Homemade Taco Seasoning

I found this from allrecipes.com.  I like their stuff, AND I like "spicy".  This is straight from your home.  No packets needed. You can also double or triple up, depending on what you are making.  I did one pound of ground turkey and this was perfect!

1 TBSP chili powder
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp onion powder
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp paprika
1 1/2 tsp ground cummin
1 tsp seal salt
1 tsp black pepper

Mix ingredients and here you go!

Best Guacamole ever (I am not kidding)

My husband found this recipe online a few years back.  It is hands down the best I have ever had, and I love me some Mexican Food.  He made it Sunday when we were watching the Colts win a nail biter.  

Ingredients
2 ripe avocados
1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt
1 Tbsp of fresh lime juice or lemon juice
2 Tbsp to 1/4 cup of minced red onion or thinly sliced green onion
1-2 serrano chiles, stems and seeds removed, minced
2 tablespoons cilantro (leaves and tender stems), finely chopped
A dash of freshly grated black pepper
1/2 ripe tomato, seeds and pulp removed, chopped

Serve with tortilla chips. We used organic Blue Chips

1 Cut the avocados in half. Remove seed. Scoop out avocado from the peel, put in a mixing bowl. (I find it easiest to score the inside of the avocado with a blunt knife and scoop out the flesh with a spoon. 
2 Using a fork, roughly mash the avocado. (Don't overdo it! The guacamole should be a little chunky.) Sprinkle with salt and lime (or lemon) juice. The acid in the lime juice will help delay the avocados from turning brown. Add the chopped onion, cilantro, black pepper, and chiles. Chili peppers vary individually in their hotness. So, start with a half of one chili pepper and add to the guacamole to your desired degree of hotness. Be careful handling the peppers; wash your hands thoroughly after handling and do not touch your eyes or the area near your eyes with your hands for several hours.

Remember that much of this is done to taste because of the variability in the fresh ingredients. Start with this recipe and adjust to your taste.

3 Place plastic wrap on the surface of the guacamole cover it and to prevent air reaching it. (The oxygen in the air causes oxidation which will turn the guacamole brown.) Refrigerate until ready to serve.

4 Chilling tomatoes hurts their flavor, so if you want to add chopped tomato to your guacamole, add it just before serving.

Please let me know if you make it!

Fall is upon us! 

It might still be 90 degrees in Texas, but it is autumn.  I think of pumpkins, pumpkin spice, pumpkin everything!  This is a recipe from the Fixate cookbook, part of the 21 Day Fix.  Pumpkin Pie Energy Bites.  I have had intentions of trying this for some time, and finally decided no better time than now!
This is where I have to keep it real.  I am not Betty Crocker.  I am messy, it never looks the way it is supposed to, I am not the best at presentation, but to me, as long as it tastes the same, I am OK with it!
Please let me know if you make them and what you thought!  Thank you!

Ingredients:
1 cup pitted dates
1/2 cup raw pecans
1/3 cup canned pumpkin puree
1/4 cup unsweetened coconut flakes (reserve small amount for garnish)
1 tsp. pure hazelnut extract (or pure maple extract)
1 tsp. pure maple syrup
2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
1 pinch sea, or Himalayan salt

1. Place dates in a medium bowl; cover with water.  Let soak for 10 minutes, drain, set aside.  
2. Place pecans in food processor; pulse until finely ground.
3. Add dates, pumpkin, coconut, extract, maple syrup, pumpkin pie spice, and salt; pulse until well mixed.  Place in a medium bowl.  Refrigerate, covered for 30 minutes.
4. Using clean hands, roll into tablespoon sized ball; roll in reserved coconut if desired.
5. Store refrigerated in air tight container.

Serving: approx 16  Cal. 61  Total Fat 3g  Saturated Fat 1g  Cholesterol 0 Sodium 10  Carbs 9 g.  Fiber 2 g  Sugars 7 g  Protein 1 g   Containers: 1 yellow 1/2 tsp 

BBQ Pulled Pork

We had week two of the NFL and watched the Colts get pounced last night by the Jets.  That hurt.   0-2.  =(  Sunday by husband made his yummy pulled pork.  This is an oldie but a goodie.  Always tastes delicious!

