Peanut Butter Cheerios with Dark Chocolate Almond Milk February 5, 2012

Jamie says: My good friend Clarissa recently enlightened me that General Mills now makes peanut butter Cheerios (and dulce de leche Cheerios)! I instantly wrote peanut butter Cheerios on my weekly grocery list. However, at my last visit to the grocery store, they were all sold out. (I guess everyone must have recognized what a great idea peanut butter Cheerios is.) This weekend before my weekly grocery store trip, I visited Target for one or two items and gravitated toward the cereal aisle as I was on my way out of the store. And there they were- the peanut butter Cheerios. I grabbed a box (and two other boxes of cereal along) and continued my way to checkout, when there I saw it- dark chocolate almond milk! Sold! I pinched the carton in one hand and balanced the cereal boxes with other random things I “needed” and carried my mountain of purchases to the check out. As my box of valentines (yes, I still buy those) fell off for the second time, I began to think a shopping cart was needed…

I arrived home and was hungry for a snack. It wasn’t hard to decide what to make…

Peanut Butter Cheerios with Dark Chocolate Almond Milk

Peanut butter and chocolate (especially dark chocolate) is a winning combo!

Peanut butter + chocolate = perfect combination

I like lots of milk in my cereal… and I don’t leave it in the bottom of the bowl either.

The next day, I poured a bowl for breakfast and added frozen banana slices which sunk to the bottom. The dark chocolate almond milk froze around each banana slice.

Enjoy a bowl for breakfast, a snack, or dessert

Peanut Butter Cheerios with Dark Chocolate Almond Milk

Ingredients:

• 1 cup sweetened whole grain cereal with peanut butter (Multi-Grain Peanut Butter Cheerios)
• 1 cup dark chocolate all natural almond milk (Silk Pure Almond)

Variation: add frozen banana slices

Directions:

1. Pour cereal in bowl followed by almond milk. Enjoy!

Serves: 1

• Nutrition note: Both the Multi Grain Peanut Butter Cheerios and Silk Dark Chocolate Almond Milk are fortified. This means they add extra vitamins and minerals to the product.

Ricotta with Peaches & Dark Chocolate Chips February 2, 2012

Jamie says: Ricotta, chocolate, and peaches. So simple, yet so delicious. Almost reminds me of the inside of a cannoli or my Grandma’s ricotta lady finger cake- except healthier and simpler.

Ricotta with Peaches & Dark Chocolate Chips

I used peaches, but I’m sure almost any fruit that’s in season would be tasty.

Simple and sweet

It’s the perfect dessert after a nice Italian meal. (I enjoyed it after my dinner of pasta with red sauce and meatballs and leftover salad.)

Vibrant golden and red colors complimentary of the fresh peach

Ricotta with Peaches & Dark Chocolate Chips

Ingredients:

• 1 ripe peach
• 1/2 cup part skim ricotta cheese
• 1/4 cup dark chocolate chips (Ghiradelli 60% cacao bittersweet chocolate premium baking chips)

Directions:

1. Chop peach. Place pieces in a bowl. Scoop ricotta and sprinkle chocolate chips on top. Enjoy!

Serves: 1

• Nutrition note: Shop for produce that’s in season. It will taste the best and cost less than during other times of the year. It will also likely be more local than if you purchased it out of season. This would mean that the food didn’t have to travel as far to get to your grocery store- which could mean more nutrients are retained. What a deal!

Pumpkin Seed Trail Mix November 5, 2011

Jamie says: So you were good and roasted and toasted your pumpkin seeds. Tired of ‘em yet? Have no fear, J & K are here with more ideas! Like Pumpkin Seed Trail Mix.

Pumpkin Seed Trail Mix

There’s something very comforting about eating (or drinking) out of a Mason jar. Reminds me of the days we used to go to Roadhouse Grill and they’d serve the beverages in Mason jars…

Up close and personal

The best thing about trail mix is that you can make so many varieties. If you don’t have something or just don’t like one of the ingredients, you can easily omit it and add another snack food. Be creative.

Aw, cute!

Wouldn’t this make a cute gift?

Pumpkin Seed Trail Mix

Ingredients:

• toasted pumpkin seeds
• baked cheddar crackers (Annie’s)
• dried cranberries
• ultra thin pretzel sticks (H.K. Anderson)
• toasted walnut halves (baked for 10 minutes at 350°F)
• dried tart cherries
• semi-sweet chocolate nonpareils (Sno Caps)

Directions:

1. Combine ingredients in a bowl or container. Lightly shake to mix.
2. Enjoy now or store in an air-tight container for later or to give as a gift to a friend.

• Nutrition note: Share food with friends. Not only will it bring a smile to their day, but you won’t have mass quantities of food the same food around (boring). And hey, they just may return the favor one day…

Toasted Pumpkin Seeds November 1, 2011

Jamie says:  I realized last night how much I love Halloween! The pumpkin carving, decorating, costumes, festivities, and Florida-Georgia weekend in Jacksonville. As an added bonus, you don’t have to worry about buying gifts or not having a Valentine or getting pinched because someone didn’t see you were wearing green… all such wonderful things.

