Ari, Author at Ari's Menu

Ricotta Chocolate Chip Ice Cream {with Honey & Vanilla Bean}

August 3, 2014 · by Ari ·

Rich, creamy ricotta ice cream loaded with mini dark chocolate chips with underlying flavors of honey and vanilla bean. All the flavors of a classic cannoli in ice cream form!

Do you ever love something so much that you feel like no matter how much you try to describe it, you can never quite put it into words? It’s how I feel about Mia Michaels’ choreography, or when I saw One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest on Broadway, or when I first discovered CILANTRO! I can’t tell you how good it is, you just need to experience it with me.

That’s how I feel about this ice cream. I felt like no matter how many pictures I took, or adjectives I thesaurus-ed, nothing could quite capture my new favorite ice cream. I loved it more than any ice cream I’ve ever purchased at a homemade ice cream shop, and definitely more than anything I’ve ever bought at the store.

First of all, I am OBSESSED with ricotta cheese. Once upon a time, I spent like an entire year on phase 1 of the South Beach diet. It was not a good year. I can tell you, however, that my favorite part was “snacking” on low-fat ricotta cheese. And by “snacking”, I mean opening the tub, grabbing a spoon, and looking down to see half the container had disappeared. Whoops.

But it’s not just the ricotta that makes this so special. It’s the hint of honey, the little specs of vanilla bean that carry a bold flavor (one of my very favorite flavors), and the multiple dark chocolate chips you get in every bite. I don’t know what it is about the mini chocolate chips that make them so much better, but they really do make a difference here, and although you are free to use whatever chip you like, I highly suggest the tiny guys for this recipe. Mini chips = more chips in every bite = automatically better.

Ricotta Chocolate Chip Ice Cream {with Honey & Vanilla Bean}

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 8 hours

Yield: 5-6 cups

Serving Size: 1/2 cup

Ricotta Chocolate Chip Ice Cream {with Honey & Vanilla Bean}

Rich, creamy ricotta ice cream loaded with mini dark chocolate chips with underlying flavors of honey and vanilla bean. All the flavors of a classic cannoli in ice cream form!

Ingredients

1 cup whole milk
2/3 cup sugar
3/4 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup honey
15 ounces ricotta cheese
4 ounces reduced fat cream cheese, at room temperature
seeds from 1 vanilla bean
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon bourbon, optional
3/4 cup mini dark chocolate chips

Instructions

In a medium pot, combine whole milk and sugar over medium to medium-low heat. Stir constantly until sugar is fully dissolved and incorporated. Remove from heat. Let cool to room temperature.
Add heavy cream, honey, ricotta, cream cheese, vanilla bean seeds and vanilla extract and blend in a large blender or food processor. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or up to overnight.
Freeze according to ice cream maker instructions. If desired, add bourbon during the last few minutes of freezing. Fold in chocolate chips then transfer to freezer safe container to finish freezing completely.

https://arismenu.com/ricotta-chocolate-chip-ice-cream-with-honey-vanilla-bean/

Tart Cherry Lime Elixir

August 1, 2014 · by Ari ·

The following post is sponsored by FitFluential LLC on behalf of the Cherry Marketing Institute.

This sweet & sour cocktail has all the flavor of a refreshing cherry limeade, spiked with cherry vodka and filled with recovery-boosting 100% tart cherry juice.

I’m pretty sure I have created my ideal drink for all time. A recovery drink that’s spiked with booze? Yes, please. Here’s the thing, I loooove working hard. I’m kind of a freak like that, but I genuinely love to beat myself up a little so that I can have fun later. In fact, Long Run Day would not be complete for me if it didn’t end with a cocktail. Usually involving bourbon, but I made an exception. 😉

There have been a lot of studies lately connecting tart cherries and tart cherry juice to aiding recovery, reducing soreness and oxidative stress. Okay, so as much as I love working hard, I am not super in love with the feeling of being sore ALL THE TIME. Ever since I started crossfit, I keep waiting for the day when I’m not sore, and it just never happens, so I was super stoked to put tart cherries to the test!

I set out to make myself a little recovery drink. A cherry limeade type of thing (ummm also, I’d never had that before…it’s like I’ve been living under a rock), and it was AWESOME! Tart, lightly sweet, refreshing and delicious. After drinking my weight in glasses, I wanted to spice things up a little, so I turned it into a simple, cute little cocktail.

The ingredients are so simple: just pure tart cherry juice, freshly squeezed lime juice, simple syrup, and a splash of vodka. Now, normally I’m a girl who likes to taste my alcohol, but this drink is definitely on the milder side. You can always make it stronger, but it’s not meant to be a “hard” drink. It’s more like a sitting by the pool, relaxing, relishing in your accomplishments drink.

The recipe can easily be doubled, tripled, etc. because, let me tell ya, if you have friends over, they’re also going to want a glass…or seven.

Tart Cherry Lime Elixir

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes

Yield: 4 cups

Serving Size: 1 cup

Tart Cherry Lime Elixir

This sweet & sour cocktail has all the flavor of a refreshing cherry limeade, spiked with cherry vodka and filled with recovery-boosting 100% tart cherry juice.