4 pounds pork shoulder
5 to 6 cloves
3 TBSP Liquid Smoke
2 red onions, thinly sliced
2 cups water
16 oz BBQ sauce (we have been using Stubbs)

Directions:

Stud the roast with cloves and add liquid smoke on pork and rub in.  Place in a crock pot or slow cooker and top with onions.  Cover roast with water and cook 8-10 hours.  Remove pork, discard cloves and layer of fat, as well as any water and grease remaining in the pot.  When pork is cool enough to handle, use a fork or your hands to shred and pull the meat apart.  Return the meat to the crock pot along with the BBQ sauce.  Heat for one to two hours.

You can serve with: whole wheat buns, tortillas, or alone.  A lot of people like slaw.  To make a healthier version, use a Mayo made with avocado oil.

Let me know what you think!!!

Football Recipes - Boneless Wings

Football season is upon us, so that means we are happy campers.  We are Colts fans, yes, back before they were good.  They did not look pretty yesterday, but it was only game one.  My husband likes to cook, unlike me.  We decided it would be fun to share a recipe a week with everyone during the football season.  I will try and get the next one out before Sunday so you can try as well.

This is for buffalo chicken wings.  We like boneless, so use what you prefer.  It is from Anchor Bar in Buffalo (gee, that is funny, we played Buffalo yesterday.)  It was just a recipe he found online and has been making them for a few years now.

- 36 wings (again we just chicken tenders, diced)
- 1 TBSP vegetable oil
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 cup all purpose flour (for a healthier version we used almond flour)
- 1 1/2 TBSP white vinegar
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1/8 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp Tabasco sauce
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 6 TBSP hot sauce (we use Frank's)
- 6 TBSP unsalted butter or margarine
- type of dressing you want to dip (we use Blue Cheese and need to work on a "cleaner" version)

preheat over to 425

1. toss chicken in a bowl with oil and salt.  Place into a large plastic bag (ziplock) and add flour to shake and coat.  Remove from bag and spread out evenly on an (oiled -foiled lined baking pan) you can line with olive oil or some type of similar spray.  Do not crowd.  Bake for about 20 minutes, turn the wings over, and cook for another 20 - until browned.

2.  While the wings are baking, mix all the ingredients for the sauce in a pan.  Bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally and then turn off.

3.  After the wings are cooked, transfer to a large mixing bowl.  Pour sauce over wings and toss until completely covered!

We saved some nuggets for my son to eat plain.  And truth be told, we ate all of them before I realized I never took a pic!  Let me know if you make them and what you think!

Overnight Steel Cut Oats

A friend posted this recipe last week.  Then I saw someone else post it.  I figured I better check it out.

Overnight Steel Cut Oats 

Serving size 1
Ingredients

• 1/3 cup of dry steel cut oats
• 1/4 cup almond milk
• ¾ cup of low-fat, plain greek yogurt
• 1 cup of any fruit of your choice
Directions

1. Mix together.
2. Put in a pint jar or other small container with a lid.
3. Store in the refrigerator overnight with the lid on. The next morning stir and add a sprinkle of cinnamon. I added stevia as well)
Feel free to warm yours in the microwave for about 1 minute.

I Can't Cook

Sunday I was all gung-ho to make another recipe from the FIXATE cookbook. I was obsessed with this cake.  I kept looking at it ever since I got the cookbook.  BUT in my head I was thinking "that is a lot of ingredients and a lot of directions".  It looked so darn good, I just had to.  I had to finally make it.  That is when things got ugly.

The ingredients are listed all together for the cake and then the icing.  I did not pay very close attention to this part.  When it says "divided use", I jumped the gun.  I started to just measure and go for it.  Then I would get to the next step and realize I jacked it all up.  )(%@#%@#  My husband is good at math, so helped me back track and add one half more to everything.    SO, I finally figured it out, had two cakes instead of one. The mess was HUGE, and to top it off, I spilled my husband's orange juice ALL OVER EVERYTHING.  Sticky = messy = pi$$ed.  BUT, hey, the cake was delicious!  Downside was I waited to eat too long that day and had one of the worst binge eating sessions I had in a long time. I think I ate 4 pieces of cake (after the food I had eaten before). So, a fiasco, BUT I do recommend the cake!  Let me know if you make it, what you think, and if you had a better experience than I did!

