Peanut butter chocolate coconut oat energy balls

Found this recipe on the internet and it's a perfect solution for a sweets craving if you don't want too much sugar!  The peanut butter and chocolate makes it rich enough that you don't pop these like potato chips :)

• 1 cup old-fashioned oats
• 4 tablespoons peanut butter
• 2 tablespoons dark chocolate chips
• 1 tablespoon dark brown sugar (depending on how sweet you like things)
• 1.5 teaspoon vanilla
• 4 tablespoons non-fat milk
• 3 Pinches of salt
• 5 tablespoons shredded coconut (optional)

Mix oats, peanut butter, chocolate, sugar, vanilla, and coconut (if desired) in a bowl. I also added ground flaxseed for some added protein. Add milk and knead into small balls. You can eat them right away, or store them in the fridge for later snacking!

Salad for days!

This is hands down, my current favorite salad (for the past year) that is inspired by a Kale salad from a cafe near my house. Super easy to make-- the most work you'll do is from the chopping! Here's the recipe:

For greens, use kale or spinach. What I like about kale is that it keeps really well since it's so crunchy. Even if you have this salad for several days, it won't wilt.

Chop all your veggies. I basically just choose whatever I have on hand but the ones I always use are bell peppers (a variety of colors makes your salad pretty), onions (more on that later), and beets. I love the crispness of beets and never really ate them before. So good!

I'll also chop up a fruit for sweetness like asian pear, nectarine, or apple. Any of these will do. Just whatever you have.

To add flavor, I caramelize onions. OK, caramelized onions are delicious and I will basically put them in anything I can. The added benefit of having them in the salad is that it basically flavors the salad so much that you don't even need dressing!

Lastly, I top off with sunflower seeds. You can add grated cheese if you want, but I don't think you can actually taste it so it's not worth it to me. If you really want dressing, just mix up your own with a bit of olive oil and vinegar of your choice and a bit of honey. Mix well and dress your colorful, refreshing salad!

If you want more salad inspiration, check out the NYT 101 salads list: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/22/dining/22mlist.html?_r=0

The yummiest steel cut oatmeal

I love oatmeal plain but to many people it can be a bit too boring.  Here's the latest way I've been eating oatmeal-- steel cut oatmeal to be specific-- and it's super chewy and delicious!

 First, boil water. Then add the steel cut oats. I like to use the quick cook ones because it's faster, but it's not as chewy.  I don't measure but just let it all cook until the water boils off.  At this point, I add a sprinkle of salt. Even though this is a relatively sweet breakfast, a pinch of salt always brings out the sweetness a bit more.

Turn off the heat and add your honey. I also add my dad's homemade fig jam and it's a perfect combination.

Put your oatmeal in your bowl and top with blueberries, almonds, chia seeds and ground flaxseed. Lately I've been adding wheat germ, too. You can also add walnuts or whatever else. Sometimes I add milk if I want a creamier oatmeal.

Enjoy your hearty breakfast!

Blueberry Coconut Smoothie

So confession time... in LA, there's this smoothie place that makes absolutely delicious smoothies. And unfortunately, it's pricey as hell. I'm embarrassed to say that I have spent $8 on a smoothie and that it might have happened several times.  Because I couldn't live with the guilt anymore, I decided I would make my own. I mean, it's a smoothie, right? I worked at Jamba Juice in high school so who better than me to make smoothies at home?

This delicious, very purple smoothie includes coconut milk (the kind in a quart, not a can), frozen blueberries, almond butter, chia seeds, ground flaxseed, and dates. The secret is to get whole, pitted dates-- that makes blending a lot easier. 

Now enjoy your refreshing, delicious smoothie and put that $8 in your rainy day fund!

Pot Pies!

It started getting cold-- yes, it does get chilly in LA-- meaning in its 60s-- ha ha-- and naturally this means I don't want to eat anything cold. No salads, no ice cream.. what's more comforting and warm than POT PIE?  Seriously. What?  That's right.. pot pies are the very definition of comfort food! Can I tell you how it came out though? It tasted legit. Seriously legit. It might be my proudest culinary moment.

As usual, I make no measurements-- just taste.

First, just chop up whatever vegetables you want-- I used onion, celery, carrots and mushrooms
-- and cook it on the stovetop. Add whatever spices you want. I added pepper, salt, dill, poultry seasoning, bay leaves, and a bit of cayenne pepper to give it a kick.

Cook some chicken on the side.

Add broth to the vegetable mixture. I used chicken broth. Let it simmer! Add more spices if necessary. Taste and add, taste and add. Add a bit of milk or cream if you want. Add the chicken.

Add some cornstarch to thicken it up. Just take a spoonful and mix it with some cold water. Add the mixture to your broth and mixture.

Unroll your defrosted pie crust (store bought is super easy) into a casserole dish and then pour in your stovetop mixture! Cover with crust.

Cook at 425 for 45 minutes.

I didn't measure anything but you really don't need to for this recipe! Just taste as you go.
I also made a veggie pot pie for my sister, who's a vegetarian. Same deal except I didn't add the chicken (obviously) and added green beans, spinach, kale, and potato. Enjoy!!