It is easy this time of year to slip into some not-so-healthy food choices. As the holidays approach, the abundance of sweet treats and more occasions upon which to eat them can get the better of us. We see this with the recipe submissions here on Tasty Kitchen these days. Pumpkin baked goods everywhere! And let’s not even mention the Halloween candy we’ve been noshing on the last few days, except to say we need to get it out of the house as soon as possible.

Even though the time for Thanksgiving desserts and Christmas cookies is just around the corner, we can keep some healthy snacks on hand to keep ourselves honest. These Peanut Butter and Honey Trail Mix Bars from TK member Katrina, have all the good stuff—ahem, chocolate—to satisfy that craving for sweetness without the guilt. They’re nutty and sweet and perfect as an afternoon snack or even breakfast on the go.

Hope you enjoy!

There’s a crispness in the air lately! Fall is in full swing. In fact, it’s almost time to turn back the clocks, at which time we’ll really want to hibernate in the evening and eat warm, comforting things! It might be all soup, all the time around here for awhile.

We’re especially smitten with nice, hearty seasonal soups like this Loaded Butternut Squash and Sweet Potato Soup from TK member Karrie. It’s mostly veggie, but feels plenty satisfying when topped with pancetta and pepper jack. A little sour cream and green onion, and it’s perfect!

We hope you enjoy! And if you have a favorite soup of the moment, tell us in the comments. We’re all ears!

Chili season is in full force, folks. It’s classic weekend football-watching food or an easy, satisfying weeknight meal. I am always excited to find a new chili recipe to try. It gives me an excuse to make chili more often! A good white chicken chili is a nice change from the more common chili con carne, and veggie chili offers a tasty, healthy alternative, too.

This Turkey Chorizo Hatch Chili from TK member Lauren is going straight into my chili lineup. It’s a hearty but healthy recipe with Mexican flavors and delicious, slightly spicy chorizo, one of my favorite ingredients. If you can’t find turkey chorizo at your store, feel free to use regular chorizo. Just make sure you are buying Mexican chorizo. Spanish chorizo has quite a different flavor. If you can’t find chorizo at all, you can always make your own! Here’s a recipe for Homemade Mexican-style Chorizo from Tasty Kitchen member Rebecca. Just use ground turkey instead of ground pork, and you’re ready to go!

Hope you enjoy this flavorful chili. If you have a clever way to change up chili or a favorite recipe, share it in the comments!

It’s that time of year when my soup pot starts getting a workout. Just about every cool fall day, what sounds the absolute best is a hearty, comforting bowl of soup. It’s so easy to get it simmering and then put a quick salad together and throw some bread in the oven.

I have also been on a major lentil kick lately. A bowl of lentils cooked with onions, carrots, served with herbs and topped with a poached egg has been a favorite so far this season. I’ve been looking for something different to do with my lentils, though, and this Butternut Squash Lentil Soup from TK member Sarah of Thyme to Eat looks like it would hit the spot quite nicely. It has the deep flavor of cumin and coriander, and it’s thick enough to be satisfying as a meal on its own. It’s a great recipe to celebrate the flavors of fall and to introduce a lovely veggie option to your soup routine. Click on the photo to get the printable!

Happy fall, y’all!

At the beginning of the week, I have good intentions about preparing homemade ingredients for breakfasts and often end up falling back on frozen waffles or the same old scrambled eggs. We’re overdue for something different this week, and some crunchy, slightly sweet granola sounds like the perfect thing to get us out of our breakfast rut.

This Basic Granola from TK member Stephanie Walker works great when you just want a simple granola without all the extras, or if you’re serving it to those who might turn up their noses at additions like nuts. I’m looking at you, kids. Either way, this recipe is delicious as is, or can be customized with shredded coconut, dried fruit, or anything you can think to add! Enjoy with yogurt for breakfast or snack on it in the afternoon when you need a nibble of something sweet.

Have a tasty week!

It’s Friday! Wow, this week has flown. Partly because we’re trying to do all we can to hold on to the last days of summer, and partly because we’ve been busy with a pretty big surprise for you. “What? A surprise?” We’re glad you asked!

