Chicken Artichoke Pesto Flatbread

     You might think this is a paid advertisement for Flatout Bread, but it ain't!  Me just likes them!!!  I especially like it for Flat Bread Pizza, and they have several options to choose from.  This Chicken Artichoke Pesto Flatbread turned out amazingly delish, and I used the Multigrain Flatout, FYI!  If you are wanting to enjoy a festive Friday night but don't want to derail your healthy eating habits, opt for this creation.  Each hearty Flatbread was only 426 calories, 17g net carbs and 38.8g protein.  This was so filling I had to share mine, add a side salad and you will be floating in Macro heaven!  Ciao :)

Ingredients for 4~
1 Roma Tomato
1 Tablespoon EVOO
1 pound boneless skinless Chicken Tenders
1 medium Yellow Onion
1 Tablespoon chopped jarred Garlic
Dash Cayenne Pepper, to taste
Dash Salt, to taste
4 Flatout Breads ( I used Mulitgrain)
6-8 Tablespoons prepared Pesto
6oz or 8 Tablespoons shredded Mozzarella
14oz can Artichoke Hearts, diced

     Dice Roma Tomato and drain on paper towel for several hours if possible.  Add EVOO to skillet and heat, add Onions, Garlic, Cayenne, and Salt til golden brown.  Add Chicken til cooked thru, breaking into bite size pieces, set aside.  Bake the Bread on a cookie sheet at 350 for 3-4 minutes til firm, then remove from oven.  Spread 1.5-2 Tablespoons Pesto on each Faltbread, top each equally with Chicken mixture, Artichokes, Mozzarella and Tomatoes.  Bake at 450 for 4-5, til cheese is melted and beginning to brown.  Enjoy  :)

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

Goji Berry and Goat Cheese Edamame Walnut Kale Salad

     Want a light refreshing salad that can be a main course or side dish!?  Have I got answers for you!!!  This amazing Spring Salad just might be my new go to!  Prepare yourself to dive face first into all kinds of flavors, textures, and spices.  Whole Foods makes my absolute favorite in house Goat Cheese, you must add it to every single salad from now on!!!  For a 1/6th of the recipe, a hearty serving is only 221 calories, 9g net carbs and 15.2g protein.  Hope you create this for yourself soon  ;)

Ingredients~
3 large Kale Leaves, torn into bite size pieces
16oz cooked and cooled Edamame
4oz Whole Foods Goat Cheese, crumbled
1/4 cup chopped Walnuts
5 diced Green Onions
3 Tablespoons Goji Berries
1 Tablespoon Swerve Confectioners Style Erythritol
1/4 cup Balsamic Vinegar

     Layer the first 6 ingredients in your large salad bowl.  Mix together Erythritol and Balsamic and pour over top of Salad.  Divide into 6 equal servings and Enjoy  :)

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. 

Black and White Brownies

     There are those occasions that I have to serve a dessert that's not high protein low carb based, all the while remaining on the healthy side of the spectrum!  Such was the case with these Black and White Brownies I created for a dinner party recently.  These have all the melt in your mouth goodness anyone could dream of!!!  For a 1/16th of the recipe it is only 210 calories, 19g net carbs, and 5.6g protein.  All the flavor, none of the guilt  ;)

Ingredients for 16 Brownies~
2/3 cups Oat Flour (grind Oatmeal into powder)
1/2 cup Cocoa Powder
1/3 cup melted Coconut Oil
5.3oz Dannon Vanilla Light&Fit Greek Yogurt
4oz baked and mashed Sweet Potato
1/4 cup Honey
2 Extra Large Eggs
1 teaspoon Salt
1 teaspoon Baking Powder
Dash Cinnamon
Dash Vanilla
1/2 cup Lily’s Stevia Sweetened White Chocolate Chips
1/2 cup Lily's Stevia Sweetened Dark Chocolate Chips
2 Tablespoons Milk or Half&Half

     Stir together all the ingredients except last two, also reserve enough White Chocolate Chips to sprinkle on the top for garnish.  Bake in Pam sprayed 8X8 pan at 350 for 30 minutes.  Meanwhile, add Lily's Chocolate Chips and Milk to microwave safe bowl and heat for 20 seconds and stir til well blended.  After Brownies are done, remove from oven and cool, then frost with Ganache and sprinkle with remaining White Chocolate Chips, chill to let Ganache set.  Cut into 16 pieces and Enjoy  :)

