4 Yummy Recipes to Make You Happy Going into 2014

A few months ago I posted about the “Top Foods That Make You Happy” and highlighted mood-boosting foods like salmon, chocolate, bananas, eggs, beans, mushrooms, asparagus, and nuts. I thought a great follow-up to that post would be to highlight a few recipes that include some of these happy foods! Here are 4 delicious recipes from my friend and fellow blogger, Lindsay from Weeknight Bite.

1) Roasted Salmon with a Lemon Caper Parsley Sauce

Happy Ingredient: Salmon

Ingredients:

For the salmon:
2 salmon filets
A drizzle of extra virgin olive oil
Salt/Pepper

For the sauce:
1/4 cup parsley – finely minced
1 tbsp capers – rinsed
1/2 shallot – finely diced
1/2 tsp lemon zest
3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1/2 tbsp champagne vinegar
1 tsp lemon juice
Salt & pepper to taste

Serves 2.

Start by drizzling your salmon (or your favorite fish) with good olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Heat up your pan nice and hot on the stove, then add your fish for just a few minutes (2-3) before putting the pan into the oven at 350°.

Then whip up the sauce. By the way, this sauce is also amazing over roasted cauliflower. My recommendation is to start roasting up your cauli, then when it’s about 10 minutes from finished, throw your salmon in the oven too. Take both out, pour the sauce over everything, and enjoy a perfectly flavored, delicious, and easy dinner!

Cook the salmon – 2 minutes on the stove and about 8 in the oven. Add the sauce. Enjoy!

See more about this roasted salmon here.

2) Gluten-Free Protein Pancakes

Happy Ingredients: Nuts & Seeds

Ingredients:

1/2 cup gluten-free oats
1 whole egg + 1 egg white
1 tbsp ground flaxseeds
1 tbsp chia seeds
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tbsp vanilla extract
1/2 banana
1 tbsp baking powder
2 tbsp gluten-free flour (for extra fluffiness!)
2 tbsp vanilla Greek yogurt or cottage cheese
optional: 1 scoop natural protein powder

Toppings: almond butter, sliced banana, coconut flakes, and honey 🙂

Makes about 4 medium-large pancakes.

Blend all ingredients well in a blender or with an immersion/hand blender. Spray your skillet (my fave is coconut oil spray), heat skillet, and pour your scrumptious pancake batter. If you want to get creative here, go for it! Add some blueberries if you want, some banana slices, maybe even a couple chocolate chips! Cook about 2-3 minutes on each side. That’s it! Then top your delicious pancakes with your favorite ingredients.

See more about these yummy gluten-free protein pancakes here.

3) Guilt-Free Oatmeal Banana Cookies

Happy Ingredients: Bananas, Chocolate & Nuts

Ingredients:

2 RIPE bananas – mashed
1/2 cup Trader Joe’s raw almond butter (unsalted/creamy)
1 1/4 cup old fashioned oats
1/4 cup steel-cut oats
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup chocolate chips (if your a chocolate lover
like me!) – or use raisins, shredded coconut, or nuts!

Bake at 350 for 15 minutes.

See a video on how to make these oatmeal banana cookies here.

4) Secret Ingredient Chocolate Chip Blondies

Happy Ingredients: Beans & Chocolate

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups white kidney beans
3/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
3/4 cup brown sugar
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 1/2 tbsp whole wheat flour
1/4 cup Trader Joe’s raw almond butter
1/2 cup chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Blend all ingredients except chocolate chippers in your food processor until very smooth. Add chips in last. Bake in a greased 8×8 baking sheet for 30 minutes. Let them cool for a few minutes, and then indulge, totally guiltlessly!

See more about these chocolate chip blondies here.

Will you try any of these recipes? What’s your favorite “happy” ingredient to cook with?