Maple Glazed Carrots

     I am going to be Bugs Bunny new favorite person after he gets a load of my new recipe!  Who knew Maple Glazed Carrots could have such a healthy twist!? But with Maple Pancake Sweet Spreads Coconutter all things are possible!  This is a perfect holiday dish, and not a "hare" too soon for Easter! #seewhatididthere  I hope Peter Cottontail stuffs all my Eggs with Maple Glazed Carrots, they are better than candy!!!  Macro's are better too, each 1/4 pound is 80 calories, 8g net carbs and 2g protein.  Hippidy Hoppity to the kitchen and try this one out for yourself  ;)

Ingredients for 4~
1 pound Baby Carrots
1 Tablespoon Maple Pancake Sweet Spreads Coconutter
2 Tablespoons Walden Farms Maple Pancake Syrup
Dash Maple Extract
Salt and Pepper to taste

     Steam fresh Carrots, or use microwave to steam Carrots in bowl with lose fitting lid on your vegetable setting in microwave safe bowl.  After Carrots have cooked, heat Maple Pancake Sweet Spreads til softened (about 15-20 seconds in microwave), then stir in Syrup and Extract til well blended and pour over Carrots til fully incorporated.  Season with Salt and Pepper.  Serve and Enjoy  ;)

For 10 dollars off your first 30 dollar order at Vitacost.com click http://goo.gl/jjEvV7.

Sour Cream and Onion Chicken

     Want super expeditious, nutritious and delicious chicken that will make you feel like you are cheating on your meal plan!?  Thanks to Quest, we have wonderful protein Multi Purpose baking powder and flavored Potato Chips that makes all things possible!  Hope you will give this a try at your next dinner and experience how fun chicken can be!!!  #makingchickenevenbetter

Ingredients for 6~
2 pounds boneless skinless Chicken Tenderloins
2 scoops Quest Multi Purpose Baking Protein Powder
1/2 cup grated Parmesan
Dash Garlic Powder
Dash Salt
Dash Pepper
1 jumbo Egg
1/4 cup Egg Whites
Spray Butter
1 Tablespoon Dried Onions
1 bag Quest Sour Cream & Onion, crushed

     Combine Multi Purpose Powder, Parmesan, Garlic, Salt and Pepper in gallon zip lock baggie.  Add Chicken Tenderloins in bag and shake til fully coated ( divide in two batches if necessary).  Remove Chicken Tenders and lay in foil lined cake pan, top with Spray Butter and sprinkle with Dried Onions and crushed Potato Chips.  Bake at 450 for 10 minutes, reduce heat to 375 and bake another 15 minutes.  Remove and Enjoy  :)

For 10 dollars off your first 30 dollar Vitacost.com order click http://goo.gl/jjEvV7.

Tex Mex Spaghetti Squash

     Spaghetti Squash is vastly becoming so versatile that why not push for a taco flair!? Hello Tex Mex Spaghetti Squash.  You will be amazed at how wonderful the strands take on any flavor you pair them with, so not surprising this turned out to be fabulous!!!  Spaghetti Squash is so easy to make, and even more simple to fill.  Use your imagination and create to your hearts desire, but for tonight it's a Fiesta!  Ole'  ;)

Ingredients for 6~
1 Spaghetti Squash, halved and seeded with strands removed
1 Tablespoon EVOO
1 Yellow Onion, diced
1 Tablespoon chopped jarred Garlic
Dash Cayenne
1 pound 99%  fat free ground Turkey
1 Taco spice packet
1/2 cup water
1 15oz can Black Beans, drained
Garnish with Cheddar Cheese, Roma Tomato, Salsa, Green Onion, Avocado, and Sour Cream

     Cut Squash in half length wise, scraping all seeds and strands, place face down in foil lined cake pan and bake at 375 for an hour.  Remove and let cool 10 minutes, flip and fluff strands from sides.  Meanwhile as Squash is baking, add EVOO to skillet and then add Onion, Garlic, and Cayenne til golden brown.  Add ground Turkey til cooked thru, drain fat and add Taco Packet, 1/2 cup water, and Black Beans~bring to low simmer til fully incorporated and juices boiled down.  Fill Squash boats with Taco Meat and then any of the Garnish that you desire.  Enjoy  ;)

Sweet Sticky Mango Coconut Rice

     Sticky Rice and Mango will forever hold a special place in my heart.  One Spring Break my daughters and I went to China and then onto Thialand.  While in Bangkok we had our first experience with this amazing treat.  So when ever I think of this dessert, I can not help but feel the taste of love and warmth that surround each and every bite. This time of year Whole Foods will get in one of the sweetest varieties of mangos, the Ataulfo (aht-ah-uhi-foe) only recently gained popularity in the United States.  It has a smooth, creamy flesh, a small thin pit and holds the title of many people's favorite variety of mango.  Scoot over Basketball, now there is mango madness in march too!!

