Welcome to Ambitious Kitchen, I’m Monique. I’m incredibly happy you’re here!
The goal of this blog is to provide you with healthy inspiration, whether it’s in your kitchen or in your life.
What will I find on this blog?
Everything! Most of the food I create is geared towards those with active, healthy lifestyles. You’ll find plenty of good-for-you meals to share with your family, friends, and recipes the love in your life will adore. I like to get creative, using unique ingredients and pairing different flavor combinations. I have to admit that I am an avid baker so I’ll probably throw a few crazy desserts at you, too.
Outside of the kitchen I’ll share fitness inspiration, my travel adventures, products that I’m loving, and maybe a few photos of my cat, Milly.
My passion for cooking and baking came at an early age while assisting my Puerto Rican Mother in the kitchen, and my Father, a man who made his own pies, pancakes and an incredible yellow cake with chocolate buttercream (and a splash of coffee!). Thus on this blog you will be sure to find sweet treats, Spanish inspired cuisine and of course, my flair for healthy eating.
If you’re new here, start with this salad, dive into these enchiladas, and then finish with a truly life-changing cookie.
How did you start your blog?
The best kind of food is the kind that inspires, tells a story, and is shared with the ones you love. This is why I launched Ambitious Kitchen back in 2011 — because over the years I learned how powerful food can be in our lives. While I was in college I developed an unhealthy relationship with food and exercise in order to avoid facing some deep-rooted hardships from my past.
What started as an extra workout during the week quickly turned into counting every calorie, labeling certain foods as “good” and “bad,” and eventually lead to my battle with an eating disorder.
However, facing these hardships allowed me to re-focus on finding a balance with both food and exercise — something that I know can be a daily struggle for so many people (and I’m right there with you!) You can read more about my wellness journey Part 1 and Part 2.
Creating and sharing these recipes over the past few years has taught me how to eat well and eat deliciously.
Flexibility is key, and we won’t compromise on taste here — promise! I write this blog to share the love of a feel-good salad, a kick-ass workout, a fluffy stack of pancakes, and a hope that these posts inspire you to find balance in your life. I learn a bit more about myself with every recipe, and I’m confident that you will too.
What’s happened since then?
It’s been a whirlwind! I won Nordic Ware’s Bundts Across America recipe contest, Fage’s recipe contest, hung alongside Bobby Flay, shared my recipes on the Food Network’s HealthyEats.com and have been featured on numerous cooking sites such as the Huffington Post, Buzzfeed, Today.com, Self Magazine and Cup of Jo. In less than 3 years, I was able to quit my corporate job to work on Ambitious Kitchen full time.
Enter 2017. The past couple of years have been big ones for me! I was selected as an ambassador for Under Armour Women to inspire women across the globe, and hired my first full-time employee, Abra (@abraowens), to help manage my awesome brand partnerships and continue to pursue my dreams.
One of my biggest accomplishments was co-founding Healthy Glow Co., a fitness and nutrition website, and launching our first product, the Healthy Glow Guide. Our guide contains a flexible 6-week program with easy, tasty recipes for each day, plus go-to workouts, grocery lists, and inspiration throughout.
Healthy Glow Co. is all about finding a balance between food and fitness that fits your healthy lifestyle — getting rid of the guilt associated with having a treat, going out with friends, and taking a rest day, so that you can live LIFE.
Throughout this journey I’ve met incredible friends while learning about myself and the passion I have for food, nutrition, self-awareness and balance.
Wanna know more?
I moved to Chicago from Minneapolis in 2014, and Tony and I bought our first place in 2016. We’ve been busy organizing, decorating, and making this place a home. Check out our master bedroom here.
Travel is also a big part of my life. I love adventure, exploring new places, meeting new people, and (of course) trying new foods. In 2009 I briefly lived in Australia where I learned to surf at some of the world’s most beautiful beaches. I also drank a lot of wine. It was unforgettable. You can read more about my travel adventures in my travel section. Most recently I’ve been on hiking adventures in the Grand Canyon, Sedona, Austin and more.
What else? I love to workout and believe that moving your body is one of the best kinds of stress relief. Pumpkin pie with whipped cream is my favorite dessert and I can never get enough peanut butter. I’m obsessed with Mariah Carey and always will be.
Most recently though, I got engaged to the love of my life, Tony. We’re currently planning for a late Fall 2017 wedding.
Above all I believe in passion. Find something you love and do it. That’s what I’m doing here.
If you are interested in working with me, please contact abra@ambitiouskitchen.com. Media kits are available upon request.