May is Lyme Disease Prevention Month~10 Tick Facts

     Full disclosure, I'm an avid fan of TRHOBH!!!  What is TRHOBH you ask!?  No, it's not a new exercise move, it's none other than The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, duh!  It's the perfect DVR selection for those mindless moments on the treadmill, and those intense dramatic scenes have gotten me thru plenty a tough HIIT session!  It's all fun and games til someone gets accused of breaking their sobriety and then the "B" word starts flying around the room faster than a hair extension hand flip followed by an eye roll (now do you understand why it helps the workout go faster!?... there are many nefarious problems to workout during my workout).  In all seriousness, thru watching this show I was exposed to something I was not really familiar with until now (no, not botox and filler you silly goose), it's Lyme Disease.  Yolanda Foster, one of the stars on the show, contracted Lyme Disease last season and has struggled mightily.  She has been very open about her disease and has done a lot of good for public awareness.  I applaud her efforts and bravery in sharing her journey.  I have two major hikes coming up this year, I'm climbing Pikes Peak in Colorado in August and the Inca Trail in October.  I am looking forward to both with great enthusiasm, but have to admit that Lyme Disease was a factor that crossed my mind as never before.  So when I had the chance to receive a Insect Shield shirt and Bandana from www.insectshield.com I jumped at the chance.  Surely I will feel much more relaxed on my excursions knowing I am protected as well as familiarizing myself with the 10 prevention tips as listed in this article.
     May is Lyme Disease Awareness month and a good time to share information about staying protected from ticks in the coming spring/summer months.Lyme disease has now become one of the fastest growing epidemics to date. The CDC estimates the number of cases in the US to be about 300,000 cases a year.Here are a few good things to know in order to stay protected.~

TOP TEN FACTS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT TICKS
10. Ticks crawl up Ticks don't jump, fly, or drop from trees onto your head and back. If you find one attached there, it most likely latched onto your foot or leg and crawled up over your entire body.
9. All ticks (including deer ticks) come in small, medium and large sizes
8. Ticks can be active even in the winter That's right! Deer Ticks in particular are not killed by freezing temperatures, and will be active any winter day that the ground is not snow-covered or frozen.
7. Ticks carry disease-causing microbes Tick-transmitted infections are more common these days than in past decades. With explosive increases in deer populations, extending even into semi-urban areas in the eastern and western U.S., the trend is for increasing abundance and geographic spread of deer ticks and Lone Star ticks; and scientists are finding an ever-increasing list of disease-causing microbes transmitted by these ticks: Lyme disease bacteria, Babesia protozoa, Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, and other rickettsia, even encephalitis-causing viruses, and possibly Bartonella bacteria. Back in the day, tick bites were more of an annoyance but now a bite is much more likely to make you sick.
6. Only deer ticks transmit Lyme disease bacteria. The only way to get Lyme disease is by being bitten by a deer tick or one of its "cousins" found around the world.
5. For most tick-borne diseases, you have at least 24 hours to find and remove a feeding tick before it transmits an infection Even a quick daily tick check at bath or shower time can be helpful in finding and removing attached ticks before they can transmit an infection. Lyme disease bacteria take at least 24 hours to invade the tick's saliva.
4. Deer tick nymphs look like a poppy seed on your skin And with about 1 out of 4 nymphal deer ticks carrying the Lyme disease spirochete and other nasty germs in the northeastern, mid-Atlantic, and upper mid-western U.S., it's important to know what you're really looking for. They're easy to miss, their bites are generally painless, and they have a habit of climbing up (under clothing) and biting in hard-to-see places.
3. The easiest and safest way to remove a tick is with a pointy tweezer Using really pointy tweezers, it's possible to grab even the poppy-seed sized nymphs right down next to the skin. The next step is to simply pull the tick out like a splinter.
2. Clothing with built-in tick repellent is best for preventing tick bites An easy way to avoid tick bites and disease is to wear clothing (shoes, socks, shorts or pants, and shirt) with Insect Shield® tick repellent built-in. http://www.insectshield.com/basics http://www.insectshieldforpets.com
1. Tick bites and tick-borne diseases are completely preventable. There is really only one way you get a tick-transmitted disease and that's from a tick bite. Reducing tick abundance in your yard, wearing tick repellent clothing every day, treating pets every month and getting into a habit of doing a quick body scan are all great actions for preventing tick bites.

Insect Shield Tick Repellent Apparel Insect Shield’s EPA-registered technology converts clothing and gear into effective and convenient insect protection. The repellency is long-lasting and appropriate for use by the entire family with no restrictions for use.Products include apparel, gear and even equestrian and pet products.

