TalkToChef: Personalized Cooking Tutorials

As you may have noticed, recently we gave the Hungry and Fit website a little makeover. We wanted to be cleaner, more straightforward, and appealing to the eyes. We evaluated what we had in place, what we should remove, and what we should add. That led us to pursue new partnerships. One such partnership is TalkToChef–a helpful tool for cooking at home. It could be used by aspiring chefs or by people simply trying to create a meal for the family. TalkToChef is a startup company with a big, eager goal–to help you cook what YOU want to cook within minutes. I don’t know how many times I’ve been in the middle of cooking or baking something when I am hopelessly looking through google to answer my cooking woes. With TalkToChef, all I would have to do is enter what I’m trying to cook, and I will be connected right then and there with a chef to help.

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Mar122015

Chocolate Banana Nut Protein Bars

Boy is this recipe a home run! I spent a good amount of time researching other protein bar recipes. Hungry had a great idea–we had some old bananas, so instead of banana bread, what if we made something fun like protein bars? We are always wanting more protein bars, and they can get expensive! This recipe is incredibly cheap to make (and easy). There are under ten ingredients and it is absolutely delicious. Nutritious and delicious–that’s my favorite kind of recipe. This one is fun because you can really have variety with it–you can substitute and switch out ingredients as you please. This recipe will have you gobbling down protein like no other!

Feb162015

Chocolate Oat Apple Crumble

I have an unfortunate sweet tooth. I try to curb it, but sometimes I don’t. Sometimes, however, I think in advance and then make something that’s sweet, but still on the healthy side. That’s when Smitten Kitchen inspired me! Jasmine is a very close family friend who turned me on to “crumbles” very early in my life–particularly apple crumble. This recipe calls for very few ingredients so I decided to give it a go. It was really easy and made the house smell wonderful! I made a Chocolate Oat Apple Crumble and my sweet tooth was absolutely overjoyed without killing my health.

Finished product, but not before I dove in

Jan162015

Healthy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

I think I talked many times about how baking is therapy. Not shoving sugar in your face, but the act of baking itself. It’s the act of creation and producing something, I think. Also getting to work with your hands helps too. Bringing several ingredients together to make something completely different is fun and satisfying. The process consumes you so you aren’t thinking about the challenges or difficulties in your life. Also, another great byproduct is the delicious things themselves! However, we don’t want to feel guilty about eating this “invention,” we should instead enjoy them.

This recipe is based on of this one here. It’s an incredibly easy recipe that’s hard to go wrong (just make sure you measure). It doesn’t take many ingredients, in fact, if you bake often, you’ll probably have most of them in your pantry. Sometimes Hungry doesn’t like when I bake “healthy” recipes, but I’m thinking that this time he did because they didn’t last over 24 hours (and there were at least a dozen of them). Praise to healthy oatmeal raisin cookies! This recipe is a crowd pleaser without making you feel the guilt!

Stiiir it up

Nov252014

Hungry’s Hearty Hash – Veggie Mode Engaged

Here is a vegetarian breakfast option that packs a ton of protein! It also has a decent amount of fats and carbs too, so this is a real winner in my book! It’s simple too. You’ll only need one burner, one skillet, one spatula and or your favorite thing to move stuff around in a pan with! And a microwave doesn’t hurt.

Hungry's Hearty Hash (Vegetarian Style)

2014-11-24 22:40:34

Serves 2

A vegetarian style of a hearty breakfast--a complete meal with protein, carbs, and fat!

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Prep Time

3 min

Cook Time

8 min

Prep Time

3 min

Cook Time

8 min

Ingredients

1 potato
3 eggs
1 cup spinach
4 cloves garlic
2 Morningstar sausage patties
1 piece toast
Olive oil
Salt pepper

Instructions

Wash your potato and cut into small cubes so they cook faster.
Throw them in a skillet at medium heat, then treat with olive oil, salt, and pepper.
Throw your patties into the microwave for a minute. Use that minute to rough chop your garlic.
Put your garlic in with the potatoes.
Cut your patties into 8-12 pieces each and wash your spinach.
Put the patties into the skillet, then cover everything with the slightly wet spinach.
Once the spinach has cooked down, crack three eggs into the skiller.
Add some more salt and pepper as you spread the egg around the pan evenly.
Now, once it looks like a beautiful omelet that is ready to flip, smash it into a hash.
Serve with your favorite ketchup or hot sauce!