This year, K and I carved pumpkins with Dad and Dell, our cat, at home. This is the first Halloween I’ve celebrated in my home town in 6 years.

As were were carving and decorating our pumpkins, I snuck into the kitchen to make some Toasted Pumpkin Seeds.

Hot out of the oven

They were perfect- crunchy with a nice golden glow from the extra virgin olive oil and a little salt! Yum!

The coarse sea salt crystals make them so tasty

I had to sneak our cute Halloween plate in a picture, too.

Even the spider likes them

Do you like our pumpkins? Halloween’s a time to be creative!

K's pumpkin (left) and J's pumpkin (right); the plates have different purposes...

Toasted Pumpkin Seeds

Ingredients:

• 3 cups pumpkin seeds (from 3 pumpkins)
• 2 tsp extra virgin olive oil
• 1/4 tsp coarse sea salt

Directions:

1. Place pumpkin seeds in a colander. Rinse and remove chunks/stringy pieces of pumpkin from seeds. Allow to drain.
2. Lay a clean dish towel on the counter and pour seeds on top. Using another clean towel, rub seeds to help dry. Allow to dry a little (about 20 minutes). Preheat oven to 375 °F.
3. Pour seeds onto a metal baking dish with sides. Drizzle olive oil and sprinkle sea salt on top. Mix well. Bake for about 30 minutes or until lightly brown and crunchy. Enjoy!

Serving suggestions: Use as a topping on a salad, in a trail mix, or just as they are.

• Nutrition note: Save the seeds when carving pumpkins. Not only are they tasty, but they are good for you. Pumpkin seeds are a good source of protein, fiber, magnesium, and zinc.

Strawberries with Chocolate Cream Cheese Dip October 17, 2011

Jamie says:  My Mom asked me what kind of birthday cake I’d like tomorrow. Today’s my last day of being 24… As I was dreaming up birthday cake ideas I began to crave a sweet treat. I made these Strawberries with Chocolate Cream Cheese Dip to satisfy my post-lunch sweet tooth. They were sweet, creamy, and full of chocolate bliss.

Strawberries with Chocolate Cream Cheese Dip

Strawberries with Chocolate Cream Cheese Dip

Ingredients:

• 1 oz cream cheese
• 1/2 Tbsp natural unsweetened cocoa (Hershey’s)
• 1 tsp light brown sugar
• 5 strawberries

Directions:

1. In a small bowl, mix together cream cheese, cocoa, and light brown sugar with a spoon until well-blended (this may take a minute or two).
2. Wash and dry strawberries. Dip in chocolate cream cheese dip. Enjoy!

Serves: 1

• Nutrition note: Craving a sweet treat? Make (or purchase) a small portion so you aren’t tempted by the leftovers.

Chocolate Pumpkin Coconut Parfait October 15, 2011

Kathryn says: I remember the olden days when J and I would get TCBY parfaits with our parents. Oh, the delicious layers of frozen yogurt and candy toppings…Well, the TCBY nearby closed, but I can make my own parfaits, and I bet they’re a bit healthier.

This Chocolate Pumpkin Coconut Parfait has become a new favorite dessert snack for me because it’s quick, easy, pretty, and oh-so-sweet.

Chocolate Pumpkin Coconut Parfait

Chocolate Pumpkin Coconut Parfait

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup chocolate pudding (Kozy Shack)
• 1/4 cup canned pumpkin (Libby’s)
• 1/4 cup coconut yogurt (Publix‘s CocoRico)

Directions

1. Use a spoon to scoop ingredients one at a time into a clear glass cup, making layers.
2. Enjoy with a spoon.

• J’s Nutrition note:  By using pudding, pumpkin, and yogurt instead of ice cream with toppings for layers of a parfait, you are getting more calcium and vitamin A.

PB & Blueberry Milk with Cheerios October 15, 2011

Jamie says:  Do you own a pair of shoes, a purse, a classic little black dress, or something that goes with just about everything? These are staple items for your wardrobe. And just like how clothing and accessories can be staple items, so can a cereal. Cheerios has been a part of my diet since I was an infant. And you gotta love it for being so versatile, just like those shoes…

PB & Blueberry Milk with Cheerios

And just like the cereal is versatile, so is the milk! The PB & Blueberry Milk can also be enjoyed as a smoothie or with a spoon as a frozen treat.

PB & Blueberry Frozen Treat

The color is so brilliant- and no Red 40 or Blue 1 here.  Just real color from real fruit.  And it tastes so flavorful, too- like peanut butter and jelly on bread with a tall glass of milk.

PB & Blueberry Milk with Cheerios

Ingredients:

• 1 cup frozen blueberries (e.g. Publix)
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon
• 2/3 cup fat free milk
• 1 Tbsp trans-fat free peanut butter (e.g. Smart Balance)
• 1 cup toasted whole grain oat cereal (Cheerios)

Directions:

1. Add blueberries, cinnamon, milk, and peanut butter to a small blender.  Blend until smooth.
2. Enjoy immediately as a soft frozen treat, or let sit for 5 minutes to thaw and use as a flavored milk by pouring it in a bowl of toasted whole grain oat cereal.

