Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie

     Guys, I am just here to help, K!?  Just trust me, I know what I'm talking about!  If you have health goals, I have answers.  Each of the 8 slices of my Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie are only 234 calories, 10g net carbs and 18g protein.  If you love Chocolate and if you love Peanut Butter, this is a must try!  This melt in your mouth goodness will make you smile with every single bite!

Ingredients for 8 servings~
2 Quest Nutrition Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Bars, sub with favorite flavor
4oz Lily's Stevia Sweetened Dark Chocolate Premium Baking Bar, broken up~sub with Chips
1/2 cup 40 cal/cup Chocolate Almond Milk
16oz Extra Firm Tofu
7oz 2% Fage Greek Yogurt
1 cup Chocolate Peanut Butter Powder
1 Tablespoon sliced Almonds
1 Tablespoon Lily's Stevia Sweetened Dark Chocolate Chips

     Spray pie plate with Pam, unwrap Quest Bars and heat in microwave for 15 seconds, press each softened Protein Bars onto bottom of pie plate, covering bottom completely.  Bake at 350 for 5 minutes, remove and cool.  Meanwhile, add broken Chocolate Bar to microwave safe bowl along with Almond Milk for 30 seconds, stir til smooth, if not melted thoroughly then re heat in microwave another 30 seconds and stir again til completely smooth, set aside to cool.  Add Tofu, Greek Yogurt and Peanut Butter Powder to food processor til well combined and fully combined.  Then add melted Chocolate and continue to process til completely incorporated.  Pour into Pie Plate with cooled bottom, and top with Almonds and Chocolate Chips, chill til firm.  Enjoy  :)

Kaniwa Eggs

     Who has heard of Baby Quinoa, raise your hand!?  If you have, then you will be familiar with the word Kaniwa...if you haven't then you might think I'm speaking Swahili...but I ain't.  Kaniwa is my new obsession, it's the hot new healthy food showing up around town (and is from South America not Africa).  This little grain is lightly sweet and very versatile, lunch, dinner or even breakfast.  Try out my Kaniwa Eggs and decide for yourself which time of day you will be hankering for my fun new find!  Each of the 2 servings are only 270 calories, 15g net carbs and 12g protein!  :)

Ingredients for 2 servings~

1/4 cup Kaniwa

1 cup Water

2 jumbo Eggs

4oz Avocado, sliced

Cherry Tomato, as garnish if desired

Sriracha, as garnish if desired

Boil Kaniwa per directions, should yield 1 cup.  Put 1/2 cup in each bowl.  Meanwhile, fry 2 Jumbo Eggs in Pam sprayed skillet, cook as desired.  Put one Egg in each bowl, add sliced Avocados evenly to each bowl, garnish with Tomatoes and Sriracha.  Enjoy  :)                                                                                                                                           

Philly Cheesesteak Zucchini Boats

     I refuse to give up flavor to be thin.  And, who said you can't have it all...who ever "they" is, has it all wrong...nor have they tasted my Philly Cheesesteak Zucchini Boats.  High flavor, high fashion, and super macros.  Each of the 8 "Boats" are only 144 calories, 4.5g net carbs and 17g protein.  Time to sail to the kitchen and float away into the yummy sunset!

Ingredients for 8 servings~
4 medium/large Zucchini's
1 Tablespoon Olive Oil, plus extra for drizzling
Garlic Powder
Italian Seasoning
1 medium Onion, diced
1 Tablespoon chopped Garlic
Dash Cayenne
8oz fresh sliced Mushrooms
1 Green Bell Pepper, diced
1 pound thinly sliced Roast Beef, diced (I used Boar's Head from the Deli counter)
1oz Cheese, diced or shredded (I used a smoked Gouda)
Cherry Tomato, for garnish as desired

     Slice Zucchini length wise, use melon baller to scoop out inside pulp (save and use to saute in EVOO and Garlic to use as a side dish at another time), rub lightly in Olive Oil, sprinkle with Garlic Powder and Italian Seasoning, roast at 375 for 15 minutes, then high broil for another 5 minutes or starting to become lightly golden.  Meanwhile, add a Tablespoon Oil to skillet along with Onion, Garlic, and Cayenne til golden brown.  Add Mushrooms til cooked through, then add Green Peppers til crisp tender, stir in sliced/diced Beef til heated thru, add equally to empty Zucchini Boats, and sprinkle evenly with  Cheese, and put back in oven til Cheese is melted.  Garnish with Tomatoes as desired. Enjoy  :)

