healthy recipes
Spiced Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins
Embrace the holiday season with these spiced pumpkin chocolate chip muffins! Whole grain flour boosts fiber and B-vitamins, while chocolate chips add the perfect amount of sweetness. Enjoy with a hot cup of tea for breakfast or an afternoon snack. I will never apologize for my mini muffin pan. As long as I can hold a…
Red Bean Hummus with Sweet Paprika
Switch up your hummus by using red beans instead of chickpeas! You’ll get a protein boost with fewer calories while enjoying plenty of iron and potassium. Try this healthy hummus with fresh veggies or whole grain crackers for a nutritious snack! This recipe is ten months old. I wish there was a more attractive way…
Sweet Collard Greens with Smoky Bacon
Think collard greens are too bitter? Think again! Cooking these nutritious greens with vinegar and a touch of sugar gives them a sweet/tart flavor that will have you asking for seconds! A benefit to living in nearly every major area in the continental U.S. is that we’ve had a chance to sample a variety of…
Top Ten THIH Thanksgiving Recipes
Looking for some last-minute healthy Thanksgiving recipes? Look no further! I’ve gathered the ten best THIH Thanksgiving recipes right here. Happy Thanksgiving! Pomegranate Roasted Cornish HensHoney Lavender Pork Loin with Caramelized BananasMushroom Farro with Roasted Tomatoes and MarjoramRoasted Cauliflower and Carrot Salad with Spiced Chickpeas Twice-Baked Sweet Potatoes with RicottaSteamed Brussels Sprouts with Orange ReductionRoasted…
Adaptable Oat Bars, Lactation Edition
A healthy alternative to the traditional lactation cookie, these delicious whole grain lactation bars can help boost milk supply. Hello, dear reader! It’s simply wonderful to see you again. Please, put up your feet while I tidy a bit. The dust piles have gotten so big this time I think chipmunks have moved in. There….
Healthy Holiday: Chipotle Steak Salad
Add a little “healthy” to your holiday menus with this easy chipotle steak salad! Peter is a genius. Obviously. Last spring, when we were putting away our artificial Christmas tree (yes, our Christmas tree was up until March–baby time-vortex, remember?), he removed the handful of breakable ornaments and shoved the tree into a tree bag….
Healthy Dessert: Cranberry and Yogurt Parfaits
I’m all about healthy dessert these days. Maybe it’s the knowledge that my nursing baby eats everything I eat. Or maybe it’s the fact I recently devoured three chocolate wedding drops on my birthday and immediately felt puffier than a marshmallow in a microwave. In any case, healthy dessert is on my radar. Remember the…
Black Bean Power Bowl with Roasted Beets and Quinoa
Here’s a problem for you, my dear reader. The definition of Power is the rate at which Work is done–to wit, P = W/t (thank you, physics degree!) Work is measured by the displacement of an object by a Force (no, not THAT Force. People.) For example, you might pull the leash of an excitable…
Grilled Fish Tacos with Crabapple-Peach Chutney {Recipe Redux}
So, yeah. About that promise I made to cook my way through The Little House Cookbook (my most influential cookbook of all time, remember) … It’s been over a year since I made that promise. And I’m now just getting to part two of this culinary journey. What can I say? It’s been an interesting…
Liliko’i Cardamom ‘Ice Cream’ (or, tips for traveling with kids)
Tip #1: Do less. Before Baby J was born, Peter and I traveled like each trip was our last. Local sights were to be conquered. Strange foods were to be devoured. Success of a trip was measured by the level of exhaustion at the end (or the number of scuba tanks we emptied). We’ve been…
Curry Stuffed Zucchini Cups {Recipe Redux}
I have a record of making things harder for myself. For example: A delightful Easter repast? So much more, dear reader. Those are deviled quail eggs, a dish featured on THIH over three years ago and whose name is made up of two parts that should never, ever go together. For readers unfamiliar with quail…
Gluten-Free Blueberry Lemon Scones {Recipe Redux}
Back in 2013, I was working as a registered dietitian in Illinois, doing my own thing. I knew we would be moving to Oregon forthwith, leading to new adventures and a decision about the next step in my career. My enthusiasm and energy for building up another practice in a new area was nonexistent. I…
Gourmet Mini Sandwich Stacks {Recipe Redux}
When I was but a small tot — older than baby J, but not by much — I longed for one thing at lunch: a certain yellow box packed with bright yellow cheese squares, perfectly round slices of “ham,” and crackers akin to buttery Ritz crackers. On the side was a bag of flavored sugar…
