BrainsandBalance

Here at BrainsandBalance we create recipes with simple and real ingredients that everyone can make.

Brains and Balance is a collection of balanced dishes that taste good and make you feel good!

11/10/2025

if you’re looking for dinner inspo - here’s what I made last week as a married woman, in my third trimester, who loves to cook (and eat) ☺️

11/05/2025

Chicken Caprese Sandwich on Ciabatta - guess we could call this one a pregnancy craving because this exact sandwich just sounded so delicious and it lived up to the hype in my head. Served with some air fried french fries and ketchup!

10/30/2025

FYI frozen scallops taste just as good as fresh. Highly recommend defrosting in the fridge, patting dry, seasoning with salt and pepper, searing over high heat 2 min per side in avocado oil and finishing with some butter!

Had these for dinner tonight, served over creamy mashed potatoes and sautéed green beans with garlic, shallots and EVOO.

10/22/2025

Which muffin are you biting into first?

Pumpkin Coffee Cake Muffin (with Cinnamon Streusel) 🎃☕️ or Banana Chocolate Chip Muffin 🍌🍫? Cozy season in muffin form. The Pumpkin Coffee Cake Muffins are soft, spiced, and topped with buttery cinnamon streusel while the Banana Chocolate Chip muffins are a classic and a staple. Best warmed slightly so the chocolate gets all melty!

Both are perfect with your morning latte or an afternoon cozy-up moment.

Pumpkin Coffee Cake Muffin (with Cinnamon Streusel)

Makes 12 muffins

Muffins
• ½ cup pumpkin purée (½ of a 15oz can)
• ½ cup brown sugar
• ¼ cup granulated sugar
• ½ cup oil (or melted butter)
• 2 eggs
• ¼ cup milk
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1½ cups flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• ½ tsp nutmeg
• ¼ tsp cloves (optional)
• ¼ tsp salt

Cinnamon Streusel
• 6 tbsp flour
• 4 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 3 tbsp cold butter, cubed
• (Optional: 2 tbsp oats or chopped nuts)

Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 350°F and line 12 muffin cups with parchment liners.
2. Make streusel: mix dry ingredients, cut in butter until crumbly. Set aside.
3. Whisk pumpkin, sugars, oil, eggs, milk, and vanilla until smooth.
4. In another bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, spices, and salt.
5. Combine wet + dry just until mixed.
6. Fill muffin cups halfway, add a sprinkle of streusel, top with remaining batter, then more streusel.
7. Bake 18–22 min, until golden and a toothpick comes out clean.
8. Cool slightly, drizzle with optional vanilla glaze (¼ cup powdered sugar + 1 tsp milk + 1/2 tsp vanilla or maple syrup).

For the banana muffins I followed my Chocolate Chunk Banana Bread recipe linked in our bio or at www.brainsandbalancerecipes.com. I split the batter amongst 12 muffin tins and baked the same as the pumpkin ones!

10/07/2025

dinner last night and I’m already craving it again… a grain bowl with all the flavors of fall, drizzled with the dreamiest maple Dijon vinaigrette. 🍁🍂

recipe link in our bio or at www.brainsandbalancerecipes.com “Salmon & Farro Autumn Grain Bowl with Maple Dijon Vinaigrette”

10/06/2025

this weekend summed up: good food, good exercise, good snuggles. 🍔🏃🏻‍♀️🤗 A very Ollie approved weekend (except when he couldn’t join in on pickleball, he was not thrilled about watching).

09/28/2025

Dinner tonight: Cacio e Pepe with fresh spaghetti and grilled chicken! Served it with a salad and it was exceptional. The best meals are the simple ones.

