Dessert Bar for Valentine's Day: Double Chocolate Brownies and Ginger Cookies

There is something about the cold weather that makes me want to bake. Maybe it's being near an oven to keep warm. Maybe it's because I love sweets. Maybe it's because baking sweets is a good excuse to invite people over and share the baked-good-love. Or, maybe it's a combination of those reasons.

I have always enjoyed baking. I love sweets and a reason to eat sweets. Valentine's Day is a perfect reason to bake treats, invite people over, and share.

I made this Valentine's Day inspired dessert tray with two simple recipes and store-bought chocolate covered pretzels. I made ginger cookies and double chocolate brownies. 

These double chocolate brownies could also be called boyfriend brownies because you could make them to get a boy who's a friend to become your boyfriend (hahahaha! just joking.). Do you know the old saying that a way to a man's heart is through his stomach? These brownies may qualify for that statement. But, these really are super simple brownies; they are a great, easy recipe for a beginning baker. They are simply jazzed up boxed brownie mix.

Double Chocolate Brownies
1 box fudge brownie mix
oil
eggs
1/4 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
Nonstick cooking spray

Follow the recipe on the brownie box and add the recommended amount of oil and egg. Mix well. Spray 8 x 13 pan with nonstick cooking spray. Add brownie batter. Top with chocolate chips. Bake according to the box. This recipe is so easy I don't even know if it qualifies as a "recipe." 

Enjoy! Happy (early) Valentine's Day!

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Being a Good Host/Hostess Part 3: Easy Entertaining

Now you know you don’t need to be perfect to be a good host or hostess , and you have taken 3 easy steps to plan your meal. Let’s all take a deep breath because you don’t have to do all the work by yourself.

When you entertain, feel free to enlist your family or guests to help. In Southern culture when you are invited, to party it is customary to offer to bring something. Remember as the host, you are doing most of the work, so feel free to take your guest up on their offer. I usually tell my guest what I am planning to make for the main course and ask if they would prefer to bring a salad, bread, or dessert. Give them choices. You guest will feel more comfortable with choosing options and you ensure that they will choose something they like to eat and something that suites their cooking ability.

Also, don’t forget about the store. I like to use things from the store to make cooking and hosting easier. 

• Pick up something pre-made, ready-to-assemble, or take shortcuts. 
• For example, pick up some fresh fruits and vegetables with dip for an easy, ready-to-assemble appetizer. 
• For a shortcut, have your butcher cut your meat to save you time on the main course. 
• Pick up an idea or actual salad from the pre-made, ready-to-assemble salads in the produce section of your grocery store. 
• If baking is not your specialty, pick up a dessert or ice cream.

I hope this simple approach helps enable you to be a better planner, takes any fear away from entertaining, and encourages you to host more.  It doesn’t need to be perfect to be fun! So be authentic, enlist help, and invite someone over for dinner!

For more on being a better host/hostess see part 1 and part 2. Also, stay tuned for some ideas for easy appetizers, simple sides, dreamy desserts, and real menus you can use for your next party.

For more recipes, encouragement, and tips for healthy eating, follow RDtipoftheday on Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter. Or, you can subscribe to this blog, RDtipoftheday.blogspot.com, through BlogLovin, which is a free app that automatically updates every time a I publish a new blog post.

Being a Good Host/Hostess Part 2: Three Simple Steps to Meal Planning

Now you know you don’t need to be perfect to be a good host or hostess. Let’s all take a deep breath and sigh that the huge pressure we’ve place on ourselves has been lifted. Okay, let’s host!

The first thing that we must do is invite people! This helps determine how many people you must cook for. If you are new to hosting, I would encourage you took cook for smaller crowds and allow people to bring something. Determining how many people are coming and if they are bringing anything, allows you to know how much food to prepare. I always overestimated because I don’t like to run out of food. Another bonus is leftovers!!

Two, I check for food allergies, special diets, or food preferences. I have some allergies and greatly appreciate when others ask. So, don’t feel awkward, your guests will appreciate your thoughtfulness. If you are a guest, don’t be shy telling people if you have allergies. Your hostess will be glad they don’t make food you can’t eat or food that could make you sick.

