Green Protein Smoothie

This is THE BEST green smoothie I've ever created!  I would probably drink 18 gallons of this if it didn't fill me up so much.

Sorry I've been a bit MIA...  I've been working on my new business Sweet Ellie Bakery, which I know slightly contradicts this website.  But, as most of you would agree - we eat healthy and live healthy lifestyles so that we CAN enjoy a freaking cupcake without guilt.  Am I right?!  Who wants to be sad after biting into a delicious, sweet, happy cupcake?

Anyways, I love this breakfast!  You get veggies, protein, fiber, fruit, dairy, water, and a full tummy!

Ingredients:

• 4 cups raw spinach
• 1/3 cup non fat Fage
• 2 tablespoons PB2 (Regular or Chocolate)  -  I LOVE THIS STUFF (p.s. get it on Amazon)
• 1/2 cup frozen green beans (no, you don't taste them)
• 4 large frozen strawberries (about 1/2 cup frozen berries/fruit of your choice)
• Vanilla extract to taste
• Sweetener of choice (stevia, agave, sugar, maple syrup)
• Water to taste (I use about 3 cups)

Directions:

1. Place everything in a really good blender.
2. Blend the sh*t out of it.
3. Pour and enjoy!

Nutrition Facts
Servings 1.0
Amount Per Serving
Calories 156
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 2 g	3 %
Saturated Fat 0 g	1 %
Monounsaturated Fat 0 g
Polyunsaturated Fat 0 g
Trans Fat 0 g
Cholesterol 0 g	0 %
Sodium 221 mg	9 %
Potassium 895 mg	26 %
Total Carbohydrate 22 g	7 %
Dietary Fiber 8 g	32 %
Sugars 9 g
Protein 18 g	35 %
Vitamin A	5 %
Vitamin C	236 %
Calcium	2 %
Iron	127 %

"Two Ingredient" Cookies

Okay, okay... so clearly these aren't only TWO ingredients - but that's only because I added SO much fun stuff!!!  If you only used bananas and oats, they would only be 41 calories per cookie - WHOA!  But, they wouldn't be as much fun to eat.

They're delicious right out of the freezer, you can eat ALL the cookie dough you want, AND you can eat them for BREAKFAST - yum!  A little cookie with your coffee?  Mind you, I did alter these from Skinnytastes Healthy Cookies... although, I like mine better :).

Add-Ins

• Yummy NO-Cal Add Ins:  Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Lemon Zest, Vanilla Extract, Almond Extract, Instant Coffee, Lemon Extract, Coconut Extract - really any extract or spice.

• Fibrous & Nutritious Add Ins:  Any nut, berry, seed, bran, dried fruit, or psyllium husk, pumpkin, natural coconut, popcorn etc.

• Fun Add Ins:  Chocolate, Maple Syrup, Bakers Coconut, Agave Nectar, Toffee, etc.

Cals/Add-In

• Peanut butter add 12 cals/cookie (but also add good fat and protein)
• Almonds add 12 cals/cookie (but also add good fat, protein, fiber, and crunch)
• Raisins add 8 cals/cookie (but also add fiber and chewiness)
• Chocolate chips add 17 cals/cookie (but also add chocolate - duh)

Ingredients:

• 2 medium bananas (about 1 cup mashed)
• 1 ½ cup Quaker Oats

• Cinnamon – to taste
• Vanilla Extract – to taste
• ¼ cup raisins
• ¼ cup semisweet chocolate chips (chopped)
• ¼ cup almonds (chopped)
• 2 tablespoons peanut butter
• 2 packets of stevia or other sweetener - if desired 

Directions: 

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Mash or puree banana, cinnamon, peanut butter, vanilla, and Quaker Oats.
3. Mix in raisins, chocolate chips, and almonds (or other fixings).
4. Mix in baking soda.
5. Spoon out 16 servings.
6. Bake for about 9 minutes – or until golden.

