Healthy Seven Layer Dip

     Whether it's Super Bowl Sunday, a random Party, ...or Tuesday... a Healthy Seven Layer Dip will be the star of any stage.  Few things in life can compete with a stack of all my favorite things.  Is there anything else you would rather slather on your chip!?  Add a good for you spin and it is a winner all the way around.  Each of the 25~1/2 cup servings are only 126 calories, 6g net carbs and 8g protein.  You can cut the recipe in half, but why would you...pray for leftovers and have the perfect Sancho the next day!  :)  #winning

Ingredients for 25~1/2 cup servings~
1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
1 medium diced Onion
1 Tablespoon chopped Garlic
Dash Cayenne Pepper
1 pound ground Chicken Breast
1 Taco Seasoning Packet
2~16oz cans Refried Beans
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6 small Avocados, halved
3 fresh Limes, halved
Lite Salt to taste
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2 containers 7oz 5% Fage Greek Yogurt
1 packet Ranch Seasoning
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1 cup shredded Cheddar Cheese
1/2 cup sliced Cherry Tomatoes
2.25oz can drained sliced Black Olives
2 diced Green Onions
Cilantro to garnish

     Add Olive Oil to hot skillet, stir in Onions, Garlic and Cayenne and cook slowly til golden brown.  Add Chicken til cooked thru, drain.  Stir in Taco Packet til fully combined, and then stir in Beans and add to serving platter.  Add flesh from Avocados to bowl and smash til well incorporated, squeeze with fresh Lime and sprinkle with Salt to taste, add to Bean layer.  Stir Yogurt and Ranch together til well combined and spread on top of Guacamole', sprinkle with Cheese and garnish with Tomatoes, Olives, Onions and Cilantro.  Enjoy  :)

Valentines Pizza

     There is no better way to express affection other than Italian...it has love written all over it.  For your next romantic occasion why not try my Valentines Pizza.  Each of the 4 crusts are only 188 calories, 3g net carbs and 15g protein.  Of course you will have to add in your toppers, and let your imagination be your guide.  Mini Pepperoni, sliced Black Olives, Cherry Tomatoes, Bell Pepper or Mushroom can spell amore' in any language!

Ingredients for 4 Crusts~
1 12oz frozen bag Riced Cauliflower, thawed (or rice your own Cauliflower)
3 jumbo Eggs
1 cup shredded Pizza Cheese
Dash Salt
Dash Pepper
Dash Garlic Powder
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Pizza Sauce
Shredded Cheese
Mini Pepperoni
Sliced Black Olives
Diced Bell Pepper
Sliced Mushroom

     Mix together first set of ingredients, divide into four equal portions and shape into hearts on Silpat lined cookie sheet.  You can also form an "X" and "O", or an "I" "<3" "U".  Let your imagination go wild.  Bake at 400 for 15- 20 minutes or til golden brown.  Remove and add Pizza Sauce, Cheese and whatever garnishments you would like.  Return to oven til cheese melts, about 7-10 minutes.  Enjoy  :)

Homemade Tortilla Chips

     If you are wanting fresh, healthy and portion controlled, then why not try your hand at a fun craft project and make your own Tortilla Chips!?  You can have a hearty portion for only 160 calories, 22g net carbs and 2g protein.  Not only that, they bake up in a flash.  Experiment with your favorite Seasonings and let your imagination go wild.  Ole'

Ingredients for one large serving~
2 Corn Tortillas
1/2 teaspoon Olive Oil
Seasonings, such as Salt, Pepper, Garlic Salt, Popcorn Seasoning

     Rub Olive Oil in hands and coat each of the Tortillas with Oil on each side, lay on Silpat lined cookie sheet, sprinkle with favorite Seasonings.  Use Pizza cutter and slice into small triangles.  Bake at 400 for 4 minutes, remove, flip chips over and bake another 4 minutes.  Enjoy  :)

Chocolate Chunk Pancakes

     My Pancakes can beat up your Pancakes...any day, any time, any where...!  And, who says Pancakes are just for breakfast...people who are Basic, that's who!  (I'm not exactly sure what that means, I just hear my kids using that term...I think it's bad, real bad...all I know is I don't want to be accused of being Basic anytime soon...so I'm just going to eat more Pancakes...#pancakeproblemsolved)  This hearty stack weighs in at 412 calories, 22g net carbs and 39g protein.  If this is more macros than you require at one sitting then feel free to share, but why in the world would you do that when you can eat the whole thing and adjust your macros at the next meal!?  #pancakeproblemsolved  Truly one of the best things I have ever created, and I enjoyed every last luscious bite.  Now my only problem is that I am out of Pancakes... #pancakeproblems

Ingredients for full hearty stack~
1 Quest Double Chocolate Chunk Protein Bar, finely diced and divided into 4 equal portions
1/4 cup Oats
1/4 cup Egg Whites
1/4 cup low fat Cottage Cheese
2 Tablespoon Coconut Flour
Dash Cinnamon
Dash Vanilla
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No Calorie Spray Butter
2 Tablespoons Lakanto Maple Syrup Monk Fruit~use code Paige20 for discount at checkout

