Pumpkin Breakfast Cookies

I think I'm just as seasonally confused as mother nature seems to be. I swear the calendar says it is spring, but there was still snow on the ground a few days ago. And regardless that it is officially spring, I'm in a fall state of mind. Go figure. I think I'll blame mother nature for this one.

Skinny Cake Batter Dip

With spring right around the corner, I can hardly wait for all of the fresh produce that will soon be available. I'm not a fan of winter for a lot of reasons, but the lack of fresh fruits and vegetables is at the top of my list. For someone who could eat berries all day, every day, having to settle for frozen and/or imported berries just doesn't cut it. Bring on spring and all of your delicious fruit.

Flourless Chocolate Cookies (Bake Sale for Noah)

Ever heard of an online bake sale? It's pretty self explanatory--there are baked goods advertised online, you bid on the items you want, and the highest bidder wins. Kind of fun, especially if you win. However, today winning and participating are equally fun and rewarding, and here is why: this particular online bake sale is raising money for Noah, a three year old who was recently diagnosed with severe autism. (Click here to read more about Noah and his condition.)

Skinny Chocolate Raspberry "Ice Cream"

Is there anything better than ice cream on a hot day? Ok, well maybe a pool, cocktail, and a few attractive males holding fans and filling your cocktail every time it is half full would be better. But a close second is skinny ice cream. Yes, it is possible to make at home in a matter of minutes and without an ice cream maker. Your taste buds and scale will thank you for this recipe!

Skinny Chocolate Biscoff Muffins

We finally had a sunny, warm weekend in D.C., and I couldn't have been happier. I was finding any and every excuse to be outside and soak up some sunshine. Naturally, frozen yogurt was on that list of excuses; so was walking to Trader Joe's, strolling through Clarendon to window shop, and meeting friends at our standard spot to enjoy a few drinks on the patio. To say that I was ready to throw on my bathing suit and welcome spring with open arms is an understatement. Anddd here we are, two days later, experiencing dark, rainy, dreary weather. Guess I'll keep my bathing suit in my closet and beg the weather gods a little more this weekend.

Skinny Strawberry Banana "Ice Cream"

After confessing to y'all about my ice cream addiction and how I could polish off a half gallon with no problem (I really should have entered an ice cream eating contest), I figured I'd share one of my favorite healthy recipes that cured by obsession with the addictive, creamy dessert. This Skinny Strawberry Banana "Ice Cream" gives you the same sweet, creamy, chilled satisfaction that full-fat ice cream does, but with a fraction of the fat and calories.

Skinny Secrets: How to Healthify Recipes

With spring right around the corner, that means that warmer weather, longer days, baby animals, Easter eggs, fresh flowers, bumble bees, and abundant sunshine isn't too far away. Pretty soon pools will start to open, families will begin to plan trips to the beach, and clothing stores will only sell items that reveal a lot more skin than the standard winter attire. What does all of this mean? Well for me, it means CELEBRATE! Sunshine and warm weather could stay forever and I'd be a happy camper. But what does this also mean? Time to get that body ready for bikini season.

UGH.

Chocolate Banana Honey Muffins

I've had a thing for chocolate and bananas lately. Well, to be totally honest, I always have a thing for chocolate, but the bananas have snuck in my baking quite a bit. Usually I use bananas as a means of healthifying (yes, I just made up a word) a recipe by reducing or eliminating the fat/oil called for and using mashed bananas instead. It's an easy and delicious way to make a recipe skinny. You should give a try sometime!

Easy Chocolate Peanut Butter Ice Cream

I knew this would happen. It happens every year, usually earlier than January. But it eventually got me: the dreaded head cold. Yep...the cold I've been fighting off, and I thought beating, for the past couple of days decided to hit me like a ton of bricks this morning when I got up for work. I called my boss to explain how I felt and he told me to go straight to bed. As you can imagine, I didn't argue with him.

Banana Chocolate Chip Holes

You ready for another skinny sweet? Great, because I'm ready to share one with you!

