Donut You Want One

I know there has been some major radio silence here on the blog and I don't have a very good excuse to give you all, that is if anyone is reading this. Life just has been a bit crazy and my little creative corner has taken a back seat on the priority list. As of late I have been really trying to take care of myself health wise. Getting in shape with alternating classes at Soul Cycle and Yoga, dieting with Weight Watchers {down 7 lbs!} and generally tending to myself in a way I haven't in a long time. Since we all know dieting is hard and giving up your favorite indulgences just makes you want to quit. I have decided to try healthier versions of all my favorites. I think this donut recipe from Drizzle Me Skinny has to be my favorite thus far. I have made them numerous times and they always come out great & today I made them even a little more sweeter for my chocoholic husband by adding in some chocolate cake mix & topping with chocolate frosting. I even bagged some up & gifted to friends! All you need is a donut pan and some basic baking ingredients. Enjoy!

more healthy snacking recipes can be found here & here 

Healthy Snacking

There is nothing like an indulgent vacation that makes you want to get back on the healthy bandwagon. Don't get me wrong, it was great to have wine with every dinner and an ice cream cone for dessert but after awhile you just start to feel blah. So since we have been back I have been trying to snack with healthier foods. I have been trying to be careful on what I choose when we order out, i.e. swapping out white rice for cauliflower rice or quinoa and I am trying new recipes that I haven't before which I'd like to report that I am pleasantly surprised to say that I love them. A few of my favorite and easy to make healthy snacks are below. Enjoy!

Acai bowl's are the perfect summertime snack. I mean, it tastes like a bowl of sorbet with all sorts of healthy toppings so what's not to love. This super fruit is packed with antioxidants and is even believed to help lose weight among many other things. Below is how I made mine.

Ingredients

 one frozen acai pack 

one cup sweetened vanilla almond milk

one banana

one and half cup frozen mixed berries

toppings of choice - I used almond granola, banana, fresh strawberries & drizzle of honey, shredded coconut would also be awesome in here

Directions

throw all your ingredients into a blender & puree till creamy but not as runny as a smoothie. It should resemble frozen yogurt a bit, then pour into a chilled bowl and top with your favorite toppings & enjoy!

It's no surprise that avocado toast is delicious. I literally could eat this for every meal I love it so much but I limit myself to one slice a day. I buy my avocados in a bag and in about a day or so they are perfectly ripe to use {feel free to place your avocados in a brown lunch bag to speed this process up}. I cut one avocado {makes two slices of toast} mixed in salt & pepper, chopped basil and a teaspoon of olive oil. Then spread on toasted health nut bread. I also had some grape tomatoes in the fridge so I tossed those in some olive oil, s&p as a topping. SO.DAMN.GOOD! {sorry for the shouting but it's tastiness needed to be emphasized}.

Last but certainly not least is my chia seed pudding. I first had this at a little cafe in my neighborhood and I have to admit, it was pretty bland. I did some research online and thought this recipe sounded the tastiest so I copied it and holy smokes, it was good. Even my husband ate a jar and he is so not into this sort of thing. I am definitely going to be making these cute little guys again and again for a grab and go snack. I may even try to make it with coconut milk for added flavor.  

I'd love to know...what is your favorite healthy snack??? 

thirsty thursday - s'mores two ways

S'mores are one of those treats that instantly bring you back to your childhood. It doesn't get much better then sitting around a fire on a summers evening roasting marshmallows with friends. The simple joy of getting your marshmallow perfectly crisp without falling into the fire and creating the perfect bite as you sandwhich the melty goodness between two graham crackers {with lots of chocolate of course}. Since we dont have a fire pit out on Shelter Island I decided to make a much neater version of this famous dessert for my nieces while they watched a movie. It was the perfect blend of all the classic s'mores flavors with less of a mess. Since it was a hit  I decided to share that recipe along with a cocktail version {obviously}. Hope you enjoy!

{towel // bowl}

Ingredients

2 cups Kettle Corn 

1 cup Cocoa Puffs

1 cup Cinnamon Toast Crunch 

1 cup mini marshmallows

{tip - cinnamon cheerios & chocolate cheerios can be substituted for a less sugary cereal}

Ingredients

1 ounce vanilla vodka

1 ounce chocolate liquor {I used Godiva}

2 ounces heavy cream

1 graham cracker crushed for rimming of glass {I crushed in food processor}

4 mini marshmallows roasted for garnish {I roasted with mini torch}

2 ounces chocolate syrup for rimming glass {adheres the graham cracker crust}

{tip - dont want to commit to a full bottle of flavored vodka, buy the nips for tasting}

Still prefer the old fashioned s'mores treats??? Check out all the adorable ways you can package up this nostalgic dessert. The individual packaging makes this perfect for entertaining at home to make your guests feel special or makes a fabulous favor for a party!

free printable & image via Bloom Designs

image via Creature Comfort

s'mores kits via Twig & Thistle