Better For You Brownies + Giada's Happy Cooking

For me, I'm happiest when I'm cooking. For Giada De Laurentiis it's the same. It's also the mantra behind her new cookbook, Happy Cooking. I chose her book for this round of my Blogging For Books.  I have grown up watching Giada on Food Network, but in her past few seasons she has really focused on healthy and nourishing recipes. Something you don't always see on Food Network. I love ya PW but a stick of butter can't go in everything...

Happy Cooking is stock full of happy healthy recipes. And nothing that is too difficult. GDL quotes "make every meal count...without stressing out!" Between her lightened up pasta dishes, gorgeous vegetable sides, Sunday dinner comfort food, I not surprisingly leaned toward her sensible sweet treats for this recipe post. 

Black bean brownies. Don't be scared of them. If Giada is doing it, you know it's no fluke. They are satisfying without being too sweet, the perfect thing to end a meal with. She includes peanut butter chips in her recipe which I obviously omitted. Check the recipe below for some alternate additions!

Better For You Brownies adapted from Happy Cooking
yields 9

Ingredients:
1 (15-oz) can black beans, rinsed well and drained
3 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 cup rolled oats
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
2 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 Tbsp. espresso powder or coffee granules
1 large egg, plus 1 yolk
1/4 cup coconut oil, warmed so it is a liquid

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray and 8x8-inch pan with cooking spray. Cut a piece of parchment paper to fit the bottom of the pan and adhere it with the cooking spray, then set aside. 

In a food processor, place the drained black beans, cocoa powder, oats, salt, brown sugar, vanilla, baking powder, coffee, egg and yolk. Puree to combine. With the motor running, drizzle in the melted coconut oil until everything is pureed and smooth. Spread the batter in the pan. Bake fro 20 to 25 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Allow the brownies to cool and enjoy!

*Would be great with chocolate chips sprinkled over the top, a coffee glaze made from coffee and powdered sugar, or a big slathering of almond butter over each piece. Or, you can take these somewhat healthy brownies and serve them with a big scoop of ice cream like I did. Balance ya know?

Annie

I received this book from the Blogging for Books program in exchange for this review. Read more about my thoughts on Happy Cooking here.

 

Bites of My Life

I only feel a little bad when my bites posts are only full of food. I promise I have a life with un-edible things too. Although, this week was all about the noms. I stayed kind of on track, but it's time to grind out the fourth and final week of the Barre 3 challenge. Lord knows I need it coming off this food filled week. Coming for you strong B3. 

Things you miss from the picture below are; the first sights of sun in what seems like weeks (hallelujiah), a throwback 90s concert, trips to the Asian market, Mexican supermarket & Whole Foods #diverse, and quality bonding time with my puppy niece while her mom and dad are away.    

-Ultimate leftover shrimp fried rice. The perfect pairing for bachelor Ben viewing.
-Mason jar oatmeal is on repeat for an on-the-go breakfast during these freezing mornings.
-All my favorite healthy work snacks. Can't quite make it through the workday without some. 
-Added a little zest to your hump day with the recipe for Zesty Chicken Salad (It's like really stinking good).
-Not your average brownie, coming this week!
-Hands in the air for this Maple Pecan Crusted Salmon for our B3 meal of the week. 
-I woke up for breakfast, my friends woke up for brunch, but we didn't get out of the house until lunch. So Saturday's "breakfast" turned into veggie chili from The Red Cup. 
-The pregame snack to my favorite brunch. 
-You know that show The Best Thing I Ever Ate, on Food Network. If I was on it, this would be my bit. The Green Eggs and Ham from Stella just get me. Creamy herb baked eggs with prosciutto. It doesn't get better. 

Annie

Zesty Chicken Salad

I'm coming in clutch for your lunch game. This chicken salad is zesty, fierce and Barre3 approved. I found the recipe in Barre3 founder, Sadie Lincoln's book, Love Your Lower Body. Not only is my lower body loving this recipe, so are my taste buds. 

