BANANA BLUEBERRY MUFFINS

This one comes straight from Autumn Calabrese herself!

1 1/2 cup almond flour

1/8 tsp salt
3/4 tsp baking soda
1 Tablespoon melted coconut oil
2 large eggs
1 cup mashed bananas (about 2)
1/2 cup blueberries

1.Preheat oven to 350
2.Combine almond flour, salt and baking soda.
3.In a medium bowl, whisk together the coconut oil and eggs then stir into the dry ingredients.
4.Stir in the bananas and fold in the blueberries.
5.Spoon the batter into muffin cups (makes about 8) and bake for about 25-35 minutes.

1 Muffin is 1 Purple and 1 Blue!

SPAGHETTI SQUASH AND BROCCOLI BAKE

I used a about a 1 1/2 pound spaghetti squash (for 2 servings) but if you want to double the recipe then go for it and use a 3 pound one, then giving you 4 servings.

1/2 tablespoon olive oil
2 small bunches of broccoli
garlic powder
crushed red pepper
basil
salt
pepper
1 tablespoon water
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese, divided

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
2. Place squash cut side down in microwave safe dish, seeds removed, with about 1/4 cup water.  Cook on high until flesh is tender, about 10 minutes depending on size of squash.
3. While the squash cooks, saute broccoli in 1/2 tbsp olive oil for 4 minutes, season with garlic powder, basil, salt, pepper, red pepper flakes.  Add 1 tablespoon of water and let cook another 5 minutes or so.
4. Using a fork, scrape out the insides ofspaghetti squash and combine with broccoli, 1/8 cup parmesean cheese, almost the entire amount of mozzarella (saving a little to top it with), and season to taste.
5. Place empty spaghetti squash shells on a baking sheet and stuff with mixture. Sprinkle remaining cheese on top. Bake for 10 minutes, then place under broiler for about 1 minute (watch it so it doesn't burn!) just to toast the cheese.

ENJOY!!

HOMEMADE ALMOND MILK

-Put one cup of raw almonds in 3-4 cups of water for 8-10 hours. 

(I do it before I go to bed at night) 

-After, rise the almonds off. Put them in a blender with 3 cups of new water and blend for 45 seconds. 

Strain using a fine strainer (push it through with a spatula)

and wa-la... Almond milk.

I don't like to drink it warm so I put in it the fridge and by the next morning it's nice and chilled.

With the almonds mashed up in the strainer, I make almond meal out of it.  Place a parchment paper on a cookie sheet.  Spread out the mashed up almonds and bake at 200 or 250 degrees in the oven till they are dry.  Place in blender to make a fine crumb.  I put back in the oven to toast it a little longer, but that is your choice.  And BOOM yummy almond meal. 

SO EASY.  SO WORTH IT!

HONEY NUT GRANOLA (slow cooker)

INGREDIENTS:

2 1/2 cups of rolled oats

3/4 cup raw almonds (divided in half)

Handful of crushed up walnuts-optional

1 tsp cinnamon

dash of salt

dash of nutmeg

1/4 cup honey (or maple syrup)

1/4 cup coconut oil

1 tablespoon of brown sugar - optional

1 tsp vanilla

DIRECTIONS:

1. Spray the slow cooker with cooking spray then add oats.

2. Grind half of the almonds into fine crumbs in a blender/food processor then add to slow cooker.  Grind the rest into medium chunks and add to slow cooker.  I added some crushed up walnuts as well at this point. 

3. Sprinkle with cinnamon, salt, and a dash of nutmeg. Mix well. 

4. Melt the coconut oil in the microwave.  Then whisk in honey, vanilla and brown sugar.  Pour mixture over the oats and stir until evenly coated.

5. Leave the lid off slightly and cook granola for about 2 hours on low, stirring every 30 minutes until granola is evenly golden.  Then spread granola onto sheet of aluminum foil to cool.

ENJOY!!!!

HEARTY BEEF AND BUTTERNUT SQUASH STEW

Makes 6 servings.  Each serving is 1 red and 1 green.

