gone to carolina + a recipe

in my mind i'm gone to carolina... and in T-12 hours i really will be! i am flying out today after work to meet my friends in one of my favorite southern cities, charleston! my best friend kaitlin has finally turned 21 and we are celebrating the milestone with a beach weekend! my bag is packed full of LEONA and i am ready to take off! it will be a quick trip but i can't wait to see my friends and have some relaxing beach time with them. be sure to follow my instagram as i'm sure i will be posting often!

i did want to share this recipe with y'all before i left! i am always looking for healthier dessert options since my sweet tooth is my Achilles' heel. this recipe substitutes avocado for the oil and butter in otherwise classic chocolate chip cookies. with the addition of whole wheat pastry flour, splenda instead of sugar and brown sugar, and dark chocolate chips, this recipe really hits as close to healthy cookies as you can get. don't be afraid of the avocado - i promise you can't taste it!

healthy chocolate chip cookies

1 cup + 2 tbsp whole wheat pastry flour

1 tsp cornstarch

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/4 mashed avocado (about 1/2 of a small avocado)

1/4 cup Splenda

1 tbsp Splenda brown sugar blend

1/2 tsp vanilla

1 large egg + 1 yolk

1/4 dark chocolate chips or cacao nibs

1. preheat over to 325. spray cookie sheet with non-stick cooking spray and set aside. 
2. in a mixing bowl, beat together mashed avocado, sugars, vanilla, egg and the egg yolk until smooth. slowly stir in flour, cornstarch and baking powder. mix until well combined.
3. stir in chocolate chips. 
4. chill the dough in the fridge for at least two hours, or in the freezer until well chilled.
5. when ready to bake, shape dough into tbsp-sized balls and place on cookie sheet. smash just barely with fork.
6. bake for 13 minutes. they may seem undercooked but they aren't! 
7. allow to cool or eat right out of the oven!

(recipe slightly adapted from Food Faith Fitness)

make these as a special treat tonight! i was eating the dough before i could even get them in the oven! i promise a charleston weekend recap when i get back! heres to safe travels! 

xoxo,

clp

summer pasta recipe

can the sun please come out of hiding soon?! i am tired of this dreary weather! after being woken up last night by the crazy thunder and lightning, i am hopping for some sunny skies in the next few days! tonight for supper i made a new recipe! i was in the mood for something summery and this creamy pasta recipe was just the ticket! avocados are substituted for cream in this recipe, filling us with healthy fats as well as other nutritional benefits! serve this up with a side salad and you have a yummy, healthy summer meal, ready in just minutes!

creamy avocado pasta

1 cup (or two servings) dry whole wheat penne

2 chicken tenderloins, cooked in grill-pan/skillet

sliced roasted red bell pepper

1 avocado

2 tbsp lemon juice

2 cloves garlic

1 tbsp olive oil

fresh basil, optional

pepper, to taste 

parmesan cheese, for serving

1. cook pasta according to package directions 
2. while the pasta is cooking, make the sauce. combine the avocado, lemon juice, garlic, olive oil, basil and pepper in a food processor and pulse until smooth and creamy.
3. when pasta is done, drain. split between two bowls. half the sauce between each bowl and top pasta with chicken, roasted red bell peppers and cheese! 
4. serve immediately! 

(slightly adapted from oh she glows)

i am happy that it is the weekend for me! i do have to work on saturday (come see me!) but i am still looking forward to some downtime nonetheless. my roomies and i are wanting to go see the fault in our stars so i hope we are able to do that! tomorrow i am hanging out in lovely downtown franklin with my mama and daddy so i am excited to see them! however, right now this red head is tired and is going to spend her evening reading and getting everything all caught up! this week has been a bit busier than normal so i am happy for some breathing time! 

xoxo,

clp