Boozy Marshmallow Popcorn Balls

Everybody has a weakness. First there was Achilles and his heel. Then came Superman and kryptonite. Now it's Monique and popcorn balls. Who knew??

A few weeks ago I asked Facebook fans what type of childhood snack they would like to see recreated. There were some great answers (many of the Fat and Happy viewers had impressive childhoods!) but the one that caught my eye was a boozy popcorn ball. At that moment I knew this would be my Halloween post.

Popcorn ball recipes are abundant but there's no real secret to them, just caramel and popcorn. I have an absolutely foolproof soft caramel that I use for drippy caramel needs. And I've created one for Chocolate Bacon Caramel Popcorn; it is the sticky ball portion that eludes me.

My first pumpkin batch curdled and was too wet to stick together. It was tasty though so I figured I was on to something. The next rum batch seized up - essentially 1/2 cup of rum makes the caramel too drunk to spread among all the popcorn. Between candy thermometers, hard and soft ball stage, and handling hot molten lava... it's complicated.

Here's where it gets simple - a classic marshmallow mixture fills in for the troublesome caramel sauce. Turns out marshmallows are liquor friendly...and rather sticky to boot!

Caraway Hash with Apple Salsa

Hash never used to be on my favorite list thanks to a college friend who ate hash out of a can. It was dog food with a better label. Actually, I'm not even sure the label was that great either.

Fast forward to a time when I realized hash doesn't have to be bad. Homemade hash is good. Downright fantastic, in fact, when made with fresh ingredients. This hash screams to be topped with a runny egg; there is no reason to say no.

Sweet potatoes, caraway seeds and tart green apples combine to let this hash recipe skip right to graduate school.

Step away from canned food, you'll be fat and happy with tasty, fresh hash for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

Super Simple 4 Ingredient Flourless Cookies

Did you ever make bread cookies when you were younger, where you took a piece of Wonder bread, removed the crust, smooshed the dough into a shape and then baked it?

These cookies are a little like that; a real lowbrow kind of cookie. But one that will you get you through a midnight craving painlessly. Or one that can sub in for a cheap dessert when your assigned dessert guest didn't bring the dessert.

Did I mention these are gluten free too? A hell of a lot easier then working with xantham gum and potato flour. The chocolate cookie is slightly more work than the peanut butter cookie, but worth it.

Too me, the topping and optional ingredient is key. I've tried everything from basic chocolate chips and jelly to rice krispies and smashed potato chips. If you are making cookies at midnight, bold toppings are a must.

These kinds of cookies are a dime a dozen all over the internet. But now you have them at your fingertips.The base of each cookie is four ingredients, that number will increase if you add the options.

Take these cookies for what they are worth - the simplest form of cookie for emergency fat and happy moments.

Bluberry Oatmeal Smoothie: To Hemp or not to Hemp

To hemp or not to hemp? Before you answer that question, ask this one: "Are you having a drug test any time soon?"

Allow me to explain. I've been using hemp seeds as a source of protein for a few months now. Hemp seeds are nutty in flavor and slightly crunchy. They can be eaten raw, made into milk, prepared as tea or ground into meal. Besides topping my salad, I've be making a homemade hemp milk for use in my morning smoothies. Smoothies that are enjoyed not only by me, but by my guy.

Enter a new job opportunity for said guy; an opportunity which requires a drug test. I do the first thing any normal, non-drug using individual would do at this point - I Google it. What I find is hundreds of articles, each one contradicting the last. In a skeptical and wavering voice I notify my SO that he is in the clear; no doubt he felt there was a bit of a white lie hidden in my delivery. But one of us worrying about it was enough. I offhandedly suggested we stop mixing hemp smoothies until the result of the drug test were in as a precautionary measure.

In the meantime, my research over hemp seeds deepened. My understanding is that Hemp seeds (and oil)  have a range of 5-10 ppm THC. So failing a workplace drug test is extremely unlikely. Unlikely is not a definate, but it's fairly firm.

If you need to play the straight and narrow for a few weeks, go sans hemp with my Blueberry Oatmeal Smoothie. It's made with almond milk. Then, when your results are in, fire up the hemp smoothie for a celebration.

