My parents got me hooked on Christmas desserts ever since I was a toddler, so that was and still is one of my favorite parts of Christmas celebrations. 

The cookies! And the brownies! The Cozonac (traditional Eastern Europe dessert, kind of like a sweet bread with chocolate and raisins inside)! 

We usually have our first bite of sweets on Christmas Eve night, after dinner, of course. Since my mom usually makes at least 3 or 4 different Christmas desserts options, they last us for at least 3 days. Lucky us!

And I bet most of you reading have a similar experience. You can’t really have Christmas celebrations with something sweet, am I right? 

That’s why I’m here today to help you create your own Christmas traditions.

I’ve compiled below at least 20 Christmas desserts recipes that are easy to make and, better yet, they cook fast! 

Check out my 20 easy Christmas desserts list and let me know which is your favorite!

Classic No Bake Corn Flake Wreath Cookies 

I fell in love with this recipe at first sight because 

1. The recipe calls for only 4 (!) ingredients;
2. It’s done in 20 minutes;
3. The no bake wreaths look very festive and cute.

I think you should definitely try it for yourself this Christmas, the kids will love it.. So check it out here: the No Bake Corn Flake Wreath Cookies recipe from Cooking with Carlee. 

Crockpot Candy

This was one of the biggest surprises on my Christmas desserts list: candy make in the slow cooker *insert shocked face emoji*

I actually love it! This recipe is also a winner because it requires only 3 ingredients  (4, if you count sprinkles): peanuts, white almond bark and chocolate chips. You just drop the ingredients in the pot, leave them on for 1 hour and 30 minutes, then make clusters of them and line them up on a baking sheet to set. And you’re done! Easiest Christmas dessert, am I right? 

Here’s the recipe for Crockpot Candy from Crayons & Cravings!

Candy Cane Chocolate Bark 

Continuing the series of very fast and very easy to make Christmas desserts, this recipe is perfect for people who don’t usually cook, or like too. 

Alex from “It’s not complicated recipes”, says it perfectly: “My festive Candy Cane Chocolate Bark is a great addition to your Christmas menu. The Bark is so simple to make and contains just two ingredients. […..]. You will have delicious homemade confectionery with so little effort.”

Check out the recipe for Candy Cane Chocolate Bark from It”s not complicated recipes here!

Hot Chocolate Rice Krispie Treats 

Although I try to not have favorites or single out a recipe, it’s so hard not to rave about this rice krispie treats recipe. I think this is a fantastic twist on the classic rice krispies, and I bet the whole family, especially the kids, will devour this. 

Discover all the details on the Hot Chocolate Rice Krispie Treats recipe from Sugar and Soul here!

Snowman Vegan Christmas Cookies 

These vegan snowmen are so cute! I would love to do this Christmas dessert with my nephews (and future children)! 

The base recipe for the cookies is easy to whip up and they’re baked in 10 minutes. The fun part is decorating them!

Check out all the details for the Snowman Vegan Cookies recipe from Global Mouse Travels!

Simple Rum Balls

Finally, a Christmas dessert for adults to enjoy: RUM BALLS!

Easy to make and with only 5 ingredients, this sweet treat will make everyone happy at the Christmas dinner this year!

See for yourself how easy and fast to make is the recipe for Rum Balls from Simplify Create Inspire. 

Lemon Posset

The posset is one of the most interesting desserts on the list. It has 3 main ingredients, it’s easy to make and….it used to be used for medicinal purposes? 

Either way, the lemon posset from What a Girl Eats is a great choice for refreshing desserts that are not too sweet. Check it out!

Almond Cranberry Cake

I purposefully added this recipe because it’s a dump cake recipe. Well, also because it looks delicious and I’m really craving my mom’s pie right now. 

Either way, if you prefer cakes and pies to cookies and chocolate, this almond cranberry cake recipe from My Sweet Precision should be on the top of your Christmas Desserts list!

Fudgy Chocolate Cake (Gluten Free, Nut Free, Vegan) 

I wanted to include this Christmas dessert recipe for chocolate cake because it’s GLUTEN FREE and I know more and more people are transitioning to this type of dietary restriction. 

Being gluten free doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy cakes, and this recipe from Go Healthy with Bea is the perfect example for it. 

I love the fact it has normal, clean ingredients. Although I admit, the butternut squash was a surprise for me. I bet it will be delicious!

So check out the recipe here: Fudgy Chocolate Cake from Go Healthy with Bea!

Apple and Cherry Crumble 

Similarly to some of the previous recipes, this apple and cherry crumble would make a great choice if you want pies, but don’t want to go through all the effort. This seems to be a tad easier and faster to make, so if you’re an apple fan, and just want a crumble in your life, try this recipe. 

Check out the apple and cherry crumble recipe from The Littlest Crumb here!

Vegan Chocolate & Biscuits Salami

This brings back so many memories! My mother would always make this for us when we were little. It wasn’t a Christmas type of dessert, it was more of a snack type of food. She would make it on Sunday and we would eat it during the week, whenever we would want something sweet. 

That’s why I recommend you do this in larger quantities and store it for a longer period of time. 

Global Mouse Travels’ recipe of vegan chocolate & biscuits salami is easy to make, you can get all the details here!

Easy No Bake Peanut Butter Dessert

Do your kids LOVE peanut butter? Then this is the perfect Christmas dessert for them! 

Although it is a no-bake dessert, you do need to prepare two or three different mixes and layer them, but I can guarantee it will be worth it in the end. 

See exactly how to make the peanut butter dessert recipe from Cook Clean Repeat here!

Oreo Balls Without Cream Cheese

These Oreo balls look delicious! I would love 1 (or 4 or 5) right now!

I love this recipe because it has very few ingredients and it uses condensed milk instead of cream cheese. Might try it for myself this year, seems pretty easy to do!

Check out the recipe for Oreo balls from Everyday Family Cooking here!

Christmas Popcorn Recipe

If you want to go extra this Christmas, but not really go extra, try the Christmas Popcorn recipe from Zhush!

She added butter, marshmallows, M&M’s and a few extra ingredients and made this festive looking easy treat. Give it a try, I think you will like it!

