Kale & Sweet Potato Salad

This is one of my most favorite things to eat!!!

It is just so good and so good for you!

2 med sweet potatoes-peeled and cubed

1 cup kale

1/4 cup each of the following:

fresh cranberries cut in half

crumbled feta cheese

dried cherries or dates

crushed nuts-I used almonds

Boil sweet potatoes for 10 to 12 min-you want them to be cooked through but still firm, not mushy

Rinse the sweet pots with cold water and add to bowl with all of the other ingredients

Dress with oil and red wine vinegar

Season with salt and pepper

Refrigerate and enjoy!

xoxo-A

Oat cookies with almonds, cranberries and coconut flakes!

Pre heat oven to 375 degrees

In mixing bowl place:

1/2 c melted unsalted butter

1/4 c brown sugar

Beat gently with hand mixer and then add:

2 eggs

lightly beat with hand mixer

Then add:

1 1/2 c oats

1 1/2 c flour-I used millet

1 tsp baking soda or powder

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 c dried cranberries

1/4 coconut flakes (unsweetened)

1/4 natural sliced raw almonds

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tbsp honey

4 oz unsweetened applesauce

Stir well with spoon and then drop onto baking sheet 1 tbsp at a time

Bake for 10 to 12 min-let cool on cookie rack-then store in an air tight container

Next up, according to Max, we will make these but with peanut butter and jelly instead of coconut and almonds!

He helped make them but wasn’t thrilled with the taste/texture. I am still trying to get him to like oats in general! I however love them and plan on eating them post workout this week! Yes, that’s right post workout cookies!

These would be great to bring for the kids after the big game or for you to snack on during the game! Much better than chips and hot dogs from the concession stands! The little things matter! Chose wisely! You can even add chocolate chips to these if that will make them more appealing to the kids or adults!

Enjoy!

xoxo

A & Max

Banana & Coconut OATMEAL

You may need to tweak the milk and protein powder amounts depending on how much you need to use. Enjoy!!!

xoxo-A

Coconut, currants and chocolate granola

Ingredients:

6 cups old-fashioned oats

2 cup combined chopped and silvered plain almonds

1 cup unsweetened coconut flakes

1/4 cup cinnamon

Combine above ingredients and bake into 3 batches on cookie sheet at 350 for 20 min-giving it a shake halfway through

When you take pan out of the oven drizzle 1 tbsp of pure honey over baked mixture and let cool.

Let cool for 10 min then add 1/3 c dried black currants, 1 heaping tbsp of the coconut flakes and 1/4 c mini choc chips to each “batch”.

Store in tight container in fridge. 1 serving is 1/4 cup which makes about 40 servings. My rule with granola making-always share with your friends and family-spread the love!!

Some facts about the black currant:
*More than 5 times the vitamin C of oranges
*As high as banana in potassium
*More calcium than any fruit
*Contain more phosphorus and potassium than any other fruit
*Second only to elderberry in iron and protein

Enjoy with milk, plain by the handful or with Greek Yogurt!! Pairs really well with Almond Breeze Coconut Almond unsweeteded almond milk! (45 calories per cup!!)
xoxoxo-A

Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Lettuce wraps! Love this idea and there are endless combinations you can prepare! Make it fun, think outside of the box…make them your own!

I used :

1 lb cubed chicken breast

1 c corn

1/4 c each onions, celery, carrots, silvered raw unsalted almonds

Seasoning for the mixture:

lime juice, cumin, Badia complete seasoning, cilantro, parsley, ginger, crushed red pepper, pepper, garlic, 1/4 c lite sodium soy sauce (I would have made it spicier for sure with wasabi, Sriracha and Red Hot if my son wasn’t eating it too-he handled the above flavors great though!)

I sautéed the chicken first with all the seasonings/juice/sauce and slowly added in the veggies and then spot checked for taste and added more of whatever I thought it needed. Total cook time 20 min. Wrap in iceberg lettuce and serve-I need a little help on my wrapping skills but that will come! Enjoy!!! xoxoxo-A

Apple Tart Smoothie

Ingredients:

3/4 c Plain Greek yogurt (can sub with a banana and 1 scoop protein powder…will be less “tart’ though)-which you may like even better!

1 small granny smith apple chopped-skin on

1/2 c almond milk, soy, skim or whatever you like-but keep it on the lite side

3 tsp oats

1 tsp chia seeds

2 tsp flax seeds

throw in a few of each: walnuts and almonds

3 ice cubes

Blend

Enjoy!

xoxoxo-A

Super Healthy Protein Packed Granola

Need more energy? Who doesn’t?!?! Try this granola in the morning for breakfast, as a snack or as a pre workout boost!

Here is what is in it and why it is so fabulous:

4 cups Old fashioned oats

1 cup unsalted sliced roasted almonds-protein, vitamin E, manganese (the miracle mineral) go ahead look it up-I dare you!

1/2 cup chopped walnuts-amino acids (good fats!)

1/2 cup unsalted roasted soybeans-high protein, fiber, manganese and iron

1/2 cup unsalted sunflower seeds-protein, folate and amino acids

1/2 cup roasted salted pepitas-protein, magnesium, phosphorus and manganese

1/2 cup chia seeds-B vitamins, fiber and amino acids

1/2 cup chopped dates

2 tbsp cinnamon

Bake oats, chia seeds,walnuts, almonds and cinnamon mixture spread flat on a baking sheet at 350 for 20 to 25 min. Once that cools add all other ingredients and mix well! Serving size is 1/4 cup.

Enjoy and Happy Healthy New Year!!!
A

Holiday Granola

Filled with goodies!! Makes a great healthy gift to give to loved ones too (which of course I am doing). I love to eat my granola with plain Greek yogurt!!! So delicious and fun to make!

walnuts-1 cup

almonds-1 cup

oats-6 cups

blueberry and pomegranate crasins-1 cup

dates-1/2 cup

white chocolate chips-1/2 cup

toasted coconut-1/2 cup

honey-1/4 cup

cinnamon–1/4 cup

Directions:

Mix together oats, nuts, coconut, honey and cinnamon then bake at 350 for 25 min. Let cool and add in crasins, choc chips and dates. Serving size is 1/4 cup.

Enjoy and Happy Holidays!

Granola w/ Pepitas, walnuts, almonds, dried cranberries and mini choc chip morsels

INGREDIENTS:

4 c old-fashioned oats

1 c raw natural sliced almonds

1/2 c chopped walnuts

1/4 c flaxseed meal

1/4 c honey

McCormick’s Cinnamon and Sugar grinder-about 2 tbsp or 20 grinds

Mix together and bake for 15 min at 350 degrees, give it a shake around to be careful not to burn any one area and bake for another 10 min. Make sure it is spread thinly and evenly on the pan.

Let cool for 25 min then add:

1 c roasted & salted pepitas (the inside of a pumpkin seed-very high in protein)

1/2 c dried cranberries

1/2 c mini chocolate chip morsels

Makes 8 total cups or 32 servings-a serving size is 1/4 cup.

I love to put mine on Greek yogurt or have it with almond milk. It is very satisfying and helps with my sweet and salty cravings!

Enjoy!

xoxoxo-A