Turkey Meatballs

I rarely give myself credit when my cooking is good but biting into one of these babies I was actually proud of myself for making something so damn delicious. Meatballs and spaghetti is the ultimate comfort food, and when they are done like this there is nothing wrong with devouring a whole bowl (or two). You don’t even have to bother making a salad with this meal because cutting into one of these balls is already so green. Do yourself a favor and make these. Then share em with someone you love. P.s. they’re perfect for a dinner party, cook them earlier in the day and keep them simmering in a pot as long as you want- your guests will be happy and it will be the easiest dinner party ever.

Almond Crusted Chicken Strips & Baked Sweet Potato Fries with Spicy Mayo Dipping Sauce

Chicken Fingers and French Fries healthy enough to eat for dinner or feed your kids with zero guilt. Enough said. 

Blueberry Muffins

The weather in New York City has been so out of whack these days. Two days ago I was walking around in my favorite ripped jeans and a white t-shirt and today its pouring rain and I was freezing walking down the block in my winter jacket. Thank god I don’t have many places to be today because it is definitely one of those I just want to sit in my apartment in sweatpants catching up on my favorite blogs and TV shows. On that note, I decided to bake some clean blueberry muffins to snack on, on this lazy day. These muffins are made with almond flour and sweetened with dates and ripened bananas for some extra protein and flavor. Eat one plain or smear it with homemade almond butter or some jam and you’ll have the perfect comfort food without the guilt or fat.

Grilled Veggie Salad

This is a salad to get excited about. It is AMAZING. The combination of ingredients is spot on and the grilling adds an extra heartiness that makes it sufficient enough for a main dish.

The BEST Vegan Apple Crumble

Okay, not only is this the best flourless, vegan, gluten free, clean you name it apple crumble this is the BEST damn apple crumble I’ve tasted healthy or not. The crumble is impeccably crunchy, buttery and sweet and the apples are perfectly tender. Trust me, just make it- you’ll thank me later.

Middle Eastern Chicken Kebabs & Quinoa Salad with Chickpeas, Veggies & Feta

Middle Eastern cuisine has always been one of my favorite foods so I was super excited when I came across this recipe. The chicken comes out wonderfully flavorful and the spice mixture is perfectly on point. The quinoa with the feta, chickpeas and veggies adds a great tang and crunch and is a perfect protein packed side dish to go along with it.

Vegan Zucchini Pasta with Eggplant & Tomato Sauce

There is no need to dream about spaghetti anymore on a gluten free or any kind of elimination diet because this dish is unbelievably and totally delicious. The pasta is made purely from zucchini, which is filled with fiber, vitamins A, C, K, beta-carotene, folate and potassium. Plus, it has high water content so it aids in weight loss. A pasta dish that aids in weight loss? Count me in! Smothered in homemade and flavorful eggplant and tomato sauce this is a perfect meal if you are craving a hearty and satisfying comfort meal without the calories, fat and carbs that usually come with it. 

Vegan Almond Butter and Jam Sandwich Cookies

An almond butter and jam sandwich in cookie form? Yes please! These sandwich cookies are filled with everything I love from my childhood favorite including the sweetness from the jam and creaminess from the nut butter plus they pack an extra dose of protein, fiber and healthy goodness from the oats, almonds and chia seeds. These cookies are also dairy free, sugar free and vegan. Enjoy!

Chana Masala & Yogurt Chutney

Ever since my sister returned from a trip to India, she has been raving about the amazing impact that using Indian spices in your everyday cuisine can have. She has cooked my brother and me a few memorable Indian meals and both of us have been eager to master the skills as our own. This past weekend us three siblings finally got together for the cooking lesson we had been waiting for. Combining the flavors of saltiness, sourness, sweetness, and heat, my sister taught us how to make a killer chana masala and a re-imagined cilantro chutney using yogurt as a base. It was the perfect way to invigorate an otherwise boring vegetarian meal, using creative flavors to enliven the healthy ingredients of chickpeas, ginger, yogurt, and other veggies. The great thing is, many of the spices used for the chickpea dish can be incorporated into other vegetable combos for a delicious, healthy meal or side dish. At the end of the day though I think anything made on a fun afternoon with my family would taste perfect. 

Chewy Spiced Date Cookies

During my travels to the Middle East I absolutely fell in love with fresh dates. The sweet taste is like candy and the consistency is wonderful. They became a staple snack mixed with a few roasted almonds while I was abroad. When I came home to New York City I felt like I was on a quest to find Dates that compared in flavor. Every market I visited I would sample one, but none were like the ones I had while I was away. On a recent trip to Eataly (an unbelievable Italian specialty market in NYC) I stumbled upon a bin of fresh dates in the produce section. Just like I always do, I sampled one and oh my god they were amazing! I immediately filled a bag full. I felt like a kid in a candy store I was so excited. Although I love munching on dates by themselves as a sweet and healthy snack I was inspired to incorporate them into my healthy baking for a dose of natural sweetness and chewiness. Plus, the walnuts add a perfect crunch and the ginger and cinnamon add an unexpected punch of spice. I hope you enjoy these as much as I did!