Lighter Pumpkin Bread

Aside from all the jokes about pumpkin flavored everything, it really is an essential flavor during the holidays. I'm sure if Family Feud surveyed 100 people and asked, "What is the most popular flavor of fall?" "Pumpkin" would be at the top of the list!

So here I bring you, a recipe for delicious pumpkin bread. This is one of my favorite recipes, AND it's lighter than traditional recipes without sacrificing flavor and texture. :)

The original recipe makes 3 9x13 loaves, but you can make them into muffins, mini loaves, etc. I was able to make 3 mini loaves (which I gave away as gifts) and 6 jumbo muffins.

Lighter Pumpkin Bread (adapted from allrecipes' Pumpkin Bread IV)

Ingredients
(Dry)
2 cups all-purpose flour
1.5 cups whole wheat flour
2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1/2 tsp ground ginger

(Wet)
1 (15 oz) can pumpkin puree
4 eggs
1 cup canola oil (I used 1/2 cup canola, 1/2 cup melted unrefined coconut oil)
2/3 cup water
2.5 cups white sugar
2 tsp vanilla extract

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 °F. Choose your desired pans and prep accordingly.
2. Sift/whisk all the dry ingredients together. Mix all the wet ingredients until smooth. Pour the dry ingredients into the wet and mix until well blended.
3. Pour into prepared pans and bake. Baking time will vary with the type of pans you choose. My jumbo muffins took 28 minutes to bake, and my mini loaves took 38 minutes to bake. Regular muffins will take about 20 minutes, and a 9x5 loaf will take about 45-60 minutes. The best way to test for doneness is to insert a toothpick or skewer into center of the bread, and it comes out clean. Cool and frost if desired.

Drizzled with melted white chocolate + unrefined coconut oil

Jumbo muffins!

These make the perfect gift because they taste even better over the next couple of days! Enjoy :D

#BasicDog Pumpkin Treats

What's more basic than pumpkin spice anything in the fall? Nothing. Now your dog can also embrace the basicness in a spicy pumpkin treat.

Last week I bought a package of soft dog cookies for about $5, and after a couple of days it was completely finished! Most cookies I buy for my dog are hard and crunchy, but I really like the idea of a softer treat. This recipe I came up with is super duper easy and perfect for the fall.

Brawny and my sister's 2 German Shepherds absolutely loved these cookies. You can eat them too! These are really great to bring along on a hike or long workout as they are filled with fiber and vitamins. They're also very mildly sweet, so don't expect a sugary pumpkin cookie taste!

Soft Pumpkin Dog Cookies (makes ~24)

Ingredients

2 cups oat flour
1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/2  tsp ground ginger (optional)

3/4 cup canned pumpkin
3 Tbsp coconut oil, melted
4 Tbsp honey




Directions
1. In a large bowl mix together the oat flour, cinnamon, baking powder, and ginger. In a separate bowl, mix together the pumpkin, coconut oil, and honey.
2. Pour the wet mixture into the dry and stir until well combined.
3. Scoop tablespoons of dough onto a parchment-lined cookie sheet and flatten with a fork.
4. Bake for ~15 minutes at 350 F°. (Bake 5-10 minutes longer if you want a firmer cookie).
5. Let cool and store in an airtight container. :)

Pumpkin batter

Cookies before baking

#BasicDog loves his #BasicCookies

Now go make these pumpkin treats! To fully get into character, dress warmly in your leggings and Ugg boots... and don't forget to Instagram the finished product. ;)

"Healthier" Chocolate Cake

I'm back! It's not that I haven't been baking recently--it's because I haven't been baking really healthy things. Yes, there's a reason why this blog is called "pretty healthy desserts." :

Anyway, I've been up since 2:30 am. Why? I have no idea. I tossed around for about hour and decided to just get up by the time it was 3:30 am.  I ate some food, got caught up on the latest episode of Masterchef, worked on some graduation stuff... then I decided to bake a cake.

This is a very simple, basic "black magic" chocolate cake. I've made black magic cakes before, and they are pretty delicious. I made a few changes to Hershey's popular recipe, and it still turned out delicious! This version has less sugar and less oil. The original recipe also calls for strong coffee...I was lazy and didn't want to make coffee, hah. If you want, just substitute half of the buttermilk for coffee. It brings out the chocolate flavor more.

"Healthier" Chocolate Cake (adapted from Hershey's black magic cake)

Finished cake topped with chocolate, almond butter, and shredded coconut

Ingredients
(Dry)
1 cup all-purpose flour (I used 3/4 cup all-purpose and 1/4 cup whole wheat)
3/4 cup white sugar
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt

(Wet)
1 egg
1 cup buttermilk (you can substitute 1 cup water + 1 Tbsp distilled white vinegar)
1/4 cup canola oil
1 tsp vanilla extract

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 °F. Lightly grease a square 8x8 pan (for easier clean-up, line with aluminum foil and then grease)
2. Sift/whisk all the dry ingredients together. Make a well in the center and pour in the wet ingredients. Stir briskly until smooth.
3. Pour into prepared pan and bake for about 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool and frost if desired.


