Balsamic Collard Greens with Toasted Walnuts and Dried Apricots

     How fun are Collard Greens!!!???  Betcha have never been asked that question before !!!???  :0  This was a new food and new experience for me, and I thoroughly enjoyed it !!!  Food is Fun !!!  Each serving has 145 calories, 13g carbs, and 3.75g protein.

Ingredients~
1 Tablespoon EVOO
1 heaping teaspoon chopped jarred garlic
Dash of Cayenne Pepper
8oz diced Onion
2 Tablespoons chopped Walnuts
8 dried Apricots, diced
Tablespoon Balsamic Vinegar Glaze

     Wash Collard Greens and separate leaves from the stem, and let drain in colander, don't worry about drying leaves, as it is ok to have some moisture on the leaves when cooking in the skillet.  Heat EVOO in skillet, then add Onion and Garlic til lightly browned.  Add dash Cayenne Pepper, and then add Walnuts to heat thru for 3-4 minutes stirring often, being careful not to burn.  Add leaves to skillet and cook down to wilted stage.  Stir while wilting, then add chopped Apricots and drizzle with Balsamic Glaze.  Enjoy  ;)

Blueberry Mango Protein Parfait

     I used to not be a big fan of Mango, but then we went to Bangkok, Thialand and I had Sweet Coconut Rice with Mango and it was the best thing I've ever experienced .... now I'm diggin' on it !!!  ... especially after I learned how to cut it appropriately ..... HA  Anyhoo, I was thinking of how to combine Yogurt, Almonds, Blueberries and Mango and came up with this fun little Parfait, hope you enjoy it as much as I did !!!  Macros are 224 calories, 23g carbs and 25g protein, I'll take that !!!  ;)

Ingredients~
3oz diced fresh Mango
2 Tablespoons Vanilla Ice Cream Whey Better Protein Powder
5.3oz Dannon Vanilla Greek Light&Fit Yogurt
2 Tablespoons fresh Blueberries
6 Almonds, diced ( I diced with my Pampered Chef Chopper)
Strawberry for garnish, if desired

     Put the diced Mango in bottom of Parfait glass.  Mix the Protein Powder and Yogurt and place half the yogurt mixture on top of the Mango, then put the Blueberries on top of that, and finish with last layer with remainder of Protein Yogurt mixture.  Top with diced Almonds and garnish with a fresh Strawberry if desired.  Enjoy  ;)

Chocolate Peanut Butter Frosted Bacon Toast

     Wanna wake up to a happy treat in the morning !?  Check this out and have frosting every morning for breakfast !!!  Two generous servings total 206.5 calories, 5g carbs, and 28.7g protein, awesome stats for frosting, dontcha think!?  ;)

Ingredients~
2 Thin slices Rice Protein Bread ( refer to my Blog for the recipe for the Rice Protein Bread)
1 slice cooked Turkey Bacon, cut in two equal portions
1 Tablespoon PB2
1 Tablespoon Chocolate Milkshake Protein Powder
1 Tablespoon unsweetened Dark Cocoa Powder
1 Tablespoon unsweetened Chocolate Almond Milk ( 45 cal/cup)
1 packet Truvia

     Toast your 2 slices of bread in toaster.  Meanwhile, mix together PB2, Protein Powder, Cocoa Powder, Truvia and Almond Milk and spread on cooled toast.  Top each slice with Bacon slice halves.  Enjoy  ;)

Rice Protein Bread

     Once again, I saw a Protein Bread recipe on Andrea's Protein Cakery I just had to try out!!! (www.proteincakery.com)   Her recipe calls for unflavored Pea Protein, but all I had on hand was Rice Protein, so I decided to experiment with what I had on hand.  I think it turned out pretty good.  This is definitely not Balducci's bread basket in NYC, ... BUT ... it serves its purpose and isn't too bad toasted or topped with Peanut Butter.  It is what it is, and that is a combination of eggs, protein powder, and psyllium!!!  Very high protein, low carb and high fiber, so it works for my purpose of holding things !!!  ;)  An 1/8 of the loaf is 107 calories, 1.25g carbs, and 17.75g protein.

Ingredients~
2 cups plus 3 Tablespoons liquid Egg Whites
1/2 cup Whole Husk Psyllium
1 cup plain Rice Protein

     Mix all together, let sit for 15 minutes to thicken and pour into parchment lined loaf pan.  Bake at 325 for 60 minutes, or til firm to the touch.  I'm used to rubbing my homemade bread with butter fresh out of the oven, but with this I sprayed it with a few spritz's of Spray Butter, as an option.  Let cool and Enjoy  ;)  PS  Store in the frig after cutting.