It takes the traditional idea of chicken salad, but gives it a little kick in the tush. Pickles? I love. Paprika? Zesty. Apple? Why not. Best part is it only uses a little bit of greek yogurt and dijon mustard. Traditional chicken salad calls for mayonnaise, but mayonnaise gives me the heebie jeebies. I watched a video in 10th grade chemistry on how mayonnaise was made and that was pretty much it for me. 

One of my roommates and I got into a chat about chicken salad after I made this and we love how versatile it is. It can be a salad, a wrap, a sandwich, even a dip. Add some curry powder and you've got an Indian spin on. So many options with this zesty lunch!

Zesty Chicken Salad adapted from
yields 4 servings

Ingredients:
2 cups diced cooked chicken breasts*
1 cup diced dill pickles
1 Tbsp. finely diced onion
1/4 cup cilantro, chopped
1/2 Tbsp. dijon mustard
3 Tbsp. plain greek yogurt
1/2 tsp. paprika
1/4 cup dried cranberries or raisins
1/2 granny smith apple, chopped
1/4 tsp. sea salt
Spinach, kale, arugala, or whatever your favorite greens are; for serving

Directions:
In a medium size bowl, mix together all ingredients. Done, that's it. To serve, place about a cup of greens on a plate with equal portions of the chicken salad on top. 

*My favorite way to cook chicken breasts is by placing them in the crock pot with 1/2 cup of water, salt and pepper and let them go on low for 3-5 hours. You can even do this with frozen chicken breasts they will just take a little longer. 

Annie

Work Snack Hacks

Recently some of my friends and I were talking about the downsides of work. You sit all day, you feel crippled from hunching over your keyboard, I personally get headaches from staring at the computer screen and there are constantly food and treats lurking in the office just haunting you.

I swear it is someone's birthday everyday, or someone decided to pick up donuts on their way in, or someone (me) was in a baking mood and brought all the leftovers to work. Not to mention I work in a place with a full service restaurant so random plates of queso and nachos just show up in our office from time to time. Hello trying to eat healthy over here, please stop with the nonsense food!!

It's too easy to get un-healthy while in the working world. The best way I have tried to stay on track at work is to 1. always be stocked with a drawer of healthy snacks 2. keep a full bottle of water nearby and 3. get up at least once every hour to walk around and stretch my legs. These are tips we hear a lot, but having healthy snacks on hand has really worked for me. Chances are if some kind of food appears I'm going to want to eat it or chances are I may just get stressed mid-day and need a little pick me up. In the end I feel so much better when I reach for one of my healthy snacks instead of a piece of cookie cake.

As far as snacks go, the most important thing for me is to pre-portion everything out. I make little baggies of nuts, air popped popcorn and granola so that I don't end up finding myself elbow deep in a bag of Purely Elizabeth. 

Below are some of my favorite desk drawer snacks!

Almonds or Cashews
Cutie clementines
Trail Mix (this is my favorite)
Homemade Granola
Quest Bars
Granny Smith Apples and Almond Butter Packs
Air Popped Popcorn
Rice Cakes
Almond Butter Balls
Hot Tea ( I drink so much tea at work!!)

If you want more ideas check out this list of healthy snacks, or more specific, healthy snacks for work. I'm dying to try this cranberry nut kale granola! Any favorite work snacks you care to share? I'm always in for a good snack!

Annie

P.S. Thank you to my desk at home for making my snack hacks look pretty, because let's be honest, my desk at work is a complete disaster. 

Bites of My Life

Not a bad week, but not a stand out week. just kind of came and went. A little Bachelor, a little food, and a little trip up to Tulsa to add a some umph to the week. Dinner, brunch, Barre3 and an art exhibit all done in under 24 hours. 

-It's all about presentation, Cranberry Orange Holiday Detox Smoothie. 
-The cutest kitchen fashion.
-Bachelor nights and enchilada soup!
-PSA, go try Oak & Ore's new menu items. 
-Tik Tik Tik Tikka Masala, you can't miss this recipe!
-On Tulsa Time.
-Barre3 Challenge in Tulsa!
-Hello Mr. Warhol.
-Saturday nights be like.

Annie