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Double Chocolate Chip Cookies

March 9, 2023 by pamflo

Ooey-goey, soft in the middle and crispy on the outside, the ultimate sweet treat! This is by far the best chocolate chip cookie recipe, it’s simple, delicious and makes about 3 dozen cookies. The dough freezes beautifully, so you can have fresh, warm chocolate chip cookies whenever you have a craving. Sometimes it’s a simple step that creates an outstanding cookie like using both white and brown sugar or using top quality chocolate chips. These cookies make superb ice cream […]

Categories: Chocolate, Cookies, Crowd Pleaser, Desserts, Easy Recipes, Holiday Ideas • Tags: Bake

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Homemade Peppermint Patties

February 2, 2023 by pamflo

Any interest in making your Valentine a healthy treat? Me too, that’s why I love this recipe and it involves no cooking! Food that doesn’t involve cooking relies on really fresh, high quality ingredients. These divine patties are super minty and pack an intense coconut punch. Instead of corn syrup or white sugar, I use pure maple syrup. You’ll make the coconut filling, shape the filling into patties and give them a quick trip to the freezer. Once chilled, you […]

Categories: Candy, Chocolate, Crowd Pleaser, Dairy Free, Desserts, Easy Recipes, Gifts, Gluten Free, Healthish, Holiday Ideas, Paleo • Tags: No Cooking

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Raspberry Almond Clafoutis

January 19, 2023 by pamflo

A clafoutis is a classic French dessert made by pouring a sweet egg batter, similar to pancake batter, over fresh fruit. When the clafoutis is done the top gets golden brown and crisp, especially with a sprinkling of powdered sugar, while the inside is soft and custard-like. Although a clafoutis is typically made with cherries or summer stone fruit, I made my clafoutis for a family holiday brunch with raspberries and slivered almonds. A clafoutis is a perfect sweet treat […]

Categories: Breakfast Ideas, Desserts, Easy Recipes, Eggs, Fruit, Holiday Ideas, Pudding • Tags: Bake

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Peanut Caramel Crunch Bars

December 1, 2022 by pamflo

Making candy at home takes a bit of effort, however, it’s rewarding and satisfying. All you need is a candy thermometer, a sturdy aluminum or copper saucepan, and some focus. It is important to have your tools and ingredients ready to go, because the candy comes together rather fast. The addition of light corn syrup prevents the sugar from crystalizing. The candy lasts for a couple of weeks, makes a great gift and is truly delicious. These flaky, mildly sweet […]

Categories: Bars, Candy, Crowd Pleaser, Desserts, Gluten Free, Holiday Ideas, Nuts • Tags: Candy

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Flourless Almond Butter Pecan Cookies

November 10, 2022 by pamflo

Almond butter is the delicious paste that comes from grinding almonds into a nut butter. It is the glue, along with an egg, that binds these flourless cookies together. Almonds are high in antioxidants, low in carbohydrates, and a source of healthy fat and protein. You can use natural almond butter, commercial almond butter or you can make your own almond butter. There will be a difference in the texture so you’ll want to put some muscle into making a […]

Categories: Crowd Pleaser, Dairy Free, Desserts, Easy Recipes, Gluten Free, Healthish, Nuts • Tags: Bake

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Pumpkin Pie Smoothie

October 20, 2022 by pamflo

Pumpkin purée is low in calories, high in nutrients and readily available. It’s a great source of potassium, fiber and vitamin A. Don’t mistakenly purchase pumpkin pie filling which is spiced and already sweetened. Canned pumpkin purée is nothing more than puréed pumpkin flesh. I usually grab a few extra cans this time of year for soups, pancakes/waffles and baked goods. I added spinach to my smoothie which does turn the beautiful orange pumpkin flesh to a dull green, but adds vitamin […]

Categories: Beverage, Breakfast Ideas, Dairy Free, Easy Recipes, Gluten Free, Greens, Healthish, Low Sugar, Nuts, Smoothies/Shakes • Tags: No Cooking, Whiz

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Chunky Apple Walnut Muffins

September 22, 2022 by pamflo

Apple season is in full swing! These incredibly moist, chunky muffins are a perfect way to bake with the amazing variety of apples that are available. My favorite baking apples are Honeycrisp, Braeburn, Granny Smith and Cortland. My muffins are dairy and gluten free, as I substituted gluten-free flour for regular all-purpose flour. With a combination of applesauce and coconut oil, I could cut back on the amount of granulated sugar used. Although adding chopped walnuts are optional, they add a […]

Categories: Breakfast Ideas, Dairy Free, Desserts, Easy Recipes, Fruit, Gluten Free, Healthish, Low Sugar, Snack • Tags: Bake

