Category Archives: Healthy Snacks

Blueberry, Peanut Butter + Banana Power Smoothie

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Hey guys! Has it really been over a month since I last posted? Sorry for the silence, but it has been one heck of a month! So many things to do, and I guess blogging has fallen to the end of the priority list. To be honest, I still have some busyness coming up, so I can’t promise how often I’ll be posting, but hopefully I can get things together and start sharing more frequently soon!

But for today, I’m sharing with you something that I have been making consistently, almost everyday, even through the busy times. Blueberry, peanut butter, banana power smoothie.* I have even hauled my blender across the state twice, on a train, to continue making this smoothie. Truly my current obsession.

This smoothie is as tasty as it is healthy. I call it a “power smoothie” because of all the goodness in it. Let’s go over that:

Coconut water: Full of potassium and very hydrating.
Almond milk: I use vanilla, unsweetened. Besides adding a delicious vanilla flavor, it’s high in calcium and vitamins B and E.
Banana: More potassium! and so much more!
Blueberries: Antioxidants!
Peanut butter: Protein!
Chia seeds: Full of nutrients, antioxidants, protein, fiber and more. Eat chia seeds!
Spinach: Full of all the good stuff – nutrients, vitamins and antioxidants.

And that’s it. All real, whole foods that bring so many good things, and when combined, become a creamy, tasty treat! 

I’ve been making this for breakfast daily. I honestly never thought that just a smoothie would be enough for me for breakfast, but this one is. It keeps me full and I know that it’s probably the healthiest meal of my day – a great start. 

While each and every ingredient included in this smoothie is important to make it just what it is, if I had to stress one to absolutely not leave out, it would be the chia seeds. If blended long enough (I blend my smoothies a long time!), the chia seeds make the smoothie super thick and creamy, and it almost reminds me of ice cream. I like this smoothie so much more since starting to add chia seeds and it’s all because of that creamy, dreamy texture. A smoothie that reminds me of ice cream – can’t pass it up. 

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Blueberry, Peanut Butter + Banana Power Smoothie
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Ingredients
  1. 1/2 cup coconut water
  2. 1/4 cup almond milk
  3. 1 banana
  4. 1 - 1 1/2 cups frozen blueberries
  5. 2 tablespoons peanut butter
  6. 1 tablespoon chia seeds
  7. Large handful spinach
Instructions
  1. Place all ingredients into a blender and blend, until completely smooth and creamy. Enjoy!
The Dreaming Foodie https://www.thedreamingfoodie.com/
*Inspired by a smoothie sold at the Cedars House Cafe!

Springtime Strawberries

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I recently found myself home with 8 quarts of springtime strawberries. And not just any strawberries, the best strawberries, thanks to the wonderful and generous Three Springs Fruit Farm.

What does one do with enough strawberries to overtake half a fridge? 

Most we ate just fresh. There is nothing better than fresh, local springtime strawberries, just as they are. 1.5 quarts were lovingly washed, sliced and sent to be enjoyed by Greg’s PhD committee members. My good vibes for Greg were sent in with those strawberries.

And, I made these muffins. Some of the best muffins that I have ever consumed. Roasted strawberries, ricotta cheese and lime zest, in a muffin, together. They’re heavenly.

They were a bit time consuming, but when I was given a day off of work due to lots of rain, I got to muffin making. And strawberry photographing. I turned on some music, put on my favorite comfy dress, opened the windows for Ivy cat, and made muffins all day long. It was great. And therapeutic.

I highly suggest you make these muffins if you get a chance. They are so, so tasty. Use local strawberries if possible. Take your time, enjoy the process. Enjoy the muffins!

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Click here for recipe.

Everyday Oven Fries

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Dreaming Foodie readers, let me introduce you to one of my all-time favorite side dishes. One that Greg and I consume multiple times, every single week. One that we never get sick of and that is always as good as the last time. Healthy, oven-baked french fries. Fries that you can feel good about eating all the time!

This recipe has been years in the making. I have been trying for so long to get the right recipe for homemade fries, made in the oven, and this is it. This will be it for me, forever and ever. For a basic, everyday oven fry recipe, this one wins for me in texture, taste and technique. These fries are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. They taste salty and peppery and have a gentle kick from a touch of paprika. They are simple to make, with just a handful of ingredients and a bit of preparation. You need to try these fries – you will love them!

First let’s talk texture. These fries get their crispiness from a quick boil before they are baked. I simply cut up the potatoes, place them in a large pot with water, bring it to a boil and boil for just 5 minutes. This exact method evolved from many other methods I’ve tried over the years. This is the one that works for me and that I’ll continue to do. It’s easy and takes very little time. The 5-minute boil is imperative to this exact recipe. I made many fries in the past that I did not boil and they have not come out as well or nearly as crispy. The boiling changes everything.

The taste of these fries is incredible. I took everything I like about different fries and put them into one. They are salty (who doesn’t love salty fries?), they are peppery, a tiny bit garlic-y and onion-y (from garlic powder and onion powder), a tiny bit spicy (from paprika) and herb-y (from parsley). This is a combination that I just love – nothing fancy or exotic, just yummy basic fries, made with ingredients that are always stocked in my pantry. 

The technique is simple. Cut potatoes, boil, drain + rinse, brush with olive oil + sprinkle with seasoning, bake 40-45 minutes. It’s that easy. I show in two photos below how I cut my potatoes. I used to cut oven fries thin, but found out that thin fries will break with the boiling step. For this recipe, the fries need to be sliced thick, like very large steak fries. They need to be able to withstand the boiling. From start to finish, the fries will shrink, so if you think they look large once they are cut, don’t worry, you won’t think that once you are eating a crispy, delicious fry! 

A few more notes on this recipe – for Greg and I, I usually use 3-4 medium to large russet potatoes. That makes a ton of fries – two full baking sheets, so for lighter eaters, I would plan for 1 medium-large potato per person. They do make good leftovers, and are awesome reheated in the oven. The seasoning amounts I provide will be good for 3-4 medium-large potatoes. If you’re feeding a crowd, double or triple the amounts as needed!

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Everyday Oven Fries
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Ingredients
  1. 3-4 medium potatoes (I like russet)
  2. 1/2 teaspoon salt
  3. 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  4. 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  5. 1/4 teaspoon garlic salt or powder
  6. 1/4 teaspoon paprika
  7. 1 heaping teaspoon dried parsley
  8. 2 tablespoons olive oil
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 400*.
  2. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
  3. In a small bowl, mix together all spices. Set aside.
  4. Rinse potatoes. Cut into very thick slices. I usually get 10-12 slices, or fries, per potato.
  5. Place sliced potatoes into large pot and fill with water. Bring to a boil. Boil exactly 5 minutes.
  6. Drain and rinse with cold water. Let potatoes cool slightly, just to the point that you can easily handle them.
  7. Arrange evenly on baking sheets, so that no potatoes are touching.
  8. Brush lightly with olive oil and sprinkle evenly with spice mix.
  9. Bake for 40-45 minutes in oven, or until crispy and golden brown.
  10. Enjoy!
Notes
  1. 3-4 medium to large potatoes with make two full baking sheets of fries. As part of a meal, I would plan for 1 large potato per person.
The Dreaming Foodie https://www.thedreamingfoodie.com/

Favorite Hummus

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I’m sharing with you today my absolute favorite hummus recipe – homemade, simple, uncomplicated and tahini-free!

I don’t like buying things that I don’t use often. I will occasionally buy a special ingredient for a special recipe, but for everyday food, I use what’s already in my pantry + some fresh fruits and veggies. That has always been my hummus dilemma. I don’t want to buy tahini, but I read everywhere that the key to creamy, yummy hummus is tahini. So I bought it once and it took up room in my fridge and the only thing I used it for was hummus and I’m just not happy with things like that. If you are like me, and want a seriously uncomplicated, tahini-free hummus, this is the recipe for you!

