Peanut Butter Granola Bars

Ever wake up in the morning and can't decide what you want to eat? 


You don't have to do that anymore!


Here is your Go-To breakfast snack. Your kiddos will love this! You will love this!! 


The best part about this recipe is that you can make it AHEAD of time and eat it all through the week! SCORE!




Recipe: (original recipe from How Sweet Eats)

4 cups rolled oats

1/2 cup unsalted peanuts, chopped

3/4 cup natural peanut butter, melted

1/2 cup brown rice syrup (honey works too!) *I did not have honey one time and I used Kayro Syrup~worked just as well.

Add Ins: Raisins, Chocolate chips, walnuts, flaxseed, dried fruit, coconut

How To:

Preheat over to 350.

In a large bowl, combine oats and peanuts. Add brown rice syrup (or honey) and mix to combine. Add melted peanut butter and mix until moistened. This works as a simple granola bar, but you can also throw in any add-ins at this time. 

Fold them into the dough. You may need to get in there with your hands and work the granola dough! If dough is still too dry (this can depend on your ingredients) add more peanut butter or syrup (or honey) 1 tablespoon at a time until moistened.

Press dough in a greased (non-stick spray) 9 x 13 baking dish. Bake for 25 minutes.

If you want to make no-bakes, simply press the dough into the pan and refrigerate for 60 minutes.

The results:

I baked these into bars, then crumbled about half and put it in a bag to pour over yogurt! oh, Heavens! 

These freeze really well, so if you don't eat all of it in the first few days, stick it in the freezer for up to several weeks!

No picture at the moment, but I PROMISE one is coming soon!! 

Now that you have this recipe, you can focus on more important things in the mornings...like how to get your son's hair to lie flat.

Meatless Black Bean Burgers

Yes, I did say black bean burgers. And yes, my husband is planning on eating them...


Although he doesn't "quite" know that they are meatless...yet.


I haven't told him anything....here's hoping!






Recipe: (original recipe from Eat, Live, Run)

2 cans black beans, drained and rinsed *make sure they are really drained! too much liquid equals burgers that are FALLING apart!*

1 T ground flax + 3 T water

1 jalapeno

2 cloves garlic

2 T tomato sauce (get the thick paste)

1/2 cup Panko breadcrumbs (I actually added a little more because my burgers were too moist)

2 tsp cumin (or chili powder)

1 1/4 tsp salt

1/2 cup corn (fresh or frozen and defrosted)

avocado for topping

olive oil (or canola oil)  for frying burgers

How To:

Seed and roughly chop jalapeno. Add it and the garlic cloves to a food processor (or high speed blender) and mince finely. (Alternatively, you could chop them yourselves very finely but it’s just easier at this point to throw them in a food processor.)

Add one can of beans to the jalapeno/garlic mixture and pulse to combine. Add cumin and salt and pulse until mixture resembles chunky black bean dip.

In a small bowl, mix together the ground flax and water. Let sit for five minutes.

Transfer the mixture in the food processor to a large bowl and stir in the bread crumbs, tomato sauce, flax and corn. Stir well until everything is combined. Add remaining black beans.

Heat a little olive oil in a skillet on medium high heat. Form black bean mixture into patties and fry for about 4 minutes per side, until golden and crusty brown. You might want to put them in the fridge for a little while before frying them. That helps them stick together better. 

Serve burgers with avocado slices, sriracha and ketchup. I served mine with onion, lettuce, mayo, ketchup, and a sweet and spicy chili sauce-DElicious!

The Results:


I did finally tell Robert that the burgers were meatless...and he promised to to give them a try!


As the "burger" crept slowly towards his mouth, I watched carefully to gauge his reaction. He's a MEAT and POTATOES man. He could eat a huge burger every day...hopefully this will change his mind ;)


The first bite was taken with some skepticism. But then he turned to me and said, "Once you get over the part about it not being meat, it's really not that bad!" 


For a self-named Carnivore, this is considered a compliment. Trust Me.


He even went back for a second! SUCCESS!


I think sweet potato fries would be perfect with this meal-healthy and filling~

Free-Style Shrimp and Grits

During my Mid-Winter Break (yeah, awesome) my husband and I went away for the weekend and stayed in this little condo that thankfully had a kitchen! For some of you that might seem like a waste. For us, it was EXCITING!


I love to cook-even on vacation! I know, I'm crazy.


One of my favorite things that we ate that weekend was the free-style Shrimp and Grits. I call them free-style because that's exactly what I did. No recipe! Woohoo!!


I went to the grocery store up in the mountains and grabbed the things that I thought people put in Shrimp and Grits, then I winged it.


Recipe:

fresh shrimp (amount depends on number of people)


Andouille sausage (I got the mild) 


grits (I prefer the quick cook)


1 package of brown gravy mix


onion, green peppers (you choose how little or how much you want)

Parsley, salt and pepper




How To:

Start by cooking the grits then remove them from the stove when finished. If you want your grits to be more rich and creamy, cook them with milk-Yum!


Next, sautee the onions, sausage, and peppers until tender in a little oil or butter. 


Add in the shrimp and cook for only a few minutes. 