Double Chocolate Peanut Butter Brownies

     These may be my richest Brownies to date, and that is quite a statement... and I have the goods to back it up!  This is decadence at its finest!  Not to mention, each of these 9 hearty squares of deliciousness are only 173 calories, 7g net carbs and 20g protein.  And, the best news is these are super duper easy to whip up in a flash!  A real winner all the way around!

Ingredients for 9 large servings~
4 scoops Quest Chocolate Protein Powder
1 cup 25 cal/cup Cashew or Almond Milk
1 cup Lakanto Monk Fruit~use code Paige20 at checkout for discount
2/3 cup Cocoa
2/3 cup Pumpkin
1/2 cup 0% Fage Greek Yogurt
1/3 cup Lily's Stevia Sweetened Dark Chocolate Chips (reserve a few to sprinkle on top)
2 teaspoons Baking Powder
Dash Cinnamon
Dash Vanilla
1 Tablespoon chopped Pecans
1 cup plus 2 Tablespoons Peanut Butter Powder plus Water to reconstitute

     Mix all ingredients together, except for reserved Chocolate Chips, Pecans and Peanut Butter Powder.  Add batter to parchment paper lined 8X8 baking pan, top with reserved Chocolate Chips and Pecans, bake at 350 for 35-38 minutes.  Divide into 9 Brownies, when ready to eat each Brownie, add enough Water to 2 Tablespoons Peanut Butter Powder til desired consistency and add to top of Brownie.  Enjoy  :)

Chocolate Chip Zucchini Muffins

     Chances are you could use a little help in the kitchen...amiright!?  If this is the case, this is an easy one that you can easily enlist your children as slave labor (please don't send me hate mail...I am only partially kidding).  These Chocolate Chip Zucchini Muffins are so healthy, you will want your kids to be involved so they will have a greater desire to consume their artwork.  Each of these 12 super moist and delicious muffins are only 123 calories, 5g net carbs and 5g protein.  Time to start rounding up the troops!

Ingredients for 12 Muffins~
1 medium (6oz) Zucchini, grated into dish towel, ringing out excess liquid
1/2 cup Oats, ground into powder
1/2 cup Peanut Butter Powder
1/2 cup Pumpkin
1/2 cup Lakanto Monk Fruit~use code Paige20 for discount at checkout
1/4 cup Coconut Oil, melted
2 Extra Large Eggs, room temperature
1/4 cup Coconut Flour
1 teaspoon Baking Powder
Dash Cinnamon
Dash Vanilla
1/4 cup Chocolate Chips (I use Lily's Stevia Sweetened Chocolate Chips)
1 Tablespoon chopped Pecans

     Mix all ingredients til well blended, except for Pecans and reserve a few Chocolate Chips to sprinkle on top of Muffins.  Add batter equally to 12 Silpat lined muffin tins, top with Pecans and remaining reserved Chocolate Chips.  Bake at 350 for 25-28 minutes.  Enjoy  :)






   

Caramel Rocky Road Frozen Yogurt

Peanut Butter+Chocolate + Caramel= Heaven on Earth!  Need I say more !?   This is one of the best ice cream/yogurt combos I have come up with, ... I'm sure it has nothing to do with the Caramel or the Chocolate ...   Or the fact that each of the four servings are 233calories, 20g net carbs and 27g protein.... I can deal with that!  ;)

Ingredients~
2 Medjool Dates
2 Tablespoons Cashews
2 Tablespoons Reduced Fat Shredded Coconut
3~ 6oz 0% Fat Greek Fage Yogurt
1 scoop Quest Peanut Butter Protein Powder
2 Tablespoons Peanut Butter Powder
2 Tablespoon unsweetened Cocoa Powder
Dash Cinnamon
Dash Vanilla
1 Quest Caramel Chocolate Chunk Protein Bar, diced

