Blueberry Pie Oatmeal

April 8, 2014 by Christine Skari

One of the most important things in life to me is the pursuit of pie. Pie is very, very dear to me.

It’s that one food that really just drives me crazy. That flaky crust and gooey caramelized fruit…oh baby! The trick is to get juuusst the perfect ratio of crust to fruit and then you stuff the whole thing in your mouth and just… Bliss. Someone catch me, I’m fainting.

And don’t you DARE forget that big scoop of vanilla ice cream to compliment each bite. You see, I’ve got it all worked out. You get slow-churned, half-fat vanilla ice cream so you can justify an extra piece of pie. Life is all about balance. That is, until you eat twice the amount of ice cream to go along with pie round #2 because it is a sin to have one without the other. And who wants to be a sinner? NOT ME.

But sometimes you just don’t have access to pie. If you’re like me, you leave it at your boyfriend’s apartment because you don’t have any self control and would literally make yourself gloriously sick off of it. It’s those sad, sad moments when you need to improvise on how to get your pie fix.

And sometimes miracles happen. Like when you’re able to get all the flavor and deliciousness of pie into a bowl of oats and your mind is blown and your tastebuds start to dance!

Not only can I satisfy my primordial need for pie, but I can do so in a healthy way! Instead of lathering on the processed sugar, the blueberry pie compote is made with just a half tablespoon of natural honey per serving and the rest of the sweetness comes from the blueberries alone. Oh! And it’s fast too! From start to finish, this recipe takes me just 10 minutes, which is perfect for someone who is always rushing in the morning like me.

This is one of those breakfasts that can get me out of bed in a jiffy. I kid you not when I say I look forward to waking up so I can get myself perched next to a bowl of these oats. They’re that good!

So if you’re like me and have an insatiable sweet tooth, give these fabulous Blueberry Pie Oats a go and get ready to load the train to flavor town. Choo choooooo!

Today I’m linking up with What I Ate Wednesday to share this recipe! Thanks, Jenn for hosting!

White Chocolate Cranberry Protein Bars

March 2, 2014 by Christine Skari

While I do as much strength training as I do cardio, I’m pretty bad about getting in enough protein for the amount of working out I do. I’m a carb-girl (my laptop just auto-corrected that to crab girl, yes, computer, I’m a crustacean) at heart and would much rather have a bowl of pasta or oats than a chicken breast. Along with that, I’m not a huge fan of protein shakes and I find that most store-brought protein bars can get pretty expensive.

That’s why I’m in love with these White Chocolate Cranberry Protein Bars. They taste like a candy bar and are smothered in white chocolate, but also are sizable, filling, and have 9 grams of protein. This way, I can have my carbs and eat them too!

As always, I would really appreciate it if you could help share these on Pinterest! (Just hover over any of the pictures to pin!) Thank YOU!

They’re absolutely perfect with a warm cup of coffee or tea and genuinely taste good. And not in a “LOL OMGZ this is sooo good for healthier food” way, but in a “I want to eat this for dessert” way. In fact, I’m nibbling on one right now and just got a piece with a big glob of chocolate on it. Sugar euphoria!

But in all seriousness, this recipe is delicious! I highly recommend it if you’re tired of eating protein bars with ingredients you can’t pronounce, or if you’re just looking for a genuinely tasty snack.

Also, shoutout to Amanda for inspiring me with her Almond Fudge Protein Bars! If the white chocolate and cranberry combo ain’t your thangg, you can’t go wrong with her recipe!

I’m haring these with WIAW! Thanks, Jenn for hosting!

Healthy Edamame Sweet Potato Hash

February 2, 2014 by Christine Skari

“Pin me, I’m tasty!”- Hash

Most mornings, I’m lazy when it comes to breakfast. My go-to meal to start my day lately has been microwavable brown sugar banana oatmeal, which takes all of 30 seconds to throw together and another two minutes in the microwave. While it’s delicious, easy, and fast, there are days (especially the day after lifting weights) where I find myself hungry an hour later and know that I need more in the protein department of things.

Enter: Healthy Edamame Sweet Potato Hash!

