Berry Stuffed French Toast

One of my coaches posted stuffed French toast in a challenge group and I just had to make it! So she just used plain ricotta - but I love sweets, and with a few simple adds, I made this a clean breakfast treat! It was so simple and my girls LOVED it! I can't wait to make this for my family at the beach, I think it will be a hit!

What you need:

• French Toast (here is my clean French Toast Recipe)
• 1/4 cup part skim ricotta
• 1/2 tsp pure honey
• 1/4 tsp lemon juice
• berries, diced about 1/2 cup (I used raspberries and strawberries)

What you need to do:

1. Combine ricotta, honey and lemon juice - mix well
2. Add 1/4 cup of berries
3. Let sit overnight, covered in the fridge (not necessary but I thought the flavors would blend better)
4. Cook French toast, as directed
5. With pan still warm, add the stuffing mixture on top one slice (I used about half)
6. Top with another slice of French toast.
7. Plate and top with remainder of the fruit.
8. Enjoy!

Philly Steak Stuffed Peppers

The yumminess of a cheese steak without the grease and bread! Bonus - 21 Day Fix approved! Awesome addition to my meal plan as I decrease my carb intake!

What you need:

• 1 pound chipped steak
• 1 medium onion, sliced into long strips
• 1 cup of sliced mushrooms
• 1 tbsp. garlic powder
• 1 tsp pepper
• 2 green peppers

What you need to do:

1. Preheat oven to 350
2. Heat 1 tsp Extra virgin olive oil into a large pan on medium heat
3. Add onions and peppers.
4. Season with pepper and garlic powder
5. Add Steak, cook until no longer pink
6. Cut peppers length wise and remove ribs and seeds
7. Place on baking dish, add a small layer of mozzarella cheese to the inside bottom of the pepper.
8. Top with steak and onion mixture
9. Top with remaining cheese.
10. Bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes, until cheese melts
11. Enjoy!

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Mexican Chicken Tortilla Soup

I would be lying if I said that I wasn't excited to try out my new soup bowls from a holiday gift exchange! Great recipe that my family (yes, even my kiddos loved). Will probably try to spice it up a little more next time!

What you need:

• 8 6-inch corn tortillas
• 2 tsp olive oil
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 2 cups slived celery
• 2 cloves of garlic
• 4 medium chopped tomatoes
• 6 cups of low-sodium organic chick broth
• 3 cups chopped rotisserie chicken breasts (boneless, skinless)
• 1 1/2 cups sliced carrots
• 1 tsp oregano
• 1 tsp ground chili powder
• 1/2 tsp sea salt
• 1/4 tsp ground pepper
• 1/4 c. chopped fresh cilantro
• 4 tsp. crumbled feta cheese

What you need to do:

1. Preheat oven to 350
2. Line large baking sheet with parchment paper
3. Place tortillas on baking sheet. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until toasted and crispy. Remove from oven. When cool, break into pieces. Set aside.
4. Heat oil in large saucepan over medium heat.
5. Add onion and celery - cook until onion is transparent
6. Add garlic, cook for 1 minute
7. Add tomatoes, cook for about 5 minutes or until tomatoes are soft - set aside.
8. Add onion mixture, 2 cups of broth and half of the toasted tortilla pieces to blender. Blend until smooth.
9. Add blended mixture to large saucepan. Add remaining 4 cups broth, chicken, carrots, oregano, chili powder, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil over medium high heat. Reduce heat to medium low and cook for 10 minutes.
10. Top each serving with cilantro, cheese, and remaining tortilla pieces.

ENJOY!

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Onion Baby-Baked Potatoes

It is no secret... I love butter - my hardest craving to kick! Every time I try to make a regular baked potato, I tell myself I won't put butter on it "this time" and guess what??? I always to... So I gotta switch it up!  Delicious and simple as can be! You can use red potatoes and cut them as well!

