GERMAN CHOCOLATE CAKE BITES

Hands down these are SO SIMPLE to make and so yummy!!  Seriously give these a try!

INGREDIENTS:

1/2 cup (6-8) fresh dates
1/2 cup raw pecans
2 Tablespoons raw cacao nibs
2 Tablespoons unsweetened shredded coconut


DIRECTIONS:
1. Put pecans and coconut in blender until it is flour like consistency
2. Add the cacao nibs and dates and blend until fully incorporated.
3. Take a tablespoon of the mixture, roll into a ball.
4. Place in a sealed container and store in the fridge.

ENJOY!!

CINNAMON SWIRL PROTEIN PANCAKES

INGREDIENTS:

1/2 banana mashed up
1 1/2 Tbsp almond milk
1 egg white
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp baking powder
2 Tbsp oat flour
1/2 scoop cinnamon swirl cellucor protein powder

DIRECTIONS:
1. Mix wet ingredients together, set aside.
2. Mix dry ingredients together, set aside.
3. Mix wet and dry ingredients and cook on pan strayed with pam.
4. ENJOY and top with a little greek yogurt mixed with PB2 and honey!! Or whatever you prefer:)

Pancake Problems!

So I have to confess...because the 1st step is admitting you have a problem.  Well....I HAVE A PANCAKE OBSESSION!!  Seriously though I love them, any kind, any topping, any time of the day.

I have even worked them into the 21 Day Fix eating plan so that I do not go crazy without them.  From pumpkin pancakes to banana chocolate pancakes, cinnamon swirl pancakes to cinnamon apple pie pancakes...EVEN spaghetti squash pancakes or Shakeology Pancakes!  You name it and I will try it!







What makes the perfect pancakes???  In my personal opinion it HAS to be a bit on the sweet side.  Fluffy texture is a MUST! And for toppings...I love maple syrup but to steer towards the healthy side I will combine greek yogurt with PB2 or just thin out PB2 with water and drizzle it over the top.

So get creative, and get cooking to make HEALTHY versions of pancakes!! I have added two NEW pancake recipes to my blog!!

Meal Plan for the week- 21 Day Fix Approved

Last week was a rough one...my mood was off, I was overwhelmed with work, and I failed to plan my meals leaving me reaching for whatever was in sight.  Not to mention all of the wine that was consumed!

So today I got back on track and made my meal plan, went shopping and prepared everything for the week. I got more creative with my meal planning because I flat out was just SICK AND TIRED of salads EVERYDAY for lunch!  And of course had time for my 30 minute workout with Autumn on the 21 Day Fix workout plan! I seriously love this program because even if you fall off the wagon...it is so easy to get back up again! I am excited to start fresh and be ready to conquer the week!

I have found when I plan everything out for the week, I spend WAYYYYY less money on groceries which means more money in the savings account!....BONUS!! Meal plan below :) 

HEALTHY BIRTHDAY CAKE

ONLY 5 INGREDIENTS!!! Thank you to @tastyhealth for the recipe!

150g whole almonds
1 tsp baking powder
4 Tbsp granulated sweetener of choice
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 Whole eggs plus 2 egg whites

DIRECTIONS:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line a 7" or 8" round pan with parchment paper
2. Place almonds in a food processor and run for a couple minutes until the almonds are ground to a course meal.  Put the almond meal in a bowl, add baking powder and stir well.  Set aside.
3. Whisk one egg white in a bowl until stiff and set aside.  This will take a long time by hand so an electric mixer would be a HUGE help!!
4. In a mixing bowl beat eggs plus one egg white with sweetener (I used stevia) until fluffy. Add the almond meal and stir just until evenly combined.  GENTLY fold in the stiff egg white.  DO NOT STIR!  You want to keep the air in the batter.  Pour into the pan and immediately put in the oven.
5. Bake for about 25-30 minutes or until cake has risen.
6. Allow to cool for 10 minutes, run a knife along the sides and invert the pan onto a large plate.
7. When it is completely cool, cut cake in half and fill it with whatever you like!  I used mashed up bananas and Justin's Hazelnut PB (whipped with milk).  Top with cool whip or frosting!!  SOOO GOOD!! 

FRENCH TOAST (in slow cooker)

Another one of my breakfast favorites turned into a healthy recipe!!

INGREDIENTS:
2 eggs
2 egg whites
2 Tbsp of honey or agave
2 tsp of vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups of almond milk (or whatever milk you prefer)
1 tsp cinnamon
9 slices of whole grain bread (each slice cut diagonally to make 18 triangles)

Filling ingredients:
3 cups of dices apples or bananas
3 Tbsp honey
1 tsp lemon juice
1 tsp cinnamon

DIRECTIONS:

1. Add the first 6 ingredients together in a bowl and whisk. Lightly spray the inside of the slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray.
2. In a separate bowl, Mix all the filling ingredients together, making sure the fruit is coated. Set aside.
3. Place 6 triangle slices of bread in the bottom of the slow cooker.  Add 1/4 of the filling.  Repeat until there are 3 layers of bread.  Add remaining filling.
4. Pour egg mixture over bread. Cover and cook on high 2 to 2 1/2 hrs or until bread has soaked up the liquid.  
5. I topped mine with some liquified PB2, and heated up jam.  You could also do syrup. ENJOY!!

BLUEBERRY WAFFLES WITH CINNAMON HONEY PB

Heaven on earth!!  I love breakfast and I am always looking for ways to make healthy versions of the high in calorie classics.  Here is a good one...enjoy!

INGREDIENTS FOR WAFFLE:
1/4 c oat flour
1 Tbsp coconut flour
1 Tbsp powder peanut butter
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
2 Packets of Stevia
2 Tbsp almond milk
2 Tbsp unsweetened apple sauce
1 Tbsp Nonfat plain greek yogurt
3/4 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp butter extract (if you want)
handful of blueberries

DIRECTIONS:
Mix dry ingredients together.  Then mix wet ingredients into it.  Fold in blueberries.

DIRECTIONS FOR PB:
Place 8oz of peanuts (unsalted) in blender with 1 Tbsp honey and cinnamon to taste.  Continue to blend until it turns into peanut butter.  NO SALT, NO OIL, NO SUGAR NEEDED!!