Alfredo Parmigiano Sauce

Today is National Fettuccine Alfredo Day!

Admittedly, this recipe is only for the sauce. You can really use any noodles. As you can see, I used Penne. Because I had it. But, you know, if you have some fettuccine laying around, make this sauce and celebrate this holiday!

Or, you know, this is also a perfect Valentine's Day dinner idea...just sayin'.

Anyway, I LOVE this sauce-I'm weird about Alfredo sauces, some I love, others I hate. I've found I'm really not a fan of very heavy Alfredo sauces, I like it when they're a little lighter. This sauce is exactly right for me--its' most prominent flavor is the Parmesan cheese (or, if we're gonna get all Italian, the Parmigiano cheese), which I LOVE. It's health-ier, and not super heavy.

All that said, I should probably admit: this is not Michael's favorite. It's not "creamy" enough to him. He likes it (especially fresh) but it is not his ideal. So, this is really a matter of preference. After you try this, you'll have to tell me--on Alfredo are you Team Kayle (lovin' this recipe) or Michael (more into a heavier, creamier sauce)? I'm looking forward to a debate that shall rival Team Edward vs. Jacob.

(which is dumb. There should not be teams. Edward should-and does-end up with Bella. End of story. Jacob's fine, and he has his own someone. I won't spoiler alert you on who. Also...*sigh* I love those books...but *ugh* I hate those movies. You may now carry on to the recipe)

Chocolate Chip Cookie Baked Oatmeal

This, right now, is my FAVORITE breakfast.

It's like a chocolate chip cookie.

BUT IT'S HEALTHY!

And oatmeal.

I've never been able to get into oatmeal. I wanted to but...I don't know...it just never has really done it for me. However, I do like oatmeal when it's baked in stuff (like cookies, for instance). So, I was open to the idea of baked oatmeal. But, baked oatmeal usually has like...fruit and stuff in it. I don't really enjoy baked fruit (unlike Michael and his love for fruit pie). Then, Chocolate Covered Katie tempted me with "Cookie Dough Baked Oatmeal". Um, yum. It looked super promising. I fell in love. I don't really think it tastes like cookie dough. However, I DO think it tasted like an oatmeal chocolate chip cookie! I feel like I've made this like 30 times since then, and with time I perfected it to the way I like it. But the beauty is-you can mess with it to see how YOU like it too! AND it is gluten free, and can be sugar free, soy free, dairy free, and fat free. YEAH. It makes a single serving, and is low calorie, and, in general, just a really healthy way to start your day. So if you're still hanging on to a healthy New Year's resolution, this is for you!

Chocolate Chip Cookie Baked Oatmeal

From Chocolate Covered Katie's Cookie Dough Baked Oatmeal

Chicken Parmesan Wraps

Oh my word. This week I have been cooking up a storm. I have so much to share with you guys! But, first thing's first, these Chicken Parmesan Wraps. I made these awhile ago and they were awesome. It's a new, healthier twist on that beloved Italian favorite. Egg roll wrappers mimic the breading, and are filled with sauce, cheese, some spinach, and cooked chicken. Michael was a super big fan of these. They're pretty simple AND these wraps were the first time I ever made my own tomato sauce! (Which I improvised...just some crushed tomatoes, garlic, basil, and sugar that I cooked.)

EATS!

Oven Fried Chicken

I was going through my cache' of photos of food whose recipes I still needed to post, and I almost couldn't believe I hadn't shared this one yet. This is one of my favorite, easy, healthy chicken dishes that I discovered way back when I first started the blog. And, since so many people always resolve to be healthier in the new year, I thought now was the perfect time to introduce you to this oven fried chicken! It honestly does taste like it has been fried, but it is just baked in the oven with a mere 1 tbsp. of butter! That's it! It's tasty and quick and guiltless! EAT!

Butter-less Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies-Take 2: Holiday Recipe Exchange: Week 11 (Holiday Cookies)

As I previously explained, I am working on creating my own holiday baking traditions. 

You know what we have a lot of around the holidays? 

Butter.

And you know what's great about this recipe? 

NO. BUTTER.

