I cannot tell a lie: This was originally intended to be a cookie recipe. (For those of you following on Twitter, sorry for the tempting picture!) But truth be told, I’m not much of a baker, and the cookies were a failure.

So what’s a girl to do? Improvise, of course! One thing cooking has taught me is that the more time you spend in the kitchen, the more you’re able to just figure it out and use your instincts with recipes. So that’s what I did—I shifted some ingredients around, extended the bake time and turned dry, blah cookies into crunchy, yummy granola. Enjoy by the handful as a snack, mix with yogurt for breakfast or top your favorite ice cream for a decadent dessert!

Five-Grain Chocolate Raisin Granola
Makes 15 servings (serving size is 1/4 of a cup)

3 cups Old Wessex Five Grain Cereal, uncooked. (Oatmeal is a fine substitution.)
1.5 cups whole wheat flour
1 cup apple sauce, unsweetened
5 tbsp. unsalted butter
1/3 cup dark chocolate chips
1 cup  honey or maple syrup
1 tsp . baking soda
1/3 cup almonds, chopped
1/4 cup raisins
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 tsp. vanilla extract

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The Office Challengers have been working so hard to get healthy and in shape. As they move into the final two weeks, I know they’re starting to think about how to celebrate when the contest is over. The key to the “splurge” is to not sabotage all the work that was just put in—and, unfortunately, cocktails tend to do just that. This spicy libation was created with the Be Well Philly Challengers in mind. Coconut water has become very popular in the health and fitness world today, but traditionally fresh coconut water (from a real coconut) has been used in island cooking and drinking. Its smooth finish and low caloric content make it the perfect pairing for spiced rum and citrus. Cheers!

Spiced Skinny
Serves one

1.5 oz. Captain Morgan Spiced Rum
1.5 oz. Club soda
6 oz. VitaCoco Coconut Water, Plain
1 Orange, sliced
Ice

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This recipe is the epitome of a Sunday comfort meal. The smells that come from kitchen will leave your mouth watering, and the whole family will be ready to gobble up this delicious dish. Grilling the apples essentially caramelizes them, bringing out their natural sugars and making them super sweet. Paired with tart cranberries on top of juicy turkey breast equals instant fall favorite!

Roasted Turkey Breast with Grilled Apples
Serves three

1 lb Turkey breast (about 4 cutlets)
3 Apples, sliced evenly (Gala, green or both)
¼ cup Dried cranberries
¼ cup Walnuts, chopped
1 tbsp Butter, unsalted
2 tsp Maple syrup
1 tsp Cinnamon
¼ tsp Nutmeg

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High in fiber and high in taste, this recipe is a sweet way to manage healthy weight. This salad is super easy and can be whipped up in just a few minutes. Fresh figs are fragile, so make sure to use within a day or two of purchase. The sweetness of the figs combined with the tanginess of the goat cheese make a remarkable pairing. I really love this salad—so simple, so sweet, so tasty.

Spinach Salad with Figs and Goat Cheese
Serves two

3 cups baby spinach
6 figs, quartered
¼ cup goat cheese, crumbled
2 tbsp.  walnuts, chopped
2 tbsp.  extra virgin olive oil
1 tsp.  balsamic vinegar

To prepare figs, cut off the bottom and top, then quarter lengthwise. In a large bowl, combine all ingredients except nuts. Drizzle with oil and vinegar. Toss well and divide two plates. Top with chopped walnuts and enjoy!

Per serving: 400 Calories, 25g Fat, 6.5g Sat Fat, 13mg Cholesterol, 143mg Sodium, 40g Carbs, 7g Dietary Fiber, 9g Protein

Maura Manzo is a health coach and yoga instructor at RYAH Yoga and Health inConshohocken.  To learn more about her classes and workshops, visit mauramanzo.com orryahyoga.com. Read her full bio here.

