It’s officially football season which means we have friends at our house every Sunday afternoon watching the game and trash talking each other’s fantasy football teams. This past Sunday, our potluck of snacks included mini donuts along with an array of chips with dips, so I decided to add some veggies to the mix with these easy pesto stuffed mushrooms. I was afraid I might be the only one who found the mushrooms appealing, but to my surprise the entire batch was gone in just minutes!...

This healthy applesauce cake is naturally sweet and has a perfectly fluffy texture. It makes an easy breakfast or after-school snack! This applesauce snack cake is naturally gluten-free and dairy-free. It’s not super-sweet, so it’s an easy option to grab on the go. Top it with frosting, or enjoy it straight from the pan! Ingredients You’ll Need This healthy cake recipe uses oat flour instead of all-purpose flour. (Oat flour is simply oats that have been ground into flour; you can make oat flour at home with a blender....

When the weather cools down, it can be challenging to eat as many greens as you did over the summer. Salads simply don’t sound as comforting as a warm bowl of soup when your hands and feet are freezing! So, this past weekend I decided to blend my leafy greens into a tasty soup. I was inspired by a soup that I tried last week when I was in downtown Kansas City, at a restaurant called The Sundry ....

Crispy Peanut Butter Balls are inspired by the version made with butter and powdered sugar, but these have a fruit-sweetened center and a satisfying crunch. Ingredients You’ll Need This recipe calls for all-natural peanut butter, which you need to stir well when you open the jar. (Use a hand mixer with one beater attached to make this go quickly!) Paired with Medjool dates, ground flax seeds, and crispy rice cereal, these balls have a crispy texture with plenty of peanut butter flavor....

You know those two-bite brownies that seem to be gracing every grocery store shelf lately? My young nieces are obsessed with them. Hence, I set out to make a two-bite brownie of my own–> determined to please their taste-buds, but without the hydrogenated oils and sugar. Mine are just as cute and bite-sized, but they also happen to be grain-free, naturally sweetened, and properly combined . Most importantly, they passed the taste-test with flying colors....

Mexican Chicken Soup is a warm and comforting way to enjoy your favorite Mexican flavors in a bowl. It’s ready to eat in just about 30 minutes and is a lightened-up alternative to tortilla soup . While it’s not a traditional caldo de pollo recipe, this soup is easy to make because it cooks all in one pot. You don’t have to use a whole chicken, or a separate pan to bake the chicken....

These strawberry cheesecake bars taste as good as they look. Featuring a creamy dairy-free filling made from cashews, these bars are a delicious source of fiber, protein, and healthy fats, and are more satiating than traditional cheesecake. They’re also relatively quick to prepare, requiring just a blender or food processor to create each layer, plus a small saucepan for the final strawberry swirl topping. These colorful and fruity bars would make the perfect addition to a Fourth of July party this week, but make sure to keep them chilled for the best texture....

Traditional pecan pie is old news. This year, we’ll be enjoying these No-Bake Pecan Pie Bars instead! With all the work involved to prepare Thanksgiving dinner, I figure we could all use a simple dessert recipe that doesn’t involve the oven, for a change. All you need to make these treats is a blender or food processor! Featuring nutrient-rich dates and buttery pecans, these bars are deceptively brimming with a variety of B vitamins, iron, and fiber, but all you will taste is the distinctive, rich flavor of pecan pie....

I get into smoothie ruts pretty often, which is why I’m thrilled to have a new resource for some fresh and delicious smoothie ideas. My friend Tess, also known as the Blender Girl , just released her latest book, The Blender Girl Smoothies , and it’s loaded with 100 gluten-free and vegan recipes. When it comes to smoothies, I used to fly by the seat of my pants, throwing in any fruits and veggies I had on hand at the time....

Quinoa Bowls are an easy, make-ahead meal that will have you ready to tackle the week ahead. All you have to do is prep a few components, then you’ll have a fast meal that you can assemble in just 5 minutes or less, straight from the fridge! Why You’ll Love Them They are easy to customize . You can make quinoa bowls using practically any ingredients you have on hand....