Quick Facts:
•       Repellency is in the clothing and gear – not on your skin
•       Lasts through 70 launderings
•       No restrictions for use
•       Appropriate for the entire family
•       No need to re-apply
•       Repels mosquitoes, ticks, ants, flies, chigger and midges including those that can cause Lyme disease, malaria and other dangerous insect-borne diseases.

Blue Cheese Top Sirloin over Quinoa Penne Kale Salad

     Not to toot my own horn .... BBBBUUUUTTTT.... if I were a cartoon character I would be shrieking "AAARRRRUUUUGGGGGHHHAAA" at the top of my lungs right now ... but since I'm a human I am just doing it quietly inside my head ...  :0  This is one of those MUST TRY to put on your list of MUST DO !!!  I hope you will have the luxury of experiencing this wonder very very soon !!!  Rock on readers~ toot toot !!!   ;)

Ingredients ( serves 6-8)~
2 pounds Top Sirloin grilled rare, or to taste .... but we like it just post the "Mooing" stage
1 Tablespoon EVOO
1 large Yellow Onion, diced
Heaping teaspoon chopped jarred garlic
Dash Cayenne Pepper, to taste
Couple handfuls of Baby Carrots, diced
1-2 ears Olathe Sweet Corn, cooked and cut from the cob
2 Tablespoons Balsamic Vinegar
8oz Qunioa Penne Pasta, cooked and drained and cooled
1 Bunch Kale, torn from stems
1-2 heads of Romaine, torn into pieces
1 bunch Cilantro, leaves torn from stems
1 Red Bell Pepper, diced
1 Tomato, diced and drained on paper towel thru out day if possible
Brianna's brand Blue Cheese Dressing ( this is the BEST and I don't use any other kind)

     Bring large pot of water to boil, drop corn in and boil 1 1/2 minutes, remove and cool and cut off cob, set aside.  Meanwhile add Quinoa Penne to water and boil according to directions, drain and cool, set aside.  Heat EVOO in large skillet and add diced Onion, Garlic and Cayenne til golden brown, may take 20-30 minutes, then add Carrots to cook til crisp tender.  When Carrots are done, add Corn and Balsamic Vinegar to simmer til cooked off, set aside to cool and blend with Penne.  While Onion Pasta dish cooling~ In large salad bowl, add chopped Kale, Romaine, Cilantro leaves, Bell Pepper and Tomatoes.  Add Pasta to salad and toss together.  Lay Sirloin strips across the top and drizzle with Blue Cheese Dressing.  Prepare to have your mind blown with how simply DIVINE this salad is !!!  Enjoy ;)

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

Plantar Fascitis and 7 helpful tips!

     How protected are your feet!?  Back in the 80's I taught 10 high impact aerobics classes a week and ran 5 miles a day 6 times a week, (are you getting the picture here) I was the "Queen", ... Aerobics Queen that is!  In the 90's when I woke up in the mornings I would hobble to the bathroom from severe pain in the bottom of my heels, only to find that  miraculously on my return trip my heels felt much better!  How in the world does an empty bladder ease heel pain you ask!? Good question!  It's time to talk about Plantar Fascitis and how it presents itself and what you can do about it!  If you are an avid exerciser, there is a good chance this may sound all too familiar, and if not, there is a good chance you will experience this at some point in your life time.

     To begin with, Plantar Fascitis in simple terms is the inflammation of a thick fibrous band of connective tissue that runs from the heel to the toes.  Among the athletic, risk factors include overuse, high impact activities (this includes the ball of the foot as well as the heel), and long periods of standing.  Among the non-athletic, Plantar Fascitis is associated with obesity and lack of physical exercise.

     Plantar Fascitis is not hard to diagnose, I'm just an RN not an MD, ...BUT...I know a pain in my heel when I have one!  The pain is typically sharp and usually unilateral (70% of the cases).  Heel pain worsens by bearing weight on the heel after prolonged periods of rest or sitting, such as in the mornings after a night of sleep or too many hours at your desk.  The most intense pain seems to lessen after a few steps as the connective tissue begins to warm up, hence the empty bladder syndrome.  So as we see, there is no actual connection between the two!  ;)

