Extra Crispy Oven Baked Fries

For my fellow suckers for salty snacks

Ingredients

Idaho Potatoes

Olive Oil

Seasoning of Choice (below is one that was recommended on the website and I used)

Ketchup

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Wash and slice potatoes lengthwise into 1/4 inch fries. Soak in water for at least 30 mins and up to 24 hours. Soaking them helps get the starch out and the less starch = more crispiness. Take out of water and pat dry. I like to put the fries into a bowl and add enough olive oil to just coat all the fries and then sprinkled seasoning over to my liking. The bowl makes it easy to toss and coat the fries evenly. 

Cover a baking sheet with parchment paper which helps to keep the fries from sticking and makes them get crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Try to keep space between all the fries in order to help them cook better. The less fries, the better. Too many fries and they'll steam not bake. The last trick is to double bake the fries. Bake them for 30 mins at 400 then 20 mins at 425. 

I am pretty picky when it comes to the fries I eat, but these are so dangerously delicious! And they're baked so you don't have to feel as bad about eating the whole pan :P I normally use Lawry's seasoning salt on my fries, but the seasoning from the website is listed below. 

Recipe for Seasoning

2 Tbsp. Seasoned Salt

1 tsp. Dried Basil

1 tsp. Chili powder

1/8 tsp. Cumin

1/8 tsp. Black Pepper

and I added 1 tsp. Garlic Powder

*recipe adapted from layersofhappiness.com

Granola

Make Your Whole Kitchen Smell Good Granola

Ingredients 

5 C. Old-Fashioned Oats

1 C. Shredded Coconut

1/3 C. Sesame Seeds

1 C. Wheat Germ

1 C. Sunflower Seeds

3/4 C. Safflower Oil (or Coconut Oil)

3/4 C. Honey

1/4 C. Brown Sugar 

1/4 tsp. Salt

3 tsp. Vanilla

3 tsp. Cinnamon

3 C. Raw Mixed Nuts (sliced almonds, chopped walnuts, pecans etc.) 

2 C. Dried Fruit (raisins, dates, prunes, apples, cherries etc.)

Preheat oven to 350. Combine oats, coconut, sesame and sunflower seeds and wheat germ in a large heatproof bowl. 

Heat oil, honey, brown sugar, vanilla, and cinnamon in small saucepan until bubbly. Pour onto oat mixture and coat thoroughly. Add nuts. Spread over 2 cookie sheets. Bake for 20 mins, take out and stir up so it cooks evenly, return to oven and turn oven off. Let granola sit in warm oven for at least an hour. This gives the granola time to cook without burning it. Let cool and serve or store in airtight container. Enjoy!

Lettuce Tacos

Keep Calm & Eat Tacos... many tacos...

Ingredients

1 lb. Ground Turkey or Beef

Taco Seasoning

2 Tbsp. Olive Oil

Guacamole (I hope you know how to make guacamole, if this is not the case, look it up, because it is a very wonderful thing) :)

Salsa

Corn

Cheese

Radishes

Limes 

Head of Lettuce

Any other toppings you want on your awesome tacos

Heat a skillet on medium heat and add olive oil. Once heated, add ground meat and cook until no pink is showing. Take off heat and keep lid on skillet to keep meat warm. Prepare guacamole and other toppings. Take leaves off of head of lettuce, rinse and dry gently with a paper towel. Once everything is prepped you are ready to assemble! Now time to fill the lettuce shells with the works! This is pretty self explanatory and is left to your wildest imagination. Enjoy, and don't forget to take a picture of your wonderful creations before you eat :D 

Peanut Butter Chunk Oatmeal Bars

We all have that craving for PB & Chocolate...

Ingredients

1/2 C. Packed Brown Sugar

1 C. Peanut Butter

2 tsps. Vanilla Extract

1 C. Whole Wheat Flour

1 C. Old-Fashioned Rolled Oats

1 tsp. Baking Soda

1/2 C. Milk of your choice (I used almond) 

1/2 C. Dark Chocolate Chips

1/2 C. Raisins (or whatever add-ins you want)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 8x8 baking dish with parchment paper or spray with nonstick spray. With an electric or stand mixer, mix the brown sugar and peanut butter on medium speed until light in color and fluffy. Mix in the vanilla, scraping down the sides as needed. On medium speed, add in the flour, oats, salt, and baking soda. The dough will be very thick, but will come together. Slowly add the milk in a steady stream, mixing until dough forms. Fold in choco chips and other add ins. 

Once dough is completely combined, press into the prepared baking dish. Bake for 17-20 minutes or until bars are lightly golden and set. Allow to cool completely and cut into squares. I drizzled mine with some melted dark choco chips just for fun, but totally optional! Try not to eat the whole dish ;) Keep refrigerated in a covered container. Bars will be good stored up to two weeks. 

*adapted from sallysbakingaddiction.com

Easy French Toast

French Toast EVERYday

Ingredients

1 Egg

1 Egg White

1/4 C. Almond Milk

Cinnamon

4 pieces of bread

Toppings of choice

Combine all ingredients into a bowl and heat pan over medium heat. Add 1 tsp. coconut oil to pan and let melt. Dip bread in mixture until thoroughly coated and set in pan. Cook for about 2-3 minutes on each side or until golden brown. Serve warm and add any toppings! 

Lemon Blueberry Baked Oatmeal

Never eat boring oatmeal again! 

Ingredients

1/4 C. Oats

2 Tbsp. Almond Milk

1 tsp. Coconut Oil

Juice from half a lemon

Handful of berries of your choice ( I normally do blueberries and raspberries)

1 tsp. Baking Powder

1/2 a smashed banana

Preheat oven to 400F. Combine everything and put into an oven safe container (I used a bread dish)

Bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden browned and top with brown sugar or whatever toppings you want. 

**I normally double the recipe, but if you do just one it's the perfect single serving

Vanilla Procheesecake

Protein cheesecake? um yes please! 

Ingredients

Crust

1 Package of organic graham crackers

2 Tbsp. melted vegan butter

1 Tbsp. Honey

Preheat oven to 350F. Crush the graham crackers into crumbs and melt the butter. Mix everything in a bowl and press into the bottom of a springform (or nonstick/oiled pan) then bake at for 10 minutes. Take out and let cool. Turn oven down to 250F

Filling:

2 8oz. packages of fat free cream cheese at room temperature

12 oz. nonfat plain Greek yogurt

2 eggs

2 egg whites

2 scoops vanilla whey protein powder

1 c. Stevia in the raw

1 Tbsp. Vanilla extract

2 tsp. cinnamon

A pinch of salt

Combine everything into a bowl and mix with an electric mixer until smooth. Pour over crust and bake at 250F for 30 minutes, then another 45 minutes at 300F. Allow to cool completely before cutting and topping with whatever your heart desires! (pb, ice cream, proyo, pb cups, chocolate, WF syrups, pretzels, brownies, etc.)

*filling creds to Ilyssa @ohilyssa and crust creds to Kara @lifting_for_change