Cassie DeNisco

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My Baked Oats Recipe!

If Tik Tok has taught me anything, it’s how to make a baked oats recipe to die for! Baked oats essentially is oatmeal that instead of cooking on the stove you blend the ingredients then bake. It turns into this delicious cake like breakfast that is so satisfying and delicious.

Baked oats is great because you can really customize it to your preferences. I’ve made it a few different ways but always go back to this simple recipe. This might seem super intimidating to make but with a few ingredients and a good blender you’ll have a great breakfast in no time!

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 c Oats
  • 1 Ripe Banana
  • 1/2 c Almond Milk
  • 1 tsp Baking Powder
  • Dash of Cinnamon
  • 1 tsp Vanilla
  • 1 tbsp Peanut Butter
  • Handful of vegan chocolate chips

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degreees
  2. Add oats, almond milk, banana, baking powder, vanilla, peanut butter and cinnamon to a blender and blend thoroughly.
  3. Spray a mini baking safe pan and pour in mixture.
  4. Sprinkle chocolate chips on top and bake for 30-40 minutes depending on how you like it. (Sometimes I like a gooey center and others I want it completely baked)

Do you see how easy and healthy it is to have cake for breakfast? I’ve even seen some people take out their baked oats and drizzle a little almond milk on top to make it even more gooey.

This baked oats recipe is my go to on mornings I’m craving something sweet and have time to make it. I wish I could make this every morning but because it does take a bit it’s a once in awhile thing for me.

Be sure to subscribe to the blog below and check out more recipes like this here! You can follow me on Tik Tok here!

My Healthy Dessert Recipe!

This healthy dessert recipe is delicious!! I used to not like dates but making them this way has changed my dessert game forever. I find myself always craving something sweet to finish off the night but I just wanted a healthier alternative.

This recipe uses dates to make a healthy version of a candy similar to a snickers bar. I know you might be thinking dates are kind of weird but they actually give off a caramel vibe paired with this chocolate and peanut butter treat!

Anyone can make this recipe because it is just that simple! Here’s the recipe for my favorite healthy dessert!

healthy dessert recipe

Ingredients

Pitted medjool dates

Peanut butter

Chocolate chips

Directions

  1. Open up the date and put some peanut butter in the middle.
  2. Melt some chocolate and completely cover the date in it.
  3. Let the dates set in fridge for about 30 minutes and enjoy!
healthy dessert recipe

As you can see this recipe is so simple and only had 3 ingredients! I’ve seen some people take some flaky salt and add it to the top for a sweet/salty vibe. I personally am just all for the sweets so I leave it just like that.

I love this healthy dessert recipe because it really is a great alternative dessert. I never am one to deny cravings but I also know that I should sometimes try to swap it out for something healthier. Let me know in the comments below your favorite healthy dessert recipe!

Check out more recipes here! Be sure to subscribe to my mailing list here to never miss a post!

My Book Review for 2021

I was so excited to write this book review recap as a wrap up for all the books I read this year. During the pandemic, I fell back in love with reading so I really made it my mission to carve out time to read everyday this year. I have read over 50 books so far and we still have a few more days left in the year.

Any content that has to do with a book review is seriously my favorite so I hope this helps you find some new great books. If I broke down every book I read this year, we would be here all day so I’m going to break down my favorite, least favorite, and a few other honorable mentions.

If you like my book review, I highly suggest you check me out on Good Reads and follow me there because that will update you with every book I read! You can also check me out on instagram @bookchatswithcass for my new book instagram!

Least Favorite 2021 Book: Love & Gelato

book review

This was absolutely my own fault with this book. I gravitate towards YA books and I know this is a series so I thought I could get away with it. The book was so rough to get through not only because it was so young but the story itself was like a Mamma Mia wannabe. Honestly I don’t even have much else to write about it other than I would not recommend this to anyone.

Non- Fiction Must Read: The Forever Dog

book review

If you have a dog or even any pet, I would say run to your nearest book store . This was so hard to get my hands on so I actually have a hard copy and a kindle copy. I love the information in this book. It’s written by vets, backed by science, and easy to understand. I want Sky to have the happiest, healthiest life and this book has helped to make some great changes in her life so far.

Opened the Door to a new Genre: Next Year in Havana

As a kid I was very much into Historical Fiction but as an adult I couldn’t really get myself into it. I found Next Year in Havana on a whim in the bookstore and I am so glad it did. Chanel Cleeton did a fantastic job of weaving in important historical events with a story that was written beautifully. After reading this book, I read the second book in the series, When We Left Cuba, and then started to incorporate more Historical Fiction books into my reads.

