Whenever I go to a BBQ or cookout I always bring my tried and true White Trash Potatoes. There are three things I LOVE about this recipe which becomes a favorite at all cookouts I attend:
1. They are super fast and easy to make
2. They are delicious
3. They are always a crowd pleaser. I have yet to take any home after a BBQ.
Now, these are not Paleo friendly, they are not Raw, they are not low carb and I would guess that a generous serving would all but obliterate your Weight Watchers points. So in a word – these are awesome!
I should also add that my family loves these as well so don’t feel like you need to wait for a potluck to make these. I have been known to make a batch and freeze half and bake the other half. When frozen I increase the cooking time about 20 minutes until they are warm in the center.
Ingredients
2 lb. frozen hash browns, thawed
1/2 c. diced onions
1 c. cream of chicken soup
1 c. sour cream
1 stick melted butter
8 oz. cheddar cheese, grated
1 tsp. salt
3/4 tsp. pepper
1/2 tsp. paprika
Directions
Mix all ingredients and add to potatoes. Pour into a 9″x13″ pan. Bake at 375 degrees for one hour. Can be made up to 2 days in advance before baking.
Here is a close up….YUM!
I am a chocolate chip cookie freak. They are definitely one of my favorite foods and I have to say that there is nothing I love more than eating them fresh out of the oven. So incredibly good! I have blogged about my tried and true chocolate chip cookie recipe here and still use this as my go to. If you haven’t tried it you must – they are foolproof and incredibly delicious. Oh and you don’t need to bust out a mixer – this one can be done completely by hand. 🙂
So since I am madly in love with chocolate chip cookies I am always eager to come up with a way to make them healthier. I have combined numerous recipes to come up with my Skinny Chocolate Chip Cookies that I think are pretty tasty. My two boys even thought they were good and didn’t complain when eating them asking what was wrong with them and why they tasted funny. A couple of things to keep in mind – I used coconut oil as the fat, however if you chose to use melted butter that would work as well and would probably taste even more like chocolate chip cookies. As for flour – I chose a combination of equal parts all-purpose white flour, whole wheat flour and coconut flour. As long as you use 1 1/2 cups of flour you will be golden. Just keep in mind that the flour you choose will affect the taste and texture. By using the three I listed above they didn’t have a heavy wheat taste and were very soft.
I hope you try these out and let me know what you think. They are my new favorite skinny cookie and when I am trying to be good, I will whip up a batch of these instead of my full fat version.
Skinny Chocolate Chip Cookies
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups flour of choice (you can use all whole wheat or AP flour – I used a combination of coconut, whole wheat and AP flour)
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 c. organic coconut oil, melted or 1/4 c. butter, melted
1/4 c. unsweetened applesauce
1/2 c. light brown sugar
1/4 c. granulated sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 c. dark chocolate chips (more anti-oxidants!)
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheets with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
In a medium bowl whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
In another bowl mix together coconut oil (or butter – whatever you choose), applesauce, sugars, egg, and vanilla. Once combined, add flour mixture and stir just until incorporated. Add chocolate chips.
If you have time, put the dough in the fridge for about an hour, if not put the dough in the fridge in between batches that are baking. Drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto the baking sheet and bake for about 9-10 minutes. Let cool.
Make approximately 36 cookies depending on the size of themm
I love a good staple and nude shoes are an absolute must in my wardrobe. Shoes in an au natural hue can brighten up a dark outfit and seamlessly bring a bold outfit together.
The more I wear them, the more I continue to fall in love with these versatile gems. Here are some of my favorite nude stunners:
1. Valentino ‘Rockstud’ T-Strap Pump, $995 There is no question that these are a splurge and prior to purchasing these I contemplated the purchase for about 18 months. I couldn’t get these shoes out of my head so I eventually caved and made the purchase. I can’t begin to tell you how glad I made the investment. These shoes take any outfit from drab to fab and are an instant conversation piece.
2. Ivanka Trump ‘Maggie’ Pump, $129.95 Every girl needs a pair of open toe nude pumps. These shoes can easily go from work to play and match just as beautifully with a conservative skirt suit as a pair of jeans and blouse.
3. Prada Point Toe Pump, $650.00 OK, another splurge but you will have these for decades! Perfectly classy with a pointed toe that can take you from daytime chic to nighttime sexy no matter the outfit!
4. Jessica Simpson ‘Carmyne’ Leather Sandal, $97.95 I love the stacked heel and zipper detail on this shoe. The slightly thicker heel makes heels easier to walk on (for me anyways) and the stacked heel also gives these shoes a more dressed down look that makes these perfect to wear with cropped jeans or shorts.
5. Charles David ‘Intro’ Leather Sandal, $200 A perfect combination of strappy and sexy, but since it isn’t too high and is missing the platform this shoe is a perfect combination of classy with a slight edge.
Whether it is a clutch or a mini bag every girl needs a stylish, versatile bag they can head to dinner with and/or a night out on the town.
