Dani Spies

Now I'm not bragging... but the truth is that I don't like to watch the news and I very rarely read the newspaper.

What can I say, I'm a sensitive kind of gal and more times than not the news leaves me with thoughts and images in my mind that I find I am better off without!

Enter my husband...

Okay - SO I need to know...

How many of you guys make your food choices based on nutrients and health value vs. flavor and taste?

Counting calories has never worked for me.  In all honesty it drives me INSANE.  I find myself getting crazy over the littlest things and always end up self sabotaging in one way or another.

This is why the "Clean Eating" style has become my favorite guideline when it comes to eating. Clean Eating does not focus on calories, rather it focuses on...

Ever notice how versatile pumpkin is? 

Well, it's that time of the year again when pumpkin starts pleading to be mixed into all sorts of d'lishes dishes... sweet, savory, salty, spicy... you name it, pumpkin always seems to find a way to fit in!

Don't ask me why, but the idea of starting the day with a handful of greens mixed into my breakfast makes me really excited.  Not to mention looking down into this colorful bowl seems to be another "feel good" way to start the day... it just looks happy.  It's like my breakfast bowl is smiling at me...

Ahhhh, Southern California... I just finished a beautiful six a.m. hike with my friend Mary, and when I got home boy was I hungry! I wanted something hearty and satisfying without being overly indulgent.  These Peanut Butter Performance Pancakes were exactly what the doctor ordered!

Who says oatmeal has to be limited to your breakfast bowl?

These Oatmeal, Chocolate, and Cranberry Cookies are the perfect ending to a clean, simple, and d'lishes meal!

Hot, fluffy oats... warm bananas and maple syrup... sliced strawberries... creamy yogurt and cottage cheese... crunchy walnuts... I mean, c'mon, do I really need to explain why I have been so obsessed with my morning Oatmeal Parfait?

Eating oatmeal is one of the quickest, easiest, and tastiest ways to incorporate a whole grain into your kitchen!! 

The one question I get the most often in regards to oats is...

Here's another simple and d'lishes way to whip up some oatmeal for breakfast.  Remember, I almost always make my oatmeal ahead of time,  so all I  have to do is reheat it with some yummy "add-in's" come breakfast.

What's a Jersey girl to do on Christmas Eve Day when the temperature is about to reach 75 degrees here in Southern California?

Why, make a breakfast that would hit the spot in the middle of a snowstorm, of course!  I mean, c'mon... how else am I gonna make it feel like Christmas??

Okay, so this isn't exactly a recipe, it's more of a strategy that I use to be sure that I have time for a nutritious breakfast.

What can I say... the cool, crisp air really gets me in the mood for baking!  I have to be careful though, because unlike so many talented bakers out there, I have a hard time keeping my fingers out of the batter OR resisting anything that is fresh baked out the oven!