Now that it’s getting chillier outside, I’m starting to crave warmer and heartier breakfasts. This porridge is a filling and delicious breakfast option featuring quinoa, a gluten-free “pseudograin” that’s technically a seed, but is prepared like a grain. Quinoa is high in fiber and contains all of the essential amino acids, making it an excellent source of protein. Paired with pumpkin, which is a great source of vitamin A, and cinnamon, which is thought to help regulate blood sugar, this recipe is satisfying and loaded with all of the Fall flavors I love!...

I know how crowded the stove can get around the holidays, so today I thought I’d share a way to make Mashed Cauliflower in the slow cooker. It’s a healthy and easy side dish! This creamy side dish has a remarkably similar texture to mashed potatoes, and since the taste of cauliflower is relatively neutral, you can add any seasonings you like to make them your own. I like to add plenty of sea salt, garlic, and black pepper, along with some fresh thyme....

After cooking several spaghetti squashes in the slow cooker this week, I’m surprised to tell you that I have a strong opinion on the best way to do it. I’ll share the details with you below so you don’t waste any spaghetti squashes like I did. While I love a good time-saving hack, there’s simply no getting around cutting a spaghetti squash in half if you want to cook it in a slow cooker....

Spinach Pancakes are a fun green breakfast idea! Serve them for St. Patrick’s Day or any time you want to add extra veggies to your morning. Inspired by my spinach muffins and green eggs , you can turn your favorite pancake recipe into this fun green version by adding a handful of fresh baby spinach. When you give the pancakes a fun name, like “Hulk” pancakes or “Ninja Turtle” pancakes, they are a hit with kids, too!...

This Vegan Gluten-Free Chocolate Cake is the best egg-free cake I’ve ever made. It’s got a light & fluffy texture , and a rich chocolate flavor, so it’s perfect for your next birthday party or celebration. How to Make a Gluten-Free Cake from Scratch I’m almost embarrassed by how much I’ve experimented with this recipe (close to 40 attempts!), but it takes a lot of practice and experimentation to learn how to work well with gluten-free flours....

Have you ever felt intimidated about making Pad Thai at home? I certainly did. But after several kitchen experiments, I’ve figured out a way to make this classic takeout dish with simple pantry ingredients (and a few extra veggies). It’s not 100% authentic by any means, but it certainly is delicious. And more importantly, it’s easy to throw together for a fast weeknight meal. Adding shredded cabbage to this dish stretches the noodle-like texture, so you get to eat a much larger portion for fewer calories....

I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again: coconut flour is tricky to work with. You’d think by now, after developing coconut flour recipes like Zucchini Bread , Carrot Cake , and Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins , I would have a pretty good idea of how to make practically any baked good with coconut flour. However, it still took me 6 different attempts to get this recipe right. My picky toddler has deemed this coconut flour banana bread to be the “best ever,” so I suppose my effort was worth it!...

I know a lot of people probably associate the idea of “cleansing” with thoughts of restriction, hunger, and a diet of bland meals. My experience with The Rose Cleanse , however, has been anything but bland. In fact, I’m feeling more creative than ever in the kitchen! Just take a look at my dinner last night: This meal was delicious, flavorful, and oh-so-satisfying. And, believe it or not, it’s ALL vegetable based!...

Growing up, my family enjoyed a lot of crustless recipes, like pumpkin pie and quiche. This is probably because my mom didn’t like the effort involved in making a crust. (I get my kitchen laziness from her– if it’s not quick and easy, I’m not doing it!) Why make a crust for pumpkin pie after making an entire Thanksgiving dinner? All of the flavor is in the filling, anyway. The same logic can be applied to this quiche....

Have you ever wondered if you could bake a date-sweetened energy ball? That’s basically what these healthy cookies are. They are made with 100% whole food ingredients : no flour, no added oil, and no added sugar, so I’ve deemed them the healthiest cookies ever. Oddly enough, they remind me of the popular packaged “soft batch” cookies I used to eat when I was growing up. I started experimenting with this recipe over 10 years ago, when I wanted a cookie made with whole food ingredients....