Thanks for being here. I love you guys more than you know. xo!
Really fresh look mo! avoid the tasty skrimps!
I just found your blog and am so glad I did! I love your writing and your pictures are beautiful. As a fellow Minnesotan (and runner and yogi) I can’t wait to keep following along!
Thanks Taylor!
I’m happy you found me! 🙂
I’m going to check your site out.
Monique……..your recipes are just wonderful……thanks for doing what you do.
Amazing! Thank you for reading. Speaking of which I need to update the index.
What ever you put up there is going to be awesome 🙂
Hey Monique! I met you at iStrategy Labs a few weeks ago (for the bloggers mixer). 🙂 Love your food blog *drool*! 🙂 I'm having a Korean cooking party this month, and if you're interested, I'd love for you to come! &, of course I'd love to chat about Social Media Week DC too! I'm on Twitter: @lindasauce! 😛
Yes! When is the Korean cooking party? Tweet me! @moniquevolz or @ambitiouskitch
OMG I LOVE YOUR BLOG!!!! Everything looks amazing, so beautiful and delicious looking!!! I can’t wait to try some of these recipes!!! Already Obsessed!!!!
Hello hello! So happy to have you 🙂
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! My fiance and I love food. Not just any food…we looove good food, we also have super sweet tooths, but we also try to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Juggling both can be a difficult task to do. So thank you for making this blog! We are parents to a 8 month old, so I don’t have the time to alter recipies that we want to try in order to make them healthy. You’ve made it easy, now all I have to do is hop on here and cook or bake my little heart out! Please continue posting!
P.s. I really like when you add nutritional information!
thanks again and I wish you ooodles of success!
Thanks for the sweet comment, Mindy! I’m so happy that my recipes are being put to good use. Keep reading!
Just recently discovered your blog and so glad that I did. You have some amazing looking recipes on here that I can’t wait to try.
I’m so happy you found me Erika! Headed to check out your blog now.
Love reading this page. I think your truly beautiful inside and out. Keep on inspiring, Monique! 🙂
Jenna, you are too sweet!
I just found your blog. So glad I also love pumpkin pie my favorite desert. I fast walk everyday 3 miles and do weights and zumba.Im 63 and trying to stay healthy. I will defently follow you sounds fun. Going to try your banna bread.
Hi! I just found your blog via the recipe for Nutella filled cookies (wow!). I will try making them or I will convince my sisters to make them for me. I skimmed through the recipes and I must say I am intrigued. I'll check back once I have tried one or two of your creations. Have a great weekend!
HI! I made your peanut butter chocolate chip cookies last night! SOOOOO delicious. Thanks!
Found your site via some wonderful Pinterest pins and have enjoyed being able to leaf through your stellar recipes. Thanks for posting this wonderful blog for us healthy cooks who are always looking for something new! 😀
Came for the nutella cookies. Will stay for the photography and chit chat. Thanks!
so glad i stumbled past your site 🙂 cue in slow development of a girl crush — no judgments here.
WOW! I have finally found someone who has inspired me to BAKE! I am a partner in a cooking business but neither of us like to bake. I discovered your Nutella stuffed cookies and I am willing to give it a try. I love that you are as passionate about food as I am. Thanks.
and pray how did you find this woman–it wouldn't be because of your "bakin" sister would it??? 🙂 I have the dough in the fridge ready to fill with Nutella tomorrow 🙂
Hi Monique, I just found your blog through a FB friends post. So glad to have checked it out. It’s now at the top of my list of blogs to follow! Can’t wait to spend some time looking through your recipes. I’m a new food blogger (2 months) and am having so much fun seeing what others are doing. Job well done!!
My cousin, Sarah Brehm, introduced me to your blog!
I have tried 2 of your banana breads and love them! (In the chocolate raspberry one I substituted cherries as I had some fresh ones to use up…delicious!)
I too love to cook and am always looking for healthy ways to do it. With a full time job and family, I don’t always have time to explore options on my own…so I appreciate yours! Hopefully my husband and two young boys will thank me later for keeping them healthy…or at least trying too!
I too love yoga and working out….my sanity in this crazy life!
