Peanutty Peanut Butter Squares

These very yummy pretty things are another hit out of the Fixate Cookbook.  They are gluten free and amazing!  

Non stick cooking spray

1 1/2 cups of all natural smooth peanut butter

1/2 cup of raw honey or maple syrup

2 tsp vanilla extract

2 large eggs, room temperature

1/2 tsp baking soda

Preheat oven to 350. 

Lightly coat 8X8 inch baking pan with spray.  

Combine peanut butter, honey, extract, eggs, baking soda in a large bowl, mix well

Evenly spread batter into prepared pan.  Smooth with spatula.

Bake for 20 to 23 minutes.  Squares may be a little soft when coming out of the oven, but they will continue to cook.

Cool, cut into squares. 

Thirsty Thursday - Blueberry Sunrise Shakeology

Shakeology Spotlight - Whey Protein

Whey protein is one of the two major groups of proteins found in milk. Only 20 percent of milk's protein is whey. The rest is casein, which is the protein that triggers most milk allergies. This is why whey protein would be a way for people with allergies to get dairy protein into their diets. It's typically sold in powder form, as either whey protein isolate or whey protein concentrate.

Shakeology only contains 16g of protein...split somewhere between whey and pea (if you are drinking regular shakeology). It is considered a wellness shake or meal replacement, not a protein shake.

Transformation Tuesday - Casey won $106,000 and lost 112lbs

Meet Casey...2015's other Grand prize winner who was announced on stage at summit!  He lost 112 lbs and won 106,000!!  Read his story here:

http://www.teambeachbody.com/teambeachbodyblog/success-stories/transformation-tuesday-kids-got-dad-back

Meal Monday - Meatballs and Zucchini Noodles

Ingredients:

Nonstick cooking spray
1/3 whole wheat bread crumbs
1/4 cup reduced fat (2%) milk or almond milk
2 tsp olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
3 gloves garlic, chopped
2lbs ground turkey
2 large eggs
1/4 finely chopped fresh parsley
2 T Parmesan cheese
1 tsp dried oregano leaves
1/2 tsp pink salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
4 cups of sauce - I used homemade

 

Directions: 

 

Preheat oven 450.
Line baking sheet with parchment paper, lightly coated with spray
Place bread crumbs and milk in a small bowl. Set aside and soak for 10 minutes
Heat oil in medium skillet over medium heat.
Add onion and cook 5 to 6 minutes.
Add garlic, cook for one minute
Combine onion mixture, turkey, eggs, parsley, cheese, oregano, salt, pepper, and bread crumb mixture in a large bowl; mix well with clean hands or spoon.  Refrigerate, covered for 1 hour.
With clean wet hands, form turkey mixture into approx 42 1 inch meatballs. Arrange on baking sheet.
Bake for 13 to 18 minutes or until browned and cooked through.
Serve topped with sauce.

Zoodles:

4 medium zucchini
Hot water
1 cup of Sauce
2 T shredded basil
2 T parmesan cheese

Using a veggie peeler, cut each zucchini into lengthwise strips about 1/8 inch thick.  Turn zucchinni slightly after cutting each strip to work evenly around the outside, stopping when you hit the seeds at the core. Discard cores. Cut slices lengthwise into 1/2 inch ribbons.  Set aside.

Boil water in steamer over high heat.  Reduce heat to medium-high. Place zucchini in steamer basket; cook for 2 to 3 minutes, or until tender. Remove from heat.

Serves 4.

Caesar Salad

4 cups of chopped romaine lettuce
3/4 cups of shredded rotisserie chicken
2 T shredded Parmesan cheese
1 tsp capers
1 slice whole grain spouted bread, cut into cubes toasted
2 T Caesar dressing (I used poppyseed)

Place lettuce on a plate; top with chicken, cheese, capers and toasted bread

Drizzle with dressing; toss gently.

Another yummy recipe from the Fixate cookbook!  Better get a copy for yourself.  Its reasonably priced and has easy, yummy recipes! Click here to shop for Fixate!

Chocolate Chip Cookies - 21 day fix approved - gluten free and vegan too!

So after making two different gluten free recipes out of the cook book and having them turn out different than the cook book pics, I began to investigate.  It has to be the flour.  So I went back and got Bobs Red Mill almond flour - normally my staple - and both recipes were repeated keeping everything else the same.  Results?  Both recipes turned out great using that flour.  Apparently this is one case in which you can not substitute using an off brand and still get the same results!

3 cups of almond flour
1 tsp baking soda, gluten free
1/2 tsp sea salt
1/4 cup of coconut oil
1/4 cup of maple syrup or honey
1 large egg
2 egg whites
1 tsp of vanilla extract
1/2 cup of semi sweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven 375

Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.

Combine almond flour, baking soda, and salt, mix.

Beat oil and syrup until creamy (4 or 5 minutes)

Add egg, egg whites, and extract, beat for 2 more minutes

Add almond flour mixture to egg mixture.

Add chocolate chips.

Drop 1 Tbsp onto baking sheet. Flatten. Bake for 14 to 16 minutes.