I’ve seen quite a few homemade Pop Tart recipes on the internet. They look delicious and fun, but for me they were still made with white flour, and well – I wanted to find a way to bring them even further Out of the Box. These homemade Pop Tarts are chock full of whole grain wheat, flax meal, and fresh fruit – Making them a win in both taste and nutrition. (more…)
School is officially out for summer, and berry picking is in full swing. With deep red strawberries, plump blueberries and vibrant blackberries already decorating U-pick farms and backyards across the country – it’s clear it’s summer and it’s berry season! (more…)
At a cooking class up in Sonoma, California a few weeks ago, I learned how to make a Pâte à Choux from chef and culinary instructor, Christa Resing-Colardo. As she taught us how to create this versatile dough used for a number of pastries such as profiteroles, churros, eclairs, beignets and Gougères, my mind immediately began to churn. Kids love anything “mini” and if enriched with whole grain flours, this dough could become the packaging for lunch box sandwiches, snacks, mini treats…the possibilities were endless. (more…)
I’ve got to tell you, over the last few weeks my kitchen has smelled heavenly! My boys and I have churned out lots of wholesome and delicious goodies, had many lovely conversations around the kitchen table about the benefits of whole grains, fruits & veggies, and enjoyed each others company over tall glasses of milk and warm treats straight from the oven. (more…)
and their 612 page cookbook not much! I am really excited about our Giveaway and post this week. America’s oldest flour company, King Arthur Flour, and I have teamed up this week to offer you a new healthy chocolate cake recipe and the chance to win a prize package of King Arthur Flour products including their fantastic cookbook. (more…)
I love the holidays. The air gets cold and crisp, colored lights twinkle from trees, the kids get excited and I get to bake! There is just something magical that happens when the kitchen is warm from the oven and the house is filled with the sweet smell of vanilla and cinnamon. But do the crisp cookies and sumptuous cakes need to be unhealthy? Not at all! With a few simple adjustments, our holiday treats can be both delicious and nutritious. (more…)
The first day sugar pumpkins were displayed in the market, my children HAD to have them. They couldn’t wait to make Pumpkin Pasties ala Harry Potter, pumpkin pie, and all the delicious fall pumpkin treats. So we bought them…and made lots of pumpkin puree.
After reaching out to my Facebook community for Sunday morning breakfast ideas, Joelle’s suggestion of a pumpkin loaf reminded me that I had tons of pumpkin puree in the refrigerator. It was time to create a new pumpkin treat for my family. Muffins are great warm, right out of the oven, but they’re also a delicious addition to the lunch box and I’m always in need of lunch box ideas! These Pumpkin muffins are paired with another ingredient I turn to often in the fall, pure maple syrup. The combination of the pumpkin and the maple really come together to make a delicious, lightly sweetened muffin. (more…)
One of the not-so-guilty pleasures of being a food blogger is the ability (and necessity) to set aside time to peruse many of the fabulous food blogs out there. Today I happened upon Fork Spoon Knife and Smitten Kitchen. What beautiful sites filled with mouth-watering food photography and delicious recipes. Both sites had photos of similar desserts that caught my eye. Fork Spoon Knife had one for a Strawberry Buttermilk Cake while Smitten Kitchen had photos of their Summer Strawberry Cake. In both sets of photos the strawberries peeked out of golden brown puffed cakes, just begging to be eaten. I knew then and there, that we would be the ones to eat them. I had strawberries and buttermilk just waiting in my fridge for a good use. But there was only one problem – we didn’t need dessert, we needed dinner. So what’s a mom to do? I upped the nutrition ante of course! (more…)
Well, 2011 is officially here and we are now faced with endless possibilities for the upcoming year. In previous years my New Year’s resolutions had been pretty consistent, but this year they have finally changed. They used to include, “lose five pounds”, “exercise more” and “fit into those old jeans again”. This year, though I’ll keep my “exercise more” resolution, the purpose and direction of the rest of my resolutions directly follow the path I’ve been taking on this Out of the Box Food journey. These resolutions won’t necessarily get me to my old “lose five pounds” goal, but they will provide my family and I a healthier way of treating our bodies. (more…)
A few fresh treats just for fun! Hope you all have a Happy Halloween! (more…)