Ingredients for 4~
1 cup Rice
1 cup Light Coconut Milk
1/2 cup Coconut Sugar
Dash Pink Himalayan Salt
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5.5oz Light Coconut Milk ( or remainder of 13.5oz can that is left from rice)
1/3 cup Coconut Sugar
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Ataulfo Mango, or standard Mango, peeled and sliced
Dash Hemp Seed, for garnish
Whipped Topping, for garnish

     Put all of first ingredients in rice cooker till finished cooking, or cook on stove top according to directions on rice package.  ( rice will be light brown due to the Coconut Sugar).  While rice is cooking simmer the remainder of the Coconut Milk and 1/3 cup Coconut Sugar til thickened and syrupy, approximately 20 minutes.  When Rice is finished, divide in bowls and top with Coconut Sugar Syrup, Hemp Seeds and Whipped Topping.  Garnish with sliced Mango and Enjoy  ;)

Parmigiano Reggiano Chicken Ceasar Cobb Salad

     Never have I ever tasted Parmesan Cheese like I did when the Hubs and I were visiting Parma, Italy.  But lucky for me Whole Foods gets beautiful wheels of Parmesan that has been hand tendered 24 months hailing from the Reggio Emelia county of Parma.  Each round carries proof of its authenticity.  During production, the future rind is impressed with the number of the "caseificio" or cheese house, production date, and pin dots forming the words "Parmigiano Reggiano".  The pin dots guarantee that the cheese was made under regulation of the Consorzio del Formaggio Parmigiano Reggiano, conforming to its stringent standards of quality.  Every bite confirms the aging process, and I couldn't be happier to take advantage of this fine art~won't you join me!?  :)

Ingredients for 2.5 cups of Ceasar Dressing~
Jumbo Egg
1 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1/2 cup shredded Parmigiano Reggiano
1 Tablespoon chopped jarred Garlic
1/2 cup Lemon Juice
2 Tablespoons Stone Ground Mustard
1 teaspoon Salt
1 teaspoon Pepper
1 Tablespoon Anchovy Paste

     Mix all together in Magic Bullet til fully blended, store in glass jar in fridge.  For 2 Tablespoons it is 113 calories, .3g carbs, and 1.4g protein.  Serve over a beautiful Chicken Ceasar Salad by layering~
Spinach
Romaine
Shredded Carrots
Diced Green Onions
Grilled Chicken
Turkey Bacon
Diced Roma Tomato
Shredded Parmigiano Reggiano
Sliced boiled Eggs
Avocado slices
Salt and Pepper

Disclaimer: I am a Whole Foods Market Blogger Ambassador and this post was inspired by their monthly themes and gift cards received to purchase ingredients for posts of my choosing. I am not compensated by Whole Foods Market for my blog posts and am free to post whatever I see fit to my own blog. 

Cookie Dough Cream Cheese Brownie Pie

     Cookie Dough Cream Cheese Brownie Pie!  Hello my love, thank you for coming into my life, please never leave me!!!  An 8th of this piece of heaven is only 220 calories, 12g net carbs and 24g protein.  We were meant to be together... and make cutest couple in class <3

Ingredients for 8 servings~
1/4 cup melted Coconut Oil
2 Extra Large Eggs
7.5oz baked, cooled, peeled, mashed Sweet Potato
1 scoop Quest Chocolate Milkshake Protein Powder
7oz Fage 2% Greek Yogurt
1/4 cup Cocoa Powder
2 Tablespoons Coconut Flour
1 teaspoon Baking Powder
Dash Cinnamon
Dash Vanilla
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1 Quest Cookie Dough Protein Bar, chopped into small bits
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4oz Cream Cheese, softened to room temperature
7oz Fage 2% Greek Yogurt
1 scoop Quest Vanilla Protein Powder
1/4 cup Lakanto Confectioners Monk Fruit~use code Paige20 for discount at checkout
Dash Vanilla
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Lily's Stevia Sweetened Dark Chocolate Premium  Baking Bar, for garnish

     Stir together all ingredients in first section, pour batter into Pam sprayed 9" Springform Pan and bake at 350 for 20 minutes.  Remove and sprinkle with Cookie Dough bits while still hot and gently pat down.  Put in fridge to chill.  Meanwhile, stir together frosting and spread on chilled pie, top with shaved chocolate curls by scraping chocolate square with fork tines, if desired.  Chill several hours or overnight~Enjoy  ;)