Miss our previous recipes? Check ‘em out:
• Big-Kid Breakfast Sandwich
• Veggie Sushi Rolls
• Spicy Tortilla Soup
• Pumpkin-Seed Sweet Potato Fries
• I-Can’t-Believe-It’s-Not-Spaghetti Spaghetti

Image from Stockbyte

Who doesn’t love a big bowl of spaghetti? I certainly do. It reminds me of Sunday dinners at my grandparents’ house when I was growing up. What I’m not a fan of, though, is the food coma that tends to follow.

You’ve probably always heard about spaghetti squash—now it’s time to try it. This recipe is an easy substitute for the classic pasta dish, but so much better because the squash is significantly lower in carbs than a bowl of pasta. And it’s so close to the real thing, your kids probably won’t even know the difference (especially if you serve it with sauce and grated cheese). Mangia mangia!

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Image from iStockPhoto

Fall is definitely here! And with it comes a host of warm, soothing foods (chai latte, anyone?). As I was thinking of what to prepare for this week’s recipe, I wanted to keep in mind all of the awesome Be Well Philly Office Challenge participants who are working hard to get healthy, exercise more and create healthy meals. One of the keys to maintaining a healthy weight is to make sure you don’t feel deprived. I don’t believe in dieting, just in making choices that suit your body and incorporating healthy fats and lots of fiber. So this week’s fall-inspired treat is designed to indulge cravings for sweets and allow you to enjoy a really tasty snack.

Sweet Potato Fries with Roasted Pepitas & Sage Dipping Sauce
Serves four

4  sweet potatoes, halved and sliced (with skins)
2 tablespoons olive oil
¼ cup pepitas (raw pumpkin seeds)
3 tablespoons Oikos Organic Greek Yogurt, plain
3 teaspoons dried rosemary
1 teaspoons dried parsley
¼ teaspoon ground sage
¼ teaspoon garlic salt
¼ teaspoon cumin
¼ teaspoon paprika
¼ teaspoon coriander
½ teaspoon lemon juice

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It’s just about time to dust off the ol’ soup pot. While it’s still a little early in the season for some of the heartier, heavier soups, this recipe for spicy tortilla soup is the perfect balance of spice and flavor to warm you up without filling you out. Add more or less chipotle powder to adjust the heat to your liking; for an extra kick, you can add a few shakes of hot sauce. Want more protein? Stir in some precooked chicken breast (shredded) for an even more filling meal.

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Sushi’s tasty, but who in the world has the time to make it? This easy recipe turns a hassle into simple way to make one of your favorite meals at home. Get creative and make your own combinations or stick with this traditional veggie medley. At just 10 calories a pop, the seaweed sheets are a great alternative to a wrap or sandwich. You could also serve these alongside your favorite piece of fish. Need extra help making this recipe? Scroll to the bottom for a how-to photo slideshow.

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If breakfast is the most important meal of the day, why shouldn’t it be the most delicious one, too? Give yourself a little extra time in the AM to make and enjoy this adult-size breakfast sandwich, which will keep you full until lunch. This sammy is packed with protein and a healthy balance of carbs and fat, making it an excellent choice for a post-workout meal. Can’t skip the meat? Try adding a lean turkey bacon or sausage to beef it up a bit.

Big Kid Breakfast Sandwich
Makes one sandwich

½ piece Mediterranean-style flat bread
1 large egg
1 ounce mozzarella cheese, part skim
¼ cup arugula (or basil)
2 tomato slices
1 teaspoon Extra Virgin olive oil
Sea salt, to taste
Italian-style herbs, such as rosemary or marjoram

Cook one egg according to your liking (I prefer a “folded” egg for a sandwich). If scrambling the egg, add a pinch of sea salt and herbs directly into the mixture so seasoning cooks into the egg. While the egg is cooking, cut bread into halves and toast to bring out flavors. Drizzle toasted bread with olive oil. Layer arugula and one tomato under egg; add tomato and then mozzarella on top of egg. This layering assures perfect taste combinations to make your mouth extremely happy. Dust with another pinch of sea salt and herbs.

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