My new favorite snack

Brown rice cake, Daisy cottage cheese, avocado, red pepper flakes.

Vegan Ding Dongs - gluten free and dairy free and sugar free

I adapted this recipe from neuroticmommy.com

Cake:

1 c. gluten free flour

1/3 c. cocoa powder

1 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. baking soda

pinch of salt

1-1/2 T. corn starch

1/3 c. melted coconut oil

1/3 c. unsweetened applesauce (original recipe had regular applesauce)

2 tsp. vanilla

1/3 c. stevia (cup for cup kind) (original recipe used maple syrup)

1/2 c. pitted medjool dates

1/3 c. water

1/2 c. unsweetened almond milk

preheat oven to 350. spray 8 inch round cake pan with non stick cooking spray. 

Whisk together dry ingredients in one bowl: flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cornstarch.

In another bowl whisk together all wet ingredients: coconut oil, applesauce, vanilla extract, almond milk and date paste. Date paste is made by blending the 1/2 c. dates with 1/3 c. water in a food processor.

Fold wet ingredients in with the dry until well combined.

Pour into prepared baking pan and bake for 20-25 minutes.

When fully cooked remove from oven and let cool in pan for 5 minutes then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

COCONUT CREAM

1 can of full fat coconut cream, left in the fridge overnight

2 T. stevia (original recipe used maple syrup)

1 tsp. vanilla extract

Scoop out cream and place in a bowl along with the stevia and vanilla. Use the leftovr water for smoothies. Whip that up, nice and creamy. I used a hand mixer.

DARK CHOCOLATE COATING

1 isadelight per ding dong

1/4 tsp coconut oil per isadelight

(could use dark chocolate pieces, probably 1 cup and 1/4 c. coconut oil)

TO ASSEMBLE:

Use a circle cookie cutter to cut circles from cake. I scooped out the middle of the cake, filled it with cream, then topped with pieces of the cake I scooped out, put in freezer to get them firm before covering with chocolate. Either dip in chocolate or spread chocolate over cake.

Family analysis - not too bad. Somewhat difficult to make. The cake isn't light and fluffy. If you weren't going for gluten free - you could use whole wheat flour. 

Fun way to spend a Sunday - experimenting and baking. 

Super Bowl Clean Eating Nachos

Taco Seasoned Chicken

6 oz chicken breast
1/2 tsp chile powder
1/4 tsp sea salt
1/4 tsp black pepper

Line large baking sheet with foil and mist with cooking spray, place
chicken on foil and mist with cooking spray or brush with olive oil.
Sprinkle with chile powder, salt, and black pepper evenly on both
sides. Broil 5-8 minutes per side.

Tortilla Chips

10 6-inch no GMO corn tortillas, cut into 6 wedges
1-1/2 tsp. chile powder

Line 2 baking sheets with foil and mist with cooking spray. Arrange
tortillas in single layer and mist with cooking spray. Sprinkle with
chile powder. Bake 14-15 minutes, turning tortilla chips halfway
through. They will crisp up as they cool.

Pico de Gallo

2 tomatoes chopped
2 jalapeno peppers chopped
1/2 white onion chopped
1/2 c fresh cilantro leaves chopped
juice of 2 limes
1/4 tsp sea salt

Combine tomatoes, jalapenos, onion, cilantro, lime juice and sea salt.

Black Beans

1-2 tsp olive oil
1 large clove garlic
15 oz unsalted black beans
1-2 tsp hot sauce (Tessemae's all natural hot sauce)
1/4 tsp sea salt

In saucepan heat olive oil. Add garlic and cook/stir for 1 minute. Add
beans with liguid. Stir to bubbling. Stir in hot sauce and sea salt.
Remove from heat and mash until desired consistency.

NACHOS

10 chips topped with chicken
pico de gallo
1/4 c. black beans
1/4 c. mexican cheese blend
1/2 fresh avocado or guacamole
plain greek yogurt
jalapeno
green onions
cilantro

Top chips with desired garnishes.

Grilled Salmon with Citrus Jalapeño topping

1 T. Organic unsalted butter (real recipe called for 1/4 c.)

1 jalapeño, seeded and diced

Finely grated zest of 1 orange, 1 lime, 1 lemon

Sea salt and ground pepper

1 mango cubed

Fresh pineapple cubed

Salmon

Paprika

Combine butter, jalapeño, orange/lemon/lime zest, salt, pepper and set aside. 

Cut mango and pineapple

Sprilnkle salmon with paprika and cook as desired. We made a foil tent and put on grill. 

Cook salmon - top with citrus jalapeño topping and a couple pieces of mango and pineapple (careful with the mango and pineapple due to their high sugar content). 

Quinoa Salad

1 cup quinoa

2 cups water

1/4 c. Extra virgin olive oil 

2 limes, juiced

2 tsp. ground cumin

1 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes, or more to taste

1-1/2 c. Halved cherry tomatoes 

1 can black beans, drained and rinsed

5 green onions, finely chopped

1/4 c. fresh cilantro

Salt and ground pepper to taste

Bring quinoa and water to boil I a. saucepan. Reduce heat to medium low, cover and simmer until quinoa is tender and water has been absorbed, 10-15 minutes. Set aside to cool. 

Whisk olive oil, lime juice, cumin, salt, red pepper flakes together in a bowl. 

Combine quinoa, tomatoes, black beans, green ou ions together in a bowl. Pour dressing over mixture. Toss to coat. Stir in cilantro. Add salt and pepper if needed. Serve immediately or chilling refrigerator.

