Memorial Day Cream Cheese Brownies

     With Memorial Day celebrations getting under way, I had no choice but to join the party (my people need me ...I'm fun), ...BUT... I gotta do it "my way"...#operationsuccess   My friend, Elizabeth, and I challenged each other to a sugar free holiday...my ace in the hole is my Protein Powder Baking ...(that goof ball just relies on inner strength...that's so last year, eyeroll followed by hairflip).  My Memorial Day Cream Cheese Brownies were an outrageous winner (my hubby even said they almost taste like the real thing...I'll take it).  AND, each of the 9 large Brownies are only 105 calories, 3.2g net carbs and 7g protein.  Sugar free smiles all the way around this Memorial Day ;)

Ingredients for 9 large Memorial Day Cream Cheese Brownies~
1 Tablespoon Nutiva Buttery Coconut Oil, melted
1 jumbo Egg
1 scoop Quest Chocolate Milkshake Protein Powder
1/2 cup 30 cal/cup Blue Diamond Almond Breeze
1/3 cup Swerve Granular Erythritol
1/4 cup Cocoa Powder ( I used Shiloh Farms)
2 Tablespoon Nutiva Coconut Flour
1 teaspoon Baking Powder
Dash Cinnamon
Dash Vanilla
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
4oz Greek Yogurt Cream Cheese, softened
2 Tablespoons Peanut Butter
1/4 cup Swerve Confectioners Erythritol
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
1 Tablespoon Lily's Stevia Sweetened Dark Chocolate Chips

     Mix all ingredients in first group til well incorporated, pour into parchment lined 8X8 and bake at 350 for 15 minutes.  Be careful to not over bake any protein powder product as it will continue to cook after removing from oven and can be very drying.  Meanwhile, stir together second set of ingredients til smooth and frost on cooled brownies, and top with Chocolate Chips.  Enjoy  :)

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

Lemon Pound Cake

     If you ask me why I have been on a Lemon kick lately, my honest answer is I have no idea... and then I would add, just be grateful and don't ask so many questions...This happens with Peanut Butter as well, I get in a mood and it's all I can think about... right up until I don't....then it's onto my new flavor of the week...don't act like you don't know what I'm talkin' bout... Like in Middle School when I loved Charlie that one week til he loved me back and then I thought Bobby was cuter..."sorry Charlie"...I digress ...Back to Lemons, and Lemon Pound Cake in particular, this sweet tangy creation turned out so spectacular it might cause flavor monogamy.  The macro's are definitely a pro in the pro/con game of love, each of the 4 LARGE servings are only 112 calories, 3.2g net carbs and 11g protein.  Give this a whirl and see how long Lemon can hold your attention...  ;)

Ingredients for 4 large servings~

1 teaspoon Lemon Zest, set aside

1 Tablespoon Nutiva Buttery Coconut Oil, melted 

1 jumbo Egg

1 Lemon, ends trimmed and ground in Magic Bullet (use this Lemon to Zest)

1 scoop + 1 Tablespoon Quest Salted Caramel Protein Powder 

1/3 cup Swerve Granular Erythritol

1/4 cup Betterbody Foods Coconut Flour 

1 teaspoon Baking Powder

Nielsen Massey Lemon Extract

1 Tablespoon Blue Diamond 30 cal/cup Almond Milk

Yellow Sprinkles, for garnish if desired (not included in macros)

After Zesting a teaspoon of Zest from Lemon, set aside.  Stir together Coconut Oil, Egg, Lemon that has had ends trimmed, sliced and de seeded and ground in Magic Bullet, 1 scoop of Protein Powder, Erythritol, Coconut Flour, Baking Powder, and Lemon Extract.  Pour into parchment lined loaf pan and bake at 350 for 18 minutes.  Meanwhile, stir together remaining Tablespoon Protein Powder and Almond Milk til smooth, chill in fridge.  Remove Cake from oven and cool, when cooled add glaze to baggie, snip corner and drizzle over Pound Cake, sprinkle with Lemon Zest and Yellow Sprinkles if desired (Sprinkles not included in macros).  Enjoy  :)

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

Chocolate Chips for Love Birds

     Do you ever get a hankering for just one cookie after dinner!? ...you should be ashamed of yourself, ...why want one when you can want two and share the other with your Love Bird...   And if you don't have a Love Bird, eat them both... you deserve it!  These are so healthy, they won't affect your waistline, each cookie is only 82 calories, 1.4g net carbs and 3.7g protein.  These will keep you perfectly trim while looking for your next Love Bird after that last idiot flew the coop, ...just sayin'...