     So, whats a girl (or dude) to do with the onset of heel pain!?  STOP THE OFFENDING ACTIVITY DUMMY!!!  (just kidding, ...but not really...)   In all seriousness, treatment that is started when you first notice symptoms is more successful with less time than treatment that is delayed.  About 90% of Plantar Fascitis cases are self-limiting and will improve within six months with conservative treatment, and within a year regardless of treatment.  So here are a few tips to try out before heading to the doctor if you choose to go this route as a first line of defense~
     1) REST!!!  While resting your feet completely is not realistic, limiting daily activities that cause heel pain is a first step.  Try to avoid running or walking on hard surfaces, such as concrete.
     2) ICE!!!  To reduce inflammation and relieve pain, put ice on your heel.  You can also try a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) such as Ibuprofen or Aleve.
     3) SHOES!!!  Wear shoes with good shock absorption and the right arch support for your foot.  Athletic shoes or shoes with a well-cushioned sole are usually good choices.  Podiatrist designed Vionic with Orthaheel Technology has given thousands of people the freedom to enjoy life free of foot, leg and back pain.
     4) CUSHION!!!  Try heel cups or shoe inserts (I have inserts in all my running shoes) to help cushion your heels.  I buy my inserts at the same time I buy my shoes, and most stores carry them.
     5) PROTECTION!!!  Put on your shoes as soon as you get out of bed.  I NEVER GO BAREFOOT!!!  Going barefoot or wearing slippers can worsen pain.
     6) STRETCH!!!  Do simple calf stretches several times a day, especially when you first get up in the morning.  These stretches can help warm your ligaments, thus increasing flexibility and strengthen the muscles that support your arch.
     7) WEIGHT LOSS!!!  Decreasing your weight if you are over weight or obese will certainly lessen the pressure on your feet as well as all the other joints in your body.

     I hope these tips have been helpful, and if this conservative care does not improve your condition make sure to make an appointment with your physician for follow up care.  And might I mention this Queen is now a proud Princess that practices low impact aerobics, cross trains, limits running and lifts weights.  Be sure to keep those tootsies protected at all times, after all, our feet is what we use to walk the path of life.  Enjoy the journey~in good health, paige  RN
     

   

Peanut Butter Swirl Chip Brownies

     If anyone says they don't like Peanut Butter swirls and Chocolate Chips in their Brownies then you need to call 911 cause they are probably an Undercover Spy Terrorists!!!  :o  ... just sayin'   These heavy over sized dense chewy beauties are only 164 calories, 7g net carbs and 13.3g protein.  Sinking your teeth into these babies will probably be the best part of your day! ... and if you meet a Terrorist then offer them a brownie and watch world peace unfold right before your very eyes  ;)

Ingredients for 9 Brownies~
1/4 cup Peanut Powder
1/4 cup Silk Cashew Milk (25 cal/cup)
1 Tablespoon Swerve Confectioners Style Erythritol
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
1/4 cup Coconut Oil, melted
1 small Granny Smith Apple, ground to pulp in Magic Bullet
1/3 cup Egg Whites
2 Jumbo Eggs
1/4 cup Coconut Flour
1/2 cup Cocoa or Cacao Powder
2 scoops Quest Chocolate Milkshake Protein Powder
1/4 cup Swerve Granular Erythritol
5.3oz Dannon Vanilla Greek Light&Fit Yogurt
1 teaspoon Baking Powder
1 teaspoon Salt
Dash Cinnamon
Dash Vanilla
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
1 Tablespoon (60 chips) Lily's Stevia Sweetened Dark Chocolate Chips

     Mix Peanut Butter Powder, Cashew Milk and Confectioners Erythritol til smooth, set aside.  Mix all ingredients in middle section til smooth and pour into 9X9 parchment lined pan.  Put Peanut Butter mixture in small ziplock baggie, snip corner and drizzle in a zig zag pattern back and forth across Brownie batter, then take a knife and cut thru the batter in opposite directions.  Sprinkle with Chocolate Chips and bake at 325 for 35 minutes.  Remove and cool, store in fridge.  Enjoy  :)

Peanut Butter Cup stuffed Cookie Dough

     Remind me again what you think you are missing by living a sugar free life...!?  ... that's what I thought ...  Feast your eyes upon this Ganache frosted Peanut Butter Cup stuffed Cookie Dough, proof you are not missing out on anything but a buncha terrible side effects on your mind, body and soul!  I have found a way to have my "cake"...errr, "cookie" and eat it too!  The hubs even said, "hey, this actually tastes like a real cookie" ... well, duh...errr, dough ... ;)  This recipe makes four hearty cookies, each one is 173 calories, 17g carbs, 7g fiber, 8.3g sugar alcohol, 1.7g net carbs, 11g protein, and 11g fat.  Time to get your "cookie on" and enjoy sinking your teeth into gooey yummy layers of chocolate and peanut butter, followed by more chocolate and more peanut butter...I think we have a winner folks  :)