Not only is it absolutely delicious and bursting with all the good things in life (read: bacon), it packs in a ton of different nutrients, flavors, textures, and, of course, protein!

Let’s break down the cast of characters:

Sweet Potato: the sweet potato brings in that mouthwatering sweet and salty combination, as well as the vitamins B6, C, and D, which help in preventing heart attacks, warding off the cold and flu, and maintaining energy levels, moods, and building healthy bones. Not only that, but they also contain fiber, which helps to keep you full and your poop happy! (Did I really just type that…)

(Source)

Edamame: not only does it have a vibrant coloring (I want my next Kitchenaid Mixer to come in the shade “edamame”), but it’s also rich in protein, vitamin C, manganese, and copper! Manganese helps your metabolism, regulates your blood sugar levels, and helps keep your nervous system alive and kickin’. Hooray, manganese! Copper plays an important role in managing energy, boosting your immune system, and strengthening your bones. You go, Glen Copper!

(Source)

Bacon: well, it’s delicious and makes everything better.

Make a big batch and have a tasty and filling breakfast for the rest of the week!

I’m linking up to WIAW to help share this tasty dish! Thanks, Jenn for hosting!

White Chocolate Cranberry Scones

December 22, 2013 by Christine Skari

You know what’s Marvelous in My Monday? These babies.

I’m in a sugar coma.

This morning has been filled with delicious goodness and I’ve been busy in the kitchen baking scones and mountains of cookies for a cookie exchange party tonight. On the menu? Apple pie cookies and deep dish chocolate chip cookies stuffed with caramel (literally a mouthful).

But, back to these guys.

Delicious, light, moist, and with a great texture. These white chocolate cranberry scones are straight from heaven! I mean, c’mon. Just LOOK at that powder sugar drizzle. Liquid gold, I tell ya.

These scones are perfectly sweet and with a great combination of flavors! I love the bit of tartness that the craisins add to the moist scones and the heartiness of the them. Usually, baked goods don’t leave me feeling full and satisfied for long, but these beauties are made with a combination of white and whole wheat flours and oats, making them more substantial!

If you’d like to pin this recipe, I’d really appreciate it if you’d pin the image below!

Another great things about these white chocolate cranberry scones? They’re made with only three tablespoons of butter in the batch, which gives them the perfect light texture and lighten up a normally calorie and fat laden treat! While I’m most definitely not against treating yourself, any recipe that lightens up a recipe without sacrificing flavor is a winner for me. (Plus, they give you the perfect excuse to eat twice as many.)

I have a major sweet tooth, but I’m one of those people who can’t handle an excess amount of sugar in the morning. Like I mentioned before, these scones have the perfect amount of sweetness which lend themselves to be called a (healthier) treat, but they lack the sugar content to make you feel sick from the sugar buzz.

These taste superb with a cup of coffee or tea and I can’t wait to savor one in the quiet hours of the morning!

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Skinny Pumpkin Spice Bread

November 24, 2013 by Christine Skari

Hello all you lovely people!

I know, I know, I’ve been AWOL again lately. I feel like this a reoccurring trend once I hit midterms (I’m on the quarter system instead of the semester system, so this is basically every couple of weeks… le sigh) and it really bums me out that I feel too drained to blog. I miss you guys!

Anyways, one of my favorite ways to de-stress is to cook and bake and am so excited to share this recipe. It’s everything you could want in a good sweet bread: moist, bursting with flavor, and perfectly sweet. I’m not exaggerating when I say it’s the best pumpkin bread I’ve ever had (HAH- take that Starbucks!).

And guess what? It contains no butter, mostly egg whites, and mostly whole wheat flour!

While I wouldn’t say that it has the nutritional stats of a carrot, it’s a great option for a healthier treat that still tastes absolutely delicious and like the real deal. Since I live in an apartment complex with well over 20 friends to share it with, the bread was gone in no time and nobody could even guess that they were enjoying a healthier treat. I promise, it won’t disappoint!

If you’re going to pin this recipe, please pin this picture below! Thank you!

Note: this recipe makes enough for one loaf and a some muffins. I haven’t yet mastered converting the recipe into two full loaves, but I’m working on it!

Enjoy and let me know how it turns out for ya!