Keep the recipes coming!!!
smiles,
karen 🙂
I found your recipe via Pinterest.. And since I have a slight, well.. Gigantic obsession with Nutella, I decided to make these cookies. WOW! They are amazing and my husband, mother (well entire family/friends) have proclaimed these cookies as their all time favorite!! Thank you 🙂
Oh sorry lol.. I forgot to mention the cookies I made… They were your Nutella- stuffed brown butter and sea salt
Chocolate chip cookies 🙂
I tried making your browned butter Nutella cookies and they were FANTASTIC! Literally the best cookies I have ever made! Browning the butter was such an original idea which took these cookies to the next level. I will definitely be coming back for more creative cooking/baking ideas 🙂
yeah. love your blog. I have a 10 year old athlete who LOVES pancakes…trying to find healthy ones. As a fellow minnesotan currently livin in toronto always stressing about ways to feed the kids healthy food they like I am so happy to have found your blog!
thanks for the hard work and recipes.
aloha, just took the nuetella cookie out the oven, it's so ono (good). can't wait to try the browned butter recipes….mahalo.
Definitely going to try the Nutella cookies. I recently discovered Biscoff Cookie Spread…I might try a variation with that and Ghirardelli White Chocolate Bar. My big claim to fame with friends and family is traditional Scottish Shortbread. I’ve been making it in small batches, by hand since 1983. I have finally resorted to using a mixer…the old hands just get too tired too fast these days! This past year has been all about canning…making some tangerine marmalade tonight and tomorrow. I’ll check your recipes for other things to try. My wife is going vegetarian and I see you have a number of vegetarian and “guilt-free” recipes (which I will need after the cookies!). Happy cooking!
Saw your recipe for the nutella cookies on pinterest 🙂 Glad I found them! Great blog, look forward to making and trying more of your recipes! Happy baking! Merry Christmas!
Saw your recipe for the nutella cookies on pinterest 🙂 Glad I found them! Looking forward to making and trying more of your recipes! Happy baking! Merry Christmas!
Hi. I just nominated you for the VERY INSPIRING BLOGGER AWARD. Congratulations!
Hi! I found your blog via the Nutella stuffed brown butter and sea salt cookie recipe (holy moly) on Pinterest. I made them yesterday for a holiday potluck at work and they were FANTASTIC. Everyone said they were the best cookies they've ever eaten. Thank you for combining some of my favorite things- brown butter and Nutella together. You've completed me. 🙂
Happy New Year Monique! I found your blog right before Christmas through Kevn&Amanda via Pinterest on a cookie quest and I really enjoy it! Got a little distracted and haven’t gotten to the cookies yet but I have already made your Green Monster Smoothies (suprisingly yummy!) Carrot Coconut Whole Grain muffins and even my picky 13-year-old liked them! Today my son and I are going to try the Brown Butter Snickerdoodles before I head back to work and the boys go back to school. I love your blog and can’t wait to try more of your great recipes and to see what is to come in 2013. Thanks! Jessica
Happy New Year Jessica — I’m SO happy you’re here!
I thought I already responded to this, but maybe not! Thanks for reading Jessica — I’m so happy you are here!
I came for the Snickerdoodles and I'm ALSO staying for the photography and everything else on your list. What a gorgeous site. And that's coming from a professional photographer!
Thanks Koren! 🙂
Came for the Snickerdoodles, found the Nutella Chocolate Chip Cookies, became intrigued with the quinoa burger — and everything else I saw. Your food sounds amazing, looks amazing (great photography!) and I love your passion. Congrats on such a successful site, Monique. Looking forward to getting to know you.
Thanks Cindy! Happy you're here!
It is sure AWESOME to see a Rockford alumni (Class of 2007) having such success! Congratulations. We’re all proud of your entrepreneurial spirit. Best of luck on your business venture(s). Paul Durand Superintendent of Schools – District #883
Thanks Paul! 🙂
Hi Monique, I just came across your blog and its lovely! I just started a food blog too, and its exactly as you say about passion, find something you love and do it! So true!
Hi Sofia — so happy you’ve started a blog! Good luck! 🙂
Oh my gosh! Monique Volz!! From RHS?? Lol!! I found your brown butter cookies from an Instagram post and have been drooling over your recipes. Then I thought I should see if there is anyway to see whose recipes I’m drooling at. So I click on the About tab, and oh my word, I see the name Monique but I’m sure there are many Monique’s in this world. Then I see your picture and think “no way!” Then scroll down again and really realize its you! Small small world! Insane where life takes you! Thanks for this blog, I love to bake/cook for my family and there is nothing better than getting lost in recipes!! I’m still in shock!! Of all the recipe blogs I’ve scoured, I would have never imagined to come across one created by you!! Ok, enough!! But thank you!! 🙂 I can’t wait to start trying these recipes! And good luck, where ever life takes you!! Thank you for sharing your passion with us! Some of us aren’t as creative and we need this support to keep our kitchen lively!!