Custardy Eggnog Dump Cake

Oh, what a festive dessert! Eggnog dump cake! Perfect for people who want Christmas desserts and / or are Eggnog lovers! 

Easy to make, with few ingredients and tools, this Eggnog dump cake recipe from Cupcakes and Cutlery is a must try!

Chocolate Orange Cake  

Chocolate cake is a staple in many houses, but how about chocolate orange cake? I think that’s a great spin on the original recipe. 

I also love the fact that the chocolate orange cake recipe from Life Begins with Dessert also includes vegan substitutions, so if you want vegan Christmas Desserts options, look no further!

Easy Condensed Milk Fudge

I decided to add this to the Best Christmas Desserts list because it’s easy to make, fast (15 minutes), AND it’s vegetarian and gluten free, so it works for multiple dietary restrictions. 

Check out the rich & creamy recipe for Condensed Milk Fudge from Nourish Plate here! 

Almond Flour Peanut Butter Cookies 

This is another great recipe for peanut butter fans. Soft & chewy, these cookies are done in 15 minutes! One of the best easy Christmas desserts out there!

Try the peanut butter cookies recipe from Pastry & Beyond here!

No Bake Gingersnap Balls

If you’re looking for new, innovative recipes, I recommend this no bake gingersnap balls one. The end product is chewy and delicious, and better yet, you can spike them with Rum or Brandy, if you want. Double win!

Check out the recipe for gingersnap balls from Tasha’s Artisan Foods here!

Coconut Refrigerator Cake 

Ending this Christmas Desserts list with a bang: a coconut cake!

I wanted to add this because it’s wonderful flavor and refreshing taste. Definitely try out the coconut cake recipe from Fit as a fiddle life here!

Conclusion

This was so fun to make. I hope you found something cool and tasty in my list of 20 easy Christmas desserts! 

Let me know in the comments what you really want to try making this Christmas!

P.S. If you feel overwhelmed by Christmas, start early. Here is how to prepare for Christmas!

The post Easy To Make Christmas Desserts – 20 Best Christmas Desserts Recipes appeared first on Cozy Home Hacks.

That’s the beauty of an air fryer. It acts like an oven, but also as a normal deep fryer. It’s fast (I use it for 20 min max).  And most importantly, it does NOT stink up your whole house. 

That’s actually why I bought my air fryer in the first place. I wanted a versatile cooking item that can help me make quick and delicious meals, didn’t take a lot of space, didn’t smell, and boy, did I get it.

Happy to say I love my air fryer. I got it just before Covid hit and it saved me during the pandemic. I used it almost every day. Some days for chicken nuggets and fries. Others, for roasted vegetables. I even did pigs in a blanket once. Never tried desserts, though.

So, what CAN you cook in an air fryer? I’m here to help you with at least 30 easy air fryer meals or side dishes you can make. Let’s start: 

Meat

The first and most obvious answer to the “what can you cook in an air fryer” question is MEAT. Any kind of meat (or tofu). I use it for frozen items, like chicken nuggets or fish fingers, but works perfectly well for fresh chicken breast and fish. You can even make bacon in it, too. Here is the meat list, but you can try other things, too.

• Chicken breast / wings.
• Chicken Nuggets.
• Meatballs
• Pork. 
• Beef.
• Meat patties.
• Lamb chops.
• Fish (salmon, shrimps, fish fingers, you name it)
• BACON. Yes, you can cook bacon in the air fryer.

Roasted vegetables

The air fryer is the perfect alternative for an oven. If you want to make roasted veggies or maybe even something fancier, like buffalo cauliflower, you can definitely do them in the air fryer.

Here are some of the vegetables you can cook in an air fryer, but you can try almost anything else.

• Potatoes.
• Sweet potatoes.
• Tomatoes.
• Onions.
• Carrots.
• Brussel Sprouts.
• Peppers.
• Cauliflower (like Curry Cauliflower or Buffalo Cauliflower)

Frozen meals

Another great thing you can use air fryers for are the refrigerated items that are advertised to be cooked in the oven, or sometimes, the ones that should be made in a pan. Meal such as: 

• Cordon Bleu.
• Lasagna.
• Mozzarella Sticks.
• Tater tots.
• Gnocchi.

This is one of my preferred ways to use it, because it’s healthier this way. Some items, like frozen fries or cordon bleu, are recommended to be made in a pan or, even worse, in a deep fryer, and you know how much oil that requires. Skip oil entirely and just put them in the air fryer. 

Desserts. 

You were probably not expecting this, but the answer to “what can you cook in an air fryer” can also be “DESSERT”. I’ve personally never used the air fryer for making desserts, but there are so many Pinterest recipes on things like Air Fryer Chocolate Chip Cookies or Donuts, or Cinnamon Rolls. Definitely give them a try, I know I will soon enough. 

Other cool stuff you can cook in an air fryer

I bet you didn’t know this, but you can make so much more than meat and vegetables in the air fryer. Since its launch, people have experimented and cooked the coolest and most delicious things in it, like:

• Grilled Cheese Sandwiches.
• Tortilla Chips.
• Churros. 
• Popcorn. Just line the air fryer basket bottom with a piece of foil.
• Bread / Buns / Rolls.

I hope I answered the frequently asked question “what can you cook in an air fryer”. Let me know in the comments what you usually cook in the air fryer. 

p.s. If you’re looking for other healthy recipes, here is a healthy summer salad recipe and a homemade chili one.

*This post contains Amazon affiliate links, which means that I may receive a commission if you make a purchase using these links, at no extra cost to you.

The post What can you cook in an air fryer? 30 Easy Air Fryer Meals & Side Dishes Ideas appeared first on Cozy Home Hacks.

It’s a struggle to buy fresh ingredients and to store them properly, so that they don’t get bad too fast. Let’s be honest, most of us don’t consume fresh produce in time, so we are bound to have some items go bad on us. 

Luckly, there are ways to prevent that (or limit the amount of times it happens). It all starts with meal planning, but it’s mostly about knowing how to properly store fruits and veggies. 

I’ve compiled a list of tips & tricks on how to keep produce fresh longer. The majority was learned by me the hard way, but some were passed down by my mother and grandmother. 

Here is how to make potatoes, onions, avocados and fruit last longer. Let’s go! 