1 tsp olive oil
1 1/2 pounds of raw lean beef meat, boneless, cut into 2 inch cubes
1 medium onion, chopped
1/2 green bell pepper, chopped
1/2 red bell pepper, chopped
4 cloves garlic, crushed
2 medium tomatoes, chopped
1 cup low sodium organic beef broth
1 bay leaf
1 tsp sea salt
1 tsp ground black pepper
2 cups cubed butternut squash
1/4 chopped flat leaf parsley

1. Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium high heat.
2. Add beef, cook, stirring frequently, or 4-5 minutes or until beef is brown.
3. Add onion and bell peppers, cook, stirring frequently for 4-5 minutes, or until onion is translucent.
4. Add garlic, cook, stirring frequently, for 1 minute.
5. Add tomatoes, broth, bay leaf, salt, pepper. Bring to a boil.
Reduce heat to medium-low, cook, covered for 40 minutes.
6. Add squash, cook, stirring occasionally for 8-12 minutes or until sauce has thickened and beef is fork tender.
7, Remove bay leaf and serve topped with parsley!

YUM YUM YUM!!!

TURKEY CHILI

21 Day Fix Extreme Recipe!
1/2 green
1 red
1/2 yellow

Makes 6 servings, 1 cup each.

1 tsp olive oil
1 1/2 pounds raw 93% lean ground turkey
1 medium onion, chopped
1 medium green pepper, chopped
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 1/2 tsp ground cumin
1 Tbsp Chili powder
1/2 tsp sea salt
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
2 15oz cans black beans, drained and rinsed
1 15oz can all natural dices tomatoes, no sugar added
12 fresh cilantro sprigs, finely chopped for garnish.



DIRECTIONS:
1. Heat oil in large saucepan over med high heat
2. Add turkey, onion, pepper, and garlic. Cook stirring occasionally for 5-8 min until turkey no longer pink.
3. Add spices, cook, stirring constantly for 1 minute.
4. Add beans and tomatoes (with liquid). Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and stir occasionally cooking for 15-20 min.
5. Serve warm sprinkled with Cilantro.

21 Day Fix Extreme Update

Officially made it to Day 9!!! It is amazing because I truly thought I would have caved in by now and cheating with some nachos, pizza, muffins...anything.  Plus sticking to the meal plan while being on vacation for a few days was an achievement. And personally, me going 9 days without frozen yogurt is UNBELIEVABLE!!!

Funny part is though, when you are eating healthy, working out, and in a routine holding each other accountable, it doesn't seem that hard at all.  Your cravings go away, thanks to shakeology too, and you don't think about the junk food.  I really do not miss it...OK I MISS THE FRO YO!  But on the days I can have 2 fruit servings, I blend up frozen strawberries and banana and that is my make shift fro yo.  SO good!

How are the workouts??

Well, I have to admit after going through insanity max 30, I thought they would be a breeze.  Boy was I wrong.  Autumn pushes you with utilizing the weights and giving minimal breaks.  I feel like the second I have a sip of water, we are already going again.  I like this because it keeps your mind focused on the exercises and not on the soreness you are beginning to feel.



How is the meal plan?  

My girlfriend and I have stuck to it!  Is it hard?  YES.  And I say yes because it seems like we spend a lot of time in the kitchen.  But comparing week 1 meal prep to week 2, we are speeding up the process.  Make several servings of each dish, use teamwork in the kitchen, have one person chopping while the other is using the stove...little ways to make it go by faster.  And come the end of meal prep, our fridge is full of tupperware containers ready to go!!

How are the recipes?

Tried Autumns Vegetable egg cups which are to die for and great to take on the go.  And we tried the turkey chili. With how cold it has been in New England, this was the perfect dinner to warm us up.
This week Chicken Fajitas and Turkey Meatballs, and Hearty Beef and Butternut Squash Stew are going to be tried from the 21 Day Fix Extreme book!!  Can not wait!





How are the results?

So far we have not taken inches but I can tell that I have a bit more room in my jeans which is never a bad thing!  On the scale we have dropped a few pounds, but ultimately the goal is to feel better, and feel healthier.  My skin has cleared up just by e



ating healthier and getting enough water / sleep in my life.  It is awesome to see that fueling your body does to you on the inside and out.  Less cover up is always a goal! haha

So heading into week 2, here is our meal plan!  It will be hard again towards the end of the week since we will be traveling for work, but again holding each other accountable will get us through!