Ingredients:
6 Ounces Semolina (found near the pasta in the grocery store)
2 TBSP olive oil
2 TBSP minced garlic
3 ounces small manzanilla olives
1 C. tomato - diced
4 ounces feta cheese - crumbled
1 C chopped basil
1/2 C cucumber
Salt and Pepper
Italian dressing (optional)

Directions:
Cook Semolina according to directions
Saute garlic in olive oil, once browned add olives.
Mix all ingredients and toss in a bowl.
Add salt and pepper to taste as well as a small amount of Italian dressing if desired

I haven't been coming up with too many recipes lately. I'm at home visiting my family and i've had SEVERAL projects to work on as well as playing around - not to mention the half marathon training! I recently purchased a cook book called 'Practically Raw' I really like the book. I've only tried one or two things in it, but they've totally rocked! Anyways, this cookbook brought me to the thought of raw food diets. How awesome are they? No cooking involved? I'm all about that! Anyways, today i've brought you a recipe for a healthy version of "tapioca" (and it's a raw food!) My husband and I love tapioca pudding (he especially loves the way my dad makes it, which has to include at least a half cube of butter i'm sure. :) ), but we don't love the calories and mumbo jumbo it contains. Therefore I have come up with this new recipe:

1 cup Cashews

2 cups Almond Milk

1 Cup Water

2 tablespoons honey

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

1/2 scoop of vanilla protein powder

1 teaspoon cinnamon

pinch of salt

1/4 cup chia seeds

Combine all ingredients except chia seeds into a blender. Blend until smooth. In a bowl combine mixture and chia seeds. Place mixture into individual bowls. Cover and refrigerate at least 3 hours. Serve and enjoy!

Makes 5-6 servings.

*Chia seeds can be found in several places - health food stores, GNC nutrition stores, and even in several grocery stores.

As some may already know I am training for my first 1/2 marathon. I'm rather excited and the training is going well! Can't wait to kick 13 miles in the butt! Since the husband and I were traveling around New England I was able to get in some AWESOME runs. I wanted to document them. So I decided i'd share them here on the blog, cause the locations just ROCKED! And who knew that my husband would be an awesome running partner? He's always been too fast for me so I always hated running with him, but now I can keep up and I love it! In fact, I think every once in a while he goes faster than he normally would because I CAN keep up, but he will never admit to this. So here are the pictures. We missed one photo at the Valley Forge Historic Park - that was an awesome run with some awesome hills. It was beautiful even though we got rained on. 

After the Cape Cod 5 Mile run.

After a 4 miler at Eagle Lake near Acadia National Park in Maine

After a 6 mile run on Lake Champlagne in Burlington Vermont (I LOVED Burlington - Clean eating persons haven right there!)

Once again, I do apologize on not posting new recipes recently! I've been traveling around the country yet again. From South Carolina to all of New England and then on to Utah. A little exhausted. While my husband and I were traveling through New England we visited several factories along the way. Including Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream, Cabot Cheese Creamery, Vermont Maple Syrup Farm, and Cape Cod Potato chips. I like trying things that are made locally so I went to town! Got some maple syrup, greek yogurt, cheese, and had a little bit of ice cream (YUM!) I also came across some maple yogurt - made from whole milk - so full of fat, but of course delicious. Anyways, back to my newest invention. We grabbed some smoked provolone cheese along the way (not from the Cabot Creamery) and this stuff looked GOOD! It had the marks on the back where it had been laying on the grill in the smoker. Yummy. I had brought along my usual snacks and foods - crackers, apples, cranberries, nuts, honey etc... We were camping on this trip so I got to get creative with my little grill and this was the result.

                                             Not the best picture in America, but you'll live.

