Thai Turkey Coconut Red Rice

     I am lovin' Vitacost's new line of rice!!!  So flavorful and easy to whip up!!!  I took my two daughters to China and then onto Thailand one year for Sprinbreak, so this fun Thai Coconut Red Rice mix brought me right back to the culture of the Orient.  So save yourself a few bucks and throw this together in minutes!!!  Exercise your creativity by planning divine toppings to round out a complete meal  ;)

Ingredients for 4~
13oz can Lite Coconut Milk
1 cup Vitacost Thai Coconut Red Rice
1 Tablespoon EVOO
1 Yellow Onion, diced
1 Tablespoon chopped jarred Garlic
Dash Cayenne
1 pound 99% lean ground Turkey
1 Green Pepper, cleaned and sliced
1/2 cup Hot Pepper Peach Preserves, Robert Rothschild
Fresh Pineapple for garnish


     Heat Coconut Milk and enough water to equal 2 cups in pot til boiling, stir in Rice,cover and reduce to simmer til liquid is absorbed, about 20 minutes.  Meanwhile, heat EVOO in skillet, add Onions, Garlic and Cayenne til golden brown.  Add Turkey meat til cooked thru, crumbling while cooking.  Stir in Green Pepper slices and Preserves til Peppers are crisp tender.  Spoon a fourth of the Turkey mixture on top of a fourth of the rice, and finish by garnishing with fresh Pineapple chunks.  Enjoy  :)

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

Chicken Broccoli with Porcini & Truffle Polenta

     Little did I know the flavor that would come flowing from this bag of Porcini & Truffle Polenta upon first examination!!!  This may be my new number one side dish from Vitacost to accompany my famous Chicken Broccoli!!!  You will find a comforting blend of hearty polenta, dried mushrooms, Parmesan cheese, gourmet black truffles with flavorful seasonings.  My favorite part is that you can cook this into little cakes for a fun new twist!!!  Plus the macro's rock as well~ a cup cooked is only 100 calories, 20g net carbs and 3g protein.  Hop online and find this at Vitacost.com.  :)

Ingredients for 4-6~
4 cups Water
1 cup Vitacost Porcini & Truffle Polenta
1 Tablespoon EVOO
1 Yellow Onion, chopped
1 Tablespoon chopped jarred Garlic
Dash Cayenne Pepper
1 1/2 pounds boneless skinless Chicken Tenders
8oz sliced Mushrooms
1 pound Broccoli florets
Shredded Parmesan, for garnish

     Bring 4 cups Water to boil, then gradually whisk in Polenta, reduce to simmer for 3 minutes or til thickened, then pour into wax paper lined mini loaf pans and chill for 2-3 hours, or til cooled and solid. While chilling, heat EVOO in skillet, add Onion, Garlic and Cayenne til golden brown.  Add Chicken til cooked thru and dice into bite size pieces, add Mushrooms and Broccoli til crisp tender.  When ready, plate the Polenta along with Chicken mixture and top with Shredded Parmesan to garnish.  Enjoy  :)  

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

Banana's Foster Crepes

     Banana's Foster doesn't have to be a naughty no-no anymore!!!  Now you can have high protein low carb dessert crepes for 185 calories, 7.6g net carbs, and 15g protein.  I'm not monkeying around here, Banana's Foster is actually good for you!!!  Get some today  ;)

Ingredients for 4 Crepe's~
1 Tablespoon Cinnamon Roll Sweet Spreads Coconutter
1 Extra Large Egg
1 scoop Egg Protein Powder
1/3 cup Egg Whites
Dash Rum Extract
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5.3oz Yoplait Greek 100 calorie Boston Creme Pie Yogurt
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1 1/3 Tablespoons Cinnamon Roll Sweet Spreads Coconutter
Dash Rum Extract
3oz Banana, divided into four equal parts
Walden Farms Syrup

     From first set of ingredients, melt Cinnamon Roll Coconutter in bowl in microwave for 30 seconds, stir in Egg til well blended.  Add to Magic Bullet as well as Protein Powder, Egg Whites, and Rum Extract and whip til thoroughly combined.  Drop by a scant 1/4 cup onto a Pam sprayed skillet til just barely cooked and flip til barely cooked on the other side, remove promptly and cool.  After all 4 crepes are cooked and cooled, divide yogurt into 4 equal parts and spread on half of each crepe and fold in half, set aside.  Place a teaspoon of Cinnamon Roll Coconutter and dash of Rum Extract in skillet with a 1/4 Banana that has been cut into slices, til golden brown.  Top crepes with golden Banana's, and finish by drizzling with Walden Farms Syrup.  Enjoy  :)

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

Chocolate Chunk Zucchini Sweet Potato Pancakes

     You've heard of Zucchini Cake, Zucchini Bread, and Zucchini Muffins... now you get to experience Zucchini Pancakes!!!  These are so easy to whip up, and the Chocolate Chunks evoke pure joy as it passes your lips!!!  Macro's will give you even more to smile about at 349 calories, 15.3g net carbs and 49.2g protein!!!  Those stats are unheard of!!!  Try these moist flavorful pancakes out today!!!  :)