Top Recommendation: The Giver of Stars

I honestly believe everyone should read this historical fiction book. This was based on a true story about the women would worked under Eleanor Roosevelt’s library program. This program brought books to everyone, even in the most remote locations. In addition, this book shows the lives that women led during this time period and the friendships they formed. This is probably the book I will tell everyone to read. It shows how powerful books and reading really are.

Favorite 2021 Book: Beach Read

I actually struggled with this category because I thought about putting The Giver of Stars but I thought that book wasn’t necessarily my favorite that I read. It is more of a book that I will always refer to when people ask me what to read. Beach Read is actually the second book I read by this author and I love it. Essentially, two others are both dealing with grief and end up being next door neighbors who essentially fall in love. I just loved the twists and turns that it took to get them to the end of the book. I really love this about Emily Henry’s writing.

There’s nothing I love more than a cozy bed and a good book! I hope this book review gave you some inspo for your next read. Be sure to check out some other posts I’ve done one books recommendations too!

My Vegan Pumpkin Bread Recipe

I love the holidays because of all the pumpkin spice. I wanted to get this post up sooner, but it has really taken me this long to perfect my vegan pumpkin bread recipe. It is finally ready to go out and I am obsessed with it!

This is a really easy recipe and since it’s vegan, it has very minimal ingredients too! I really have tried to move away from white sugar so this also is a little healthier since it uses brown. This recipe is going to be a go to when I want a healthy treat!

Ingredients:

1 c pumpkin puree

1 c brown sugar

1/2 c neutral oil (I used vegetable)

3 tbsp apple cider vinegar

3 tbsp sugar free maple syrup

1 3/4 c oat flour

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp baking powder

2 tbsp pumpkin pie spice

Sprinkle of salt

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 400. Prepare a loaf pan with parchment paper and grease it.
  2. Combine pumpkin, brown sugar, oil, apple cider vinegar, and maple syrup in a bowl and mix until combined.
  3. Next, add in your flour, baking soda, baking powder, spice, and salt. Mix again until well combined but try not to over mix. You’ll notice it become fluffy and that is the consistency you want.
  4. Pour batter into loaf pan and cook for 45-50 minutes or until you can stick a knife in it and it comes out clean.
  5. Let it set for an hour and enjoy!

I am obsessed with this recipe. The oat flour makes this vegan pumpkin bread dense and so decadent. This is a perfect dessert to bring to a holiday party which will already be filled with all the other typical goodies. This is a really healthy alternative and I hope you’ll try it out!

If you loved this recipe, follow me on Pinterest for more or you can read my latest recipe here!

PS.. here’s a funny behind the scenes pic of what happens behind most of my food pictures lol!

The Best Chili Recipe

Fall to me is all about a warm dinner. I love to cook in fall because your meals can help to bring all the cozy fall vibes you are looking for. I actually used to not like chili at all but I am obsessed with this best chili recipe. It is super easy to make and the flavors are so good! This is perfect to pair with white rice or just eat it alone in a bowl.

Here’s the best chili recipe!

Ingredients:

  • 1lb Ground Turkey
  • yellow onion
  • 1 can of Bush’s Chili Beans
  • 1 can of sweet corn
  • 1 can of diced tomatoes
  • 1 green bell pepper
  • 1 tbsp Paprika
  • 1 tbsp Chili powder
  • 1 tbsp garlic powder
  • 1 tbsp onion powder
  • salt + pepper to taste

Directions:

  • Dice yellow onion and add to a big pot with ground turkey. Cook until turkey is browned and onions are translucent
  • Using paprika, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, and salt + pepper, season the turkey and onion mixture
  • Slowly mix in 1 can of diced tomatoes, 1 can of corn (without the water), and 1 can of chili beans
  • Let mixture sit on low for 30 minutes and finish off by tasting and making sure it’s seasoned to your liking. Sometimes I add more of a seasoning here if I think it needs it!
best chili recipe

This is the easiest recipe I have found for chili and it is literally so good! Like I said, sometimes I’l serve this on top of white rice if I am looking for a more filling meal. I also like to make corn bread on the side of this too because there’s nothing I love more than chili with cornbread!

Let me know in the comments below your favorite fall meal and check out more of my recipes here!

I also am on Pinterest so be sure to follow me!

How to Meal Plan Each Week

If the pandemic taught me anything, it was how to meal plan your dinners for the week. This not only makes life easier but it saves you money because you only have to go shopping like once a week. I usually will grocery shop on a Friday so I sit down on a Thursday and plan out what I want for dinner. By planning it out, I know what I’m making and I’m not tempted to order out.