How to keep produce fresh longer 101

The number one advice I can give you, the one that will change your life for the better, is to MEAL PLAN. 

Just plan your meals ahead of time, for a week, and buy accordingly. This is the most important tip, because this will help you buy only what you need, so you won’t have extra items lying around, with no purpose. That results in less food to waste or to go bad. 

But if you do find yourself with unused produce in the fridge or pantry, here is how to keep produce fresh longer. 

How to make avocados last longer. 

This had to go first because avocados are the bane of my existence when it comes to buying and keeping produce fresh longer. I always buy them unripe and wait too long to eat them, or I cut them too late and they’re already gone.

So I’ve learned my lesson over time. Here is how to make avocados last longer:

• If you have ripe avocados, but are not ready to eat them yet, you can place them in the refrigerator for 2 or 3 extra days, that will keep them fresh. 
• If the avocado is not ripe yet, you should leave it on the countertop. Just make sure to check the ripeness level each day until it’s ready to eat.
• If you already cut the avocado in half, but only used one half, squeeze some lemon juice on the unused half, cover with cling wrap and put it in the refrigerator. 

How to make potatoes last longer

Potato storage was one of my biggest shocks. I used to refrigerate them (it was easier for me to store them that way). But I recently found out that cold temperatures make them more carcinogenic when fried or roasted. So they should NOT be stored in the fridge or the freezer. 

Another thing you should know is that potatoes need airflow to prevent moisture, because that spoils them. So you should avoid placing them into an airtight container. Instead, store potatoes in an open bowl, in a dark and cool place. 

Also, if you want to know how to make potatoes last longer, you should make sure to purchase fresh and healthy ones. Look for potatoes that are firm, smooth, blemish-free and with no signs of sprouting.

How to make carrots last longer

Carrots, similar to beetroots, are pretty easy to preserve. Just cut the green tops when you bring them home, then wash and slice them anyway you want. Store carrots in the fridge, in an airtight container.

How to make onions last longer

In order to keep onions fresh, you need to know they should be stored similarly to potatoes, but NOT in the same place. 

Here is how to make onions last longer:

• Do not refrigerate. Instead, store in a cool, dark place with low humidity in your house.
• Allow air circulation, so don’t use an airtight container; place them in an open bowl.
• As I previously mentioned, keep separate from potatoes and sweet potatoes.

How to make salad / lettuce / spinach/ leafy greens last longer

Leafy greens used to be the first thing to go bad in my fridge. That’s why I researched high and low on how to make leafy greens like lettuce, salad and spinach, to last longer. 

My preferred method (but not always the most advertised one online) is to wash the leafy greens, cut them, and then put them in airtight containers in the fridge, with paper towels in the containers in order to absorb moisture. In my experience, that usually makes them last 4 days, up to a week.

How to make fruit last longer

When it comes to fruits, there are many tips & tricks on how to make fruit last longer. It all depends on the type of fruit. Here are the most common ways to make fruit last longer:

• Store chopped fruits in airtight containers. It will help keep their moisture and their crispness.
• Keep berries fresh for longer with this trick. Pour in a bowl one part vinegar (white or apple cider) and ten parts water. Swirl the berries around in the bowl mixture, drain, rinse, and put them in the fridge. The berries will last for a week or more.
• Store apples (and potatoes) away from other produce. The ethylene gas they produce will help ripe the produce close to it, so make sure to keep them separate (in a paper bag, preferably)
• Buy green or bright yellow bananas, don’t go directly to the ripe ones. The ripe ones will go bad faster. I recommend you can buy a mix of both: half (the green or bright yellow bananas) you plan to eat in the next 2 days, and the other half (muddy yellow or with spots) to be consumed the 2-4 days after that. 

Other tips & tricks to make food last longer

• Store peanut butter jars upside down. This way, the oil will not separate from the rest.
• Buy items with a longer shelf life. When you go to the store to buy yoghurt, for example, check the label of the first product you see, then move around some items, and take one from the backs. Odds are that one has a longer shelf life, because it’s from another shipment, so get that one.
• Don’t buy items that expire in 1-2 days. You will most likely not eat them right away.

Bottom line, if you want to make food last longer, you need to buy fresh and store them correctly, according to their needs. 

I hope this helped! Do you have any other tips & tricks on how to keep produce fresh longer? 

P.S. If you want to be smart about your grocery shopping, besides meal planning, you need to know how to save money on groceries!

The post How to keep produce fresh longer – It’s all about the storage! appeared first on Cozy Home Hacks.

Salads are always a thing in our household during summer, even though I try to make them year round. But there’s something about a healthy summer salad recipe that makes you feel better and….healthier. It’s also so needed, for our digestive system and our overall health. 

That’s why I’ve been experimenting with many salad recipes recently. But I always come back to this one because it has good, easy-to-find ingredients that I usually already stock up in my fridge, so I can quickly make it.

I bet most of us have greens, some tomatoes, onion and avocado in our fridge, so that’s why it’s so easy to make. What makes the healthy summer salad recipe even better (and crunchier) are the sunflower seeds. Try it! It gives a crunch and it mixes to well with the vegetables and cheese. 

So here is my go-to healthy summer salad recipe, done in 10 minutes:

INGREDIENTS

• Lettuce
• 8-10 Cherry Tomatoes
• 4-5 Radishes
• ½ White Onion
• 1 Avocado
• 1 Green Peppers
• Feta Cheese
• Sunflower Seeds

DRESSING

• 1-2 tablespoons Olive Oil
• 2-3 tablespoons Apple Cider Vinegar / Balsamic Vinegar
• Salt & Pepper to taste

Healthy Summer Salad Recipe

Short version of the recipe: chop them all up and mix them with the dressing.

Long version:

1. Chop lettuce (or any other greens you want).
2. Cut in half all the cherry tomatoes, then cut up the radishes and green peppers. If you have cucumbers in your fridge, add those, too. I always add them to my salads, but I didn’t have any at the moment of making this.
3. Chop in small pieces half of a white onion.
4. Cut in small cubes the feta cheese or use feta crumbles.
5. Add all to a big bowl of salad.
6. Split the avocado in two, take out the core, and start making horizontal lines, then vertical ones with the knife, directly on the avocado halves. Then use a spoon to put the pieces in the salad bowl. 
7. Sprinkle ¼ cup of sunflower seeds (or as much as you like).
8. At the end, you can either make the dressing separately, in a bowl, then add it to the salad, or you add the dressing ingredients directly in the salad bowl and mix, that’s how I like to do it. 