 
Vanilla Cake with Chocolate Frosting 
for you Fixers, serves 12 2 yellow and 1/5 blue

Nonstick cooking spray
1 cup almond flour
1/2 cup coconut flour
2 tsp baking powder, gluten free
1/4 sea salt (or Himalayan)
3/4 cup unsalted organic grass fed butter, DIVIDED USE
1 cup raw honey (or maple syrup) DIVIDED USE
4 large eggs
1/4 cup + 3 TBSP unsweetened almond milk DIVIDED USE
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
2/3 cup organic unsweetened cocoa powder, sifted

1. preheat oven to 350
2. Coat a 9 inch round baking pan with spray
3. Combine almond flour, coconut flour, baking powder, and salt in a med bowl. Set aside.
4. Cream together 1/2 cup butter and 3/4 cup honey in a med mixing bowl, beat on medium speed for one minute.
5. Add eggs one at a time, beat until blended.
6. Add 1/4 cup almond milk and extract; beat until blended.
7. Add almond flour mixture to butter mixture; beat until creamy
8. Pour batter into prepared pan
9. Bake 25 to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.  Cool
10.  Whip REMAINING 1/4 cup butter in a med bowl, beat on medium speed for 1 to 2 minutes, or until creamy.
11. Add remaining 3 TBSP almond milk to butter; beat until well blended.
12 Add cocoa powder, beat until well blended, scarping bowl occasionally.
13 Slowly add REMAINING 1/4 cup honey while beating on med speed.
14. Once cake is cool, evenly spread with frosting.  Cut into slices  (don't eat the entire cake like me!)

Another Delicious Shakeology Recipe

I tried this today and it was really good.  I used chocolate Shakeology instead of Vanilla, as that is what I had on had.

Horchata is a creamy beverage from Spain and Latin America made from rice or nuts and spiced with cinnamon. It tastes like a rich dessert, and with good reason, because it is often made with sugar and sweetened condensed milk. This healthier version was created  to have a yummy treat that won’t end up on your waistline.

Total Time: 5 min.
Prep Time: 5 min.
Cooking Time: None
Yield: 1 serving

Ingredients:
1 cup unsweetened almond milk (or rice milk)
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1 scoop Vanilla Shakeology
2 Tbsp. sliced raw almonds
¼ tsp. ground cinnamon
1 cup ice (I don't use ice, that is just me)

Preparation:
1. Place almond milk, extract, Shakeology, almonds, cinnamon, and ice in blender; cover. Blend until smooth.

Day 9 - 21 Day Fix another recipe!

Day 9 - I am trucking along.  I won't lie, for whatever reason it is just harder.  Even as a coach, I know the struggle.  I have to stay committed.  I just have to.  The Fixate Cookbook has been AWESOME.  I am enjoying recipes and experimenting.  Today I used ginger for the first time.  I know, I know.  Enjoy the recipe!

21 Day Fix Recipes from Fixate!

I am on day 8 of the 21 Day Fix.  It has been going well.  NOW, I did cheat yesterday evening.  Won't lie but other than that have had focus.  Feeling good.  I wanted to share a couple of things I made over the weekend.

Peanutty Peanut Butter Squares

Nonstick cooking spray
1 1/2 cups all natural smooth peanut butter
1/2 cup raw honey (or pure maple syrup)
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 large eggs, at room temp
1/2 tsp. baking soda, gluten-free

1. Preheat oven to 350
2.  Lightly coat 8 X 8 inch baking pan with spray, set aside.
3. Combine peanut butter, honey, extract, eggs, and baking soda in a large bowl, mix well.
4.  Evenly spread batter into prepared pan.  Smooth top with a spatula.
5.  Bake for 20 to 30 minutes.  Squares may be soft when coming out of oven, but they will continue to cook.
6.  Cool.  Cut into squares.

THESE WERE SO YUMMY!  We had some furniture delivered Saturday and the guys loved them!  I was like "they are good for you"


I also like to experiment with the salad dressings and seasoning mixes. This one is an old favorite.  Smoky Southwest Seasoning.  I like my food to have a kick!

1 TBSP chili powder
2 tsp ground cummin
1 tsp coriander
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp smoked paprika
1 tsp sea salt

This can be put on anything.  It is nice to have on hand to throw on some chicken or turkey or even sweet potatoes.

If you make one of these please let me know what you think!  ENJOY!

Banana Cream Pie Shakeology

When it comes down to anything Beachbody, it is Shakeology that is my "thing".  I love it, believe in it and know it.  It is so fun finding new recipes.  I even created an eBook.  Take a look!

https://fitfashionmom.leadpages.co/shakeologyebook/

I happened to come across this recipe and shared it with my Shakeology Facebook Page. Yes I have one of those too for my coaches and customers.  I made this today and it was SOO good.  I used chocolate instead of vanilla because that is the flavor I have right now and even added some spinach for extra greens!