Forreals. It seems the large amount of peanut butter in this recipe takes over the role of the butter. And peanut butter is good for you (protein and all that). Thusly I dub these cookies healthy and say you can feel good about eating these and you know....eat 6 of them. 

It's OK, because they have no butter!

(Other Holiday Recipe Exchange posts: Week 1 Parts 1 and 2, Week 3, Week Six, Week Seven, Week Nine , and Week 10 Parts 1 and 2 and Week 11 Part 1)

Butter-less Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

From The Curvy Carrot "Super Peanut Butter Drops"

Makes 20-24 cookies

Oat Waffles (+ Chocolate Chips)

Sooo, I'm not super in love with breakfast food--I know I know! Don't worry, I always eat breakfast, but it's always like peanut butter toast, fruit, green monster smoothie, etc.-just because I know it's good for me. The only other like big breakfast foods I like....well...they taste like dessert. Cinnamon Rolls. Muffins. Pancakes and waffles--BUT--only if they have chocolate chips and I spread peanut butter over them. I wasn't always this way, I used to kind of like the classic butter and syrup combo. But now that I can have a breakfast with one of my flavor combinations, it's done for. Anyway, one day I wanted waffles! And I wanted to use what I had! But I didn't want them to be boring! So, after poring over the internet and thinking a bit, I sort of Frankenstein-ed this recipe together. They're healthier (I have to make up for my pb chocolate weakness) and light yet substantial (as a result of the whipped egg whites + oats). They're delishums! 

"Eat This" Chicken Fingers

I'm a simple lady with simple tastes. I don't usually want anything to do with frou-frou dishes (except for some select desserts), and really, I probably have the palate of a 5 year old. But gosh darn it I'm going to make the best immature food I can! Anywhozzle (yes, that's a word, I said so), I subscribe to Eat This, Not That's emails, which are actually some very realistic, and awesome tips for anyone just trying to make healthier choices. They also have these great "Cook This, Not That" articles, giving recipes for healthy versions of your favorite things you can cook at home. I LOVE these chicken fingers. They are also something you can tweak around if you feel like it. It's just a great, simple, yummy recipe that adults and children and adults-who-eat-like-children alike will love :)

"Eat This" Chicken Fingers

from "Cook This, Not That"

(disregard the pizza. That's a slice of Amy's Organic that went splendidly with the chicken.)

250 calories per serving (makes about 4 servings)

Superior Macaroni and Cheese

There are certain recipes you will always find a million versions of, everyone's got their own kind. This applies to (for example) chocolate chip cookies, chocolate lava cakes, spaghetti and meatballs, and macaroni and cheese. For a recipe-o-phile like me, this means you end up with a looot of different recipes, for one thing (don't even get me started on how many chocolate chip cookie recipes I have). The hope is, once I try them out, I will be able to narrow it down to one recipe (or...at least less). After the first time I made this macaroni and cheese, I deleted all other mac'n'cheese recipes, and no longer even look at others. It is unnecessary. I know I will not like anything more than I like this. I am in a monogamous mac'n'cheese relationship, and I have no desire to cheat. It is a "healthy" (ish) version, it is full of flavor, is thick and creamy, and makes you happy!

Lightened Up Spinach Artichoke Dip

I don't much like green vegetables. We don't get along. Which is why I was so annoyed when my best friend, Alex, would insist we share Spinach Artichoke dip whenever we would go out to eat at T.G.I. Friday's. To my surprise, I liked it-and grew to like it more and more the more I ate it. I was so proud of myself! I liked something healthy! Yay! Then, a year or two later, I found out-actually not so good for me. Well, sheesh, what's the point of eating green things if they're not even good for you?! Figures. Enter this recipe. I found it back when finding recipes was an occasional thing, and not yet an obsession, on Kraft's recipe website. It is supposed to be a makeover of the very dip I fell in love with at Friday's. Healthy Spinach Artichoke dip! Yay! But-would it taste good? Answer: yes!!! Yum! It is one of my favorite things to make now, and I hope it becomes that for you too!

Lightened Up Spinach Artichoke Dip (Recipe Makeover)

from Kraft Recipes