For pregnant women - quick and easy recipes - page 9

In this quick, healthy recipe for porridge adapted from Food & Wine magazine, quinoa simmers with dried figs, maple syrup, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Milk and a sprinkling of chopped, toasted pecans and halved figs complete this nourishing breakfast.

This alternative to basil and pine nut pesto is great on pizza, pasta, or straight from a spoon.

Polenta, writes Chez Panisse’s Cal Peternell in Twelve Recipes, is “more ratio than recipe.” The standard is 4 parts water to 1 part polenta, simmered for 30 minutes. Be careful to add the polenta to the boiling water in a slow, steady stream with one hand as you whisk with the other—this will prevent lumps from forming. (If you end up with a few lumps despite your best efforts, don’t sweat it; it’ll still taste delicious.) Enriching it at the end with butter and cheese isn’t strictly necessary.

A classic French vinaigrette with red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, shallot, lemon juice, and olive oil is one of the most versatile sauces in the kitchen. Use it to dress a simple green salad or an elaborate composed one, employ it as a quick marinade for raw meats or a casual accompaniment for grilled ones.

For this classic steak and bacon salad recipe, crispy bacon mingles with cold grilled steak, romaine hearts, watercress or arugula, crumbled blue cheese, and cherry tomatoes in creamy Blue Cheese–Yogurt Dressing.

Penne pasta cooked al dente combines with sautéed spinach, crumbled feta, crème fraîche, and yogurt in this easy vegetarian baked pasta dish.

For this fresh, healthy summer salad recipe that balances sweet, tart, and salty, grilled watermelon, combines with feta, and mint.

Most granola is a fancy twist on toasted oats—consider that when contemplating the exorbitant prices retailers charge for it. The thing is, granola is incredibly easy to make at home, and for a fraction of the cost. This recipe is a granola base to which you can add whatever dried fruit, nuts, or other tasty bits make you happy. Feel free to tweak this with other spices, a little less honey, more salt—it’s quite forgiving, and customizing your own blend is the fun of making your own.

This recipe is presented by Eggland’s Best. Make sure to stir, not blend, the toffee bits in the cupcake batter to ensure the bits stay intact, for that satisfying crunch through and through. To create pretty concentric circle swirls, spoon the molasses buttercream frosting into seal-able plastic bag and use scissors to cut off bit of the corner through which you can squeeze the icing in a controlled way.

Are you surprised to see such a fancy dessert? Don’t be! Christina Lane made this one dairy-free and naturally sweetened so that she doesn’t feel badly about eating it for breakfast. And she tops it with fruit soaked in honey just because it tastes good. (Honey is acidic and it breaks down the fruit while it rests.) Lane used figs because summer was in full swing when she perfected this recipe, but mango and raspberries are great here too.

An adorable, festive and super easy recipe for memorable party treats. Crushed Oreos get combined with cream cheese, rolled into balls and covered in white chocolate. These Oreo truffles dressed up as snowmen are great addition to any party and sure to be the first to go!

Granola and banana bread, separately, are easy crowd pleasers, so it seemed obvious (to me) to combine them. This granola recipe bakes up in big batches and can be jarred and stored for weeks, if not eaten by the handful first. I like to use dehydrated banana slices in this recipe, as they’re softer and more tender than crisp banana chips. If you prefer them crisp, banana chips are the way to go.

When it comes to healthy dips and spreads, hummus gets all of the love and attention. But it’s the mighty lentil that packs a higher protein punch with less fat and calories per serving. The simple, albeit delicious recipe from Baba Cool‘s executive chef Gabriella Mann highlights the velvety texture of the legume as it’s paired with refreshing mint, lemon juice, and garlic. Subtle notes of nutmeg round out the dish to create an appetizer that’s perfect for any summer gathering.

Do you know the Muffin Man? If you do, you may want to tip him off to these delicious vegan treats. Chocolate and banana are a match made in culinary heaven, while the addition of granola brings in an earthy and necessary crunch. Breakfast never tasted so good (or healthy)!

Cauliflower is having a culinary moment. Whether it’s riced, grilled, steamed, or roasted, chefs around the globe have found innovative and delicious ways to present broccoli’s versatile cousin. Baba Cool’s roasted cauliflower with tahini and goji berries is no exception, offering the perfect balance between sweet and salty while honoring the smokiness of roasting-induced char and spicy turmeric. Planning a vegan dinner? This dish would make a perfect vegetable side dish.

Is rice pudding the best comfort dessert of all time? This recipe is convincing enough—it’s simple and satisfying, and comes together in less than half an hour. All you do is combine milk, raw rice, sugar, and a pinch of salt in a saucepan and simmer for about 20 minutes. Stir in a bit of vanilla or almond extract and boom, you’re done.