Does anyone else get sick of getting boxes of chocolates from the grocery store for Valentines’ Day? Don’t get me wrong, I love chocolate, but sometimes the store bought “you never know what you’re gonna get” boxes of sugary greatness can be lack-luster. Maybe it’s just the cliche single lady in me talking, ’cause the only chocolate I typically gifted comes from my parents (no shame, here!). I’m all about getting in the kitchen and have a soft spot for homemade treats! They are made with love (and usually no preservatives)! Whether you’re celebrating with your main squeeze, your bros or gal pals, or even just yourself– I’ve compiled some of uforia Rockstars’ and HQ Teams’ favorite recipes for Valentines Day. Some are health-ified for our fit friends, but some are not! It’s always about balance, right? Enjoy!
Nob Hill Revolutions Instructor, Melissa Ogden swears by these “healthier” pancakes! They’re super simple and all you need are:
– 1/3 cup oats
– 1 banana
– 2 eggs
– dash of cinnamon
Add all ingredients to blender or magic bullet until one smooth consistency. Use a frying pan to make pancakes as normal and top with your favorite pancake toppings! Add additional natural peanut butter, strawberries, a little maple syrup and some more cinnamon if desired.
Want some delicious good ole-fashioned pancakes? uforia’s CEO
Sarah Lux makes heart shaped pancakes for her family every year. She uses this recipe from
The Baker Upstairs and says it’s the best she’s ever made! Make them and try it for yourself!
Perfect Pancakes2 cups flour
5 tsp baking powder
4 T sugar
1 tsp salt
2 eggs
1/2 cup oil
2 cups milk
Preheat a griddle or large skillet over medium heat. Combine dry ingredients in a medium bowl, and whisk with a fork to combine. Mix eggs, oil, and milk together until well combined. Add to dry ingredients, and mix with a fork until mostly combined, with some small lumps of flour remaining.Lightly butter the preheated griddle and pour the batter by 1/4 cup scoops onto the griddle (I always use a measuring cup so they’re all the same size). Cook 3-4 minutes or until there are bubbles throughout the top of the pancakes, and the edges of the pancakes look dry. Flip the pancakes and cook for another minute or until lightly browned on the bottom. Serve warm with butter and syrup or (my favorite!) with fresh strawberry sauce. Makes 20-24 pancakes.
Nob Hill Grit Rockstar and uforia’s boss babe COO Michelle McGovern bakes some pretty amazing chocolate chip cookies for her hubby and dad for Valentines Day. She says they are her favorite guilty pleasure–umm who doesn’t love chocolate chip cookies?! Here’s the recipe:
Michelle’s Disappearing Chocolate Chip Cookies
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs
2 cups milk chocolate or semi sweet chocolate chips
Soften butter on counter or microwave for 10 seconds to soften.
Beat butter in a bowl, then add eggs, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla and beat..
In separate bowl, mix dry ingredients (except chocolate chips). Add to wet ingredients in thirds, mixing after each additional. Do not over mix.
Stir in chocolate chips.
Scoop dough onto non-stick cookie sheet (or use a silpat mat) into 1-inch balls.
Bake at 375 degrees for 9 to 11 minutes. Cookies should be slightly brown around the edges when done!
For those of you who don’t enjoy turning on the oven and doing the dirty work, Nob Hill Revolutions instructor Ida Posner has you covered. Here’s her favorite Valentines Day treat:
-Halo Top low calorie ice cream
-Top with your favorite nut butter
-Add coconut flakes
Voila! Heath-ier. Delicious. Done!
One more to go! Palo Alto’s Studio Manager, Bailey Dietrich, loves to bake. She’s sharing with us a great treat that you can enjoy yourself or give as gifts. She says her fiance love these!
Bailey’s Cake Pops
1 box of whatever cake mix (plus ingredients to bake your cake)
1 container of whatever frosting you prefer
Bake whatever flavor of box cake mix you prefer. Once you have baked your cake and let it cool crumble your cake with a fork and add into a big mixing bowl. Then add 1 container of whatever frosting you prefer and combine it all together. From there you can form your cake balls, to make sure that they are all the same size use a cookie dough scoop. Line the cake balls onto a cookie sheet lined with wax or parchment paper and once you have finished rolling your cake balls put your lollypop sticks half way into each cake ball, once this is complete place into the freezer. Freeze overnight or until completely frozen. From there melt your candy melts or temper your chocolate and dip each cake pop into your melted candy. You want to make sure to work quickly here because as they defrost they may fall off of your lollypop stick. Place them back onto your parchment paper for an upside-down pop or if you have flower foam you can stick your cake pops in upright to firm up that way. Once your cake pops are dipped and defrosted their ready for you to enjoy! I like to make them into a cute display or bag the pop with cute cellophane bags for gifts,
Happy Valentines Day!