Wow! Came across this blog via Pintrest after stumbling upon your amazing Nutella cookies! Currently sat waiting for the dough to cool in the fridge and drooling at everything else on here! I love your recipes and your passion for cooking, an absolute gem.
Came for the Nutella stuffed cookies, and now it’s been an hour already. Your blog is lovely, photos and everything… Keep the passion up !
Hi Monique! Can I just tell you how proud I am of you? And… I can honestly say, "I knew her when…" Keep up your wonderfulness! 🙂
You're a star!
Found your blog through a friend this week and love your recipes! So happy to have found you! Keep up the amazing content!
Nice blog, ausome recepies!!!!! I will come back. but first I have to surprise my kids with the Nutella chocolate chip cookies!!!!
I absolutely love your blog, and everything about it, from the website design to the recipes, of course! I've made two cookies so far, and have requests from family members and co-workers to make more. And your site has reinvigorated my passion to bake!
Thank you Mandy!
GREAT blog!! Could you please tell what is the name/recipe for the great looking salad at the top of this page??
Hi Karen! That would be my Superfruit & Nut Arugula Salad!
Thank you so much! I gotta try it:) I lived in Minneapolis (St. Louis Park & Lake Minnetonka area) most of my life and relocated to SoCal (Huntington Beach and Channel Islands Harbor) about 17 years ago.
Merry Meet Monique, I am about to try your Peanut Butter Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies. They look heavenly, I will let you know. You are truly very blessed to be able to do what you love to do. My passion and or dream is to breed cats I just love kittens but there is just not enough income doing that to sustain me financially. But who knows new things and dreams come peoples way everyday maybe mine will to someday. For now got to get baking these cookies. Blessed Be
Hi Monique! I look forward to maneuvering around your site every day. For 21 years I've been a pastry chef with my own business and still look for new and scrumptious things to make. Thought I've made almost everything. Then you come up with something new! Like your avocado, vegan choc. cake! WOW. Can't wait to make it. Thank you for the passion you put in all you do.
I just made my weekly grocery shopping list by looking at recipes on your blog. I am obsessed with the food you make!
SO… As luck would have it a friend re-pinned one of my recipes last night(Pinterest was quick to let me know, haha). I, in turn, scoped out what she had pinned on her food board, which serendipitously led me to your site. I came to investigate a salad, you had me at nutella-stuffed and after this Taylor Swift comment: "Absolutely change the station and never purchase another one of her songs off iTunes again. Harsh Monday realities coming at you." I am yours forever more! Can't wait to try some new recipes this week, everything looks amazing!
Just found your blog today and I’m hooked. Can’t wait to try all of your delicious looking recipes! Check out my blog! Stayhungree.com
Looking for Quinoa recipes and came across your site. I made the Crunchy Cashew Thai Quinoa Salad today and it was delicious. The pictures draw you in and you want to make the recipe now. I plan to make the nutella cookies and the strawberry quinoa salad soon. Thanks for a great lunch!
Just found your blog today June 23rd and like what ive seen so far
Love your healthy and flavorful recipes! Thank you so much!
FYI… You have a typo in the last sentence of your "about": please send me an email me 🙂 I've recently discovered your site and I love it. Keep up the good work!
Monique – have you published a cook book? LOVE your recipes! thanks for sharing!
I found you through my girlfriend and my past 4-5 dinners and lunches have been from your website. I'm also so proud of myself when I make your recipes because they are very out of the norm and make me sound like an actual chef, not a 25 year old bachelor who learned to cook last year (my mother and grandmother, amazing cooks, have been getting recipes from me! – butternut squash and blackbean enchilladas). I love cooking, I LOVE your recipes and have spread the word through instagram and facebook, though my pictures never look as good as yours. Everything has been absolutely delicious, especially your goat cheese stuffed turkey meat balls and your black rice salad. I'm on here right now trying ot figure out lunch and dinner for the week! I'm also doing my best to stay away from those nutella cookies in fear of addiction.
Thanks and keep them coming! I don't want to run out and have to go find a subpar resource for recipes!
Hi Harrison! Thanks so much. 🙂
Just stumbled across your blog via a friend. LOVE IT. Can't wait to start trying these recipes out.
Random question – any remote chance you might be in Nashville, TN in the middle of October? We are looking for female bloggers to speak at the Nashville chapter of the Social Media Club. Like I say, totally random. Never hurts to ask.
