Month: March 2017

To Die For Gooey Chocolate Chip Cookies (Vegan Optional)

To Die For Gooey Chocolate Chip Cookies (Vegan Optional)

by healthnwine ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

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I don’t know about you, but I’m always wary of any new recipe or actual chocolate chip cookie that I come across. It’s just one of those things that can either be absolutely delicious or just meh…

These chocolate chip cookies however, are soo freaking good! They never fail to impress any and everyone that tries them.

I have made and ate more of these cookies that I would like to admit, but they are healthy-ish enough that I have zero regrets. None!

These pillows of yum are also easy enough to adjust to personal tastes or preferences. Don’t like coconut? Add more chocolate chips! Want to make it vegan? Use vegan chocolate chips!

Just go ahead and just give these a try and you can thank me later!

-Rox

 

Gooey Chocolate Chip Cookies

  • Servings: 16
  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Print

Ingredients

  • 2 cups all purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon regular salt
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 cup coconut oil (no need to melt)
  • 1 cup light brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup unsweetened almond milk
  • 1 1/4 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 3/4 cup chocolate chips
  • 2 tablespoons unsweetened shredded coconut
  • sea salt (optional for sprinkling on top)

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
  2. In a medium bowl, mix flour, salt, baking soda, and baking powder
  3. Beat or mix the light brown sugar with the coconut oil until fully combined and creamy.
  4. Add almond milk and vanilla extract
  5. Combine wet and dry ingredients
  6. Carefully add chocolate chips and shredded coconut
  7. Measure tablespoon amounts and place on baking sheet
  8. Flatten cookies slightly with hand
  9. OPTIONAL: Sprinkle sea salt on top of each cookie before baking
  10. Bake between 8-10 mins
  11. Enjoy!

 

 

 

Best Homemade Guacamole (No Tomato)

Best Homemade Guacamole (No Tomato)

by healthnwine ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

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Simple IS *sometimes* best.

Although I rarely feel as accomplished as I do after any success when it comes to complicated recipes, it’s those tried and true comfort foods that I just keep going back to.

There are few things as simple as guacamole. After all, there really is no right or wrong way to make it. Yeah, there are some things that might seem unconventional (I will never be a fan of cheese in any guacamole and I LOVE cheese), but at the end of the day guacamole really is one of those things where the possibilities are endless according to personal tastes.

Shh…. Don’t tell anyone but less than ten years ago, I absolutely despised avocados. Crazy, I know! However, guacamole is a totally different story.

So if you don’t want to spend an extra two dollars every time you want the cool and creamy goodness on your burrito or bowl, then give this recipe a try!

**This recipe is enough for 4-6 servings and can be kept in the fridge for up to a day.

-Rox

Best Homemade Guacamole (No Tomato)

  • Servings: 4-6
  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Print

Cool and creamy goodness of mashed avocados, garlic, onion and lime juice.

 

Ingredients

  • 3 ripe avocados
  • 4 cloves garlic
  • 1/2 white onion
  • 2-3tablespoons fresh cilantro (according to taste)
  • juice of 1 1/2 limes
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • black pepper to taste
  • preferred extra toppings like: peppers, jalapeños, tomato, etc.

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Directions

  1. Halve the avocados, remove the pits.
  2. Cut avocados in large chunks and scoop into a medium-sized bowl.
  3. Combine with garlic, onion, cilantro, and any other toppings you might like.
  4. Add in the lime juice, salt and pepper.
  5. Mash everything together with a fork until desired consistency is achieved.

ipsy February Review

ipsy February Review

by healthnwine ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Ipsy February

I really enjoy trying new items and products. Especially if they are chosen according to my likes. And even more so if they are a surprise! So all these new subscription services that will curate boxes and packages so you receive new things that are meant to go with your taste are right up my alley.

Around the holidays, my cousin turned me onto ipsy. Her excitement and love for the brand was palpable. I had heard of them before, but wasn’t really sure how it worked and whether or not it was worth the $10 monthly price. But, after finding out your first package is free when you are given a code by someone with someone with a subscription, I figured I had nothing to lose. Free trial? I’m there and not afraid to admit it!

My first ipsy package came in January and I loved it (I didn’t think to take pictures of that one). And knowing my reviews on the five items I received where going to make future shipments even more personalized made me excited to see what would be next.

My February shipment came just before Valentine’s Day. Each shipment comes with its own little bag and unlike the January bag’s designed, which I love, February’s design just isn’t my taste. However the samples found inside were!

