6+ simple ways to snack

You know I love a good snack. I loved whole living's guide to snacking so much that I thought I'd share my faves.

When you need something just right, for anytime. homemade granola.

When you need something salty. steamed soybeans with coarse salt.

When you need something of substance. oat-bran applesauce mini-muffins. or these blueberry health muffins.

When you need something sweet. banana, berry, & buttermilk pops.

When you need just a bit of chocolate. cocoa popcorn.

And when you need something rich but not too rich. dark chocolate almond clusters. and some other yummy things to do with nuts.

taste this: 3 ways to soak up the last bits of summer

I'm not quite ready to say good-bye to summer. I'm doing all that I can to make it last. I've become such a california girl in the nearly-two years I've lived here. Give me endless summer!

balsamic portobello burgers with goat cheese. martha stewart.

corn and two-bean burgers with chipotle ketchup. cooking light.

stuffed turkey burgers. food network.

taste this: 3 ways to do chicken like a european

 Grilled chicken stuffed with basil and tomato. Delizioso. Whole Living.

Chicken with pesto potatoes. Sorpredente. Real Simple.

Grilled chicken breast provencal. Ooh la la. Health.

taste this: 3 ways to do pizza

How delish does this pizza bianca look? Health.

Barbecue Pizza is always a fave. Health.

Love this insalata pizza. Cooking Light.

taste this: 3 ways to do easy southwestern

Easy chicken tacos. Real Simple.

Easy poblano, mango, and black bean quesadillas. Cooking Light.

Easy cilantro-lime fajitas. Fitness Mag.

friday favorites

Love this busy girl's guide to beauty. Quick ways to go from workout to life. Because, lets be honest, I don't always have time to shower. fitness.

Love these un-boring lunch ideas. health.

Love this seven days of superfoods meal plan. self.

Love friends that run together.

Loved this so much I read it twice. Counting down the days 'til the movie.

Love a good loungey pant. j crew. And love a good loungey afternoon. ahhh. Welp, enjoy your weekend loves. I hope you lounge a little yourself.

taste this: 3 ways to do shrimp

In case you're as sick of fuddy-duddy chicken as I am...

shrimp with ginger sauce. real simple.

chili-garlic shrimp. self.

mango rice salad with shrimp. cooking light. Don't these look fab?

in the kitchen: tricolore salad with mini heirloom tomatoes

This recipe is inspired by cpk's tricolore salad pizza, my love for heirloom tomatoes & arugula, and my love for all things Italian. This is great because it's delicious & satisfying, but still clean and light...and did I mention easy? I paired this with a simple grilled chicken breast [olive oil + Emeril's all-natural chicken rub]. You could opt to do this without cheese to bump it up on the health scale. But where's the fun in that?

1 package refrigerated whole wheat pizza dough trader joes or Canyon Ranch whole wheat dough.
2 T olive oil
1/4 C parmesan cheese

6 C arugula
2 C chopped mini heirloom tomotoes
4 T parmesan cheese
honey balsamic vinaigrette to taste

1] Follow preheating directions on package. Separate dough in half. Roll out half the dough into a thin circle or square. Brush with olive oil. Sprinkle with parmesan. Bake according to package & Cool. Cut into slices.
2] Place desired slices on serving plate [makes 4 individual or 1 large salad]. Top with arugula, tomotoes, & parmesan. Drizzle vinaigrette to taste. Eat like a pizza.

taste this: 3 ways to do goat cheese

This red onion, potato, and goat cheese pizza.

This eggplant and goat cheese sandwich.

This quick-roasted cherry tomato sauce with spaghetti.

