No-Bake Berry Cheesecake from SHAPE

I recently ran across this lighter take on cheesecake in a recent issue of Shape Magazine. 

If you're craving dessert but don't want too big of a splurge, at 139 calories each, these no-bake cheesecakes are an awesome option.  I think the lemon zest is the perfect finishing touch in this recipe.  

Ingredients:

For crust-

1 c. graham crackers, crumbled

1/3 c. sliced almonds, toasted

4 tsp. canola oil

For cheesecake-

8 oz. Neufchatel cheese, softened

1 c. nonfat vanilla Greek yogurt

1/2 tsp. lemon zest

2 Tbsp. sugar

1. Line a 12-cup muffin pan with paper liners.
2. In a food processor, pulse together graham crackers, almonds, and canola oil until finely ground.  
3. Divide evenly among prepared cups and press down firmly.
4. Wipe out food processor and add Neufchatel cheese, Greek yogurt, lemon zest, and sugar; process until smooth.
5. Divide among muffin cups, smooth the top of each cheesecake, and freeze for 3 hours.  
6. Before serving, remove paper liners from cheesecakes and let sit at room temperature for 20 minutes.  
7. Top with mixed berries, pressing gently to adhere.

 

For another healthy option, swap stevia for the sugar.  After freezing the cheesecakes for 3 hours, I also found them to need slightly more than 20 minutes to thaw.  I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do!  Til next time! -M 

Skinnytaste's Santa Fe Turkey Stuffed Peppers

YES.  These Santa Fe Turkey Stuffed Peppers are as awesome as they look.  They were a little more work intensive than I prefer for during the week, but they were a great weekend treat.  Be sure to check out Skinnytaste for other healthy and delicious recipes!  

My biggest complaint about ground turkey is its general blandness.  But, it's easy to fix it up and substitute it as a healthy alternative into all kinds of recipes.  I omitted the hot pepper because my taste buds are wimps. So, next time, I will add some taco seasoning for a little extra flavor. 

Let me know if you give this recipe a try!  Til next time! -M

Easy Greek Orzo Salad - Fit Men Cook

A few posts ago, I shared this awesome video of easy cold lunch ideas from Fit Men Cook.  Recently, I tried out the Greek Orzo Salad recipe from the video and it was awesome!

Here's how you make it:

• 1 cup uncooked, raw orzo
• 1/2 cup cucumber, peeled and chopped
• 1/2 cup cherry (or roma) tomatoes, chopped
• 1/3 cup Kalamata olives, chopped
• 1/3 cup chopped parsley
• 1 1/2 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/3 cup feta (optional)
• juice from 1 lemon
• sea salt & pepper to taste

1. Cook orzo according to the instructions given and once cooked, allow it to cool.
2. Mix together all of the ingredients and season to taste with salt n peppa.  

I made the rookie mistake of forgetting the feta cheese.  But, this recipe could not be tastier or easier!  Hope you enjoy it!  Til next time! -M

Best Pre & Post Workout Eats

(Photo Cred: Shape Magazine)

Check out this article from Shape Magazine on the best foods to eat pre and post workout!

PaleOMG's Tequila Cilantro Lime Chicken

One of my favorite sites for healthy recipes is PaleOMG.  Juli posts a plethora of healthy recipes with BEAutiful pictures (see above).  I can't wait to give this recipe a try because it is a combination of 4 of my favorite things: Tequila, Cilantro, Lime, & Chicken.  

Get the recipe here: http://paleomg.com/tequila-cilantro-lime-chicken/ 

Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Chicken and Pasta Skillet Meal

Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Chicken and Pasta Skillet Meal

Today I ran across another YouTube channel, "Momables", with great recipes!  Laura Fuentes has tons of easy recipes to switch up your routine.  I love anything with sun-dried tomatoes and this is just one of many great recipes on her webpage.  Check it out!

Fed & Fit » BLT Wrap

Fed & Fit » BLT Wrap  Check out this awesome BLT Wrap recipe from Fed & Fit.  Cut some calories from a traditional BLT by updating the recipe with lettuce wraps and avocado! 

