- Author: Melissa -

Hi there! I'm Melissa & I am a firm believer in taking cookies out of the oven 2 minutes under the recommended cooking time. I also love to travel, cook, shop, craft, and live an all around positive lifestyle. Come say hi!
Dinner, Dressings & Marinades, Lunch, Recipe Box, Sides

Crunchy Baked Coconut Chicken, Zesty Yogurt Sauce, & Roasted Mixed Veggies

October 8, 2013 by

I loveee coconut. Whether its on chicken, shrimp, candy, anything- I love it! Pairing coconut with baked chicken is an easy way to add a little sweetness, while getting the crunchy feeling of fried chicken… without actually being fried. :) First, pound out 3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts and cut off any extra fat. For the “breading” you need: *2 ½ cups unsweetened coconut flakes *3 packages of Truvia *1 cup unsweetened almond milk *2 egg whites* In a bowl, mix the almond milk and egg whites. On a plate, add 1/3 of the coconut flakes, and 1 package of Truvia. (For each breast, add more coconut and another pack of sweetener.) Dip each breast in the egg mixture, then coat in the coconut, after placing on a baking sheet. Repeat for the following chicken…

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Holiday Eats, Recipe Box, Snacking, Sweet Tooth, Tailgating Must-Haves

Game Day Tri-Apple “Nachos”

October 6, 2013 by

I love all things football. That’s one of the reasons that fall is my favorite season! Yesterday, we had an away game, so all our friends got together to watch the game at home. Instead of having only typical tailgating foods, I wanted to provide some healthy options, as well. These apple “nachos” were a huge hit. They were literally the first dish gone! They are so simple to make, and only need three ingredients! For a big platter of apple nachos, you need: *5 apples (I used three types for flavor variety- green, red, and pink lady) *One big dark chocolate bar *½ cup crushed up unsalted peanuts* I prefer milk chocolate, but dark chocolate is a lot better for you, health-wise. Mixed with the peanuts and sweetness of the apples, I enjoyed…

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Dinner, Lunch, Recipe Box

Grilled Shrimp, Turkey Sausage, & Fresh Veggie Pasta

October 3, 2013 by

Tuesdays are my long days at school. I have class pretty much all day, so dinners on Tuesday nights are typically later and quick. Pasta has a pretty bad rep. However, there are a few things I’ve leaned to keep this comfort food light and healthy! I always try to pack my sauce with fresh veggies and protein. I once heard that you should have about 2/3 veggies & protein and only 1/3 pasta. I try to follow that rule. :) Also, there are so many pasta options! You can find whole wheat pasta for $1 at your local grocery store. There are also glutten-free pastas, which honestly, tastes just like wheat pasta. Last night, I chose to work with whole wheat pasta. First, you want to dice up any veggies you want to…

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Recipe Box, Snacking, Sweet Tooth

Skinny 63 Calorie Brownies

October 2, 2013 by

My number one weakness in life is chocolate. Cookies, brownies, candy bars- literally any type will do. If I had to choose to live off one type of food for the rest of my life, I would have to choose chocolate. If only there was a way to be able to eat chocolate without all the guilt… And now there is. :) These brownies are only 63 calories! (I’ll let that sink in for a second.) What you need: - ¾ cup creamy peanut butter - ¾ cup vanilla (or honey) greek yogurt - ¼ cup unsweetened almond milk - 2 egg whites - 1 tsp baking powder - ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder - ½ cup oats - About 1 cup of truvia Blend all of the ingredients, except the peanut butter, in a…

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Recipe Box, Snacking, Sweet Tooth

Fresh Watermelon Topped With Low-Fat Cool Whip & Chocolate PB2

September 25, 2013 by

Last night my sweets cravings were out of control! Instead of diving into the cookies that my roommate keeps buying (grrr…) I decided to try a unique dessert instead. I am in looooove with PB2. It is so much lower in fat than peanut butter, but tastes the same! I wasn’t too sure how it would taste on watermelon, but mixed with the low-fat cool whip, it was really good! Ingredients: - 1 ½ cups fresh cubed watermelon - 2 tablespoons low-fat cool whip -2 tablespoons chocolate PB2 This serving was pretty big, it filled a cereal bowl, and really filled me up and killed those cravings! Best part? The entire bowl was only 131 calories. Much lower in calories than those oreos! ;)

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Dinner, Lunch, Recipe Box, Sides

Endless Summer Salad

September 24, 2013 by

Is it just me, or did this summer completely fly by? I love summer time… the warm weather, wind-blown hair, and so much fresh produce! Don’t get me wrong- I also love fall. I am team pumpkin everything! However, these crisp fresh flavors in this salad just bring up sandy sun-kissed memories. :) Endless Summer Salad: - 3 cups of mixed salad greens - ½ of an orange - 1 sliced kiwi - ½ cup sliced fresh strawberries - ¼ cup shredded carrots - 2 tablespoons low-fat goats cheese - 1 ½ oz sliced brie cheese - 1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil (for dressing) - 3 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar (for dressing) This salad has 2 servings. For each serving: Calories: 269 To add more protein to the meal, adding some grilled…

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Dinner, Lunch, Recipe Box

Balsamic Baked Strawberry Caprese Chicken

September 24, 2013 by

I love cooking with chicken. It is so versatile and healthy, that you can pair it with new ingredients and never become tired of the same old meal! This recipe is a spin off the typical caprese salad (tomato and mozzarella). My boyfriend strongly dislikes tomatoes, and that is putting it lightly! I love the freshness that caprese salads bring, so I played around a bit with ingredients that I could substitute for tomatoes. Strawberries were the answer to my desperate search. :) They add just a hint of sweetness that pairs so amazing with the balsamic and fresh mozzarella. It was seriously so good. I made more than enough for the two of us, and we finished it all. What you need: - Skinless chicken breasts (For this recipe, I cooked 4 breasts) -…

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Dinner, Lunch, Recipe Box

Zesty Fiesta Soup

September 23, 2013 by

This recipe is amazing for your taste buds, but also extremely time and budget friendly! My roommate makes a “taco soup”, which I took inspiration from, and packed it full of protein, fiber, and fresh veggies. I can’t express enough how easy and amazing this recipe is. Ah-May-Zing. I am a full time college student and work about 20 hours a week, so during the week it is nice to have a go to pre-made meal that is also good for me that I can just heat up quickly. I chose to cook mine in the crockpot while I relaxed at home and watched football all day. I have made it before in a big pot on the stove, and either work just fine. If you have the time, I would suggest slow cooking…

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