What you need:

• Baby potatoes (red or multicolored)
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil (amount depends on how many potatoes you are making, you need just enough for a light coating)
• Dried Minced Onion
• Onion Powder
• Dried Parsley
• Dash of Garlic Powder

What you need to do:

1. Preheat oven to 400
2. Spray glass baking dish
3. Place washed potatoes in the dish, single layer
4. Drizzle lightly with EVOO
5. Sprinkle on onion powder and minced onion
6. Bake for 40 minutes
7. Enjoy!

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Pumpkin Cheesecake Shakeology

I feel like I do this every Christmas season... I crave just one last piece of pumpkin pie - and this year I was introduced to Pumpkin Cheesecake. I tried my hardest to obey my two bite rule, but I couldn't... and so my newest shakeology recipe was born - obviously not exactly like pumpkin cheesecake, but it did help kick the craving!

In a mixer add (in this order):

• 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
• 10 ice cubes
• 1/2 cup canned pumpkin
• 1/2 cup vanilla greek yogurt
• 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
• 2 tsp sugar free/fat free cheesecake pudding powder
• 1 scoop of vanilla Shakeology

Blend and top with cinnamon!
Enjoy!

Insanity Max:30 Week 3

Here we go - week 3!!! Time is flying!!! This week was similar to previous weeks, except instead of Tabata Power we now have Tabata Strength... I love strength workouts because I feel myself getting stronger each day! 3 pushups, 5 pushups, 10 pushups... stronger and stronger... what I modified Day 1, I can do a few reps of... and I love that! To me, it is more of a victory than weight loss!


My new favorite snack - greek raspberry yogurt with granola!
I usually have a texture issue with yogurt, the granola helps!!!
So yummy and filling!
 



I love this workout shirt because I feel like I am an underdog "beating the odds"
75% of women never make it to their pre-pregnancy weight - I am proud to say
I weigh less than my pre-pregnancy weight with Aubrey, over 5 yrs ago!



I love this move - great to watch or tape yourself working out because you can see how you can improve
For me, watching this... I know I need to keep my butt down to help get a better core workout!

I am so excited to be moving into week 4... but these workouts are still such a challenge I am a bit nervous about what lies ahead in month 2!!!! I do love a challenge!!!

Mocha Caramel Shakeology

I am not a huge coffee fan and honestly, I've never had a cup of coffee... but I get a lot of requests for Starbuck's like Shakes... I made this bad boy the other day and it was AAAAMMAAZZZING! Plus my Shakeology recipe is less calories, less money, healthier, more protein and packed with dense super foods! You are welcome :)

Pumpkin Chai Shakeology

I know it is winter time, and I should be thinking all things Christmas - but I can not get over pumpkin season just quite yet!!! Not going to lie, I may or may not have topped it with cool whip! Enjoy!

Caramel Apple Shakeology

Ahhh... been craving this all season!!!!

 

Clean Stuffed Pepper Soup

Fall is in the air - time for some comfort food!!! This is going to run you about 250-275 calories per 1.5 cups! Not to shabby for comfort food! Enjoy!


What you need:

• 3 cups cooked brown rice
• 1 lb lean ground chicken, beef, or turkey (I used ground venison as a substitute)
• 1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper
• 1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper
• 1 cup diced onion
• 3 cloves chopped garlic
• 2 cans (14.5 oz each) cans petite diced tomatoes
• 1 3/4 cups tomato sauce
• 2 cups homemade clean eating chicken stock (or reduced sodium chicken broth)
• 1/2 tsp chili powder
• Pepper to taste

 

What you need to do:

1. - Cook 3 cups brown rice and set aside.
2. - Using a large soup pot, brown the meat and drain any remaining fat.
3. -  Reduce the heat and add in the peppers, onion and garlic.  Cook until the veggies are slightly tender (about 5 minutes). 
4. - Add in canned tomatoes, chicken broth, tomato sauce, chili powder and salt and pepper. 
5. - Cover and simmer for another 5 minutes.  Lastly, add in the cooked rice and simmer on low for 25 minutes. 