     Finely dice Chocolate Chunk Quest Bar and divide into 4 equal portions, set aside.  Add Oats to Magic Bullet and grind to powder, add remaining first set of ingredients and blend til incorporated.  Divide batter into 3 equal portions, each Pancake should yield a scant 1/4 cup batter.  Add batter to hot greased skillet and top with 1/4 of the Chocolate Chunks and press into batter.  When cooked thru on first side, flip Pancake to cook other side, remove to wire rack, repeat two more times with remaining batter.  When complete, spray each Pancake with Butter and stack, garnish with remaining Chocolate Chunks and drizzle with Syrup.  Caution: this is so good it may cause you to pass out with joy!  ;)

Easy Bagels

   
     It's nice to have daughters on the look out for fun new recipe ideas.  Although I don't typically bake with flour, I am about portion control and healthy eating.  So, when my Courtney came across this recipe I had to give it a whirl.  This is adapted from Gina's Easy Bagel Recipe at Skinnytaste.com, she has loads of creative dishes to enjoy, check her out.  Each of these 4 Bagels weighed in at 140 calories, 22g net carbs and 8.3g protein.  The best part, this was so fast and easy to whip together, you could have these any morning the craving hits!

Ingredients for 4 Bagels~
3/4 cup plus 2 Tablespoons Flour
7oz 2% Fage Greek Yogurt
1 1/2 teaspoon Baking Powder
3/4 teaspoon Salt
1 Egg White, beaten with fork

     Mix first four ingredients together in bowl til well incorporated.  After combined, knead about 20 times in bottom of bowl.  The net weight should yield 12oz, break into 3oz balls and roll into rope that is about 3/4 inch in diameter.  Lay each rope in circle on Silpat (or parchment or greased) lined cookie sheet.  Brush each Bagel with Egg Wash and bake at 350 for 22 minutes, then turn up oven to 550 while baking for 4 additional minutes.  Enjoy  :)

Pistachio Sweet Salmon

     Healthy eating is easy eating with the help of Whole Foods.  Weaving my grocery cart up and down the overflowing bins of produce, I stumbled upon spiralized Sweet Potatoes...and I knew they had to be mine the minute I feasted eyes upon them.  #mineminemine  Whole Foods is my Whole 30 go to for filling my pantry.  Turning my grocery store into my personal kitchen helper, I was able to create one of the best meals I have ever experienced.  Each of my hearty 4 servings of Pistachio Sweet Salmon weighs in at 435 calories, 30g net carbs and 33g protein.  Let Whole Foods help pave the path to your dinner table easy, healthy and convenient.  :)

Ingredients for 4 serving~
1 bottle The New Primal Classic Marinade and Cooking Sauce
1 pound Salmon, cut into 4~4oz Filets (have the Fishmonger cut them for you)
2~12oz 365 Everyday Value bags of Brussels Sprouts
2 Tablespoon 365 Everyday Value Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 medium Onion, diced
1 Tablespoon chopped Garlic
Dash Cayenne Pepper
Dash Lite Salt
13oz container Sweet Potato sprials
Dash Pepper
1/4 cup Pistachios (found in the Nut Bins at Whole Foods)
1/2 Red Bell Pepper, diced
2 Green Onions, diced

     Pour marinade over Salmon filets and marinate for an hour or up to 6 hours, bake in Air Fryer or in oven on foil lined cookie sheet at 400 for 17 minutes, make sure to time with rest of ingredients.  Trim Brussels Sprouts and shred in Food Processor, set aside.  Heat 1 Tablespoons Olive Oil in skillet, add diced Onions, Garlic, Cayenne Pepper and Lite Salt til golden brown~this is a slow process to achieve the perfect deep golden with out burning, may take up to 30 minutes.  Add shredded Brussels to skillet along with 2 Tablespoons of the remaining bottle of Marinade and cook on medium til softened.  Meanwhile, toss Sweet Potatoes with remaining Tablespoon Olive Oil and lay on foil lined cookie sheet, season with Lite Salt and Pepper, bake at 450 for 20 minutes.  When Brussels are ready, spoon on large serving dish, top with roasted Sweet Potatoes, rest filets on top.  Add nuts to baggie and crush lightly with mallet, sprinkle on Salmon.  Garnish with Bell Pepper and Green Onions.  Enjoy  :)

Berry Parfait

     If you are in the mood for something light and refreshing, yet filling and healthy, then you will be pleased to discover my Berry Parfait.  So easy to whip together, you won't believe the results of this simple recipe.   You might even feel like you are indulging in something sinful.  Yet when you discover the macros you will realize it's a good day to be alive.  This weighs in at 235 calories, 12g net carbs and 25g protein.  Enjoy  :)

Ingredients for one serving~
1/2 cup lowfat Cottage Cheese
8oz container Kroger Carb Masters Vanilla Yogurt
1/4 cup Raspberries
1 Tablespoon sliced Almonds

     Mix together Cottage Cheese and Yogurt til smooth, top with Berries and Nuts.  Enjoy :)