By Hungry and Fit

hungry and fit https://hungryandfit.com/

It’s a fast one that should take under ten minutes total! It filled us for an amazing Sunday. We believe starting the day includes a great, hearty breakfast. Especially if that day includes Dragon Age and workouts. We believe it’s good to include all macronutrients in a meal, if possible. And we show you despite being a vegetarian, it is possible to get all your nutrients! Even a meat-eater like Hungry knows it. Eat this breakfast to stay hungry and fit!

Question of the Day: What’s your favorite breakfast?

Nov202014

Peanut Butter Pancake Cookies

Here’s another good recipe for a quick snack for plenty of people. This one is inspired by Carrots n Cake, but I kind of changed it drastically. Pancakes are great. Cookies are great. Putting them together is absolute genius…meet the Pancake Cookie. I was nervous about the recipe, but it ended up turning out well. I like that this recipe is totally versatile and you can make it what you want it to be. Plus, it only took about 15 minutes to create–that’s a time I can get behind. This is actually a perfect breakfast idea because it’s a PANCAKE ON THE GO! What! Genius! Alright, alright, let’s get to the actual yumminess.

Maple syrup is king

Peanut Butter Pancake Cookies

2014-11-19 22:28:57

Yields 7

A cross-breed between a pancake and a cookie that is downright delicious and easy to make.

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Prep Time

3 min

Cook Time

12 min

Prep Time

3 min

Cook Time

12 min

Ingredients

1 cup pancake mix (we used Protein Kodiak Cake)
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup peanut butter
1/4 tsp cinnamon
handful of chocolate pretzels (but you can use chocolate chips)

Instructions

Pre-heat 350 degrees F
Mix all ingredients together
Put dollops (cookie-size) onto a greased baking sheet
Put in for 10-12 minutes
Take out and enjoy

Notes

I would definitely serve with maple syrup if you can!

By Hungry and Fit

Adapted from Carrots n Cake

hungry and fit https://hungryandfit.com/

Simple, healthy, delicious. Three words that describe this recipe. I was actually shocked about how quick this recipe was and pleased as well. When I need a snack or a breakfast, I can whip these up in a second and store them for the week. What do you think? They may look strange, but they do taste good and they are guilt-free! They go so well with maple syrup and a glass of milk so I highly suggest doing this. And remember, you can put whatever you want in this recipe! Go crazy, have fun! Try this recipe to stay hungry and fit!

Oct092014

Nutty Granola Bars

[Please welcome back our guest food blogger, Jamie, along with her wonderful recipe!]

**Jamie’s passion for food and cooking began as a young girl, while watching her mother in the kitchen. Her curiosity has pushed her to learn how to make a lot of her own products from scratch instead of buying it at the market like hummus, granola, yogurt, pickles, and much more. Jamie is currently studying to become an Occupational Therapist and would love to incorporate cooking into her practice one day.**

It can be hard to find the right granola or power bar; they are usually too expensive, high in calories, or just taste bad. These Nutty Granola Bars, loosely inspired by Kind bars, are high in protein and fiber, and super easy to make! They are a perfect afternoon snack to get you through the long workday, quick energy before a workout, or an easy breakfast.

In my making these, I played around with spices, coffee grounds, and fancy Hawaiian sea salt to create a more complex flavor, but feel free to use whatever flavors you love. Also, my friend dehydrates her own fruit so I was lucky enough to get to use a beautiful assortment of freshly dried fruits!