The key to my meal planning is this little notepad. It has space to plan out literally your whole week and even your grocery list. I will usually just fill out the dinner side but I like that if I want to plan lunches or snacks I have enough space to. You can shop this notepad from Amazon here!

how to meal plan

One of the major tips I have for meal planning is actually creating an outline. I will usually have the same type of meals each week but change up the recipes. This makes planning easy because I know I’ll have a pasta night or a chicken night.

Sample Meal Schedule

  • Monday- Pasta
  • Tuesday- Salads
  • Wednesday- Fish
  • Thursday- Sandwiches
  • Friday- Turkey
  • Saturday- Beef
  • Sunday- Chicken

As you can see, each day of the week had the same things but I switched up the recipes. This is seriously such an easy way to plan because you don’t just have to think of an idea, you have the base. Also, I’m not super strict with my meal planning. If I’m not feeling a certain meal or want to order out one night, I’ll do watever feels best.

Most of my meals actually come from Pinterest so make sure you’re following me so you’re not missing out on the recipes I’m sharing. With my meal schedule, I just have to type in the keyword and then from there like millions of recipes pop up making life so much easier.

Once I have all of my meals, I’ll see what I have here versus what I need to get. I also always have a few things like almond milk or bread that we need every week so I’ll add those too.

I will do anything to make my life easier so I really hope this was helpful! Not only will my how to meal plan post save you time but it will save you money so you’re not buying random things at the store. Let me know in the comments below if you have any how to meal plan tips!

You can see more recipes here!

A Delicious Korean Turkey Recipe

This Korean turkey recipe is definitely something out of my comfort zone but it’s actually delicious! As many of you know, for the most part I am plant based. Once in awhile I will incorporate meet into my diet and Iove this recipe for that. The protein from the turkey makes this meal filling and somewhat healthy. Keep reading to learn how I make my Korean turkey recipe.

Ingredients:

3 lbs Ground Turkey

4 tbsp Soy Sauce

1 tsp sesame oil

1 yellow onion

2 tbsp of minced garlic

1/4 c brown sugar

1/2 tsp ground giner

Red chili flakes (add to your liking)

Sesame seeds

3 c cooked rice

korean turkey recipe

Directions:

  1. I like to first dice up my onions and set aside. Next, I will start to cook the ground turkey in a large frying pan until cooked thoroughly.
  2. While the turkey is cooking, I add all the other things together to make my sauce except for the sesame seeds.
  3. Once the sauce is mixed and the turkey is finished, I’ll add the onions and sauce to the frying pan and let both sit covered for about 10 minutes. This step really helps the onions to soften and the sauce and meet to mix.
  4. When that is finished, I plate this with some white rice and top with sesame seeds!

I think you can see why this is one of my favorite recipes. I absolutely love how fast and easy this korean turkey recipe is. This makes for a really great meal prepped dinner or lunch if you want to prep this ahead of time. I prefer turkey over beef but you can obviously swap the turkey for ground beef, chicken, or even a plant based option!

Let me know in the comments below your favorite meal prep dinner! Check out my other recipes here!

Tips for Getting into a Fitness Routine

With summer now over, I find myself wanting to get back into my fitness routine. I usually am much more laid back with workouts during the summer months, really only doing what feels good. Now that I am back into work mode after a relaxing summer, I wanted to share my tips for getting back in to my fitness routine!

1. Cute Workout Clothes

I swear this is a bigger tip than it may seem. I am most motivated to workout when I have something I feel confident. Workout clothes really help not only the workout but showing up for the workout. When I have something fun and cute to wear, I am most likely going to be excited for the workout and keep coming back. I love Amazon for workout clothes. This tank here came in a 4 pack for only 28.99!

fitness routine

2. Pre/Post Workout Snack

fitness routine

I must say, waking up and having my pre workout meal is something I really look forward to. I like to workout mid morning during my lunch break so I love to make a morning smoothie. You can check out my morning smoothie recipe here. Some people wake up and look forward to their coffee, for me I love waking up for this smoothie with my workout gear on. If your a person who workouts out later, you can have your favorite protein bar or smoothie post workout to keep you motivated through your workout.

3. Do What You Love

Let me tell you, this one took awhile to figure out. I absolutely love Melissa Wood Health pilates and yoga inspired flows. They are gentle on my body but I feel so strong after them. I seriously look forward to my workout because they are just that great. You need to find a workout program or class that you love and that excites you or else you won’t want to keep coming back to it. My Melissa Wood Health Review is live here on my site if you want to check it out!

