baked not fried

Hemp Crusted Chicken Tenders

Hemp Crusted Chicken Tenders

Today I'm sharing a really fun way to get hemp seeds into your families' diet. I am never one to turn down a chicken tender. Seasoned almond flour and hemp seeds are the perfect crust for baked chicken tenders - they turn out deliciously crisp on the outside and are great for dipping. Watch the video recipe below and let's get cookin :) 

Cinnamon Sugar Pita Chips

Cinnamon Sugar Pita Chips

One thing I actually do really miss about the States are Trader Joe's snacks. They have the best snacks!! One of my favorites are Cinnamon Sugar Pita Chips!! TJ's and Stacy's make them, and now you can make them at home for much less :) I can inhale an entire bag of these, which can definitely get expensive lol! Cinnamon Sugar Pita Chips are so easy to make and taste just like the store-bought ones. All you got to do is brush fresh pita (or tortillas) with butter or coconut oil, and sprinkle them with cinnamon-sugar. Bake them for 10 minutes, and you're in holiday snack heaven. These are amazing on their own, or served with other sweets like ice cream, yogurt, or baked fruit. Watch the recipe video below and let's get baking! 

Parmesan Roasted Cauliflower Crisps

Parmesan Roasted Cauliflower Crisps

The flavor of cauliflower is mild, and a bit sweet and creamy - it acts as a canvas for whatever . Roasting this veg is glorious, and let's face it; everything is better with cheese! This recipe is for a really delicious and addicting snack that is as simple as slicing florets of cauli, roasting them for 15-20 minutes, and then adding tons of cheese and fresh parsley. Baking grated Parmesan turns the warm, nutty cheese into salty crisps. These Parmesan Roasted Cauliflower Crisps taste like one of my favorite indulgences - chips. The tender roasted cauliflower is perfectly seasoned, and the baked cheese gives them a nice crust. I could easily polish off a tray of these yummy cauliflower crisps :) Let's get cookin!

Quinoa Crusted Chicken Nuggets

Quinoa Crusted Chicken Nuggets

One of my favorite "junk food" indulgences has always been chicken nuggets. The options out there aren't that healthy; most of them are deep-fried, and heavily breaded. Sometimes we don't even know if the nuggets are made of actual chicken! Chicken nuggets are easy to make at home, and with this recipe, I'll show you how you can replace extra breading with yummy quinoa!

Quinoa is actually a seed that is very high in protein, fiber, magnesium, iron, zinc, potassium, and more. It's also gluten free. Quinoa has a sweet, nutty flavor and is delicate in texture. In recent times, it's been known as a substitute, but quinoa is so versatile, it can easily be a main! 

Making Quinoa Crusted Chicken Nuggets is as easy as a 3 step breading process and throwing them in the oven! They're baked, not fried. I love putting a twist on classic junk food by simplifying the ingredients and making them more straightforward. It's important to know what you're putting in your body. These nuggets get a little superfood boost from quinoa, while tasting just as good as your favorite fast food joint. Let's get cookin :) 

Baked Avocado Fries with Chipotle Lime Cream

Baked Avocado Fries with Chipotle Lime Cream

Avocado fries are the best of both worlds - crisp, seasoned panko crust surrounding creamy, ripe avocado slices. They’re easy and fun to make, and are the perfect snack for satisfying your deep-fried cravings! Best part is, they’re baked, not fried.

I paired these avocado fries with a quick and easy Chipotle Lime Cream, but love any number of dipping sauces for these fries, such as good ole ketchup, mustard, sweet chili sauce, ranch, wasabi-soy sauce…the options are endless. So if you’d like to find out how to make these delicious little babies, let’s get cookin!

Crispy Balsamic Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Honey

Crispy Balsamic Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Honey

The other night at dinner my friend and I were talking about how much Brussels Sprouts have made a huge comeback. When we were kids, I hated them and avoided them at all costs. Maybe that’s because they weren’t dressed in duck fat (Barbacco in SF has the most amazing Duck Fat Brussels), tossed with bacon, or covered in cheese. These days, Brussels Sprouts are on menus everywhere, in every which way. Just this last week, I had some amazing ones with cinnamon, radishes, and an over-medium egg. Another night, my friend made some with simple olive oil, sea salt, ground pepper, Parmesan, and lemon juice. They were delicious and made me want to play with another recipe using these lil addictive veggies. 
I roasted these Brussels after tossing them in olive oil, salt, pepper, and balsamic vinegar. They get golden brown and crispy in the oven, and this is one of the easiest ways to prepare brussels sprouts! Balsamic vinegar brings a slight tang to the crispy little guys, and a drizzle of honey after roasting balances everything out. Hope you try these out - they’re the best snack or side for dinner ..they’ll even convert the biggest nay-sayer! Let’s get cookin :) 

Crispy Smashed Potatoes

Crispy Smashed Potatoes

I like to think of these as the grown up version of hash browns. They’re crispy and salty on the outside, soft, creamy and steamy on the inside. That was borderline food erotica for me to type. Let me take a second. 
Haha these are amazing. They’re so simple to make, and are the perfect snack to serve for #SuperBowlSunday, or as a great side dish to any meal. They’re also so versatile - why didn’t I cook up a bunch of bacon to toss on top of these?! You can keep them simple with coarse salt, fresh ground pepper and chopped herbs, or get fancy wit it and treat them like baked potatoes, topping them with cheese, sour cream, bacon, anything your tummy desires. K my mouth is watering - let’s get cookin! :) 

Crispy Baked Sweet Potato Fries

Crispy Baked Sweet Potato Fries

Mmm..fries. Sweet Potato Fries at that..sweet, salty, crispy on the outside, tender and steamy on the inside. Baking them in the oven is a healthier option than deep frying them, and with a few simple tricks, they can be just as crispy as well!

Bake some up this weekend for Father’s Day and serve them with a variety of dipping sauces - my favorite is ketchup mixed with a ton of pepper. Some other ideas are chipotle mayo, sweet chili sauce, garlic mayo, honey mustard..the options are endless.

This great snack is versatile in itself, as well. Depending on the way you season the sweet potatoes, they can take on completely different flavor profiles! I wanted to try two different options. I stuck with simple Himalayan Pink Sea Salt and freshly ground pepper, and a fun batch of sweet potatoes dusted with a yummy Cinnamon Sugar mix. Experiment! These are great healthy snacks for your family :) 

Gluten Free Stuffed Zucchini Boats

Gluten Free Stuffed Zucchini Boats

Warm weather is approaching and we’ve all got the beach on our minds. Whether it be ditching work to lay out, festival season, slimming down for the summer, or cooking lighter meals, we are all looking for ways to celebrate the arrival of warmer weather. These Stuffed Zucchini Boats are simple, packed with flavor, and an easy way to get some veggies into your families’ tummies. They can be Gluten Free and are Paleo if you leave out the cheese! :) They are also beautiful for entertaining and are easy on the wallet. 

Baked Fish Tacos with Mango Salsa and Cilantro-Lime Vinaigrette

Baked Fish Tacos with Mango Salsa and Cilantro-Lime Vinaigrette

Warm white corn tortillas filled to the brim with wonderfully crisp-edged, tender tilapia, fresh mango salsa, and zesty cilantro-lime vinaigrette are the perfect Cinco De Mayo meal. Let's get cookin!