Banana Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

Recipe

After getting into Herbalife, there wasn't much cooking on my end. But with the holidays, who can resist making cookies?!

Making a 'regular' chocolate chip cookie wasn't enough. This is more muffin-like than cookie in texture. Very chewy, soft. Almost like a breakfast cookie, if there ever was one.

I don't know if I like them or not, they are an un-cookie! The recipe does not say how many chips to add....it says to taste. It also said it yielded 3 dozen...I was a few short of that. Not a holiday cookie by any means, but tasty.

Difficulty Level: 2 

Yum Factor: 3 +

Skinny Funfetti Cupcakes

Easy, yummy recipe here!

Cupcakes. They are everywhere nowadays. If you crave cupcakes, sans calories but keeping flavor, these are for you!

Made them for the book club, a few girls are health conscious and jumped at the mention of a "skinny" cupcake. As I was making them they cancelled, but I shared the yumminess with friends (and ate many myself!)

There's 4 ingredients, gotta love that! Easy to make. The one concern is the recipe states 24 are made, but I came up with 12...hmm. 

The are the most FLUFFY and MOIST cupcakes I've ever had! It's like little air bubbles were baking right in (thanks Sprite Zero!). The frosting is equally as delicious. I may never may cupcakes the old way again! You will NOT regret making these!

Difficulty Level: 0 woo!

Yum Factor: 4-5 :)

Avocado Egg Salad

Avocado Egg Salad Recipe

Recipes for variations on this avocado egg salad have been traveling around Pinterest for over a year. I always pin them because they look delicious, but many of them call for green onions or lemon or lime juice. Being a single gal, I just don't stock those things, nor do I see the value of purchasing them for 1 tablespoon!

Back to the recipe, I originally saw it on a Weight Watchers recipes blog. This recipe is the easiest I've seen of all the incarnations. What's even better is that the link above has a link to cook the perfect hard-boiled eggs, Martha Stewart style. The link is also here. It is magical!

There are few ingredients in this recipe, which is a plus on the pocketbook. I used Trader Joe's Wasabi Mayo which provides a nice zip and omits the need for the curry. I did add a splash of taco seasoning in place of the curry, but in retrospect it wasn't necessary. Very yummy and when served with boneless skinless chicken breast, it becomes a super protein and filling meal. I would make this again!

Difficulty Level: 2-3. Peeling hard-boiled eggs is time consuming!
Yum Factor: 4 MmmMmm!

Gluten-Free Flourless "Pancakes"

Gluten Free Flourless Pancake recipe

If you have ever been on Pinterest in the last couple years, you may have come across the pin that says: 1 banana + 2 eggs = best pancakes ever! (or something to that effect). Always been curious about those...do they really taste like pancakes? how many does it make? I love questions!

So, I was out of Herbalife, and had a plethora of bananas, so I rediscovered this pin. The recipe says to really mash up the banana for best results, which may have been done easier with a potato masher (which I do not own). It also suggests adding cinnamon; I added pumpkin spice and brown sugar. The recipe also does not specify how many pancakes it creates, it's about 4.

The "pancakes" don't really taste like traditional American pancakes, yet they don't taste eggy. The consistency is a cross between an omelette and creme brûlée. If you are a lover of pancakes, but want a healthier option, this may be for you!

Difficulty Level: 1+ so easy, a monkey could do it!

Yum Factor: 2-3 depending on what spices, etc. you add

Orange Julius-ish

Refreshing recipe here!

Took last week off for 4th of July holiday...and to be honest, I have not been cooking much lately. The last month or less I've been on the Herbalife shakes, it's been working well so far, but that requires you to consume 2 shakes, 2 protein snacks, and 1 colorful meal...not conducive to cooking.

Nothing says summer like a refreshing drink. I made this a couple years ago, and it was JUST LIKE going to Orange Julius at the mall. I am not sure if this is the exact recipe I made, but it was the only one I had, so maybe it was!

OJ concentrate is the most unusual ingredient here, not something typically kept in the fridge. A nice summertime treat and easy to make!