So here is how I did it:

1-2 apples -diced
1/4 Cup dried cranberries (raisins would be good too!)
4-8 crackers (use whatever kind you have - whole wheat of course being a good choice)
Nuts (I used pumpkin seeds in this batch - but I made another with walnuts - both delicious)
Provolone cheese
1 TBSP Honey
1/2 tsp Olive oil
Dash of maple syrup

Dice apples and cook over medium heat in honey, olive oil, and maple syrup. (cook covered - about 6-12 minutes until apples are tender)

Add in nuts and cranberries - cook until they are warmed.

Place a thin slice of cheese on the cracker and spoon a portion of the apple mixture on top.

Scrumptious. All done while camping. Who knew.

Oh momma! I'm stoked about his one. It's D-licious! But this is how it all came about.....I've been traveling across the country, hence no recent posts. We (my husband and I) finally arrived home this week. Yesterday we went out to be tourists in our own city and it was just WONDERFUL! We happened by one of those U-pick strawberry places. I've been wanting to stop at one and pick my own berries for a while, and well, we're only home for about a week so we decided to get it accomplished. We picked a couple of pails full. I pawned some off on my trainer, but my fridge is still bursting at the seams and we are leaving next week so I had to find something to do with them all. Hence Strawberry bread.

Strawberry bread

For 1 (8x4) loaf pan you will need:

2 1/4 cups whole wheat flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup coconut oil
1 cup Honey
2 eggs
1 cup crushed fresh strawberries (or frozen and thawed)

Directions:

Mix together flour, salt, baking powder and soda.
In a medium bowl, combine oil and honey.
Combine flour mixture, berries, honey/oil mixture, and eggs-mix until just blended.

Line an 8x4 pan with a piece of waxed paper, then grease the paper.

Pour batter into pan and smooth the top with a spoon.

Bake at 325 deg F for about 50-60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes our clean.

Let bread stand in pan on a rack for 10 minutes. Turn the loaf out onto the rack and peel off the paper, turning bread right side up to let it cool completely.

I have really been impressed with the things I have made and come up with lately, i'm totally in love with myself right now. :) I don't think i've ever eaten such tasty things and this was at the top of the list for tastiness.

Ingredients:
1 Pork Tenderloin (I used a peppercorn flavored one)
1/2 bag spinach
Reduced fat feta cheese

Directions:

1. Cut tenderloin down the middle to make a pocket
2. Boil water in a pan - add 1/2 bag of spinach
3. Boil spinach for 1-2 minutes so it is slightly wilted
4. Drain spinach
5. Place spinach inside of Tenderloin pocket
6. Top with Feta Cheese
7. Cook at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes

If you couldn't tell by now, I am an Ice Cream kind of girl! I especially love ice cream in the form of a Milkshake. For those of you from my native homeland, I'm sure you would all agree that Mack's Drive-In has some delicious milkshakes! Am I right? My favorite was always banana raspberry. However, I am also a cookie dough milkshake fan, D-licious! So I bring to you a recipe for exactly such a milkshake. Also, I am not a vegan expert, but I do believe all the ingredients qualify for being a vegan milkshake.

Ingredients:

Makes 4 Servings

Ice Cream
4 Frozen Bananas (to freeze bananas peel and slice. Place slices into zip lock bag and freeze)
2 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 cup unsweetened almond milk

Cookie Dough
1/3 cup walnuts
1/4 cup almonds
1/4 cup pitted dates (or 6-8 dates)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 Tablespoon natural peanut butter

Directions:
Cookie Dough (make first)
Combine all cookie dough ingredients in food processor.
Combine until cookie dough mixture forms
Roll dough into balls and set aside (makes about 12 balls)

Ice Cream
Combine ingredients in food processor - hold on tight to your food processor to begin with, it is gonna rock and roll all over the place!
Process until a creamy mixture forms

Spoon mixture into 4 bowls and top each with 3-4 cookie dough balls.

*This recipe has been modified, but the original recipe for this came from damyhealth.com - this website ROCKS!

Remember the old jello commercials? So catchy. Well today I have for you a healthier version of Jello, and why it may not taste like the good ole jiggler kind, it is pretty darn good for containing NO SUGAR!