Voila! Bon Appetit!

I love this healthy summer salad recipe! It’s so easy and fast to put together, and me and my partner devour it each time I make it. 

What do you think? Like it? Let me know in the comments your version of summer salads.

p.s. If you’re looking for other homemade recipes, check out this Homemade Chili Recipe or this Brownie Recipe.

The post Healthy Summer Salad Recipe – Tasty & Easy To Make appeared first on Cozy Home Hacks.

I remember looking, back then, for a simple homemade brownie recipe and being discouraged by the lack of easy to follow recipes. A brownie shouldn’t be that complicated, shouldn’t it? 

But eventually I finally found one that was pretty basic, and made it my own. 

The simple homemade brownie recipe below is easy to make, fast to assemble and bake, and can be improved with walnuts, chocolate chips and whatever else you prefer to add into your brownies / cakes (I usually do walnuts and chocolate chip cookies). 

So here is my tried and true simple homemade brownie recipe:

Ingredients

• 200 g / 7 oz of dark chocolate
• 200g / 7 oz of chocolate for icing (whatever flavor and brand you want)
• 150g / 5.2 oz butter
• 25g / 1 oz of Cacao Powder
• 200 g / 7 oz brown sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 100 g / 3.5 oz flour
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• A pinch of salt
• Optional: walnuts, chocolate chips, etc.

Cook time

• 10 minutes to prepare
• 20-30minutes to bake
• 5 minutes for icing 

Total: 35-45 minutes

Simple Homemade Brownie Recipe

The simple homemade brownie recipe starts with melting the dark chocolate and the butter in a small pan, at a low heat. Don’t burn the mixture, instead have it simmer and keep mixing it to make sure it doesn’t stick and everything is melted. 

Then pour the mixture into a big bowl and add the sugar and cacao powder. Mix it well, with the blender or a big wooden spoon. 

Next, add the eggs, one by one, mixing after each one. 

Lastly, add the flour, with the baking soda, vanilla extract and the pinch of salt, and mix. Optionally, you can also add walnuts, chocolate chips.

Now grab the tray, spray with oil or use some butter, so the mixture doesn’t stick. Pour everything in and level it with a spatula or knife. Then put it in the oven at 350 F / 180 C for 20-30 min. Use the toothpick method to see if it’s done. 

After the brownie is out, let it cool on the counter for a bit and prepare the “icing”. And by icing, I mean to just melt 200g/7oz of whatever chocolate you like or have on hand, then pour it over the brownie.

So there it is: my simple homemade brownie recipe! What do you think? Easy to pull off, right?

p.s. If you’re looking for other homemade recipes, I also have a great Homemade Chill Recipe!

The post My Tried and True Simple Homemade Brownie Recipe appeared first on Cozy Home Hacks.

Since the pandemic hit, I’ve been working out at home, with the wonderful help of YouTube. I go for pilates videos, or specific body parts I want to focus on. One of my favorite things to search is “10 minute ab workouts at home”.

When it comes to ab workouts, I prefer them short and intense. If I’m to exercise, I want it over with as fast as I can. I bet a lot of people think the same way. 

That’s why I’ve tried most 10 minute ab workouts at home on YouTube. (It’s a body part I’m trying to reduce and tone). I know the good ones and the bad ones. Which trainer is fun, but also which one’s voice I don’t like listening to. If it’s a hard workout or an easy one. Also, which one makes me sore the next day. 

So, if you’re like me, and you want to do a fast ab workout, I’m here to help you. Here are the best 10 minute ab workouts at home I found on YouTube:

Chloe Ting- Abs Workout Challenge

This is by far one of the most popular 10 minutes ab workouts at home out there. It has over 300 million views because a lot of people did her 2 week challenge and had great results with it. 

The workout in itself is pretty hard to do, but I’ve seen so many people have noticeable changes after it, so it must be great. I don’t do it all the time, because 1) I don’t like certain exercises, and 2) I don’t particularly like her. But it’s a good workout and you should definitely try it. 

Alexis Ren – 10 minute ab workout

Alexis Ren’s video is probably one of my most viewed (and used) 10 minutes ab workouts at home videos. I love the fact that it’s just music, so no small talk, clarifications, etc. I also really like the ab exercises, they are pretty easy to do and they get the job done. Definitely one of my favorite videos out there. 

Pamela Reif

This video is similar to the one before (Alexis Ren), in the sense that it has no audio instructions, it’s just music. I usually go for those, because it helps me concentrate on the actual workout. 

Exercise wise, it’s not my jam, I feel like there are too many sets with similar moves and it gets boring at times. Also, she doesn’t break between sets, and that kills me. Still, this video gets the job done, so you can definitely try it. 

MadFit – 10 minutes six pack abs for total beginners

If you like to workout with the trainer’s help and motivational speech, and most importantly, if you are a total beginner, this is the best video for you.

I love Maddie’s sessions, she also does some great song workouts. 

But this 10 minute ab workouts at home video is one of her best. I usually go for it when I want something easy and slow, not too complicated. 

Blogilates – Ab & Oblique Sculpter

I love Blogilates. She has a bubbly personality and is very passionate about fitness. She is an OG Youtuber, and has many videos, not only workout ones. Check them out!.

This particular one is a 10 minutes ab workouts at home video that targets specific muscles. If you’re a pro at ab workouts, try this one. It will help move and strengthen ALL your ab muscles. 

Whitney Simmons- Quick Beginner and Advanced Circuits

This is another fitness YouTuber I like to follow, not only for the workouts, but also for her personality. She is fun and sassy and works her ass off.

I chose this video because she has two circuits in it: a beginner and an advanced one, so you can try either one. I recommend doing 2 times the first one if you’re a beginner, and doing both circuits if you’re moderate to advanced. 

Zanna van Dijk -Total Core– 10 minute ab workout

Zanna has some wonderful at home workouts, and her abs ones are especially good. I included this one because she does a great job explaining the process and the moves, and she’s very uplifting and motivating. 