While shrimp is cooking, mix 1/2 package of brown gravy mix and add it to the grits. I started with a half package, then added more if I needed it. Don't add too much or it will overpower everything.


When shrimp is almost cooked through, add the grits to the sautee pan and mix everything together. 


When serving, add parsley on top...it makes it look pretty, but also tastes yummy.



The result:


Unfortunately, I don't have a picture at the moment, but I can promise you that they were completely eaten by the end of the night...and I made A LOT!


I also didn't write it down, so beware that you may want to tweak a few things here and there to your liking. 


Otherwise, ENJOY!

Chocolate Chip Cookies

What does my husband ask for after a scrumptious, filling, and satisfying meal?


"I think I want some chocolate." And after offering several options for him (even though I knew what he was hinting at) he finally decided on...Chocolate Chip cookies.


But not the store bought kind. No, no...the homemade kind. And not only for him, but for his entire shift :) Now, some of you might be saying "How selfish!" You take that back!


He knows that I benefit from these cookies too, and because he will take them to his shift, I won't eat as many, therefor rendering me still skinny. He knows me too well. 


So, here I am getting the ingredients out to make some homemade chocolate chip cookies. Is your mouth watering yet? 


Mine is.


Recipe: (borrowed from a sweet friend who lives in Michigan)


1 1/2 C Crisco (I NEVER told you this was healthy)
2 1/2 C brown sugar
4 T milk
1 tsp salt
4 C semi-sweet chocolate chips
2 T vanilla
2 eggs
3 1/2 C all purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking soda


How To:


Please be aware that these are more time consuming than breaking off pre-packaged, store-bought cookies and they will make a mess in your kitchen. Allot some time for them...they are SO worth it. 


Cream Crisco, brown sugar, milk and vanilla with either a hand mixer or a stand mixer. Mix until completely blended. 


Add room temperature eggs.


Combine flour, salt, and baking soda in a separate bowl and mix together. Add into the wet ingredients SLOWLY...you don't want to be cleaning up flour for the next 3 hours do you?!


Mix ingredients together fully before adding more flour. 


Last, stir in chocolate chips. 


For best results place the batter in the fridge for a while-YUM!


Spoon onto a baking sheet (greased or non-greased) and bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes OR LESS if you want them to be gooey!

The Results:


The first time I made these I found that I had added too much vanilla, so they were SUPER sweet. Be careful to follow the directions carefully! 


This time, the cookies were perfect! I cooked them about 8 minutes, which is what I love, and ate about 6 while they were cooling. Robert better hurry and take these soon while there are some left.


I usually let the cookies sit on a cookie sheet for a few minutes before moving them to a cooling rack. Not the best picture, but you know these IPhones...

I made just enough for me to have, um, a few, and then enough for Robert's shift. I put the rest in a tupperware dish and stuck it in the freezer...because I just know that "someone" is going to ask for some more chocolate chip cookies in the near future :)


Try it. You'll like it.

Chicken and Pesto Stuffed Pasta Shells

HOLY.COW.


Chicken. Pesto. Cheese. Pasta. Cheese.


Need I say more??


I got this recipe from onceamonthmom.com but adjusted it to my liking~


It called for the pasta shells to be carefully stuffed and then set nicely into a casserole dish to then be baked....and although that seems AWESOME...I don't have time to be stuffing 16 pasta shells. 


No thank you!


Well...ok, I wasn't exactly truthful about my reasons for changing the recipe. I did have the time. I just wasn't using it wisely. I got really into an episode of The Office and forgot about the pasta shells. 


They were pretty much mush by the time Robert asked me when dinner was going to be ready.


OOPS.


So, I dumped them into a casserole dish lined with pesto (store-bought) and cooked a few handfuls of penne pasta to fill the dish.


I then mixed all of the other ingredients and dumped them on top of the pasta shells. Then I added CHEESE. LOTS AND LOTS OF CHEESE. Problem solved :) and I'm so proud!


Recipe: (derived from onceamonthmom.com)


6 Jumbo Pasta Shells (I used about 12 for the big eaters in my family and about a handful of penne pasta)


4 oz. fat free cream cheese


12 T Pesto (divided in half)


4 cooked chicken breasts, chopped into bite-sized pieces


Mozzarella Cheese (depends how much you want...I used about 8 oz.)


Parmesean Cheese (same as above)


4 cloves of garlic


Salt and Pepper


The How To:


Boil the pasta shells according to package directions and set aside (REMEMBER that you should NOT cook the pasta for an entire OFFICE episode)


Combine half of the cheese, 6 oz. pesto, chicken, garlic, and cream cheese in a large mixing bowl. I also added some basil, parsley, and salt and pepper.


You have two options at this point. You can either a) take your sweet little time stuffing those cute little shells with the mixture that you have just made or b) you can dump the mixture on top of the pasta and then cover everything with the remainder of cheese....choose your PRIORITIES...


Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.


Here's what mine looks like....Don't you Wish you HAD SOME!! I'll save you some left-overs...if there are any~

The Results:


Oh.My.Goodness. 


You have GOT to try this recipe!! My husband has eaten two servings tonight. 


