Pancake Mornings-What I'm Loving!

Believe it or not when I was a little girl I would only eat pancakes that my daddy made! If my dad didn't make them I wouldn't eat them. There was just something about my dads pancakes that were special. My dads pancakes always had a light perfect fluffy texture that would almost always be dotted with chocolate chips. But I think the reason I loved my dads pancakes the most was the memories that came from pancake mornings in my family. Almost always you would find an array of delicious toppings set out and cookie cutters scattered all over the table.  My sister and I loved cutting fun shapes in to our pancakes.  One thing I can safely say was pancake mornings were a treat!

So today I want to devote what in loving Wednesday to pancakes!  Because I have had serious craving for pancakes the last couple of weeks... I have just been to lazy to actually make them (what is wrong with me?)!

So here are a few delicious pancake recipes I have been dying to try...
Apple Walnut Pancakes from Taste of Home

Source: tasteofhome.com via Hilliary @ Happily Ever Healthy on Pinterest

These look delicious!

Cinnamon Bun Pancakes

Source: bakedbree.com via Hilliary @ Happily Ever Healthy on Pinterest

Pancakes cinnamon roll style!

Makin' banana pancakes

Source: howsweeteats.com via Hilliary @ Happily Ever Healthy on Pinterest

Yes I sing the Jack Johnson song when I make banana pancakes, makes it more fun!
And just because these pancakes remind me of cookie cutter pancakes...

Source: cutestfood.com via Hilliary @ Happily Ever Healthy on Pinterest

How cute are those?

Doesn't this list make you want to run to your kitchen and whip up pancakes?
I wish I had time to make pancakes before work, don't you?

Happy Wednesday!
What are your favorite pancake recipes?

This Time Next Week

Happy Friday Lovelies!
This time next week I will be in Columbus for the weekend with this guy, 

celebrating Valentines day and 2 wonderful years of dating! Hard to believe that it has been two years, man does time fly.  He has planned a wonderful weekend for us including some of my favorite things exploring, cooking (yes the pinterest challenge) and shopping!  He knows how to make me a happy girl! 

Now lets take a little look at the challenge recipes for the week, starting with this one!

Black Bean and Corn Topped Potatoes 

Baked potatoes are a go to dinner for me.  Healthy and quick.  I loved the black bean, corn and salsa topping for these potatoes, it was spicy and full of flavor.  I added a bit of cumin, garlic and paprika to the mixture and was happy with the results!   I want to try  the topping on sweet potatoes, I think it would be a delicious combination.

Next up Sweet and Spicy Chicken.

This chicken had a kick to it, and was fantastic.  My dad couldn't stop saying how much he loved this dish.  Steamed broccoli and rice made this a well rounded dinner!  I want to try making more of the sauce and stir frying vegetables in with the chicken, I bet that would be tasty!

And last but not least...

White Bean Chowder

Source: ksl.com via Hilliary @ Happily Ever Healthy on Pinterest

This soup had a great flavor  and was delicious the night it was made, but I didn't think it reheated that well.  I am still on the fence about this recipe.  

Still to come this week

Balsamic Chicken, Spinach, Tomato and Pasta Salad
Spinach, Tomato Orzo Soup

Ps have a sweet tooth?  Try this recipe!

Hands down delicious!

5 From the Weekend

Here we are the start of a new week once again, and Christmas is only 14 days away!  Now that my friends is hard to believe!  December is flying by that is for sure.  I feel like this weekend went by in a flash.  One minute I was relaxing on the couch watching a movie and in the blink of an eye it was Sunday night, and I was prepping for another work day.  I wish the work week could fly by like weekends do!

Anyways here are 5 highlights from my lightening fast weekend!

1- I know I am a little behind on the times, but this past Friday I finally saw The Help!

I loved the movie.  While the movie didn't follow the book exactly I thought the producers did a wonderful job of captivating the message behind the book.  There were times I felt tears welling up behind my eyes, and other times I laughed so hard my stomach hurt (seeing Hilly's face after eating the pie)! 