Juice & Toya – 10 Minute High Intensity Abs/Core Workout

This is a new 10 minutes ab workouts at home video I recently found on YouTube. I love the fact that it’s made by both a man and a woman, and that it includes a beginner and an advanced version of the session. 

It can be a great workout for couples, so I recommend you put this one next time you want to exercise with your partner. 

Caroline Girvan – 10 Minute Intense Lower Ab Workout

When doing ab exercises, most of us actually just want to get rid of the lower pouch. For this, there are many specific 10 minutes ab workouts at home. Like Caroline’s.

I like this one because she gives the instructions in the beginning, but the actual session is just music, and you also have visual cues, like timestamps and “next exercise”.

So here we are: my top 10 minute ab workouts at home! Let me know which is your favorite and what other YouTube workouts you do!

p.s. If you want to lose weight, check out my journey to losing 20 lbs in 2 months!

The post Best 10 Minute Ab Workouts At Home appeared first on Cozy Home Hacks.

One, because I’m not much of a cook, so I can’t make new recipes on the spot.

Two, because I can’t eat the same thing every week, so I need to test new recipes and add them to my binder, so they will be rotated all year round. 

That’s why I consider myself a bit of an expert recipe finder 🙂 I’ve tried (almost) everything and I already know where to look for, and what is best for me and my family. By best, I mean, what we like to eat. 

If you’re like me and you want to discover new recipes, I suggest you try the recommendations below, especially the apps and Pinterest, those two are the most valuable, in my opinion. 

Here’s where to find new recipes:

GOOGLE

The first suggestion is the most obvious one for recipe discovery. Just Google it. If you don’t know where to start, try the following tactics:

• Google ingredients. Search for the things you already have in the fridge or pantry. For example, “chicken recipes” or even “chicken bell pepper carrots recipe”. You’re guaranteed to find something on Google. 
• Google type of meal. If you’re always stuck on what to eat for lunch, type in “lunch recipes” or “lunch ideas”. You will find so many options, it will be hard to choose just one. 

You could also try googling “food blogs” or “food websites”, but the process to actually getting to a recipe you like and will make is much longer. 

One way of going around it is to find multiple websites and recipes and using the Bookmark option of your browser. That way, you have a list you can always come back to. Depends on how you like it.

But in most cases, Google is your friend. It’s the easiest way to discover new recipes if you already have ingredients or a vague idea of what you want to eat.

PINTEREST

Pinterest is also an obvious one, because it is, like Google, a search engine. So you do almost the same on Pinterest like you do on Google. You search for ingredients or types of meals. 

The benefit of using Pinterest is that it’s a visual platform, so you can scroll and select a recipe by picture. And that’s great because you can save time by not choosing something you won’t eat. For example, you browse through Pinterest for dinner recipe ideas and you see one with jalapenos in it, but you hate them, so it’s easy to dismiss it and move on. If you were on Google and the title didn’t have jalapenos in it, you would have entered that website for nothing. 

That’s why I think Pinterest is a faster search engine, and it’s suited for visual people. It’s actually one of my favorite ways to discover new recipes. 

YOUTUBE

I’m a broken record, I know, but this is the last one, I promise. YouTube is another search engine, if you think about it. Here, you can look up recipes, influencers, how tos, and so on.

Personally, I haven’t used it that much, because I don’t think it will give you all the possibilities that Pinterest and Google can, just because not a lot of people have filming equipment or editing skills to actually do it. 

But some can, and those who can, do a great job. You have so many food channels that you can follow, you just need to find someone who you love as a cook, or who cooks similar to you. The recipe discovery process will not be the same, in the sense that you discover by seeing what other cooks, not by actively searching for something. 

Actually, you can do both. I just think YouTube is at its best when looking for chefs and cooking channels, not for specific recipes.  

COOKBOOKS

This is an old school suggestion. I say old school, because I’m sure your mom had cookbooks, and probably your grandma, too. And if you cook yourself, even once or twice a week (or month), you probably have one, as well.

I recommend getting cookbooks for specific needs, like “Italian food”, or “Vegan recipes”, or “Cooking meat”. This way, you have an already compiled book of recipes which you can try from. So if you want to discover new recipes, definitely get a cookbook that most fits your taste buds 🙂 If you like Mexican food, get a Mexican inspired one, for example. 

If you’re on the lookout for new cookbooks, two of the most popular cookbooks right now are Magnolia Table by Joanna Gaines and Modern Comfort Food by Ina Garten. 

FOOD MAGAZINES

If you’re a magazine lover, you probably already have some. I’m thinking Bon Appetit, Food & Wine and Eating Well. But then again, considering how everything is online these days, you might not be into magazines anymore. 

Either way, magazines have their advantages and disadvantages. 

The beauty of them is that they’re easy to browse through, appealing to the eye, and with easy to follow recipes. The downside is that there are a limited number of recipes per magazine. But if you find a very cool recipe that you’re willing to try, definitely get it. 

RECIPE APPS

Speaking of the digital world we now live in, we have to talk about apps. This is the next big thing I want to try when it comes to discovering new recipes. 

Apps are a great idea for the phone lovers out there. It’s so easy to use. You just pick up the phone, open the app and search for chicken recipes, for example. Definitely faster than powering up your laptop, waiting for it to open, and so on. Just as fast as Pinterest browsing. 

I’ve heard great things about the following recipe apps: Allrecipes Dinner Spinner, Kitchen Stories, Yummly. They’re all free, by the way (last time I checked). 

What apps do you use?

SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCERS

This is similar to YouTube, in terms of finding a chef you like. You can also find them on other Social Media platforms. Especially Instagram, since it’s such a photo / video friendly platform.  Influencers help you discover new recipes all the time, that’s their job, isn’t it? To provide content and inspiration.

You can also find great chefs you can constantly follow for new ideas on blogs, of course. Unfortunately, this blog is not one, but there are so many out there. 

YOUR MOM / GRANDMA

This is such an underused option: your mom / grandma / aunt / sister. Why not go to the people whose food you like the most? 

My recipe binder is 60% made up of my mom’s recipes. I love them and my family does, too. 

