Positivity and Pancakes

Good morning darlings! It is my day off from work today and tomorrow so I am going to attempt to get some things done. I had a pretty amazing day yesterday. I always try to wake up and first thing and tell myself in my head, "You are going to have a good day and work is going to go fast!" I am not kidding, I try to do that every time I open my eyes from sleeping, and you know what? I really feel that it works! Waking up with a positive attitude and a clean slate for your day is one of the best things you can do. Work flew by yesterday because of it and I really think the other employees were feeling my positive vibes because I got several compliments yesterday! Stay positive, ladies and gents!❤

I was able to make it out to the Natural Foods store in my area yesterday after I went to the gym and did a killer biceps and back workout. Dylan went along with me. I have really seen progress in his body too! He weighed himself last night and was around 150. I can see definition in his arms and stomach. It's pretty awesome. He isn't eating clean or anything like me, but it is so nice to have someone to go to the gym to sometimes. After the gym, we went and picked up some new things: Xanthan Gum, Garden of Life's Raw Protein is vanilla flavor, 2 organic zucchinis, and a couple of goodies for a care package my love Enid (Instagram is @beenid) and I are exchanging so I can't say ;)!

I am really excited to try this new protein. It is vegan, organic, gluten free, and dairy free, lower carbs and calories than the kind I have now. Plus, I got this adorable shaker! I didn't have a shaker of my own, so I was stoked to get a freebie. They were selling this for $26, so I didn't think it was a bad deal at all! I have to finish up my other vanilla first, but I seriously can not wait to try this protein powder.

I also tried zucchini for the first time last night! Enid and myself were talking about them and I had been looking for one at the store, so I ended up buying two organic ones from the natural foods store.

I wanted to make some for dinner. I know, I am crazy that I have never really had, or been aware that I have ever had, zucchini. Anyway, it was lovely. I cooked them on a pan with Mrs. Dash (original flavor) and that was it (other than non-stick spray). They are a nice flavor boat, very mild. I am planning on trying some zucchini noodles with the other one. For dinner I also made some lean turkey patties. I bought a package of ground turkey from the store and threw together these nice little Turkey Pepper Patties!

• Lean/extra-lean ground turkey
• 1/3 of a red and green bell pepper chopped up into small pieces
• 1 tablespoon on crushed red pepper flakes
• 1 teaspoon of Bragg's Liquid Aminos (plus more after they were done to spray on)
• 1 teaspoon cumin 
• 2 tablespoons of ground flax seed

Mix the meat, pepper, and spice mixture with your nice and shiny clean hands until well mixed. I cooked mine on a stove-top. With one package of turkey, it made at least 12. Depending on the size of the patty the amount will vary. They were really tasty! Very easy. I also made a side of steamed cauliflower and broccoli. Finally, a little dash of 1/4 a cup of brown rice with more liquid aminos. Fabulousssss especially with some Sriracha on top!

For my clean amazing dessert I made:
 

Cocoa Coconut Protein Crumble

 It was freaking amazing, guys. Super filling and delicious.

• 3/4 cup plain non-fat Chobani mixed with a couple drops of SweetLeaf vanilla creme liquid stevia

For the crumble:

• 3 tablespoons coconut flour
• 1/3 scoop chocolate whey protein
• 2 tablespoons chocolate PB 2
• 6 tablespoons unsweetened almond milk

Mix the crumble ingredients together, dry first, then add the almond milk afterwords. You can use any kind of milk or milk substitute, I roll with Unsweetened Almond Milk.

Topped off the crumble with the fluffy tasty yogurt, 1 tablespoon Dark Chocolate Dream Peanut Butter & Co peanut butter, then a sprinkle of hazelnuts. Yum yum yummmmm! So delicious and guilt-free.

  Today for breakfast was Vanilla Blueberry Protein Pancakes!

• 1/2 a ripe small banana
• 2 tablespoons ground flax seed
• 1 scoop vanilla whey protein powder
• 1/2 teaspoon of baking powder
• 2 tablespoons coconut flour
• 3 tablespoons low fat cottage cheese
• 3 large egg whites

I topped them with Walden Farms zero calorie pancake syrup and some fresh blueberries. This recipe came out to be about 411 calories, 8 grams of fat, 3 grams saturated fat, 68 miligrams of cholesterol, 44 grams of carbs, 12 grams dietary fiber, 15 grams of sugar, and 52 grams of protein.
 These were so fluffy and delicious. I loved them! I hope you do too. Have an amazing Saturday and if you are working out (you should be!) kick butt!

BIG UPDATE :3

Hey, guys! I am really sorry that I have been slacking so hard in the blogging department. I am usually pretty busy with work, the gym, cooking, and trying to spend time with my friends before school starts back up and I have to move at the end of the month. Anyway, I am going to try to be more active on here. I want to start posting more recipes since it is easier to type them out here than to constantly be typing them out on instagram.

I have been making a lot of amazing foods lately that I have been happy about. It is so great that even while eating clean you can eat fantastic foods and not feel guilty or have it set you back. I have been trying to gain some weight with a lot of frustration. It's terribly difficult. Now, I know there are people who will say "What?! I wish I could lose weight, not put on weight!" Well, honestly, when you are trying to gain it is pretty much just as difficult. I don't want to look bony, I want healthy, happy, and fit.

These are my latest progress shots. I feel like I look healthier, which is the most important. I love that I can go to the gym and am starting to lift heavier and see results. I know a lot of ladies think that lifting will make you look masculine and bulky, but it won't! If you are worried about that, try low weight and more reps.

Now, on to some food! I have made a few foods that I have really liked over the last few weeks, but since I had been slacking so horrible on here I may have forgotten some things, but I promise to try and get you all the yummy goodness I come across and make.