Roasted Garlic Quinoa and Chickpeas {Recipe Redux}
If you’ve read THIH for a while, you’ll remember that I used to give recipes–ahem–unusual names. Like It’s Wild! Rebel Curry Fried Rice, Acorn Squash Cradles Avocado, Feta, Tomato and Egg, I Choose YOU! Shrimp Scampi, Salmon Swims Through Pineapple-Tomato Chutney, “I Meant to Fry Them But I Can’t Handle Hot Oil” Apple Cider Doughnuts,…
Breakfast Noodle Soup {Recipe Redux}
Early one morning in June 2014, Peter and I were driving down a dark, palm-lined road in Siem Reap, Cambodia. We joined the multitude of tourists bumping along the road in taxis, vans, tuk tuks, and on bicycles, all with one goal: to watch the sunrise over Angkor Wat. While we usually eschew must-dos that…
Vegan Mini Muffins with Lime and Toasted Coconut {Recipe Redux}
You all know how much I love my mini muffin pan. Decadent bite-sized desserts with built-in portion control? Yes, please! This pan has made all of the following: *Vegan cinnamon doughnuts *Pumpkin zucchini muffins *Spiced carrot cake fondue *Orange cardamom tea cakes *Dan tat (Egg custard tart) *Vegan pumpkin bread with cinnamon cashew cream *Gluten-free…
How to Cook a Perfect Stir Fry {Recipe Repeat}
Hello, dear reader! This recipe is an oldie-but-goodie from the THIH archives. There’s nothing like a quick and healthy stir fry to make getting dinner on the table a snap! I love stir fries. They’re quick and easy, you can add tons of veggies, and they taste great over brown rice seasoned with turmeric and…
Farro ‘n’ Lentil Stuffed Pepper Slices with Toasted Almonds {Recipe Redux}
Lately, I’ve been bringing a tasting bowl of farro or brown rice, lentils, carrots, hummus, and guacamole for lunch every day. Oh, and cheese. Because there’s always cheese. The combination of whole grains, lean protein, vegetables, and healthy fats keep me and baby going all afternoon. One of the ways I amuse myself (which tells…
Italian Soup with White Beans and Kale {Recipe Redux}
It must be MBA program time again (a.k.a. the singularity that absorbs all free time and spits out bargains with my towering pile of school work for “just one more minute” of blissful sleep). Not that I’m dramatic about it. Mountains of reading and writing and presentations need satiating fuel that can be whipped up…
Simply Tart Rhubarb Apple Crisp {Recipe Redux}
You’d never know it based on the mercury bursting out the top of our hypothetical old-timey thermometer, but fall is approaching. Soon we’ll be donning wool clothing and making non-ironic pumpkin recipes. I can’t wait. These 100+ degree temperatures have been wearing away at me faster than a hot dessert over ice cream. Speaking of….
Pumpkin Zucchini Mini Muffins {Recipe Redux}
Last week, Peter and I were dragging Maddie past our neighborhood’s community garden (which apparently smells like doggie catnip) when two women emerged from the tangle of tomato vines and sunflower stalks. Each was holding an inappropriately-large zucchini and laughing between words. “Would you … like … one?” That’s how we became the owners of…
Mini Blackberry Pie Smoothies {Recipe Redux}
I had big plans for this summer. Giant plans. Maddie‘s appetite-sized plans. Not only was I going to update THIH regularly, I was also going to kick-start a couple of projects, prepare for a class I’m taking later this summer, and cook my way though the entirety of The Little House Cookbook. I even bought…
Strawberry-Basil Infused Water {Recipe Redux}
It was the “lizard hands” comment that got me thinking. A few weeks ago, in the midst of some serious fifth grade-style hand holding, Peter lifted my hand to his eyes. He squinted at my fingers as if I had sprouted an extra digit, or perhaps some fur. “What?” I asked, already thinking about my…
Tomato-Corn Tortilla Soup with Fresh Lime {Recipe Redux)
You know time is racing by when another Recipe Redux comes up and you swear you just posted the last one. Has it really been a month since then? Peter and I have been so swamped with work and other obligations that we’ve barely had time to stop and smell the roses. Somehow, the Recipe…
Sage & Sweet Potato Quesadilla {Recipe Redux}
It’s no secret that times are busy in the THIH household. Peter and I have been tag-teaming dinners (and by “tag-teaming,” I mean Peter is going the extra, extra mile), and each meal has been as simple as possible. If you could managed to decipher the blurry chicken-scratch on the menu board in my last…
The Vegetarian Flavor Bible Book Tour & A Giveaway!