Ingredients for 4 cookies~
2 packages of Quest Peanut Butter Cups (4 total Peanut Butter Cups)
1 Quest Cookie Dough Protein Bar
2 Tablespoons Lily's Dark Chocolate Stevia Sweetened Chocolate Chips
1 Tablespoon 30 cal/cup Almond Milk
1 Tablespoon Lakanto Confectioners Monk Fruit~use code Paige20 at checkout for discount 

     Unwrap your Cookie Dough Quest Bar, divide into 4 equal parts and microwave for 12 seconds or til softened.  Pat out each section into a large thin circle on a Silpat lined cookie sheet.  Unwrap the Peanut Butter Cups and set in the middle of each circle of Cookie Dough  and pull sides up around to the top and press into place.  The dough may not cover the entire top, but that's okay as we will be frosting the top.  Bake at 325 for 4 minutes, remove and cool, then sit in the fridge to chill.  Meanwhile, microwave Chocolate Chips and Milk for 12-20 seconds or til softened, then stir til smooth and fully combined, then add Monk Fruit til well incorporated.  When cookies have finished chilling, frost  and serve.  Enjoy  :)

Cinco De Healtho Chicken Fajitas

     Let's call it what it really is... Cinco De Healtho Chicken Fajita's!  ;)  Why should we health minded peeps suffer when everyone else is having a party!?  Heavens no, that won't do!  All we need is a few healthy changes and we can party along with everyone else "like it's 1999"... (you may need to be older to understand that song reference)!  :0  Anyhoo, let me break it down for you with my 7 lucky suggestions for a happy healthy holiday~
1) Use Chicken over Beef
2) Use low fat Greek Yogurt over Sour Cream
3) Use sliced Avocado over Guacamole
4) Load up on Veggies!  Double your Peppers, Onions and Salsa in your recipe!
5) Opt for low carb tortillas.  I LOVE LOVE LOVE LaTortilla Factory High Fiber Low Carb Traditional Flour Tortillas.  A large shell is only 70 calories, 6g net carbs and 5g protein!
6) Have one Fajita with a large side salad.  For your salad, top your big bowl of salad with 3-4 crushed chips and use Salsa for your dressing.  This is a good way to keep your fingers busy while everyone else might be downing a basket of chips.  You can enjoy your satisfying crunch and fun flavors and not derail your health efforts!
7) Eat slow, set your silverware down between bites, and take a drink of Water!

     Follow these easy breasy steps and you will be the life of the party!!!  Ole'

Ingredients for 6 hearty Fajitas~
1 Tablespoon EVOO
1 large Yellow Onion, diced
1 Tablespoon jarred chopped Garlic
Dash Cayenne Pepper
2 pounds boneless skinless Chicken Tenders
Pre-packaged Fajita spices, or use your own mixture
4 colors of Bell Peppers, sliced
6-12 large low carb LaTortilla Factory Flour Tortillas
Large Avocado, sliced
Roma Tomato, diced and drained on paper towel
Low Fat shredded Cheddar Cheese
Fat Free Greek Yogurt
Green Onion, diced
Salsa

     Heat EVOO in skillet, add Onions, Garlic and Cayenne til golden brown.  Add Chicken til cooked thoroughly, break apart into bite size pieces, add seasoning til fully incorporated.  Add Peppers and continue to cook til crisp tender.  Fill shell with Chicken mixture and top with your favorite toppings in moderation!  Enjoy  :)

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

Mint Chocolate Chunk Brownies

     Say what!!!???  Mint Chocolate Chunk Brownies!!!  Dontcha just wanna sink your teeth into those babies and let the flavors melt in your mouth while your taste buds burst with lingering joy!?  Sounds reasonable!  This visceral experience will be one for the record books!  Then your cerebral experience will hop on board when your brain realizes that a hearty 1/9th of the batch is only 199 calories, 7g net carbs and 21g protein.  Whatcha waitin' for, make your's today and see how your body reacts!  :)

Ingredients for 9 servings of Frosting~
4oz/8 Tablespoons Fat Free Cream Cheese, melted in microwave til softened
7oz 2% Fage Greek Yogurt
1 scoop Vanilla Milkshake Quest Protein Powder
1/4 cup Swerve Confectioners Style Erythritol
1 teaspoon Peppermint Extract, less if you want a more mild mint flavor
Green Food Coloring, add drops to desired level of green

     Blend thoroughly til fully incorporated, set in fridge to chill.