Tasty Turkey Bell Peppers

A package of extra lean (99%) ground turkey
6 green bell peppers (on the larger side)
2/3 of a large red onion
2 jalapeno pepper (optional, I like the spice)
2 15-16 oz jars low sodium/sugar spaghetti sauce

optional/add-ins:
black beans
corn
spinach
other veggies
cheese (low-fat/skim)

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees and cut the tops off of your 6 green peppers, takeout the core and seeds and wash. Don't throw away the tops! Brown the ground turkey on a non-stick skillet. Cut up your red onion, other veggies, and take the tops of your green pepper and dice them up and toss them in the party as well. Take a second skillet and cook the veggies. This process took me about 15 minutes. The veggies need to be pre-cooked so they are not really crunchy, but I like a little crunch to my veggies sometimes.

Put the hollow bases of the green peppers you cleaned into a baking dish. Pour one jar of tomato sauce into the baking dish. Once your turkey is browned, throw in the second jar or tomato sauce and the softened veggies. Let it cook for another 5 minutes and then spoon the mixture into the hollow peppers. Fill 'em up! Then, cover the peppers with tinfoil and cook them for an hour. They are so delicious and will definitely be making them again.

I also had attempted another little experiment that I ended up loving! Pistachio "Froyo"

- 1/2 a cup of plain Chobani greek yogurt,
- 1/2 a scoop vanilla whey protein
- vanilla extract
- a packet of raw stevia
- 1/4 a cup of unsweetened vanilla almond milk.

Combine all ingredients in a small bowl/Tupperware container. Mix in some crushed up pistachios. Freeze for a couple hours. After I thawed it, I topped the foyo with some melted whipped peanut butter and some whole pistachios. It was so lovely.

 Another little experimental success. I needed a post-workout snack one day, so I conjured up a lovely Vanilla Protein Mug Cake.

-1/2 a large banana, mushed up in a coffee mug.
- tablespoons of vanilla whey protein, 
- 1 tablespoon whipped peanut butter
- 1 tablespoon coconut flour
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- a couple drips of vanilla cream all natural liquid stevia (you can also use regular stevia/natural sweeteners)
- 3 tablespoons of liquid egg whites

Mix very well and microwave for 2 1/2-3 minutes, keep an eye on it. I topped mine with a little vanilla protein frosting and some wf no cal chocolate syrup. It would be amazing with chia jam, berries, peanut butter, coconut oil, chocolate, greek yogurt, or cottage cheese. 

One day I had a pair of very sad, almost ready to meet the trash can, bananas. I decided to try a little something and ended up making this amazing Chocolate Protein Oat Cake.

I mashed the 2 large ripe bananas in a bowl with 
- 1 scoop chocolate whey protein
- 1 tsp of baking powder
- 1 tsp of ground cinnamon
- 2 tbsp of organic powdered peanut butter (pb2)
- 1/3 cup of whole grain rolled oats. 

Mix well, preheat oven to 375 and I poured the mixture on to parchment paper in a large pie baking dish. Baked for 25-30 minutes, make sure tooth pic comes out clean. 

The whole thing is 558 calories, but cut in 3 you can have it for 186 calories a slice with 2 grams of fat, 35 g carbs, 5 g dietary fiber, 12 g sugar, 12.7 g of protein. I had a piece for breakfast, it would also be great pre/post workout! Keep refrigerated and eat cold or microwave. Both are awesome.

I think I solved the dry coconut flour pancakes issue yesterday! I wanted lower carb vanilla protein pancakes as my pre-workout, so I made them! Vanilla Coconut Flour Pancakes

 - 2 tablespoons coconut flour
- 1/4 (probably about a tablespoon) of vanilla whey protein
-  6 tablespoons liquid egg whites (2 regular egg whites should work)
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 2 tablespoons low fat cottage cheese
- 5 drops of vanilla creme liquid stevia (or your choice of sweetener)
* You may need to add a bit of water to the batter if it is too dry. Just do a small amount at a time to make it a bit thinner

Mix the dry ingredients and the wet ingredients in separate bowls well before combining. Cooked on a non-stick pan with non-stick spray or coconut oil. Cook on low heat. Coconut flour can be fussy so be sure to give it time. They can be hard to flip, so let them cook for a while before flipping and you will have much more success. Oh my gosh. These are amazing. So perfect, fluffy, and moist. I topped it with wf calorie free syrup. Simple and seriously perfect. 

Finally! We have another lovely chocolatey high protein dessert.  Mint Chocolate Yogurt

- 1/2 a cup plain non fat greek yogurt
- 1/2 a scoop of chocolate whey protein

Mix well with sweetener if needed

topped it with shredded organic 85% dark chocolate, unsweetened coconut flakes, and fresh mint leaves. I am so glad I decided to buy mint leaves. They are rather cheap and very nice to have around for some unique flavors. 


That's all the recipes I have for today, but I did want to share one last thing that I have been living on for the last several days since I bought it: All Natural Vanilla Creme Liquid Stevia from SweetLeaf. This stuff is like liquid gold (much like Sriracha!). I have been drinking so much water thanks to this little gem. I have always been obsessed with the scent and taste of vanilla. It has always been my favorite. It makes even plain water taste like a dream. I have stopped drinking all diet soda now because of this. It is no calorie, delicious, and worth the price. I was buying packets of Raw Stevia and spending $3-$4 for 50 packets,  I bought this for $11.00 and I use it like crazy. Definitely getting this again and I urge you to look it up online or see if your local grocer has it in the organic/natural section. I know they have other flavors online, like Toffee. 

There you are guys! Hope you enjoy and let me know what you think of any of these recipes. 

xo Meg