Ingredients

For the simple syrup:

1 cup water
¾ cup sugar

For the cocktail:

1 batch simple syrup
1 cup freshly squeezed lime juice
1 cup water
1 cup 100% tart cherry juice
4 shots cherry vodka (or plain vodka)
1/8 teaspoon salt

Instructions

To make the simple syrup, combine water and sugar in a medium pot. Bring to a boil and stir until sugar has dissolved. Remove and cool completely.
To make the cocktail, whisk together simple syrup, lime juice, water, tart cherry juice, vodka and salt. Serve immediately over ice or store in the refrigerator for up to one week.

Notes

This is also delicious as a nonalcoholic drink! If you are making it for kids or don't feel like drinking, just leave out the vodka and it will be equally refreshing and delicious!

https://arismenu.com/tart-cherry-lime-elixir/

To learn more about tart cherries and their benefits, check out ChooseCherries.com, or follow their Facebook / Twitter /Pinterest / YouTube!

French Onion Burgers

July 28, 2014 · by Ari ·

Satisfy your craving for French onion soup in the summer time with these big, juicy beef burgers stuffed with caramelized onions, then topped with melty gruyere and even more caramelized onions.

Once upon a time, I’m pretty sure I thought caramelized onions actually had caramel in them. I mean, they’re sooo sweet and delicious. I just figured they at least had buckets of sugar to get them to that point!

Turns out, onions are kind of magical, and you probably already know that if you let em cook on low heat for a ridiculous amount of time, they transform into the sweetest and most tender veggie you will ever eat.

It does take a while, but it is soooo easy. Once I get them going, I generally prep everything else I have to do for dinner and then, if dinner is super easy, sometimes I just watch Netflix and go back to the kitchen to stir them around every now and then. They are totally low maintenance.

As much as I love onions, ya know what really makes French onion soup for me? That thick layer of bubbly cheese on top. Bubbling cheese is like the stuff dreams are made of. Put it on top of that thick slice of bread they put on top, and your meal is pretty much guaranteed to be awesome. Bread. Cheese. Onions. Done.

But I have to say, it’s all even better when sitting on top of a super juicy beef burger that has even more onions hiding inside! It’s so good, you totally don’t even need the bun. In fact, I won’t eat a burger unless it’s good enough to eat bunless. It’s kind of a rule in my house because 99% of the time I toss the bun after it serves its purpose of looking cute on camera, and eat my delicious burger nekked. 😉

French Onion Burgers

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 50 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour

Yield: 3-4 burgers

Serving Size: 1 burger

French Onion Burgers

Satisfy your craving for French onion soup in the summer time with these big, juicy beef burgers stuffed with caramelized onions, then topped with melty gruyere and even more caramelized onions.

Ingredients

2 large sweet onions, sliced
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
generous pinch salt and pepper
1 pound extra lean ground beef (94-96%)
pinch thyme (fresh or dried)
pinch paprika
2-4 ounces sliced or shredded gruyere cheese
whole grain buns for serving (if desired)

Instructions

In a large pan, cook onions and garlic in olive oil and balsamic vinegar over medium-low heat. Season with salt and pepper. Cook until soft and caramelized, stirring occasionally, about 40 minutes.
In a medium bowl combine ground beef, 1/4 of the caramelized onions, thyme, paprika, and an extra pinch of black pepper. Form into 3-4 even patties (depending on how big you like your burgers).
Grill burgers to desired doneness. Top immediately with gruyere and allow to melt slightly then top with a generous portion of caramelized onions. Serve immediately.

Notes

For even cooking in your burgers, gently press your thumb into the center of each patty before cooking.

https://arismenu.com/french-onion-burgers/

Spicy Bacon Guacamole Dogs

July 13, 2014 · by Ari ·

Spicy grilled hot dogs smothered in roasted jalapeno and garlic bacon guacamole and topped with cotija cheese. These hot dogs take typical grilling to the next level with their spicy, bold flavors and perfectly contrasting textures.

It’s not like you need a reason to make fancy, delicious, to-die-for guacamole. In fact hunger is reason enough for me, and a fork is a totally acceptable vehicle. However, a spicy sausage may be an even more delicious vehicle.

For a while I was on the fence about hot dogs. Somewhere along the line they became one of those gross foods in my mind that you don’t eat past the age of 7. Ummm, that was a big mistake because for years I missed out on the amazingness that is hot dogs and sausages.

I also believe that all things are better with guacamole. Even the most delicious things can become instantly more delicious when you add guacamole. Juicy burger? Add guac! Simple grilled chicken? Totally different when smothered with avocado-y goodness. A spoon the size of your face? I think you know the answer. 😉

My friends from Fork in the Road happened to send me some of their products to try, and after absolutely loving them at BTP, I knew I was in for a treat! I ended up using the hot links which are perfect for this flavor combination, but you can use any hot dog or sausage you like!

Spicy Bacon Guacamole Dogs

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes

Yield: 6 servings

Serving Size: 1 hotdog/sausage

Spicy Bacon Guacamole Dogs

Ingredients

6 hotdogs or sausages
1 batch Roasted Jalapeno & Garlic Bacon Guacamole
freshly crumbled cotija cheese
whole grain buns, optional*

Instructions

Grill hotdogs/sausages to desired doneness, about 5 minutes. Toast buns if desired. Place hotdogs/sausages in buns or on a plate, smother with guacamole, and top with a generous pinch of cheese. Serve immediately.

