Power Up: Quinoa and Lentil Salad

Power up your days with this vegetarian salad made with lentils and quinoa! It's may be low in fat but it's high in flavor!

This is seriously my first quinoa recipe, like for real. I know this is a healthy food blog, but even I was skeptical on quinoa for a while. I mean even the name quinoa, pronounced keeen-waaaah it just comes off as persnickety and pretentious.... right?! Oh I'm sorry it not quinoa, it's keeen-wah. Excuse me fancy pants!

Reduced Fat Double Chocolate Zucchini Bread

This decadent looking double chocolate zucchini bread is reduced fat for your waistline's pleasure, but tastes so right making your mouth VERY happy!

2 zucchini recipes in one week, that's what you get with a zucchini that size, like the one I showed you in my last post. What's more they're both zucchini bread. Well I fell in love with it so much I had to chocolify it... (totally a word or should be).

So for the longest time guys I hesitated to write that my recipes were healthy or lower in fat or whatever. I thought oh people know this food blog has a healthy focus... but really unless you read all the time you don't. So I gotta call it out. But I hesitate because most people will dismiss it thinking this... "Ughhhh reduced fat, low fat, healthy... BORING!" I used to think that way too before I embarked upon a new healthy lifestyle.

Stone Fruit and Burrata Salad with Lemon Basil Dressing

Step up your salad game with some burrata! This salad is loaded with fresh summer fruits and has a lemon and fresh basil dressing. Serve to your guests and look super fancy for very little work!

I am always inspired by other blogs. Since I have a blog, I am sure you can imagine how many I read and comment on. I forget where I saw it... but I saw a stone fruit and burrata salad, so I thought I would do my own. I mean helllllo peaches and succulent and juicy with the magical creamy cheese called burrata?! NOOOOOO brainer!

Do you guys know what burrata is? Don't feel bad, I googled it when I saw it too. Seriously, google has made it possible to not sound stupid on social media. Soooo anyways burrata is like fresh mozzarella kicked up 10 notches... why you ask? Well it is just a pouch of fresh mozzarella- inside is the best part, cream and scraps of more fresh mozzarella. Good for you? No... but come one there is only 3 oz. in the whole recipe. Savor the hell outta it!

Can you imagine all these flavors mingling in your palette?? I could when I heard stone fruit and burrata. So much so I totally made this and I am totally allergic to peach skin. I had an itchy throat, but it was sooooo worth it. Kinda dumb? Sure! But I just had to and with the lemon basil dressing- it was TO DIE FOOOOOR! Or at least to itchy throat for, right?!

It is also simple and quick to put together! Can you beat that?! Pretty damn fabulous!

What you need

1 large ripe peach (I used a white peach)

2 mango nectarines (if you cannot find those you can use regular)

3 oz. burrata

Dressing

5 large basil leaves (more for garnish if desired)

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice

How to make it

1- Throw all fruit and pieces of burrata on a board.

2- In a food processor, combine all dressing ingredients.

3- Drizzle dressing on salad- DONE!

Nutritional Information

Yields 5 servings, under 200 calories each!

5 points plus on Weight Watchers

White Sangria Fruit Salad

This ain't your mama's fruit salad, it has been kicked up a notch with some white wine and honey dressing for a sangria spin.

You know I don't do boring... Like if someone asked me I make them fruit salad, it wouldn't be just some fruit in a bowl. Nope!!

So you know what also has fruit? Sangria! So why not fuse the two and make sangria fruits salad. Like regular sangria with the wine as more of a dressing...

I mean who doesn't like some alcohol in their fruit salad?! It's still healthy since there is just a little bit... just a little, it doesn't count right?

I looked up some traditional white sangria recipes and the fruit they used did not thrill me. Since this is a white sangria I wanted to keep the flavors sweet and use fruit with similar textures and flavors and lighter in color more in line with the taste of a white wine. I chose peaches, nectarines, pineapple and apricots.

I then went a little wild and added some fresh ginger to awaken the senses and I thought it would also pair nicely with the white wine and it totally did! Then to add some sweetness I added a little honey as well!

BAM! Not yo mama's fruit salad!

What you need

1 cup fresh pineapple
2 apricots, pitted and sliced
1 large ripe peach, pitted and sliced
1 large nectarine, pitted and sliced

Dressing

1 teaspoon grated ginger
2 teaspoons honey
1/3 cup Pino Grigio wine

How to make it

1- in a large bowl combine all the fruit
2- In a smaller bowl whisk together all dressing ingredients
3- Toss dressing into the fruit and mix it in.
4- Serve it all fancy and shit in a martini glass!