2- Another thing I am also late to the game on this one folks... Skinny Jeans!  I finally broke down and bought my first pair of skinny jeans on Saturday.  I was just so sick of having baggy knees when I would tuck normal straight leg jeans into boots!

I bought a pair of the Dark Wash Always Skinny jeans from Gap!

3- Partying for this lovely ladies birthday!

4- Fresh baked Zucchini Muffins enjoyed warm out of the oven, these muffins reminded me so much of my childhood!  Love them!

Recipe found here!

5- And lastly a big bowl of soup to take off the winter chill!

Recipe found Here (next time I am adding quinoa)!

How was your weekend?  

In need of Inspiration

I will be honest with you I had a what I am loving post all planned out.  But with the turn of events that happened last night all I need is a little inspiration.  I was hoping to wake up after a good nights sleep refreshed.  I was wanting to not have the newest rejection still looming over my head, but I guess this is not the case.  So I have compiled a bit of inspiration for us all today!

Have a great day everyone, and remember to live Happily Ever Healthy.

Just Like Old Times

Let me start by apologizing for the fact that I have been MIA in the blog world.  But I think a best friends wedding is a pretty good excuse for the blog to take the back burner for a few days.  I am sad that this weekend has come to an end.  Kady left yesterday ( I was sad to see her go) and Mark left early today.  However I cannot think of a better way to spend a long labor day weekend then with people you love, and celebrating the wedding of one of your best friends.  My whole weekend was centered around wonderful friends/family, and making memories!  We have countless pictures of the "high school bunch" from this weekend.  I felt like I was  back in high school (not that I am complaining), especially when my parents made brunch for all of us Sunday morning after the wedding.  Everyone gathered in my parents kitchen taking and laughing just felt like the good old days.  This post is going to be very picture heavy!  But there are so many wonderful pictures I want to share with you from the wedding!  I cried and laughed on Saturday.  Katie made the most beautiful Bride, and you could honestly tell how happy and in love Katie and Richard are.  The ceremony focused on how they had known each other for a life time, and talked of there love for one another, you could just see how excited the two of them were to start their lives together.   I am so glad I got to be apart of their wonderful day, and with that being said here are some fabulous pictures!

Beautiful!

The Flowers were gorgeous!

Fiesta Spud

I was severally lacking on brain power tonight when it came to thinking of supper.  I was in one of those moods where I had no idea what I wanted for dinner, and my parents were not being much help either!  I kept looking up recipes, but nothing stood out.  Finally baked potatoes were decided on.   Baked potatoes are versatile and basically a blank canvas.  I love that you can give each person a baked potato and then give everyone free reign to do whatever they want with their potato!  While the potatoes were cooking a made a quick salad and cut up toppings for the spuds!  I dressed my spud up fiesta style with beans, black bean and corn salsa hot sauce and some onions!  There was also a bit of cheese!  Delicious.

I think I had a veggie overload at dinner, is that possible?

Home I Go, and A Big Thank You!

Good afternoon Everyone!  Todays blog post is coming to you once again from the Chicago Union Station.  I am sitting waiting for my train back to Minnesota.  Hard to believe that I have been gone for a week!  But I had a blast!

Mark and I got into Chicago about 5 yesterday afternoon. We immediately headed to dinner to meet up with my friend/sorority sister Sam for dinner!

Unbearable

Good Morning Everyone!  Yes I realize it is a bit of an early morning here, but the house is unbearably hot.    The house is stiflingly hot due to the fact that the AC stopped working!  I feel like I am back in Indianapolis in my un air-conditioned ancient apartment!  Since my room was an inferno I spent most of the night tossing and turning because I could not get comfortable.  Not only do I not sleep well when its hot but my eating habits change completely.  I only want food that is fresh (well thats not out of the ordinary for me).  I guess a better way to put it would be I only want food that is not piping hot this means I usually eat lots of salad, yogurt, veggies, hummus and tons of fruit!  The heat even made me change my pretty set in stone breakfast routine.  While I still had oatmeal today, decided I would be better off (and much cooler) if I at overnight oats or cold oats.