Notes

Buns are totally optional. They look prettier, but I ate these bunless and they were absolutely delicious!

https://arismenu.com/spicy-bacon-guacamole-dogs/

Disclosure: This is not a sponsored post. I was supplied with free sausages from Fork in the Road, but was not in any other way compensated for this post. Recipe and opinions are my own.

Snickers Ice Cream

July 8, 2014 · by Ari ·

Ultra soft and creamy sweet cream ice cream loaded with chopped Snickers bars. The perfect summer treat that you will want to repeat all year round!

Psssst…Stick around for a super awesome giveaway at the end of this post!

Can we talk about homemade ice cream? It took me so long to get it right, which is silly because it is stupid easy. I’m just lazy and I never read the instructions on my ice cream maker. Sometimes I’m surprised I can even boil water.

I kept not chilling my ingredients well enough, and then after, like, 10 minutes I would give up on the churning because it had been soooooo loooong and nothing was happening. So I’d throw it in the freezer where it would then become hard as a rock and proceed to eat it anyway because ice cream is freaking delicious. Frozen solid or not.

So this perfectly made ice cream is a recent development and I cant stop, won’t stop. I am obsessed, and I don’t care that I have probably gained like 17 pounds from my summer ice cream obsession. Totally worth it. Plus, running makes up for all calories, right? Shhhh, don’t rain on my parade.

This is without a doubt, the richest, creamiest ice cream I have ever tasted. I have to admit, after this one, I lowered my fat content a bit on future ice cream recipes, but sometimes you just need the full fatty goodness, and I’m not going to keep that from you. You absolutely can play with the amounts of whole milk / heavy cream depending on what you’re in the mood for. This ice cream is half milk / half cream, and let me tell ya, the texture is so soft and creamy that I would dare to call it perfection.

I loaded up this baby with about 100 Snickers bars (yeahhh, we’ve already established that it’s not healthy, and I’m not even sorry), but you could also use Reese’s or Butterfinger, or really whatever you want. I personally love it with Snickers. The way the caramel and chocolate freeze and get extra chewy. It’s totally dreamy.

Snickers Ice Cream

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 8 hours

Yield: about 1 quart

Serving Size: 1/2 cup

Ultra soft and creamy sweet cream ice cream loaded with chopped Snickers bars. The perfect summer treat that you will want to repeat all year round!

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups whole milk
2/3 cup sugar
1 1/2 cups heavy cream
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup chopped Snickers bars

Instructions

In a medium pot, combine whole milk and sugar over medium to medium-low heat. Stir constantly until sugar is fully dissolved and incorporated. Remove from heat. Let cool to room temperature then add heavy cream and vanilla. Whisk to combine. Cover and chill for 4 hours or up to overnight.
Freeze according to ice cream maker instructions, then fold in chopped Snickers. Transfer to freezer safe container to finish freezing completely.

https://arismenu.com/snickers-ice-cream/

And nooowwww for a very exciting giveaway! I, along with some of my friends, am giving away a $125 Target gift card, a $125 Amazon gift card and a $50 Starbucks gift card. Pretty much all of my favorite things. 😉 Giveaway opens July 9th at 12am EST and will remain open until July 23rd at 11:59pm EST. Open to US residents only. Good luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

As I said, this giveaway is sponsored by some of my favorite people. Check them out and see what they’re up to. 🙂

Roasted Jalapeno & Garlic Bacon Guacamole

June 29, 2014 · by Ari ·

Rich, creamy guacamole with roasted jalapenos and roasted garlic loaded with crispy bacon. This guacamole is a total crowd pleaser and will take the traditional dip to a whole new level!

One of my favorite local restaurants is The Taco Guild, a super cute taco shop type restaurant built in an old church. They have amazing, creative tacos that you can order a la carte so you can mix and match, and they also have ridiculously good guacamole. In fact, my brother refers to it as “the place with the guacamole”.

Now don’t get me wrong, guacamole is one of those things that is fantastic on it’s own without any crazy add ins, but I do believe that with the right customization, traditional guac can get even better! And when is bacon ever the wrong customization? Ummm…never.

This actually isn’t that different than my normal guac. I used my normal recipe, but I roasted the jalapeno and garlic to bring out their flavor. I am of the opinion that almost all things are better roasted, especially garlic. I could eat cloves of roasted garlic all on their own, but I don’t think that’s quite normal. I just freakin’ love it.

Now let’s chat for a second about the bacon. Bacon gets a super bad rap. In fact, for a long time, I avoided it like the plague and used words like “heart-attack-inducing”. While it may not be the leanest meat on the planet, if you choose the right kind, I really don’t see it as “diet-busting”. In fact, as far as calories, fat and protein go, 2 slices of center cut bacon are about equal to a whole egg. If you love bacon and haven’t tried center cut yet, you are missing out! It is exactly what it sounds like–the center cut of the meat. It cuts out a lot of the extra fat without sacrificing any taster and texture the way turkey bacon does. I mean, turkey bacon is okay and you can totally use it, but if you love the prefer the real stuff, center cut is the way to go.

