Recipe - Oatmeal Banana Power Pancakes

This is a great breakfast for anyone.

Whether you’re looking to cut out gluten, refined sugars or lower your calories, or because you just want something yummy and healthy for breakfast.

I’d seen recipes for oatmeal pancakes but none of them came out good so I set out to create my own, that would be as packed with flavor as it was with nutrition and I think I did just that!

　

I’m calling this my…..

　

Oatmeal Banana Power Pancakes

Ingredient:

2 egg whites

1/2 banana, smashed

1/4 cup old fashioned oats

2 tsps. raw hemp seeds

2 tsps. ground flax

1 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

6 drops liquid stevia

1. In a small bowl combine all dry ingredients.

2. In a separate bowl mash the banana very well. Add in liquid stevia and vanilla. Add in egg whites.

3. Combine all wet and dry ingredients and mix well. Allow the mixture to rest for 10 minutes.

4. In a large skillet form 3-4 small pancakes. Cook about 2-3 minutes until they easily move about and then flip. Cook an additional 2-3 minutes. These taste better slightly over done as opposed to underdone because of the banana and egg. Make sure to coat the pan lightly first so they do not stick.

5. Serve and enjoy!

　

Notes:
* If you don’t like Stevia or don’t use it this can easily be substituted with a sweetener of your choice. Though I haven’t personally tried I think maple syrup or raw honey would taste amazing. The banana also has a lot of natural sweetness so depending on your taste preference you might be able to omit it completely.

* Another substitute I’ve made if you don’t have hemp seeds is to omit them and use a full TBS of ground flax and it taste just as delicious.
         * If you want this recipe to be gluten free make sure you use gluten free oats.

Recipe - Turkey Taco Chili

Last week my dinner plans were ruined at the last minute. So I had no choice but to look in the fridge and figure out what I could make. I quickly took inventory and realized I could make some kind of chili. I browsed several recipes but nothing sounded just right so I decided to wing and make my own.

I’ll be the first to admit not all of my cooking adventures come out great, but this one was fantastic!

This chili is hearty and flavorful. It’s got all the comforts of a bowl of chili with the great flavors of Mexican food. It’s fast, easy and healthy. In fact my husband, who is not usually a big fan of ground turkey even gave this recipe two thumbs up.

　

Turkey Taco Chili

　

20 oz ground 93/7 turkey (raw weight)

½ cup finely minced onion

3-4 stalks of celery, finely minced

1 cup minced green bell pepper

1 4oz can fire roasted green chiles

1 can black beans, drained

1 large (28oz) can crushed tomatoes

28 oz water

1 cup corn (note - I used fresh corn on the cob but you could definitely use frozen)

1 TBS olive oil

2 TBS chili powder

1 TBS onion powder

1 TBS garlic powder

½ tsp dried oregano

　

1. In a large sauce pot cook onion, bell pepper and celery in olive oil until onions become translucent. Then add in the ground turkey and green chilies. As the turkey is cooking add in all dry spices (I personally like to season the meat as opposed to the entire pot, I find the flavor disperses better).

2. Once the meat is cooked through add in crushed tomatoes, water, corn and black beans. Stir well and reduce heat to a simmer. Cook for an additional 45 - 60 minutes.

3. Enjoy!

　

I personally topped ours with green onions and fresh cilantro (as you can see in the picture). Another time I topped it with sour cream and queso fresco which was really delicious. This would also be delicious poured over a baked potato or served with a side of corn bread or warm tortillas.

This is the first recipe I’ve made where not a drop of leftovers was wasted. We ate this for days and still wished for more. Definitely give this recipe a try, you wont be disappointed!

Progress, Not Perfection

So along with continuing struggle with my weight is my continuing struggle with food. I swear the more I read the less I know. Every single book, or dr. or holistic food expect says something contradictory about what is healthy.

After my failed attempts this week at prune/chia pudding and some really awful cookies made with garbanzo beans instead of wheat I’m done.

I’m not done trying to find awesome, healthy things to eat. I’m just done trying to avoid certain foods, or food groups.

I know its not easy, but I’m definitely a food addict. I often think if I avoid one food group (carbs, refined sugar, processed food, gluten, etc…) that it’ll take away all my desires to eat. The thing is though, I’m not changing a lot in my life so its not a big surprise that my way of dealing with life happiness, stress, boredom, etc..) is the same.

I read once that insanity is doing the same thing over and over but expecting different results which if what I’m doing.

Anyway, I always said “oh I’m just not someone who can eat some foods in moderation) which to an extent is true. I know there are some foods that aren’t healthy and I can’t stop eating. But I think its also true that I just need to repair my relationship with food altogether and stop worrying I’m eating the wrong thing.

I don't have any food allergies or reasons to avoid specific foods.

So from now on I'm going to practice more whole foods. More homemade, less processed and always as natural as possible. But if occasionally I slip up and have something else <i>it is ok.</i> I’ve always been an all or nothing person and known it needed to change ubt never took the right steps to change that mindset.

As one of my best friends in the world aptly said...Progress, Not Perfection.

Though many of you may not struggle with weight and food, this is an idea that really transcends issues.

In what ways do you find yourself with an "all or nothing" mentality?  How do you remind yourself of the bigger picture without beating yourself up for small slip-ups along the way?

Shopping Trips

I wanted to share a few of my shopping trips from yesterday.

First I went to Target.

Uncle Ben's Microwave Brown Rice Cups-

• Price 1.02 minus TWO coupons for 1.00 off any Uncle Ben's Brown Rice (no size restriction on coupon).  Made each cup of rice just .02 cents!

Revlon Lash Liner -

• These were clearanced down to 2.30 cents each.  I had a manufacturers coupon for 5.00 off when when you buy any two Revlon beauty items.  Making both of these FREE. 

Aleve 200 count -

• Priced at 13.99 minus a free product coupon made this FREE

Method Laundry Detergent (8 load bottles)-

• Pried at 2.99 each, then on clearance for 2.54 each.  I had two coupons for 2.00 off any method laundry (from their facebook page, no size restriction on coupon).  Made each bottle just .54 cents!

I also snagged this Liz Lange maternity shirt on clearance for 2.98  I then used a coupon on my Shopkick app for 3.00 off any Liz Lange maternity item at target making this shirt FREE! 

Later I went to Vons.



Three 2-liters of soda -

• Regular price 1.99....sale price .99....price if you're a member of their new just for u program just .59 cents each!  (limit of 3 per transaction valid until May 8th)  This is a great price for soda if you drink it, and it is my weakness.

Two Cans of Starbucks Refreshers Energy Drink -

• Priced at 1.99....sale price 1.49...I had two manufactuerers coupons for one free can so both of these were FREE

Two Open Nature Plain Greek Yogurt -

• On sale for 1.00 each minus two coupons each good for 1.00 off any open nature product made both of these FREE

One Mango -

• On sale for just .25 cents!

Large Bag of Spinach -

• Regular price 2.99...on sale for 2.00

Later when I got home I finished putting away all my stuff and went to check the mail and found this full size bottle of Asprin in my mail.  I love getting full size products for free in the mail!

Overall, a great day for coupons!  I even got a high five from the cashier at Target when I paid (which sort of made me laugh and feel like I was on extreme couponers).  sure not every day has such great scores, but this is a perfect example of why I love coupons.  Using them for certain things (especially toiletriesand cleaners) frees up more money for things there aren't coupons fo like fresh produce.

VitaCost

I'm pretty lucky to live in an area where I can get just about anything I need.  There is an abundance of natural and health food stores within about half an hour of me so I've never had a problem finding an ingredient for a recipe. 

What I have had a problem with, however, is affording certain ingredients.  So I'm definitely always on the lookout for great sales.  I got a score on organic hemp seeds (half off at whole foods a few weeks ago), I got a giant bag of organic ground flax at Costco for 1/4th the cost of the local health stores and back on black friday I got about 5 cans of chia seed free about rewards bucks at Walgreens.

Unfortunately certain products don't always have good deals.  In fact some products rarely go on sale and never have coupons.  That's where my love of Vitacost has come in.  They've got just about every ingredient you can think of (basic foods, specialty foods, foods for special diets and allergies, etc..).

The best part is new members get a 10 dollar rewards code for free!  (That's right, 10.00 off 10.00!).  You do have to pay shipping which is about 4.95.  However considering that their prices and accessibility are so good, even paying for shipping is sure to get you a bargain.  They also often run shipping specials if you're patient and wait.

On 4/24 they were running a shipping special for 2.44 cents shipping on any order.  Check out the bargain I got in the mail!

Igot a bottle of Vanilla Creme Stevia for just over 9 dollars (which is amazing since this product retails for 13.99 at Whole Foods).  I also picked up a package of gluten free gravy for just over a dollar and two samples of protein mix (with every order you can get TWO great samples for free).  I ended up getting all of that stuff for under 3.00 which is amazing! 

IThis is my referral link here (and above) so if you guys do place an order I'll get a 10.00 credit too. :)

Shopping Trip - Target

I headed to Target yesterday and got a few coupon items.

Tums Refreshers - Sale price 2.36

• minus a 1.50 off one manufacturers coupon and a .75 off one Target coupon
• Total cost - .11 cents!

Two Gatorade (for the hubby) - Price 1.02 cents each

• minus 1.00 off one Gatorade x 2
• Total cost - .02 cents each plus crv

3 Market Pantry Spaghetti Sauce - Sale price 1.00 each

• I used three coupons each good for 1.00 off one market pantry pasta (these printed out at the register for me on a previous shopping trip, then while shopping yesterday I found one laying on the shelf)
• Total Cost - 0.00!

 Market Pantry Brand Light Mayo - Sale price 2.24 cents

• I had one printable target coupon for 1.00 off a target brand mayo
• Total cost - 1.24 cents

So my grand total for everything yesterday was a whopping  1.39 cents plus CRV and tax.  I love coupons!

Recipe - Crock Pot Cinnamon Honey Applesauce (Refined Sugar Free)

If you read my last post you know I had 3lbs of organic fuji apples that I got for a bargain.  Unfortunately I already had apples in the fridge so I wanted to find a way to use them all up and then it hit me - make applesauce!  (which is delicious...unless its store bought which is not so great). 

I searched the internet and found various crock pot recipes but they all had too much sugar.  So with the basic idea of apples, some liquid and some kind of sweetener and I just winged it and made up my own recipe!

Ingredients:

• 3 lbs of apples (I used organic fuji)
• 1 TBS ground cinnamon
• 1/3 cup water
• 1 TBS raw honey
• 1/2 tsp liquid stevia

I used 3lbs of organic fuji apples (not all in the picture).

 The next step is to peel them all.

 Then I cored and roughly chopped all the apples into about 1 inch piece and threw in the crock pot.  I also sprinkled them with cinnamon and drizzled with stevia and raw honey then tossed to coat.  Then add in the water.  I cooked it on low for about 7 hours.  I then pureed it with my hand blender but you could easily have put this in a food processor.  Just blend to your desired consistency depending on how chunky or smooth you like it.

Once cooled it will look like this.

It made about 4 cups!  It was incredibly delicious and almost like apple butter mixed with applesauce.

The only note I will make is that this has a VERY strong cinnamon taste.  If you're not a huge cinnamon fan like me I would recommended cutting it down to about 1/2 TBS of cinnamon.

Definitely give this a try.  It's a lot cheaper than store bought applesauce, taste better and is more nutritious!