Sarah Fit: 5 Surprising Ways To Nutritiously Satisfy A Sweet Tooth After Dinner

Check out this great post from Sarah Fit curb those late night sweets cravings!

5 Surprising Ways To Nutritiously Satisfy A Sweet Tooth After Dinner: I’ve always had a sweet tooth but I believe I’ve trained myself to want something sweet after I eat a meal. I wish I hadn’t and I’ve tried too many times to count to train myself to NOT want sugar after dinner but it’s easier said than done. Instead, I’ve found surprisingly healthy ways to […]

Hard-Baked Eggs?! - An Eggsperiment

With all of the hard-boiled egg mania following Easter Sunday, I ran across this video from Food Network's morning talk show "The Kitchen".  

                Who knew that instead of hard-boiling eggs, you could hard-bake them?!  Was this too good to be true?  I decided to give it a shot.

Since I'm only cooking for one at school, I only used 6 eggs.  As directed in the video above, preheat the oven to 325 degrees and bake them for 30 minutes.

Immediately after removing eggs from the oven, submerge them in an ice water bath.  And once cool enough to touch, peel them.

A few of the eggs had these brown spots after peeling.  I'm thinking this may be where the shell was in direct contact with the muffin tin??  But apart from this...

VOILA!  Perfectly cooked hard eggs!  No gray/green ring around the yolk!  These are a great source of protein and good for snacks, egg salad, deviled eggs, or whatever you like.

If you try out this eggsperiment for yourself, let me know in the comments below!

Til next time!  -M

Laura Vitale's Twenty Minute Italian Tortellini Soup

Today, I'm sharing a super simple recipe from one of my favorite cooks.  This delicious and savory Twenty Minute Italian Tortellini Soup from Laura Vitale is for those days when you want something quick, warm, and comforting.  Laura's popular YouTube channel, "Laura in the Kitchen", is bursting with delicious, innovative, easy, accessible recipes.  Her bright personality and the warmth of her kitchen come right through the screen.  As a fellow Italian, I feel like Laura is a long-lost member of my own family.  I'm currently loving season 2 of her show "Simply Laura" on the Cooking Channel, Saturdays at 10:30am CT.      

When first attempting this recipe, I couldn't find sausage tortellini at my local grocery store.  So, I browned some Italian sausage and added it to my soup with cheese tortellini.  Just as delicious!  And as Laura always says, just use what you have!

I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do.  Til next time! -M

Strawberry Banana Protein Shake from Summer Girl Fitness!

It's hard to go wrong with a strawberry banana smoothie.  My trainer and friend, Marielle from SummergirlFitness.com, amps up this classic with protein powder for added lean muscle sculpting.  Check out her website and give her Facebook page a 'Like' for some inspiring and helpful fitness posts (& some great, healthy recipes)! 

SKINNY Strawberry Banana Shake
Try this DELICIOUS and simple protein smoothie -- the perfect healthy snack with only 230 calories!
Posted by Summer Girl Fitness on Sunday, February 28, 2016

Fit Men Cook: 5 Easy Cold Lunches

One of my favorite YouTube channels for healthy meal ideas is Fit Men Cook.  Kevin's presentation is always on point, and his dishes are nutritious and colorful.  For those of you who are constantly on-the-go, like me, you know how monotonous packing your lunch can get.  These 5 Easy Cold Lunch ideas are great for adding some variety into your typical lunch routine.  Enjoy!  

The Easiest Crock-Pot Chicken

As a college student who's always short on time, my biggest cooking challenge is finding recipes that are easy, quick, AND healthy!  When my mom gave me her old crock-pot at the beginning of this school year, my whole world changed.  But seriously, there is nothing better than being able to throw together a bunch of ingredients and come back later with a warm meal prepared.  This crock pot chicken was one of the first recipes I tried and it is so, so simple and delicious.  