Difficulty Level: 1

Yum Factor: 3+

Better Grilled Cheese

Click here for grilled cheese recipe!

Guacamole on grilled cheese...say what?! With cilantro and red onion, this is not the grilled cheese you grew up with! It's so delicious, you may never want to eat grilled cheese the standard way again. Seriously.

Now a word on avocados: they are difficult to manage. My one and only experience was tramatic - they were not ripe, but I didn't know better, and had to use them ASAP. My mom just made a salad with avocado in it, and apparently had no problems. Google how to find out a ripe one!

To make this sandwich, I "cheated" and used Trader Joe's Reduced Guilt Chunky Guacamole made with Greek Yogurt. If using this, I suggest not adding cilantro, as Guacamole is already cilantro packed. I added fresh cilantro, and I LOVE cilantro, and it was so overpowering! Do yourself a favor and buy the TJ's Guac and save money and time buying fresh cilantro and avocado!

I didn't add some of the other ingredients on the list (garlic, tomato) because I didn't have it on hand. The grilled cheese was still delicious!

Difficulty Level: 2+ Many ingredients, made more difficult if using avocado and not guacamole
Yum Factor: 5

Cheesecake Dip

Click here for this recipe and more!

Hello world! Lately, more and more events require a dish to pass. Been to a wedding shower or two that required that, as well as my book club. We have a rotation: someone brings drinks, dessert, and a main dish of some sort. This is another reason I started this blog...to share and keep track of what I made.

My friend brought this to book club, and I couldn't stop eating it, you may not be able to either. Contrary to the picture, I made it as directed, omitting the topping, and served it with strawberries instead of graham crackers. I've made it three times, maybe will today. Holy deliciousness! If you have to bring a dish to a social gathering, this is it!

Difficulty Level: 1 Easy to make
Yum Factor: 5 Easy to eat! WARNING: Addicting!

DIY Frappuccino Light

http://www.laaloosh.com/2011/08/04/diy-light-frappuccino-recipe/

Mmm, overpriced coffee drinks. Don't get me wrong, I <3 Starbucks, but if you crave it everyday, your debit card will not! This was the first recipe that I used a blender for (yes I am sheltered). I used vanilla soy milk instead of fat free milk (since I already consume milk with my cereal for breakfast). This is a great drink to make the night before work, stick it in the fridge, and grab and go the next morning. Who wants to use, let alone hear, a blender at 5 a.m.?!? Yummy and doesn't make me miss Starbucks...too much. :)

UPDATE: Modifications that make it more drinkable and less icy:

1. use 1 cup vanilla soy milk
2. use 6 ice cubes

Difficulty Level: 0-1. Crushing ice is difficult! But I found using ice cubes you recently froze make it easier.
Yum Factor: 3.5.  Delicious on a warm drive to work.

Magic Crust Custard Pie

http://www.piarecipes.com/2012/11/magic-crust-custard-pie.html

This pin received lots of repins; 40-50! Though I am a shopaholic, when it comes to groceries, I go when needed. This can be made with ingredients normally found in your kitchen, and may be the most easy recipe in the world. Put everything in the blender for 30 seconds, pour into pan, and bake. Say what?

Does a crust magically appear? Yes. It this delicious? It's ok. With 4 eggs in the recipe, I like to think it's sorta healthy protein wise. Creme brûlée is one of my favorite desserts, so I thought the custartness of this pie would be similar, but it was more eggy and less yummy. Maybe more vanilla next time, or add coconut.

Difficulty level: 0
Yum facor: 2-3

Hello Blogisphere!

So, I'm single, live alone, and also like many of you out there, love Pinterest. Like my fellow singletons, cooking for oneself seems a daunting task. The microwave and I are good friends.

But then comes along Pinterest, enticing viewers with various and sundry items. Though I have many interests (that may evolve into other blogs), the goal is to devote this page to recipes primarily found on Pinterest. What worked, what didn't, what was easy to put together, and what fell apart. I want to make your lives easier. Let me be a cautionary tale.