Nutritional Information

See still great nutritional stats, even with little bit of fun added ;)

5 ingredient Red White & Blueberry Hangover Popsicles

Healthy and refreshing popsicles that may also aid in the preventing a hangover the day after the holiday. With Vitamins C and B as well as electrolytes, these can help stave/ soothe a hangover or just serve a delicious and healthy treat!

These popsicles are adorably patriotic and they have an extra surprise. These may help with that day after Independence Day hangover. This recipe was inspired by a pack of hangover prevention pills that I saw. I work at a supplement company so they were samples just lying around. I thought looking at the Supplement Facts that there are plenty of delicious foods that I would rather have with the same vitamins and minerals. So why not make a refreshing popsicle for the holidays with these active ingredients?

Strawberries- rich in Vitamin C and also a good source of Vitamin B
Coconut milk- Plenty of potassium which serves as an electrolyte helping to replenish fluids loss if you have already not been feeling well...
Blueberries- rich in many antioxidants and called a super food because of all of the phytonurients it has. Phytonutrients can help in anti-inflamatory and liver health.

But you know guys, I'm not a doc so I am not saying it will definitely work, but it does have the same ingredients as your over the counter hangover prevention pills. It's also super refreshing and healthy! Very little sugar and lots of real fruit. I also have these cute star shaped pops- so they are also cute as hell!

Celebrate the 4th in style and good health!

Drink responsibly and have a designated driver.

One more thing- these only have 5 ingredients!!

What you need

1 dozen strawberries, hulled
3 tablespoons sugar
1/2 cup coconut milk (light)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup blueberries

How to make them

1- In a food processor combine strawberries and 1 tbsp sugar
2- Add a layer of strawberry puree in each popsicle.
3- combine coconut milk, 1 tbsp sugar and vanilla extract, whisk well in a bowl.
4- add a layer of coconut milk mixture to popsicles.
5- Rinse out food processor and puree blueberries and 1 tbsp sugar, then add this last layer to each popsicle.
6- Freeze popsicles overnight and enjoy!

Yields 5 thin popsicles.

A Vegan Foodgasm: Double IPA Braised Bean and Salsa Verde Bowl

This is one badass vegan and gluten free recipe that is sure to satisfy even the most carnivorous of friends kicked up with some California craft beer action!

So proud, this is my very first attempt at a Vegan recipe and it is pretty badass at that! It also happens to be gluten free! Not just some normal meal with no animals harmed in any way... but it is filling and totally kick ass complete vegan meal busting at the seams from the flavor EXPLOSION! Did I also mention it is made with some BEER!

It is well known, there are two things I don't fuck around with, FOOD and BEER!

So yeah I went ALLLL the way over the top for this puppy! I have been talking to my friend The Beer Wench and she wanted to know if any good vegetarian recipes existed for beer, there is of course the obvious beer mac and cheese, maybe beer cheese soup. But I took this shit to a whole nother level and went straight to vegan.... did I mention I like a challenge?!

Princess Badass Ice Cream for #IceCreamTuesday #SummerWeightLoss

 This bourbon cherry infused ice cream with bourbon soaked cherries and a marshmallow fluff swirl perfectly represents to 2 parts to the modern woman, the princess and the badass inside us all!

#IceCreamTuesday

Wednesday is usually the day I get you a post, but this is special guys! It's #IceCreamTuesday (marshmallow edition)!! I joined up with some blogger friends to make my ice cream with marshmallow, NY Foodgasm style! Please be sure to check out all the links from the bottom for MORE ice Cream Mayhem!!

Many thanks to Jenni of PastryChefOnline for organizing!! She did an awesome job wrangling all of us!

The Summer Weight Loss Challenge Begins...

OKAY, the timing is NOT ideal! After all the Summer Weight Loss Challenge like JUST kicked off. I apologize to ALL of you since I was slacking on my social media for this event. It snuck up on me, but this is annual event running from Memorial Day to Labor Day. The challenge is to lose 10 pounds from Memorial Day to Labor Day. You can join the Summer Weight Loss Challenge HERE.

Pina Colada Pound Cake

Why is this a Foodgasm? 

Piña Colada is the stuff summer is made of and I don't know about you, but I could use a slice of summer. If you're in the part of this country where you experience the bitter cold...I know you are sooooo done with all of this. I have the answer here! A lowfat easy and delish  piña colada poundcake. 

Loaded with not only fresh pineapple and coconut milk- it also has coconut oil and is covered in toasted coconut. This dense and delish cake is a treat you don't have to feel any guilt for at all! 