There comes a time in a dietitian’s and food blogger’s life when the culinary stars align, and you find yourself staring at an email in disbelief. For me, that moment came a few weeks ago when I opened an invitation to be on the virtual book tour for The Vegetarian Flavor Bible, a new book…
Dark Chocolate-Dipped Meringues {Recipe Redux}
A strange thing happens when I encounter chocolate. Besides being top on my list of favorite foods, chocolate tends to multiply in my presence. I may start out with a drizzle of chocolate here or there. Then, without warning, this elixir of higher powers multiples until all chocolate breaks loose. A force this powerful needs…
The Smokey BEGG {Recipe Redux}
A transformation is going on in the THIH household. Will Maddie will stop eviscerating obnoxiously large dog toys all over the furniture? Please. Will celery made a regular appearance on the dinner table? Dear reader, I weep. Will Jessie see the sun on a winter’s day in Oregon? About as likely as Jessie referring to…
The Places We’ve Been: Vietnamese Pho Noodle Soup
With every year that passes, I dwell more and more on the past. Life can be divided into segments based on any number of criteria: age, particular people, school versus the rest of your life, before/after Madeline, etc. etc. For me, recent life is divided into places. There were the Amherst years, sure. They were…
Bison-Stuffed Tomatoes with Garlic & Scallions {Recipe Redux}
“What IS that?” you say. Well. Let me tell you. With the craziness this fall, I’ve cooked as many times as I can count on one hand — if that hand was wearing a mitten. And when I say “cook,” I mean “drag out a cookbook and actually combine ingredients in a new or semi-new…
Homegrown Butternut Squash & Sage Pasta {Recipe Redux}
A few weeks ago, I looked up from a stressful email I was composing to see Peter grinning over a massive plate of fragrant pasta. “Happy Birthday,” he said. “Eat.” Tossed among the hearty spaghetti strands were hunks of sweet roasted butternut squash, toasted pine nuts, sauteed sausage, and fresh-plucked leaves of sage. Ravenous, I…
Back to School Cool
is the dorkiest post title possible; yet, I share it with you, dear reader, because you are that special. As I’ve mentioned, I recently began an MBA program. To describe what the first few weeks of school and learning have been like, imagine meeting a particularly energetic monkey. After meeting MOE, you’re strolling along, minding…
Dark Chocolate Cherry Quinoa Bites {Recipe Redux}
Remember these? While these rich cookies packed with dark chocolate and tart cherries are perfect for marathon baking session the day before you get married (as a random example), they are a definite sometimes food. Yet the flavors of chocolate and cherry needn’t be confined to extravagant desserts. Now that I’m going back to school,…
Classic Rhubarb Strawberry Crisp
Rhubarb is one of those foods that people either love or hate.* Pleasantly tart and sour to some, like choking down Class 8 Hazardous Materials to others, gently-cooked rhubarb often finds its way into desserts.** It’s botanically a vegetable but devoured like a fruit***; in fact, it’s so often used in pies and tarts, rhubarb…
Caramelized Strawberry Banana Breakfast Blend
By posting this recipe I am entering a recipe contest sponsored by National Dairy Council and the Quaker Oats Center of Excellence and am eligible to win prizes associated with the contest. I was not compensated for my time. You know those fashion articles* that expound the virtues of mixing expensive clothes with cheapies from…
Caribbean Goat Stew {Recipe Redux}
M’dear reader, time is flying faster than Peter’s hand when he added the twentieth destroyed item discovered in the aftermath of our recent move to the damage list. 2.9979×10^8 m/s fast. I promised you a Q&A on THIH, Part 2, and I will deliver. Probably after I find that gosh dagged camera wire under layers…