Ingredients for 9 servings of Brownies~
3 scoops Chocolate Milk Shake Quest Protein Powder
3/4 cup Pumpkin Puree
2/3 cup Egg Whites
1 XL Egg
1/4 cup Chocolate Mint Sweet Spreads, melted
1/4 cup Swerve Granular Erythritol
2 Tablespoons Nutiva Coconut Flour
2 Tablespoon Cocoa Powder
2 Tablespoons Walden Farms Chocolate Syrup
1 teaspoon Baking Powder
1 teaspoon Salt
1 teaspoon Peppermint Extract, less if you want a more mild mint flavor
1 Quest Chocolate Mint Chunk Protein Bar, chopped into small bits

     Mix all ingredients except Protein Bar bits, and pour into parchment lined 8X8 or 9X9 and bake at 325 for 35 minutes, making sure not to over bake as protein can easily dry out if over baked.  Remove and cool, remove parchment paper and place tooth picks half way up and slice horizontally just above the toothpicks.  Frost each half, stack, and top with Protein Bar bits, store left overs (if there are any) in the fridge.  Enjoy  :)

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

Apple Almond Brussels Kale Slaw Salad

     When you think of salad, does your mind go directly to a head of Iceberg lettuce torn into bite size pieces!?  #barf  I totally can NOT gag down a bowl of that stuff!  At the minimum give me Romaine and Baby Spinach Leaves, but if you want to take a walk on the wild side can we talk about Brussels Sprouts and Kale!?  Oh yes we can!!!  You are going to love this recipe when we slaw our Brussels, add a homemade Vinaigrette, Fruit, Nuts and Parmesan...and let's not forget the BACON!!!  For an 1/8th of the recipe it is only 199 calories, 20g net carbs, and 7g protein.  If you wanna turn it into a full meal, add your favorite grilled Chicken or Salmon!  Hello Summer Salads  ;)

Ingredients for 8 servings~
Juice of one Lemon
Juice of one Orange
1/4 cup EVOO (if you have a garlic flavored EVOO/dipping oil, then use that)
2 Green Onions, diced
1 teaspoon Salt
1 teaspoon Pepper
24oz Brussels Sprouts
10oz Kale, torn into bite size pieces
1 Fuji Apple, diced
2 cups seedless Grapes, cut in half
6 slices Turkey Bacon, cooked and crumbled (I microwave mine for one minute one slice at a time)
1/3 cup shredded Parmesan
1/3 cup slivered Almonds
1/2 cup fresh Blueberries

     Add Lemon Juice, Orange Juice, EVOO, Green Onions, Salt and Pepper to Magic Bullet and blend til fully incorporated.  Stem, clean and cut Brussels in half and add to Food Processor and grind til slaw consistency, add to large salad bowl along with Kale pieces and pour Dressing over salad mixture and toss til fully incorporated.  Top with Apple, Grapes, Bacon, Parmesan, Almonds and Blueberries.  Enjoy  :)

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

Chocolate Mint Fudge Sundae

     How lucky are we that Quest created a Mint Chocolate Protein Bar!?  Guess what I did!?  I turned that Bar into a Sundae cup to hold a hearty scoop of Mint Chocolate Ice Cream surrounded by oooey gooey Fudge Syrup, Chocolate Chips and Whipped Topping!  This is not only a yummy filling dessert, but a fun craft project as well!  All this for 248 calories, 9.4g net carbs and 27.8g protein (does not include Chocolate Chips or Whipped Topping for garnish).  I hope you will try this very very soon  ;)

Ingredients~
1 Mint Chocolate Quest Bar
1/2 cup Arctic Zero Mint Chocolate Frozen Dessert
1 Tablespoon Quest Chocolate Milkshake Protein Powder
2 Tablespoons Walden Farms Chocolate Syrup
Lily's Sugar Free Dark Chocolate Chips for garnish, if desired
Whipped Topping for garnish, if desired

     Heat Quest Bar for 12 seconds and mold to the bottom side of a small pam sprayed ramekin, bake upside down ramekin at 325 for 5 minutes, remove and cool, then pull Sundae cup away from ramekin.  Stir together Protein Powder and Chocolate Syrup til smooth, add Arctic Zero to Sundae Cup and top with Chocolate Syrup.  Garnish with Chocolate Chips and Whipped Topping if desired.  Enjoy  ;)

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