Serves: 1

• Nutrition note:  You  may have heard that Cheerios is heart-healthy, but do you know why?  It contains soluble fiber which can help lower cholesterol in a diet that’s low in saturated fat and cholesterol, thereby decreasing the risk of heart disease, according to the approved health claim on the Cheerios box.

Peanut Butter & Jelly Apples with Chocolate Chips October 14, 2011

Jamie says:  Have you heard the cost of peanut butter is going up?  I found out last night and all of a sudden, I craved peanut butter and nuts today.  It’s funny how that works sometimes.  So at breakfast, I blended peanut butter into my milk; at lunch, I added cashews to my salad; and now for my snack, what did I add on my apples?  That’s right, peanut butter (and a couple of other tasty toppings).  I made Peanut Butter & Jelly Apples with Chocolate Chips.  It was delicious- and I think my peanut butter and nut cravings have been satisfied for the day.  I think I might have to stalk up on this stuff…

Peanut Butter & Jelly Apples with Chocolate Chips

The taste?   Heavenly!  Think Reese’s peanut butter cups meet Joyva chocolate covered jelly rings.  Yum!

Smooth and creamy peanut butter, sweet raspberry preserves, and bitter sweet chocolate chips on a nice crunch apple

Peanut Butter & Jelly Apples with Chocolate Chips

Ingredients:

• 1 medium apple (gala)
• 2 Tbsp trans-fat free peanut butter (Smart Balance)
• 1 Tbsp semi-sweet chocolate morsels (Publix)
• 1 Tbsp preserves (Smuckers red raspberry)

Directions:

1. Wash apple and use an apple corer/slicer to cut apple into slices.
2. Spread peanut butter on one side of each slice.
3. Make a row of chocolate morsels on top of peanut butter down the length of the apple slice.
4. Spread jam above chocolate morsels, near apple skin.  Enjoy!

Serves: 1

• Nutrition note:  Natural peanut butter is a source of healthy monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, protein, vitamins (e.g. folate, vitamin E), minerals (e.g. magnesium), and resveratrol, according to an article by sports nutrition guru and Registered Dietitian, Nancy Clark).  Although peanut butter is good for you, it’s also high in calories, so just remember to keep your portions in check.

Ants on a Log October 13, 2011

Jamie says:  Ants on a Log.  It’s one of those snacks that must be a right of passage for entering those preschool years.  Maybe not for everyone, though.  I mentioned “Ants on a Log” to someone recently and got a funny look.  So I thought I’d share this fun, classic recipe with you.  If you’ve never tried Ants on  a Log, hop on board.  It’s one of those common life experiences…

Ants on a Log

It’s a great energizing snack for kids and adults alike.  It’s easy to make, healthy, quick, and kid-friendly.  (It only takes a hint of imagination to picture the raisins as ants and the celery as a log.)

Ants on a Log (with Naturally More peanut butter, raisins, and golden raisins)

Just think of the celery as a crunchy vehicle for the tasty peanut butter and sweet raisins.

Ants on a Log

Ants on a Log

Ingredients:

• 2 celery stalks
• 2 Tbsp trans-fat free peanut butter (e.g. Naturally More; Smuckers Natural; Publix Natural)
• 2 Tbsp raisins

Directions:

1. Wash celery and cut off ends.  Cut into pieces about 4″ long.
2. Spread peanut butter in cavity of celery.
3. Place raisins in a line on top of peanut butter.  Enjoy!

Serves: 1

• Nutrition note:  This snack captures three food groups, which means providing your body with a greater variety of nutrients.

Chocolate Strawberry Kefir Shake October 12, 2011

Jamie says:  Yoga.  It’s a gentle workout, right?  Sometimes, not always.  But certainly not this time.  My arms were shaking from doing so many chaturangas.  They still are.  Yup, it was yoga that did me in.  As a post-work out snack I made a Chocolate Strawberry Kefir Shake.  Kathryn eagerly volunteered to be my unbiased taste-tester.  The slightly bitter and slightly sweet chocolate flavors balanced each other out nicely.  Let’s just say I ended up making another batch…

Chocolate Strawberry Kefir Shake

Chocolate Strawberry Kefir Shake

Ingredients:

• 1 cup frozen strawberries
• 1 cup low fat plain kefir (Lifeway)
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon
• 1 Tbsp natural unsweetened cocoa (Hershey’s)
• 1 Tbsp maple syrup

Directions:

1. Microwave strawberries in a bowl for 1 minute or until just slightly icy.
2. Blend strawberries, kefir, cinnamon, cocoa, and maple syrup in a small blender until well mixed.  Enjoy!

Serves: 1

• Nutrition note:  Lactose intolerant?  Try kefir.  Lifeway kefir is 99% lactose free.