Posts tagged ‘EatingWell.com’

February 25, 2011

Foodie Fact Friday

Rainy Fridays are the worst! Ugh, I wish I was going away for Spring Break…this weather is getting monotonous. Here are 5 stories and fun facts I found interesting this week. Stay dry today, my fellow New Englanders!

How McDonald’s Screwed Up Oatmeal (Huffington Post)
Gross. I hate McDonalds and would never let them ruin my love for oatmeal.

5 Grocery Shopping Myths Busted (Eatingwell.com)
Interesting stuff! Especially loved #3 and #5.

Chocolate’s Startling Health Benefits (Huffington Post)
Win, win for chocolate lovers!

New Uses for Everyday Ingredients (Cookinglight.com)
I will definitely be trying out the unexpected peanut butter and cinnamon applications.

Effort to Grow Broccoli on East Coast Gets $5 Million Investment (Huffington Post)
YAY! I’m sick of spending an arm and a leg for one of my fav veggies.


February 4, 2011

Foodie Fact Friday: Super Bowl Edition

Beer, chicken wings, nachos, pigs in a blanket…the Super Bowl has turned into a tradition focused more on binge eating and drinking than watching the actual game. No matter where you end up plopped in front of a television, there will undoubtedly be a buffet of junk food, calories and fat. Just because the guys on your flat screen are running around and sweating doesn’t mean you can gorge yourself! Try noshing on some of my healthy-alternatives below, all previous posts of mine (a little walk down memory lane).

Kiwi Salsa

Black Bean and Corn Salad/Salsa

Crispy Roasted Chickpeas

Hummus

Turkey, Brie and Apple Sandwich

Turkey Chili

Gingery Turkey & Cucumber Pitas w/ Ramen Noodle Salad

No Bake Cookies

For more ideas and healthy recipes check out FitSugar.com or EatingWell.com. Have fun this weekend! Let’s go Giants! …oh wait, they were awful this year. Fail.

Sprinkled with Love,
Lauren


December 12, 2010

Guilt-Free Christmas Cookies

In light of the holiday season, I baked Christmas cookies. Just because the holidays are right around the corner does not mean you have to loosen your belt! These Dark Chocolate Florentines (Eating Well) are the best of both worlds: delish and only 108 calories. They are not tedious like other cookie recipes, which is another plus! Bring these healthy alternative treats to this year’s Christmas parties and I promise you won’t be disappointed, nor will your fellow party-goers.

Ingredients
1/3 cup unsalted butter
1/4 cup canola oil
2 cups quick-cooking oats
3/4 cup sugar
1/3 cup whole-wheat flour
1/4 cup soy milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup toasted walnuts (or almonds) finely chopped
1/2 cup semisweet or dark chocolate chips
1/2 cup apricot preserves

Start by preheating your oven to 375°F. Line 2 large baking sheets with aluminum foil.

Melt butter in a medium saucepan and remove from the heat. Add in oats, sugar, oil, flour…

soy milk, salt, nuts…

and vanilla.

Mix it all up! Next, form into level teaspoons of dough and place onto the baking sheet. Press each cooking into a thin, 2-inch circle with a fork.

Bake for 5-7 minutes and let cool completely before removing from the foil. Once the cookies are cool, melt chocolate chips!

Spread the melted chocolate on the flat side of half of the cookies.

On the other half of the cookies, spread a little apricot jam.

Press the chocolate and apricot halves together into sandwich cookies! ENJOY!


Treat yourself to one of these divine desserts and don’t feel bad about it. They are light, gooey and have the perfect amount of sweetness. Again, 108 calories, 6 g. fat, 14 g. carbohydrates, 2 g. protein, 1 g. fiber, 5 mg. cholesterol, 19 mg. sodium, and 14 mg. potassium per cookie! Deck the halls and indulge.

Sprinkled with Love,
Lauren

November 13, 2010

Italian Egg Drop Soup

I have been craving soup. Hot, hearty and healthy soup. I decided to take a break from my awful Journalism Ethics paper I have been stressing about (proving that journalists should be able to express their opinions on any given topic using social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, etc.,) to make this tasty looking number and eat my sorrows away. Quite a success. (I’m not being biased, Taylor and Gianna can attest to this, as well.) Needless to say, this veggie-filled Italian Egg-Drop Soup was my “chicken noodle soup for the soul.” I combined two of Eating Well’s 30-Minute Low-Calorie Soups: Italian Egg-Drop Soup and Egg Thread Soup with Asparagus. I am obsessed with this soup…I made some alterations based on the recipes’ comments and plan on making my rendition a lot this winter (it will be the perfect meal after a long day of skiing!)