I also recommend writing your family’s recipes because, before you know it, they won’t be able to give them to you, so do it now. 

So here is how I discover new recipes! Let me know in the comments where you find new recipes!

p.s. I’m not much of a cook, but I do make a mean Chili con carne. Check out the Chili Homemade Recipe!

*This post contains Amazon affiliate links, which means that I may receive a commission if you make a purchase using these links, at no extra cost to you.

The post How To Discover New Recipes To Try appeared first on Cozy Home Hacks.

Why? I realized I ate so much food during the holidays (and before that, too), especially sweets, that I felt big, uncomfortable, puffy and bloated.

Knowing from previous experiences that cutting out carbs (therefore sugar) helps lose weight, I set a goal for myself to NOT eat sugar for the entire month of January. I didn’t eliminate carbs, because I didn’t want to put too much pressure on me. I knew that eliminating both sugar and carbs would make me give in and cheat along the way, so I stuck to just no sugar. 

And guess what, guys? I DID IT!! I completed my No Sugar Challenge and I’m so proud of myself!

I strongly believe you can do it, too! That’s why I wanted to write this blog post, to help you achieve this goal, too, if you want to. 

So here’s how my January went: what I ate, what I didn’t eat, what I craved and how I managed to keep it up and not eat sweets.

My game plan for the No Sugar Challenge

Before starting the challenge, I set myself some rules that I had to follow:

• No sweets.
• No soda or cocktails (I used to drink Cuba Libres every weekend).
• No products / meals with added sugar into it.
• Limit natural sugar (that means, little to no fruit, or whole milk, or similar).
• Few or no sweets in the house.
• Limit temptations: no birthdays and no accepting desserts from family.
• Have on hand low sugar snacks.

Obviously, I didn’t go 100% without sugar, because there are some natural items that have a low quantity of sugar in them, like milk or nuts, but I avoided all obvious sugar choices, including fruits. 

Substituting Sugar: Choose snacks with low or no sugar

I knew, going into this, that 

1. I couldn’t eliminate snacking all together;
2. I would crave sweets or have the need for dessert.

That’s why I made sure I had low sugar snacks in my house. During the no sugar challenge, nuts were my snack of choice. My saviors. 

I always had a bowl of trail mix on my counter with the following:

• Walnuts;
• Cashews;
• Almonds;
• Pecans;
• Hazelnuts;
• Pistachio. 

Now, I know that most of them contain fats and that eating a bigger amount doesn’t help with weight loss, on the contrary, but they are filling. And that’s what I needed. 

Walnuts and Pecans, especially, have low natural sugar, so they were my favorite. 

I also had insane amounts of peanut butter. I say “insane” because I usually don’t eat that much of it, but during January, I ate ½ or ⅔ of a jar by myself. It also helped me beat the cravings. 

Other snack options were carrots, hard boiled eggs, chips and popcorn.

How to overcome sugar cravings

I will admit: it was so hard at times. Especially when my boyfriend loves sweets more than I do and he eats them all the time. In the house. 

This was probably my biggest problem. Seeing him eat Nutella or drink Coke after dinner. He tried to minimize sugar, too, or at least not eat it in front of me, but I told him from the beginning that he doesn’t have to. So he ate normally.

How did I manage to not eat sugar when my boyfriend did? Well, I’ll tell you what helped me:

• I ate peanut butter when he had Nutella; I snacked on something I could when he had sweets;
• I went into another room, or redirected my focus to the TV or something else;
• I told him how I craved chocolate, and he reminded me of my challenge, and supported me, telling me I could do it. He would also playfully say “NO, it’s my precioussss” and hide his chocolate.

Other ways to overcome sugar cravings that helped me:

• Having low or no sugar snacks on hand;
• Limiting my possible temptations, so
  • Not browsing the sweets section of the supermarket;
  • Less birthdays and social outings;
  • Refusing to bring home dessert offered by my mom or my boyfriend’s mom.
• Reminding myself how well I did until that point and that I could finish this;
• Focusing on other tasks.

Be careful: Food with added sugar that you don’t know about

One habit I got into while on my No Sugar Challenge was checking the product label. You would be surprised by how many seemingly normal products you thought have no sugar, actually do have sugar. 

First, you have to check the ingredients. Obviously, if you see listed “sugar” in the ingredients list, then you can’t have it. I also recommend avoiding things like Stevia, too, but to each its own.

Secondly, you have to check for the naturally added sugars. What you have to do is to go to the nutritional facts section and find “Carbohydrates, from which Sugars are..”. Always check that part. If the product has more than 5, ok 10g of sugars in it, then it’s a no go.

Here are some surprising items with sugar in them:

• Milk;
• Ketchup;
• Certain crackers;
• Some store bought Salad dressings;
• Instant oatmeal.

31 days No Sugar Challenge: The results

The first obvious result is actually losing weight: I “got rid of” 4 kg (almost 9 lbs). And that’s amazing, considering I ate normally, which means pizza, pasta, burgers, etc. 

I feel lighter and not so bloated. The clothes are not so tight anymore (especially the jeans) and my tummy has gone down a bit. 

I do have to mention a result / “side effect” of the no sugar challenge. My body reacted to the sugar detox, not only by losing weight, but also by….giving me pimples. 3 or 4 days in, I started developing zits on my chin and my forehead. I got worried for a bit, but then I googled it and it turns out this type of detox does give you spots. Don’t worry, though, they lasted only for a few days, and then they were gone. 

For me, the biggest accomplishments (and result) was my will and motivation to actually not eat sugar and finish the no sugar challenge. I am proud of myself for not giving in, for not indulging from time to time, and for sticking to it. Not a lot of people can do that . Actually, I was one of those people up until two years ago, when I went through a weight loss process. 

So if that is your worry, I hope I can assure you that YOU CAN DO IT. I believe in you, and I’m here to say you got this!

Next steps & Recommendations

I have to admit, the first day after the 31 days challenge ended, I had a glass of Coke. Surprisingly, that was what I was craving at the moment. 

Going forward, I plan to continue my challenge up until the 25th of February, when it’s my birthday, so obviously I will want to eat cake & co. That’s (almost) one extra month of challenge. 