TIP:  keep a ziplock baggie, or two, of frozen bananas in the freezer.  You can do all sorts of stuff with them.  I had one, which made it handy to make this recipe once I found it!  If you make it, let me know what you think!

Day 3 21 Day Fix - one of these does not look like the other

I am getting ready to eat dinner for Day 3.  I am telling you, this cookbook is awesome.  Here is my thing - I am not big on presentation.  It eats and tastes the same.  But I don't care who you are, this is funny.  I looked at the pic in the cookbook and then what I created.  Oh dear.  But again, delicious. We lived in Paris.  I LOVE crepes.  Nutella, ham cheese and egg.  It makes my mouth water.  BUT that is not in the game plan for me now.  Maybe that is what I will eat when I finish the fix.  Bu for now,  please enjoy chocolate protein crepes!

7 to 8 large egg whites (1 cup)
1 scoop protein powder, chocolate (I use Shakeology)
nonstick cooking spray
1 cup reduced fat (2%) Plain Greek Yogurt
1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
Stevia to taste (optional, I used it)
1 cup sliced strawberries
1 cup blueberries

1. Combine egg whites, and protein poweder in a med bowl, and whisk.  It takes some time.
2. Heat small nonstick skillet, lightly coated with spray on med-high heat.
3. Spoon about 1/4 cup batter into skillet; cook for 1 to 2 min or until bubbles form on top.  Flip with spatula and cook for 30 more seconds.
4. Repeat with remaining batter to make four crepes, set aside.
5. Combine yogurt, extract, and stevia in a small bowl and mix.
6. Fill crepes evenly with yogurt, strawberries and blueberries.

Makes 4 servings.  Each serving is considered 1/2 purple and 1/2 red

21 Day Fix Day 2

I am eating my dinner now.  Day 2 will be a wrap.  Yesterday was easy because I felt so gross.  Today was a bit harder. It is just because as vacation continued, my eating to worse.  So I am just getting back to my groove.  I LOVE the app.  SO easy to track.  AND I made my first recipe from the Fixate cookbook.  I have thumbed through it a couple of times now and am excited to get creative. If you have seen anything of mine, you know I love honey mustard.  Autumn shared her recipe.

Honey mustard:

1/2 cup reduced fat plain greek yogurt
3 TBSP Dijon mustard, gluten free
3 TBSP Raw Honey
3 TBSP Rice vinegar
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

Combine yogurt, mustard, honey and vinegar in a bowl, mix well.  Slowly add olive oil, whisk constantly until blended. 

Pretty good stuff!  Can't wait to try more!

21 Day Fix (again)

I want/need to be better about blogging.  They say if you can't write then don't blog.  Well if I don't write, how do I reach people via social media?  Maybe just maybe one person will read this.  It will resonate, so they may  tell someone else.  That is an avenue to help people.  While I improve on myself I can help those see they can do the same.

I returned from the trip of a lifetime Saturday.  12 days in Hawaii with my family.  My 8 year old son and I have both cried more than once because we had to come home.  It was my 4th trip there.  We have gone every 5 years for anniversary's.  Yes 20 years.  How am I so blessed?  With that kind of trip comes me eating like a man.  I started out strong.  Balance, discipline but by the end it was just plain kind of gross.  The past two days at home were probably the worst.  Jet lag, off kilter, you  name it.  I ate about 7 donuts yesterday. No joke.  And I did it meal prepping for the 21 Day Fix.  That is kind of messed up but I am not the first to have done it.  That is here nor there.  SO, I start again.  I have a lot to lose.  I never missed ONE workout on vacation.  Not one BUT you cannot out exercise a bad diet.  EVER.

I went to the store early yesterday and got my food.  The Fixate cookbook is out, which has some AMAZING 21 Day Fix approved recipes.  But as tired as I was, we are going to keep it simple this first week.

I washed, I chopped, I cooked, divided and conquered.  Meal prep is KEY to this being a success.  Meal prep is KEY to cleaner eating being a success.  It is not hard, it is not time consuming. AND it save a TON of time when you do it for the week.  Super simple. Nothing fancy.  This is me ready to go:

So day one is here.  The first time I did this program (and I mean follow the meal plan, I do the workouts all the time) I nailed it.  I have made several attempts to finish again.  Sometimes just two days, sometimes up to 12.  I NEED To finish this.  Practice what I preach.  I usually eat fairly well, but the weight has been a struggle for a year now.  I need to see if this makes a difference.