Ingredients for 2 hearty cookies~
2 teaspoons Nutiva Buttery Coconut Oil, melted
3 Tablespoons Egg Whites
1 Tablespoon Nutiva Coconut Flour
2 Tablespoons Swerve Granular Erythritol
1/4 teaspoon Baking Powder
Dash Cinnamon
Dash Vanilla
2 teaspoons Lily's Stevia Sweetened Dark Chocolate Chips
Sprinkles, optinal

     Mix together and divide between two Pam coated Ramekins or Silpat lined cookie sheet, bake at 350 for 20 minutes or til golden brown.  Garnish with Sprinkles if desired (not included in macros). Have a good day my feathered friends  :)

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

Sweet Potato Lasagna

     Would you believe me if I told you that this was the best Lasagna I have EVER eaten!?  No!? ...weeellll, it's pretty darn close!  Gluten free, health filled and flavor that is out of this world.  Each of these 12 hearty pieces are only 173 calories, 13g net carbs and 16g protein.  I beg you to try this out the next time you get a hankering for Italian, you will not be disappointed!  I make no apologies for the long list of ingredients, my philosophy is the more the merrier...and this girl does what it takes to get the job done right! (and if you are a big whiner, just make the meat sauce a day ahead,... divide and conquer).  It's a winner all the way around  ;)

Ingredients for 12 hearty pieces~
1 pound Sweet Potatoes, thinly sliced
1 Tablespoons Nutiva Red Palm Oil
Dash Onion POWDER
Dash Garlic POWDER
1 Tablespoon Nutiva Buttery Coconut Oil
1 yellow Onion, diced
1 Tablespoon chopped Garlic
Dash Cayenne
8oz sliced fresh Mushrooms
1 pound ground 99% Lean Turkey
Dash Italian Seasoning
14oz Garlic&Basil Pasta Sauce
2 cans drained 14.5oz Petite Diced Tomatoes
2 large Eggs
1/2 cup low fat Cottage Cheese
1 cup Baby Spinach Leaves
1/3 cup shredded Parmesan
1/2 cup shredded Mozzarella
Cilantro for garnish as desired
Diced Red Bell Pepper for garnish as desired

     Add melted Red Palm Oil and sliced Sweet Potato to gallon zip lock bag and mix til potatoes entirely coated, lay in single layer on foil lined cookie sheet (may take 2 cookie sheets), sprinkle with Onion and Garlic powder and bake at 450 for 10 minutes, then remove and flip over and bake another 10 minutes.  Meanwhile, heat Buttery Coconut Oil in skillet with diced Onion, Garlic and Cayenne til golden brown, then add sliced Mushrooms til cooked thru, then add ground Turkey and brown (this Turkey is so lean, there will be no fat to drain).  Lastly, stir in Italian Seasonings, Pasta Sauce and drained Tomatoes, set aside (if time is an issue, cook the meat sauce a day ahead).  In separate bowl, stir together Eggs and Cottage Cheese.  Spray 9X13 with Pam or line with Parchment Paper, line bottom layer with half of the roasted Sweet Potato slices, add half of meat mixture, half of Cottage Cheese mixture, 1/2 Spinach Leaves, and 1/2 Parmesan, repeat all the layers and then top with Mozzarella, cover with aluminum foil and bake at 375 for 45 minutes.  Remove, garnish with Cilantro and diced fresh Red Bell Pepper.  Enjoy  :)

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

Frosted Blackberry Pancakes

     Dontcha just love Berry Season!?  The world of possibilities are wide open.  I lay in bed at night and dream of new pairings.  Lucky for you I came up with a winner in my Frosted Blackberry Pancakes.  All this beauty and flavor for only 387 calories, 15g net carbs and FIFTY EIGHT grams of protein...Popeye would be eating this every morning if he didn't love spinach so darn much!  Get your strong on and enjoy this amazing breakfast!  :)

Ingredients for a large stack of Frosted Blackberry Pancakes~
1 scoop ABS Vanilla Cake Batter Protein Pancake Powder
1/3 cup Egg Whites
1/3 cup 30 cal/cup Blue Diamond Almond Breeze
3oz Blackberries
7oz 2% Fage Greek Yogurt
1/4 cup Swerve Confectioners Erythritol