Why? One, because I loved the results and I want more. Two, because I feel like I’m on a roll and I can do it. Three, because there won’t be as much pressure on me as before. Everything over the 31 days is a blessing and nice to have. 

If you’re thinking of doing the 31 days no sugar challenge, here are my top 3 recommendations that I think will definitely make a difference:

1. Get rid of all the sweets in your house – if you don’t have it, you can’t eat it. 
2. Have low sugar snacks on hand to resist the cravings. 
3. Be in the right mindset. Stick to your end goal and make sure the people around you support you. 

So there it is, my experience with the No Sugar Challenge. It was a hard month, but I am proud of my results. 

What do you think? Would you do something similar? Have you done it in the past? Let me know!

The post My 31 days NO SUGAR Challenge appeared first on Cozy Home Hacks.

I’m in the process of doing this, myself. I feel like my biological clock is ticking (and sounding an alarm at the same time). Add to that the fact that I’m at that age where everyone around me is having a baby  (late 20s, early 30s). What you have is a hormonal 31, almost 32-year-old who desperately wants a baby.

So, in all honesty, I wrote this article from my own experience and to myself. This is my actual list of things to do before trying to conceive. Most of them I’ve already done, but I still have some things to tackle (like getting my cavities done and completing a strong savings account for when the baby comes)

So if you’re in the same situation and you have no idea where to start, this article is for you. I hope my 8 tips & tricks to do before trying to conceive will help you get organized and prepare for your bundle of joy. Here they are:

Medical check-up

This is one of the most important steps, in my opinion. Growing a baby inside you will change your body. You will probably gain weight, you will give most of your nutrients to your baby, and you will have hormonal changes, which can lead to mood swings. You need to be prepared for it. And, I’m sure, you will want to make the experience as easy and painless as you can. 

If you’ve skipped the annual check-up in the last couple of years, definitely do it now. Get blood work done and see if there are any deficiencies or any other problems you should take care of or take into consideration when getting pregnant. 

I do mine every year and I know I have a thyroid issue and a slight anemia, so my gynecologist prescribed me some supplements and vitamins in order to take care of (and control, in the case of thyroid) these issues. 

Dental check-up

This step is not obvious to some, but it is important, as it can prevent further issues along the way. 

You might not know this, but pregnancy can increase your chance of getting gum disease, which is a health problem that may also make early labor more likely. That’s why you should have your teeth cleaned and checked before trying to conceive. Moreover, if you have any cavities, you should do them now, they can cause problems in the future (and a local anesthesia is not indicated during pregnancy). After that, just make sure you brush, floss, and use mouthwash every day.

Start a healthy lifestyle

This should be a no-brainer. Healthy momma=healthy baby. 

So it’s very important that you start developing some healthy habits that will help you in your pregnancy before trying to conceive. First, consider your diet. Try to add as many vegetables as you can in your meals, and try to eliminate or limit the unhealthy food choices like sugar, fats or artificial flavors. Give your body resources (vitamins, minerals, antioxidants) for it to grow a healthy baby. 

Second, exercise. This is more important than you think. Many studies have shown, over time, that exercise can help in the labour and delivery process. It’s also great for your mental health, pre and post baby, so start exercising now. You don’t need to go overboard, it’s ok just to incorporate more walks and some light weight training.

Quit smoking & alcohol, and limit caffeine

As I’m sure you know, alcohol and smoking are a no-go zone in pregnancy. They are dangerous for your fetus’ development, so obviously many discourage using it during pregnancy. 

A cigarette can make it harder to get pregnant, in the first place, and during the nine months, it can increase the chances of miscarriage and premature birth. And one too many drinks during pregnancy can form birth defects and learning problems for the baby. 

Caffeine is not specifically prohibited, but the future mama is encouraged to drink no more than 200 milligrams of caffeine a day, if you really need it. So one small cup per day.  I suggest switching to decaf, it’s safer overall.

Check finances and start saving up

Infants need a lot of stuff. Not only clothes, from which they grow out of every 3 months. But also diapers (you’d be amazed how expensive they are), bottles, pacifiers, stroller, crib, and many other knicks-knacks you don’t even need to know about now. 

Also, keep in mind, expenses include doctor visits, labour and birth expenses, and possibly child care.

So start saving up now. Create a separate account and transfer money monthly, you will be thankful for it when the time comes. 

Make sure your house is ready for a baby

When it comes to a baby’s arrival, the first obvious question is: does your house have an extra room for it? If the immediate answer is no, don’t stress about it: babies spend the first 6 months in the parents’ bedroom, anyway, so it’s enough to have that. 

But in the long term, you need to think about the extra room. It’s beneficial for a child’s development to have its own space and it’s better for a couple’s relationship, too. 

Also you can start thinking of baby-proofing certain areas. Either through special equipment, or just by rearranging your furniture and decor in order for babies to not hurt themselves if they touch it or grab on to it. 

Start reading up about pregnancy and motherhood

There are so many resources online about pregnancy, parenting, even fertility, that you probably don’t even know where to start. 

So before trying to conceive, I recommend you start researching. There are two ways to go about it, in my experience:

• Get books or comprehensive material about it, like a course. This way, the information is structured, so it’s better and faster to learn everything you need to know in one go.

• Start saving different snippets in Bookmarks and/or “Saved links section”. I do this. Anytime I see an article that relates to motherhood, I save it to my special Bookmarks folder called “Babies”. If I am browsing Instagram, I save it to my Babies collection.  Websites like The Bumb are a great place to start.

I went a bit overboard on YouTube: I have a private playlist for every topic: first/second/third trimester, birth, baby essentials, nursery, postpartum, prenatal workouts, etc. It is extremely useful to go back to these playlists when the time comes. Most of the videos are made by women who went through the same thing and so, they are (usually) very relatable to your situation.

Think of a support system for when the baby comes

By support system, I mean people who can help you care for the baby, if you need to (if, for example, you have to go back to work or have errands to run). 

Ideally, this means grandparents who can babysit the child when you have things to do. Or it can also mean child care, which, of course, means extra financial resources. 

Now, I know not all people are lucky enough to have family and/or enough finances to handle this situation. So this is the time to take this into consideration and find solutions. 