Chocolate chips melting

I made a "frosting" by topping the cake with chocolate chips right after I pulled it out of the oven. The heat will cause the chocolate to melt. Wait for about half an hour for the cake to cool slightly, then add about 5 big spoonfuls of almond butter to the top; smooth to cover cake. The chocolate & almond butter will combine into one delicious spread. :) I added shredded coconut to the top to make it look more presentable.

Delicious!

My dog staring longingly at what he can't have...

I ate a piece and already want another! I like this cake because it's not too healthy to where it tastes like dry cardboard. :D

Healthy Homemade Dog Treats (4 Ingredients)

Time for another recipe for homemade dog treats! This one is suuuuper simple to make. AND it tastes pretty good too (yes, my sister and I actually tried some of the finished product).

I went over to my sister's place to bake, and she had what I thought were sweet potatoes in the pantry. However, when I cut one open, it was light purple on the inside! I think they were Okinawan sweet potatoes...anyway, either sweet potatoes or yams can be used for this recipe. :)

Oh! Instead of buying oat flour at the store, you can easily make it out of regular oats. I use a Vitamix to blend oats until they resemble coarse flour.

Banana, oat flour, sweet potato, and salt.

Mashed banana & Okinawan sweet potato

Ingredients
1 small banana
1 small sweet potato OR yam, steamed (directions below)
1 cup oat flour
1/4 tsp salt
1-2 Tbsp water (optional)

Directions
1. Mash together the banana, steamed sweet potato/yam, and salt in a bowl. Mix in 1 cup of oat flour.
2. If mixture seems too dry, stir in 1-2 Tbsp of water. The dough should hold together in a ball, but not be too wet. 
3. Roll out the dough into a 1/4" layer. Use whatever cookie cutter you want to cut out shapes and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
4. Bake for ~30 minutes at 325 F°. (bake for 5-10 minutes longer depending on how crunchy you want your treats to be).
5. Let cool and store treats in an airtight container. :)


 
(To easily steam a small sweet potato or yam in the microwave, just prick it all over with a fork, loosely wrap it in a wet paper towel, and microwave it for about 5 minutes [may need a minute or two more depending on the size of the potato/yam]. The outside should be slightly soft. I let the yam cool for a few minutes, cut it in half, and scooped out the flesh into my mixing bowl.)

Cooling after baking :)

Waiting patiently...just so I could take the picture

Delicious, crunchy treats

Dietitian vs. Nutritionist - What's the Difference?

MYTH: A dietitian and nutritionist are the same thing.

TRUTH: "Every Registered Dietitian Is a Nutritionist, but Not Every Nutritionist Is a Registered Dietitian"

This is a difference that seems to confuse people a lot. Conversations usually go something like this:

Friend: Oh cool, you're studying nutrition! So you're gonna be a nutritionist?

Me: Well... yes, but more specifically, a dietitian. :)

Friend: What's the difference, aren't they the same thing?

Me: Not really, let me explain...

A registered dietitian (RD)* is an expert in food and nutrition. Dietitians have many skills and duties which include:

• Promoting healthy eating habits
• Assessing a person's health and nutrition needs
• Providing dietary counseling and education
• Developing special diets and meal plans
• Keeping up with the latest nutritional science research

Before becoming an RD, a person has to go through rigorous educational training, supervised practice, and professional requirements through an internship or training program. After completing the program, he/she must also pass the national Registered Dietitian Exam. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics regulates all RDs, and the term "registered dietitian" is protected by law.

A nutritionist is someone who is interested in food and nutrition. They also can advise people on health, good nutrition, and diet/menu planning. However, the term "nutritionist" is not regulated and there are no laws to protect the title. In other words, anyone can self-proclaim themselves as a "nutritionist." They may have had little or no previous training whatsoever in nutrition.

Bottom line --> If you are seeking sound, credible advice on nutrition and healthy eating, it is best to go to a registered dietitian. :) The next time you hear any nutrition advice given (i.e. on TV, in a magazine, on the internet, among a group of friends), be aware of the person's credentials and professional background.

*RDs are now given the option to use the credential "registered dietitian nutritionist" (RDN)

"Is butter a carb?"

Oh Regina, you aren't the only confused one here...

From the questions asked and the answers I've received, a lot of people tend to think that carbohydrates are mainly breads, candies, and sugary desserts.
*wags finger vigorously*
No, there is a larger list of foods! Some people may be surprised to learn that fruits as well as some vegetables contain carbohydrates.
Today's quick and easy lesson will answer the question "What foods contain carbs?"

To put it simply, there are 5 main food groups high in carbohydrates:

• Grains - ex. bread, rice, oats, pasta, etc.
• Fruits - ex. fresh and dried fruits
• Dairy - ex. milk, yogurt
• Starchy vegetables - ex. peas, corn, potatoes, beans/legumes
• Sweets - ex. candy, sugar-sweetened beverages, etc.