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Banana Oat Bites

August 18, 2022 by pamflo

Using only 5 ingredients, these banana oat bites are easy, delicious and quick to make. These cookies are on the healthier side with no added sugar and perfect with your morning coffee or as an afternoon snack. Make sure to use a very ripe banana, as the banana along with the dates provide the sweetness. The cookies are bound together with oats and I used old fashioned oats for a chewier cookie, but quick oats work too. Banana Oat Bites Print […]

Categories: Breakfast Ideas, Cookies, Crowd Pleaser, Dairy Free, Desserts, Easy Recipes, Gluten Free, Healthish, Snack • Tags: Bake

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Morning Glory Muffins

May 19, 2022 by pamflo

There’s a great little place in Marston Mills on Cape Cod called Morning Glory Cafe. Although the cafe has a broad variety of breakfast and lunch items, their morning glory muffins are not to be missed. This is my best shot at creating a similar style muffin and I have to admit that these are really delicious! Whole wheat flour or a mix of whole wheat and all-purpose flour do the trick, but I used white whole wheat flour which […]

Categories: Breakfast Ideas, Crowd Pleaser, Dairy Free, Desserts, Easy Recipes, Healthish, Muffins, Snack, Vegetables • Tags: Bake

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Date and Almond Butter Fudge Bars

April 21, 2022 by pamflo

Always in search of a healthy treat, I was inspired by this fudge recipe that uses dates as a base and provides its sweetness. Large and plump, Medjool dates are a perfect natural sweetener for bars, smoothies and baked goods. Dates are a stone fruit that are high in fiber and a rich source of antioxidants. Choose dates that are shiny, unbroken, and not too firm. Both the coconut oil and almond butter have a dual purpose of providing great […]

Categories: Bars, Breakfast Ideas, Dairy Free, Desserts, Easy Recipes, Gluten Free, Healthish, Holiday Ideas, Nuts • Tags: No Cooking

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Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

March 24, 2022 by pamflo

This bread is a family favorite with the combination of ripe bananas and chocolate chips. It’s moist and delectable, and the scent will waft through your kitchen as it’s baking. Let the banana bread cool and serve it warm. The bread will freeze well, if you have any slices left! Let’s talk about flour, specifically about the weight of it. There is a difference between “2 cups sifted all-purpose flour” and “2 cups all-purpose flour, sifted”. Actually the variance is […]

Categories: Breads, Chocolate, Crowd Pleaser, Dessert, Snack • Tags: Bake

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Millet Maple Porridge

February 17, 2022 by pamflo

Millet is a healthy whole grain that is naturally gluten-free and a good source of protein and dietary fiber. It has a mild nutty flavor, cooks in about 30 minutes and is a unique breakfast option. When cooking millet as a breakfast cereal, the ratio of liquid to grain is higher as this hearty grain expands when cooked. I used two cups of liquid, a combination of almond milk and water, to a 1/2 cup of the millet. Quinoa, amaranth […]

Categories: Breakfast Ideas, Dairy Free, Easy Recipes, Gluten Free, Grains, Healthish • Tags: Simmer

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Flourless Chocolate Cake with Chili

February 10, 2022 by pamflo

This dense, chocolaty and utterly delicious cake recipe is adapted from Eating Well magazine. This is a gluten-free cake with no flour in the batter and a secret ingredient of chipotle chili powder. I say secret ingredient because you might not detect the chili powder, but it intensifies the chocolate and the cinnamon flavors. I always recommend using good quality chocolate with at least 70% cacao. Guittard bittersweet baking wafers, which I enthusiastically recommend, are readily available in most markets. […]

Categories: Cakes, Chocolate, Crowd Pleaser, Desserts, Easy Recipes, Gluten Free, Holiday Ideas • Tags: Bake, Melt

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Chocolate Chia Seed Pudding

January 20, 2022 by pamflo

This chia seed pudding recipe is as simple as it gets. There is no cooking involved and the pudding has only 6 ingredients. These small seeds pack a big nutrient punch. They’re gluten free, a great source of protein, fiber, and omega-3 fatty acids. Although the chia seeds are flavorless this is where your choice of milk and toppings will make all the difference. I like the way the chia seeds swell and thicken when immersed in liquid. Thick and […]

Categories: Breakfast Ideas, Dairy Free, Easy Recipes, Gluten Free, Healthish, Seeds, Snack • Tags: No Cooking

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Blueberry Muffins

January 6, 2022 by pamflo

Packed with antioxidants and nutrients, fresh blueberries are perfect for these muffins. However, if fresh blueberries are unavailable frozen berries will work as well. When you buy fresh blueberries and can’t use them all, freeze them. Gently wash and pat berries dry, pick through to remove the stems and squashed ones. Place the berries on a sheet tray in one layer, and place in the freezer. Once frozen, store in a zip-lock freezer bag until ready for baking. The blueberries […]