Caper and Dill Weed Salmon

1 lb. verlasso Salmon (I am sure you can use any kind)

1 T. Minced garlic

1 T. Dried dill weed

1 T. Caper juice

1 lemon slices

This can be baked on foil - but we put salmon in foil tent and cooked on the bbq. Mix garlic, caper juice, and dill weed. Spread over salmon. Top with a few capers, lemon slices and red pepper slices to make it look pretty. Cook until done. Here is another tip with lemons or limes that I got from my 12 year old cooking school friend - put lemon or lime in microwave for 8-10 seconds before slicing or squeezing - makes it more juicy. Amazing how many times I have used this tip!!

I served with a quinoa brown rice medley that was seasoned with basil and used coconut oil when boiling (instead of olive oil). And steamed asparagus! I just finished eating and all of it was soooo yummy! 

Sriracha Chicken Tacos

2 lbs. chicken breasts - cubed

olive oil

butter lettuce for wraps (I used green leafy lettuce because I already had it)

black beans

grape tomatoes

avocado

green onions

cilantro

lime

Marinade Ingredients:

Juice of 2 limes - about 2 T.

2-4 T. Sriracha Sauce (more or less to taste - since I have non spice lovers - I used 2 T. and it was just right for them.)

1 T. raw honey (optional - I did not use)

1/2 tsp garlic powder

2 tsp ground cumin

1/2 tsp chili powder

1/2 tsp sea salt

1 T. water

1/2 T olive oil

Combine marinade ingredients. Place in glass bowl or gallon ziploc bag. Marinade chicken 4 hours or over night. Saute chicken in olive oil until done - could also have chicken in larger pieces and grill. Assemble taco with desired ingredients. Enjoy! 

Fruit Infused Water

For each half gallon of water

1 c. Strawberries

1 c. Cucumbers

2 lines

1/4 c. Fresh mint leaves

Ice

Layer in pitcher or drink dispenser. Let sit for at least 10 minutes. Mine sat for a couple hours. Flavor was very subtle at first and not overly strong a couple hours later. Just keep adding water when level gets low - and more fruits if flavor too mild. 

Using this water in my vanilla protein shake was AMAZING! Fits perfect with my shake day for Tina's 18 day challenge. Who would have thought????

Meat and Cheese Cucumber "Sandwiches"

Roast Beef & Cheese Cucumber "Sandwiches"

Slices of Cucumber 
Cold Cuts (I prefer low sodium Boar's Head brand)
Sliced Cheese

1 slice of cheese and meat makes about 4 "sandwiches" you can spear them with a jazzy food pick for parties. For ease of assembly the day of a party (great weight loss friendly appetizers) or for a quickly made lunch during the week pre-cut the cucumbers the night before and place in a Ziploc baggie in fridge.

Super Foods Salad

Dressing:
3/4 c. organic sugar (evaporated cane juice)
1/2 c. vinegar
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. black pepper
1/4 c. extra virgin olive oil

1 bunch kale
1/2 pkg (16 ounce) frozen shelled edamame
1/4 red onion chopped
1 carrot grated
2/3 c. fresh blueberries
1/2 c. craisins
1/2 c. shelled sunflower seeds
1/2 c. cashew pieces

1. Combine dressing ingredients. Set aside
2. Combine all salad ingredients. Optional: toss with half the dressing and refrigerate 4-6 hours and serve with the rest of the dressing. I just added dressing to my own salad.

Italian Meatball Soup

Italian Meatball Soup

1 recipe of Italian Meatballs
1-2 T. olive oil
1/2 onion, chopped
4-5 cloves garlic, minced
64 oz. lower sodium chicken broth
28 oz. can organic crushed tomatoes
1 T. Italian seasoning (I used parsley, oregano, basil, crushed red pepper, pepper)
2 carrots, peeled and diced
1 c. small quinoa pasta (like macaroni)
2 c. spinach, thinly sliced

Make meatballs. In large pan, heat olive oil. Saute the onions and garlic until translucent. Add broth, tomatoes, and Italian seasoning. Heat to boiling. Gently add the meatballs, carrots, pasta, and spinach. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes or until pasta is cooked and carrots are tender. Eat before pasta gets mushy.

Italian Meatballs

1/2 lb. ground turkey
1/2 lb. chicken sausage (I get at Harmons)
2 eggs, beaten
1/4 c. plain bread crumbs (can use panko bread crumbs)
2 T. freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1 tsp. basil
1/2 tsp. parsley
1/4 c. dehydrated onion
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tsp. kosher salt
1/2 tsp. pepper

Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and spray with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside. Gently combine all ingredients in medium bowl. Shape the meat mixture into meatballs. A cookie scoop works great. Place meatballs on the prepared baking sheet. Place the baking sheet in the oven and cook for 7-10 minutes or until the meatballs are becoming brown and fragrant. They will finish cooking when put in the soup.

I adapted this recipe from one my sister in law gave me that was published in the cookbook "Our Best Bites",

Lime Cheesecake Squares

I made this as a "legal" treat. OH MY GOODNESS! Fits in perfect when you are needing a treat that isn't going to fill your body with chemicals! Click on the title to be linked to the recipe!

Orange Dreamsicle IsaPro Lean protein shake

1 pkg. Vanilla IsaPro Lean

1-1/2 c. unsweetened vanilla almond milk

2 scoops citrus Want More Energy

1 c. ice

Blend in magic bullet. YUM!