Friday, September 21, 2012

Fruit Salsa



Dipping stuff is so much fun! Don't cha think? 

Well this fruit salsa is a very versatile dipper! It's amazing with salty dippers such as pretzel things, bagel things, salty crackers, heck-even chips! But super amazing as a double sweet dip/dipper combo with carrying vessels such as cinna-sugar tortilla chips. graham crackers or even slices of fruit! (Fruit overload?! Sorry, never heard of it...)

This recipe also couldn't get much easier-just chop/puree all the ingredients and let it chill for awhile and you're in business! (the dipping business that is!)






That's really it! Just take all your ingredients and throw it all in a big bag and shake shake shake! 

Ingredients: 
*be aware-these ingredients are just my favorite combo-you can switch it up however you wish!
-2 apples (I like using the very sweet Fuji variety)-chopped
-2 kiwi-peeled and chopped
-1 lb. strawberries-chopped
-2 TBSP sugar (or any sweetener of choice)
-2 TBSP. fruit preserves
-1/4 cup fruit juice of choice 

~I've done this before with raspberries instead of strawberries, and once with pineapple juice and pineapple instead of apples-YUM!

Perfect for your next girls movie night! Tailgate! Playdate! Party... lazy night at home! Anything :)

Delicious on crackers!

If you guys do some variations on this, let me know! I love a mix-up! 

Monday, September 17, 2012

Blueberry Cream Cheese Wafflewich


Who loves waffles?! 
ME! ME! ME!
oh and you too? Good deal!

Glad we can all be waffle loving friends here. 

Now as much as I love waffles (and believe you and me-I do!) Today I decided I wanted to try using my waffle maker for something else... something different, but still delicious... hmmm...

A WAFFLEWICH! 
*Waffle maker + sandwich = the best sandwich = the best sandwich ever!
Yessiree-I put two pieces of bread, with delicious ingredients stuffed inside, into a hot waffle iron and let the magic begin! 

I was a little nervous that this would end one of three ways:
1. The waffle machine wouldn't be able to handle it and not close and therefore not waffle-ize my sammie
2. The waffle machine would be overwhelmed and lash out at me for working it too hard by starting my house on fire
3. Become one of the most amazing, decadent (yet surprisingly healthy) breakfast/dessert sandwiches to ever enter my palate

...my oh my was I thankful it ended in #3!

To bump up the nutrition factor in this wafflewich-I used 2 slices whole wheat bread, and neufchâtel cheese-which is a lowfat cream cheese




patience really is a virtue... and if you practice it here you will be rewarded with this ~


worth it huh?

~Warm, gooey, creamy cream cheese with bursts of juicy blueberries throughout! I had my plain with just a dollap of whipped topping-but it would be sooooo delicious in a variety of ways: 
Such as...
-smoothered in maple syrup
-cut into 'wafflewich sticks' and dipped in a peanut butter sauce, honey, or fruit preserves sauce
-topped with a little ice cream or froyo as a dessert
-the list really could go on-but I'm sure you are chomping at the bit waiting to go make this... so off you go! 


Thursday, September 13, 2012

Chip Comparison Review

Chips.... oh chips... They could very well be blamed for a good deal of this countries obesity epidemic... (I know the chips really aren't at fault and we need to exercise will power and all that... but still!)

Anyways... Did you know that every year Americans consume about 140 lb. of potatoes per person! Most of those pounds come in the form of the potato chip (well, not mine-mine come directly from mashed potatoes!)

There are so many varieties of chips though! Tortilla, corn, multi-grain, bean (yes-crazy I know!). The chip world has expanded into a chip galaxy! There are so many flavors and textures and colors! Thankfully, many chip companies are switching out cooking methods and ingredients to create a healthier snacking option

Like the two I recently was able to sample. And today we're going to do a little side-by-side comparison review on these two very different, but very yummy chip companies!

~Beanfields - Bean & Rice tortilla chips
~Boulder Canyon Natural Foods - Potato Chips
My brother and I thoroughly enjoyed the unique texture that accompanied these chips!

My friends having a late night sampling party of the Boulder Canyon chips while watching some F.R.I.E.N.D.S.!

Yes... this would be my humble 8 foot x 5 foot home for the next few months!
You're jealous aren't you?

The verdict? Both chips were amazing! Different-yes... but both were very tasty. 
So let's go over the 'Big Three' for each, shall we? (I think we shall!)

Taste:
Beanfields: Great! I loved how many different flavors there were! Such as, Nacho (my bro's fav!), Pico de Gallo, Sea Salt (my favorite!), Sea Salt & Pepper (my mom's favorite), and all-natural
As you can see there is something for everyone! 
5/5
Boulder Canyon: The two kinds my friends and I sampled were the Canyon Cut- Sour Cream & Chives and Canyon Cut-All-Natural. Don't be fooled by the name though-these did have salt-a lot in our opinions! But we loved it.... we are all self-proclaimed salt-addicts! The Sour Cream & Chive had a good, deep flavor that we all loved as well!
4/5 - only because they were a little greasy from all the salt/flavor topping...