AND now there is the 21 Day Fix app!  Makes it SO much easier!  SO MUCH!  So stats are in, I just need to do before photos, yuck, and I am on my way. Think positive, think I can do this.  Believe you can.  ANY of us can!  I will share my journey with you.  The ups and downs and struggles and victories.  I hope you enjoy seeing the progress.  I know I will!

FIXATE is here!

IT. IS. HERE.  Fixate.  101 Recipes for the 21 Day Fix.  This is ON FIRE right now.  The website is going bonkers.  I was so excited to get mine and I got a few extras!  Leave a comment below to find out how to get one for yourself!

Avocados - Good for you!

Avocado is SO good for you! I used to not be able to eat guacamole - now I love it! Plain avocado's just don't have taste but when I add them to something I know I am nourishing my body. It is a GOOD fat. We need good fats. Here are some of the benefits.

TIP: (I learned this from someone else!) Keep in the frig for a longer shelf life!

Do you like avocados?

Chocolate Peanut Butter Shakeology Ice Cream

July is National Ice Cream Month - Shakeology is "my thing"  This is a way to have the best of both worlds! You are welcome =)

Chocolate and peanut butter ice cream that’s good for you? Believe it. This is the ice cream you’ve been waiting for. It has only 4 ingredients, and takes less than 10 minutes to make, plus freezing time.

Total Time: 4 hrs. 10 min.
Prep Time: 10 min.
Cooking Time: None
Yield: 2 servings

Ingredients:
1 medium banana, cut into chunks
½ cup unsweetened almond milk
2 scoops Chocolate Shakeology
2 Tbsp. all-natural smooth peanut butter

Preparation:
1. Place banana in plastic bag; freeze for 4 hours, or until completely frozen.
2. Place almond milk, bananas, Shakeology, and peanut butter in blender (or food processor); cover. Blend until smooth.
3. Serve immediately.

Fast Food

Let me first say, I love me some Starbucks. I would drink it every day if I let myself. Then afterwards, I would run through a drive through because that would be awesome. I would drink Starbucks and eat Chic Fil A every single day. Then I would go to Market Street and get some Tiramisu or Chocolate Covered Peanuts or both. See, like everyone else, I like food.

BUT, to reach my goals and be healthy, this is unrealistic. I want to live long, be active and healthy. I have learned that my food is my medicine. And that if you don't change your nutrition, you won't lose weight.

Shakeology is my foundation. I drink it every single day because that is how it works. I can't get all of these superfoods unless I have a private jet and travel the world to get these ingredients. ALL natural, no artificial sweetners or fillers, ingredients from the earth. Things that make my body function at its best capacity. Makes my hair as long as Crystal Gale's. Prevents me from getting sick. (I am NEVER sick) Keeps any type of autoimmune disease at bay. Prevents me from taking cholesterol, blood pressure, heart medicine. Yes it does all of this, which is why I talk about it all the time.

If you know me, you know I do my homework on this stuff. Extensively. Ask me. The benefits across the board, the science how it is created, the constant research to make it better.

I am obsessed with Honey Mustard

I mean, I seriously love the stuff.  I want to swim in it.  I would put it on everything.  I have a bottle of Ken's Honey Mustard here at home.  The ingredients?  High fructose corn syrup, soybean oil, Xanthan gum, something I can't pronounce to protect the flavor, etc.  Probably a brain chip that makes us love it so much.  I know better.  I have tried to find my own, much healthier version.  Did one a couple months ago and it was only OK.  I missed my honey mustard so went on the hunt yesterday.  Found this bad boy.  It is GOOD.

I used fresh squeezed lemon and orgaic raw blue agave.  I will make this again for sure!

ENJOY!

21 Day Fix Based Cookbook! FIXATE!

Get your pots, pans, and kitchen essentials ready, because Autumn Calabrese's 21 Day Fix-based cookbook, FIXATE, will be released this summer! This all-new cookbook takes Autumn's simple color-coded container portion control system and applies it to 101 of her favorite family recipes. Each FIXATE recipe lists color-coded container equivalents and nutrition facts. Plus, FIXATE includes Paleo, gluten-free, vegan, and vegetarian recipes along with Autumn's personal tips for preparing meals quickly, and stocking your kitchen with absolute must-haves.

SO EXCITED to get my hands on this!  If you want more info, please leave your email below!