Veggie Ham Egg and Cheese Bake

For an easy brunch recipe to serve for a large gathering, try this wonderful savory egg dish; made with part whole eggs, part whites, mushrooms, broccoli, bell peppers, scallions, tomatoes, ham and cheese.

You can modify this however you wish – swap the ham for lean sausage or leave it out. Swap the cheddar for mozzarella or leave it out for dairy-free. As for the vegetables, use whatever you prefer, no rules here!

My sister in law Denise recently made something very similar to this at a brunch she hosted and I knew I wanted to remake it (just a bit lighter). Her recipe called for flour but I tested it without and it worked fine, plus I swapped some of the eggs for egg whites, added a lot more veggies and use reduced fat cheese. This turned out wonderful, and you can prep it ahead and bake when your guests arrive. Enjoy!


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Fruit Pizza

Need a colorful dessert idea for Mother's Day? Try these lightened up white chocolate cookie bars topped with cream cheese frosting and fresh fruit. The perfect dessert for Spring or Summer!

I brought these to my daughter's class party yesterday and shared a photo on my Instagram and everyone wanted the recipe, so here it is! You can use any fruit you like, I usually use my favorites and try to keep it colorful but if you don't feel like cutting fruit, just use berries! You may notice some of the photos pictured here don't have white chocolate chips, that's because I tried it both ways and liked it better WITH the white chocolate, but if you're not a fan of white chocolate you can leave them out and increase the sugar slightly. The recipe below and nutritional info includes the white chocolate.

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Roasted Strawberry Banana Bread

 

This banana bread is moist and delicious, made with white whole wheat flour, sweet roasted strawberries and ripe bananas, with just a smidgen of butter, so you can enjoy a slice without the guilt!

I had some bananas that were getting brown and I was really in the mood for banana bread, so I combined the two for a delicious quick bread. You can turn these into muffins if you prefer. In the past I attempted this recipe, but the strawberries released too much liquid which made the bread a little too moist. Roasting the strawberries is the perfect solution, most of the liquid dries out from roasting so you get the flavor of the strawberries in every bite.

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Asparagus and Swiss Cheese Frittata

Spring asparagus, shallots and Swiss cheese is a delicious combination in this slimmed down frittata which is perfect for breakfast, lunch or dinner!

This is really filling, and the leftovers for perfect for lunch or breakfast the next day. Fritattas are also great if you're watching your carbs, and they are so inexpensive to make. I love having a Fritatta for Meatless Mondays with salad on the side.

Whenever asparagus is in season, I buy it and steam it right away to use for quick recipes throughout the week. It's great to add to eggs, salads, served chilled with a simple Dijon Vinaigrette or even to add to paninis (LOVE this asparagus prosciutto panini)!

Asparagus is loaded with nutrients, it's a great source of fiber, vitamin A and C, and it's packed with antioxidants, which makes it a super star in my book!

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Strawberry Rhubarb Baked Oatmeal

Strawberries and rhubarb baked with bananas, oatmeal and slivered almonds – this is so good you'll almost think you are having dessert for breakfast!

It's rhubarb season and I've always loved the combination of strawberries and rhubarb in pies and crumbles. One of my favorite baked oatmeal recipes that I LOVE to bring to potlucks or serve for brunch is Baked Oatmeal with Bananas and Blueberries, so after my friend Raquel asked me how strawberry rhubarb would taste, I immediately started experimenting.

I loved the combination, especially when I added the ripe bananas, I felt they added an extra sweetness to the tart rhubarb without having to add more honey.

I think this would be wonderful for a Mother's Day brunch; six servings is very generous, especially if you have other options on the table. 


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Mixed Baby Greens with Strawberries, Gorgonzola and Poppy Seed Dressing

 

Today it really feels like Spring here on the East Coast. Temperatures are supposed to get into the eighties, which is quite a change from the snow we had two weeks ago! I've been on a salad kick big time, and even started a Pinterest board dedicated to salads called "Bikini Ready Salads" because summer will be here before you know it.

