Cookie Dough Cookies

     I'm sure I'm late to the party and everyone has probably already thought of this too, ... BUT, just in case you haven't ...  I was thinking about how much I LOVE my Quest Bars, so why not make them into cookies !!!???  ... and its REALLY HARD to do ... divide your Bar into 8 equal pieces and round out the edges and bake on a Silpat lined cookie sheet at 400 for about 5 minutes or til starting to brown!!!  Voila  ;)  PS These are AWESOME !!!!  Enjoy  ;)  PSS  about 22.5 calories per cookie on average ( taking an average of Cookie Dough, Double Chocolate Chunk, White Chocolate Raspberry and Cookies and Cream), .44g carbs and 2.56g protein.

Seared Scallops with Sauteed Shallots and Date Almond Spinach Salad~YUMMO!!!

     This is such an elegant and tasty dinner, and I could not be more pleased with how this invention turned out !!!  Lucky me, and now lucky you !!!  I came across a Seared Scallop tutorial in Bon Appetit and had to try it out.  So glad I did because now I am a Scallop expert !!!  And now if you want beautifully browned Scallops you can become an expert too!  Join me, won't you  ;)

Ingredients for dressing~
1 teaspoon Lime Zest
1/4 cup Lime Juice
1/4 cup EVOO
2 Tablespoons Chopped Dates
Salt and Pepper to taste

     Blend in Magic Bullet, and set aside.

Ingredients for Salad~
10oz (8 cups) Baby Spinach Leaves
2oz Almonds ( or 1/4 cup), chopped or sliced
1/4 cup Dates, diced
4 large Shallots, finely sliced
4 1/2 Tablespoons EVOO
1 heaping teaspoon chopped jarred Garlic
Salt and Pepper to taste
1 pound Scallops, blotted dry with paper towel

     Divide Spinach Leaves onto four Dinner Plates.  Top each with one Tablespoon chopped Almonds, then one Tablespoon diced Dates, set aside.  Meanwhile, heat 2 1/2 Tablespoons EVOO in Cast Iron Skillet on medium heat and add sliced Shallots, Salt, Pepper and Garlic til golden brown, drain and blot on paper towel. Divide among Dinner Plates on top of Salad.  Add 2 more Tablespoons EVOO to Cast Iron Skillet on medium high heat til starting to slightly simmer, lay Scallops in hot skillet and it should audibly sizzle upon adding Scallops. Don't disturb them as you risk tearing the flash.  Check by peaking underneath.  If the underside is browned and Scallops release easily, turn to sear second side.  Divide browned Scallops on top of the four Salads and top each with  2 Tablespoons Dressing.  Each Salad has 532 calories, 25.5g carbs, and 33.5g protein.  Hoping you enjoy this as much as I did!  Cheers ;)

Cookie Dough Peanut Butter Chip Brownie

     I love it when I get new idea's to improve my old idea's !!!  That's what I did today with my ever popular Cookies and Cream Peanut Butter Chip Brownies!!!  I was thinking it would be nice to re try the recipe with Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, ... who could be sad about that !!!???  Again, all this WONDERFUL rich chewy dense heavy flavor for 185 calories, 8g carbs and 18g protein.  My genius skills were in overdrive and instead of making four like I did the first time, ... I made TWELVE !!!!  BTW, Thank you Chelsea for all your help !!!  My daughter has a business called Chelsea Cake's and she makes cupcakes and I am her assistant, so today it was payback time !!!  Love cashing in on a deal and filling my belly with warm gooey goodness all at the same time, it was a good day!!!  #WINNING

Ingredients~( Triple this if you want to make a Dozen)
Brownie Quest Bar
Cookie Dough Quest Bar
Peanut Butter Supreme Quest Bar
4 Tablespoons PB2
2 Tablespoon Chocolate Almond Milk ( 45 cal/cup)
Dash Cinnamon
Dash Paige's Handcrafted Vanilla
2 1/2  Tablespoons Grain Sweetened Organic Carob Chips

     Spray Silicone lined Muffin tin with Pam.  Divide Brownie Quest Bar into 4 pieces and microwave for 15 seconds to softened and line the inside of Muffin liner with soft dough, repeat with remaining pieces.  Next, divide Cookie Dough Bar into 4 pieces and heat for 15 seconds in the microwave and pat into bottom of each Brownie cup to cover bottom, repeat with other pieces.  Then mix PB2, Chocolate Almond Milk, Cinnamon and Vanilla, divide into 4 and cover the Cookie Dough with the PB2 mixture.  Top with 1/2 Tablespoon Carob Chips.  Finish by dividing Peanut Butter Supreme Bar into 4 pieces, microwave for 15 seconds and pat into circles to cover top of each Muffin.  Divide the remaining 1/2 Tablespoon into 4 and top each Muffin Top with the the chips.  Bake at 400 for 6 minutes and enjoy warm and gooey or at room temperature.  Either way you will be in HEAVEN !!!  ;)