And he's taking more to work. 


I would call this a SUCCESS! 

The Shopping Trip

If you had asked my husband earlier this week what kind of a cook I am, you probably would have gotten a "deer in headlights" look and some drool escaping the side of his mouth. The drool was not caused my delicious food however, but from hunger. I don't think that I cooked a decent meal all week for him! 


I know, I know...priorities! This week, I had none! School was a nightmare and I had something planned every night, and Robert is on night-shift...Lord, help us! Excuses, excuses. 


I knew that I had to go to the grocery store today when the only left to eat for lunch was peanut butter...and although I LOVE peanut butter, my husband DOES NOT. This would not satisfy his hunger pains. 


The first thing I always do before my weekly shopping trip is research recipes! I have several blogs and websites to which I refer. I also have a bookshelf that is literally overflowing with cookbooks of all sorts...Southern, Greek, Organic, Heart Healthy, Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate...did I mention that I love desserts?


Today I was searching through a wonderful website www.onceamonthmom.com which is an amazing resource for those of you who want make ahead and freeze ahead meals for your busy families. I wrote recipes for the entire week and made my shopping list. 


My Go-To store for organic food is...drumroll please....KROGER! Kroger has a great selection of organic and natural foods that won't break the bank! 


On Sundays I go to the grocery store, then come home and begin prepping for the week. Here's what it (usually) looks like:


* I cut all fruits and veggies that we will eat raw as a snack, into bite sized pieces and either put them in a large tupperware or small zip loc bags that we can grab on the go-TRUST ME...this will save you SO MUCH time when you want to have a healthy snack.


* I then decide if there will be anything that I can make ahead...this week I am making 5 ingredient Peanut butter granola bars that we can eat for breakfast or a mid morning snack. Recipe will follow SHORTLY...you know you want it!!


* Robert and I generally eat/drink fruit smoothies for breakfast or after a workout. For these, I cut lots of berries (any kind) and put them in small plastic bags. Whenever we have a craving for a smoothie, we literally pour protein powder and water into a blender and dump the bag of fruit in. Takes about...5 seconds. Not hard AT ALL!! 


After this, which takes between 30-60 minutes, I either prepare dinner or get my lunches ready for the week. 
To school I take a mid-morning snack, lunch, a mid-afternoon snack, and an after-school snack...I kind of sound like a hobbit...(nerd alert!) But I did warn you that I eat ALL THE TIME!


Next time you plan to go shopping, write down what you plan to make for the week-SERIOUSLY. It may seem time consuming now, but while you're standing in line at the grocery store after a long day of work, listening to the teenage cashier talk about her boyfriend, and the baby screaming behind you, and you just wish that you could get home and prop your feet up and do nothing...I'm at home and finishing up a nice, nutritious dinner ;) ha


PRIORITIES. And mine is extra time with friends and family. CHOOSE YOURS.

Welcome!

Welcome to my blog! I hope you're hungry!


Before we get down to business and I share my recipes, tips, and fun facts, let me give you a little background about myself. 


My husband and I have been happily married for almost 4 years! He's my best friend and my biggest supporter. I am a 2nd grade teacher and a Health and Nutrition Consultant for Market America (yay!)


I am also a tremendous eater. Ask anyone who has known me for more than one meal. Once in high school, I out-ate (is that a word?) several football players. I THINK it included several triple cheeseburgers, fries, and chicken nuggets...This happened WAY back when I swam 3 hours a day, played volleyball and basketball...haven't done that in a while. 


HOWEVER, I still LOVE to eat. I am the type of person who "lives to eat", which means that if I want to be able to show this body off in public during the summer, I need to scale back a bit! 


About a year ago the hubbs and I started trying to eat more healthy, which of course included adding more fruits, veggies, and whole grains (yes, we jumped on the bandwagon). We also began cutting back on red meat, caffeine, processed foods and sweets...yikes.


Our eating habits have become more regimented in the past few months because we feel that the most important thing we can do for ourselves is take care of our bodies. In this blog you will find some vegan or vegetarian recipes, a large amount of organic foods, and a good amount of indulgence (hey, I live in the South, ok?)


I started this blog to share information that I have gained over the years. Many of the posts will include recipes that I have gathered from family members, Pinterest (HE-LLO!), and friends...I have also created some of my own-I'll let you know when those come up ;)


I also wanted to share some helpful advice that has allowed me to cook a healthy and nutritious (most of the time) dinner for myself and my husband. I hear a lot of women say that they don't have time to cook a healthy meal for their family...well, sorry, but it's all about PRIORITIES. My priority is to make sure that my family is healthy and puts good food into their bodies! Choose your priorities!!


Now, I understand if you are cinched for time a few days a week...that's where my Make Ahead Meals will come in handy. One great tip that I will consistently go back to is shopping and preparing on the weekends. I usually choose Sunday after church to go to the grocery store and I come home and start cooking! I do not consider this work, because I love it and it saves me time during the week. You can choose any day that works best for you. 


I hope that you enjoy the blog and it helps you save a little time during your busy schedule :)
Please let me know if you have ANY questions about anything!!


Happy Eating!