quick snack series:

I have a confession to make: about two years ago I was on a mission to lose 60 pounds. Once I lost 50 pounds though, I decided to start a baking and beauty blog. So, needless to say, the last 10 pounds have stayed quite happily as I've baked, fried, roasted and froze my way to not losing any weight. And then in October I broke my toe, so exercising was a non-option and then the holidays came annnnnd.... now I have 15 pounds to lose!

My toe is completely healed and I'm reenergized and committed to eating healthier and working out regularly. But please, don't worry. Even though I'll feature some healthier food options (which I've done before, I might add) the heart and soul of this blog will forever come from butter, sugar and vanilla. Oh, and some beauty tips thrown in.

These healthy snacks have saved me from eating one too many of Ruby's 'Nilla Wafers (and I don't even really like them...what's that all about?!). I have also eaten these snacks for breakfast, because they're full of nutrients that give me the energy to keep me going.

 Cinnamon Ricotta with honey, almonds and fresh fruit:

The addition of drizzled honey brings out the natural sweetness of the Ricotta, making the berries and almonds a perfect compliment. And since cinnamon is a natural appetite suppressor, this dish leaves you feeling full and satisfied.

Cinnamon Ricotta with honey, almonds and fresh fruit

1 Cup skim Ricotta cheese

1 tsp. ground cinnamon

2 Tbs. almonds

½ Cup berries

2 Tbs. honey

-Place ricotta in a bowl, and top with cinnamon, almonds and berries. Drizzle with honey and enjoy!

Open-faced p.b. and fresh "j":

This is a fresh, lighter version of the typical pb & j. There is so much sugar in jelly, and you don't really need the extra bread. Getting your whole-grains, protein and a serving of fruit will stave off any hunger pains for hours. Since this recipe is basic, it doesn't really require a recipe.

Here's what I do: toast 1 whole-wheat piece of bread then spread about 2 Tbs. of peanut butter (I prefer the chunky kind). Top the peanut butter with your favorite fruit- I love sliced strawberries or raspberries.

Ground Chia Seed Vanilla Pudding: 

I know there are so many varieties of Chia puddings and while this is my favorite version yet, I'm still not obsessed with it. There's a silky, slippery texture that can only be masked with lots of crunchy things, like walnuts and roasted coconut chips. That's also the reason I ground my chia seeds; leaving them whole in the pudding is like eating roe on top of sushi... all that popping in my mouth just kinda freaks me out. It's worth a try though: Chia seeds are so good for you and it'll keep you going and going.

warm mornings

I've said it before, I like to start the day off eating right, even if I'm ending it with a molten lava cake. This is my way of creating balance. This is my way of justifying a cookie. This is my way of getting some much needed nutrients. This is my way of a warm, healthy breakfast on a cold morning. It's pretty tasty having it my way.

Normally I'm not crazy about baked apple pies/desserts/oatmeal, but I thought if I shredded the apple it would just meld into the oatmeal. The additional crunch of the almonds also took away from the baked apple texture that I dislike, making this delicious and more like a treat. It doesn't feel healthy it just tastes amazing, especially with the cinnamon yogurt sauce.

I love baking this on the weekend and then reheating any leftovers throughout the week. I can't tell you how gratifying it is to have a warm, filling breakfast on a winter day... and then repeat it all over again the next day! Who needs cereal?

no holds bar

I know there are so many gift-giving baking idea's floating around on other blogs, Pinterest, the Food Network... but these Chunky Raspberry Bars have to be one of the easiest to put together. There's no intricate decorating of cookies or cupcakes, instead you're just basically smashing the dough into a pan and going for that "rustic" look. It works here, trust me.

The dough is really more of a shortbread packed with oats, coconut and almonds... oh and some raspberry jam to give it a festive flair. But of course you could swap out the raspberry jam for your favorite flavor, say peach or strawberry. Once the bars are cooled, they're dense and hold up wonderfully in a (gift) box. 

more peaches!

With so much fresh fruit available in the summer I can't help but use them in my baking. Especially when I buy a bunch of peaches, with the expectation that a certain two-and-three-quarters-year-old little girl and I will devour them, only to find out that this little girl wants nothing to do with them.

And not wanting to risk fresh peaches going bad, I sought an alternate route and was directed (by my sister) to this recipe. Thankfully I was attending a birthday party that night so I was able to share in the wealth of this dessert because it makes a ton. 

Cherry Almond Brown Butter Bars

I've done so much baking this summer and am so behind on posting some of these perfect-for-summer-recipes that I'm sort of in a panic to get it all on here. SO, this week will be mostly about baking, and I'll get to the beauty stuff next week- sorry! 

I've been wanting to make these bars for over a year, but had missed cherry season by thismuch so I knew I'd have to be patient until those little red fruits came back around.

Then there's the problem of not having enough cherries for the recipe because 1. cherries are meant to be eaten the moment you buy them, so it's a tough task in saving them and 2. I wanted to ensure there was a burst of sweet cherry popping in each bite, so you need quite a few cherries (36 to be exact).  

no rocks in this road

Blame it on the warm weather, but two different ice cream recipes in a row are an essential for this time of year. Whether they're melted, frozen, toasted or eaten plain, it's become apparent to me that I've become increasingly obsessed with marshmallows, as I've gotten older. They're a wonderful companion to chocolate and superb in a s'more (no matter what type of s'more it is!) and elevate a chocolate ice cream to sublime standards. 

I love texture in my food- especially in my ice cream, and when I flipped through this cookbook, by David Lebovitz, I wasn't dead-set on making the chocolate ice cream until I saw the footnote at the bottom suggesting some add-ins to make your own Rocky Road. Done. I zeroed in on that tiny font and clung to the idea of a rich, decadent chocolate ice cream with that crunchy and chewy texture I craved. And I was not disappointed!