Monday, September 29, 2014

How about some apple pie with that….

apples

Fall shake line up.

UP NEXT…..

Apple Pie.

This is so good y’all! I wasn’t sure I’d like it because it has applesauce in it but I was so wrong! Not a big applesauce fan. It’s a texture thing.

I bet even better next time if I use applesauce with cinnamon in it that it would be killa illa illa!!

apple pie

Ok. Simple. Simple

You need the following:

  • 1 scoop or packet of vanilla shakeology
  • 1/2 cup of almond milk ( I do use vanilla almond milk)
  • 1/2 cup of unsweet applesauce
  • 1/2 tsp of cinnamon

Ice

Directions:

  1. Put all ingredients into the blender.
  2. Blend well.
  3. Pour.
  4. Sip slowly thru a straw. Preferably your favorite straw!

Happy Monday y’all!


Tuesday, September 23, 2014

Shakeology for Fall Y’all

fall-pumpkins-and-leaves

In honor of the first official day of Fall how about we get things kicked off right!

You better believe it when I say -

Fall is my favorite time of year! The smells, the crisp air, the colors, the foods, the pies, the football ~ everything!

Since introducing shakeology to my nutrition, I’ve fallen more and more fond of it and I cannot wait to try some of these recipes for my favorite time of year! They have all the right ingredients to keep me away from the pie table but fill that craving! Plus I get the added bonus of doing something so nutritious for my body it’s got to be illegal! Shakeology alone is truly the superest superfood on the Planet by far! Is superest even a word?? Oh well…. it is today SmileSmile

Yep, everything from pumpkin pie to candy canes! Each week I will share my favorite finds. So to my current and future shakeology fans, I hope you fall in love with them just as much as I already have!

You can create you own too. If you have a knack for making recipes, share one of your ideas here! Sharing is caring yo! Smile

For all you (and me) everything Pumpkin lovers, lets start off with a Pumpkin Pie Shakeology. Now this one you can do with either Chocolate or Vanilla. Either flavor will work.

pumpkin

See – looks good right!

You will need the following:

  • 1/2 cup of Almond Milk (I looove Vanilla)
  • 1 Scoop or packet of Chocolate or Vanilla Shakeology
  • 1/2 cup canned pumpkin
  • 1 TSP cinnamon
  • 1 TSP pupmkin pie spice
  • 8 oz ice

Directions:

  1. Put all ingredients in the blender. (I have an old school blender so ANY blender will work, I promise)
  2. BLEND!
  3. DRINK!

Find your happy place and enjoy the day!

Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Progress–is it a dirty word?

everyone-starts-somewhere

I know progress is an odd topic since this is a food blog but I do have a new adventure in my life that isn’t going anywhere either.

I’ve loved my newly found discovery of taking regular recipes and making them healthy. I get to eat good but better :-) and y’all know how I love to eat. I also love a good workout. Maybe workout is the dirty word and not progress…….

No one wants to do workouts. I get it. They are hard. They take up time and effort that could be used enjoying that bag of oreos sitting over there that keep calling my name (Put a pipe in it brownie!). I’ve fought the struggle. I live the life. I give up more often than not.

I also regret every single time I give up. I always go back to the thought of what if I’d never quit – my abs would be so killer right now! My thighs wouldn’t jiggle right now! Those oreos wouldn’t stand a chance right now!

I’ve realized that as many times as I’ve given up, I’ve also started again. You see, I don’t think the problem is giving up, I think its in never getting back up again. Let’s be real. Life happens – sometimes more days than others but if I’m participating in my own life more times than not, it will begin to show off. It will begin to show up.

Looking and feeling great is not like instant coffee. We don’t get to pour, stir, sip, satisfy in this game of life. We have to invest our own time into what we really want. We have to let it brew. We have to let it simmer sometimes. Meaning – Let the work take its course. Let the progress reveal itself to you. Don’t give up when you get board or impatient.

Since April, I’ve had to start and stop a dozen times. But then I go to look in the mirror this past week and I see definition. I see muscle. I see progress!

We are all capable of the same progression. We are all capable of achieving the same goal. We all have that same love for ourselves within us. It just takes a little more digging for some rather than others.

I know it is a bit cliché but when you take time to work on you, others feed off of your new found energy or ora. You begin to put things in perspective, even if some of this time is spent in meditation or just a quiet place to let yourself evolve in that moment. Be present in the situation you are in. Don’t check out. Don’t give up on you. You are the most important person in the world to a lot of people. Show up, be there and be the best that you can be.

Work on living the best life you can. Learn to be complete in mind, body and soul.

If you are needing someone to help hold you accountable, count on me. Follow me on instagram. Heck follow me on facebook or find someone in your circle that will help push you to that next level of greatness, someone that gives you that source of power and commitment.

~ Live a beautiful life everyday ~


Monday, September 15, 2014

Chicken Bacon (turkey) and Ranch Pasta

Chicken bacon ranch

Yep. All three of those things in one post title!

And guess what – It’s good y’all! Oh and healthy!

So here is what I did.

The recipe calls for bacon and I triple dog love me some bacon but being on the 21 Day Fix has me all up in my bacon feelings so I use Turkey bacon. I also used a smart pasta. I didn’t really know there was dumb pasta but according to the box, there is a smart pasta.

I could’ve used whole grain but I only wanted to challenge one thing at a time here.

I found this recipe on one of my favorite blogs (that by the way has the best recipe for homemade rolls eva!) Life in the Lofthouse (if you are feeling festive for the original one).

One of the easiest recipes I’ve thrown together in a long long time.

I know I’ve been in a vault lately. Y’all are like – where’s that skinny on a dime chick? Or maybe not…..

We are working some things out for sure. I love that some of you still read my blog and share my recipes SmileThanks for sticking around!!

 

Ok. To make this meal for your bunch

{Printable Recipe}

You need the following:

  • 8 ounces dried pasta – I used bowtie – you can use whatever
  • 1 Tablespoon olive oil
  • ½ tablespoon butter
  • 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into small pieces
  • 2 cups 1% lowfat milk
  • 1 Package of Ranch seasoning – I used Hidden Valley
  • 1 cup low fat shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1/3 cup chopped, cooked turkey bacon

Directions: 

  1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add dried pasta and cook according to package directions. Drain water.
  2. Meanwhile, heat olive oil over medium-high heat, in a large skillet. Add the chicken pieces, season with salt, pepper and season salt and cook until no longer pink. About 10 minutes.
  3. Once chicken is thoroughly cooked, add the butter. Once the butter melts, sprinkle the flour and packet of ranch seasoning over the chicken. Stir.
  4. Pour milk into the skillet, and continue to stir and cook until mixture starts to thicken.
  5. Stir in cheddar cheese and bacon pieces. Stir until cheese melts.

Add the cooked pasta to mixture and stir to combine. Serve immediately

I served this delish meal with a side salad and it was perfect.

Happy Monday! Happy Day!