INGREDIENTS:

4 cups of water
8 herbal tea bags
2 packets unflavored gelatin
2 tsp artificial sweetner (optional)

• Bring 4 cups of water to a boil.
• Add tea bags - leave until desired flavor is achieved
• Add artificial sweetner to this mixture
• Remove 1 cup of mixture and cool in the fridge
• After the 1 cup mixture is cooled remove from fridge and empty 2 packets of unflavored gelatin on top - let it sit for 1-2 minutes
• Rewarm the remaining 3 cups and add to gelatin mixture - stir for 5 minutes.
• Put into desired dish and add any fruit you would like
• Cool in the fridge for about 30 minutes

*I like the celestial herbal teas - they have fruity ones such as blueberry and raspberry.
**If you try to avoid artificial sweetners (as I am trying to do) you don't need the sweetner. I tried another batch without and topped it with a teaspoon of plain yogurt and honey and it was still deliciouis!
***OR you could just use natural fruit juice that has no added sugars!

**** The idea and original recipe for this came from http://blog.recipeforfitness.com/

I'm pretty sure nothing is better than homemade ice cream and lucky for you I have found something just simply awesome! So lets get to it!


                                                    Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream

Chocolate Strawberry Ice Cream:
Ingredients:
6 strawberries
1 cup unsweetened Almond Milk (chocolate flavor or Vanilla)
1 scoop Whey Protein - chocolate
1/2 Tsp. of Vanilla

Combine all ingredients in blender.
Place blended mixture in a quart size ziploc bag
Fill a gallon size ziploc bag with ice - pour in some salt (regular iodized salt works just fine)
Place quart size bag into gallon bag.
Shake and roll away for 5 minutes
BAM! You've got Chocolate Strawberry Ice cream!

Healthy and full of protein, now that is what I am talking about!

OTHER FLAVORS
Peanut Butter
Follow recipe from above, but substitute the strawberries for 1 Tablespoon of peanut butter. After the mixture was blended I added shavings of a 85% cacao dark chocolate bar to the mixture.

Mint Chocolate Chip
Follow recipe above, instead of strawberries use 1 teaspoon of mint extract. After mixture is blended I added shavings of a 85% cacao dark chocolate bar. Topped with additional shavings when hardened.

**** This idea came from http://blog.recipeforfitness.com/

I apologize for not posting for a little bit, but it does come with good reason. At the Bootcamp I attend I am in a competition called the Biggest Winner. About a week ago I made the top 5 (although I don't know exactly how many are competing), but I figured I better get super serious about this! So I have been following my trainers figure competition meal plan. It's been effective, there is some variety in the food, but not enough that I have been able to try/make up new recipes - the reason for no recent recipes. However, considering the foods on my meal plan I have come up with a little variation that I think fits into it well, and I think it tastes awesome because it incorporates one of my favorite foods, buffalo wings!


Buffalo Chicken Sandwich
2 Slices Ezekiel bread (or your choice of bread)
1 can of canned chicken breast
2-3 TBSP plain yogurt (I used Fage 0% yogurt for this)
Franks buffalo sauce (Has 0 calories and no artificial sweetners, but is a little high in sodium :( - it can be found in the hot sauce aisle)


Simply strain and empty the chicken breast into a bowl, add yogurt and as much sauce as you like, stir and place on top of a bread slice.

* I toast my ezekiel bread to give it a nice crunch
** For my meal I only use 1 slice of bread - I don't like thick sandwiches where the bread is just over done.
*** Don't worry, this is not the only thing I eat for my meal, I pair it with some yogurt etc..... So have no fear, I am not starving myself on this meal plan!

Oh and wish me luck, I'm going on a cruise this week, following an intense meal plan and going on a cruise is going to be hard work! Have you seen the food on cruise ships!? Only totally delicious and plentiful! Oh and here is another rant for half a second, yesterday my husband said he NEEDED a blizzard from Dairy Queen, so he dragged my butt there and I got to watch him and several others sit and enjoy their ice cream (only one of my favorite foods). How rude! :) I was a little bummed I couldn't have one, but I tried not to think about it and on the way home I wasn't sorry that I didn't have one, I felt pretty proud of myself.