Skinny Banana Oatmeal Cookies

Anyone have any fun getaway plans coming up, like jetting off to a tropical island or a relaxing on a long cruise? Around this time each year I find myself missing summer and craving warm sunshine, sand between my toes, and the sound of waves crashing. Not only do I find myself missing the beach but I also find myself wishing that I could turn into a bear, hibernate, and wake up when it's warm again. If you need to know something about me, it's that I love heat and will do anything to avoid cold weather. Until I can get powers to make myself turn into a bear half of the year, I settle by taking a trip each year to someplace warm. A few years ago it was the Bahamas, then Aruba, and this year is Costa Rica. I couldn't be more excited to visit Costa Rica for the first time and escape the cold, dreary weather in D.C.

Healthy Recipe Roundup

With everyone talking about losing a few pounds, toning up, and eating healthier, I thought I'd share some of my favorite good-for-you recipes. These are ten of my go-to breakfast, snack, dinner, and dessert recipes that help me feel satisfied without packing on the pounds. Here's to hoping these recipes can help you stick to your weight loss and overall being healthier goals!

Skinny Triple Chocolate Cookies

{So rich and delicious that it will be hard to stop at just one! Good thing they only have 100 calories per cookie.}

Skinny Pumpkin and Cream Muffins

Most of you are probably still sick of pumpkin from the overload of recipes that you saw and made for Thanksgiving. I, on the other hand, am still craving the stuff. When I find something I like, I stick with it. Notice that about my oatmeal obsession? Yes, I am a creature of habit.

Skinny Triple Chocolate Cookies

With the new year upon us, I know many people have made new years resolutions to eat better, work out more, tone up, and improve their overall health. These are goals that I aim for year-round, but the start of a new year seems like a great reminder to get my diet and workout routine back in line. The few pounds gained from all of the holiday treats consumed are another pesky reminder to get back into the gym.

Fluffer Nutter Oatmeal

Ok, I know a lot of you are thinking, "Fluffer Nutter Oatmeal?! Elaine must have lost her mind!" And you might be right. However, for all of you oatmeal and fluffer nutter lovers, you should join in on my weird obsession and try this recipe.

Apple Cream Cheese Muffins

It's been a while since I've made a skinny sweets recipe. I blame the upcoming holidays and the array of glorious dessert recipes that I could make. Oh Thanksgiving and Christmas, my taste buds love you but my waistline hates you.

Apple Pie Smoothie

I've done something oh so wrong. I've been filling lots of recent posts with pumpkin and have somehow neglected one of my favorite fruits and a standard fall ingredient: apples. I'm not sure how it's already six weeks into fall and I have not featured apples. It's a crime! Please forgive me? I did a little feature of apples in my Chewy Peanut Butter Apple Cookies, but that is certainly not enough for one of the most versatile, delicious, fall-esque fruits. So, now that my pumpkin craze days are slowing down (but obviously not going away) , we'll move on to apples starting with this sweet and scrumptious Apple Pie Smoothie.

Brownie Baked Oatmeal

Are you a fan of the Dessert Overnight Oats that I posted a couple of months ago? If you are, then you'll enjoy this recipe. This Brownie Baked Oatmeal is a cousin to the Dessert Overnight Oats. Both recipes are single serving, healthy desserts that use oatmeal as the base ingredient; however, this Brownie Baked Oatmeal is perfect for the cooler months, while the Dessert Overnight Oats recipe is better for satisfying your sweet cravings in the summer.

Mini Crustless Pumpkin Pies

So sorry I've been MIA for the past few days. My schedule has been pretty full with lots of fun and exciting things, some of which directly affect Cooking to Perfection. One such exciting event that has kept me busy is working with Dee over at Cocktails With Mom. If you haven't checked out this blog yet, you definitely should. There are lots of fun craft ideas, time and money saving tips, and delicious recipes. What more could you ask for? Plus, this Mini Crustless Pumpkin Pie recipe is featured on there today. So, if you like the looks of these mini pies, go on over and check them out at Cocktails with Mom!

Skinny Cupcakes

If you had to pick your absolute favorite dessert, what would it be? Tough question, right? I go back and forth between soft serve/custard/ice cream, cupcakes, and cookies. They are all soooo good. But right now my weakness is definitely cupcakes. I love how they are the perfect individual serving size, which comes in handy for people (like me) who don't like to share their desserts. Cupcakes are also an amazing dessert because of the frosting. If I could have a cupcake made to order, I'd specify that I'd like a double order of frosting with a little cake on the side. Or, better yet, just give me a bowl of homemade frosting and a spoon and I'm set.