Three, plan your meal. When I host, I like to have a main course, 1 or 3 sides, and dessert. If I am feeling extra ambitious, I will also make or assemble an appetizer. Let’s take is step by step (day by day).

Appetizer – make it easy. I like having appetizers available to your guests if they arrive hungry or at different times. Appetizers also provide you a buffer in case dinner is running late.

Hummus and Veggies

Main course – I love a casserole or something to fix ahead and forget. Or, choose a nice cut of meat as your budget allows.

Mexican Cornbread

Enchilada 

Chicken and Biscuit Dumplings

Pizza Bianca

 Sides – I like to offer a couple options in case people don’t like one. Think – salad, bread, veggies . . . so man choices. Just choose a variety. Think about what complements your main course. Then, think about varying colors, textures, and flavors.

Asian Green Beans

Butternut Squash Salad

Winter Vegetables Soup

Dessert – I love desserts! I don’t think you have to offer this when you are hosting, but it is nice to have. People usually linger and talk over coffee and desserts. This is the signal to the end of a meal. Usually, it is my favorite part. The cooking is done and I can enjoy my guests. I love meeting new people and getting to know them better.

Red Velvet Cookies

Pumpkin Pecan Crisp

I hope this simple, casual approach helps enable you to be a better planner, takes any fear away from entertaining, and encourages you to host more.  I am not perfect; I am still working on being a good hostess and not putting so much pressure on myself. The best way to get better is to practice. So, here's to practicing! For more on being a better host/hostess see part 1 and stayed tuned for part 3.

For more recipes, encouragement, and tips for healthy eating, follow RDtipoftheday on Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter. Or, you can subscribe to this blog, RDtipoftheday.blogspot.com, through BlogLovin, which is a free app that automatically updates every time a I publish a new blog post.

Being a Good Host or Hostess Part 1: No Pressure Entertaining

One of my New Year's goals is to try 50 new recipes in 2015. This means I am going to need some help eating all that food! So, I have decided to do more hostessing this year.

I grew up in the South where most gatherings involve food. In the South, food is love and more food is more to love! It's the same principle as "if some is good, more is better." As an RD, I can not fully support the last statment. But regardless of where you grew up, I think there is something special about sharing a meal. In the South, we call this 'fellowshipping" - getting together to visit and of course eat! The church I grew up in even had a room devoted to this; the Fellowship Hall was a room for gathering, eating, and freiends to  . . .  well, fellowship.

So, you could say it is inate to want to share and eat food together. However, trying a new recipe on someone is a bit intimadating. I want to make good food that my guests willl like. I get nervous that the recipe won't turn out right, be good, or will it even be edible? Have you every felt like that? I would encouraged you to not try a whole new batch of recipes; you should make at least one tried and true recipe when entertaining.

Speaking of tried and true, one thing I've learned in the first two decades of my life is the value of true friendships. I have lived in 3 different states in the past 10 years. I appreciate when people open their home to me, when they let me in their lives. I appreciate when someone else hosts me. I appreciate when people let you into their world with dirty socks, toys on the floor, and dishes in the sink. I appreciate when people don't put on an heir of perfections. I appreicate authenticity. So what I've learned about hosting is to just be authentic.

To be a good hostess is to open up your home, your life, and to be authentic.

I hope you enjoyed this post! Please let me know if there are any ingredients or dishes you want me to try in the new feature #NewYearNewRecipes #NYNR #50RDrecipes

For more recipes, encouragement, and tips for healthy eating, follow RDtipoftheday on Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter. Or, you can subscribe to this blog, RDtipoftheday.blogspot.com, through BlogLovin, which is a free app that automatically updates every time a I publish a new blog post.

Registered Dietitian (RD) Myths

Dear reader,

If you are new here, I am a Registered Dietitian (RD) from the South. If you think that's an oxymoron, click here and read on.

Do you have any prejudices against RDs?


Don't worry; I won't be offended. I think it is interesting to know what people think RDs should be like. Since I'm immersed in the RD world, I like an outside perspective.