With six total ingredients (all things that I always have on hand) and just a tiny bit of time, you can have delicious, filling, simplified hummus!

I make this all the time and don’t vary it. When it comes to hummus, I truly do just enjoy it simple, not complicated and not fancy. Just some chickpeas, lemon, olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper. That’s it. To me, that’s all it needs. This version is creamy, lemony and wonderful served with crackers, toasted bread or fresh veggies. This hummus is great to whip up for a snack, to take to a party or to enjoy it as we did just last night, as a spread on sandwiches.

If you try it and you love, let me know. Leave a comment on this post, on Facebook or Twitter!

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Favorite Hummus
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Ingredients
  1. 1 15-ounce can chickpeas
  2. Juice from 1/2 of a lemon (or about 2 tablespoons)
  3. 2 medium garlic cloves
  4. 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  5. 1/4 teaspoon salt
  6. 3-4 tablespoons olive oil
Instructions
  1. Drain but don't rinse the chickpeas (see notes below).
  2. Add the chickpeas, lemon juice, garlic cloves, pepper and salt to a food processor. Process for about one minute, or until mixture has turned into a smooth paste.
  3. Turn off the food processor, scrape down the sides and turn it back on, drizzling in the olive oil a little at a time, until hummus has reached your desired smoothness and consistency.
  4. Taste and add more lemon juice, garlic, pepper and/or salt to your taste.
Notes
  1. I drain, but don't rinse my chickpeas. The brand I use has no salt added so I don't feel the need to rinse them. If your canned chickpeas have salt added, rinse them if you are worried about excess salt, or don't rinse them and don't add any extra salt to the hummus.
  2. If you are sensitive to lemon or garlic tastes, start with less of each and add more as you choose.
The Dreaming Foodie https://www.thedreamingfoodie.com/

Blueberry Crisp

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It’s been awfully quiet here on The Dreaming Foodie, but I assure you, my kitchen hasn’t been quiet.

I’ve been in the kitchen more than ever lately, but unfortunately, not producing much to share with all of you. Not much of my own, at least. There have been more times lately than I care to admit when my own ideas have turned into recipe fails.

But it’s okay. I’m remaining okay with it and with the pace at which I share things with you. That’s the only way to be, really. Just being okay with what is.

Now, on to this crisp.

This crisp isn’t my recipe, but I can’t help but share it with you. If my goal on this blog is to share with you what is good in the world, then this is it. I seriously can’t get over this. I’ve made this crisp countless times in the last month since discovering it. It’s the best.

I love crisps, but I usually think of them as strictly dessert. I wouldn’t really think of having a crisp for a snack, or something that I make to keep around the house weekly, but this recipe is a game-changer. With this recipe, crisp is no longer strictly dessert. I do like to have something sweet around, because I know the craving will hit, but I like to keep the sweet things healthy. Like these pumpkin muffins, or these banana muffins or this granola. Now this crisp is added into that rotation. Or lately, it has sort of taken over the muffins and granola.

This crisp is made with olive oil, not butter. Almond meal, not flour. Pure maple syrup, not refined sugar. And oats and nuts. Health things. Things I am completely okay with eating on a daily basis. And real blueberries with no sugar added. None at all. I have been using frozen blueberries, but let me tell you, I cannot wait to taste this with fresh.

This is good any time of the day. I have been eating it as an afternoon snack, with full fat vanilla yogurt from a local creamery. I know I would love to have it as a dessert, too. This recipe is for people looking for something a bit healthier, but I’m convinced that it’s also for butter-laden crisp lovers. I tell you, this is the best crisp I’ve ever had, butter or no butter. This is it. The last crisp recipe I’ll ever need.

Make it. Try it. I promise, you won’t regret it.

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This wonderful recipe is from Shauna Niequist’s book Bread and Wine. Click here to view the blueberry crisp recipe.