     Mix together Protein Pancake Powder, Egg Whites and Almond Milk til smooth, stir in half of Blackberries, cutting Berries in half if too large.  Add 1/4 cup batter to Pam sprayed hot skillet, cooking both sides til golden brown, repeat with remaining batter.  Will yield 4 pancakes.  Meanwhile stir together Yogurt and Confectioners til fully incorporated, and frost each cooled pancake making sure to cover the sides and stack on top of one another, garnish top with remaining Blackberries.  Enjoy  :)

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

Mini Chocolate Chip Cake Ala' Mode

     So I was in a hurry the other morning but trying to soothe a strong sugar hankering all the while attempting to avoid that satanic white powder....(sugar people, I'm talking about sugar...)  I threw together 4 ingredients and decided to call it good.  If you are in a hurry and want a simple single serving Chocolate Chip Cake then try it and see what you think!  And, as a bonus, throw on a scoop of my FAVORITE deliciously healthy Ice Cream, Halo Top, all for 400 calories, 6.7g net carbs and 32.3g   protein.  And if you think this is too big for a single serving, then share...duh!  :)

One serving Mini Chocolate Chip Cake Ala' Mode~
1 Tablespoon Coconut Oil, melted
1 large Egg
1 scoop Quest Salted Caramel Protein Powder
1 Tablespoon Lily's Stevia Sweetened Dark Chocolate Chips
1 teaspoon Almond Milk
1 teaspoon chopped Pecans
1/4 cup scoop of Vanilla Halo Top Ice Cream

     Mix together, Coconut Oil, Egg, Protein Powder and the Chocolate Chips but reserve 1 teaspoon of the Tablespoon of Chocolate Chips and pour batter into Pam sprayed Tart Muffin Tin.  Bake at 350 for 8-10 minutes making sure to not over bake as Protein Powder baking can tend to be drying and will continue to cook as cake cools.  Add remaining teaspoon Chocolate Chips and Almond Milk to bowl and microwave for 15 seconds and stir til smooth, add to zip lock baggie and snip corner and drizzle over Cake and Ice Cream, after adding Ice Cream to Cake.  Finally, garnish with chopped Pecans.  Enjoy  :)

Ips Chips

     Experts are convinced that happiness leads to better health, and summertime is the perfect opportunity to relish in long, warm days and more time spent with family and friends.  This summer, Ips Snacks (www.ipsallnatural.com) offers crunchy, salty snacks made with 5-7g of protein per serving, to provide sharable snacks and support beach bodies.  Ips Chips are gluten-free and made with whey protein and Non-GMO corn to keep stomachs full (but flat!).  Ips Snacks provide summertime satisfaction with delicious chips and tips for maximizing happiness, healthfully.
     It should come as no surprise that good food also increases happiness.  While Summer fruits and vegetables are plentiful, savory snacks take the cake.  Snacks by the pool and at summer BBQ's are most convenient when non-perishable and pack a flavorful punch.  With Ips Chips varieties ranging from Sea Salt and Black Pepper (perfect for a day at the beach), White Cheddar, and BBQ to Cinnamon (a sweet and salty trail mix option), snacks can still be creative and will always be delicious.
     When on road trips or in foreign cities, it can be tempting to ditch healthy eating habits but nobody enjoys being weighed down by fattening foods.  Nutritious snacks can prevent over-indulgence and allow families to enjoy vacation activities all day long.  At just $1.79 per bag, Ips Snacks may be the most cost-effective way of keeping families fueled-not feuding.
     Shape up this summer with my favorite tip of crushing a few chips on top of your favorite salad.  Any way you consume them, enjoy these guilt free, protein packed chips as part of a healthy, fitness fueling snack 7 days a week... and twice on Sunday!  Ips Snacks are sold in grocery stores and wellness retailers nationwide including Whole Foods Market, Mollie Stone's, GNC, Vitamin Shoppe, and many others, as well as online thru Amazon.com.

   

   

Chocolate Pistaschio Pie

     On a cold dreary cloudy drizzly morning I figured the only way to beckon the sun was to whip out a Chocolate Pistachio Pie...soooo,errr....that didn't end up happening after all, it was totally miserable all day long..and apparently Mother Nature is the only thing that controls that big burning ball that provides light...but I was filled with sunshine on the inside (...btw, that internal sunshine was happily cohabitating with the pie in my belly :0)  To further my bliss, each of the 8 pieces are only 164 calories, 5.4g net carbs and 18.3g protein.  Come rain or come sun, Chocolate Pistachio Pie is a winner for all seasons  ;)