As you can see, carbohydrates are found in almost everything we eat. The meat/protein, fats/oils, and non-starchy vegetables are food groups low in carbohydrates.

For a more in-depth look about the different types of carbohydrates, you can visit the American Diabetes Association website! The Food & Fitness section has really great material to better understand carbohydrates. 

And just in case you were wondering... no, butter is not a carb. :)

Super healthy granola bars

I usually buy granola bars for on-the-go convenience, but sometimes they are way too sweet and have a lot of extra fat and additives in them. >_< In general, granola bars are extremely easy to make at home, so why haven't I made them more often? I DON'T KNOW. I think I shall be making my own from now on actually. :) Plus I really like the idea of getting to play around with the ingredients.

Flaxseed --> fiber, protein, and omega-3 :)

Used a coffee grinder to grind up my flaxseed

Rolled oats, wheat germ, flaxseed, cinnamon, salt... and I only used 6 tablespoons of honey for the whole batch! More can be added, but I like them subtly sweet. 

Ginormous jar of organic extra virgin coconut oil

(Note: ok, so I know it's pretty debatable whether coconut oil is truly healthy or not... I'm currently working on a research paper that analyzes how coconut oil affects the lipid profile of adults...yes, very fun and informative stuff. ;) So far it appears safe, but there's still a lot of research that needs to be done with human subjects.

I personally like using coconut oil, BUT if you are cooking/baking with it, be sure to choose the unrefined/virgin kind!)

Yummeh!!! I added in coconut, dark chocolate chips, and dried cranberries

I baked these in an 8x8 pan and cut them into 10 bars. :)

I'm still tweaking around with the recipe, but these were really healthy and delicious. 

Homemade Chocolate Hazelnut Spread (aka "Nutella")

It was World Nutella Day on February 5th. So in honor of one of the most popular chocolately spreads, I decided to make my own version. Even better than buying it from the store! Easy easy easy and delicious. :)

End product. Chocolately and yummy.

No doubt,  Nutella is pretty addictive. According to their website, it is a "combination of roasted hazelnuts, skim milk and a hint of cocoa." However, looking at the ingredients list, the first couple of ingredients listed are sugar and palm oil. Ehhh... no bueno. I went on a lengthy recipe search for homemade nutella and finally settled on David Lebovitz's version as a basis. I like his version because it uses real chocolate, has no added sugar (except for some honey), and it was the least complicated out of all the recipes I searched. I did make a lot of my own changes to make it even more simple.

Notes: I used a mixture of Ghiradelli's bittersweet chocolate (60% cacao) and Hershey's special dark chocolate chips (45% cacao). A higher percentage of cacao generally means less sugar and a more intense chocolate flavor. My end product was a little too sweet, so next time I will try using chocolate that has at least 60% cacao.

A lot of recipes had instructions to remove the hazelnut skins, but I left them on for texture and to save time.

Also, I used skim milk because that was what I had on hand. I originally used 1 cup of skim milk--it turned out too liquidy, so I had to heat it in a pot to condense the mixture further. (With whole milk, you may need a little more since it is less watery than skim.)

Chocolate Hazelnut Spread 
Ingredients:
1 cup hazelnuts
3/4 cup skim milk
1/2 cup powdered milk
1.5 Tbsp honey
6 oz bittersweet chocolate (you can use different ratios of semi-sweet, dark, milk chocolate etc. depending on how sweet you want the spread to be)

Ingredients

Directions:
1. Spread the hazelnuts evenly on a baking sheet. Toast them for about 8-10 minutes in a 300°F oven, stirring them every 2 minutes until lightly brown. (I first toasted them at 350°F, but they burned too easily! Had to throw out the first batch)

2. Over medium heat, warm the milk, powdered milk, and honey in a small pot. When it begins to boil, remove from heat. Strain the milk mixture to remove any lumps.

3. In a microwave-safe bowl, microwave the chocolate a minute at a time on 50% power, stirring after each minute until smooth.

4. Time to blend! In a food processor (I used a Vitamix), blend the hazelnuts until it's at a very fine, almost paste-like consistency. Scrape the sides of the bowl to make sure all the hazelnuts get blended. 

5. Add in the melted chocolate and continue to blend. Finally, add in the warm milk mixture and blend until smooth and creamy. You can strain the mixture if you want it to be extra smooth, but I like how the hazelnuts add texture.

6. Transfer to a glass jar and refrigerate! 

Additional note: Don't worry if the spread seems liquidy; it will firm up once it's chilled. :) IF it remains liquidy even after refrigeration, you can reheat it in a pot like I did to evaporate some of the moisture.

Pre-toasted hazelnuts

I broke up the Ghiradelli bar into little pieces so they would melt evenly with the chocolate chips

Melted chocolate, strained milk mixture, toasted hazelnuts. Ready for blending!

Hazelnuts in the Vitamix

Adding in the chocolate--you can see how well the hazelnuts are blended

Reheating the mixture until thick and creamy (again, I had originally added 1 cup of skim milk, which was too much)

Enjoying it on some toasted bread with granola on top =]