In my mix:

1/3 Cup Multigrain Oats

1/2 Cup Unsweetened Almond Milk 

1 Tablespoon Yogurt (I used Organic Brown Cow Maple flavored)

1 Huge Cup of Fresh Sliced Strawberries

1/2 Teaspoon Almond Butter (not in picture)

1 Tablespoon Granola (not in picture)

What I did was mix together my oats, almond milk and yogurt.  I let the oat mixture sit in the fridge over night.  This morning upon waking up I topped my oats with the strawberries almond butter and granola!

Yuuum!  Don't get me wrong I still prefer hot oats to cold oats, but a hot breakfast was out of the question!

Aren't these roses pretty?  My mom cut them off her rose bushes in the front yard!

I know a little random and off topic but I just had to share them with you.

Any way dinner was much of the same thing last night.  Neither my parents or I wanted anything we had to stand in a hot kitchen and make.  Solution you grill, and make a fresh Puttanesca!  The only cooking that really needed to do last night was boil water for the brown rice, and grill up the chicken (added bonus my dad grilled up lots of chicken to use in Fajitas tonight)!  I came across this recipe in one of the weekly Mayo Clinic News letters.  This is a gluten free recipe (not that I eat a gluten free diet) and the news letter also gave information on a gluten free diet.  The article simply stated in bold letters should you go gluten-free?  That caught my eye as the big trend now is to switch to a gluten free diet whether you need to or not.  For people with Celiac Disease gluten free is a way of life.  For others going gluten free is a choice and some celebrities have been raving about the health benefits of a gluten free diet.  Anyways this article went on to say that some gluten free foods lack important nutrients that or body needs.  On top of that if you are a healthy adult and you go gluten free what doctors like to call good bacteria begins to decrease in your digestive system while the bad bacteria increases!  YIKES! Who knew?  I certainly didn't!  But thats enough of my rambling you need to chose a diet that soots you and your body best!  Now on to the recipe!

Fresh Puttanesca with Brown Rice

The Mayo Clinic

**Note-I left out the Capers (not a fan!), and since my mom is not a huge tomato person I used 2 cups tomatoes 2 cups red pepper.  This substitution was in place of the 4 cups of tomatoes originally called for!

What you need:

2 Cups Tomatoes (I used grape tomatoes, bigger tomatoes just aren't looking that good!)

2 Cups Chopped Red Pepper

4 Green Olives Pitted and Sliced

4 Kalamata Olives Pitted and Sliced 

1 Tablespoon Minced Garlic

1 Tablespoon Olive Oil 

1/4 Cup Chopped Fresh Basil 

1 Tablespoon Fresh Minced Parsley

1/8 Teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes (I used cayenne pepper, and added a bit much!)

3 Cups Cooked Brown Rice

Here is what you do:

Before you even start chopping up your tomatoes and red pepper get the water boiling for the rice!  Cook your rice according to the directions on the package!

Then Cut your tomatoes, 

Chop your red pepper and add them to the tomatoes, 

Slice both kinds of olives, and toss them into the bowl as well!

Now add your cayenne, parsley, garlic, and olive oil.  Stir everything to combine.

Chop your fresh basil and sprinkle on top of the tomato and red pepper mixture.

Doesn't that look pretty?

Stir everything to combine, and let the fresh puttanesca sit for 20-30 minutes at room temp.  Stir every once in a while, now just wait for the brown rice!

Fresh Puttanesca served over brown rice with grilled chicken!

Yum!  I thought that this dish had good flavor.  I will be interested to try the puttanesca after it has sat in the fridge all night.  My dad thought it needed a bit of salt, I will not disagree.  I am wondering if the capers helped add some salty flavor to the dish.  However this was a good dinner for a hot night, and especially good since no one wanted to stand over a stove in an already stifling kitchen! Well i think I need to go get ready for church.  Enjoy your Sunday, I hope you get a bit more relaxation time in before the work week starts all over again!  

See you all later, and remember to live Happily Ever Healthy!