Bacon stuffed Cinnamon Roll

     Quest put out this totally fun recipe that I had to share!!!  Although, they added syrup at the end, at 50 years old I do not need syrup in my life and I think it tasted great with out it !!!  This was fun to make and only has 205 calories, 1g carbs, and 22g protein.  So if you are looking for a new breakfast or healthy snack, then try this out and put some excitement in your life !!!  ;)

Ingredients~
Cinnamon Roll Quest Bar, cut in two length wise
1 sliced Turkey Bacon, cooked ( I microwave mine on a paper towel for a little over a minute)
Pam Spray

     Slice Bar length wise and microwave for 15 seconds, rolling out to large rectangle with Pam sprayed rolling pin.  Lay one piece on Silpat lined cookie sheet and top with cooked crisp bacon slice, top with other rolled out half of bar.  Take a fork and crimp along the sides leaving tine marks in the dough.  Bake at 400 for 4-6 minutes.  Enjoy  ;)

Carrot Stick Fries

     Ok Ok, .... this might be pushing it a bit too far ... BUT ... why not give it a try !!!???  Add a little EVOO and some spices and close your eyes and you can hardly tell the difference ( cough cough).  Anyhoo, it was a fun experiment to try out, and you can call them Carrot Stick Fries or Roasted Carrots depending on your audience.  Wink Wink  ;)

Ingredients~
Carrot Sticks
EVOO
Sprinkling Salts, I used Chili Lime Seasoning Salt

     Lined a pan with foil and top with carrots and drizzle with a scant amount of EVOO and rub into carrots thoroughly.  Sprinkle with seasoning salts and bake at 400 for 20-30 minutes, depending on desired level of crisp tender you prefer.  Enjoy  :)

Broccoli Kale Fruit and Nut Salad, to die for !!!

     Ok Ladies and Gents, listen up !!!  This is one recipe you MUST try !!!  I threw in everything but the kitchen sink and it turned out great !!!  I literally could not stop eating this salad, it was that delicious !!!  Also, you will like the calorie count on the dressing, it was only 300 calories for the entire huge bowl of salad !!!  I did not count the calories on the total salad because I did not measure, and I don't want you to measure either!  Just add each thing according to your desired level, go heavy on the vegetables and lighter on the dried fruit and nuts.  This is wonderful combination with Grilled Chicken or Salmon, and definitely a salad you will want to share at gatherings ( let others feel the joy as well).  Hopefully you will not have the same fork to mouth disease that occurred when I started eating this bowl of goodness  ;)

Ingredients for Salad~
10-12oz Broccoli Slaw
Shredded Carrots ( I used a large handful)
3-6 Kale Leaves, torn
Diced Fuji Apple ( I used half an apple)
Diced Red Bell Pepper ( I used half a pepper)
Diced Green Onion ( I used 4 )
Almonds ( I used a large handful, chopped)
Sunflower Seeds ( I used a handful)
Cranraisins ( I used a small handful)
Dried Apricot, diced ( I used a large handful)
Dried Dates, diced ( I used a large handful)

     Blend together in big salad bowl, set aside.

Ingredients for Dressing~
4oz Banana
2 Tablespoons Vegenaise
1 Tablespoon Lemon Juice

     Blend in Magic Bullet and pour on top of Salad, mix thoroughly and serve!  Enjoy ... and good luck just eating one portion !!!  ;)

Peanut Butter Protein Oatmeal Cookies

     Dontcha love it when you can eat cookies guilt free, ... in fact, these are even good for you !!!  So, eat up !!!  Each cookie only has 50 calories, 6g carbs and 2.5g protein, based on this batch making 28 cookies.  Food is Fun !!!  :)

Ingredients~
4oz Fuji Apple, diced
4oz RIPE Banana, diced
4oz Sweet Potato, baked
1 scoop Peanut Butter Protein
1/4 unsweetened Cocoa Powder
1/4 cup Peanut Butter
2 cups Oats
Dash Cinnamon
Dash Vanilla
Dash Lite Salt

  Blend Apple, Banana, Sweet Potato, and Protein Powder in Magic Bullet or Blender.  Add Cocoa Powder, Peanut Butter, Cinnamon, Vanilla, and Salt and blend into mixture.  Add to bowl and stir in Oats.  Drop by rounded teaspoon on Silpat lined cookie sheet.  Bake at 350 for 10 minutes.  Enjoy  :)