I made this crock-pot shredded chicken by pulling inspiration from these two recipes:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZK348jIqxlo

http://sarahfit.com/game-day-salsa-chicken-mini-taco-boat-recipe/

Since I'm cooking for one, here are the portions I use:

Ingredients

3 frozen boneless, skinless chicken breasts

20 oz. salsa, not quite a whole 24oz jar of medium salsa

2 tbsp taco seasoning, or 1/2 packet of taco seasoning

Directions

1. Place chicken breasts inside crock-pot and top with taco seasoning and salsa.

2. Cook on low for 4-5 hours.

3. Remove chicken from crock-pot and shred with forks.

4. Return chicken to crock-pot and cook for at least one more hour to soak up all the flavor.

5. Serve warm on top of a taco or taco salad.  Enjoy! 

QUICK TIP: Use a slow cooker liner (pictured above) to seriously cut down on cleanup time!

I made these shredded chicken tacos for Super-Bowl Sunday.  Against my better judgment, I decided to give the new Old El Paso Taco Boats a try.  The verdict? Instead of everything falling out of the back of your taco (which apparently was an issue before?), all the ingredients just squeeze out of the top now.  I would pass on these next time I'm craving a good tortilla.

Please let me know if you give this a try and what you think!  Hope everyone has an awesome week!

Til next time! -M

Meal Prep Recipe: Buffalo Chicken Meatloaf Muffins

I gave this recipe a try 2 weeks ago and it was DELISH!  Feels like you're splurging with Buffalo Chicken Dip minus all the extra calories from the cream cheese.

Katy's Kitchen: Paleo Slow Cooker Recipes

Katy's Kitchen: Paleo Slow Cooker Recipes: Guys, I have to admit it — I'm obsessed with my Crock-pot. I've been trying lots of new dishes the past few weeks and compiled s...



One of my childhood friends has an awesome blog about her food and life adventures.  She wrote this post about 10 awesome, healthy, Paleo Crock-Pot Recipes.  I can't wait to give them a try!

#ThrowbackThursday...to Fat Tuesday

Admittedly...I have a serious sweet tooth.  Baked goods...candy...fruit...really anything with sugar in it.  So, while I have been trying to eat more veggies, I knew Fat Tuesday would be the perfect time to treat myself.  If you have not been graced with the greatness of this bakery yet, please let me introduce you to: Nothing Bundt Cakes

These are some of the most moist, decadent, delicious cakes I have ever tasted.  Their website says they use, "Fresh eggs, real butter, and real cream cheese."  SO GOOD!  

Pictured is one of their single serving bundtlets in my favorite flavor, White Chocolate Raspberry!  I also particularly enjoy the Chocolate Chocolate Chip and Lemon flavors.  They also offer Red Velvet, Marble, Carrot, and a few other flavors.  

Their bakeries are quickly spreading across the country, so click here to find the closest one to you so you can run out and get a little bundt cake for yourself!  Hint: They sometimes offer in-store samples as well.  Too good to pass up.

Til next time! -M

Easy PB&J Protein Smoothie

One of my favorite blogger/vloggers to follow is SarahFit.  She posts great workout and healthy recipe ideas.  Recently, I tried this PB&J Protein Smoothie from Barry's Bootcamp that she shared and I WAS HOOKED!  So easy.  So delicious.  Andy, it's packed with protein to start your day off on the right foot!  See the recipe below.

PB&J Protein Smoothie:

7 oz. almond milk

1/2 c. frozen blueberries

1/4 c. frozen strawberries

1/3 c. ice

2 tbsp. peanut butter

1 scoop of your favorite protein powder

BLEND BLEND BLEND

& enjoy!

I like to drink this smoothie in my favorite Seattle Seahawks Tervis tumbler cup.  I'm still mourning the end of football season and Marshawn Lynch's retirement.  So, drinking this smoothie helps me channel my inner Beast Mode throughout the rest of the day.  

I hope you like it as much as I do.  Please comment below to let me know if you try it out and what you think.  Til next time! -M