• Recipes,  Something Sweet

    Easy Pumpkin Rum Bread Pudding

    Halloween may be over, but pumpkin desserts are still in full swing. Here is a recipe for Pumpkin Rum Bread Pudding that is surprisingly easy to make and perfect to whip up as a fall desert. The great thing about this recipe is that you can use regular sliced whole wheat bread, something many of us often have on hand at home. The bread pudding comes out hearty and custardy, with plenty of spiciness from the cinnamon and nutmeg, and an extra kick courtesy of 1/4 cup of rum. Serve with a dollop of freshly whipped cream. Delicious!

  • Recipes,  Something Sweet

    Pumpkin Cake Doughnuts

    I have been on a bit of a doughnut kick lately (see my Frosted Chocolate Cake Doughnuts), so I decided to continue the fun and bake up a batch of baked pumpkin cake doughnuts. Since they are not deep fried, these doughnuts are (a little) healthier and have more of a cupcake-like texture rather than a traditional doughnut texture. The result is very moist and chewy due to the pumpkin in the batter, along with lots of spiciness from pumpkin pie spice and cloves. For this recipe, you’ll need

  • Recipes,  Something Savory,  Something Sweet

    Favorite Fall Recipes

    Autumn has officially arrived and if you are like me, that means it’s time to get going on some warm and comforting fall recipes. There is nothing better than a hearty soup, succulent roast, or delectable spiced pumpkin cake this time of year, so I thought I’d round up some of my favorite fall recipes from the chic brûlée to share with you all. Just click on the picture for the full recipe. Be sure to give one a try!





    Low Fat Fudgy Ghost Cupcakes Pumpkin Spice Bars Mini Blueberry Almond Crisps Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal Pecan Cookies Apple Flognarde Fall Roasted Chicken with Apples & Sage Cinnamon Applesauce Healthy Multigrain Pumpkin Muffins Roasted Butternut Squash & Apple Soup
  • Recipes,  Something Savory

    Fall Roasted Chicken with Apples & Sage

    As all of us in New York are finally recovering from the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, I couldn’t help but think back to the day before the hurricane hit, when the weather was bright, sunny and truly the calm before the storm. That day, Aaron and I ventured out to Union Square Greenmarket to pick up some ingredients for dinner. We set out to create a Roasted Chicken inspired by the wonderful warm flavors of the fall season.

  • Recipes,  Something Sweet

    Apple Flognarde… A Light French Clafoutis Dessert

    Apple Flognarde is a delicious traditional French specialty hailing from the Limousin and Auvergne region in the southwest of France. A flognarde, similar to a Clafoutis which is made with cherries, is essentially a puffed “soufflé” baked with fresh fruit. Although you can make it with blackberries, peaches, figs, or blueberries, just to name a few, an apple version is perfectly appropriate for the fall, when you can find delicious native apples at your local orchards. The Apple Flognarde resembles a light-as-air pancake and puffs up when baked. It is slightly sweet and boasts a delicious vanilla flavor, similar to a crepe. The flognarde eventually deflates after cooling, leaving a light and crispy golden “custard” surrounding the baked apples. Served with a dollop of vanilla ice cream or whipped cream, this is the perfect light dessert to end a heavy meal. 

  • Recipes,  Something Sweet

    Cinnamon Applesauce

    My boyfriend and I went apple picking at Stuart’s Farm in Westchester County, NY, and ever since I have been thinking of creative ways to use the bushels of apples we brought home. With almost 200 acres of trees, we were able to pick a variety of apples — Golden Delicious, Red Delicious, Empire, Mutsu, Jonagold, Ida Red, Northern Spy, Black twig, and Baldwins. There is no better way to enjoy hand-picked apples than with a homemade batch of applesauce. Although there are many variations of applesauce out there, I prefer a simple Cinnamon Applesauce recipe, with fresh lemon juice, apple cider, cinnamon and nutmeg. If you like your applesauce sweet, feel free to add a 1/4 cup of brown sugar, however, since the apples we picked were so sweet I really didn’t need to add any. The apples cook on your stovetop for about 25 minutes and fill the house with a warm smell of cinnamon and nutmeg. Use this applesauce as a snack, in baking (as a substitute for oil), or as a side dish with chicken or pork. Delicious!

  • Recipes,  Something Savory

    Roasted Butternut Squash & Apple Soup

    There is nothing like butternut squash soup on a cool autumn day. This recipe for Roasted Butternut Squash & Apple Soup is my grandmother’s and it has been one of my favorites for years. The best part about this soup is the addition of zesty apples to add a bit of tang to the soup. You start by preparing your butternut squash and apples (peeling, coring, chopping, etc.) and then roasting the squash, apples and onions on a baking sheet in the oven until tender and just golden. You then add the roasted fruit and vegetables to a soup pot, along with chicken broth and an array of fall-appropriate spices. After pureeing everything, you get a simple, healthy and delicious Butternut Squash and Apple Soup. Serve with a bit of grated Parmigiano-Reggiano on top and a slice of crusty bread. Irresistible!

  • Recipes,  Something Sweet

    Low Fat Fudgy Ghost Cupcakes

    If you are looking for a spooky, fun dessert for Halloween, look no further than my Low Fat Fudgy Ghost Cupcakes. With low-fat cake batter (recipe courtesy of Skinny Taste), made with Dark Chocolate Fudge Cake Mix, canned pumpkin and water (that’s it!) and my very own recipe for homemade whipped vanilla meringue frosting, these cupcakes are a festive way to celebrate Halloween. The cupcakes come out so moist and fudgy that they taste like a just-out-of-the-oven dark chocolate brownie. I finish them off with a traditional vanilla meringue frosting, generously piped into the shape of tall, fluffy white ghosts on the top of each cupcake. The shiny, airy white meringue shapes up a perfect ghost and 2 mini chocolate chip eyes finish off these spooky treats. Enjoy!

  • Recipes,  Something Sweet

    Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal Pecan Cookies

    If you love oatmeal cookies and pumpkin you are in for a treat with these delicious Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal Pecan Cookies. With a recipe from one of my fave cooking blogs, Skinny Taste, I set out to make these scrumptious cookies. With no oil and very little butter, these cookies are made with pumpkin, oatmeal, sugar, eggs, pecans and an array of fall spices. They come out full of texture with crispy, browned edges and an oat-filled center. You get an extra kick of flavor from the pumpkin and spices that truly make for a unique and delectable cookie. Eat them for a light breakfast or anytime-of-day snack…

  • Recipes,  Something Sweet

    Healthy Multigrain Pumpkin Muffins

    I am always on the lookout for delicious pumpkin recipes that are not only tasty, but healthy as well. I found an amazing recipe for low-fat pumpkin muffins created by one of my fave baking blogs, Love From The Oven. Full of whole wheat flour, flaxseed meal and oat bran, these muffins are bursting with fiber and have the hearty, nutty texture of multigrain muffins. With the addition of pumpkin, applesauce and a hefty dose of pumpkin pie spice, these muffins are truly a delight. They have a moist center and that perfect crunchy top that everyone loves – and no oil or butter. While you are baking, your kitchen will be filled with the delicious smell of fall. Enjoy with a small dab of honey butter or with nothing at all. The recipe is after the jump… check it out!