Saturday, December 20, 2014

No Bake Peanut Butter and Chocolate Cookies

These simple cookies are a huge hit with anyone. I've brought these to work, parties and many other events where everyone asks for this recipe. 



-Ingredients-
-3 cups quick oats
-1/2 cup butter
-1 3/4 cups white sugar
-1/2 cup milk
-4 tbsp cocoa powder
-1/2 cup peanut butter (heaping)
-1 tsp vanilla extract

-Directions-

Put the dry oats in a large mixing bowl and lay out wax paper on a counter. Combine sugar, milk, butter and cocoa in a large skillet with a whisk. Bring to a boil and cook for 1 1/2 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in peanut butter and vanilla.  


Pour over oats and mix with spatula. Spoon the batter onto the wax paper in whatever shape you desire. I typically choose pucks or balls. I also like to press chocolate chips into the cookies for an added texture. Let the cookies harden and cool before storing or presenting.

Saturday, February 1, 2014

Cheesy Picante Sauce Broccoli & Cauliflower

This is a great recipe for those trying to eat healthy but aren't feeling full from snacks and food limitations. This recipe really fills you up, feels great, tastes great and has many health benefits :] 



-Ingredients-
-Half a bag of broccoli cauliflower mix
-1/2 small zucchini sliced
-1/4cup 2% shredded sharp cheddar 
-1/8 cup 2% mozzarella 
-garlic powder
-red onion
-1/2 an avocado
-1/4 to 1/2 cup picante sauce by Pace


-Directions-

Throw the broc/caul/zucchini and a generous amount of garlic powder in a skillet with a thin layer of water at the bottom and put the lid on it while it steams for a few minutes. I had my heat on high for a little longer than 5min and they were perfect. 
-once they are soft, turn off the heat and add the cheeses and red onion to the pan and mix.
-throw it into a bowl and add the sliced avocado and picante sauce.

**Today I tried a new variation, took out the zucchini and added a scrambled egg white. It tasted great and the egg white adds more protein :]**




Use Sparkpeople and want to add this recipe to your nutrition tracker?
http://recipes.sparkpeople.com/recipe-detail.asp?recipe=2670895

Iced Soy Latte SF Hazelnut

I am a barista, and I LOVE coffee. I used to have a crazy sweet drink everyday for years, but once I became dedicated to eating well I decided to experiment and find a drink that doesn't cost me much. I have always preferred iced coffee over hot coffee. I think the espresso tastes better that way. I discovered an iced soy latte with sugar free hazelnut. It's the perfect amount of sweet and creamy for me and you only have to consider the soy milk in a nutritional tracker. Espresso and SF flavors have barely anything to them when it comes to calories, carbs, fat, so soy is the only major factor :]


-Ingredients-


-You can either order this at your favorite coffee shop: 12oz (tall) iced soy latte with sugar free hazelnut and one shot of espresso.
-Or! If you have a personal espresso machine at home you can make a shot of espresso and add it to one cup of soy milk and about 2 tbsp of sugar free hazelnut flavoring.

Thinking about buying a personal espresso machine? Here's mine: 
http://www.amazon.com/Mr-Coffee-ECM160-Espresso-Machine/dp/B000U6BSI2 

Want sugar free hazelnut syrup for less than $4 a bottle? Find your nearest Cash & Carry store. They supply small businesses with great products, including a whole isle of syrup flavors. 


Friday, January 31, 2014

Creamy Cauliflower Sauce

It's been a while since I have had a chance to add some great recipes. School has been incredibly intensive this quarter but I am finally back on track with eating well and working out everyday :] It feels fantastic. Tonight I tried a recipe I have attempted before and it wasn't very successful the first time, but this time it far exceeded my expectations. This creamy cauliflower sauce is hearty, a touch spicy, healthy and delicious.


This recipe relies heavily on two other blogs that provided me with the ranch herb mixture and the base for the cauliflower sauce.
For the ranch herb mix: http://wellnessmama.com/4430/14-homemade-spice-blends/
For the cauliflower base: http://pinchofyum.com/creamy-cauliflower-sauce


-Ingredients-
-3 cups low sodium chicken broth
-4 cups cauliflower florets
-1/2 a small avocado
-5 garlic cloves, minced
-Garlic powder
-Cayenne pepper (to taste)
-3-4 tsp ranch herb mix (see link to the recipe)
-Black pepper
-1 tbsp salted butter
-1/4 cup grated parmesan
-1/4 cup 2% mozzarella cheese

-Directions-
-In a big pot put the chicken broth and cauliflower in and bring to a boil, then let it cook and soften between 7-10 minutes.
-In a small frying pan, add the butter and minced garlic. Saute, but do not brown the garlic.
-In your blender (preferably one that can handle 6 or more cups) blend the avocado, with a sprinkling of garlic powder, until smooth.
-Once the cauliflower is fully cooked, transport it to the blender, straining away the broth, but add 1 cup of that broth to the blender and a dash of pepper.
-Puree the cauliflower and avocado until smooth, then add the buttered garlic.
-Return the sauce to a big pan and add the cheeses and ranch herbs and a touch of cayenne pepper.
-Stir until the cheese begins to get stringy.

Pair with your favorite thing to put sauce on. I chose noodles. Next time I will have it with broccoli. You could also have it on rice or quinoa.

If you are a SparkPeople user, go to this recipe to add it to your nutrition tracker :]
http://recipes.sparkpeople.com/recipe-detail.asp?recipe=2670483&ff=1

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Green Curry Chicken and Egg Salad

The Green Curry Simmer Sauce makes this chicken salad a touch spicy and very delicious. Each serving has 15g of protein and tastes amazing in a pita pocket with lots of spinach. I like to bring it to work for lunch and it keeps me going quite a while! 1 Serving= 3/4 cup



-Ingredients-

-2 chicken breasts
-1/2 cup Thai Green Curry Simmer Sauce (Trader Joes)
-3/4 cup Fat free mayo
-4 tbsp yellow mustard
-1/2 cup cut green onion
-1/2 cup diced red onion
-2 large pickles, diced
-3 hard boiled egg whites
-Pepper to taste
1 serving = 3/4 cup

-Directions-

-Cook the frozen chicken breasts in a skillet and slice into small chunks. Add the simmer sauce to the fully cooked chicken and let heat up.
-Place curried chicken in the fridge to cool while prepping the veggies.
-Dice the onions, pickles and egg whites and throw into a Tupperware container. 
-Mix the mayo and mustard together and add to the veggie mixture.
-Add the chicken to the mixture and stir well. 
-Sprinkle with pepper. 


Here was my lunch today :] 

Use Sparkpeople and want to add this recipe to your nutrition tracker?
http://recipes.sparkpeople.com/recipe-detail.asp?recipe=2666963