What you have all been waiting for, PIE! The great part about this is it doesn't have to be reserved for dessert, you can eat a slice of it for one of your daily snacks. I'll get right to the point.

CRUST:
1 1/2 cups oats (the instant ones are awesome for this)
2 Tablespoons Milk
2-4 Tablespoons olive oil
1/2 tsp salt
Combine ingredients - feather into pie pan - bake 20 minutes at 375 degrees

FILLING:
16 ounces Plain Greek yogurt
1/2cup - 1 cup Natural peanut butter

Combine ingredients - pour into pie pan - sprinkle with chopped nuts - chill - drizzle honey on top before eating.

Additional Information:
If you don't like the tartness of Plain Greek yogurt I would do the full cup of Peanut Butter as well as adding 2-3 Tablespoons of agave nectar or honey into the mixture.

OR

Simply use Vanilla greek yogurt instead of Plain Greek Yogurt

-I like to chill it in the fridge, then cut the slices and freeze. That way I can take one slice out at a time and not worry about it going bad before it can all be eaten. (The things you have to think of when there's only two of you in the house)

When I first started doing this eating healthy stuff, I figured my love of pancakes and waffles had to die out. I was wrong though! I have listed my favorite pancake/waffle recipe in the previous post. In addition to that I thought that maple syrup and jam high in sugar were my only options for toppings - the main reason my love of waffles/pancakes had to go. BUT through some experimenting I've come up with some toppings I like more than maple syrup!


Yogurt Topping:

• Yogurt
• Strawberries, blueberries, blackberries (any kind of berry)
• Chocolate whey protein

So...you may find me weird in this aspect, but I like goat yogurt, not so much plain, but I add a little bit of chocolate whey protein to it and it turns into a chocolate mousse tasting thing. I then spread this on my waffle and top with strawberries. Feel free to use whatever yogurt floats your boat though!

Blueberry Topping:

• 1 Tablespoon Honey
• 1 Cup blueberries

1. In a saucepan heat blueberries and honey over medium heat, stirring occassionally.
2. Heat until sauce forms and the blueberries burst open

There you have it, a nice healthy fruit syrup.

I love waffles/pancakes, and this recipe rocks!

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup egg whites or 3 eggs
• 1 Cup fat-free cottage cheese
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 Tablespoons honey
• 1/2 cup oat flour - I grind my own with a little grinder. You could also substitute with whole wheat flour.
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Directions:

1. Place first 4 ingredients in bowl
2. In seperate bowl combine dry ingredients
3. Mix all Ingredients
4. Cook

Additional Information:
Sometimes I also add 1/2 a scoop of vanilla whey protein

This is originally a pancake recipe, but god did not give me the gift of browning pancakes, I ALWAYS burn them, even on low heat. So I cook these up as waffles with a waffle maker.

Possibly my favorite snack.

• One Tablespoon of Natural Peanut Butter
• One medium size apple.

Ok, there may be a little more than a tablespoon here, but can you blame me? I love peanut butter. I do apologize for the miss representation of peanut butter here. :)

Here is a Kim original - meaning I made this up, so if you don't like it, don't tell me! :)
My husband and I both like pizza, but what true American doesn't. We dig the stuffed crust pizza, but we'll have to reserve those pizzas for our cheat meals. This 'pizza' recipe however is pretty darn healthy so make it, eat it, and love it!

I know that after looking at this picture you are dying to know what's inside. So with no further ado I present the pita pizza recipe.