Texture: 
Beanfields: A little different they weren't as crispy as I would have expected from a chip-but they were stiff, if that makes any sense? It's not as if they were soggy-I just think they are thicker than most chips and therefore more on the hard than crispy side.
4/5 - may come off slightly too un-crispy for some? 
Boulder Canyon: Great! I loved the wavy cut of their signature "Canyon Cut" chips. There are other texture variety though if you don't like wavy chips-like Kettle Cooked for instance
5/5  

Nutrition:
Beanfields
Just take a look for yourself...


Complete Protein: 4 grams in every serving, as much as a 4 oz. glass of milk.

Fiber: 4 grams in every serving, the same as a ½ cup serving of raisin bran. And you get both soluble and insoluble fiber, which aids digestion. The fiber also helps you feel fuller longer.

Allergen Specific: Beanfields is free of every one of the FDA's eight most common ingredients that trigger food allergies.

Gluten Free
Minerals our bodies need, including potassium and magnesium.

Half the saturated fat and one third less sodium than most corn tortilla chips.
Not too shabby eh??
5/5!

Boulder Canyon:
Boulder did a pretty good job themselves...

  • All Natural Ingredients
  • Zero Trans Fat
  • Zero Cholesterol
  • Low Saturated Fats*
  • Consistent Quality
  • Great Taste
  • Gluten Free (where indicated)

 5/5 as well!

Overall: 
Beanfields: 4/5
Boulder Canyon: 4/5

Both these chips were a great substitute from many other varieties that have high levels of saturated fat, un-natural ingredients and trans fat!

For more info on both of these snacks check out:
and

Saturday, September 8, 2012

Birthday Cake Bread


What do you get when you combine the best two tokens of joy on the face of this Earth? (no.... not myself and Taylor Swift silly! The next two tokens of joy!) 
~ Sprinkles and Birthdays! 
In case you were unaware of the new formula for happiness is: 
Sprinkles + Birthdays = :D
...it's true, it's proven!


So what do you get when you combine sprinkles and birthdays, with a side swipe of bread (another joy-bringer in my life!)
You get.... (drum roll please....)

BIRTHDAY CAKE BREAD! 


Yes... you heard me right- Birthday. Cake. Bread. 

It's sweet, it's moist, it's delicious! And best of all - IT HAS SPRINKLES!


This bread will satisfy even the strongest sweet tooth-with no guilt! It's a healthy bread! ... are you guys really surprised? The Blissful Baker never tempts you with delicious looking treats that are bad for you! 
>I've got your back!<


You could even serve these up with whipped cream or ice cream and have them instead of cake at your next birthday party! I almost definitely like this bread more than cake anyways! It tastes just like Funfetti cake! 


So why not just make Funfetti cake? Because of a few reasons.. 
1. It's healthier
2. I like to switch things up!
3. You can toast it! Or make it into sandwiches! I mean really... what could be better than a cake-like bread, toasted and made into a sandwich!? 
Nothing! That's what!


Ingredients: 
-2/3 cup Greek yogurt (vanilla or plain)
-1 egg
-1/2 cup sugar (or any sweetener)
-1/4 cup applesauce
-1 small pkg. instant sugar-free vanilla pudding
-1/2 tsp. salt
-2 tsp. baking powder
-1 1/3 cup flour (whole wheat works fine)
-1 tsp. butter flavor extract (or vanilla if you don't have butter flavor)
-Sprinkles!

Directions:
1. Cream yogurt, egg, sugar, applesauce and pudding
3. Add salt and baking powder
4. Slowly add flour
5. Fold in sprinkles
6. Dump batter into a greased and floured loaf pan and sprinkle top with more sprinkles!
7. Bake in a 350* oven for about 1 hour, use the toothpick test!
8. Remove and let cool in pan for 15-20 minutes
9. Enjoy like a little kid on their birthday! 



Mmmm... sprinkles :)


Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Grilled Pizza

Even though summer is almost over... (tear) we still have a few more days to fire up our grill and head outside to make a delicious dinner! 

So what should we do to celebrate our last few days of summer? Grill pizza! 









It's very simple! 

1. Just make your pizza dough-or buy from store... then prepare your veggies by adding a little bit of oil or salad dressing to the pre-choped veggies and throw in a grill basket. 
2. Season the veggies with some salt, pepper, and whatever spices you like!
3. Grill veggies for about 10 minutes before throwing your rolled out pizza dough on the grill.
4. Let the pizza dough grill for a few minutes on each side
5. Remove dough and veggies and take back inside to prepare pizzas!
6. Fill pizzas as you like... sauce, veggies, meat, cheese, etc.
7. Throw back on the grill for 3-5 minutes-or until cheese is melty!