Ingredients
8 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth (4 cans)
2 cups water
1 1/3 cups whole-wheat medium pasta
2 7-ounce can chickpeas, rinsed
Pinch of nutmeg
3 cups chopped arugula (remove tough stems)
1 bunch of scallions, sliced (divide white and green)
2 cups of asparagus (cut in 1 1/4 inch pieces on diagonal)
6 large eggs, lightly beaten
2 tablespoons lemon juice
Parmesan cheese and freshly ground pepper to taste

In a large pot combine broth…

water…

and pasta.

Rinse the chickpeas and add them in the pot!

Slice the scallions and separate the greens from whites.

Add the white scallions into the mix! Bring to a boil over high heat. Cook until pasta is done (3-5 minutes.)

Time for the healthy greens! Cut the asparagus in 1 1/4 inch pieces.

Add the asparagus and 2 cups of arugula (or substitute spinach if you prefer) and cook until wilted. Reduce to low heat.

While slowly stirring the soup, gradually add in the eggs and allow to cook for about 2 minutes…it should look feathery!

Chop and add the scallion greens! Season with pepper and stir in the lemon juice.

Ladle into a bowl and top with parmesan! Let’s just say that this was exactly what I needed to get through that awful paper. It was delicious and really hit the spot…plus I have been thoroughly enjoying having the leftovers in my fridge!

Sprinkled with Love,
Lauren

November 9, 2010

Preparing to Give Thanks

To be honest, I am in dire need of a break. This semester has flown by and although it has had its high points, the constant go, go, go has been whipping my behind. I am really looking forward to the lovely week off UConn grants for Thanksgiving…I simply cannot wait to have some downtime to spend with my family and catch up in the kitchen. I have already started compiling a “To-Make” list and figured I would share it for those of you (Type A’s like me) who have already began planning Thanksgiving dinner. I’m not quite sure what the Cardarelli’s are doing this year but regardless I intend on running Madison’s annual Turkey Trot, cooking and partaking in the best part of this holiday: stuffing my face. That’s a given. Here are a few healthy recipes and festive ideas I anticipate taking home with me in two weeks (hopefully I get a chance to test them out before then, using my roommates as my guinea pigs…per usual):

Drinks

To get the party started: Pomegranate Cosmos (Barefoot Contessa’s Ina Garten)


To end the evening on a good note: Espresso Nightcap with Vanilla Whipped Cream (Everday Italian’s Giada De Laurentiis)


Starters

Brie and Chive Biscuits (Real Simple)

Roasted Winter Squash and Apple Soup (Whole Living)

Spinach and Green Apple Salad (Healthy Appetite’s Ellie Krieger)

Side Dishes

Cauliflower with Mustard-Lemon Butter (Epicurious)

Green Beans with Ginger and Cashews (Epicurious)

Sweet Potato Gnocchi with Maple Cinnamon Sage Brown Butter (Everday Italian’s Giada De Laurentiis)


Main

Juniper-Brined Roast Turkey with Chanterelle Mushroom Gravy (Epicurious)

Dessert
(Thanksgiving isn’t complete without a slice of apple pie.)

Deep-Dish Apple Pie (Eating Well)

YUM! I cannot wait to try these out and celebrate giving thanks by gorging myself into a food coma. Trying to not gain weight during the holidays? (Aren’t we all…) Start this year’s season off on the right foot with tips for a healthier Thanksgiving, an article I found on EatingWell.com! Have a great recipe you want to share? Leave a comment below or on Sprinkled with Love’s Facebook!

“I have strong doubts that the first Thanksgiving even remotely resembled the “history” I was told in second grade.  But considering that (when it comes to holidays) mainstream America’s traditions tend to be over-eating, shopping, or getting drunk, I suppose it’s a miracle that the concept of giving thanks even surfaces at all.” Ellen Orleans

Sprinkled with Love,
Lauren

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