Have an incredible 'last long weekend of the summer'!
Peace & good eats.
great blog! great pics & recipes! can’t wait to make the quinoa and cookies!
Monique, I’m here to tell you… you ROCK!! I have found so much inspiration in your recipes, can’t wait to try some more… But first, Confession Time: I got stuck on your dark chocolate chick pea blondies for about a month… I baked them 3 times in a row! When I wasn’t eating one, I was thinking about eating one, and when they weren’t waiting for me in the kitchen, I was thinking about when I was going to bake them next… does that mean I like food too much?? LOL But seriously, I love your blog and sense of humor, great recipes and beautiful photos… keep up the good work, sister!!
Your blog is one of my favorites!! I have already made so many of your recipes and they never disappoint. The Nutella stuffed cookies are life changing! So many more recipes to try!
I stopped by for the yummy protein pancakes but, am loving all the healthy recipes you have!! Love the pics and story!
I made the chickpea blondies the other day. I have to say, I am HOOKED! they are unbelievably amazing. thank you! 🙂
I just found your blog and would love to share some of your recipes with my Pampered Chef audience! Credit will of course go to you anytime I would share something. 🙂 I hope you had a good NYE and are enjoying Chicago while your here!
Hi Monique! I am a new fan of your block, would like to know whether you make lactose-free goodies too. THANKS !
I am not good with the blogging ,how can I follow you? Love reading your recipes. Thanks
Just found your blog via pinterest! as a fellow minneapolis blogger, it's so fun to find local blogs i love! 🙂 you write just how I think! haha! 🙂 thanks for sharing your amazing looking recipes! i'm off to try the crunchy cashew thai salad right now! -Leah http://www.treasureandheart.com
Great blog. Thanks for the wonderful recipes!
Monique, You are truly an inspiration to us all. Keep going!
Caitlin
Oh my! I am a Recipe Geek & already printed out 3 of your recipes (right after “googling” zucchini, cuz I had a random 1/2 cup frozen that I wanted out of my freezer!) I LOVE that you include nutrition facts, as I TRY to be faithful to my Weight Watchers program! Can’t wait to try many more of your recipes!!
I adore your photography! So happy I found your blog!
xo
Monique, I see that you’re a Ziplist partner. Now that Ziplist is discontinuing, you probably know that all Ziplist users need to transfer their saved recipes to another service, or they will lose them. I therefore hope that you will tell your visitors that Copy Me That will automatically transfer their Ziplist recipes into their Copy Me That recipe box. And Copy Me That is fully free 🙂
Copy Me That is recipe clipper, recipe box, shopping list, and meal planner, not to mention an awesome recipe community!
http://www.copymethat.com
I stumbled across your blog recently and I just adore it! Will definitely be a regular reader. I love *meeting* fellow Chicago bloggers. xo
Ahhh email me! I’m new to the city and would love to meet: ambitiouskitchen {at} gmail {dot} com
I just stumbled across your blog and absolutely love it! Great inspiration, delicious recipes and a very positive atmosphere, which I love even more. I will be definitely bookmarking your page and regularly coming back to gain extra inspiration for my blog! xx
I just stumbled across your blog and absolutely love it! Great inspiration, delicious recipes and a very positive atmosphere, which I love even more. I will be definitely bookmarking your page and regularly coming back to gain extra inspiration for my blog! – bodyofnaturenutrition.wordpress.com xx
Oh my gosh. A fellow Minnesotan, your name is also Monique, AND you’re teaching me how to cook? I’m obsessed. Thank you.
Found wour blog a while ago, follwed it and them ran out of time to look. Now I am back. I love your recipes and that I do not have to alter to make healthy. Nobody’s got time for that! I am at the gym daily and when I get home sometimes I am just exhausted to even make dinner. Poor husband. I got to get a move on to start losing more weight, and healthy eating will def help! I plan to keep following your blog and trying out your new recipes!
Gotta say I love !!!!!!!! Your blog have been following for a while now I have a family of 6 always hungry always cooking , your blog has changed the way we eat.
I would like to thankyou so much and will continue to be an avid follower!
Thankyou ! Helen in Canada
I am not sure how I found you but I am glad I did….so far am enjoying everything about it. I love your concept and i am sure you will be giving us some Latin salsa zest in the recipes. I will for sure surf your site and get some good old fashion recipes with a healthy twist!