I really hope this was hopeful for you! I am actively doing all of these things before trying to conceive because I want to have a baby soon. Also, just so you know, all this advice was passed on by friends and older sisters who went through this and said the steps helped make the transition easier. 

Please let me know if you did any of the actions above, and especially if you did anything extra before trying to conceive! Help out the community! 

p.s. If you realized you need to start saving up, here are some tips & tricks on How To Save Money!

The post 8 Things To Do Before Trying To Conceive (TTC): What To Do Before You Get Pregnant appeared first on Cozy Home Hacks.

If you’re on a keto diet, or want to lose weight, or just looking for some healthy, I’m here to tell you there are plenty of options for low carb low sugar snacks. Below you’ll find 6, but there are so much more out there. I’m just sharing my favorite snacks, the ones I reach for the most. 

Before, my idea of snacks was a chocolate bar (Snickers for the win). Or 2-3 chocolate chip cookies. Or a bag of Doritos. That was between lunch and dinner. After dinner, me and my boyfriend would have cake, or ice-cream, or a slice of bread with A LOT of Nutella spread on top of it. 

Fast forward to the beginning of this month, when I realised I was eating too much, especially too much junk food and sweets. So I committed to a month of no sugar (or very low sugar) and so far, so good. The only snacking I’m doing is around the 3-4 pm time stamp, when I need it the most. I try to refrain from eating anything after dinner, but if I must, I grab a couple of walnuts.

It’s not my first endeavor in the low carb low sugar snacks game, you know. Two years ago I went through a two month weight loss program, where I lost 22lbs and I used the same principles back then, too. They definitely helped with the craving and the hunger, so I hope they can help you, too.

If you don’t like any of the options below, feel free to have something else, but make sure you know the nutritional information for it. It’s something I learned during that period and I still apply to this day.

I learned the main categories of nutrients (protein, carbohydrates, fat, fiber, etc.), and most importantly, I learned how to classify the most consumed food in my meal plan. This helped me, in turn, know what I am eating, and what I should be cutting or adding from my diet. 

For example, I know now that carbs means potatoes, bread, chocolate bars, bakery, cookies, etc. I know meat, milk, yoghurt and cheese are high in protein. And I know I need to eat plenty of vegetables, because they are low in calories and high in nutrients. 

By knowing this (and some other nutritional information), I can create a meal and snacking plan which limits the use of carbs and sugar. Not eliminate, just use as little as possible. 

Since snacking is so important because most of us do it, it’s important to know how to do it appropriately. So here are 6 low carb low sugar snacks to help get through the day. 

Nuts, especially pecans and walnuts 

This is, actually, my favorite snack out of the 6, and the one I reach for the most. I usually buy big bags of pecans and walnuts (and sometimes hazelnuts), and make myself a bowl of nuts. I don’t consume it in one sitting, of course, but stretch it for a week, if I can (spoiler alert: I can’t, it’s usually gone in 5 days tops).

Pecans are a great choice of low carb low sugar snacks because they taste sweet, but they have 14g of Carbs per 100g of product. So as long as you stick to 30g of pecans per serving, you’re good. 

Walnuts are low in carbs and sugar, and most importantly, have many health benefits. It is said to be useful in weight loss, that they are helpful for brain function, and that they also improve quality of sleep and….sperm. 100g of Walnuts have about 14g of Carbs and 3g of Sugar. 

Yogurt

If you’re the type of person who loves yoghurts or smoothies, this might be a great solution for you. But before you run out to get some chocolate Chobani or something similar, I have to urge you to only buy and consume the plain yoghurt type. You probably already know that the flavored ones have sugar in it, so you have to stay away from those.

Next time you go to the supermarket, go to the plain yoghurt section and check the labels for nutritional data. Choose the ones that have the least amount of carbs and sugar (ideally, under 5g for each). Fun fact: you might be surprised to discover that some 0% fat have more carbs than the usual ones. So please check the nutritional data on the back of the product. 

String Cheese 

Great news: most mozzarella sticks have less than 1 gram of carbs per serving (one stick)! That’s amazing! And to add to that, they also have about 6 grams of protein, which is great for building muscle and losing fat, so go for it. 

Next time you’re buying some for your kids (or partner), get some for yourself, they are a quick snack to have, easy to carry and consume on the go.

With the risk of repeating myself, please check the back of the package and go for the one with great nutritional numbers, some types of cheese have more carbs or sugar.

Hard boiled egg

Hard boiled eggs are a good choice if you want a filling option, one that does not feel like a snack. Eggs are very low in Carbs and Sugar, but they do contain cholesterol, so it’s recommended to stick to 2 eggs a day.

I recommend boiling 6-10 eggs on Sunday, to have on hand for the next week. Just pop one out, put some salt on it, if you want, and there you go! Hunger subsided. 

Carrots

If you love veggies and have no problem eating them, definitely try carrots. I personally love them because they are refreshing and crunchy. 

For one large carrot (roughly 72g) you get 7g of Carbs, and 3g of it are sugars; these are great numbers for healthy snacking. Just be cautious about them, I know my nutritionist recommended I don’t eat large quantities, since they do contain carbs.

Peanut butter 

The last item on the low carb low sugar snacks list is everybody’s favorite: peanut butter. Yes, you can eat peanut butter, in decent sized quantities (1-2 spoons of it). 

The crucial aspect when it comes to peanut butter consumption is if it has added sugars in it or not. Always go for the natural, organic one, with no extra ingredients. I use Meridian Smooth Peanut Butter. It has 11.6g of Carbs and 5g of Sugar for 100g, which is ⅓ of the container, so a spoonful will have considerably less than that. 

So there we go: my list of 6 low carb low sugar snacks that I reach for the most! Like I said before, there are plenty more choices out there. The important thing is to make sure you know the nutritional data for it before you consume it. You might find a delicious snack you didn’t even consider trying. 

Let me know in the comments what your favorite snacks are. Preferably healthy, so that we don’t all start craving Doritos and chocolate while reading the comment section 🙂

*This post contains Amazon affiliate links, which means that I may receive a commission if you make a purchase using these links, at no extra cost to you.

The post Low Carb Low Sugar Snacks I Eat All The Time appeared first on Cozy Home Hacks.