Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Blueberry Walnut Baked Oatmeal Cups


Whenever I'm on a kick to start eating healthier and exercising more, I always completely screw up immediately - that is, as soon as the day starts...at breakfast.


Getting a good breakfast in on a busy weekday morning, when I'm already worried about walking the dog, showering, and looking like I have my sh*t together (I don't), is pretty much impossible. It is much too easy to stop by Flour Bakery for a fresh croissant or the office cafeteria for a bagel + cream cheese. Of course, starting every day like this is a terrible idea, but I haven't found a consistent take along breakfast that actually wastes zero time in the mornings. Ugh!


That is, until I made these beautiful, delicious and hearty Blueberry Walnut Baked Oatmeal Cups. These are loaded with the wonderful flavors and textures of fresh, juicy blueberries, sweet pure maple syrup, toasty walnuts and a generous pinch of cinnamon. Almond butter and an egg bind together all these wonderful ingredients, along with (of course) some old fashioned oats before baking up in cutesy individual portions in a lined muffin tin.


Breakfast for the week has never tasted so delicious! I recommend cooking these on a Sunday, allowing them to cool completely then storing in an airtight container in the fridge. These are incredibly tasty at room temperature, but I love warming them in the microwave for 20-30 seconds before gobbling them up. Thinking about drizzling a little more syrup on top? Good. Me too! However you eat them, they are sure to keep you full, satisfied and happy until lunch!

Wednesday, February 3, 2016

Chicken Caesar Burgers with Parmesan Crisps


Hey there. I have some MAGICAL burgers to share with you today. Seriously. These are a dinnertime game-changer!


When I need to throw all caution to the wind and really indulge, there is nothing that satisfies me as much as a big, juicy pub burger, smothered in cheese and piled with crispy bacon. There's something about a great burger that can help melt all your other troubles away. I love when food can do that!

While these burgers are not quite THAT indulgent, they are jam packed with flavor, super juicy, and completely satisfying. Chicken Caesar Burgers with Parmesan Crisps are here to stay on our weeknight dinner rotation!


You may be wondering why I'm gushing so much over a chicken burger...well, there are a lot of reasons, so let me try to be succinct. First, they are essentially giant, fluffy meatballs. Lots of flavor gets packed right into the ground chicken, starting with creamy Caesar dressing, minced garlic, onion powder, parmesan cheese and fresh parsley, Adding the dressing means we need something to help bind the burger together, and panko breadcrumbs are perfectly light and crisp--they keep our burgers together without weighing them down. The best part though--like, best times infinity--is the homemade parmesan crisps!(!!!!) These are ADDICTING and so simple to make, and it took every ounce of willpower I have to not eat the entire pan before the burgers were ready. They are great for snacking, so definitely make more than you need. 


The final touches are just as important as the major players for this meal. A lightly buttered, grilled whole wheat bun is the perfect place to slather on extra creamy Caesar dressing. Fresh, crisp romaine lettuce is necessary to any and all Caesar salads, so pile some on your burger to lighten it up! We enjoyed these alongside a simple salad, but would a plate of fries or some kettle cooked chips be good too? OH. YEAH.