5 COOKIE RECIPES TO TRY THIS CHRISTMAS

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We're almost halfway through December and I haven't done ANY Christmas baking!!!! I usually attend a cookie exchange but because of crazy schedules, it just isn't going to work out this year BUT don't worry James, I plan to get my bake on this afternoon and I AM SO EXCITED!

I'll be baking a few of my classics that I make every year and adding a new one, so look out for another recipe soon!

But in the meantime here are 5 cookie recipes you should totally bake this Christmas!!

1. CHEWY GINGERBREAD COOKIES W/ CREAM CHEESE ICING

OH MY GOSH. YOU GUYS. These are my absolute favourite cookies to make at Christmas time. Soft & chewy gingerbread and cream cheese icing..say no more! I'm baking a bunch of them today. CLICK HERE FOR THE RECIPE.

 

2. THICK AND CHEWY CLASSIC CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

These are the best chocolate chip cookies you will ever eat. I am seriously not joking. You can ask James and he will tell you. They are thick and chewy and have the perfect amount of sweet & salty. I make them ALL THE TIME and they get devoured so quickly! CLICK HERE FOR THE RECIPE!

3. SWIG STOP COOKIES

I tried these ones when I was in Salt Lake City last year and I seriously could not get over them. They are apparently famous round those parts and I knew I needed to find a recipe for them. I think it would be super cute to change the icing colour to pale red and green to make them all Christmasy. CLICK HERE FOR THE RECIPE.

4. NUTELLA STUFFED BROWN BUTTER SEA SALT COOKIES

Ok, excuse the junky photography....that was from a few years ago and clearly taken at night LOLS...which I will never ever do again BUT these cookies are a WHOLE NOTHA LEVEL. Just warning, they are quite messy to make but don't let that stop you because nutella + sea salt is a match made in Heaven and you will satisfy the masses with these. CLICK HERE TO GET THE RECIPE.

5. SALTED SKOR BIT COOKIES.

These are a ridiculously easy and delicious cookie to make...the perfect thing in this bustling season! It will not take long, so go get your bake on! CLICK HERE FOR THE RECIPE.

Happy baking everyone! I'm off to the dentist (BOOOOOO.) But after I will be in my happy place with my kitchen aid.

XO,
laura

THREE PUMPKIN RECIPES YOU SHOULD MAKE THIS FALL

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Well it's officially fall and I'm very ecstatic round here. The weather has definitely cooled down and I am very happy I'm not sweating buckets on my walk to work...also fall weather for running is just the best.

This weekend I'm excited to get into my kitchen and try out some new pumpkin recipes. Having two students really encourages me to bake a lot which is not so great for my waistline but great for this blog.

But over the years, I've actually posted quite a few fall recipes (big surprise there!) Here's three pumpkin recipes you should make this fall...

1. PUMPKIN CREAM CHEESE MUFFINS

These Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins are hands down the VERY BEST MUFFINS YOU WILL EVER HAVE. They're a labour of love because they take a little longer to make but they are SO WORTH IT. I'm seriously drooling over here.

2. PUMPKIN SPICE SNICKERDOODLES

These, Pumpkin Spice Snickerdoodles are the easiest thing to bake and they are ridiculously delicious!!!

3. HOMEMADE PUMPKIN SPICE LATTE

If you want to save money this but still want to drink "fall in a cup" then you need to make Pumpkin Spice Lattes at home! They are super easy to make and will save you a lot of $$$!!!

A lot of these recipes call for Pumpkin Pie Spice...a spice that us Canadians don't really sell. Well I got you covered....click here for the recipe!

Have you gotten into the fall baking craze yet? What are your "must" make fall recipes? Please let me know in the comments!

XO,
laura

QUICK + SKINNY BANANA CHOCOLATE CHIP MUFFINS

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Happy August everyone! Today is a holiday for all of us in beautiful British Columbia. Mondays are my usual day off so it's no big deal for me aside from a day in lieu for my vaycay in two weeks (hurrrah!) 

This August I want to get back on the healthy train...and for me that means cutting out sweets (insert crying face emoji)....except for my anniversary and birthday because no sweets on those days would be plain torturous! We're planning on doing a juice cleanse for a couple days (any suggestions anyone!!?? We have a juicer!) but mainly I'm just going to try to make wise health decisions (low carb, high protein, greens, greens, greens and no sweets!) And maybe once in awhile I'll indulge in one of these muffins...?

You guys...I make these muffins all the time. They take 30 minutes max and are so good and aren't crazy bad for you! I usually make a batch and then freeze half of them. They make a great snack or a super quick breakfast!