ENJOY!

Clean, Simple and 21 Day Fix Approved Tacos

What you need:

• 1 lb ground lean turkey
• lettuce
• tomato
• shredded cheese
• onions
• 2 tablespoons ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon chili powder
• whole wheat soft tortilla shell
• optional toppings - plain Greek yogurt and avocado

What you need to do:

 

To make the taco seasoning:

1. Blend all spices in a bowl and use to season any taco meat you are cooking. Use approximately 1 tablespoon per pound of meat.
2. Note: This mix has a small amount of “kick” to it.  If you want something without the kick, leave out the cayenne and add an extra 1/2 teaspoon of paprika.

To make the tacos:

1. Pan fry ground turkey, thoroughly.
2. While turkey is cooking, cut up vegetable toppings
3. Once turkey is cooked, add 2/3 c water and taco seasoning (1 tablespoon per pound of meat). Heat until steaming, then place on low for a few minutes.
4. Place taco meat into lettuce bowl and top with toppings (measure meat and veggies with 21 Day Fix)
5. Optional homemade whole wheat chips - bake whole wheat shell in oven at 350. 10 minutes on each side, once crispy and cool cut into triangles (or strips if you want to put on top of taco salad)

21 Day Fix - measure out meat (red), toppings, veggies (green), and whole wheat shell is one yellow

 

  

Baked Panko-Crusted Chicken

 

 

I love this recipe! Very simple... great alone or great for chicken parm!

 Hope you enjoy it as much as my family does!

What you need:

- Raw Chicken Breasts (8 - about 5oz each)
- 1/4 c Dijon Mustard
- 3 cloves of garlic, crushed
- 1/2 c greek yogurt
- 2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 4 tsp dried parsley
- 3/4 c panko bread crumbs

What you need to do:

Great alone or as chicken parm! Served here with a
baked potato with pan seared red peppers and onions.

1. Preheat oven to 400
2. Lightly coat a large baking pan with non-stick cooking spray
3. Combine parsley and bread crumbs in a large bowl, mix and set aside
4. Combine mustard, garlic, yogurt and oil in a second large bowl, mix and set aside
5. Rinse and dry chicken breasts. Dip each chicken breast into mustard mixture, then roll in bread crumbs. Place chicken side by side on baking pan.
6. Bake 18-22 minutes - or until coating has browned and chicken is no longer pink in the middle.

Nutritional facts per Serving:

• Calories - 227, Fat - 7g, Protein - 32g

Build a Better Salad

Soooo - you think that salad is pretty healthy?? No fried foods, low carbs - okay, I see where you were tying to go with this! But what you may not realize, is the simple additions to your salad can add up to hundreds and hundreds of calories and over a day's worth of sodium! Sometimes you might be better off having that cheeseburger! I have some easy swaps that can help make your salad yummy and fun while keeping it clean and fit...

Dressing

Don't put your dressing on your salad, dip your fork and you will save a lot calories!

Salads are usually topped with salad dressing, hence the name, but sadly, most of them are high in calories and fat.

Plus, a serving of salad dressing is only 2 tablespoons. For those 2 tablespoons, you're going to get anywhere from 100 to 200 calories.

Forgo the salad dressing and squeeze some fresh lemon or lime juice on your salad. Or get creative with some salsa as a topping and balsamic vinegar is also nice. I also love adding grilled apples, or fresh berries - they add a lot of flavor and you don't even need dressing!

When you order a salad at a restaurant, ask for your dressing to be served on the side. You'll be amazed at how many calories you can save when you control the topping.

Love these yogurt dressings by Bolthouse - So yum!! Here was the true test for the Ranch...
My husband's buddies were over and cooking out, they asked for Ranch and this was all I had...
I knew if they saw "yogurt" they would not try it, so I put it in a little bowl and they ate it all
and asked for more!