I flipped over these simple-with-a-twist recipes. I love recipes that are simple enough to just throw together like it's nothing-- or at least make it appear like I threw it together effortlessly. It's a big plus that all of these are made with ingredients I usually have in my fridge. And goat cheese happens to be a lower fat cheese, and it's so chic. Cooking Light nailed it.

taste this: made-over four-cheese baked penne

It looks so bad-- but with whole wheat pasta & cottage cheese it's not. And I can only imagine it's still delicious. Makeover your pasta recipe with Self. here.

taste this: pull apart orange rolls

I've found no one in LA knows what orange rolls are. It's such a shame because they are delicious. Then again, maybe it's one less thing to be tempted by. I got this recipe from Martha Stewart & made these delights Sunday. We were in orange roll heaven & shared them with everyone we could. This is a great summer treat, definitely a indulgence. Here.

taste this: oaty mixed berry crumble

I tried this [pictured] crumble for the first time for our festivities and was very pleased. I found this other blackberry cobbler recipe last week which I intended to make for the 4th. But when it came down to it, I didn't have time to make the crust ahead of time. So I went on the search for the perfect crumble and found this from Food & Wine.

I did make a few slight adjustments-- Instead of granola, I added ground walnuts + whole old fashion oats. I used Smart Balance light instead of butter. And I squeezed a little lemon juice over the berries to give it a little extra tarty kick. Topped with vanilla ice cream-- it was molto bene.

image: food & wine

taste this: my favorite chicken

R and I love this new-found recipe via real simple. It is so simple, fresh, and satisfying-- even for my manly man. I made this for the 4th and we were in barbecue heaven. This time, I [somehow] forgot the grilled onions, but I drizzled a little honey balsamic dressing on top and it was still di-vine.

image: real simple

taste this tuesday: summer cobbler + grilled chicken kebabs

I love a good kebab. And I'm very curious about this fruity, citrus twist on one of my faves -- note the pomegranate-orange dressing. 

Cooking Light also has some tempting [and as always, lighter] cobbler recipes. This blackberry latice-topped version would be the perfect addition to my 4th of July celebration. Can you say a' la mode? And don't you just love summertime food?

taste this tuesday: mediterranean chicken wrap

I love Mediterranean eating. Everything is just so simple and fresh tasting. I can't wait to try this. Whole Living.

taste this tuesday: chipotle-glazed roast chicken with sweet potatoes

Doesn't this look so yummy & satisfying? Get the recipe. Fitness.

taste this tuesday: spicy chicken pizza

Confession: I eat a lot of pizza. I love those carbs. So I'm always looking for healthier, made-over versions. I'm excited to have one more recipe to help me to squeeze pizza into my diet while still being able to squeeze into my skinny jeans. Get the recipe. Fitness.

taste this tuesday: grilled chicken with fresh grape glaze

With memorial day right around the corner, I think I can officially consider it summer. And what comes with summer? Well barbecues of course. This sounds just delightful. Here. Cooking Light.

taste this tuesday: protein shake from katie + dashing dish

I love absolutely LOVE protein shakes! In fact, I love them so much that I have this shake (or some variation of it) everyday for my breakfast! Shakes make a great breakfast because they take minutes to whip up and they are easy to eat on the run! (Yes...I said eat! I eat my shakes with a spoon because I make them really thick! Mmm!) I also love protein shakes for breakfast because they a refreshing way to start the day and they always keep me satisfied until lunch!

You may have noticed that I use cottage cheese in my shakes.  I know this sounds strange, but I am telling you, you do not taste the cottage cheese! In fact, it gives the shake a slightly salty taste, which when paired with the sweetness of the Stevia and saltiness of the peanut butter, it creates a sweet and salty heaven! Cottage cheese is also great because it makes the consistency really thick, so I feel like I’m having a milkshake! 

These shakes are all natural, (as long as you choose maple extract over the pudding and use a natural sweeter) and they are packed with protein and nutrients from the protein powder, so you can feel good about eating something that is also delicious! There are also many ways you could vary this recipe to put your own ‘spin’ on it, such as adding flax seeds for a healthy fat source!

I like to make my shakes ‘extra’ tasty by putting a few toppings on them!  For toppings, I like to use a 1/2 of a Chewy Protein Granola Bar crumbled on top, or even 1/4 cup cereal, like Peanut Butter Pows from Whole Foods! Protein shakes can be an easy and healthy breakfast that is ready in minutes.  I’ve never met anyone who doesn’t enjoy a creamy milkshake. :)
Get this fabulous, healthy recipe from this lady.

taste this tuesday: tofu & vegetables with sesame broth & noodles

I've been craving tofu lately. I think this will hit the spot. Here. Fitness.