4. Build it into your Schedule

This one is so important for me. I build my day around work and my workout. Workouts keep me energized to get through the day and my mind clear. I like to workout midday so I make sure that I find time for a workout even if it’s only 5 minutes. A little movement is better than no movement so whatever you can get in whenever you have time will make the difference. It’s all about the little consistency that will make habits for you.

5. Don’t Stress!

Missing a workout isn’t the end of the world. I’ve found you just have to listen to your body to see what works for you. I like to workout Monday-Friday and if I’m feeling it, I’ll do a Saturday or Sunday workout too. If I miss one day, I don’t get myself worked up or down because it’s not a huge deal. For me, it’s all about listening to your own body and doing whatever you can to form healthy habits.

I hope these tips for getting into a fitness routine helped you. My perception of working out has really shifted as I’ve gotten older. It’s more about the habit as opposed to the actual work out. You can workout once or twice but until you get a habit formed of working out a few times a week, you won’t stick with it.

For me, these tips have helped me get into my own fitness routine and keep it going all year long. Let me know some of your fitness routine tips in the comments below!

My Veggie Couscous Bowl for Back to School

This recipe is seriously one of my favorites to meal prep. My veggie couscous bowl is so easy to make and reheats well so I love to make this at the beginning of the week. Another great part of this recipe is you can really choose any veggies you like. I picked sweet potato, zucchini, and tomato because they’re my favorite but you can use whatever you like. Here’s my veggie couscous bowl recipe!

veggie couscous bowl

Ingredients:

1 medium sweet potato

2 tomatoes

2 zucchini

1 box of couscous (I like instant)

Olive oil

Thyme

Paprika

veggie couscous bowl

Directions:

  1. First preheat your oven to 425 then I start chopping up all of my veggies. I dice them into about 1 inch pieces so that they don’t cook down to small.
  2. I prepare 2 baking sheets with aluminum foil and place the sweet potatoes on one with a sprinkle of paprika. On the other I put my tomatoes and zucchini with a sprinkle of thyme.
  3. Bake the zucchini and tomato tray until soft for about 15 minutes. The sweet potatoes will need to be in longer for about 25 to get soft.
  4. While everything is baking, I follow the directions on the instant couscous box and then let it sit until my veggies are ready.
  5. Once everything is cooked to how I like it, I stir together and I’m all set!

I wasn’t kidding when I said this was such an easy recipe. The instant couscous seriously makes life easier because you don’t even have to do much to it. I like this as back to school or work meal because it’s somewhat healthy and gives you all the nutrients you need to continue on with your day.

Let me know in the comment if you loved this recipe! Subscribe to the blog for more recipes like these!

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My Shower Routine

One thing I can’t live without is my long showers. Showering to me is so therapeutic and I have gotten my shower routine down to a since. I love nothing more than after a long day taking a shower to just get rid of all the stress of the day. This post is dedicated to all of you out there who love the shower as much as me!

The first step to any good shower routine is ambience. I like to turn the lights off so it’s dark. Sometimes I’ll even drop in a few drops of essential oils like lavender or eucalyptus to help me relax. I also have recently been incorporating music into my routine. I got this adorable little water proof speaker and I’ll play some Taylor Swift or spa music to unwind.

After I set the stage for a relaxing shower, I’ll hop in and get to the nitty gritty with my products!

Dr. Teal’s Lavender Body Wash

This is my go to body wash when I’m needing to unwind. Because it’s epsom salt, it relaxes the muscles and the lavender scent just takes it to the next level. I can’t get enough of this body wash and it also makes a good bubble bath soap too!

Shampoo and Conditioner

My shampoo products often switch up during the week. I’ll go in with Olaplex when I’m needing something to help refresh and hydrate my hair. I use the Not Your Mother’s Purple Shampoo and Conditioner when I really need to refresh my blonde. I try to only wash my hair every other day so I will make sure to switch off between these products so that my hair always gets what it needs.

Shower Tools

This is probably my favorite section of products for the shower. I love to use a loofa with my body wash. It helps to really soap up the product and get it into a thick lather. Similar to a loofa, I love this hair massager. It helps to get the buildup off your scalp while also giving you the best scalp massage. My final shower tool is my face brush. This is great to use in the shower because it cleans my face and then I don’t have to do it when I get out.

This was definitely a more up close and personal blog post with sharing my shower routine. I cannot explain just how much I love a good shower so I hope these products and tools help you get the most out of your shower. Let me know in the comments below if you’re a night shower person or a morning. I am definitely a night person!!

You an read about my other relaxing night routine essentials here.