Salmon Bacon Mango Salad with Blueberry Vinegrette

     By the end of the week, I have several stray ingredients that need a home .... sooooo, whats a girl to do but get creative !!!  Tonight I was able to throw together some lingering left overs in the frig and it came together beautifully !!!  The salad dressing I made was for two salads, so each serving is 143.5 calories, 9g carbs and .6g protein.  The next time its the end of the week, try looking in the frig and see what you can come up with if you put your "noodle" to it !!!  ;)

Ingredients for Salad~
Bed of fresh Greens~ Kale, Romaine, Baby Spinach Leaves, Red Bell Pepper, Baby Carrots, Green Onion
Turkey Bacon ( Hot Tip !!!  Go to the Meat Dept. at Fresh Market and they carry this in the Meat Case !!!)
Grilled Salmon
Sliced fresh Mango

Ingredients for Salad Dressing
1/2 cup fresh Blueberries, blended in Magic Bullet
2 Tablespoons EVOO
2 Tablespoons Lemon Juice
1 teaspoon Capers
Dash Salt
Dash Pepper
1 packet Truvia

     Lay mixed greens on 2 Salad Plates, top each with cooked Turkey Bacon, then add grilled Salmon, and top with Mango slices.  Meanwhile, mix together all Salad Dressing ingredients and pour half on top of each salad.  Enjoy  ;)

Date Almond Chocolate Chip Cookies

     I had the special treat of a leisurely morning combined with some chopped Dates and freshly ground Almond Meal that were calling my name !!!  So what started as a small single person cookie turned into an entire batch of yumminess to share with others !!!  ... and when things got out of control I had no choice but to throw in some Carob Chips as the perfect finishing touch !!! ( I was a good girl and only ate two) This batch made 16-2 inch cookies, and each cookie has 43 calories, 3.38g carbs, and 4.5g protein.  Enjoy guilt free  ;)

Ingredients~
1/2 cup plus 3 Tablespoons liquid Egg Whites
3oz Fuji Apple diced
Dash Vanilla
2 Tablespoons fresh ground Almond Meal ( simply grind Almonds in your Magic Bullet til meal like)
2 Tablespoons Whole Husk Psyllium
1/2 cup Whey Better Vanilla Ice Cream Protein Powder
2 Tablespoons Coconut Flour
1/2 teaspoon Baking Powder
Dash Salt
Dash Cinnamon
1/4 cup chopped Dates
1 Tablespoon Grain Sweetened Organic Carob Chips

     In Magic Bullet, blend Apple, Egg Whites and Vanilla til liquid and smooth, set aside.  Combine the rest of the ingredients in a bowl and pour the liquid mixture on top and stir to combine.  Let rest 15 minutes to thicken.  Drop by rounded teaspoon onto Silpat lined Cookie Sheet, should yield 16 cookies.  Bake at 325 for 12 minutes.  I hope you love the combining of Dates, Chocolate and Almonds as much as I do!  Enjoy  ;)

   

Southwest Grilled Lime Chicken Salad

     I love when I can start throwing things in a bowl and it all turns out right with the world !!!  And this salad kept growing and growing, ... so this has turned out to be a GREAT dish for a large crowd, ... or for a couple nights of left overs !!!  HA  Anyhoo, you can't beat all the healthy ingredients and how the flavors blend, I think you should put this on next weeks menu and let your family try it out !!!  The calories are hard to determine, BUT.... you can have 8 HUGE  portions for 347 calories, 19g carbs, and 25.5g protein.  If you want to make this into 10-12 servings then obviously the calorie count will go down.  I served these in Butter Cup Lettuce Leaves and topped with a little Salsa, but you could also make a wrap out of it as well.  However you end up having it, you won't be disappointed  ;)

Ingredients~
Juice of one Lime ( about a 1/3 cup)
1/3 cup Vegenaise
2 Avocados, chopped ( about 1 3/4cup)
1 pound Tomatoes, diced ( drain on paper towels if you have the time)
4 cups Grilled Chicken, diced ( this was 3 large breasts for me)
1 cup Cilantro Leaves
1/2 cup sliced Green Onions
8oz Orange Bell Pepper, diced
15oz Black Beans, drained
8.75oz Corn, drained

     Squeeze the juice from one lime, set aside.  Chop Avocado and gently toss with 1 Tablespoon of the Lime Juice, set aside. Mix the remainder of the Lime Juice and Vegenaise together and set aside.  Meanwhile, combine the remaining ingredients and stir together in large mixing bowl, top with Dressing and stir in.  Then GENTLY fold in the Avocado and serve on a Butter Cup Lettuce Leaf and top with Salsa or serve as a Wrap, or over Rice.  Chill any leftovers and Enjoy !!!  :)