Mahi Mahi over Orange Glazed Swiss Chard

Dave and I have had a tradition of Friday night fish dinners for some time now. When or how this started is a faded memory, though it may have to do with deep seated roots of Friday night fish fry's in small Midwestern towns.

I love a good fish fry, though I can do without all the breading and oil these days. So the challenge is to enhance the fish with a few less calories as well as with fresh, bright flavors.

Tonight mahi mahi sits on a cloud of Swiss chard with a simple orange sauce. Fish and greens can leave a person wanting a little more, pasta fills that void. It gives the dish body and texture. Fresh ingredients shine through without using overpowering seasonings. Sure there is a little bacon grease being used in this dish, but sparingly. And pancetta sounds healthier and fancier than than bacon anyway.

This dish is not limited to Friday nights, so go crazy and try it on a Tuesday! It's a fat and happy fresh fish un-fry.

Beet Salad Sandwich and Sweet Potato Bruschetta

Beets are notorious for showing up on salads. Usually on a bed of lettuce or sprinkled with goat cheese. So I wondered why couldn't beets find comfort in a creamy dressing the way chicken, ham and tuna do?

They can and in this recipe they do; only difference is the lightened up dressing. This beet salad is creamy and earthy with a crunchy bite from the celery and pistachios.

Pile the beets salad between two hearty pieces of bread along with some kale and you get a super filling sandwich. Or try topping a slice of sweet potato for a fun bruschetta appetizer.

Either way, beets find a home in healthy fat and happy way.

Recipe Swap: Pork-Stuffed Bread with Cherry Relish

The monthly Recipe Swap challenges a group of bloggers to recreate an old recipe by varying the ingredients or method. These recipes are chosen from old hymnals, pioneer journals and treasured recipe books; often they are quite intriguing. Take this month's recipe for example -  pork fruit cake. The recipe literally says to mix all the ingredients (a pound of pork and a pound of currants) and then bake very slowly. Priceless.


My recipe goal is to stick with most of the original ingredients while messing with the method. But wanting to be somewhat true to the original recipe, I wanted the pork to be encased in bread. Steamed buns were calling out. But I had an overload of Asian food leading up to my weekend cooking. So I decided to stuff the pork into fresh bread loaf and use the fruit aspect as a compote on the side.

I have to admit, time got away from me and and in a rare moment of weakness I decided to purchase the bread rather than make it from scratch. The baking gods wouldn't allow it - there was no frozen bread dough to be found. I was meant to make it from scratch. So I set my alarm for early and kneaded my way through it.

What did I end up with? Exactly what it sounds like. Luscious pulled pork wrapped in warm, buttery, crunchy, doughy bread with a titillating spicy, fruity relish. Freaking yummy! Seriously.

There is life in those old recipes yet, you just gotta make them yours. Make this delicious Fat and Happy pork bread in the mean time.

Turkey Lettuce Wraps

 We don't eat chicken. Technically Dave doesn't eat chicken; by default that means I don't either...much. This tends to cause a interesting game of hide-and-don't-seek when we are invited to dinner because more often that not, chicken is on the menu.

What this all means is that I've learned to bring along non-chicken options that are filling and interesting and can be disguised as side dishes to avoid overshadowing the main dish. It's never a good idea to dominate a meal your host has planned.

Many people only think of turkey as a big Thanksgiving meal, but it can be so much more versatile. Turkey cutlets allow for simple marinating and quick grilling in these Thai-Asian lettuce wraps; all the usual suspects (ingredients) come into play too: bean sprouts, peanuts and mint.

Using lettuce as the bread makes for a lighter, carb-free option that is perfect for a delicate entree or as a simple accompaniment to a larger meal. As a bonus, if you want to save time or feed a crowd, simply tear up the lettuce and toss all the ingredients to turn this into a big salad.

These turkey lettuce wraps came with us to a barbecue last weekend and paired quite nicely with the barbecued jerk chicken being served. The host wasn't offended by our addition and Dave had food to eat with no one the wiser - everyone was fat and happy!