Caroline Kaufman, MS, RDN

Raw Peanut Butter Cookie Trail Mix

Hi friends! If you like peanut butter cookies, I think you’re going to love this trail mix. It’s got clusters of raw peanut butter cookies (whhaaa? yes.) mixed with walnuts, raisins, semi-sweet chocolate chips, and pepitas (pumpkin seeds). Eat it out of the bag, sprinkle it on yogurt, or heck, put it on some vanilla ice cream with fresh berries and call it dessert. Whatever makes you happy.

I basically made no-bake energy bites but instead of rolling them into balls, I crumbled them into clusters (because granola/trail mix with clusters > granola with no clusters). It’s a one-bowl recipe (easy. peasy). Toss the clusters with the rest of the ingredients and store it in the refrigerator. It’s best to keep the clusters cold so they stick together and nuts stay fresh longer in the fridge anyway so win-win.

Tomorrow (8/31) is National Trail Mix day, so there’s no better time to whip this up.

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Peaches and Cream Baked Oatmeal

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I ate something really good today. Can you guess what it was? Maybe from the title. The title kind of gave it away didn’t it? And then the photo. Okay fine. It was peaches and cream baked oatmeal. SURPRISE! I know how to build suspense. I didn’t invent the recipe, but I can vouch for it. Dr. Sonali Ruder, the voice behind The Foodie Physician created it for her new book, Natural Baby Food. She sent me a copy to review since I loved her first book, The Natural Pregnancy Cookbook (check out the review and recipe for her blueberry oatmeal muffins). If you’re pregnant or have a little one (or have friends in such situations), it’s a wonderful resource with tons of recipes ranging from simple purees to meals for older kids. Here are some of my favorite things about the book:

Contains color photos of most recipes;
Makes cooking for your tiny boss feel simple – you can totally do this! And you don’t need a culinary degree, tons of time, or special gadgets. You will need a freezer. A freezer is KEY;
Includes advice on how parents can help babies retain their natural ability to regulate hunger and fullness;
Encourages parents to offer a variety of flavors by using herbs and spices and has a table that shows you which flavors go well together (think coriander and lentils or turmeric and cauliflower); and
Guides you from starting solids to introducing finger foods and combination meals

This cozy baked oatmeal recipe is perfect for big kids and their parents:…

If you pack a lunch everyday, you know it can quickly turn into a revolving door of staples – turkey sandwich, tuna sandwich, pb&j…the usual. That can get pretty boring. I know – I’m kind of stuck in the revolving door myself right now. Thankfully, The Recipe Redux (a monthly recipe challenge) asked its bloggers to post their…

Good question. Here’s what you need to know about sugar: In Short: Eating too much added sugar is linked to weight gain, obesity, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, unhealthy cholesterol levels, cardiovascular disease and cavities. (Note the emphasis on added.) Is it categorically bad? No. Sugar has been singled out as the root of all health…

Balsamic reduction is a game changer. I know some people make their own balsamic reduction, but I tried once and totally burned it. It turned black, filled my kitchen with an acrid smell, and left me scrubbing a pot with my salty tears. Okay, so I didn’t cry. But I didn’t feel great about the whole thing. I forgot about balsamic…

A simple quiche that combines all your favorite breakfast foods: turkey bacon, cheese, hash browns, and eggs. Easy to assemble and perfect for brunch.

Rise and Shine Blueberry Oatmeal Muffins + The Natural Pregnancy Cookbook

These blueberry oatmeal muffins have whole grains, protein, and fiber to energize your day. The recipe is from Sonali Ruder’s Natural Pregnancy Cookbook.