Ingredients:

¾ cup millet puff cereal (or rice puff cereal)
¾ cup quick cooking oats
1 ½ cups almonds, pecans, and pumpkin seeds (use whichever nuts and seeds you like or have on hand)
1 cup dried figs, apples, peaches, and strawberries, chopped
2 tablespoons Chia seeds
2 tablespoons coffee grounds
2 teaspoons chili powder
1 teaspoon nutmeg
½ cup honey
¼ cup almond butter
½ teaspoon Hawaiian sea salt

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

2. Place nuts, seeds and oats onto a baking pan and toast in the oven for 15 minutes, stirring every now and then.

3. While nuts and oats are toasting, line an 8×8 baking pan with aluminum foil so that the edges hang over the side.

4. Chop your dried fruit.

5. Mix puff cereal, toasted nuts, seeds, oats, dried fruit, Chia seeds, coffee grounds, chili powder, and nutmeg in large bowl. Set aside.

6. Whisk honey, almond butter, and salt in a small saucepan for about 2 minutes or until smooth.

7. Pour hot mixture over the dry ingredients, and stir until dry ingredients are coated equally.

8. Transfer to lined pan and spread evenly. Using a spatula, or the bottom of a measuring cup, press mixture tightly.

9. Place in fridge for about 2 hours.

10. Pull block of granola out of pan using the overhanging foil and cut into bars.

11. Individually wrap bars in parchment and store in an airtight container.

So yum!

Yields 10 bars. Use this recipe to stay hungry and fit!

BONUS KITTY PIC

Oct022014

Homemade Almond Milk

[Please welcome back our guest blogger, Jamie, with another one of her delicious recipes!]

KITCHEN EXPERIMENTS WITH JAMIE

Today, one can find milk made from almost anything—soy, rice, different kinds of nuts, etc. They can be a little easier to digest than milk and I personally like the taste. While it is possible to find great quality milk substitutes at Whole Foods and other health food stores, they can be pricy and some brands can be high in sugar and contain additives. So, why not make your own?

Making your own almond milk is unbelievably easy and resourceful because you can utilize the whole almond with zero waste. After pulverizing the almonds to make tasty milk, try using the almond grounds in granola, in baked goods, or even just toast them in the oven with some sugar or spices and use them as sweet or savory crunchy topping.

Here’s my recipe for homemade almond milk. As always, feel free to play around with it!

Ingredients:

2 cups raw almonds, soaked in water overnight
5-7 cups water
5 Tbs. simple syrup (use any sweetener you like)
2 tsp. vanilla extract (or a whole vanilla bean, chopped)
small pinch of salt
Cheesecloth and large bowl

Directions:

1. Drain and rinse the soaked almonds.

So pretty!

2. Place almonds in a blender along with the water, simple syrup, vanilla, and pinch of salt. (I had to do mine in batches because my blender could not hold all the liquid)

3. Blend for a minute or so.

4. Place cheesecloth over large bowl (I held mine in place by wrapping a rubber band around it), and slowly pour almond mixture over it. Squeeze the bottom of the cheesecloth to release the milk.

So cool!

5. Pour into a pourable container to store in the fridge for about 5 days.

Makes 5-7 cups

You can make your own simple syrup by boiling equal parts sugar and water until the sugar dissolves and letting it cool to room temperature. I like to infuse mine with herbs like rosemary or sage and vanilla beans! Enjoy this recipe and as always, stay hungry and fit!

BONUS KITTY PIC

Jamie’s adorable cats

Sep162014

Healthy Chocolate Protein Truffles

Summer is slipping away, bikinis are being put back in the drawers, and the trench coats are coming out. This may put us in a “in-the-grind” type of mindset where we push ourselves to work hard, stay relaxed, and put our health on the back-burner. Stop right there! Just because we aren’t donning our swimwear, does not mean that we can let health and fitness slip away! We still want to feed ourselves in a nutritious manner and keep our movement flowing.

