Yellow Squash Noodles (“Squashetti”)

Cook's notes: Make the vegetable "noodles" with a spiralizer device (I use a KitchenAid attachment) or a julienne peeler. Saute lightly in olive oil for a few minutes until tender. Season to taste with salt and pepper. You can serve spiralized veggie noodles with any sauce you would put on regular pasta. Resources: The Slender …

Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Chickpeas

Cook's notes: Modified from a Minimalist Baker recipe. I usually cook sweet potatoes in the microwave for convenience, but you really can't beat the caramelization of the sweet potato when they roast in the oven. The chickpeas are delicious. This dish goes well with sauteed spinach or a salad. 2 large sweet potatoes, scrubbed with peel …

Tomato Chickpea Soup

  Cook's notes: Slightly modified from the Love & Lemons blog, which called this "the perfect pantry soup...This soup tastes better the longer it sits (especially the next day)… so this would be a great one to make in advance." The balsamic vinegar gives it a sweet taste; no extra sugar is needed.   1 …

Peppermint Hot Chocolate

Cook's notes: I posted a version of this recipe several years ago that used two kinds of syrup (Peppermint Hot Cocoa, Syrup Version). This version includes two kinds of chocolate. The maple syrup seems to intensify the chocolate flavor. If you don't have maple syrup, use either 1 Tablespoon honey or 4 teaspoons white sugar …

Healthy Makeover: Texas Sheet Cake with Peanut Butter Frosting

Cook's notes: I made this cake for a friend who loves the combination of chocolate and peanut butter. I couldn't bring myself to make the original Texas Sheet Cake, which has a huge amount of sugar in it. The cake turned out terrific, and several people asked for the recipe. Note that the cake is …

Simple Spinach Smoothie for One

Cook's notes: Sometimes you want a simple smoothie without a ton of ingredients. This one fits the bill, and almost everything in it is 1 cup. Makes enough for one tall glass (about 20 oz.) 1/2 cup plain, fat-free Greek yogurt 1 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk 8 whole, raw almonds 1 cup (30 g) raw …