 

Croutons

These extra toppings don't add any nutritional value, but they can add a lot of calories and the cheap ones are loaded with ingredients with names you can't pronounce. One-half cup of croutons has about 100 calories and those bacon bits  aren't even real bacon. Turkey bacon is another great alternative!!

So you like a few crunchy toppings, do this instead -- add a tablespoon or two of chopped walnuts or flax seeds. They've got omega-3 fatty acids, plus they're good sources of fiber, which your body needs for a healthy digestive system.

But if you are like me, and can't help but want to add some carbs to your salad - add some Annie's Cheddar Bunnies! (Yes, I know - I have the palate of a 3 year old - but don't knock it til you try it!)

 

Cheese

Cheese is a catch 22 - while it is a great source of calcium and protein; it is also loaded with sodium, saturated fat and calories.

So how can we fix this one? Simple - pay attention to the portion size... Don't just pour the bag of cheese over your salad! Did you know a serving of cheese is about what would fit into a shot glass (about 2 TBSP)??? YEP! Go with a low fat, dry cheese like a Parmesan!

 

Iceburg

Well yes, Iceburg lettuce does have a nice crunch - but it has virtually no nutritional value... That's right very few vitamins and not much fiber either. It is a good source of water, and that is about it! And since it's not too flavorful, a pile of iceberg lettuce practically screams for globs of high-fat dressings.
So, to keep your salad on the healthy side, use a variety of darker greens like spinach, leaf lettuce, arugula, dandelion greens, kale, watercress and basil leaves. The darker the leaves the better -- they're richer in folate, minerals and phytochemicals.

 

Processed Meats

Adding a protein source can transform a salad into a full-fledged (and really good for you) meal.
But adding deep-fried chicken strips or hunks of processed lunch meats will turn your healthy salad into a health-disaster. And a typical taco salad with seasoned ground meat and globs of sour cream is just a no-go.

Keep your salad lean and mean by adding cooked chicken or turkey breast, a couple of grilled shrimp or legumes.

Hope this helps you build a better salad!!!

Snickers

Not sure what to even say about this - besides AAAMMMAAZZZIIINNGG!! I didn't have chocolate shakeology so I made it with vanilla and added unsweetened coco powder - whoa!!!

Free Clean Eating Support

I honestly believe that if you eat like crap, you will feel like crap... WE ALL KNOW,what healthy eating looks like, less fast food, more green food, less soda, more water.... You might think that eating healthy is too expensive, not that important or too much work, but I want to show you HOW and WHY eating a clean lifestyle can change your health! I will show you how to stay on budget, why it is important and how simple it can be!! It doesn't cost you a thing, just show up with an open mind and let's improve your health through food!!! JOIN ME!

Cookie Dough

UMMMM THIS TOTALLY FEELS LIKE A CHEAT!! MY NEWEST FAVE!

 

 

Mocha Shakeology

Not going to lie... I've never tried this recipe!!! I am not a coffee drinker... SO I NOMINATE YOU to try this and help me tweak and improve it... THANKS!

Whole Wheat Pizza Flat Bread

So simple, great easy meal! Family friendly and fun (kiddos can put on their own toppings!) So yummy and so many ways to switch this one up!

What you need:

- Whole Wheat Flat Bread
- Organic Pizza Sauce
- Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
- Garden Veggies (my fave are thinly sliced Roma Tomatoes, banana peppers, red pepper, mushrooms)
- Fresh Basil
- Grilled Chicken - sliced

 

What you need to do:

- Preheat oven to 400
- Place Flat Bread on Pizza Stone
- Put a thin layer of sauce on flat bread, covering it evenly
- Thin layer of cheese, also covering flat bread evenly
- Add veggies and basil
- Top with Chicken
- Bake until cheese is melted and toppings are warm (about 15 min)

Shakeology Balls

Perfect for those late night cravings!!

Pumpkin Pie Shakeology

I know it is July, but it is so chilly and rainy in the 'burgh that I just had to try this... YUM!!!!