If you haven’t seen it yet, there was some extensive remodeling done over at The Pioneer Woman. Lots of bright and shiny new things going on there. One of those shiny new things is something a little extra special for us here at Tasty Kitchen: a section called Food & Friends. There, you’ll find recipes and tips and food-related posts from Ree’s friends, many of whom you’ve already met as Tasty Kitchen members.

We hope you’ll pop over, say hi, and make yourself at home. We’ve also created a Food & Friends Tasty Kitchen account, so you can find all the posted recipes right here on TK. (Instagram, too!) And don’t you worry, Tasty Kitchen is here to stay, and will continue as the happy recipe sharing community that we’ve all come to love.

Here’s what you’ll find there!

How to Make Simple Syrup. There’s a reason it’s called simple syrup. Up your cocktail game by making flavored versions!

Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad. Grilled croutons for the win!

Blackberry Soda Floats. Creamy and fruity and bubbly. Play around with different combinations!

You Rule Cookies. How cute are these. Perfect back-to-school treats!

Summertime Shrimp Pizza. Hang on to summer just a little bit longer with this pizza. Sweet and crunchy corn, sweet and briny shrimp. Throw in extra summer veggies and dig in!

Peach Pistachio Galette. So easy and beautifully rustic. The peaches really shine here!

Spinach Basil Pesto Risotto. I’m sorry, you said something? I was too busy staring at the bowl of lusciousness.

We’re blown away by talents of the contributors there, and we know you will be too. So come say hi! Here’s the link to take you there directly: Pioneer Woman: Food & Friends.

Have a great weekend, friends!

At the beginning of the week, I always need some inspiration for healthy weeknight meals that aren’t too difficult to throw together. It’s also about this time of year that I realize I need to enjoy as much delicious summer produce as possible while it’s still available. More fresh garden tomatoes, please!

This Roasted Summer Vegetable Ragout, from TK member Lindsay, ticks all the boxes and looks so tasty. The combination of tomatoes, zucchini and eggplant is one of my favorites, and roasting the veggies really brings out their sweetness. We hope you enjoy! And share your favorite quick, easy weeknight summer meals with us below, if you like!

You’re welcome.

In case you can’t wait to grab the printable recipe so you can make this for breakfast already, I figured I’d be polite and acknowledge the unspoken gratitude in your heart that’s currently being drowned out by the “chocolate, now!” sounds coming from your belly. It’s okay. I know the sound well.

This Trail Mix Chocolate Smoothie from TK member Tessa is one part healthy, two parts fun, three parts superfood, and eight parts chocolate. It’s more milkshake than smoothie, really, except sneakily healthier. And chocolate! Yes, please. All day long.

Have a great weekend, everyone! May it be filled with joy, laughter, and chocolate.

Smoothies have become my default summer morning option, and they’ve been doing right by me so far. I get a nice dose of protein to start my day, a cool drink to battle the rising temperatures, and the satisfaction of knowing I fed myself a healthy breakfast. But sometimes … sometimes I’d rather not drink my breakfast. Sometimes I want something warm and comforting, like sausages, or fried eggs, or yes, even grits. Mostly, though, when I want something warm, I want pancakes. Which is a bit tricky when I’m also avoiding gluten.

Enter these Lemon Blueberry High Protein Pancakes from TK member Lacey. These pancakes may masquerade as a breakfast splurge but deep inside, they’re actually good for you. And flourless, too! In fact, the ingredient list bears a striking resemblance to many a smoothie recipe. At only slightly more than 100 calories and 13 grams of protein per pancake, it wins a spot on my breakfast menu rotation.

Thanks for sharing this, Lacey! Now I know what to make when the pancake urge hits. Click on the photo above to get the printable!

Hope everyone’s week is off to a great start!

I saw the words matcha and brioche and donuts in the title, and that did it for me. That the donuts look so pillowy soft and buttery pretty much sealed the deal. If you’re looking for a special summer treat to make, I’d like to suggest Strawberry Matcha Brioche Donuts from TK member Denisse! Click on the photo above for the printable, and get your week off to a great start with these.

Thanks for sharing, Denisse!