What you need

1 cup sugar
1/4 cup coconut oil, warmed up in microwave to become a liquid.
3/4 cup crushed pineapple
1 egg + 1 egg white
1 cup coconut milk
1/4 cup Greek yogurt
zest of 1 lemon
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups white whole wheat flour
 1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt

How to make it

Preheat oven to 350º
1- In a mixer with paddle attachment, cream together sugar and coconut oil.
2- Add in the egg and egg white with the Greek yogurt, coconut milk and vanilla extract, be sure to scrape sides if you see the sugar and coconut oil sticking to the sides.
3- With the mixer on low, slowly add in your dry ingredients and mix until well combined.

4- Bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour. Will be very moist!

Lemon Pesto Chicken

Why is this a Foodgasm?

So I am already sure you know the foodgasm that is pesto. Especially fresh pesto (PS- fresh pesto is so easy to make it is criminal to buy the stuff. Seriously!). So I recently was making pesto and wanted to add my own spin to it, just a little spin by adding the zest and juice of one large lemon. Just the simple addition of lemon to pesto brightened it up and brought out some more complex flavors. It's like summer as a sauce. That is what I imagine summer would taste like: bright, light, fresh and earthy with some pep in it's step.

I learned the joy of pesto from my chef obsession Fabio Viviani. What I like to say about pesto is like he says, I can give you some measurements, but you gotta go by the how thick you want it. Also take into account the more oil, nuts and cheese you add the more fat that sauce is gonna have. The awesome thing about this recipe is that not only does the lemon add flavor but some of the liquid in this recipe is from lemon juice and that adds NO FAT! YAY!

Foodie Adventures: My First Ice Cream Recipe

Why is this a Foodgasm?

Plain ole vanilla ice cream, one of life's simple pleasures. Simple, yet sooo delicious, especially since I cut some of the fat and it's homemade and freshly churned. Sometimes even I keep it simple- I didn't even add bourbon (well it was bourbon vanilla extract)!

When I was a baby my mom insisted I not be corrupted by sugar, but my grandmother wanted to spoil me and the first sugary delight to ever touch my lips was vanilla soft serve ice cream with rainbow sprinkles. Oh wow, it was love at first lick! My face was at first confused and them this giant smiled pasted itself on my face in a sort of baby perma-grin.

This is a super simple recipe- I basically took the simple vanilla ice cream recipe that came with my booklet and took away some of the fat while still maintaining the creamy texture we all know and love. 4 ingredients and 25 minutes to some amazing ice cream.

It is only fitting that this be my very first ice cream recipe! I hope you enjoy it too!

Drunk Lime in the Coconut Chicken

Why is this a Foodgasm?

You put the lime in the coconut and....EAT it all up! Yes I took these iconic song lyrics and made a foodgasm. These flavors compliment each other really well, sweet and creamy with that sharp and refreshing lime you are just waiting for a foodgasm to happen! But instead of just any coconut flavor I added some Malibu Rum because I can! This is so easy to do too: just let the chicken marinate and grill it up! Then toss some lime zest on top- DONE! I also whipped some Lime Coconut quinoa/brown rice medley because this needed a nice accompaniment. It is summer and how perfect is this for summer? Tres Perfecto. Eat up my friends!

Bourbon Iced Tea with Lime

Why is this a Drinkgasm?

There is no better liquor for tea than bourbon: I quickly discovered this when I went to a bar in Brooklyn(yup real southern culture in Brooklyn of all places!)- I took one sip of their bourbon sweet tea and was hooked on bourbon since. So I knew I had to make my own! This time I used Earl Grey Tea, honey and lime. The strong Earl Grey with the sweetness of the honey and the tartness of the lime with some smooth bourbon and you got yourself a refreshing beverage for a warm summer night!

Bourbon Marinated Carne Asada Tacos with Pineapple Salsa and Honey Lime Cream

Why is this a Foodgasm?

You take a nice lean cut of steak and marinate it in bourbon and lime overnight- SCORE! But then you toss on top some perfectly sweet and spicy pineapple salsa- BASES LOADED! Then we put all that in a warm corn tortilla and drizzle with a Honey Lime Cream- HOMERUN!

This dish packs on so many layers of flavors: so delicious, so sweet, so spicy and sinful you will think you have entered Dante's third level of hell (for the gluttunous). But wait this is NY Foodgasm so I have slimmed down this amazing dish for your guilt free pleasure!

So now you cowgirls can have your steak and eat it too!
 

Sweet Spring Slaw with Creamy Pineapple Dressing

Why this is a Foodgasm? Regular cole slaw has been played out- this is a sweet and slightly savory version of the classic absolutely perfect for a spring or summer barbeque. The creamy pineapple dressing bring in more sweet but also adds a little savory aspect making this the perfect replacement to that old boring slaw!

This is a 1 point foodgasm! (Recipe yields 7 servings)