what I thought whenever I heard the word risotto. But trust me, there's nothing to it. All you need is patience and a LITTLE time, and by the end of one hour you will have rich, creamy, delicious, hot risotto.

Easy Leftover Lunch

An easy recipe for my first post using leftover pork and brown rice from last night's dinner. I just added a simple salad of baby spinach, fresh mozzarella and tomatoes, seasoned with kosher salt, dried oregano and a little bit of olive oil. I'll be honest, I did not track the calories on this one because today's been a little hectic.

Introductions

As I sit here studying for my upcoming Radiology exam, my mind wanders to different colorful ingredients and unique smells that could be coming out of my tiny kitchen.

Excuse all the sub par Instagram pictures, one day I'll have a nice camera again. Also, that is my boyfriend, Eric, hanging out and being a model. I'm very new to this whole cooking thing but it has stolen my heart like the Grinch stole Christmas.