Simple recipe version: Makes 4 servings

• 4 small whole wheat pitas
• 4 teaspoons pesto
• 1 chicken breast - cut up
• 1/2 - 1 red pepper - cut
• 1 cup mushrooms
• 4 laughing cow cheese - original (I like the lite original version - fewer calories)
• Spices of your liking
• Water

Directions:

1. Cook chicken, red peppers, and mushrooms in a skillet with water - essentially sauteing it in water.
2. Add any spices you like once the water in the skillet has evaporated - I use cilantro, garlic, pepper
3. Cut 1/3 of the way around the pitas edge.
4. Place 1 Teaspoon pesto inside pita and spread on bottom.
5. Fill pita with chicken/pepper/mushroom mixture
6. Place laughing cow cheese on top of meat and veggies.
7. Broil until cheese is melted, top crust starts to turn brown and crisp

Additional information:
The pizza in the photo also contained green peppers and black beans - so once again, another recipe you can make to your liking.

I would ask you all to give me feedback on this recipe and its position on a scale of deliciousnous, but I know that you will all die over how good it tastes so I won't expect any comments on this one. And for that fact, I suppose I will have to find new followers and readers. hmmm......to post or not to post.

I love cadbury eggs, I think i'm pretty normal in that regard because who doesn't love cadbury eggs? If you dislike them you may need to see a therapist, cause clearly you are CRAZY! Here is a quick tip since the Easter Candy has already presented itself in the Grocery stores and none of us are crazy enough to let Easter go by without eating this pure awesomeness. Cadbury now sells small packages of cadbury eggs - 1.5 oz. package at 200 calories. Buy just one for yourself. I bought one for me and one for my husband. I put our names on them so I would be held accountable for only eating my package. If I hadn't done this I could see my self easily saying, "They are so deilicious, what's another package, he's not eating them so I will." Putting his name on them makes them his and not mine, therefore I cannot eat them. For me it's all about tricking my brain, atleast until I get into permenant healthy habits.

So, after I opened MY small package of cadbury eggs I put them in my dish rag drawer - one I don't open but 2-3 times a week. For me out of sight is out of mind - that way I don't eat the entire package in one week. When I open the drawer and see them - according to if I want one, I will only eat one or two at a time. Don't forget to savor the flavor!

This recipe is a veggie dip that cuts out the mass of fat and calories.

 

Ingredients:

• Ranch Packet
• Plain Greek Yogurt

Directions:

1. Add as much seasoning as you like to your yogurt
2. Dip vegetables like broccoli, carrots, and cucumbers

My favorite part about this recipe is that the ranch seasoning diminishes the tartness of plain greek yogurt - therefore I can actually stand to eat it!

This is a simple quick lunch, if you can boil water you can make this! I made it today in 10 minutes. It is so versatile, you can make it to fit your own liking. The essential ingredients are simply spinach, tortellini, and salad dressing.

Today I used 1/2 cup whole wheat tortellini (YES, you can have pasta if you are trying to lose weight) filled with ricotta cheese, spinach, mushrooms, black beans, feta cheese and salad dressing (fat free wasabi dijon - only 40 calories). For this one there really is no set recipe, do what you want with it! For example last time I made this I used spinach, feta cheese, pesto filled tortelinni,mushrooms, chicken, and a salad dressing - please just don't use creamy dressings like ranch, ceasar, blue cheese. Use vinegar/oil based dressings!

So this week I have discovered the most delicious treat that tricks my brain into thinking i'm eating Ice Cream! A delicious Banana covered in yogurt and rolled in nuts! YUM! This is all you need:

•  Bananas - as many as you want to make
• Greek Yogurt - I use Vanilla flavor because I just can't quite stomach the plain stuff yet, but you die hard healthy folk can use your plain greek yogurt!
• Nuts - I use a mixture of almonds and walnuts
• Low sugar jam - they also make jam with splenda if you are solely concerned with calories, but this low sugar jam only has 25 calories for a tablespoon.
• Popsicle sticks-or other stick-I used skewers because that's all I had
• Wax paper - parchment paper etc...