With the spicy jalapeno and heavy hand of garlic mixed with the creamy avocado and crunchy bacon, this guacamole is insanely addicting with a flavor you won’t be able to stop thinking about! I like mine ultra smooth, so I use an immersion blender, but if you prefer a chunkier bacon, feel free to mash with a fork. Either way, you will want to make this stuff over and over again!

Roasted Jalapeno & Garlic Bacon Guacamole

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Yield: 8-10 servings

Roasted Jalapeno & Garlic Bacon Guacamole

Rich, creamy guacamole with roasted jalapenos and roasted garlic loaded with crispy bacon. This guacamole is a total crowd pleaser and will take the traditional dip to a whole new level!

Ingredients

4 large cloves garlic, roasted*
1 medium jalapeno, roasted, seeds removed*
3 small avocados, pitted and peeled
1 small lime, zest and juice
small handful cilantro
1 heaping teaspoon ground cumin
generous pinch each salt and pepper
1/2 small red onion, finely chopped
4 slices center cut bacon, cooked and chopped

Instructions

Place roasted garlic, roasted jalapeno, avocados, lime zest, lime juice, cilantro, cumin, salt and pepper in a large bowl. For smooth guacamole, blend with an immersion blender. For chunkier guacamole, finely chop garlic, jalapeno and cilantro before mixing, then mash all ingredients together with a fork. Stir in onion and bacon. Serve immediately. Leftovers may be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two days. For best results, store with avocado pit in leftovers. This will help prevent browning.

Notes

*To roasted garlic, drizzle with a little bit of olive oil and wrap in tin foil. Bake at 400 until softened, about 30 minutes. *To roast jalapeno, drizzle with olive oil and wrap in tin foil. Bake at 400 until softened, then open tin foil and turn oven to broil. Broil just until jalapeno gets a little char on the outside. Watch very carefully! They can burn very quickly.

https://arismenu.com/roasted-jalapeno-garlic-bacon-guacamole/

Toasted Coconut Cold-brewed Iced Coffee

June 25, 2014 · by Ari ·

Ultra smooth, nutty cold-brewed iced coffee without a hint of bitterness. Literally THE BEST iced coffee I have ever tasted.

I think it’s safe to say I have a little coffee problem. I need it, have to have it, can’t live without it, want to swim in a big pool of it and never come out. And let me just tell you, making this cold brew has amplified that by about 1,000%.

So let’s chat a little bit about iced coffee. There are a few different ways to do it. When you order an iced coffee at Starbucks, they’ve taken their regular brewed hot coffee, poured it over ice and then stuck it in the refrigerator. Don’t get me wrong, I will drink the crap out of an iced coffee from Starbucks, but it doesn’t a candle to cold brew!

Cold brew is less acidic and bitter, and more caffeinated than drip coffee. It truly is the best of every world. Also, making a big batch means absolutely no work to get your morning coffee. Pour, add water (we’ll get to why in a moment), drink. Simple as that. And with the smooth taste and lack of bitterness, it really doesn’t need a thing. I add a little half and half–yes, the real deal–but that’s it.

Okay, about that coconut. It doesn’t taste like coconut. At least, not in the way you’d expect coconut to taste. Maybe it’s just me, but I almost always eat coconut in dessert, and it is the sweetness that I associate with the flavor. Have you ever eaten plain old flaked coconut? It is completely different. This means that coconut lovers and non coconut lovers alike will love this stuff!

So why even add the coconut? The result is a slightly nutty and creamy flavor and literally the smoothest coffee I have ever tasted. Of course, if you want some extra coconut flavor, you can add coconut extract while brewing or use coconut cream as your creamer. I’m pretty sure coconut cream in this coffee would be insanely addicting. Oh, who am I kidding, this stuff already is on its own!

Alright, remember when I said you have to add water? I brewed this stuff wayyyyy stronger than my other cold brew recipes, and ya know what? I like it even better! I tasted it on without adding water, and it was way too intense even for me. This recipe makes a concentrate and you really do need to add water. I used 1/3 concentrate / 2/3 water and that’s perfect for me. Silky and smooth, but not watered down because that is the worst. I recommend using coffee with a hint of cocoa for optimal flavor, but really any coffee you like will work great! Let me just say, I’m already working on batch #2 and I made triple the amount this time. 😉

Toasted Coconut Cold-brewed Iced Coffee

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 24 hours, 30 minutes

Yield: approximately 12 cups (when combined with water)

Serving Size: 1 cup (combined with water)

Toasted Coconut Cold-brewed Iced Coffee

Ultra smooth, nutty cold-brewed iced coffee without a hint of bitterness. Literally THE BEST iced coffee I have ever tasted.

