We recently did an interview with Maria Menounos, asking her all about her fitness regime, favorite recipes and so much more. So we thought of bringing to you her favorite recipes straight from her cookbook – they’re simple and super yummy (and it even includes some food options for dogs)!
Breakfast: Cinnamon Swirl Oatmeal
Description
*for this recipe, you can use either old-fashioned or quick oats; there is no nutritional difference. However, because quick oats have been pressed to make them thinner (and thus more quickly cooked), they usually cook up into a mushier texture. As for the cream cheese “frosting”? That’s just for fun! This breakfast is delicious with or without it!
Ingredients
½ cup quick-cooking or old-fashioned oats
¼ cup raisins
½ teaspoon cinnamon
1 tablespoon chopped almonds or walnuts
1 tablespoon whipped cream cheese, at room temperature
2 teaspoons milk (any kind)
Directions
- Cook the oats according to the package directions. Transfer to a serving bowl and stir in the raisins. Sprinkle with the cinnamon and the almonds.
- In a small bowl, beat the cream cheese and the milk to reach a glaze consistency. Spoon over the hot oatmeal.
Lunch: Three-Bean Power Salad
Description
*Bring this colorful salad to your next picnic or potluck – it’s the perfect make-ahead dish and it tastes even better the next day. For heartier appetites, fold in a cup or two of cooked shredded chicken.
Ingredients
¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
¼ cup white wine or apple-cider vinegar
2 teaspoons Italian spice mixture or chopped fresh thyme
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
Salt and black pepper
1 can (10 ounces) chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1 can (10 ounces) red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1 can (8 ounces) low-sodium green beans, drained and rinsed
2 scallions, thinly sliced
1 stalk celery, thinly sliced
½ red pepper, cut into small dice
½ cup chopped fresh parsley or dill