Directions:

1. Spoon some Low sugar jam into your yogurt and stir
2. Peel bananas and insert stick
3. Chop nuts
4. Line a small baking dish or plate with wax paper
5. Coat bananas with yogurt/jam mixture
6. Roll in nuts
7. Place on dish and freeze atleast 45 minutes
8. Eat it!

Today is International Women's Day, and since I graduated College with a minor in Women and Gender Studies I would feel guilty if I didn't give the day a little shout out. So, this is what I suggest. Make an appointment today! Whether it be for a massage, pedicure, manicure, hair cut, buy a new shirt, or make time for your favorite hobby etc.. Do something for YOURSELF today. I am! I've had an appointment for over a week coincidentally, I'm getting my hair cut and colored (which I've only done one other time in my life, hope all goes well). This is the reward of one of my mini weight loss goals - to lose 10 lbs. So there you have it.

Happy International Women's Day!

1 ½ Cup oats
2 big scoops of whey protein powder
4 Tablespoons sunflower seeds
½ cup slivered almonds
1/4 cup pecan pieces
1/4 cup walnut pieces
1/4-1/2 cup dried fruit- I like to use a variety of cherries, blueberries, and cranberries 
2 Tablespoons Honey
1/3 cup of your favorite nut butter (I used almond butter)
½ - 1 teaspoon cinnamon
3/4 cup almond milk

Mix protein powder, cinnamon, sunflower seeds and oats in a bowl

Toast almonds in a saucepan on the stove

In another saucepan warm honey over medium heat – once warm add the nut butter and almond milk

Once the nut butter has softened add oat mixture to sauce pan and stir

Line a small 8” baking sheet with parchment paper.

Put mixture into baking sheet and spread evenly

Place in the fridge at least 45 minutes to harden.

Cut into rectangle squares, place in snack size baggy and freeze for later.

Protein is essential to muscle health. Proteins help rebuild your muscles. It also helps you stay/feel full. There is a science behind all of this, but I just want to give you the basic knowledge. Protein also helps you curb cravings. So go out and buy some Whey Protein (make sure it has less than 5g of sugar - optimally 2.5g or less) It's simple, you don't have to be a gym rat to eat the stuff. I always thought that was the case, boy was I wrong. I do work out 5 days a week, but I definitly don't use Whey Protein as a meal supplement or anything like hard core weight lifters. I simply add a half scoop of Whey Protein to 1/3 cup of oatmeal for breakfast - Breakfast should contain Carbs (oatmeal) and proteins (whey). You can also make a protein shake for a mid day snack also. But snacks are a whole other post, so we'll get to that later. Right now i'm trying out several different Whey protein brands, but so far my favorite is muscle milk - although the calories from fat are higher than I would like - but then again, that is probably why it tastes to good!

Comes in different flavors

If you love peanut butter, as I do, you will love me for sharing this little secret with you! They make natural peanut butter! I know, you can't believe it, but it is true! The ingredients are simply, peanuts. No sugars added. For this reason you should be excited, some good natural clean protein you can add to your diet. I know you are excited and all, but I have even more great news (must be your lucky day). They make almond butter, sunflower butter, and all sorts of other kinds of nut butters. They are easy to find, they're in the peanut butter section.

Good for you

So you're now thinking, duh, what is this dumb girl talking about, of course natural peanut butter is in the peanut butter aisle. Well, I simply want to make a point that this stuff exists! I mean, I have lived for 23 years and never knew about this stuff. I've scanned the peanut butter selections many a time, but I never knew the facts about this stuff, as a lot of peanut butters say natural, but aren't really natural. Take for example the photo below. It claims to be natural, but the ingredients include more than just peanuts. It has sugar and all sorts of other nasty things no one can pronounce. My advice, read labels! Also, another quick tip, if sugar is listed as one of the first four ingredients on the label, it is probably best to shy away from it. Ingredients are listed by the weight of the ingredient in the food - so if sugar is listed first, it's probably going to have more sugar than anything else in it.

Not so good for you