Ingredients

12 ounces ground coffee (preferably dark roast)
2 cups unsweetened toasted coconut*
8 cups filtered water

Instructions

Pour coffee and coconut into a large air tight container (at least 1.5 gallons or larger). Pour water on top and stir lightly to combine. Cover and store at room temperature for 24-36 hours.
Scoop out as much of the grounds and coconut as possible with a fine mesh strainer. Rinse strainer, then cover with a double layer of cheesecloth. Place covered strainer over a 1 gallon jug (or desired container). Use a measuring cup to pour coffee over your covered strainer to filter any remaining grounds. If your coffee begins to have trouble filtering through, change your cheesecloth out for a fresh one.
To serve, combine 1 part coffee with 2 parts water. Add any desired cream or sweetener.

Notes

*To make your own toasted coconut, just place shredded or flaked coconut on a large cookie sheet and bake at 350 for 3-5 minutes. Watch carefully because it can burn quickly.

https://arismenu.com/toasted-coconut-cold-brewed-iced-coffee/

And to see step by step photos of how this cold brew process works, check out my post on how to make cold brewed iced coffee!

Greek Lamb Burgers

June 22, 2014 · by Ari ·

Bold, flavorful and tender half lamb/half beef burgers stuffed with feta cheese and topped with creamy tzatziki sauce. Everything you love about a classic gyro in healthy, summer burger form!

I F-ing love a gyro. When I worked at my last school, we did our shows at the MAC which is dangerously close to this little hole in the wall Greek restaurant. I had actually never (whaaaaat???) eaten a gyro (and I still pronounced it with a j sound…shhhh…), but my friend Emily raved about it, and I have to tell you, I have not stopped thinking about that damn gyro ever since.

We’re talking years here people. When I love food, I don’t forget about it. Trust me, I still talk about this Italian restaurant I ate at in London when I was 14. I can’t remember to return pretty much any emails, but I can remember the meal I ate 5 zillion years ago that was “life changing”. It’s a gift. You know, like how Karen in Mean Girls can tell the weather.

Okay, so we all know I have a bit of a burger problem, yes? I have actually heard my man food and meat loving husband utter the words “burgers….again?”. Yes. Once June hits (okay…May…), burgers multiple times a week are not only normal, but expected. I mean, sometimes I change it up. With a hot dog.

But this was not a “burgers…again?” moment. This was one of those getting feisty and fighting over the leftovers all week long moments. I’m serious. It gets crazy over here. Like a race to the fridge to claim the good leftovers. We’re both very considerate and grown up human beings.

Okay, let’s discuss what makes these burgers so flippin fantastic. First of all, they are half lamb, half beef. Lamb is delicious. If you haven’t gotten on board yet, I highly suggest it. I find lamb to be one of the juiciest, most tender and flavorful meats. Well, this has a lot to do with the high fat/calorie content. Now, if you don’t care about that sort of thing, feel free to use all lamb. That would be delicious. While I don’t count calories, or any macronutrients, or even really anything past the #8 (dancer joke…see what I did there? 😉 ), I still do think about that sort of thing, and I would prefer to get all the flavor, but keep it a little on the leaner side.

That being said, in the name of “health”, obviously I had to stuff them full of freshly crumbled feta and smother them with creamy tzaziki because…obviously? Oh, and you can totally use a bun. I never do. I buy them for photos. It’s pretty silly. But these babies looked gorgeous on their own with just some fresh greens, the grilled onions, black olives, green onion and fresh parsley. There was so much going on, I just wanted to show them off for exactly what they were. I can tell you that these will definitely be making their way back into my burger rotation, and they will take your next grill night not just to the next level, but like a lot of levels up. 😉

Greek Lamb Burgers

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

Yield: 8 burgers

Serving Size: 1 burger

Greek Lamb Burgers

Bold, flavorful and tender half lamb/half beef burgers stuffed with feta cheese and topped with creamy tzatziki sauce. Everything you love about a classic gyro in healthy, summer burger form!

Ingredients

For the burgers:

1 lb ground lamb
1 lb extra lean ground beef (93% or higher)
2-3 ounces freshly crumbled feta
3 tablespoons minced onion
generous pinch oregano (finely chopped or dried)
generous pinch thyme (finely chopped or dried)
3 large cloves garlic, minced
generous pinch each salt and pepper

For serving:

1/2 red onion, sliced and grilled
fresh greens
tratziki
fresh chopped parsley
sliced olives
chopped green onion

Instructions

In a large bowl, combine all ingredients for the burgers. Mix until just combined. Form into burger patties and grill to desired doneness, about 3-5 minutes per side. Lamb, like beef, does not need to be cooked well done, but do make sure it reaches 160 for food safety.
Serve over fresh greens (or on tops of your favorite buns) and grilled onions. Top with tzatziki, parsley, olives and onion. Leftovers may be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

https://arismenu.com/greek-lamb-burgers/

Lemon Blueberry Buttermilk Muffins

June 17, 2014 · by Ari ·

Ultra soft, fluffy and tall bakery style lemon blueberry buttermilk muffins. These muffins are screaming bright, summer flavor, and with their ultra soft and tender crumb, you’d never guess they were healthy and gluten-free!

Okay, so who else is ridiculously excited about season 2 of Orange is the New Black? I feel like I haven’t left the house in two days because all I want to do is stay home and watch it. Plus, I wanted to re-watch the entire first season to refresh and get myself ready for season 2!

