Homemade Soft Pretzels

pretzel1They’re everywhere—the mall, Target, the freezer aisle—but none can possibly ever compare the soft, chewy pretzels that you can make at home for such a little cost. If you were ever intimidated by even the thought of making soft pretzels, let me let you in on a little secret—I was too.

I was so scared the shape would be all funky, I would add to little or too much salt, and they would take entirely too long. Boy, was I wrong. Homemade pretzels are super easy and I can guarantee that they’re not as scary as they may seem.

[Read more…]

Healthy Homemade Pizza Crust

Every Friday night since I can remember has been pizza night, but we never ordered from some pizza joint such as Papa John’s, Cici’s Pizza, or Little Caeser’s. We always used fresh, homemade crust, shredded our own mozzarella, cut the veggies, fired up the baking stone, and watched a movie together. Tradition, as some might say. Don’t get me wrong—pizza isn’t all too healthy for you, especially if you’re buying it from a pizza shop because who knows whats in the crust, or the cheese, or the GMO veggies. But we use mozzarella cheese and vegetables from Whole Foods or EarthFare, and we make our dough using a recipe we can trust.

Healthy Homemade Pizza Crust | Natural Chow | http://naturalchow.com [Read more…]

Soft Hamburger Buns

bun1What do you think about when you hear the word hamburger? Sliced dill pickles, melted cheese, juicy tomato, crunchy onions, crispy lettuce, savory ketchup and the soft, light buns with toasted sesame seeds sprinkles over the top. Well let me just tell you…I’m addicted to bread. Like eat it for every meal addicted, whether it’s in roll form, sliced form, or soaked in butter form.

 

Well, I hope that you are not in the same boat as I am. Yes, that’s right…I’m a vegetarian. And you know what that means.

No hamburger for me. [Read more…]

Cinnamon-Vanilla Chia Seed Pudding

If you’ve never heard of chia seeds, fear not: I shall fill you in. Chia seeds are the star of chia pets. You know: Ch-ch-ch-chia! Basically, the seeds sprout and give pottery a bit of hair. It’s really weird and a definite waste…unless you’re eating the sprouts.

Chia Seed Pudding

You know what, now I gotta try that. It may not be the most appetizing, but I can only imagine how healthy that would be. Back to the point, chia seeds are very healthy for you. Disclaimer: If after a few days of eating this you experience some extreme bowel movements, don’t worry: that’s normal. Odds are you have a lot of things in your system that shouldn’t be there such as swallowed gum, teeth you accidently swallowed in your sleep, foods that don’t decompose (McDonalds), and tons of green plastic.

Don’t ask…

[Read more…]

Spiced Carrot Muffins

Ahhh.

There’s nothing better than biting into a delicious, healthy muffin that tastes like fall. Nothing better. The sweetness of the carrot put together with the bold spices of autumn are something that will satisfy any sweet tooth, health nut, or hungry teen.

I think fall is my favorite season. The cool breeze that blows by, tossing around orange, red, and yellow leaves, creating a scene that is, in a way, magical. Almost every recipe including carrot, sweet potato, pumpkin, or apple. The pears on the pear tree clunking their way down to the ground without any beckoning, other than the duties given to it by mother nature. The sweet spices such as nutmeg, cloves, allspice, ginger, and cinnamon give taste buds something to look forward to. Not to mention the blissful carrot muffins you can enjoy all season long.

[Read more…]