Your recipes came up on facebook. I have a whole family that needs gluten free recipes. Thank you for your blog
I am actually quiet impressed – I’ve been following you for a while now and tried your vegan Quinoa Chili (best part the smoked Chipotle), your sweet potato breakfast burritos and the southwest pasta salad (only thing that did not turn out amazing) and really liked your recpies – especially for meal prepring for work! All the best and please continue what you do, Nele from Germany
Hi, I came across your site and am excited to start using it for your GF options. I made your coconut flour chocolate chip banana bread. It has a very moist consistency. Can you tell me if this is what I should expect from GF flour?
Hi Monique!! I came across your instagram page and then blog recently!! I am absolutely in love your style of writing, the layout of your blog and obviously the recipes! I made the GF chocolate chip cookies and my girlfriends and I LOVED them. This week I made the blueberry “sugar cookie” muffins as your husband called them and I totally agree haha! I plan to try out more recipes as I am very into health and fitness. I’ve also been wanting to start my own blog for a while now and your page is a great reference. I know your probably very busy but I would love to hear any advice you have to offer about beginning to blog 🙂 Thank you I will be visiting your page very soon!
HI!! I just found your blog through Instagram and I am officially OBSESSED! I am going to school right now to become a nutritionist and I plan on visiting your blog and using your recipes from here on out! Trying the banana protein muffins tonight 🙂
Love love love your site, you are GOALS!
It’s great that you can combine healthy eating but recognize that it’s ok to eat treats.
I hope to be able to one-day expand my blog from reviewing local restaurants to creating my own recipes. I’d love some feedback on my blog if you have a chance to look it over. Thanks!
http://www.spokaneeats.net
I was writing down your carrot cake banana bread with thick cinn cream cheese frosting and in the recipe it says to add the egg and egg white but in the ingredients it doesn’t mention the egg white. I need to know how much, thank you
A good many vaaulbles you’ve given me.
Always reseifhrng to hear a rational answer.
I have followed, loved and shared your blog for years. We love your recipes and your stories. Thank you for your honesty.
“The darkest nights produce the brightest stars”.
You are a bright star for us all?
How many cookies does 1 batch of the brown butter nutella stuffed chocolate chip cookies yield? I am making these for a party and need to figure out how many batches I should make. Thanks!
Approx 24-30
Hi Monique. I just found your post today for a vegan smoothie detox with kale, banana, strawberries, cucumbers, and almond milk. I added a scoop of protein in there as well and it tastes pretty good! Coming from the biggest picky, and junk food, eater there is.. I’m kind of sick of being overweight and constantly hating how I feel after eating. So i decided this morning I’m not eating anything anymore (half kidding 🙂 ). I found your smoothie a couple hours ago and went and grabbed the ingredients and here I am drinking it and commenting. The reason for my comment, besides praising your blended drink, is I was hoping you had more vegan smoothie ideas. I am the worst at this and I need more great tasting ideas that I won’t find myself having to force down- and then a week or 2 later, just despise it all together and go back to eating a couple snickers bars for lunch at work. I can’t. Feel free to reply back or email some recipes. Thank you so much for the post!
awwwwwwwww hope he catches up on his sleep but saves just a little time to spend with you – after all what a super card you created for him, he is one lucky lad as I am sure you are such a lucky ladyHugs and Best wishes for the dayKate xx
non je pense qu’ils assument bien ce hit, quand ils l’ont joué au Hellfest c’était la grosse fiesta dans le public. Ils en ont même fait une belle version acoustique sur le live "Allmost Unplugged".
When is your cookbook coming out??
I love your blog and recipes! Looking forward to trying many more!
Didn’t all those episodes of Star Trek where civilzations messed with their planets in this way and then had to live w/ the disasters it caused teach us anything?
So sorry Di. I re-read your posts and I had remembered your posts. Glad you and Mr. Romance have fond memories of your time in Chicago with Darlene and her husband. Hugs to you!
!I so wish people would realise we can speak for ourselves. I find the few autism parents I know in real life aren’t interested in anything I have to say, so the point of simply not engaging with me… as though I don’t exist. I can only think they might not accept their autistic child will grow into an autistic adult. Yet, I wish more than anything I’d been prepared for an autistic adulthood, rather than spending the first forty years of my life trying to be neurotypical.
When rail ridership increases, carbon emissions fall. When rail ridership increases, that’s more money not being spent on oil. When rail ridership increases, congestion on roads and at airports is reduced.Rail carries such a minuscule share of the total passenger volume that these increases have a negligible impact on emissions, oil consumption and congestion. Amtrak’s market share would have to grow enormously to have a significant impact on these things.
