Santa will be popping down chimney’s across the world tomorrow night, greeted by plates, and plates…and plates of cookies. Want to give Santa something a little healthier this year to help battle the bulge? We’ve put together a list of a few of our healthier cookies to help keep Santa healthy and happy this Christmas eve. Enjoy… (more…)
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…)
It’s up for debate. Which are better, thick, spongy pancakes or thin, crisp pancakes. In our house, they both win. We love thick, spongy pancakes to soak up our rich berry syrup on a cold Sunday morning, but the day my family bought a crepe pan we were changed forever. The light, crisp texture of French crepes are a favorite pretty much any day of the week. I admit, I used to exclusively use crepe mix from a package. I thought there was no way I could duplicate that thin, barely there batter that baked up light and crisp on the griddle. But the pre-made mixture was expensive, hard to find and had very little nutritional value short of the eggs I whisked into the powder. It was time to break free of my crepe fear and give them a try. (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…)
I admit, I had an entirely different post ready to publish this week. But when my friend Samantha from Good Life Organics posted a Beet Pancake recipe from Weelicious on my Facebook Page, I knew I had to change things up. Now, I already knew I liked to use beet “juice” as a food coloring, but Catherine McCord at Weelicious took it a step further – she pureed the entire beet and added it to recipes. I love this idea! The picture of her bright pink, beet pancakes instantly made me think “Valentines Day” so I used her idea of pureed beets, added them to my buttermilk pancake & waffle recipe, poured the batter onto the griddle in the shape of a heart and VOILA – Valentine Pancakes. I hope you and your special Valentine enjoy these on Tuesday and well…why not celebrate all year!
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Who doesn’t love a good Snickerdoodle? I mean come on…you can’t help but smile even when you say its name. These fluffy centered, crisp around the edge cookies are great dunked in an after-school glass of cold milk, served along side a piping hot cup of tea, or even left out on a plate on Christmas Eve for a jolly ol’ man in a red suit. (more…)
As I was planning Out of the Box Food’s Holiday Cookie Month, I was reminded of a recipe I developed last year which makes a deliciously crunchy, heart healthy lemon cookie. These cookies bake up crisp and delicate and are made with olive oil instead of butter which means that in addition to being easier on the waistline, they’re Vegan friendly too. Plus, if you eat Gluten Free, the Whole Wheat Pastry Flour can be evenly substituted with Gluten-Free Baking Flour for a wheat-free treat. Oh, and did I mention they’re quick and easy? (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…)
As the sun rises on Thanksgiving day, I will reflect on my life’s blessings. Above all else I am thankful for my husband and children who bring constant moments of clarity to a sometimes unclear world. I am thankful for the support of my family, the laughter and comfort of my friends, and those special moments of peace, when I can center myself, breathe, and appreciate all these gifts in my life. (more…)
A few fresh treats just for fun! Hope you all have a Happy Halloween! (more…)