Chicken Cacio e Pepe (Serves 2)

Ingredients:
• 200-250g fresh spaghetti (4-5oz dry)
• 1 medium chicken breast (about 8 oz / 225 g) or 2 small thighs
• 1 cup very finely grated Pecorino Romano
• 1 tsp freshly cracked black pepper (plus more to taste)
• Kosher salt (for pasta water + chicken)
• Olive oil (just a drizzle)

Directions:
1. Cook the chicken: Season lightly with salt and pepper. Heat a drizzle of olive oil in a skillet over medium. Cook chicken 4–5 min per side (breast) or until golden and cooked through (165°F). Remove from pan, rest a few minutes, then slice thinly.
2. Boil the pasta: Bring a pot of well-salted water to a boil. Cook pasta until just shy of al dente. Reserve 1 cup pasta water.
3. Toast the pepper: In the same skillet you used for chicken. Add the cracked pepper and toast for 30 seconds until fragrant. Add a ladle of pasta water to create a peppery broth.
4. Make the sauce: Toss pasta into the skillet with the pepper broth. Off the heat, add cheese gradually while tossing/stirring quickly. Add splashes of pasta water as needed until you get a glossy, creamy sauce that coats the pasta.
5. Assemble: Plate the pasta, then top with sliced chicken. Finish with extra cheese and black pepper.

09/23/2025

a 3 year wedding anniversary/baby moon back at our favorite hidden gem was full of good eats and good vibes. we’ll be back

09/17/2025

Autumn Salad with pumpkin vinaigrette and the best chicken cutlets >>>

Salad details: arugula base, diced pears, roasted butternut squash, crumbled bleu cheese, candied pecans

Pumpkin Dressing details: 2 tbsp olive oil, 2 tbsp ACV, 2 tbsp pureed pumpkin, 2 tbsp plain greek yogurt, 1 clove garlic, 1/2 tsp dried sage, salt and pepper, optional: 1 tbsp maple syrup. Add 1 tbsp water or more for desired consistency. Immersion blend everything until smooth.

Chicken cutlet details: chicken breast, butterflied and pounded to 1/4-1/2” thick. Dredge in flour/salt/pepper, dip in whisked egg dripping off excess egg, cover in breadcrumb mixture. Preheat oven to 350. Sear in 1/4 cup avocado oil for about 5 minutes per side. Transfer to a wired rack and transfer to oven for 7-10 min or until 165F. Remove from oven and sprinkle with sea salt. Let sit 5 minutes before chopping up.

Toss everything together and enjoy!!!

09/03/2025

the past few weeks of good eats.

in case you’re looking for some inspo 👇🏻

1. Decaf almond milk latte & Arnold Palmer from
2. The best steak I’ve ever cooked, made simply off vibes since I had no thermometer. Just seared 3-4 min each side and transferred to oven for 6 min.
3. Breakfast sandwich & decaf iced maple latte from
4. A lemon loaf Jon was craving. We followed the recipe by .
5. Wedding 1 plate, 10/10 - that orzo 😍
6. Wedding 2 plate, also 10/10 - that mac & cheese 🤤
7. steak tips we brought back from MA paired with the most delicious mushrooms caramelized nice and slow with some butter, balsamic, soy sauce, S&P, garlic, onion, thyme and a little brown sugar.
8. My table mate at my parents house, yes his paws are on the edge of my chair. Cheeto likes steak.
9. Chicken Milanese, butternut squash and mashed potatoes a la my mom.
10. Salmon & arugula salad at a random restaurant we stopped at in Connecticut to escape the brutal traffic.
11. Homemade pasta, sausages, meatballs and garlic bread also a la my mom.
12. & chocolate chip cookie paired with
13. Fresh shrimp, corn, peach & tomato salad.

08/14/2025

Shrimp Stir Fry & Pineapple Fried Rice - the perfect use what’s in your fridge recipe! Nothing has to be perfect or the same as I used for it to be DELICIOUS!

Recipe link in our bio or search “Shrimp Stir Fry and Pineapple Fried Rice” at www.brainsandbalancerecipes.com

08/07/2025

Chicken breast, butterflied, seasoned with salt and pepper and dredged in flour before stuffing with kale (sautéed in EVOO, S&P) and goat cheese. Seared chicken in olive oil, 3-4 minutes per side before transferring to 400F oven for 10-15 minutes or until internal temp of 165F.

We served with mashed cauliflower and roasted Brussels sprouts!

Address

Chester Springs, PA

Website

https://www.brainsandbalancerecipes.com/

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