This delicious salad is perfect for this time of year or throughout the summer. Mixed organic baby greens such as baby kale and baby spinach (side bar, I am looooving Organic Girl's I heart baby kale mix), are tossed with sliced strawberries, slivered almonds and crumbled Gorgonzola cheese. The dressing is a simple vinaigrette with honey, poppy seeds and shallots.  This makes a wonderful light lunch or a perfect side salad to serve it with grilled chicken.

I love fruit in my salads, especially when combined with the texture of nuts such as almonds and a soft cheese such as Gorgonzola. The sweetness of the strawberries compliments the cheese, and the poppy seed dressing ties it all together. This recipe was first posted back in 2008, before I owned a decent camera and the photo was so embarrassing, I decided to let it shine and give it a photo makeover.

You can swap the almonds for any nut you like, such as walnuts or pecans and the cheese can be swapped with goat cheese. For Paleo diets, leave out the cheese and use raw honey in the dressing.

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Delightful Apple Spiced Scones with Spiced Glaze

When the weather gets cool, turn your oven on and warm up the house with the sweet smell of apples and cinnamon. The temperature dropped like 20 degrees since last week, and these homemade buttermilk scones with small bits of apples and a cinnamon spice glaze were the perfect excuse to bake.

Chocolate chip scones are usually my favorite scone variety, but these apple scones may have taken their place! The scones aren't too sweet, so the glaze gives it the perfect balance of sweetness in every bite. If you want to cut back on your sugar, you can make half the glaze, then drizzle it on instead.

Perfect for an afternoon tea or a lazy Sunday brunch. Enjoy!

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Skinny Hummingbird Cupcakes

These scrumptious hummingbird cupcakes are super moist and light, full of pineapple, chopped bananas, pecans, cinnamon and spices topped off with a sweet cream cheese frosting.

Hummingbird cake first appeared in Southern Living Magazine back in 1978, originally submitted by Mrs. L.H. Wiggins of Greensboro, North Carolina and is known to have won numerous blue ribbons at county fairs. This skinny version does not disappoint! The flavors are reminiscent of a carrot cake, without the carrots and make the perfect Mother's Day dessert!

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Caramelized Onion, Red Pepper and Zucchini Frittata

Caramelized onions, sauteed bell peppers and zucchini combined create a winning egg dish.

Frittatas are very versatile, they can be eaten for breakfast, lunch or dinner if paired with a salad. Cut into small squares, they can be served as an appetizer as well.

This starts on the stove and finishes in the oven. I like to use half eggs, half egg whites to lighten my frittatas yet maintain the taste and texture I prefer and keep the vitamins, iron and nutrients, but if you wish to use all egg whites, that would certainly work.

Note: This has been updated from the archives and slightly modified it to make it even better!

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Heart-Shaped Chocolate Chip Banana Pancakes

Valentine's Day falls on a Tuesday this year and I can't think of a better way to send your loved ones off to work or school then with these fabulous light and fluffy Chocolate Chip Banana Pancakes!

This is pure love on a plate folks...

I used heart shaped pancake molds which only makes one at a time, so if you plan on doing this and making a lot, I recommend buying more than one mold.

I topped mine with light agave syrup which added the perfect amount of sweetness without distracting from the flavors, but chocolate syrup would be a great option too.

Oh, and if you really want to go nuts like I did, you can top the pancakes with heart shaped bananas! Or drizzle I love you in chocolate syrup. And you don't need a holiday as an excuse to make them, these are great any time of the year. Enjoy!!


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Petite Chocolate Chip Banana Bread Loaves

Valentine's Day is here before you know it, so if chocolate is something you crave, why not make it healthier with these petite loaves made with love... by you!

Whole wheat mini banana bread made with ripe bananas and chocolate chips are sure to leave a smile on anyone's face.

