Author: Amanda

Healthy Banana Muffins

- Amanda

When you have browning bananas on your hands, what’s your go-to recipe? Classic banana bread, healthy banana bread, muffins, bars? The options are endless aren’t they. Bananas are such an awesomely versatile fruit that lend great sweetness and moisture to baked goods. And while I love making my classic banana bread and lots of other treats like this Perfect Banana, Coconut & Hazelnut Cake with Creamy Nutella Frosting or The Best Zucchini Banana Bread with Chocolate Chips, I especially adore these quick and easy muffins that are delicious, nutritious and so great to have on hand.

With these in the kitchen, a quick breakfast or in-between work or study snack is always at the ready. The kids love them and I love that they are sweetened with nothing more than overripe bananas and a little maple syrup and include other great ingredients like whole wheat flour and ground flax seeds.

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Cider & Squash Chicken & Dumplings

- Amanda

This recipe for Cider & Squash Chicken & Dumplings is comfort food at it’s best. It’s warm, just the right amount of creamy, hearty and ever-so slightly sweet from the apple cider and butternut squash. This take on a timeless classic is one I think will have you won over.

And as we approach Thanksgiving, I think the timing couldn’t be more perfect as this would be a wonderful recipe to use up some of that leftover turkey. Turkey and dumplings? Why not.

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Cranberry Apple Hand Pies

- Amanda

It’s countdown to Thanksgiving in less than two weeks. I know, seems crazy, and a little bittersweet as we all try and figure out just how we can celebrate one of our most beloved holidays that usually includes gathering with family and friends. We still don’t know exactly how that will look for us ourselves, but one thing is for sure, there will be lots of fabulous food one way or another. And that most definitely means treats a plenty. Love me some turkey and stuffing and all the trimmings, but the dessert, it’s gotta be about the dessert too. After all, the morning after Thanksgiving is all about digging into that cold pie, right?

Today’s recipe is filled with all the flavors of the season in cute little individual package form. Which, I think could be really handy for all the holiday lunch, brunch, or dinners we attempt to have in the most pandemic-friendly style. After all, there’s no slices to cut and serve or plates and forks to deal with for these adorable little beauties. And, that oh-so-flaky and tender crust paired with the sweet and slightly puckered cranberry apple filling is absolutely delicious. These Cranberry Apple Hand Pies are a 2020 holiday winner in every way.

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Pumpkin Pie Baked Overnight French Toast

- Amanda

Sometimes you just need to start the week off with something a little indulgent.  And all the better if it’s warm and cozied up with all the fall flavors.  This Pumpkin Pie Overnight Baked French Toast fits the ticket and is exactly how we’re kicking off after one heck of a past week.  

And it’s a good thing this makes a nice big dish of deliciousness because having a 2-in-1 meal ready to cover a couple mornings is exactly what this mama needs right now. Plus this really is simply divine. And is that hug we could all use, reminiscent of past holiday season mornings spent in jammies by the fire, with twinkle lights amidst.

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Oatmeal M&M Cookies

- Amanda

When life (or Halloween) gives you leftover M&M’s whattya do? Well you could just eat them of course. Or you can make these delightful little Oatmeal M&M cookies. You’d be stretching out the candy craze and adding something healthy to the mix too (gotta love oats.) Win win, right? And in the case of this particular day, election day in America, you’d be finding a way to calm some nerves with a little stress baking/ eating while you’re at it.

These cookies are so yummy. Just crisp enough on the edges while still being nice and chewy in the center. And the oats, little candy-coated chocolates, chocolate chips and walnuts just add to the party with some fun texture contrast and lots of flavor. Not to mention, these are easy to make and can even be scooped and frozen to be baked up whenever you or the fam needs a sweet indulgence. No need to eat them all this week. (In case you’ve just come out of a sweets-filled Halloween weekend like us.) But, of course no judgement here if they are all gobbled up right away because, well again, the nerves.

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