QUICK + SKINNY BANANA CHOCOLATE CHIP MUFFINS

makes approx 24 muffins (I made 26 very large muffins from this batch because I have odd size muffin tins!)

Ingredients

• 3 cups flour (whole wheat pastry or white flour)
• 2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 5 very ripe med-large bananas
• 1/2 cup honey
• 2 tbsp vanilla
• 2 tbsp coconut oil
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup non-fat plain greek yogurt
• 2 tbsp unsweetened almond milk
• 1 cup chocolate chips 

Directions

1. reheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Spray muffin tins with non stick cooking spray.
3. In a medium bowl flour, baking soda and salt.
4. In a blender, mix bananas, honey, vanilla, oil, eggs and yogurt until well combined.
5. Pour the wet ingredients into the bowl of dry ingredients and mix until well combined then fold in the chocolate chips.
6. Pour the batter into the muffin tins and then bake for 25 minutes. They're ready when you insert a toothpick and it comes out clean!
7. Let muffins cool in tins for a few minutes and then place on wire rack.
8. Enjoy!!

Recipe adapted from Ambitious Kitchen

Hope you all have a great Monday!

xo,

s.s.♥︎.

BLACK BEAN QUINOA SALAD

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I've been getting my meal planning on like donkey kong this week. #BOOYAH 

On most weeks, I'm not so organized...aka "Smoothie for dinner love?" But as I told you on Monday, we got a homestay student on Sunday and we need to feed her! I'm good eating peanut butter toast for dinner, but I don't think that will fly with the homestay program :p

So as I was meal planning I came across this recipe for a black bean quinoa salad and YOU GUYS...it was delish! With orange zest and jalapenos, this salad is basically a party in your mouth.

BLACK BEAN QUINOA SALAD

Makes a very large salad

Ingredients:

     -2 cups quinoa (cooked to your liking)
     -3 large oranges cut into bite size segments
     -2 red peppers, diced
     -2 jalapeños, seeded and diced
     -1/2 cup red onion, diced
     -1 can black beans, rinsed
     - 1 can corn kernels
     -3 tablespoons cilantro, chopped

For the dressing:

     -1/2 cup olive oil
     -1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
     -1/2 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
     -orange zest from 2 oranges
     -2 tablespoons sugar

Instructions:

     1. Mix together all dressing ingredients in a small bowl and set aside.
     2. In a large bowl, mix together the quinoa, orange segments, peppers, onion, beans, corn and      cilantro.
     3. Pour dressing over and give it a good mix.
     4. Enjoy!!

Happy Wednesday!

xo,

s.s.♥︎.

DELICIOUS POST WORKOUT SMOOTHIE

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One of my favourite things about long distance running is- the post run meal….yes. I'm Italian and I was raised to be OBSESSED with food. I can't help it, it's in my blood.

In some past fitness posts (here, here + here) I've shared with you some tips that help me keep fuelled in those long runs…but…I've been holding out on you. There's one more strategy that really gets me going in my final kms... ENVISIONING MY POST RUN MEAL.

 When I'm tired and sweaty and cranky with two km to go, I just start picturing what I will be devouring as soon as I'm done my run and BOOM! all of a sudden, I have way more energy to complete the run! It works every time....every time. 

But I've been realizing you just can't down anything when you finish a run. You need to put some protein back in your body! But guys...for years I've had a love hate relationship with protein powder. I know it's good for me but every one I tasted has been all ewh. ewh. ewh. 

Until I got my hands on Bodylab's Decadent Chocolate Fudge protein powder. YOU GUYS. This stuff is goooood. And it's not like other protein powders that are designed to bulk you up. In Bodylab's protein powders are a bunch of awesome ingredients that help fuel lean tissue, rev metabolism and do lots of other great things! Bodylab was created by women and for women and JLo runs the show..HELLO! Sign me right up to get a booty like JLo's.

Because of the length of my run, I added a couple things to this smoothie, but the powder is good enough to have with just water!

POST WORKOUT SMOOTHIE

ingredients:

• 1 banana
• 1 tbsp natural peanut butter
• 3 cups almond milk
• 1 scoop body lab decadent chocolate fudge protein powder
• 5 ice cubes

instructions:

1. blend all ingredients in blender. pour into two cups and enjoy!

And I have some GOOD NEWS! The good peeps at Bodylab are giving you a discount code to receive 25% off your order AND free shipping! Just use the code ssheart25 at checkout. #booyah. 

(Bodylab kindly sent me their products to try out but all opinions expressed are my own.)

Happy post run future smoothie eating!

xo,

s.s.♥︎.