I actually juuuussstt finished season 1, and I’m only a couple of episodes into season 2. “I think I’ll Pinterest. I hear that’s a thing.” <—–my favorite part so far. Ummm….yeah. So that’s what’s happening in my life. Also lots of swimming and a whole 13×9 pan of watermelon and tequila in my freezer because these are making a comeback. What can I say? It’s summer. Margaritas and all things citrus must be had. 😉

Something about lemons just scream summer to me. Summer is when I do a lot of my recipe testing/photography because I have some extra time to devote to the blog. Last year the first thing I did when summer vay cay started was buy a crap ton of lemons and make lemon blondies and lemon crinkle cookies. They are still two of my favorite desserts.

The bright, citrusy flavor seems to instantly make desserts more summery. Like I’m cooling off by the pool with a glass of lemonade, while simultaneously eating my weight in big, fluffy muffins. The best of both worlds if you ask me.

I also feel like lemons and blueberries are kindred spirits. Like pb & j, chocolate & hazelnut, goat cheese & my mouth. These muffins are so soft and filled to the brim with blueberries. The lemon glaze is totally optional. There is plenty of lemon flavor already there, but if you want a little extra sweetness, it’s definitely a fantastic addition. Either way, you won’t be able to get enough of these babies!

Lemon Blueberry Buttermilk Muffins

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes

Lemon Blueberry Buttermilk Muffins

Ultra soft, fluffy and tall bakery style lemon blueberry buttermilk muffins. These muffins are screaming bright, summer flavor, and with their ultra soft and tender crumb, you'd never guess they were healthy and gluten-free!

Ingredients

3 cups gluten-free baking blend orwhite whole wheat flour
1/2 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 tablespoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 small lemon, zest and juice
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup reduced fat buttermilk
1 and 1/4 cup fresh blueberries (preferably organic)

Instructions

Preheat oven to 425. Spray muffin tin with nonstick spray, or line with paper liners. Set aside.
In a large bowl, whisk together baking blend, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs, sugar, applesauce, lemon zest, lemon juice and vanilla until combined. Stir in half the dry ingredients, then buttermilk, then remaining dry ingredients until just combined. Do not overmix. Gently fold in blueberries.
Evenly divide batter between 12 standard muffin tins. Bake for 5 minutes. Reduce heat to 375 and continue to bake for an other 17-20 minutes, until golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out mostly clean (with just a few crumbs).
Let stand for 10 minutes, then serve or transfer to a wire rack. Drizzle with this lemon glaze if desired. Store leftovers in an airtight container for 3-5 days. For best results do not add glaze until ready to serve.

Notes

The muffins will get quite brown and you will think you have overcooked them. The almond meal and whole grain flours yield a darker muffin. As long as you bake for suggested time and do not over mix, your muffins should come out perfectly baked, soft and tender!

https://arismenu.com/lemon-blueberry-buttermilk-muffins/

Cereal Milk Ice Cream

June 15, 2014 · by Ari ·

The sweet, starchy milk from the end of your cereal bowl in ICE CREAM form! This simple ice cream is made with only a handful of ingredients, and the best part is, you can customize with your favorite cereal and make it in a variety of flavors!

My mom has told me on multiple occasions that if she were on death row, her last meal would be Sugar Crisp (remember that cereal???) and heavy cream. She is also, like me, a huge fan of Frosted Flakes. One year, I made her a Frosted Flake ice cream cake. It was delicious, but the cereal absorbed the milk (like cereal does) and was a little soggy mixed into the ice cream. It had potential, but just wasn’t quite right.

Whenever I make a bowl of cereal (Because, yes, I totally make it. From scratch…errr box…), I always pour in extra milk so that I can drink it at the end. Please tell me you do that too?? After it’s soaked up all the sugar and starch from the cereal and is creamy and lightly sweet? It’s my favorite.

This year for Mother’s Day I decided to try cereal and ice cream together again, but this time I soaked the cereal in the milk for a couple of hours, tossed the cereal, then turned it into ICE CREAM! Do you have a favorite dessert? Mine always has and will forever be ice cream. It’s kinda tied with fro yo, but if I had the metabolism of a 16 year old boy, it would totally be ice cream. Oh and then cookies (obviously) come in that #3 slot.

My mom took one bite and told me this was the best thing I’ve ever made. She even said she wanted it again for her birthday just a few weeks later. Smooth, creamy, soft and scoopable straight out of the freezer, this ice cream is a total winner!

I used my current cereal obsession + some brown sugar for extra sweetness. I also added about a tablespoon of bourbon at the end, but that is totally optional. Alcohol does help the ice cream to stay soft and not over freeze, but with the vanilla extract in this one it should be fine without it. But honestly, in my house bourbon is never optional.

Also, a quick warning: This is not a healthy recipe. It is the real deal. Heavy cream and all. I’m not sorry. It’s worth it.