Ingredients for 8 slices~
2 Chocolate Peanut Butter Quest Protein Bars
12.3oz Mori Nu Silken Extra Firm Tofu
1 medium Avocado, approx 4.5oz flesh, skinned and seeded
2 scoops Quest Chocolate Milkshake Protein Powder
1/2 cup plus 1/4 cup Swerve Confectioners Erythritol
1/4 cup Black Cocoa
2 Tablespoons Kroger Greek Yogurt Cream Cheese
7oz 2% Fage Greek Yogurt
2 Tablespoons (3/8oz) chopped Pistachios

     Unwrap both Protein Bars, microwave one at a time for 15 seconds and pat each into half of Pam sprayed pie plate, after doing both Bars, bake empty pie shell in oven at 325 for 5 minutes.  Meanwhile, blend together Tofu, Avocado, Protein Powder, 1/2 cup Confectioners Erythritol, and Black Cocoa and chill til ready to spoon in cooled crust.  Next, stir together 1/4 cup Confectioners Erythritol, Cream Cheese and Yogurt til smooth and frost filled shell with mixture.  Top with chopped Pistachios.  Store left overs in fridge, Enjoy  :)

Curry Shrimp Jackfruit

     I was so excited to have the privilege to try out the many flavors of Jackfruit.  Thank you Mr Jackfruit for spoiling a girl!  I couldn't wait to get my hands on the Curry (aromatic spices combined for authentic South Indian flavor), and I think it turned out splendid.  Did you know that Jackfruit, a green spikey fruit, is the largest tree-borne fruit in the world, growing over 100 pounds in size!?  Jackfruit is the newest darling in the meat-free main dish category.  This fabulous dinner is only 300 calories, 27g net carbs and 23g protein for each of the 6 servings.  How's that for having it all!?  :)

Ingredients for 6 servings~
1/2 cup Black Rice, prepared according to directions
1 Tablespoon Red Palm Oil
1 yellow Onion, diced
1 Tablespoon chopped Garlic
Dash Cayenne
1 pound chopped fresh Broccoli
1 pound raw fresh Shrimp
1 Red Bell Pepper, sliced
10oz Curry Jackfruit
15oz Garabanzo Beans, drained
Purple or Green Onions, for garnish as desired

     Prepare Black Rice according to directions.  Meanwhile, heat Red Palm Oil in skillet, add Onion, Garlic and Cayenne til golden brown.  Then add Broccoli til crisp tender, next add Shrimp and Red Bell Pepper til Shrimp is pink, then stir in Curry Jackfruit and Garbanzo Bean til heated thru.  Add mixture to perimeter of bowl and fill in the middle with cooked Black Rice, garnish with diced Green or Purple Onion.  Enjoy  :)

For 10 dollars off your first 30 dollar order at Vitacost.com click http://goo.gl/EvV7.

Sunflower Almond Cookies

     Riffling thru my cabinets I came across a bag of Sunflower Seeds and for some reason I found myself throwing a lot of things into a bowl ending with a plate full of amazing cookies.  Does that happen to you too...or is it just me!?  ...don't answer that...  But, if you feel a little restless I think you should definitely give this one a try, I thoroughly enjoyed baking and EATING these hearty little spheres.  Each of the 12 ~1oz cookies are only 58 calories, 1.3g net carbs and 3.2g protein.  Nothing guilty about these treasures!  :)

Ingredients for 12~1oz cookies:
1 Tablespoon Coconut Oil, softenend
1 large Egg
1 scoop Quest Salted Caramel Protein Powder
1/3 cup 30 cal/cup Almond Milk, plus 1 Tablespoon
1/3 cup Swerve Granular Erythritol
1/4 cup Coconut Flour
1 teaspoon Baking Powder
Heavy dash Almond Extract
Dash Cinnamon
1/4 cup Sesame Seeds, plus 1 Tablespoon
1 square Lily's Premium Stevia Sweetened Dark Chocolate Baking Bar

     Stir together Coconut Oil, Egg, 1 scoop Protein Powder, 1/3 cup Almond Milk, Granular Erythritol, Coconut Flour, Baking Powder, Almond Extract, Cinnamon, and 1/4 cup Sesame Seeds til well blended.  Divide into 12 equal balls and place on Silpat lined cookie sheet, press slightly down and bake at 375 for 10 minutes.  They may seem under done but will continue to cook as they cool, trust me.  Meanwhile add extra Tablespoon Almond Milk and square of Chocolate to microwave for 12 seconds, stir to combine when melted while cookies are baking.  Once cookies are done and cooled, add chocolate to baggie, snip corner and drizzle on cookies, garnish wet chocolate with remaining Tablespoon of seeds.  Enjoy  :)