Robust Recipes

Healthy, Flavorful Food

Apple Spiced Granola

By

Hi, friends. You know those mornings when your alarm rudely chirps at you and all you want to do is roll over and hit the snooze button a few times? By "a few times" I mean 10! As the chill settles into Iowa I find it's harder to leave my warm bed each morning. Most mornings I wake up right as my alarm goes off, and sometimes 20 to 30 minutes before. I know, I'm kinda crazy, and to be honest with you, I never thought I would be a morning person, not in a million years! I really, truly love what … [Read more...]

Pear Coconut Green Smoothie

By

  Hey, Friends, how was your Thanksgiving? Did you eat a lot of turkey and pumpkin pie and spend time with your family? Did you spend the long weekend relaxing by reading a book or watching a movie? Ahh, I love long weekends; they are refreshing and very necessary every once in a while, don’t you agree? After all of that cooking and eating wonderful, comforting, rich holiday foods I think it’s time that we take a little break from cooking for a day. Heck, why should we even take the … [Read more...]

Seedy Buckwheat Granola Bars

By

Granola bars have never excited me too much; most of them seem to have almost the same amount of sugar, carbs, and calories as a candy bar. I would prefer to just eat the candy bar and stop pretending that granola bars are healthy. Does anyone else agree with me on this?   I felt this way about granola bars until I learned that I can make my own. Now I can’t seem to get enough of them! What I love about making my own granola bars is that I can control the level of sweetness. Most … [Read more...]

Coconut Pumpkin Spice Latte

By

  Hi friends!!! There is so much excitement going on right now! As I am writing this post I am sipping on a homemade pumpkin spice latte! Or maybe that’s just a major caffeine high that I am feeling. If you don’t know by now, I am a tea drinker through and through. There are only a few occasions when I enjoy coffee; it needs to be loaded with sugars and flavorings, and the milk needs to be steamed so I don’t taste it’s evil nastiness (I hate the taste of cow’s milk!), and all that other … [Read more...]

Sweet Potato Hash with Mushrooms

By

  As I’m sure you are aware by now, I am a huge fan of a hearty breakfast. Most week days I eat prepared hard boiled eggs, or quickly scramble up some eggs. Weekends are a different story. On weekends I like to slow down and take my time to make breakfast a little extra special. This Sweet Potato Hash with Mushrooms is the perfect way to enjoy something a little more exciting than just plain ol’ eggs. Sweet Potato Hash with Mushrooms is really simple to make. It only requires … [Read more...]

Homemade Applesauce

By

We are fortunate enough to have this little apple orchard not too far from us. Every fall since we have moved to the area I have enjoyed going to the apple orchard to stock up on apples for a few weeks. I seem to have a problem of buying way too many apples when I go to the orchard. All of the apples look so beautiful, fresh, and juicy that I get really excited. I find it hard to stop loading up my bag. I keep wanting more apples. Before I know it, I have purchased 6 pounds of apples when I … [Read more...]

Gluten Free Jalapeno Cornbread Muffins

By

CORNBREAD MUFFINS!!! Yes, I am so excited about this recipe that I had to type it in all caps! If there is anyone out there who doesn’t like cornbread, especially in muffin form, and especially slathered with butter and honey, then I’m sorry but we can’t be friends anymore. KIDDING! But not really. In my very humble opinion corn bread should be fine in texture; use the fine ground corn flour. Cornbread should be tender; you don’t want it so dry that it gets stuck in your throat as you’re … [Read more...]

Carrot Cake Granola Bars

By

  Raise your hand if you love carrot cake! Next to chocolate cake, carrot cake is one of my favorites. What’s not to love: little bits of carrots baked into fluffy cake that is spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves. Sometimes the cake is studded with raisins or walnuts. Everything is topped with a thick and creamy, slightly sweetened cheesecake frosting. You totally want some carrot cake now, don’t ya? Sorry to burst your bubble but I have no carrot cake to offer you … [Read more...]

Chai Spiced Raw Energy Balls

By

Since the start of spring I have been consistently running 2 to 3 times a week in the mornings. Being this consistent with running is a very big deal to me. Up until this summer I have absolutely despised running! I mean, I really, really HATED running! The only reason I ever ran was because someone else told me I had to, such as my gym teacher in school, or my swim coach in high school. Then it was the workout I would do when I didn’t have access to a pool. Running always felt so … [Read more...]

Bacon and Egg Breakfast Muffins (GF)

By

Bacon and eggs in a muffin?!? Whhhhaaaattt???! You crazy?!?! Maybe. Okay yes, I’m a little crazy. Here’s the thing. I am not a big sweet breakfast person. Muffins, pancakes and cereal make me want to take a nap right after I eat them and then I tend to be cranky for the remainder of the day. That’s not exactly the way I want to start my day. This is the reason you don’t see many pancake or waffle recipes on this site. To start my day off on the right foot I usually eat 2 eggs and some sort … [Read more...]