Yields 16 cookies

Nutrition Facts
Servings 16.0
Amount Per Serving
Calories 89
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 4 g	5 %
Saturated Fat 1 g	5 %
Monounsaturated Fat 1 g
Polyunsaturated Fat 1 g
Trans Fat 0 g
Cholesterol 0 g	0 %
Sodium 1 mg	0 %
Potassium 87 mg	2 %
Total Carbohydrate 14 g	5 %
Dietary Fiber 2 g	6 %
Sugars 6 g
Protein 2 g	4 %
Vitamin A	0 %
Vitamin C	4 %
Calcium	0 %
Iron	16 %

Mint Chocolate Mousse with Avocado

                       

Happy Be-lated St. Patricks Day!!!  I hope you all enjoyed your corned-beef, cabbage, beer, potatoes, and more beer!

We are celebrating St. Patty's Day this evening with one of our favorite couple friends!!!  We have corned-beef in the oven now... it smells SO good!!!  Okay, okay... it's not actually in the oven, because we DONT HAVE A KITCHEN!  Yes, we wash our dishes in the bathroom sink (ew). 

Anyways, our dinner is cooking handsomely in our crock pot.  To spice up the evening I wanted to make a green dessert.  Last week we went to my father's avocado ranch yes, I am an heiress to an avocado ranch... be jealous.  We came home with WAY too many avos perfect life problems, so I decided to try something new... Avocado Mousse!

                     

It's green, dairy free, gluten free, and O.M.G. AMAZING!!!  I make a chocolate mousse cake for my birthday each year.  After making this mousse - I am never going to make mousse with creme again.  P.S. It's husband approved!

I hope you enjoy it as much as we do!  Oh, I altered Giada's Chocolate Avocado Mousse recipe by adding mint AND egg whites.  The egg whites make it fluffy and less caloric (and add protein)!  I think I will use 8-egg whites next time.

ENJOY!!!  Nom nom nom....

Ingredients:

• ½ cup Semisweet Chocolate (Ghirardelli)

• 32 ounces Avocado (about 4 large)

• ½ cup Agave Nectar (or honey)

• ½ cup dry unsweetened Cocoa powder

• 1/3 cup unsweetened almond milk

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 6 large egg whites

• 1 teaspoon crème of tartar

• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract

• 2 teaspoons peppermint extract

• 1 tablespoon instant coffee

• Clovers – for fun

Directions:

You will need two bowls, a food processor, and hand mixers.

1. In a food processor, mix avocados, vanilla extract, salt, almond milk, and agave nectar.
2. Pour half of avocado mixture into a separate bowl (Bowl A) and mix in peppermint extract.
3. Melt semisweet chocolate on double boiler or in microwave – cool slightly.
4. Once cool, pour chocolate into food processor and add instant coffee and cocoa powder.  Blend.
5. In a separate bowl (Bowl B), whip egg whites and crème of tartar until peaks form.
6. Pour half of the egg whites into green avocado mint bowl (Bowl A).  Gently fold in egg whites.
7. Pour chocolate mousse into remaining egg whites (Bowl B).  Fold gently.
8. Divide chocolate mousse between 8 party glasses (margarita, wine, champagne, etc.).
9. Pour mint mousse on top of chocolate mousse.  DO NOT MIX!
10. Add clovers if desired!

Nutrition Facts
Servings 8.0
Amount Per Serving
Calories 338
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 22 g	33 %
Saturated Fat 5 g	27 %
Monounsaturated Fat 11 g
Polyunsaturated Fat 2 g
Trans Fat 0 g
Cholesterol 0 g	0 %
Sodium 132 mg	5 %
Potassium 681 mg	19 %
Total Carbohydrate 38 g	13 %
Dietary Fiber 10 g	42 %
Sugars 25 g
Protein 7 g	14 %
Vitamin A	0 %
Vitamin C	31 %
Calcium	0 %
Iron	43 %

Stout and I took a walk/run this morning.  I tried to get a picture of San Francisco in the background... Looked WAY prettier in person - but still an awesome day!

Later on, I found these two... just like this.  Let me know if you can find Shaymus!  Poor muffkin-boy!