Parmesan Polenta French Fries

     Please stop, all the gasping admiration is embarrassing! :0  I literally had to stop myself from eating the whole batch of Parmesan Polenta French Fries!  Can you blame me!?  Of course just about anything dipped in Marinara Sauce can't be bad.  This makes four servings, each serving of French Fries only is 127.5 calories, 19g net carbs and 5.4g protein.  Choose your dip or go dipless, either way you can't go wrong!  Good luck stopping yourself from enjoying every single one  ;)

Ingredients for 4 servings~
4 cups water
1 cup Vitacost Tuscan Vegetable Polenta
1/4 cup shredded Parmesan
Marinara for dipping, if desired

     Bring 4 cups water to boil, whisk in Polenta slowly, reduce heat to simmer and stir til thickened, about 3 minutes.  Remove from heat and stir in Parmesan til fully incorporated, then pour into wax paper lined cake pan and chill over night in fridge.  When ready to bake, remove from fridge and slice into French Fries, top Polenta with Olive Oil Pam sprayed foil lined cookie sheet and invert onto cookie sheet.  Spread apart a bit and spray the top with Olive Oil Pam to coat thoroughly.  Bake at 450 for 40 minutes or til golden brown.  Remove and serve with Marinara sprinkled with Parmesan.  Enjoy  ;)

For 10 dollars off your first 30 dollar order at Vitacost.com click http://goo.gl/jjEvV7.

Frosted Strawberry Pancakes

     If you want to start your day right you will want to whip up a batch of Frosted Strawberry Pancakes!!! ( and don't share)  The macro's on this tall stack are outstanding at 316 calories, 8.4g net carbs and 42.6g protein!!!  Who needs Superman's Cape when you have Protein Pancakes!  Prepare to leap tall buildings with every bite... and don't be surprised when people say "I'll have what shes's having" ...  ;)

Ingredients~
1 scoop Earth Blends Vanilla Pea Protein Powder
1 teaspoon Cinnamon Roll Sweet Spreads Coconutter, melted
1/4 cup Lowfat Cottage Cheese
1/4 cup Egg Whites
1/4 cup diced Strawberries
1 teaspoon Baking Powder
Dash Salt
Dash Vanilla
Dash Cinnamon
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1 teaspoon Cinnamon Roll Sweet Spreads Coconutter, melted
1 Tablespoon Earth Blends Vanilla Pea Protein Powder
1 Tablespoon 25 cal/cup Cashew Milk
1 teaspoon Walden Farms Pancake Syrup
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1 diced medium Strawberry
Cool Whip for garnish, if desired

     Blend all batter ingredients in first grouping in Magic Bullet til fully combined. Drop by 1/4 cup batter onto Pam sprayed heated skillet til golden brown on each side.  Meanwhile, stir together the frosting ingredients, stack the pancakes then frost top pancake and sprinkle with diced Strawberries, garnish with cool whip if desired.  Enjoy  :)

For 10 dollars off your first 30 dollar order at Vitacost.com click http://goo.gl/jjEvV7.

Asparagus Cheddar Quiche

     If you are trying to go meatless for a few meals a week, I have a winner for you!  Asparagus Cheddar Quiche will knock your socks off, it's "EGGScellent"!!!  The macro's are super "EGGSciting" for an 8th of the Quiche it is only 165 calories, 7.7g net carbs and 20.4g protein. You can "EGGSpect" to want this again and again!  So scramble to read the recipe, and you will see how overly easy it is to whip up!  This one is "EGGStra" special  ;)

Ingredients for 8 servings~
1 Tablespoon EVOO
1 medium Yellow Onion
1 Tablespoon chopped jarred Garlic
Dash Cayenne
1/2 Red Bell Pepper, diced
1 cup Kale, torn to pieces
Dash Salt and Pepper
12oz Vegan Soy Protein Crumbles (sub with meat of choice)
1 scoop Quest Mulit Purpose Protein Powder (or sub with 1/4 Flour of choice)
Diced Roma Tomato
1 cup Egg Whites
1 cup diced Asparagus
2 Jumbo Eggs
1/2 cup shredded Cheddar
2 Green Onions, diced

     Heat EVOO in skillet, add Onion, Cayenne, and Garlic til golden brown.  Add Red Bell Pepper and Kale til crisp tender and softened, season with Salt and Pepper. Stir in Soy Crumbles til heated thru, then stir in Protein Powder til fully incorporated.  Finish by adding Tomato, Egg Whites, Asparagus, and Eggs~ stirring well and pour into greased pie pan.  Bake at 375 for 30 minutes.  Remove and sprinkle with Cheddar Cheese and Green Onions.  Serve with mixed fruit or salad~Enjoy  ;)