Categories: Breakfast Ideas, Crowd Pleaser, Easy Recipes, Muffins, Snack • Tags: Bake

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Holiday Dessert Board

December 16, 2021 by pamflo

Looking for an easy way to serve dessert for the holidays, this dessert board is a fun and festive idea! My board has mugs of steamy oat milk hot chocolate (recipe below) and mini marshmallows, as well as an assortment of delicious cookies and pastries. I used the Oatly brand of oat milk which makes a very creamy hot chocolate. You can add sugar, vanilla extract and cinnamon, if you please. My hot chocolate had nothing added to it except […]

Categories: Crowd Pleaser, Desserts, Easy Recipes, Holiday Ideas • Tags: No Cooking

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Pistachio Cranberry Ice Box Cookies

December 9, 2021 by pamflo

The holiday season is upon us and creating homemade gifts can be fun and festive. These “ice box” or “refrigerator” cookies make beautiful and delicious gifts. These cookies are made by shaping dough into logs and then refrigerating the dough before slicing and baking. The advantage to this type of cookie is the dough can be prepared ahead of time and either refrigerated or frozen. The last step, although optional, is to coat the cookie dough in an egg wash and […]

Categories: Crowd Pleaser, Desserts, Gifts, Holiday Ideas, Nuts • Tags: Bake

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Pears Poached in White Wine

October 21, 2021 by pamflo

Poached pears are an easy, delicious and elegant dessert. The pears can also be added to a salad or served alongside a cheese platter. Always use wine that you’re willing to drink. A sweeter white wine works for this recipe such as Chardonnay or a Riesling. Firm pears like Anjou or Bosc are the best type to poach, as they hold their shape. You’ll peel the pears leaving the stem intact, but also slice a 1/2 inch off of the […]

Categories: Appetizer, Crowd Pleaser, Dairy Free, Desserts, Easy Recipes, Fruit, Gluten Free, Healthish, Holiday Ideas • Tags: Poach

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Pecan Chocolate Chunk Cookies

August 19, 2021 by pamflo

There is a small Boston neighborhood shop named Fastachi that sells the best assortment of nuts, roasting them in small batches and by hand. A favorite of mine is the lightly salted, roasted pecans. I don’t usually prefer nuts in my baked goods but when I saw this recipe in a newsletter by recipe developer Susan Spungen, I knew I had to make them. I used my beautiful roasted pecans alongside bittersweet chocolate chunks for these delicious cookies. I swirled […]

Categories: Chocolate, Cookies, Crowd Pleaser • Tags: Bake

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Watermelon Dessert Pizza

July 1, 2021 by pamflo

It’s steamy hot in Massachusetts right now, and here is a refreshing dish requiring no cooking. This is a fun riff on a dessert “pizza” with the watermelon slices resembling slices of pizza. It’s as easy as whipping the ricotta with vanilla extract, honey, a pinch of cinnamon and slathering it on thick, juicy slices of watermelon. It’s a beautiful light dessert or a creative brunch dish. Festive and perfect for the July 4th holiday! Watermelon Dessert Pizza Print Recipe […]

Categories: Breakfast Ideas, Crowd Pleaser, Desserts, Fruit, Gluten Free, Healthish, Holiday Ideas • Tags: No Cooking

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Olive Oil Orange Cake

June 3, 2021 by pamflo

This lightly sweetened, fruity cake is made with extra-virgin olive oil instead of butter. Olive oil is a healthy substitute for butter. Although it is a source of fat, it contains healthy monounsaturated fats and is a good source of antioxidants. Baking with olive oil produces a lighter textured cake, provides moisture and helps enhance the flavor of the other ingredients. The juice and zest of the oranges help balance the intensity of the olive oil flavor. Serve this delicious […]

Categories: Cakes, Crowd Pleaser, Dairy Free, Desserts, Fruit • Tags: Bake, Whip

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Zest For Cooking

I love to cook and share my love of food!

Archives

Double Chocolate Chip Cookies

Homemade Peppermint Patties

Raspberry Almond Clafoutis

Peanut Caramel Crunch Bars

Flourless Almond Butter Pecan Cookies

Pumpkin Pie Smoothie

Chunky Apple Walnut Muffins

Banana Oat Bites

Morning Glory Muffins

Date and Almond Butter Fudge Bars

Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

Millet Maple Porridge

Flourless Chocolate Cake with Chili

Chocolate Chia Seed Pudding

Blueberry Muffins

Holiday Dessert Board

Pistachio Cranberry Ice Box Cookies

Pears Poached in White Wine

Pecan Chocolate Chunk Cookies

Watermelon Dessert Pizza

Olive Oil Orange Cake