These make 8 large muffins in comparison to using a normal sized muffin tin which gives you 12-13. If you don't have these Petite Loaf Pans you can use one large 8 x 5-inch loaf instead, cooking time will be closer to 50-60 minutes or use a regular sized muffin tin, baking them for about 25 minutes.

Because they are so large the nutritional info is a little higher, so I have also provided the nutritional info for regular sized muffins. Perhaps these cute silicone heart shaped muffin tins?

If you prefer nuts to chocolate in your banana bread see my banana nut bread recipe, hope you enjoy!!


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Skinny Chocolate Chip Buttermilk Scones

Buttermilk scones sweetened just to perfection studded with chocolate chips. Kind of like eating a giant chocolate chip cookie for breakfast... without the guilt.

Yes, I just found my new favorite scone!

I tested them out on some friends, and they agree! In fact, we ate them all before I got to take pictures, so I had to make them again.

No worries...

Chocolate makes everything better!


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Baked Oatmeal with Blueberries and Bananas

Start your day off right with this warm, satisfying heart-healthy breakfast your family will love.

Oatmeal baked with ripe bananas, blueberries, cinnamon, honey and walnuts... need I say more? Yes! this IS as good as it sounds, I promise!!

You can make this with any combination of nuts and fruit you like, the possibilities are endless! But I really loved biting into a sweet warm banana, I felt like I was eating dessert.

Your family will thank you for this one, and you'll feel good knowing they are eating a healthy breakfast. Enjoy!

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Whole Wheat Pancakes {New and Improved}

Healthy, low-fat, whole wheat pancakes that are light and fluffy!

Well this is a first, I completely re-wrote my original recipe. I hope this doesn't create any confusion but after getting a few comments that my original recipe was a little thin, I re-made them and had the same results. I want every recipe on Skinnytaste to be GREAT so I went back to the drawing board, and made batches and batches of whole wheat pancakes until I felt it was everything a whole wheat pancake should be; fluffy, low-fat, and tasty! This meant completely re-writing my older recipe so if you have print-outs, I suggest you re-print this.

My original recipe called for oil and egg whites, I found using the whole eggs and eliminating the oil worked out much better, and reduced the points as well. I also slightly increased the baking powder, make sure it's not expired or the pancakes will be flat. Any slight changes you make to this recipe can yield a different result, so I suggest making them exactly as written.

Because these pancakes are high in fiber, they leave you feeling full and satisfied throughout the day. I used 100% white whole wheat flour which I prefer because my kids don't realize it's whole wheat. You can find this by King Arthur, Bob's Red Mill or Trader Joe's, but regular whole wheat works fine too, just don't use pastry flour.

You can add blueberries or chocolate chips to them when you add the batter to the skillet or serve them with your favorite syrup. I prefer my pancakes topped with agave, real Vermont Maple Syrup or blueberry compote. I make all the pancakes and freeze the remaining for instant breakfast to enjoy throughout the week.

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Sweet Light Angel Food Cupcakes with Meringue Icing

Ok folks, hope you are all enjoying your Cinco De Mayo recipes, but I have not forgotten that Mother's Day in only a few short days. Why not make your Mom the sweetest, light and airy angel foods cupcake you'll ever taste!

These deliciously airy cupcakes are made with love from scratch with egg whites, flour, sugar and vanilla and topped with a creamy, airy merengue icing that just melts in your mouth; the fact that they are fat free is just an added bonus.

I've had my eye on these cupcakes from the Kitchn for a long time and when I finally got around to making them, they did not disappoint! Seriously, I will never buy an angel food cake from a box again. Probably for the more intermediate baker, a bit more delicate to make then using a box mix and requires a little more patience. But isn't Mom worth it?!

Take your time, add the ingredients slowly and make sure your eggs are at room temperature before starting. Meringues can be temperamental, start with squeaky clean metal bowls. Your patience will pay off!

