Cinnamon (a NON recipe)

Alright, so anyone who knows me, knows I am a huge fan of Cinnamon. Cooking with it, smelling it, in my coffee. whatever. I learned a few months ago that it is a natural mood lifer (and believe it, and start my day with it, as I now brew it into my coffee each morning) and have been reading up a ton about it. Here are some other benefits of cinnamon, for your reading pleasure:)

Sense I didnt want to re-type everything, here are a couple links to cinnamon benefits
http://www.thehealthysnacksblog.com/2007/11/12/the-top-5-health-benefits-of-cinnamon/
http://www.healthdiaries.com/eatthis/10-health-benefits-of-cinnamon.html
http://www.monumentalmassage.com/articles/benefits_of_cinnamon.html

Please read. Its really awesome. Humor me:)

the best oatmeal cookies of your life

Okay, so I know I promised calorie conscious recipes but its a special day, to celebrate the first day ive updated in a while.. these are THE BEST oatmeal cookies ever.

Ingredients

• 1 cup of butter-softended
• 1 cup of white sugar
• 1 cup of packed dark brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 3 cups quick cooking oats
• 1/2 cup raisins
• 1 cup mini chocolate morsels

Directions:
 Preheatoven to 375 degrees. In a medium bowl cream together butter, white sugar and brown sugar. Add eggs and vanilla. In a seperate bowl mix dry ingredients ( flour, salt, baking soda and cinnamon) slowly add to creamed mixture. Once combined, add in oats. Add in raisins and morsels.  On greased cookie sheets place walnut sized rolled dough balls and bake for about 11 minutes, try 9, but than check. Edges should be golden brown.

Now, this recipe must come with a  warning, these cookies are UH-mazing. If you dont want to share, dont tell anyone about them. If you dont want your signifigant other to fall in love with you.-- dont share. they are THAT good.

Now go, get your bake on.

Minestrone Soup

A fall favorite. Very much a "clean out the fridge" soup as you can use any veggies you find hiding in there. This soup is also very diet friendly and a good way to hide those pesky veggies that we should be eating lots and lots of.

Ingredients

• Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 6 cloves garlic, chopped
• 3 medium carrots, diced
• 2 large celery stalks, diced
• 2 medium yellow squash, diced
• 5 cups Vegetable Cooking Stock
• 1/2 pound potatoes, peeled and diced
• 1 package of noddles of your choice, though i suggest shells.
• 2 fresh tomatoes cut into chunks (sizing of your choice)
• 1 can kidney beans
• parmesan cheese (for garnish)

Directions

1. Heat the Olive Oil in a heavy bottom soup pot.
2. Add in the onion and garlic and saute for 5 minutes or until the onion is soft.
3. Stir in celery, carrots, squash and saute for 5 minutes more.
4. Add in the Stock, potatoes, beans, pasta and tomatoes, and bring to a boil.
5. Lower heat and simmer for 10-12 minutes or until the potatoes are soft and the pasta has cooked.

* please note, if you make this in advance and let the pasta sit, the noodles will continue to swell, robbing the soup of its succulent broth. So if you need/want to cook in advance, add the noodles 15 minutes or so prior to service.

Garnish with Parm and Enjoy. Also, with this recipe, I have to again emphasize, use this recipe as a jumping off point, Minestrone can be special and a direct representation of a cooks taste and personality. Play it up, make it yours!

I'm still here;)

Sorry,busy weekend. Will have a slew of new stuff as the week progresses!! Promise!

53 calorie blueberry muffins

These blueberry muffins have little added sugar so rely on blueberries and other ingredients for their sweetness.

Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 17 minutes
Makes: 10

Ingredients:
1 cup all purpose flour
2 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 cup sugar
pinch of salt
2 egg whites
3 tbs unflavored applesauce
1/3 cup orange juice
1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries

In a medium bowl mix dry ingredients. In small bowl beat egg whites, orange juice and apple sauce. Mix two two together. Fold in blueberries. Fill lined (and sprayed with baking spray) baking cups in muffin pan 3/4 full. Bake at 400 degrees for 17 minutes. Enjoy!

60 Calorie Banana Muffins

These Muffins are no sugar added, low fat, low calorie, zero saturated fat and are awesome if you don't have a lot of sugar in your diet and need something "sweet".

Bonus note: These muffins also contain high amounts of Selenium, a trace mineral that works alongside vitamin E as an antioxident. It also helps regulate the thyroid.

Prep time: 5 minutes
Bake time: 15 minutes
Yields 6 muffins

Ingredients:
1 cup all purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
pinch of salt
3 large mashed bananas (the riper the better-- i used bananas that were JUST about to be thrown away)
1 egg white
1 tbs ground cinnamon

Preheat oven to 365 degrees. In a medium bowl whisk together dry ingredients. In a separate bowl mash bananas and add egg white. Marry two bowls. Pour mixture into lined cupcake pan. Bake until tooth pick inserted comes out clean. (15-20 minutes)

*** these aren't super sweet. the first time i made them, others were shocked at their lack of sweetness-- for me they are perfect, as i love the taste of banana and the aroma of cinnamon. For a low calorie glaze, mix in a small bowl, 1/3 cup of orange juice with 1/4 cup clover honey, when muffins begin to brown in oven, pull out and brush with glaze and continue to cook.

195 Calorie Potato and Ham Soup

A warm and filling soup that combines veggies with ham and comforting russet potatoes

Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 30 minutes
Serves: 8

Ingredients:
3 1/2 cups diced russet potatoes (peeled and cleaned)
2 stalks diced celery
1 cup diced onion
2 large carrots (peeled and cleaned)
1.5 cups diced ham (I used Oscar Meyer "from the board")
1 14oz can chicken stock
4 cups water
3 cubes chicken bouillon
5 Tbs butter
5 Tbs All purpose flour
2 cups milk

In a large pot combine, celery, carrot, onion, ham, potato, chicken stock, water and bouillon, cook over medium heat until potatoes are tender. In a separate saucepan, melt butter over medium heat, when butter is melted, add flour and cook about one minute (should make a buttery paste), turn heat to med-low and slowly whisk in milk, stir constantly until all milk is added as to avoid lumps. Cook over medium heat about 5 minutes. Combine mixtures and let cook an additional 5 minutes. Enjoy!