The two most common assumptions I've heard are:

1) RDs eat a perfectly healthy diet

2) RDs are constantly judging what you eat - your plate, your portions, your grocery cart

#1 I am not perfect. I don't know anyone who eats a "perfect diet". I think a healthy diet looks a little different for everyone based on their medical history and personal goals. As a Registered Dietitian, I am trained to help you eat healthier, help you interpret Nutrition Facts Labels, provide Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT), write TPN (total parenteral nutrition or I.V. nutrition), help you reach your health goals, and tons more.


#2 *See #1. I am not perfect; I don't expect you to be perfect. I am, however, willing and able to help people make healthy diet and lifestyle choices when they want help. I am not constantly judging people - that would be unproductive, rude, and unhealthy! Southerners to not like to be rude . . . you know, with all the Southern hospitality and "bless your hearts."


I hope you've learned a little more about dietitians. Stay tuned for more recipes, encouragement, and tips for healthy eating. You can follow RDtipoftheday on Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter. Or, you can subscribe to this blog, RDtipoftheday.blogspot.com, through BlogLovin, which is a free app that automatically updates every time a I publish a new blog post. If you have any nutrition-related questions, comment below, and I'll work to answer them.

Introduction to the South: New Year, New Start

Dear reader,

Welcome. I am from the South. I grew up in the South, went to college in the South, and I've lived in three southern states.

 

The South is known for a few things: Southern hospitality, music, Southern accents, hard worker ethic, and big appetites! Were you surprised that FOOD wasn't first on the list?? haha. Yes, the South has amazing food! Seafood, fried food, home-grown food, made-from-scratch food . . . I'll stop before I sound like another famous Southerner. It's true there is a lot of great food in the South.

 


One of my favorite Southern phrases is "if some is good, more is better." We see this in hair, football, and food. But wait, are you think "this girl is suppose to be a dietitian." Well, yes I am, but I am also a Southerner at hear. See a problem?

Through this site, I hope to share some great Southern recipes with the understanding that: there are no "forbidden foods," portion is important, and more is not necessarily best in everything. So, let's us journey to the South. I hope you learn a thing or two on the way.

For more recipes, encouragement, and tips for healthy eating, follow RDtipoftheday on Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter. Or, you can subscribe to this blog, RDtipoftheday.blogspot.com, through BlogLovin, which is a free app that automatically updates every time a I publish a new blog post.

Failure is a Great Teacher

Dear reader,

My story isn't a perfect, model story, but I hope it is relatable. I great up eating Southern food. My mom made me eat vegetables because she is a great mom and because I would have been perfectly content to live off desserts.

I started dancing when I was little. This was my primary form of physical activity. I never thought of dance as exercise - fun, artistic, form of expression, social, competitive, sport, - yes! but exercise . . . never!

When I went to college, a lot changed. I was only 17, a little naive, and I had a lot to learn. I had so much to learn that I took 18 hours my first semester. Yeah, 18! I planned my courses needed to graduate in 4 years (type A much?!? Fun fact: most RDs I know are type A, so I'm in good company . . . and it was one of my assignments in Nutrition 1001). So, I had to take 18 hours my first semester. needless to say, I studied a lot! Did you know that while studying is great, it's a sedentary activity? Combine this with the fact I did not dance in college, and I lived on campus and made it a goal to get my "money's worth" out of the cafeteria. I found the massive gallons of ice cream and fresh-baked cookies quickly. So to recap, studying + cookies and ice cream in great quantities (because more is better - right???) minus dance = weight gain. I gained quickly - about 20% of my body weight in 3 months. Yes, you heard me right. Apparently, I am in an overachiever in many aspects of my life - weight gain included.

"Failure is a great teacher, and I think when you make mistakes and you recover from them and you treat them as valuable learning experiences, then you've got something to share." - Steve Harvey

I learned a lot in the next 3 1/2 years at college about nutrition and found other forms of exercise I enjoyed (Pilates, yoga, dance, elliptical, Frisbee, cycling, etc.). I slowly, healthfully began to get back to my freshman weight, a healthy BMI (body mass index), and an overall healthy lifestyle.

I hope that you learn a little something from the blog from this Southern RD. I would love to address topics or questions your have about nutrition. So, comment on the blog below or ask a question via Instagram and tag me @RDtipoftheday.

For more information, recipes, and tips and tricks for healthy eating, follow RDtipoftheday on Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter.