Cucumber Tuna Bites

Cucumber Tuna Bites

Ingredients: 

2tbsp Mayo
1 Can of Tuna
2tbsp Red Onion
1 Large Cucumber
1tsp Dill Weed
1/4tsp Ground Pepper
1/4 Avocado



 Total Calories = 400



Directions:
 - Mix tuna (drained), mayo, dill and ground pepper and set aside
 - Peel the cucumber and cut into bite size slices
 - Use the end of the peeler to hollow out the middle of the cucumber slices,     taking out the seeds
 - fill the cucumber cups with tuna

 -Top with slices of avocado and enjoy!

Quinoa Stuffed Peppers

Tasty and healthy! This is my awesome hubby's creation and I'm excited to share it. Brendan had to create his own recipe because we were missing a lot of key ingredients to a bunch of other recipes we found online.We haven't really cooked with quinoa or eaten it more than a couple of times so being experimental was kind of a shot in the dark, but he wanted to give it a try. To be completely honest, I wasn't expecting it to come out very good because we didn't have a lot to work with and I thought it might come out a little too plain or bland.  But boy was I wrong! I'm very impressed with Brendan's cooking skills and he definitely proved that sometimes the simplest recipes (meaning fewer ingredients) are the tastiest.

Quinoa Stuffed Peppers

roasted peppers

coat in olive oil

grill for 4-6 min till skin starts to peel, or oven @ 450 for about 15 min, more or less depending how soft you like the peppers

quinoa

1 cup quinoa

2 cups chicken/veg stock

-bring quinoa to boil, then turn down to low/med for 10-12 min till quinoa is fluffy, toss with a fork

sauce

half red onion

cloves of garlic

garlic salt

pepper

roma tomatoes

parsley

-caramelize onions and garlic, add garlic salt and pepper to mix

-add tomatoes after onions are caramelized

-continue cooking on low/med for about 5 min, stir occasionally

-add the quinoa, add parsley, stir it all up

-spoon into peppers

* the mix of sweet and savory in the sauce makes the quinoa delicious, even if you usually don't like quinoa

*serve with corn on the cob, salad or any other side you like. Enjoy!

 

My Favorite Shake

Chocolate, Peanut Butter and Banana Protein Shake 

This is my absolute favorite protein shake! It's only 320 calories and has 24g of protein, which is a great way to start the morning. Eating breakfast is normally a chore for me, I'm not always hungry first thing, but I need fuel to start the day. I'm currently attempting to workout mid-mornings during the week and this is the perfect shake before I hit the gym. I tried drinking this shake for the first time before doing a Zumba class (where I usually burns over 550 calories a class) and I had noticeable increase in energy. To top it off, it's without a doubt the best tasting protein shake I've ever had. If you have a sweet tooth like me, you wont be disappointed!

Ingredients:

1 Scoop Chocolate Fitmiss Delight 

2 Tbsp (heaping) Organic PBfit

8oz Vanilla Almond Milk 

1 Banana 

Ice or water as needed 

Blend, Serve and Enjoy! 

***I'm normally not a huge almond milk fan, but for this shake, it tastes delicious! 

Products:

Chocolate Fitmiss Delight

- Amazon Prime $25.47

Organic PBfit
- Costco $11.99

Cottage Cheese Snack Ideas

 1. Avocado and Tomatoes

1/2 Cup 2% Cottage Cheese (90 Cal)
1/4 Avocado (80 Cal)
1 Tomato Sliced (35 Cal)
Ground Black Pepper

Total Calories = 205

2. Cranberries and Pecans 

1/2 Cup 2% Cottage Cheese (90 Cal)
1 tbsp Dried Cranberries (23 Cal)
1 tbsp  Pecans (50 Cal)

Total Calories = 163







 
3. Kiwis

1/2 Cup 2% Cottage Cheese  (90 Cal)
2 Kiwis (84 Cal)

Total Calories = 174

4. Peaches 

1/2 Cup 2% Cottage Cheese (90 Cal)
1/2  Canned Peach in Light Syrup (53 Cal)

Total Calories = 143




 

5. Celery Sticks

1/2 Cup 2% Cottage Cheese (90 Cal)
4 Celery Sticks (9 Cal)
Ground Black Pepper

Total Calories = 99 Calories

Blackberry Goat Cheese Salad

This salad is crisp, fresh and very healthy!

Ingredients:

1-2 Hearts of Romaine Lettuce
1/2 Red Onion
Carton of Blackberries
Goat Cheese (1medium log 10 oz or to taste)

*Serve with a vinaigrette dressing.

Directions: 

Chop the hearts of romaine lettuce (bite sizes/quarters) and add to your salad bowl. Very thinly slice your onion into halves and sprinkle on top of your salad. Rinse your blackberries and pat dry with a paper towel (do not cut), add to your salad. You can gently mix these ingredients or leave them as is, but make sure you have blackberries and red onions on the top of your salad before adding the cheese and serving. Lastly, crumble your goat cheese over the salad. Serve with a vinaigrette dressing and enjoy!

Eggplant Burgers

This is, by far, my favorite vegetarian burger in the world! It's so darn good! I've been making these for 8 years now and I feel like I have this recipe down pat. Enjoy!!!


Ingredients: 

Medium/Large Eggplant
Italian Bread Crumbs
2 Eggs
Olive Oil
Brioche Buns
Pesto
Tomatoes
Red Onion
Lettuce
Mayo-* optional* -use if you want a creamy pesto spread.

 Directions:

Step 1: Cut your eggplant into thin round slices/cutlets.

Step 2: Place your eggplant rounds on a plate lined with a paper towel. Use a pinch of sea salt or regular salt and cover the eggplant with another paper towel. This allows the eggplant to drain the water out so they're not mushy when you cook them later. Let them sit for at least 15 min or longer while you prep everything else.

Step 3: In a shallow bowl whisk two eggs. On a medium plate, pour a generous amount of italian bread crumbs. Place them by your stove next to the burner you plan on cooking the eggplant on.

 Step 4: In a nonstick frying pan, heat up a generous amount of olive oil on medium/low heat.

Step 5: Dry off the eggplant with a paper towel. Dip it in the egg first and then coat it with the breadcrumbs.

Step 6: Fry the eggplant evenly on both sides using tongs to flip it. Make sure it's golden brown and crisp on both sides.

Step 7: Place your fried eggplant on a plate with a paper towel to absorb any excess oil.

Step 8: Toast your brioche buns.

Step 9: Get your pesto ready. If you want a creamy pesto spread, add 2tbsp of mayo and 2tbsp of pesto and mix.

Step 10: Spread the pesto sauce on the toasted brioche buns and add several eggplant cutlets.

Step 11: Add whatever toppings you want. We like lettuce, tomatoes and onions (what you would put on a regular burger).

Step 12: Serve and enjoy! I like to serve these eggplant burgers with a side of garlic roasted potatoes.

Peaches and Cream

This ice cream only takes 3 ingredients to make and it's delicious!

Ingredients:

1lb frozen peaches

1-1.5 cup of heavy whipping cream

1/2 -3/4 cup of sweetened condensed milk

Directions: 

Step 1: Add frozen peaches to the food processor.

 Step 2: Pour in the cream and sweetened condensed milk (start with the lowest amount and add more if you want it creamier or sweeter).

Step 3: Set to level 2 and blend until smooth and creamy.

Serve and enjoy! 

French Toast Roll Ups

I must confess, this is not the healthiest breakfast in the world (although it's probably not the unhealthiest), but it's definitely a crowd pleaser and scrumdiddlyumptious! 

Ingredients:
Country White Bread
Cinnamon
White Sugar
Egg
Milk

-Filling:
Cream Cheese
Powdered Sugar
Strawberries
 
*You can substitute the cream cheese strawberry filling for nutella and bananas.

Directions:

Step 1: Crack two eggs in a shallow bowl, add two tablespoons of milk and whisk together. Set aside.

Step 2: On a flat plate, add sugar and cinnamon and mix together. Set aside.

Step 3: Mix together 8oz of cream cheese and 1/2 cup powdered sugar. Set aside.

Step 4: Cut strawberries in quarters and put in a bowl. Set aside.

Step 5: Take bread slices and roll out with a rolling pin. Cut the crusts off.



 









Step 6: Spread cream cheese mixture over the entire slice of bread, put a scoop of strawberries on the side closest to you and roll up.

* If you're using nutella and bananas

Step 7: Put a frying pan over medium heat.

Step 8: While the frying pan is heating up, coat the bread roll up in the egg mixture first and then cover in the cinnamon sugar mixture.



 









Step 9: Melt some butter in the frying pan and add roll ups.

Step 10: Cook the roll ups on every side until golden brown. Serve and enjoy!