The first thing that caught my eye was a pink and bronze makeup brush by the brand Luxie. I was in desperate need for a new brush so receiving this one was a great perk (I am more into skincare than into makeup so my makeup collection is barely a gathering). The brush is perfect! I absolutely love it and it works perfectly even for people like me who don’t necessarily know what they are doing when it comes to makeup.

After admiring the brush, my attention immediately went for the sheet masks. I love me some sheet masks. The two I received were from a brand named bioBELLE. The first one I tried was the #iwokeuplikethis masks which is meant to enhance a natural glow and it did just that leaving my skin extremely soft. And the second one was the #staygorgeous one, meant to nourish and hydrate, worked perfectly as well. If I had to choose one over the other, I would go for the #iwokeuplikethis one, but they are both worth the $4.99 price point that they have outside of ipsy.

The bag also came with a highlighter by the brand Luna by luna and a ‘under-eye illumination’ concealer by it cosmetics. I have yet to try the highlighter, but the color is magical and the concealer gives that “i just woke up from a great night’s rest and I’m drinking enough water” effect.

The only sample that I have disliked so far is the “Whatup Beaches” bronzer by the brand Elizabeth Mott. There’s nothing wrong with the shade or product, but the size of the sample makes it almost impossible to try it. The sample size is ridiculously small for someone like me (who’s by far not a makeup expert) to be able to manage and use.

Overall, I am enjoying ipsy and can’t wait to see what else I’ll get to try!

-Rox

A Bit About Me

A Bit About Me

by healthnwine ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Hi!
I’m a 20something girl with a passion for food, cooking and DIY’s. I also love films and television and hope to incorporate that love into what I create.

My background is Cuban and Puerto Rican so, although I enjoy all types of cuisines, and I am better versed in a more American style of cooking, those Caribbean flavors will be there for all to enjoy. Here’s to hoping I make my abuela proud.

Like I said before, I really love films and television and that is my career so a good part of this blog will relate to that.

Hopefully this space can become a community where ideas can be discussed and exchanged. Let me know if you agree or disagree with me in anything! I would love to hear you out and learn something new every day!
-Rox

Crispy Coconut Chicken Tenders

Crispy Coconut Chicken Tenders

by healthnwine ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

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Trying to eat healthy is not always easy. Well, it’s struggle city for me at least!

I constantly struggle with knowing there is a yummier, naughtier version of whatever healthy thing I’m trying to trick myself into thinking is just as delicious as the “real” thing.

There is no need for tricks or mind games when it comes to these chicken tenders. The combination of the crispy coconut and the nutty almond meal not only make the chicken juicy, but they make this recipe one of my favorite ways to eat chicken. That includes the naughty and saint-like varieties.

This recipe came to be after I tried a similar dish at one of those theater/restaurant love-child chains. I immediately fell in love with the combination of flavors and the ability of the coconut to mimic that thick, crunchy breading we all love. But, healthy? They clearly weren’t.

Some recipe testing and tweaking later, these beauties emerged.

Give these bad boys a try. You won’t regret it!

Crispy Coconut Chicken Tenders

  • Servings: 2-4
  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Print

Perfectly crispy and juicy tenders that redefine healthy eating!

Ingredients

  • 2 large boneless chicken breasts (or 4 small ones)
  • 1 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
  • 1/4 cup almond meal
  • 1 egg
  • enough olive oil to coat the bottom of a shallow pan (to brown chicken). Coconut oil should work too, but it could end up being too coconuty.
  • 1/2 tsp sea salt
  • 2/3 tsp black pepper (I LOVE black pepper, add less if you don’t)
  • 1/3 tsp onion powder
  • 1/4 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/3 tsp paprika
  • optional: basil or parsley

Directions

  1. Heat oven to 375 degrees.
  2. Grease baking tray and set aside. (I used coconut oil spray.)
  3. Rinse chicken and pat dry.
  4. Slice chicken into tender sized pieces. About 8-10 pieces.
  5. Mix shredded coconut, almond meal, salt, and spices in a bowl or plate.
  6. Beat egg in a separate bowl.
  7. Dip tender in egg and allow excess to drip off. Dip tender in coconut mixture and use hands to “glue” the mixture to the chicken.
  8. Repeat with remaining pieces.
  9.  Once the oil is hot, brown the tenders about two to three minutes each side.
  10. Lay the chicken in a paper towel to drain excess oil.
  11. Arrange chicken in baking tray and bake 15-20mins. Mine were ready after 17mins.
  12. Enjoy!

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