Ingredients~
4oz raw Zucchini
2oz baked and peeled Sweet Potatoes
1 scoop Quest Vanilla Milkshake Protein Powder
3 Tablespoons Egg Whites
1 teaspoon Baking Powder
1/4 teaspoon Salt
Dash Cinnamon
Dash Vanilla
Double Chocolate Chunk Quest Bar, cut into small pieces, and divide into 6 equal piles
Walden Farms Pancake Syrup

     Put Zucchini, Sweet Potato, Protein Powder, Egg Whites, Baking Powder, Salt, Cinnamon and Vanilla in Magic Bullet and whip til well blended, drop batter by 1/4 cup onto Pam sprayed skillet.  Once in skillet, top with a 1/6 of the Double Chocolate Chunk pieces and press lightly into batter, flip after golden brown and cook the other side.  Repeat with remaining batter, reserve a few Chocolate Chunks pieces for garnish on top.  Finish with Walden Farms Pancake Syrup.  Enjoy  :)

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

Blueberry Oatmeal Pecan Cake

     My friend, Bonnie, was describing a cake she made and my mouth started watering with every detail!!!  I knew I had to make it and I knew I had to re-do it as a healthy version that I can enjoy guilt free!!!  Luckily it was an easy task and the results were phenomenal!!!  For a 9th of the cake it is 131 calories, 11.4g net carbs and 6.5g protein.  This is perfect for breakfast, snack or dessert!!!  I solved that dilemma by having a piece for breakfast, afternoon snack AND dessert!!!  I am a solution oriented girl ...with a happy belly  ;)

Ingredients~
2 Tablespoons Sweet Spreads Cinnamon Roll Coconutter, melted
4oz Fuji Apple
4oz Zucchinni
2oz baked and peeled Sweet Potato
1 Jumbo Egg
Dannon Greek Light&Fit Blueberry Yogurt
1 cup Instant Oats
1 scoop Quest Vanilla Milkshake Protein Powder
1/4 cup Swerve Erythritol Granular Style
1 teaspoon Baking Powder
1/2 teaspoon Salt
Dash Cinnamon
Dash Vanilla
1 cup Blueberries
1/4 cup chopped Pecans
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Dannon Greek Light&Fit Blueberry Yogurt, for garnish if desired
Blueberries, for garnish if desired

     After melting Coconutter, add to food processor along with all the other ingredients except Blueberries and chopped Pecans.  After blending, fold in fresh Blueberries and pour into Pam sprayed 8X8 pan and top with chopped Pecans.  Bake at 375 for 20-22 minutes for a baked Oatmeal texture.  Cool and garnish with Yogurt and Blueberries, if desired.  Enjoy  :)

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

Honey Barbeque Pulled Pork

     You don't have to wait til Summer or 4th of July to enjoy good down home Pulled Pork!!!  With Honey Barbeque Sauce you can throw this simple masterpiece together in minutes and enjoy when it's time to eat!!!  For those of you that love your crock pot, this recipe will fill your heart with crock pot praise!!!  Plan this for your next busy day and come home to enjoy perfection!!!  Enjoy  :)

Ingredients~
Boneless Pork Shoulder Roast, desired size (mine was 4-5 pounds)
1 medium Yellow Onion, sliced
1~19oz Honey Barbeque Sauce ( I like Sweet Baby Ray's)

     Spray inside of crock pot with Pam, place Pork Shoulder inside, pour enough Barbeque Sauce on top to coat, finish by laying sliced Onions on top.  Cook on low for 8 hours or til easily falls apart, cook longer is necessary.  When done, drain liquid off Roast, and shred meat in crock pot.  Once shredded, pour additional Barbeque Sauce on top til fully coated.  Serve on a bun, or tortilla or simply on your plate and garnish with more Barbeque Sauce, if desired.  Enjoy  ;)

One Pot Ziti

     If you are craving Italian but have a tight schedule, I have answers for all your problems!!!  One Pot Ziti is a dream come true!!!  All the flavor with half the time!!!  Make sure to put this on your menu schedule for next week.  You will thank me  :)

Ingredients~
1 Tablespoon Lucini Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 medium Yellow Onion, diced
1 Tablespoon chopped jarred Garlic
Dash Cayenne Pepper
8oz sliced fresh Mushrooms
1 cup shredded Carrots
2 cups fresh Baby Spinach Leaves
1 pound 99% Fat Free ground Turkey
Dash Dried Basil, to taste
28oz Crushed Tomatoes
12oz jarred Roasted Red Peppers, drained and whipped in Magic Bullet
2 cups Water
2 Tablespoons Chicken Base (or 2 Chicken Bouillon)
1 pound Ziti
8oz Fat Free Cream Cheese
Crumbled Goat Cheese, as desired for garnish

     Heat EVOO in large stock pot, add Onion, Garlic, and Cayenne Pepper til golden brown.  Add Mushrooms til cooked thru, then add Carrots and Spinach til wilted.  Add Turkey til browned and crumbled, drain if any grease, then season with dried Basil to taste.  Add Tomatoes, blended Red Peppers, Water, Chicken Base, and Ziti~simmer 15-20 minutes til al dente'.  Stir in Cream Cheese and cook another 5-10 minutes til melted and incorporated and pasta fully cooked.  Serve and garnish with crumbled Goat Cheese.  Serves 4-6, Enjoy  :)

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