A roundup of some of my favorite fall recipes. There's only one time of year that I ask for just a *tad* bit of pity for the fact that I live in Hawaii. Fall. I am pretty sure that I love the autumn season more than the average person, yet, unless I travel, I don't really get to experience it at all. (any sympathy yet?) So, while we continue to have our tropical balmy evenings, and the ocean is bath-water warm, I tend to whine and complain a teensy bit around October and
Breakfasts
The Very Best 5-Minute Gluten Free Bread
A recipe for delicious Gluten-Free bread. I think we can all agree: There's nothing like a loaf of home-baked bread, fresh out of the oven. The smell that fills a home with comfort and happiness...The feel of a slice - familiar and warm in your hand (especially if there's a bit of butter melting into it.) The taste -- which somehow can transport you back to Grandma's house, or a bakery tucked away in your memory (I'm personally transported back to the incredible
Favorite Pumpkin Granola
Sharing our favorite pumpkin granola recipe below. But first: You guys. I have a son in college. Does anyone else feel weird about that? No, this has nothing to do with my Pumpkin Granola recipe (except that maybe I should be sending some to him in a care package?) I guess I just needed to get it off my chest. Truth is, I just sat down at a coffee shop to put this post together, and got side tracked on Instagram (it happens.) When I saw that my college son, who has not posted any
Sweet Cinnamon Apple Yogurt Parfaits
healthy cinnamon apple yogurt parfaits, great for breakfast, snack, or dessert So it's September. And though some of us are still sweating in summer-weather, September puts me in the mood for all kinds of fall flavors. Beginning with apples. Growing up in Washington state, our family had a few apples trees, and every year my mom and grandma would spend a couple of days making all things apple: apple pies, apple sauce, and just slicing and freezing apples for year-long snacking. (So
Family Favorite Energy Balls.
Energy balls are one staple snack food I have in my fridge almost all of the time. I shared a recipe for our favorite energy balls within another post a couple years ago, but as I am cleaning up my archives, I wanted to give the recipe it's very own post. It is worthy. ;) Energy balls are perfect for breakfast, a snack, on-the-go, or late night...Kids love them, and they are packed with great ingredients. They take a little time, but the end product is so worth it. The awesome thing about
Easy (and healthy) Baked French Toast with Bananas
Tis the season to...BAKE! :) I have these really fond memories of my mom's baked french toast. She used to make it for brunch on holidays, and what I really remember was that it was super sweet and a complete indulgence. I mean: cream cheese and butter and sugar and every sinful ingredient possible in it. And I loved it. So a few weeks ago on a Tuesday (or maybe it was Wednesday, but it was just a normal day) I started craving Mom's baked french toast. I wanted to make it and I told my boys
4 Ingredient, 5 Minute (no bake) Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars
Our boys are currently going through a stage called eating everything all of the time. I'm not sure what's going on, but it's testing both my creative cooking abilities and our budget. So it may not surprise you that I'm a sight to behold at Costco. You can't miss me: I'm the one with groceries piled high and spilling over the edges of my wagon. (I know most of America calls them "shopping carts" but here in Hawaii they are "wagons.") I've never been gifted with
Overnight Oatmeal Jars
Overnight Oatmeal Jars!Have you tried them yet? I thought I might be the last one... So I finally started experimenting with them, and now I wonder what took me so long. These are brilliant!And since we now have our favorite flavor combos, I thought I might as well share them here... You know, in case any of you could use some fresh morning INSPO... Because it's officially back to school time, and if there is one thing I will never forget about the few years I sent my boys off to (real)
Family Favorite Egg and Potato Bake
Wanna know what makes me feel like a really good mom? When I make a healthy, hot breakfast for my family. It's kind of silly, because -- really: what about all of those dinners I make every single some nights of the week? Don't they count? Sure they do, but when I nail a healthy, hot breakfast, I just feel like the mom I always thought I would be -- back when I was young and naive and didn't know about things like: how hard mornings can be. I mean, there's a lot to do in the morning,
Hawaiian Loco Moco Breakfast: The legend, the love…and a lighter version.
If you've spent some time in Hawaii, you have probably experienced (or at least wondered about) the Loco Moco plate found on local menus. Loco Moco is a traditional Hawaiian meal consisting of a pile of sticky white rice, topped with a thick hamburger patty, a fried egg, and gravy all over the top. Here's a look at one from this Huffington Post Taste article. I know, I know... It's tasty. It's filling. And...it's loaded with some of the things we're not supposed to eat very
The Best Gluten Free Muffins: Banana, Berry, or Your Choice Add-ins
So, it seems that I'm surrounded by Gluten free folks these days. My poor bread-loving father was diagnosed with Celiac disease five years ago. My dear friend Jules, who I spend a lot of time with, is also gluten-free. And we've recently brought into our crazy family life a part-time helper ("family assistant" though her title is still up in the air) named Morgan who is also hashtag-gluten-free. (and yes, you'll hear more about Morgan here in the days to come, and yes, you'll adore her.)
Tropical Smoothie Bowls: Make your own Acai, and Super Green Bowls
So, let's start this one with YUM!.... If you're not hooked on tropical smoothies and smoothie bowls yet, then let's just get this party started, shall we? Smoothies and smoothie bowls have been popular in Hawaii for years, and if they haven't hit your neighborhood yet, then just give it some time and...they likely will. But no need to wait, you can start making your own smoothie bowls right at home! A smoothie bowl is basically all of the goodness of a fruit smoothie, with a little more
(Uncle) Dr. Ted’s Nut Bars
I have a treat for you this week. Something delicious to add to your healthy cooking list in this New Year... This year we had Dave's parents, and his sister's family in town for the holidays. We had a great time catching up, eating holiday meals, hanging at the beach, eating fudge, playing games, eating pie, and...well...You know how it goes with family and holidays: Lots of fun. And lots of eating. A special part of their visit was that Uncle Ted...Dave's sister Cami's husband, brought
15 Favorite Holiday Breakfast Recipes
I love making breakfast for the family during the holidays. There is something about starting the day with a hot breakfast that fulfills my inner longing to be...my own mom. It gives me all of the holidays feels. I want to freeze those early morning moments, sipping my coffee while I stir something sweet and cinnamony on the stove. Looking up to see our tree all lit and lovely, I just enjoy a moment in the still, quiet house. Then the kids begin filing into the kitchen, sleepily landing
Baked Pumpkin Oatmeal {The Perfect Fall Breakfast}
Anyone need some fresh breakfast inspiration? Maybe with a hint of fall in there? Well I have something just for you... With four growing boys, I'm constantly trying to start their day with something other than cold cereal (which they would gladly have every day if I let them.) The problem is, my mornings are busy too, so I only have time to make a hot breakfast a couple times a week. Other than that, everyone is usually on their own. That is one of the reasons I love oatmeal. I can cook a
The Three Best Fruit Smoothie Recipes
Smoothies are pretty much an every day thing in our house. And not to be braggy, but...we kind of consider ourselves experts on the subject. I had a few smoothie recipes up on my blog back when it was still thegrommom.com, but since my re-launch last summer, I haven't gotten around to posting more. I think the reason why is because there are about a gazillion smoothie recipes available on line (hello Pinterest,) and I figured who really needs more smoothie recipes? But then I thought: Maybe
Baked Gingerbread Oatmeal, Two ways. {Gluten-free}
I'm trying to figure out if it is normal develop brand new tastes or cravings in the middle of your life. (?) I've never really thought about it before, but I guess I assumed that by now my taste buds have probably made up their mind about most things. But I must be wrong, because out of nowhere I have recently developed a brand new obsession: GINGER! It all started a few weeks ago with the first head cold I've had in a long time...and a stop at our local Coffee Gallery. Now normally I'm a
Coconut Peanut Butter Granola, For the Win
I am conducting an unofficial poll today on the hot topic of COLD CEREAL: Does your family eat a lot of cold cereal? I mean, the kind out of a box from the grocery store. If so, like how often? Daily? Multiple times daily? and... If you remove cold cereal from your home, would there be a potential uprising? I need to know these things so I might determine where my family falls on the spectrum of normal. Or more likely abnormal. **Feel free to skip the drama, and find the recipe for this
Strawberry Yogurt Donuts! I love you.
Happy Valentine's Day! I probably don't say it enough, so this seems like the perfect time to remind you that... ...I love you! And I really wish I could give each of you one of these to prove it. Really, one day, when I'm an old lady, sitting on the porch in my rocking chair, and my grandkids come by my side to ask me all those questions about what it was like when I was a mom with four rambunctious boys running in circles around me, (assuming that I'll have any memory left in me--) I promise
Simple, Quick-Rise Cinnamon Rolls {Gluten-free or Regular}
The holidays may be over…But long live the Cinnamon Roll! Amen? I know I know, I should be sharing some healthy recipe for all of you New-Years Resolution types who are trying to behave well for AT LEAST the month of January…But since I made my fourth batch of these this morning, I felt that the honest thing to do would be to share. And really, they tasted just as good to me this morning as they did on Christmas morning. Maybe even better. Everything in moderation, right? I mean, I only ate
Whole Wheat, No-Sugar Banana Bread. {that tastes really great.}
Right about now, I think I could use one big detox. Anyone else? Since I major in moderation, I won't be going THAT extreme, but a little cutting back on sugar right now sounds super good. And this banana bread recipe is a perfect way to do just that, while staying perfectly in the holiday/baking/sweet smelling state of mind. Not only that, but it's a great way to use up more of these. If you happen to have piles of them like we do… I got this recipe from my Mother-in-Law about
Icelandic Pancakes
Did you grow up with a "second mom?" Maybe it was a friend's mom, or a relative that you related to more like another mom? Recently, when one of Josiah's friends referred to me as his "second mom" I felt so happy. A second mom is a good thing. I always say It takes a Village--and that includes second moms. My BFF from the age of three was Tina, and her Mom was without a doubt my "second mom." Tina's mom had moved to America from Iceland when she was in her early twenties. Her full name
Perfect Pumpkin Scones
Pumpkin pumpkin pumpkin. You're not tired of it yet, are you? I hope not, because I could do pumpkin recipes all year long. But that would be weird, right? So I'll stay within the unspoken September to November allotted pumpkin recipe time frame. I wasn't even planning on blogging about these, I just got in the mood for pumpkin scones, and started experimenting. With about four different recipes in front of me (none were actually pumpkin scones,) I went to work. Flour was flying, and my
Orange Mac-Nut Pumpkin Muffins
It is September!! My very favorite time of the year. In my book, September means FALL. Fall Fall Fall. I don't care of it is still 90 degrees, and we just got in from the beach. It. Is. FALL. (Just be glad I'm not pulling out my Christmas lights…) And fall means pumpkin anything and everything. Agree? Pumpkin lattes. Pumpkin pie. And today: Pumpkin muffins. In this case, Pumpkin muffins with orange zest, and toasted macadamia nuts… I even made them in my fall-orange (spider-bottomed)
The Best Banana Muffins
With over 100 banana trees on our property, I am always looking for new ways to use bananas. The bananas we grow are actually "apple bananas" which have a slightly different flavor and texture than your typical banana. I don't know if I would call the flavor anything close to "apple," but there is a slight tartness to balance the sweet of the banana. It's really nice. Also, they are a firmer texture, and (probably the best feature!) they don't get bruised and soft like a normal banana. (Is
Baked (CRUNCHY!) French Toast.
Was my mom the only one making these in the 70's in the 80's back in the day? (side note: When did MY decades start sounding so LONG AGO!?) I don't think I've heard anyone talk about baked french toast outside of my own family. Which I find strange because it is SO GOOD! Baked French Toast was an absolute family favorite when I was young…and now, my family loves it too. It's really a brilliant idea for a bigger family, for holidays, or for company. The beautiful thing is,
