Strawberry Yogurt Cake

Yesterday, I celebrated my birthday with wonderful people and delicious food. This reminded me of how powerful a meal can be when spent with the right people. As part of my dietetic internship application, I wrote about food's role in bringing people together, bonding, and celebrating. Well, this recipe is meant to do just that. I strongly encourage you to share a slice of this Strawberry Yogurt Cake with someone you love.

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups whole wheat pastry flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
dash of salt
1/4 cup olive oil
2 tbsp maple syrup
1 egg
1 cup vanilla Greek yogurt
1 cup fresh berries
1/4 cup hemp seeds

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk eggs. Add to flour mix.
4. Stir in olive oil, maple syrup, yogurt, berries, and seeds. Mix.
5. Pour into a greased cake pan.
6. Bake for 40 minutes.

I like a to smear a little bit of jam on top and serve with fresh berries for breakfast.

{Hello Spring!} Creamy Greek Yogurt Spinach Dip

Spring is here! (In Southern California it feels a bit more like summer, but we'll disregard that for now).

Now that it's spring, that means it's almost summer, which means you can meet me at the beach! As soon as the temperature starts rising, you can't keep me inside. There's nothing more I'd rather do than sit on the beach with a mojito and listen to some "Laid-back Beach Music" on Pandora.

A long day laying in the sun can be exhausting which makes it the perfect time to indulge in a refreshing snack! And, nothing screams spring more to me than yogurt! Whether its frozen, Greek, or both, it is the ultimate refreshing food.

Creamy Greek Yogurt Spinach Dip

This cool and creamy recipe for a Greek Yogurt Spinach Dip is a  refreshing take on the party classic. The fresh flavors of yogurt and dill make this recipe the perfect way to kick off spring! Make this dish vegan-friendly by substituting the Greek yogurt for soy yogurt.

Ingredients:
1 cup Greek yogurt
1 cup frozen spinach, thawed
1 garlic clove, minced
1 sprig fresh dill, coarsely chopped

Directions:
1. Mix yogurt, spinach, and garlic in a bowl.
2. Garnish with dill.

Serve and enjoy! Happy Spring!

Noms for National Dairy Month

National Dairy Month is a time to celebrate all the tasty dairy varieties! Milk, yogurt, cheese...what's not to like? Not only does it taste good, but it's good for you! Dairy builds strong bones, aids in blood pressure control, and helps maintain a healthy weight. According to the USDA, Americans aren't consuming enough dairy. I can't remember the last time I drank a full cup of milk.  I have yogurt for breakfast and put milk in my oatmeal, but is that really enough?  The Dietary Guidelines recommends 3 cups of  low-fat or fat-free milk products per day.  Every problem has a solution, right?  And so, I created a list of some refreshing and delicious snacks to help you (...and myself) consume more dairy this month!

Milk & Berry Parfait
Yogurt is so yesterday.  Build your favorite parfait with a cold glass of milk!

In my parfait, I added strawberries, chopped walnuts and almonds.  Raisins and blueberries are great to throw in too for a little extra sweetness! Add dark chocolate chips to satisfy your late night cravings.

Spoonable Smoothie

Spoon it or sip it for equally beneficial nutrients!

Ingredients:

1/2 cup frozen mango

1 banana

1/2 cup frozen spinach

1 cup greek yogurt
1/4 cup apple sauce

In a blender, mix all ingredients together.  Add ice and let blend until you find the perfect consistency. Add more applesauce to your liking for a silkier product.

Makes 2 smoothies