These healthy chocolate protein truffles will bring you to that fitness mindset. They are incredibly easy to prepare and also easy to pop in your mouth! The whole thing took me about 7 minutes to make, and by the time it’s morning–they’re ready! This recipe inspired me. They are chock full of protein and only sweetened by honey. I also use Silk Vanilla Soymilk to give it some yummy vanilla flavor while keeping the calories down.

Healthy Chocolate Protein Truffles

2014-09-15 22:37:28

Yields 12

A healthy approach to a classic dessert

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Prep Time

7 min

Prep Time

7 min

Ingredients

3/4 cup chocolate protein powder
1/3 heaping cup cocoa powder
2 1/2 tbsp butter
1 tbsp honey
5 tbsp Silk Vanilla Soymilk
2 tbsp ground almond

Instructions

Mix all ingredients together (doesn't matter in what order)
Form into small balls and place on a baking sheet with parchment paper atop
Put in the fridge for a few hours or overnight

By Hungry and Fit

hungry and fit https://hungryandfit.com/

See? Easy peasy truffle time. I just have to limit myself to a couple per hour. Silk has helped me achieve a healthier recipe. If you want more Silk in your life (and the chance to win an entire year’s worth of Silk products), sign up for the Silk newsletter. There are coupons at least once a month, plus lots of cool giveaways. Silk Facebook page has also inspired me to make recipes such as this one. The versatility of their products has always amazed me which is why I continue to use their products. Be playful with this recipe–you can use any kind of protein powder, any flavor, and any type of Silk milk! Have fun and make it your own. Use this recipe to stay hungry and fit!

This conversation is sponsored by Silk. The opinions and text are all ours.

Sep022014

The Best Meatloaf Recipe Ever

Protein! Get your protein here! But, seriously–this meatloaf is chock full of protein and damn good flavor. My mum found a recipe for meatloaf and changed it to make her own and I was lucky enough to be nearby–it turned out to be the best meatloaf recipe ever. I may be a vegetarian, but the rest of my family really enjoyed it. Hungry even said it was one of the best he’s ever had–better than restaurant quality. That’s a rare compliment! It’s an incredibly simple recipe that even has vegetables! This is a great back-to-school recipe that can feed the whole family twice over. You know protein and flavor are important to us and that’s why this recipe is a hit.

Nommmm

The Best Meatloaf Ever

2014-09-02 09:42:47

Yields 1

A meatloaf chock full of protein and flavor

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Prep Time

15 min

Cook Time

1 hr 10 min

Prep Time

15 min

Cook Time

1 hr 10 min

Ingredients

1 cup fine fresh bread crumbs
1/3 cup 1% milk
1 medium onion
3 garlic cloves
1 medium celery
2 tbsp butter
2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tbsp cider vinegar
1/4 tsp allspice
1 1/2 lbs ground beef (75%)
1/2 lb pork (80%)
2 eggs
1/3 cup parsley
Meat thermometer

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F
Soak your bread crumbs in the milk in a large bowl
Chop onion, carrot, celery, and garlic
Cook onion, carrot, celery, and garlic in butter in a large pan over medium heat and stir for 5 minutes
Cover the pan and reduce to low heat and simply cook until carrot is tender
Remove from the heat and stir in the Worcestershire sauce, allspice, cider vinegar, salt, and some pepper
Add veggies to the bread mixture
Pack mixture into an oval loaf and then put into a 13 by 9 inch baking dish or pan
Bake until center of meatloaf reaches 155 degrees F which will take between 1 hour and 1 hour and 15 minutes
Let stand for a bit before serving and then DIVE IN

By Hungry and Fit

Adapted from Ian Knauer

hungry and fit https://hungryandfit.com/

This is a crowd-pleaser and a crowd-filler! Rarely does anyone leave the table eating this meatloaf saying they didn’t get enough to eat. We love that it has lots of protein, vegetables, and is absolutely delicious. You can also have fun with it and throw in anything you’d like, just to spice it up in your own way. Use this recipe to stay hungry and fit!

BONUS PUPPY PIC