Cereal Milk Ice Cream

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 8 hours

Cereal Milk Ice Cream

Ingredients

2 cups whole milk
1 1/2 cups cereal (I used Honey Rice Puffins)
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 1/2 cups heavy cream
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon almond extract, optional
1 tablespoon bourbon (or vodka), optional

Instructions

In a medium pot, combine whole milk and brown sugar over medium to medium-low heat. Stir constantly until sugar is melted and combined. Remove from heat.
Pour cereal in a large bowl (a shallow bowl will work best). Pour whole milk on top. Cereal should be completely submerged. Cover and chill for 1-4 hours. Longer is better, but an hour will do the trick if you're in a hurry. Stir every hour.
Strain milk through a fine mesh strainer. In a large bowl, combine strained milk, cream, and extracts. Cover and chill for an additional 1-2 hours or up to over night. You want the mixture to be fully chilled before transferring to your ice cream maker.
Freeze according to ice cream maker instructions. If desired, add bourbon during the last 2-3 minutes of freezing. Transfer to freezer safe container to finish freezing completely.

https://arismenu.com/cereal-milk-ice-cream/

My Writing Process Blog Tour

June 11, 2014 · by Ari ·

Hi friends! I have something a little different for you today. My friends Kristi and Jenn both recently asked that I take part in this blog tour, and it sounded like a lot of fun! I don’t think I’ve ever actually spoken about writing on here (probably because it scared the crap out of me), so I figured it would be a nice challenge and a little change from ice cream and grilling recipes. 😉

So without further adieu, here are the questions:

1. What am I working on?

Actually posting? Balance? Living life? It’s kind of a strange time right now to be honest. I’ve recently taken a step back and gone from posting 3-4 times a week to closer to 1-2 (if I’m lucky). I’ve been focused on quality over quantity–improving what I give put out all areas (recipes, photos, writing, etc.).

At BTP I attended this incredible writing workshop by Cheryl of 5 Second Rule. We were all able to choose from a few prompts, and many people even shared at the open mic at the end of the weekend. There were some really beautiful words, but instead of leaving feeling excited to write, I left with this lingering feeling that my writing is so young and insignificant. I kept wanting to create something meaningful and poetic, but ya know what? That ain’t me. I still talk like a kid, and my youthfulness is a big part of what makes me…me.

I guess that’s a long way of saying I’m working on being me. You’d think that would be so easy, but I feel like, for many of us, it is a constant struggle. Not trying to be someone else. Accepting that we are enough. Not setting unrealistic expectations. God, life is so much more FUN that way!

2. How does my work differ from others of its genre?

Well….does it really? I don’t know. I feel like being a healthy recipe blog is already pretty specific. I do feel like I have a pretty specific photography style (simple, a surplus of straight-on photos, obsessed with action shots), but I don’t know how different my work is from any of my other favorite healthy recipe blogs. I do think one thing that makes me stand out is that I have lived the life of the people I am trying to reach. I have lived off fast food, been almost 100 lbs overweight, struggled for years, and fought to find success in terms of healthy living. I hope that people like me can connect to that experience, and that this little spot on the internet can inspire them to find health and happiness.

3. Why do I write what I do?

Simple. I.Love.Food. Always have, always will. This blog went through many stages as I figured out what it was. I originally started out modeling myself after life style healthy living blogs like Carrots n Cake–that was the first blog I ever read and the reason I started one! I wrote a little about recipes, but I would post every day about what was happening in my life and all of my workouts. Some people can continue that for years and years, but I got bored really quickly.

My husband had recently purchased what I so technically refer to as “the fancy camera” and he started photographing my recipes. I quickly became obsessed with the idea of “making it” on Foodgawker, took over the photography of my site and fell in deep, deep love with food photography. What used to stress me out has now become my favorite part of blogging, and honestly I write recipes for 2 reasons: To inspire people to cook healthy meals and because, if I didn’t, taking high res pictures of every recipe I create would feel even more self indulgent than it already does. Plus, I like connecting with you people, and unless I wanted to start a blog about musical theatre, this is pretty much the thing I know the most about. 😉

4. How does my writing process work?

That is so hard to answer because I feel like I begin “writing” long before I ever get out my laptop. It starts from the moment an idea for a recipe pops into my head, then continues throughout creating that recipe, and into the photography where I do my best to tell you a story and create a window into my life through a snapshot of the food. The actual words? Uggghhh. That “process” is more like me staring at a blank screen thinking “WTF do I even have to say about anything???” Get me in person and I’ll talk your ear off, but in a post? Sometimes I’d rather just let the photos and the recipe speak for themselves!

I try to think of a story or a memory to connect with the recipe I’m sharing, and sometimes that works, but if it doesn’t, I usually just talk about my favorite subject…ME! One time I really couldn’t think of anything to say, and I started writing about how I hate when people say “So what’s going on with you?” because I was feeling the same sense of pressure, and the same feeling of answering “Ummm…nothing.” It actually ended up being one of my favorite posts writing wise, and it taught me the valuable lesson of just taking whatever I’m feeling and going with it, which is a big reason why I don’t blog when I’m in a bad mood!

Well, that’s that! My non-writer process behind a blog not really about the writing. 😉 Next in line I’m tagging my girl Katie from Peace, Love & Oats. Katie writes about her life, workouts, recipes, and her super cute fur niece Molly! Aside from being one of my favorite humans, she also has a unique voice that makes you feel like you’re having coffee with your best friend, and she writes some really great, honest content!