Thank you for making my life easier! The recipes are out of this world and satisfy my dietary changes while keeping my hubby’s taste buds happy. Your pictures are beautiful. Good wishes on your engagement to Tony. Long happy life to you both.
Thank you so much Lora! I’m glad you two have been loving the recipes 🙂
Hi,
Hope you are doing great well.
I am looking for some advertising opportunities and impressed with the quality of your blog ambitiouskitchen.com I was wondering if you allow Sponsored Posts and In-Content Text Link ad placement on your blog. Can you please let me know with the price you charge for per post and In-Content link placement?
Looking for your kind reply.
Best Regards,
Zainab
Your muffin recipes (so far that’s all I’ve tried) are awesome! Thanks so much for taking the time to put them up 🙂
I’m so glad you’re enjoying them! There will be many more to come 🙂
Hi Monique
Congratulations on your engagement and your upcoming wedding.
I’ve been following your blog for about a year now, I love your recipes and especially your granola bars.
I live on the tiny island of Bermuda, shopping here is very expensive and some items in your recipes are not easy to get. However that’s the price for living in paradise. Lol
Anyway thank you for the blog, and pleas keep those recipes coming, especially the one to help me lose weight. Many thanks
Hi Helen! Thanks so much for the kind note – living in Bermuda sounds incredible. I’ll keep the recipes coming, and hope you enjoy!
Find recipes with cal. listed so very helpful. Thank you.
Great site 👏🏻👏🏻
Sign me up to follow your post please!
You got it!
Just found your blog…Right up my alley… cannot wait to get new posts! I am an avid baker too but am always trying to make sweets and meals better for us and more nutritious. Thanks.
Welcome to Ambitious Kitchen! So glad you’re here — hope you find some sweets and meals that you love 🙂
I love your blog and just made your Banana bread with coconut flour. DELICIOUS!.
I have a favor. PLEASE, I have a vegan friend who has started my adventure to being most helpful. He is getting married November and we desperately need someone in Sacramento California to make a piecaken. this is a pie inside of a cake, for 29 people. Do you know of anyone? Our search is most failing.
Glad you love the banana bread, Marie! And unfortunately I don’t know anyone in Sacramento off the top of my head, but that piecaken sounds so interesting!
Hello Monique’.
First of all, I LOVE your name/ (LOL)
I am vegan, leaning towards a more plant based life style.
I’d like to know if any of your recipes cater to my taste buds?
Hi Monique – great name! You’ve come to the right place 🙂 Feel free to search “vegan” in the search bar on my site and you’ll find some delicious vegan options. Enjoy!
Just found your blog! I love the healthy recipes!
Looking forward to making the chocolate chip cookies with my grandsons.
Thanks for the beautiful pictures!
Keep well and stay healthy!
Luisa from Woodbridge, Ontario, Canada
Thanks for reading along, Luisa! I hope you enjoy these recipes (and the chocolate chip cookies with your grandsons!) Happy to have you here 🙂
I have been overly addicted to your Instagram and your blog for a while now, but I have never commented and it’s time ha! I absolutely love your recipes and following along watching the wedding planning and being happy for you and seeing all your blog posts, etc. One day I was like oh my god she makes so much all day I can’t believe she also works out and has everything going on, she never stops! That’s when I realized how perfect your blog name is!!! You are most definitely AMBITIOUS!!!! I share your passion for food and for working out and I just love your energy! So glad to have found this blog!
Aw thank you SO much Denise! This truly made my day 🙂 I’m so happy you’ve been following along – thank you for being part of the AK community!
Just the simple question , can I substitute coconut butter for almond butter In the cookie recipe above ?
Hi Monique
I’ve recently started to look at what we as a family eat, and are substituting unhealthy ingredients for healthier options! I love the idea of Coconut Flour but it scares me!! I also try to cook without sugar as much as possible so am going to have a good look through your recipes. I’m hoping to find a healthy apple muffin!! I’ve got this in the oven now so fingers crossed it turns out looking as good as yours!
Hi Sam! That’s wonderful! I have tons of coconut flour recipes on my site (you can check out a round-up of them here to start) – the directions will set you up for success 🙂 Try out this apple muffin, too! Enjoy!