Be Committed

"From a certain point onward there is no longer any turning back.  That is the point that must be reached."

- Franz Kafka

Would you ever consider going Gluten Free?

Surf and Turf goes Italian

Hello Everyone!  My mom finally made it home and my dad and I had a wonderful birthday celebration waiting for her!  We had toyed with the idea of going out to eat.  However with the rain my parents and I decided to cook at home and stay dry!  However with the grill being outside I am not sure how dry my dad stayed!  Tonights birthday menu featured Steak, Maui Maui, and Shrimp!  With Parmesan Edamame Risotto, and an Undone Caprese Salad for sides! Yes some very Italian inspired side dishes!   My dad was in charge of grilling while I was in charge of the salad and the Risotto!  I have mentioned before that I just love cooking for people, and I enjoyed collaborating a meal with my dad for my moms birthday!

I am going to share these recipes quickly because there is cake to be eaten,

and presents to unwrap!

Lets start first with the bigger of the two dishes the Parmesan Edamame Risotto:
Inspired and mainly made from this Eating Well Recipe.  The original recipe was for Shrimp and Pea Risotto.  Being as my dad is allergic to shellfish, and we already had a main entree I just used the recipe as a guide for flavor.  And yes I did sub in Edamame for regular peas, the peas my parents had in the freezer looked a bit dried up!
Here is what I used:

1/2 Cup Aborio Rice (Risotto Rice)
2 1/2 Cups Chicken Broth
1/2 Medium Onion
2 Garlic Cloves
1/2 Cup Edamame
1/2 Cup Dry White Wine
1/2 Fresh Grated Parmesan Cheese
Pinch of Salt
1 Tablespoon Olive Oil

Lets get started.  I have made Risotto before but always feel overwhelmed when I make Risotto for some reason.  I think because Risotto is such a time consuming process, oh well here it goes!
First start by getting your Chicken stock boiling.  The recipe called for hot stock!

While the chicken stock was heating up I began heating my oil to saute my onions in.

Saute your onion till translucent and soft, add your garlic and cook for 30 seconds.  At this point you add your Risotto Rice and stir to combine.

You want your Risotto Rice to be nice and covered in your onions and olive oil!

Now it is time for you to add your chicken broth and your white wine.  You add a splash of wine, and 1/2 cup chicken stock at a time.  I had to add stock and wine five times before both liquids were done!

My dad was kind enough to grate my parmesan cheese for me!

Do not be alarmed that your risotto looks a little soupy!  The risotto rice will absorb everything I promise!

As your adding your last amounts of chicken stock and wine stir in your edamame.

Top with your cheese.

Stir to combine and put in a pretty serving platter!
And side dish one is done!

Just look at these Heirloom Tomatoes,

Aren't the colors just beautiful.

Those Heirloom Tomatoes are the basis for this delicious undone Caprese Salad.  This salad is really very simple to assemble!
What you will need:
1/2 Quart of Heirloom Tomatoes (sliced in half)
1 1/2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
2 Basil Cubes
A dash of pepper
As Much Fresh Mozzarella as you like
and a drizzle of balsamic Vinegar

What you will do:
Slice your Tomatoes in Half and sprinkle with salt.

For the olive oil basil dressing simply combine, Olive Oil, Basil, And Pepper.

Drizzle olive oil over your tomatoes and stir to combine.

 I let the tomatoes sit at room temperature to allow all the flavors to combine.
Top your salad with fresh mozzarella and serve!

My dad was busy at the grill making these, 

into a fantastic entree!  He grilled a steak for himself!  On the Shrimp I sprinkled Chili Powder, Garlic and Black Pepper.  The Maui Maui was Garlic Powder, and Lemon Pepper.

Yum, fresh caprese salad, risotto and fresh grilled seafood!  Oh Yum!  Accompanied by Great Harvest garden vegetable bread.

Yum Oh Yum!
And cupcakes made it home from Omaha!

Boy oh Boy!
We are off to celebrate!  See you tomorrow, and remember to live Happily Ever Healthy!