The Empty-Your-Cupboards Cookies

I made these a while back and decided to change the recipe by adding everything and anything I could find in the cupboards. Obviously these aren't extremely healthy. They are however, delicious and very simple to make! A must try for those 'its-raining-outside-i-wanna-stay-in-and-snuggle-days'!!!!

Ingredients:

• 2 cups flour
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 3/4 butter
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1 egg + 1 yolk
• 1 tbsp of vanilla extract
• 1 cup white choc chips
• 1 cup choc chip (i used dark)
• 1/2 cup walnuts, chopped
• 2 tbsp peanut butter, melted

1. Preheat your oven to 325 degrees F. 
2. Beat the butter, brown and white sugar, egg and egg yolk, and vanilla extract until you get a smooth texture. 
3. Add in the flour, baking soda and salt to the mix. Incorporate well. 
4. Add the choc chips, walnuts and peanut butter and mix well. 
5. On your baking sheet, put tablespoons of the dough. 
6. Bake for 15 minutes or until golden. 
7. Let cool and Enjoy!

* They can definitely hold more ingredients....!! Empty your cupboards!

* I thought they tasted best when warm since the chips were melting in the mouth!

Super Healthy Banana Ice-Cream

Sorry for the lack of posts... I am currently working full time right now and when I get home, I am just too lazy to even start typing a post! So today I will update with a very simple, barely no step recipe. Livia showed me how to do banana ice cream with no added sugar, milk or anything - just bananas! That's right folks it is super healthy and has the same exact consistence as ice cream and it is ten times more healthy since it is just like eating a banana ---- actually it is eating a banana! Anyhow thanks to the lovely Livia you will now know how to make this too!

Ingredients:

• 3 bananas
• That's it!

1. Cut up the bananas in slices as shown in the picture. 
2. Put in the freezer and let set for at least 2 hours. 
3. Put the frozen bananas in the mixer and mix until you get an ice cream/mousse like texture. This can take about 5 minutes... persevere it will happen! 
4. Enjoy!

* You could definitely add chocolate chips, peanut butter, honey, nuts - feel free to customize your healthy ice cream!

* Chopped frozen bananas are a great snack too!

Lemon-Artichoke Chicken

This recipe is just AWESOME and AMAZING! Livia and I cooked this the other night and it was just a pleasure. It is such an amazing combination of flavors and the chicken comes out very tender. It was a big hit, Charles loved it too (minus the artichokes!)... I highly recommend this recipe. It is very straightforward and easy to do, and very healthy. Again, this recipe comes from the 'Clean Eating' magazine.

Ingredients: 

• 1/4 cup of whole-wheat flour
• 1/2 tsp dried oregano
• Freshly ground pepper to taste
• 1/4 tsp sea salt 
• 1lb thin chicken cutlets
• Cooking spray
• 1/2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 medium onion, cut lengthwise and thinly sliced
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1/4 cup low-sodium chicken broth
• 1 14oz can of artichoke hearts, drained and cut in sixths
• 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice (about 2 lemons)
• 1 tsp lemon zest
• 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped for garnish

1. On a plate, mix the flour, oregano, pepper and the salt together. Dredge the chicken cutlets in the mixture, shake off the excess and place on a plate. 
2. Coat a large skillet with cooking spray, and cook the chickens until golden and cooked through. 
3. Set aside on a plate. 
4. Coat the skillet once more with the cooking spray, and add the onions. Cook whilst stirring frequently until soft and golden, 5 to 6 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for one more minute. 
5. Add the chicken broth, bringing it to a simmer. 
6. Add the artichokes, lemon juice and zest and continue stirring for the next 5 minutes until thickened. Season to test with salt and pepper. 
7. Add the chicken back into the pan and let cook for another 2 minutes. 
8. Serve and enjoy!

* You can add some potatoes, tomatoes or other vegetables for a fuller dish. 

* You can serve this along a rice dish. 

Almond Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

Oops! I apologize for the lack of posts on my part but things have been crazy busy. In the past two weeks, I have been swamped with finals, moving out of the flat, mom's visit in Montreal for a week, and moving into Livia's. Finally, I am catching up on shows and relaxing lots! Anyhow, now that I have a baking/cooking partner (the amazing Livia) I will be posting more stuff on the blog. Sorry that the pictures are so bad, it is getting harder and harder to take nice pictures without a professional photographer around! Maybe I will start employing Amina! Anyhow, these cookies were delicious and VERY healthy. They are gluten free and only have 110 calories per cookie, and 8 grams of fat. Livia found the recipe in her magazine 'Clean Eating' - I highly recommend their magazines!

Ingredients:

• 1 cup unsalted almond butter, stirred well. 
• 3/4 cup sucanat (we used normal sugar)
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp sea salt
• 3 oz dark chocolate broken into pieces (recipe calls for 70% or greater)

1. Preheat oven to 350 F. 
2. In a bowl, mix the first five ingredients until well blended. 
3. Add the chocolate pieces and blend well. 
4. On a baking sheet, drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls. 
5. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until lightly browned. 
6. Let cool. 
7. Enjoy!

* You could add some white chocolate chips

* You could substitute the almond butter with cashew butter