Baked Sweet Potato Hash

     If you want to experience floating to heaven while leaving your body, take a bite of this Baked Sweet Potato Hash for breakfast, lunch or dinner!  Then come back down to earth, finish this divine dish, and lick your plate clean!  Fill your soul with joy guilt free since this is only 216.5 calories,  17.5g net carbs, and 11.8g protein.  Amen brother  ;)

Ingredients~
1/2 teaspoon Nutiva Coconut Oil
3.5oz baked, chilled, skinless, diced Sweet Potato
1 Tablespoon chopped Onion
Dash Chili Powder
1/4 teaspoon chopped jarred Garlic
1 slice Turkey Bacon
1 Jumbo Egg
Pepper to Season

     Heat Coconut Oil in skillet, add diced Sweet Potato, Onion, Chili Powder and Garlic til cooked on all sides.  Meanwhile, microwave Turkey Bacon for one minute, set aside to cool and crumble. Remove Sweet Potato from skillet, set aside.  Spray skillet with Pam, add Egg to skillet and heat til done, add lid to steam thru.  Add cooked Sweet Potato to dish, top with fried Egg, sprinkle with Pepper and top with crumbled Bacon.  Enjoy  ;)

For 10 dollars off your first 30 dollar order at Vitacost.com click http://goo.gl/jjEvV7.  

Raspberry Lemonade Cheesecake

     I prefer to have my Lemonade in a Cheesecake, not from a kid manned stand in the front yard!  Even so, Lemonade holds a special place in my heart sending me straight back to my youth.  The handmade cardboard sign in the front yard reading, 15, 25 or 35 cents leaning against our card table topped with Kool-aid pitcher and 3 size of glasses.  We would sit out there all day and be lucky to clear a dollar, but we didn't care, it was great fun (not to mention we drank all the profits)! :0  Do you remember pouring a full CUP of sugar into that Kool-aid pitcher when you were a kid!?  Man that stuff was good, and now I understand why ... we were drinking SYRUP!!!  HA  All good things must end, ... or at least be modified.  I hope you will take a minute and think about your youth as you sink your teeth into this memory filled healthy dessert.  The best part is for an 8th of the Cheesecake it is only 181 calories, 10g net carbs and 16g protein (this does not cover the Raspberries or Cool Whip garnish).  Maybe being an adult is not so bad after all ;)

Ingredients for 8 pieces~
3~6oz Lemon Quark Yogurt
Juice of Small Lemon
1/3 cup Swerve Granular Erythritol
8oz Fat Free Cream Cheese, room temperature
1/4 cup Vanilla Cupcake Sweet Spreads Coconutter
2 Jumbo Eggs
1/4 cup Nutiva Coconut Flour
1 scoop Quest Vanilla Milkshake Protein Powder
Dash Vanilla
Dash Cinnamon
Raspberries for garnish
Spray Cool Whip, for garnish
Lemon Rind Curls, for garnish

     Mix all ingredients with beaters til smooth (except for Raspberries, Cool Whip and Lemon Rind Curls).  Pour into Pam sprayed 9" Springform pan and bake at 325 for 35 minutes.  Remove, sprinkle with Lemon Rind Curls, cool and serve with Raspberries and Cool Whip.  Enjoy  ;)

For 10 dollars off your first 30 dollar at Vitacost.com click http://goo.gl/jjEvV7.

Mint Sweet Spreads Fudge

     You will never look at fudge the same way again!!!  This Mint Sweet Spreads Fudge tastes exactly like the high fat high sugar brown stuff famous on Mackinac Island! :0  Those guys at Sweet Spreads really know how to whip out a Coconutter like no other, big thanks to them, my tummy is filled with gratitude!  You know those hours between 3-4 in the afternoon and 7-8 in the evening where you start prowling the kitchen for something to hit that sweet spot, whelp look no further, I have solved those pesky problems!  For 4 nice pieces (a 6th of the recipe) it is only 169 calories, 6g net carbs and 7.6g protein.  Send those cravings packing while feeling good about a satisfying snack 7 days a week... and twice on Sunday  ;)

Ingredients for 6 servings~
1/4 cup Dark Chocolate Mint Sweet Spreads Coconutter, melted
1/2 cup 25 cal/cup Silk unsweetened Cashew Milk
3 Tablespoons Nutiva Hemp Chocolate Protein Powder
1/4 cup Vitacost Cocoa Powder
2 Tablespoons Nutiva Coconut Flour
Double Chocolate Chunk Quest Bar, diced into small bits
1/4 cup Swerve Granular Erythritol
Heavy dash Mint Extract

     Stir all together and pour into wax paper lined loaf pan, chill in fridge til set.  Slice into 6 equal pieces, then divide each piece into four smaller pieces for one serving.  Enjoy  ;)

For 10 dollars off your first 30 dollar order at Vitacost.com click http://goo.gl/jjEvV7.