Zesty Quinoa Avocado Boats :]

These wonderful boats of joy feel so healthy and delicious going down! I will definitely be making many versions of them. It is so easy to substitute, add or remove any ingredient and it will always be delicious :D

-Ingredients-

-1/2 cup of cooked quinoa (cooled. I like to have a cup of cooked quinoa in the fridge most days)

-1/2 cup of corn (drained)

-1/2 can of black beans (rinsed)

-1/4 cup minced cilantro

-1/2 cup chopped red onion

-1/2 cup chopped green or red bell pepper

-1/2 cup cheese of your choice

-1.5 Tbsp taco seasoning 

-1 tsp garlic powder

-2 avocados

-Directions-

-To cook quinoa, for every cup of dry quinoa add two cups of water. Make sure you rinse quinoa in cold water before you cook it. Bring the quinoa and the water to a boil and then set to simmer for 15 minutes so it absorbs the water completely. For this recipe you'll want to stick it in the fridge until it cools down before mixing with the other ingredients. 

-Prep all vegetables and throw together into a bowl. Then add the cheese.

-Mix them with the taco seasoning and the garlic powder. 

-Add cooled quinoa to the mixture. (You may want to add more of the spices after)

-Cut avocados in half and hollow out a little bit to make room for the filling. Peel the skin off and then stuff overflowing with the quinoa mixture. 

-I like to serve the boats with salsa and lime chips :]

Homemade Caramel Sauce!

**Note: This recipe is far from healthy. It is crazy good, but definitely not meant to be an all the time thing.**

This is to die for. I make it specially for my coffee. I take it to work and turn it into an iced caramel Americano with soy for creamer. It makes coffee out of this world good. It also goes great as an ice cream topping, muffin and pie drizzle...and honestly just straight. :p

-Ingredients-

-1 cup of brown sugar, packed. I use light brown. 

-1/2 cup heavy cream. (Next, I am going to try hazelnut creamer and see what it is like)

-4 tbsp butter.

-pinch of salt. I like a generous pinch. 

-1 tbsp vanilla. (Yes, a full tablespoon!)

-Directions-

-In a medium saucepan on low-medium heat, add the butter, heavy cream, brown sugar and salt and let it cook about 5-7 minutes while stirring with a whisk. 

-Once it has thickened a bit, add the vanilla and cook another minute or so. 

-Turn off the stove and pour caramel sauce into a jar and place in the fridge to cool down. 

-Enjoy!

**Update! I tried using hazelnut creamer in addition to heavy cream. It is fantastic! Now I am going to try many variations to keep my caramel sauce ever-changing. I did 1 part hazelnut creamer to 2 parts heavy cream=1/2 cup total. 

Reduced Fat Banana Choc Chip Muffins

These are dangerous. I can eat a whole batch in a day, which totally defeats the purpose haha.

-Ingredients-

-3 overly ripe bananas

-3/4 cup white sugar

-1 egg

-1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce (instead of butter!)

-1 tsp baking soda

-1 tsp baking powder

-1/2 tsp salt

-1 1/2 cup flour

-Directions-

-Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

-Mash the bananas well in a large mixing bowl.

-add the sugar and egg while continuing to mix.

-add the applesauce and then slowly begin to add in the dry ingredients, letting the batter build up.

-mix in the chocolate chips! (best part)

-distribute into muffin tins and bake for 18-20 minutes.

Whipped Pumpkin Dip

I love this thick and rich dip on cinnamon graham crackers. It is a great fall treat!

-Ingredients-

-1 (15oz) can libby's pumpkin pie

-1 (3.4oz) box of french vanilla instant pudding. The SF kind even tastes good in this.

-1 8oz tub of cool whip light or fat free

-1/4 cup of brown sugar

-Directions-

-Mix everything but the cool whip and then fold the cool whip in. 

Easy and beyond delicious!

Chocolate Mousse!

Do you like to be daring and adventurous with your food? This recipe asks people to step out of their comfort zone and happily surprises them with delicious creamy rich chocolate. Don't let a little tofu scare ya ;]

-Ingredients-

-12.3oz silken or firm tofu (Mori-Nu lite leaves no aftertaste!)

-1 tsp cocoa powder

-1 tsp vanilla extract

-2 tbsp milk of your choice

-1/8 tsp salt

-1 1/3 cup chocolate chips

-2-3 tbsp agave syrup

-crust is optional if you want it to be like a pie. I would try graham cracker :]

-Directions-

-melt chocolate in pan.

-throw everything into a blender until smooth.

-pour into a crust or dish! Yep, it's that easy!

Credit: http://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/2011/09/06/the-ultimate-chocolate-fudge-pie/

Cheesy Quinoa Bites

These delicious patties of goodness are very filling and fun to make! When I dip them in marinara sauce and add chunks of creamy avocado it reminds me of eating...bread sticks actually. So for you gluten free rock stars out there missing the taste of yummy bread sticks, try this.

-Ingredients-

-2 cups of cooked quinoa

-2 large eggs

-1/2 cup chopped carrot

-1 cup sliced green onion

-1/4 tsp black pepper

-2 cloves garlic, minced

-1/2 cup parmesan

-2 tbsp flour (or red mill GF flour)

-1/2 tsp seasoning salt (I like Lawry's)

-Directions-

-Cook quinoa in vegetable broth or low sodium chicken broth. (always rinse quinoa thoroughly before use)

-Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

-mix together all ingredients except quinoa and stir until smooth.

-add cooked quinoa and mix until evenly distributed.

-in a mini muffin tin distribute batter so it fills each cup to the top.

-bake for 13-15 minutes.

Energy Balls!!

**Update: I am making these tomorrow morning and have been able to calculate the nutritional facts thanks to my SparkRecipe Calculator. I love that thing!**

If you love snack bars/energy bars or whatever you want to call them, then you will love this recipe. Everyone I have given a taste to has raved about how good they are. In fact...I'm eating one right now, haha!

-Ingredients-

-1 cup dry old fashion oatmeal

-1 cup dried cranberries

-1/2 cup ground flax seed
-1 scoop protein powder (mine has 25g protein per scoop and is chocolate flavored)

-1/3 cup honey

-1/2 cup peanut butter (heaping)

-1 tsp vanilla

-1/2 cup soynuts
-1/4 cup unsalted sunflower seeds
-You can change up the ingredients a lot! The nutrition facts will change, however. 

-Directions-

-Combine dry ingredients in a deep bowl.

-add peanut butter and mix well.

-add honey, mix.

-add vanilla, mix.

-roll into about 15 balls and place in Tupperware, then refrigerate.

-proceed to lick the honey/peanut butter mixture off your hands. 

Thank you Melissa Bender for this wonderful recipe! benderfitness.com