A special cookie recipe development request:
I have a favorite cookie I get at a local bakery, but it’s made with the traditional wheat flour. I now know I have a gluten allergy, so I would like to figure out how to make the cookie gluten free (and also healthier). The cookie is a chocolate ginger cookie. It is chocolate, chewy cookie with chocolate chips, sugar dusting, and with ginger powder (could also add candied ginger bits). The cookie must be chewy and moist…no crumbling! Are you interested/willing to take on this challenge? I could send you a cookie if you’d like.
Hi Monique, thank you for sharing all of this. I love your recipes.
Hi Lorena! Thank you for reading along 🙂 Glad you’re enjoying the recipes!
Hi Monique, I stumbled across your blog after googling some ideas for butternut and lentil dishes – needless to say the Moroccan stew dish was absolute delicious. I’ve been trying a more vegetarian lifestyle and love anything with with spices; given my Indian descent perhaps I’m biased 😉 Anyways, you have an awesome blog and instagram, keep posting plz!! I posted a pic of the dish on my instagram as well; radhesen.
Hi Radhesen! Thanks so much for your note! I’m so glad you’ve been finding some delicious recipes here 🙂 Plenty more to come!
Do you have a cookbook that’s out- I remember on one of you insta stories you mentioned something unless I misheard.
Not yet! Hopefully in the future! 🙂
Hi Monique,
Discovered you looking up recipes with quinoa and made your pan roasted veggies with quinoa recipe- delish! Being that it’s lent, no meat on Fridays and besides that, I’m trying to do more vegetarian based meals (and attempting to convert a stubborn husband in the process!) Plan to check out the blog and more recipes! So jealous you got to quit your corporate job and blog.. maybe one day but I can’t cook that great so it would have to be something else haha!
Keep it coming!
Brenda
Hi Brenda! I’m so happy you found Ambitious Kitchen 🙂 I have tons of plant-based meals here that I love to eat weekly. If you need a place to start, check out all of these vegetarian recipes. Enjoy!
Hi Monique,
I just saw one of your salads in a friend’s post in Facebook, and I came to your blog to see more about health food ideas. Just loved your blog and the way you write. Aloha 😉
Hi Fatima! Thanks so much for your note – welcome to Ambitious Kitchen! I hope you find some yummy new recipes to try 🙂
I like what I see.
I would love to make your banana and carrot bread but I have a FRIEND who can,t eat nuts. .
You can leave the nuts out!
Hi Monique,
I just stumbled across your blog from an article about millennial foodies (from msn!). I clicked the link and am already hooked. I am super excited to try the Brussel sprouts recipes you have posted, as I am always trying to find new ways to cook those lil guys. Hope you’re having an awesome day!
-Kay
Hi Kay! Welcome to Ambitious Kitchen! So glad you found the blog 🙂 I’ve got some delicious brussels sprouts recipes (here’s a round-up). Have a great week!
Came across your blog when I googled “vegan eggs”. I own a non-profit for low income seniors and disabled and we do meals as well as activites. We have about 8 vegans/vegetarians and I never want them left out so meals are creative at times. If we make a beef meal we make an alternative chicken for those that don’t eat beef and of course for our vegetarian we make an alternate meal for them as well and now we have vegans coming too…….. it’s getting like a restaurant. I do have a vegetarian cook so that really helps. I’m finding desserts a nightmare for our vegetarians and vegan so am delighted to find a “vegan egg”. I have a health food store a few blocks away so will be going there to find the dry ingredients. I have discovered as well that most of the Duncan Hines cake mixes are Vegan!!! Also found a recipe for a cake mix and a can of pop, any flavour. lol I am going to try the devil’s food cake with an orange soda pop. Keeping my fingers crossed because now I have to find an icing for it too.
I found your website by chance when searching for a peanut butter, oatmeal, chocolate chip cookie recipe. While the cookies were baking (at least what was left of the dough after I ate multiple spoonfuls), I explored your blog. I’m very excited to try more recipes!! I am a fellow exercise enthusiast & go through possibly more peanut butter than a should. That being said, I think I just hit the jackpot!
Amazing!! So happy you found AK 🙂 Let me know what recipes you try – hope you love them!
So happy to have found this blog! All of your recipes look delicious, going to try and decide on a sweet treat to make for my meal prep this week! We’ll see how it goes! 🙂
Happy you’re here Courtney! Let me know what treats you try 🙂
Accidentally came across your website while looking for low-carb deserts for my partner. Everything I’ve tried has been a hit (and fun to make) – plus I love Monique’s approach to life and healthy living (being a bit of a gym rat and a certified peanut butter fanatic myself)!!
This is my new “go-to” place for recipes; thank you for being you and for sharing of yourself!!