I hope that by posting this recipe in Mid-December, the Pumpkin craze has not ended yet. Is everyone sick of pumpkin by now? If you are like me, you never get tired of it! Here’s a pumpkin bread that can also be made into muffins. It’s a healthy spin on the traditional recipe which sacrifices no flavor or texture. These are moist, chocolatey, filling yet light.  I serve this as breakfast, snacks, and give it to neighbors for Holiday treats. Sometimes it even shows up in the kids’ lunchboxes. I don’t believe that anyone should ever feel guilty about eating

Many of the nut butters you can find on the shelf—especially peanut butter—have added ingredients which shouldn’t be consumed on a regular basis. One you might see is called “high fructose corn syrup.” You can read more about this particular additive here. Another added ingredient you will see is called “hydrogenated vegetable oil.” This ingredient gives the peanut butter a smooth texture and prevents its oils from separating. Hydrogenated oil is a chemically modified preservative which prevents oils from going rancid after being on the shelf for too long. It has become a guideline for me that if my family

‘Tis the Season of sickness at the Andersen household. Last week it was stomach flu, and this week it is an ear and sinus infection. What is a poor mom to do when all this sickness strikes?! Years ago as a new mother, I used to rush to the doctor’s office and wait in line with all the other sick kids to get a prescription for an antibiotic. Then I would come home and sanitize my home from top to bottom in an attempt to make the the germs stop their spread. Now days, I am doing things a little

This soup is inspired by my Mom’s home cooking. As a child, I used to love coming home on a cold, wintery day to a bowl of bean soup with corn bread. I’ve altered the recipe of my childhood to give it a boost of nutrition, and the following recipeis what I have come up with. It pairs very well with my Hearty Corn Bread. Enjoy!!   Hearty Bean and Bacon Soup A healthy comfort food for a cold, wintry day. 20 oz. “Ham Beens 15 Bean Soup" or 4 Cans Navy Beans6 Cups Water2 Tablespoons Chicken Soup Base2 Cups

Ironically, the most often requested foods in my home are the least fancy. The nice thing about that is they usually take little time to prepare. The bad thing about that is it usually isn’t very picturesque… Honestly though, this chowder always makes it on the list of my children’s favorite foods. That must be saying something! I hope you and your loved ones will enjoy this soup as much as we do. *Update: (5/9/19) My 10-year-old daughter made this soup 100% alone and it tasted amazing. Just a humble brag. That's all. Hearty Corn Chowder 6 Cups Water2 Tablespoons

On those mornings when cereal or toast just wont cut it, this savory dish is sure to satisfy. I crave this on Saturdays after a morning jog, because of its balance of protein, carbohydrate and fat. Enjoy! Hearty Egg and Avocado Breakfast Bagel 1/2 Whole Wheat Bagel (toasted)1/4 Avocado (cut in slices)2 slices Tomato (1/2 inch thick)1 slice Canadian Bacon1/2 teaspoon Butter1 Fried EggSalt (to taste)Black Pepper (to taste) Fry egg in melted butter over medium-high heat. Cook approximately 3 minutes on one side. Flip it over and cook 1 minute on the other side.While egg is cooking, toast your

Aren’t the Holidays so wonderful? Spending time with family and friends, eating delicious food, and staying up late playing games is how we celebrated Thanksgiving last week. Now it is Monday. Time for some extra nutrition and a little exercise to help me get back into a healthy routine. I’m not a huge green smoothie fan, but this one is pretty good! It contains TWO servings of veggies and enough protein to provide a refreshing boost to your day. Here’s to a great start to a new week! Enjoy!   Hearty Green Smoothie 2 Cups Spinach, fresh 1 3/4 Cups

Zesty, spicy, sweet, and tart—nothing tastes more like the holidays than homemade cranberry sauce! You will love the way this dish fills your kitchen with the aroma of spices and orange zest as the cranberries gently simmer on your stove. And, frankly, you might be a little embarrassed that you ever used to serve the canned stuff. This is so yummy and so easy to make! Citrus Zest Cranberry Sauce Homemade cranberry sauce with a hint of citrus. 1/2 Cup Sugar3/4 Cup Water1/4 teaspoon Ground Cloves1/4 teaspoon Pumpkin Pie Spice1/2 teaspoon ground Cinnamon1 12- ounce bag Fresh Cranberries1 whole Navel

Chili season is in full swing, and NO chili is ever complete without a square of cornbread. This recipe is as moist and flavorful as any, but it has whole ingredients and no refined sugars. For those who avoid wheat, try my Gluten-free Corn Bread. Enjoy! Hearty Corn Bread Dry Ingredients1 3/4 Cups Whole Wheat Flour ( )1 1/2 Cups Corn Meal2 Tablespoons Baking Powder1 1/2 teaspoons saltWet Ingredients4 Eggs1/2 Cup Applesauce2 Cups Milk3 Tablespoons Honey Preheat oven to 400 degrees and grease a 9 x 13 inch cast iron pan.Place pan into the oven while preparing ingredients—no longer than

To get my kids to eat this dish, I tell them that it is "cheesy corn bread" and they are all over this stuff! What is polenta? It is also referred to as corn grits because it is a coarsely-ground cornmeal. I find mine in the whole foods section of the grocery store with all of the “Bob’s Red Mill” products. To make this a gluten-free meal, try Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free Corn Grits. (Aff. Link) There's no difference in flavor or texture. Just no cross contamination with wheat. I made this recipe for the first time when I