Also, YOU! Anyone who wants to join, please do! I know we’re all busy, but I would love to hear from you guys as well! And thanks again to Kristi & Jenn for getting me on board!

Thai Turkey Meatballs with Peanut Dipping Sauce

June 10, 2014 · by Ari ·

All the delicious flavor of pad Thai in fun, healthy and delicious meatballs! These Thai turkey meatballs are so good, they stand alone without pasta, and are even more fantastic dipped in the creamy peanut sauce.

I have so much to tell you! I just got back from the most incredible weekend at Blend (incredible hosted by Lindsay, Janetha & Lauren)! I’ve been dying to go after reading about the last two years, and I was pee-my-pants-excited to meet some of my favorite people from the internet. That makes me sound like a total nerd, but it’s cool. I am a total nerd.

I shared a room with Nicole & Katie (because…duh) and I was so stoked that Ashley ended up in our room too. It was the perfect energy and we stayed up both nights chatting and laughing until I literally fell asleep mid sentence. I wish that was every night. Although, Steve might be a little annoyed.

I was so excited to finally meet Lindsay and Brittany. I feel like I’ve known them for years, and they are two of the kindest, most supportive people I have ever met. In fact, for a long time I felt like I was blogging to no one, and I don’t even remember who found who, but I can say that both of them have given me a huge sense of community, and it was even better to get to play in real life!

Gahhhh, I feel like I could go on for YEARS about every cool person I met, but how about we get talk about some meatballs, and I’ll make you a lovely little list at the end of new blogs you absolutely must check out because the humans behind them are incredible. Sound good?

Okay, so….these meatballs. They are seriously so so easy. And they involve mixing with your hands, which is always my favorite. Whisk together a little peanut sauce, then mixing and rolling your meatballs will only take you a matter of minutes. While they cook, you catch up on Netflix…or if you’re a better person than me, you get ahead on cleaning. I’m not sure I can say I’ve ever gotten ahead on cleaning…

I use the “cooling rack inside the baking sheet” method (very technical term) + a little olive oil to ensure even cooking and a perfectly textured meatball. Ya know, when it has the browned outside, but still super tender and juicy on the inside? The.best. Not to mention, these meatballs are super healthy–lean, packed with protein, and with some veggies inside for good measure! It will only take a few of them to fill you up, and the sweet and spicy peanut sauce makes you feel like you’re going to town on your favorite Thai take out. Literally the best of every world, and a dinner you will want to make over and over again!

Thai Turkey Meatballs with Peanut Dipping Sauce

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes

Yield: approximately 20 meatballs

Serving Size: 4 meatballs

Thai Turkey Meatballs with Peanut Dipping Sauce

Ingredients

For the meatballs:

20 ounces lean ground turkey (I suggest 93-96%)
1/4 cup finely chopped red onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup quick cooking oats (use gf if necessary)*
2 tablespoons peanuts, finely chopped
1/4 cup chopped bean sprouts
generous pinch salt and pepper
1-2 tablespoons peanut sauce (recipe below)
1 tablespoon olive oil, optional

For the peanut sauce:

1/2 cup peanut butter, melted
1 1/2 tablespoon fresh lime juice
1 tablespoon coconut aminos (or gf soy sauce, or regular soy sauce)
1 tablespoon honey
1 teaspoon Thai chili sauce (or Sriracha)
water, as needed for thinning

Optional for serving:

fresh cilantro
fresh lime
Sriracha

Instructions

To make the peanut sauce, whisk together peanut butter, lime juice, coconut aminos, honey and chili. Add warm water 1 tablespoon at a time until sauce has reached desired consistency.
To make the meatballs, preheat oven to 400. Place a cooling rack inside of a large baking sheet** and spray with nonstick spray. Set aside. Combine all ingredients for the meatballs in a large bowl until incorporated. Roll into approximately 2 inch (about 1 ounce) balls and place onto prepared baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil if desired***.
Bake until browned and cooked throughout, about 25 minutes. Serve with prepared peanut sauce**** a squeeze of fresh lime, a pinch of cilantro and a drizzle of Sriracha if desired. Leftovers may be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Store peanut sauce separately.

Notes

*If you only have slow cooking oats on hand, simple throw them in the food processor for about 30 seconds, or even chop by hand. **Using the cooling rack inside the baking sheet helps the meatballs to bake evenly on the bottom and for any extra fat to cook off. It is not 100% necessary, but recommended. ***The extra olive oil helps the meatballs brown and get a a nice outer texture. This is also optional, but recommended. ****If peanut sauce becomes too thick, simply whisk in more water 1 tablespoon at a time until it reaches desired consistency.

https://arismenu.com/thai-turkey-meatballs-peanut-dipping-sauce/

And because I love them, please check out some of my amazing friends that I hung out with this weekend. Tons of health tips, motivation & inspiration!

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Snickers Ice Cream

Roasted Jalapeno & Garlic Bacon Guacamole

Toasted Coconut Cold-brewed Iced Coffee

Greek Lamb Burgers

Lemon Blueberry Buttermilk Muffins

Cereal Milk Ice Cream

My Writing Process Blog Tour

Thai Turkey Meatballs with Peanut Dipping Sauce

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