     Soak Dates and Cashews in water for 30 minutes, drain and remove pits.  Place in Food Processor with Coconut, blend til Caramel consistency.  May need to add 1-2 Tablespoons of water for perfect consistency.  Add the remaining ingredients to 9X13 pan, stir and put in freezer, remove every 45 minutes and stir til desired consistency, I usually do this 3 or 4 times.  On last time, drop pieces of Caramel  and diced Protein Bar around yogurt and cut thru with a knife, and stir gently.  Serve and Enjoy !!!  ;)  Note:  I used a Cuisinart 2 Qt Frozen Yogurt-Sorbert & Ice Cream Maker, add Yogurt mixture to pre frozen Bowl and churn for 25 minutes, adding Caramel and Protein Bar bits during last few minutes.

Kaniwa Burger

     If a momma Qunioa and a daddy Quinoa had a baby they would name it Kaniwa...isn't that simply adorable!?  This little grain has many other nicknames including Quechua, Canahua, and Baby Quinoa (because it looks and tastes similar to its botanical relative: Quinoa).  Not only that, it cooks up with a crunchy texture and makes a nutrient rich, delicious super food.  Turn these into Burgers and you have a beautiful main course or side dish!  Each of the 9 servings are only 135 calories, 14g net carbs and 7g protein.  I can't wait for you to try this grain from Pereg, visit www.pereg-gourmet.com for more information and where to buy!  :)

Ingredients for 9 servings~
1/2 cup Kaniwa, cook according to directions
3/4 cup Oats, ground to powder in Magic Bullet/Blender
1 15oz drained can of Garabanzo Beans
1 jumbo Eggs
1 Tablespoon chopped Garlic
Dash Paprika to taste
Dash Salt to taste
Dash Pepper to taste
1 Tablespoon grated Sharp Cheddar per Burger

     Cook Kaniwa according to directions, set aside to cool.  Meanwhile, add remainder of ingredients (except for Cheese) to food processor and blend til well incorporated.  Stir together Garbanzo Bean mixture with cooked Kaniwa, drop by 1/3 cup on to Coconut Oil sprayed skillet, brown on each side.  Top each Burger with Cheese when ready to eat.  Enjoy  :)

Waldorf Pasta Salad

     Enjoy this new twist on Waldorf Salad, with 4 freakishly large servings for 334 calories, 21g net carbs and 35g protein.  So, have you ever heard of pasta in Salad...!? Whelp, it's good!  Try it, you'll like it!  And, if you pick just the right Pasta, you have no need to fear!

Ingredients for 4 large servings~
1 8oz package Thin Slim Pasta (thinslimfoods.com)
1 pound diced grilled Chicken Breast
1 Bunch Celery diced (approx 13oz)
1/4 cup Light Vinaigrette
3oz (1 cup) shredded Carrots
8oz (1.5 cups) sliced Strawberries
3.5oz (3/4 cup) Blueberries
1/2 diced Red Bell Pepper
1/2 diced Green Bell Pepper
1/4 cup sliced Almonds
1/4 cup shredded Parmesan
2 diced Green Onions
Pepper to garnish, as desired

     Boil and drain Pasta according to directions, stir together with Chicken, Celery and Salad Dressing and add to bottom of large Salad Bowl.  Layer with Carrots, Strawberries, Blueberries, Bell Peppers, Almonds, Parmesan, Onions and Pepper.  Enjoy  :)

Rich Chocolate Protein Balls

     Heading out the door, need a little afternoon sweet, or how bout an after dinner snack...best of all these are kid friendly...(they pretty much everyone's friend)!  These whip up quick and easy, and are a real crowd pleaser.  Each of my 1oz balls are only 72 calories, 2g net carbs and 7.5g protein.  How can that be bad!?

Ingredients for 14 Protein Balls~
1/2 cup Peanut Butter Powder
1/3 cup Lily's Stevia Sweetened Chocolate Chips
3 scoops Chocolate Protein Powder
2 Tablespoons Cocoa Powder
2 Tablespoons ground Flax Seed
2 Tablespoons chopped Walnuts

Dash Cinnamon
Water

     Mix together with enough Water til well incorporated, divide into 14 1oz portions and roll into balls.  Store in fridge.  Enjoy  :)