These are great for special occasions, but remember, they are made with sugar so I wouldn't eat these every day, but once in a while it's ok to indulge. I am not sure how these would work out with Stevia or Splenda, if anyone tries it leave a comment and let me know how it turns out!

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Bananas Fosters Topped Overnight French Toast

Dessert for breakfast? This make-ahead baked French toast casserole topped with Bananas Fosters will wow your guests this Easter! Put out some bowls of fresh berries and fruit and your guests wont even know this is a lightened up French Toast.

This was inspired by my Lightened Up Crème Brûlée French Toast. I had brought it to my cousins Kat's for New Years morning and she being the dessert queen that she is decided to make Bananas Fosters to top it off. It was heavenly so I wanted to recreate that day with a lighter version of it.

I tested this out on all my family members and everyone loved it. It's almost like a bread pudding, you could probably even enjoy this for dessert. Hope you enjoy! You can easily double this recipe for a bigger crowd.


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Breakfast Creme Brulee

Creme Brulee for breakfast? No, I haven't lost my mind!

The custard in this low fat creme brulee is actually Greek yogurt sweetened with fruit preserves on the bottom, and topped with fresh fruit. What a fancy way to serve breakfast or even dessert with very little effort while making you look like a rock star in the kitchen!

This recipe is so easy to make, and it's absolutely delicious! Use your favorite fruit preserves and top with the same fresh fruit. I highly recommend using a creme brulee torch. I've tried using my broiler to caramelize the sugar with success most of the time, but it's much easier to control this with a torch.

This would be perfect for a Mother's day brunch or dessert if you're having a dinner party. Be sure you have enough fuel in your torch and you may want to experiment with one before you making this for a large crowd.

This can be made for one or more than a dozen; assemble the preserves and yogurt ahead of time then add the sugar right when you are about to torch the sugar. If you add the sugar sooner, the sugar will be absorbed by the yogurt and it won't work. I recommend serving immediately. Enjoy!!

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Strawberry Swirl Cheesecake

Low fat cheesecake swirled with strawberry jam on graham cracker crust.

I was experimenting with cheesecake and fat-free Greek yogurt this week with fabulous results. I personally thought it could have used a touch more sugar, but my husband disagreed so I'll leave it up to you to decide if you want to add another tablespoon of sugar to your batter.

This can be made with your favorite flavored jam, I used sugar free Strawberry but the possibilities are endless. I have a jar of mixed berry jam I can't wait to use to make another batch.

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Lightened Up Crème Brûlée French Toast

A make-ahead baked French toast casserole with a sweet sugar-coated bottom, perfect for a Christmas morning breakfast.

This was a recipe make-over requested by one of my readers I was excited to tackle. The original recipe calls for a stick of butter, lots of eggs and half-and-half cream. Although this has been lightened up by removing the butter, replacing the cream with milk and most of the eggs with egg substitute, your guests will never know it. What's better than waking up with a house full of guests and having a no-fuss breakfast when you wake up. Serve this with fresh fruit to complete your table.

This uses a half loaf of challah bread, so you can easily double this and make two if you have more guests. And as an fyi, portions are pretty large, if you cut this into 8 pieces, it would be 7 points plus.

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Steamed Asparagus with Poached Eggs

Poached eggs, asparagus, kosher salt, fresh pepper and shaved Pecorino Romano. This simple egg dish is delicious for breakfast, lunch or brunch. You can serve this with whole grain toast on the side.

I grew up eating in my mother's luncheonette and my favorite way she prepared my eggs were poached. This is a healthy option since no fat is added when cooking. The easiest way to make this is with an egg poacher, but you can easily make them without as I did here following these simple steps.

My mantra is cooking doesn't have to be complicated, if you use quality ingredients, you will achieve great results. I prefer to cook with whatever fresh vegetables are in season and I keep my kitchen stocked with good olive oils, cheeses and spices.

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