Easy Peanut Butter, Banana, Chocolate Bites

Eating healthy deserves a treat beyond an organic carrot. And it doesn't mean creamy, yummy desserts and snacks have to go by the way side.

This isn't necessarily new, but still worth a second look. A simple banana slice topped with nut butter and a little dollop of chocolate. If you are feeling really sassy, try topping with a little salt or cocoa nibs.

Eating these right away offers a decadent, creamy and satisfying bite. Store in the freezer if you enjoy frozen bananas.

Treat yourself to something healthy with these Fat and Happy Peanut Butter, Chocolate, Banana Bites.

Cashew Cream Soup: Avocado and Pepper

Recently I've found that singeling cashews out of the nut mixture can is not the only way to enjoy them. It's true. Raw cashes are now synonymous with sweet, fluffy dessert toppings as well as savory creams.

You may also be asking why? The simple fact is that not everyone eats, or can tolerate, dairy. And why live a life of creamless soups and desserts when you don't have to?

You may also be intrigued by this, but have concerns with how daunting the process is going to be. Turns out, the process is really quite simple. I'll admit, I was initially hesitant and it took a bit before I finally soaked my first cashew. But I haven't looked back since. Soaking cashews involve covering them with water overnight and then rinsing them before blending with water. That's it! Vary the texture through amounts of water and length of blending. Add a bit of sweetener and vanilla for dessert or leave plain to use in place of classic milk and cream.

Below I've given you the makings for two base soups: a Creamy Avocado Soup and a Creamy Pepper Soup. You can also combine them to make a Creamy Avocado Pepper Soup. Also listed are numerous additions that can be added to either, ultimately giving you ability to make hundreds of soups. Perhaps they should be called Creamy Transformer Soups?

Bite the bullet and test out the cashew phenomenon with either of these ultra simple, Fat and Happy Cashew Cream Soups. It will be the beginning of a new relationship.

Chai Tea Latte - Infused Oatmeal

Turning healthy is often confused with tasteless, unsatisfying dishes.

Flavor packed smoothies have been my breakfast of choice recently, but there are days when good old fashion stick to your ribs oatmeal is a must.

I'm also a fan of simple tea, but I still turn to a chai tea latte when I'm looking for something warmer and filling. Being dairy free doesn't mean giving up the latte, it just means it's time to get creative.

And getting really creative means building layers of unexpected flavor. Steeping almond milk with chai tea and cooking it in oatmeal is the quintessential warm, hearty, mind-blowingly healthy breakfast and it couldn't be easier.

Fat and happy is turning healthier, but not flavorless.

Quinoa, Mushroom and Grape Stuffed Pepper

Last week I posted this Warm Squash and Kale Superfood Salad recipe that involved making a brown rice, quinoa, lentil mix; I use this mix as a base to a lot of recipes. The amount left over from that salad recipe will leave you with extra mix to work with; this recipe is great way to use up that left over grain mixture. Of course, you can make a new batch or just use one grain instead of all three; it's versatile so do what works best for you.

What's different about this recipe from other stuffed peppers is adding grapes just before baking them. Roasted grapes turn slightly sweetened, like a raisin, without being hard and dry. It's a burst of unexpected flavor. Make the stuffing ahead of time, and then just stuff and bake when ready. 

Left overs are not a problem when you get creative and these Mushroom and Grape Stuffed Peppers are healthy and delicious.

Warm Squash, Quinoa and Kale Super Foods Salad with Lemon Goji Berry Dressing

I can't get enough of this salad; I've made a variation of it for three different gatherings in the last week and the reviews are glowing.

Warm comfort foods are a must of you live in a cold climate, but often those foods are covered in artery clogging, fat-laden meats, creams and cheeses. And they can be so overcooked that they leave you feeling full and lifeless.

Finding myself in the midst of a detox during the above noted gatherings and one them them landing on Meatless Mondays lead me on a quest to create a healthy comfort dish that was warm, filling and tantalizing to the taste buds.

The warmth of the squash and quinoa slightly soften the kale while the lemon goji berry dressing keeps the whole salad lively and fresh. And the salad is so versatile you can add and subtract other veggies based on your seasonal veggies and what you have on hand.

Stay warm, filled and fueled with this Fat and Happy Warm Squash, Quinoa and Kale Super Foods Salad with Lemon Goji Berry Dressing.

Smoked Salmon and Mango on Avocado Mousse Appetizer

 A couple of new tasting spoons found their way into my shopping cart the other day so I was looking for something to fill them with.

Wanting a touch of protein in my one-bite appetizer, I turned to smoked salmon for a nice light texture. Mango is an easy pairing with salmon and a great winter fruit. Avocado mousse offered just the right backdrop for both.  Place a bit of each in a spoon, add a sprinkling of chopped green onion or sesame seeds over the top and watch your guest hover over your tray as you present these delightful amuse bouches.

The truth is that anything can made small and placed into little spoons, you just need to be creative with it. These easy Fat and Happy Smoked Salmon on Avocado Mousse Appetizers are a great place to start.

Star Wars R2D2 Birthday Cake

I'm co-habitating with a geek. He tries to hide it from time to time, but he is a little boy at heart.

Week-long, themed birthday celebrations are the norm in our house and this year was no different. Not sure why it took me so many years to actually do 'Geek Week' for my love, but it was a smashing success. From Zombie Insurance to Light Saber Popsicles, each day brought a new present and more fun and they all led up to the grand finale: a homemade R2D2 Replica Birthday Cake.

Creating this Star Wars cake takes time and some patience but it's completely worth it. Bake the cakes ahead of time and freeze them so you can focus on the most important part - decorating. This isn't the time to test out new cake recipes; save yourself a lot of hassle and go with tried and true.

The cake is comprised of six layers: 1 chocolate stout bunt cake, 3 layers of buttermilk white cake, 1 layer of Rice Krispies and 1 layer of Chex Mix Krispies along with two extra pans of rice krispies for the arms and legs, four batches of buttercream frosting and four recipes of homemade fondant. The fondant keeps everything so moist and delicious- this cake lasts days of noshing. It's a big, giant, heavy, delectable cake.

Wow your birthday guy/girl with this R2D2 cake, then deliberate for hours whether you should actually cut into the cake, eventually enjoy a piece out of the back side, then let him take it to work and blow everyone away. The kudos will have you flying high for a week.  

Young or old, pocket protector or not, all fans of Star Wars deserve a Fat and Happy R2D2 Cake at some point. The only real questions is how to out-do this next year??

Lemon Pea Salad Stuffed Shells with Cashew Cream

I'm in charge of appetizers for an afternoon birthday party for a good friend of mine.

It's the dead of winter but a heavy app doesn't sound appealing (especially when chicken is the main entree.) I wanted to make something interesting without being too fussy. Elegant by not stuffy. Classic over molecular.

Pasta salad was running through my thoughts... but individual appetizers tend to be easier for guest to pick up and enjoy in standing party situations so portability is key.

Taking the pasta out of the salad and using it as a mini bowl did the trick. Jumbo shells, cooked just al dente, filled with a zippy lemon pea salad is a clever way to serve pasta salad as an appetizer.