Hard-boiled egg chocolate chip cookies.

Soy-free | Nut-free

We have reason to celebrate! My almost-18-month-old has finally outgrown her MSPI (milk- and soy-protein intolerance)! So for the first time in ages, I wrote the word “butter” on the grocery list.

I don’t know how I found this recipe for hard-boiled egg chocolate chip cookies, but it simultaneously weirded me out and intrigued me, so I saved it for a time when, hypothetically, I might possibly have a dozen or so different-colored hard-boiled eggs sitting in my fridge that no one in my family will eat.

So one rainy afternoon earlier this week, we tried it. My 1st-grade mini scientist was excited at the prospect of an experiment. My preschooler and toddler just like eating cookie dough. My husband? Well, I didn’t tell him a thing.

We were all blown away! Aside from the fact that these taste amazing, one of the (other) best things about these is that the dough is safe for eating! And it’s the only butter-containing chocolate-chip cookie recipe I’ve ever tried that doesn’t spread in the oven here in Florida. I made them again this afternoon, but with only yolks, for an even better texture and mouthfeel, especially on Day 2 (yes, sometimes they do last that long!). I think these are going to be a new post-Easter tradition!

Hard-boiled Egg (Yolk) Chocolate-chip Cookies

Adapted from here

• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temp
• 1 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
• 2 tsp. vanilla
• 4 hard-boiled egg yolks, finely chopped (or use 2 whole peeled hard-boiled eggs)
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 2 1/4 cups flour
• 1 1/2 – 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 350 and line 2 baking sheets with parchment.
2. In your stand mixer, cream together butter and brown sugar 2 minutes or until light and fluffy.
3. Add vanilla and eggs; beat until well mixed. (You may see pieces of yolk in the dough; this is fine.)
4. Add salt, soda, and flour; mix until just combined. The dough will be a little drier than other dough recipes. Stir in chocolate chips.
5. Spoon onto prepared cookie sheets using a 2 Tbsp. dough scoop or other large spoon.
6. Bake 9-10 minutes or until edges are just beginning to turn golden. If in doubt, under-bake. (Remember the eggs are already pre-cooked!)
7. Let cool a few minutes on the cookie sheet, then transfer to a wire rack.

Skinny Chicken Broccoli Alfredo, turned green for St. Patrick’s Day.

Clean eating | Soy-free | Nut-free | Gluten-free option

When we visited Rome last year, my friend told us about the original Alfredo’s, where lore has it that the owner created the original Fettucine Alfredo–to satisfy his wife’s pregnancy cravings.

So of course we had to visit. They brought out a huge platter of steaming fettucine piled high with three mounds of cheeses, and proceeded to mix it all together at astonishing speed. Then we ate at astonishing speed–until we felt sick. It sat like a rock in our stomachs. We were very glad that our apartment was only a 10-minute walk away.

This Alfredo-inspired sauce brings back those memories without weighing us down. Instead of 3 piles of cheeses, you get the creaminess with a bit of bite from the Greek yogurt and fresh-grated (or not fresh-grated) Parmesan. Today, for St. Patrick’s Day, I turned the sauce green, and the girls said they liked it even better than usual!

Skinny Chicken Broccoli Alfredo

Original recipe here

• 2 chicken breasts, seasoned, cooked, and cut into bite-sized pieces
• 8-10 oz. whole-wheat (or gluten-free) pasta, such as rotini
• 2 cups frozen broccoli
• 2 Tbsp. olive oil
• 2-3 (I use 3) garlic cloves, pressed or minced
• 2 Tbsp. whole-wheat pastry flour (or gluten-free flour of choice)
• 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
• optional: handful spinach
• 1/4 cup skim milk
• 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt (I use 2%)
• salt and pepper
• 3/4 cup fresh-grated Parmesan

1. Cook pasta as directed, adding frozen broccoli for last 2 minutes of cooking time. Reserve up to 1/2 cup pasta water before draining.
2. If you’re turning your sauce green: add chicken broth and spinach to your blender and blend until smooth.
3. Make the roux: Heat oil in a large saucepan on medium heat. Add garlic and stir constantly 1 minute, until fragrant. Sprinkle in flour and whisk to cook for 1 more minute. Slowly whisk in chicken broth, then milk, until bubbling.
4. Whisk in Greek yogurt, then season generously with salt and pepper. Turn heat down to medium-low and simmer 2-3 minutes, until thickened. (If there is spinach in the sauce, it will take longer and will not thicken as much.)
5. Remove from heat. Stir in Parmesan until well incorporated, then stir in chicken.
6. Combine sauce with pasta mixture; add small amounts of pasta water until sauce is your desired consistency.