Lightened Up Cappuccino Cheese Muffins are a great treat for people watching their weight! I know, I know. The last couple of weeks of this blog have been filled with one decadent treat after another. Each one has been a diet killer in its own right. "So what about the dieters?", you ask. "What's a poor soul to do if s/he isn't eating cheesecake, ice cream trifle, cheesecake mousse, delicious cookies, and all those other treats? Good news friend's. I feel for you. No really, I might be cooking, baking and photographing all sorts of fattening treats, but I've been dieting hard. Really hard. Like, one bite to make sure the cheesecake is good. We're in this together. And that's why I made … [Read more...]
Nespresso VertuoLine Review: The Best Cup of Coffee I Ever Had
Nespresso VertuoLine review: it makes perfectly delicious coffee at the press of one button! You know that blissful moment when the first cup of coffee touches your lips? Yeah, I live for that moment. A couple of days ago, just at "that" moment, I exclaimed, "wow, my coffee is so good today!" I thought for a few seconds, then I amended my statement. "Well, actually, it's amazing every morning...ever since I got my Nespresso machine!" Image courtesy of Nespresso Before I go any further, I am going to be really clear here. The awesome folks at Nespresso have sent me a machine free of charge, for a review. It was particularly exciting, because this is a machine I've had my eye on for … [Read more...]
Lemon Sticky Buns
A bright and fresh twist on a classic favorite, Lemon Sticky Buns are the perfect treat for breakfast or dessert. Whew. We made it. We're safely on the other side of Passover. Another year, another week of meat, chicken, eggs and potatoes. Admittedly, I'm ready to buckle down on the diet and kinda avoid desserts right now, so if you're with me there, you might not want to keep reading. Seriously. When I think of the ultimate non-passover dessert, it's gotta have yeast in it. Pesach is a time of no yeast, right? So real proper chometz has gotta be a fluffy, yeasty delight. Now, you might remember that Cinnamon Buns are my all-time favorite, ultimate weakness. Doesn't matter what … [Read more...]
Healthy Apple Spice Muffins
Healthy apple spice muffins are so delicious, you will forget that they are good for you! I'm going to make a confession right now. You'd think that being on a diet and trying to eat delicious food that's still healthy, I would be coming up with all kinds of delicious new recipes to share with you. But sadly, that is just not the way it's been going. I am trying to make plenty of healthy food in minimum time, and I find myself lacking time, inspiration and motivation to play. I find myself turning to all of my old favorites, instead of creating new and exciting recipes. Don't worry, I'll get my creativity back soon. In the meantime, I decided to share one of my favorite healthy muffin … [Read more...]
Maple Pumpkin Granola
There are certain foods which I seem to forget about for a while, then I remember them suddenly. And as I eat said food, I kick myself as I wonder why I don't make it more often. Like, every day, for example. My Spicy Baked Zucchini Sticks are a perfect example of this. They are among the most popular recipes on this blog, and for very good reason. And I often forget that I've got such a delicious and easy recipe in my repertoire. Then I make them, and I get all confused as to why I haven't been making them daily since the day I came up with the recipe. Well, it turns out that homemade granola is another such example. I've made homemade granola plenty of times in the past, and totally … [Read more...]
Speculoos (Biscoff) Biscotti
A trendy cookie like speculoos or biscoff combines perfectly with a traditional treat like biscotti. Intrigued? Read on! If you follow me on various social media platforms, you may have seen that I was just on vacation. And now I am not. Needless to say, I am not happy about that. I want to be at the beach, not in my kitchen waiting for cookies to cool, anticipating another long day of work tomorrow. But that's life. Some things, like the beach, are awesome. Some things aren't. Take, for example, my cookies and cream biscotti recipe. The recipe? Awesome. The pictures? Not so much. The result? Nobody really noticed them. Which is a darn shame, because trust me, they were of the don't … [Read more...]
Blueberry Muffin Cookies
If you've been reading my blog and/or magazine column for a while, you might have noticed that I like to do things a little differently. Here's an example. People love blueberry muffins. I have to say, I do too. And people even like a healthy version of blueberry muffins. I have to say, I find them to be a fabulous treat for my dieting self. But sometimes, I like to turn things on their heads. Make a completely different version of a classic. (Remember my S'mores Surprise Cookies, Rice Krispy Treat Bark, and other fun treats?) These cookies are a good example of this. Sure, I would have just made blueberry muffins, but where's the fun in that? So instead, I created blueberry muffin cookies. … [Read more...]
Healthy Blueberry Muffins
Can we talk about names for a minute? I have a pet peeve. I know, my name is somewhat unusual. Okay, in the Orthodox Jewish world, Miriam is about as common of a name as you get, but in the general world, Miriam isn't very common. It's okay, I run with it. But here's the thing. Nobody can seem to get my name right. People call me at work, and I introduce myself as Miriam. "Did you say Maya?" I used to correct them, but I learned better. Just go with it. "That's right. Mary Anne." "Yes, I did say Maria." I don't bother, people don't get it either way. So the first part of my pet peeve is people who get my name wrong, then proceed to use it way too many times in the course of our … [Read more...]
Healthy Chocolate Cheesecake Pancakes
I love weekends. And I know what you're thinking. "Duh. We all do." But I have an extra love for weekends, and it's called pancakes. I know, I know, I've discussed this before, but I have a feeling most of you weren't around back then, so let me reiterate. Weekday breakfasts in my world consist of an enormous cup of coffee as I start up my computer at work, followed by a bowl of cereal and milk about an hour later. And in case any of you thought that bowl of cereal was a treat of any sort, let me clarify. When I say bowl, I actually mean a cup. As in the awful little Styrofoam cups that my company expects us to drink out of. And I have a theory about my cereal that is proven … [Read more...]
Mini Red Velvet Bundt Cakes with Cream Cheese Glaze
Mini Red Velvet Bundt Cakes with Cream Cheese Glaze are beautiful AND delicious! ***Before we start – have you signed up for my email newsletters? You’ll get new recipes, cooking tips, menu suggestions, kitchen deals – and more! Click here to signup.*** Hey friends! Long time no speak, huh? I would totally apologize for my long absence, but I had such a good reason that I am not going to even bother. Plus I might just do it again. I am not going to go into details, but I will say that if you're a reader of Ami Magazine, you are in for a huge treat. (Speaking of Ami, did y'all catch my gorgeous cookies on the cover last week?!) Anywho. Let's talk about the main reason you're … [Read more...]