White Chocolate Cranberry Protein Bars

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No-Bake White Chocolate Cranberry Protein Bars. Taste like a candy bar!

While I do as much strength training as I do cardio, I’m pretty bad about getting in enough protein for the amount of working out I do. I’m a carb-girl (my laptop just auto-corrected that to crab girl, yes, computer, I’m a crustacean) at heart and would much rather have a bowl of pasta or oats than a chicken breast. Along with that, I’m not a huge fan of protein shakes and I find that most store-brought protein bars can get pretty expensive. 

That’s why I’m in love with these White Chocolate Cranberry Protein Bars. They taste like a candy bar and are smothered in white chocolate, but also are sizable, filling, and have 9 grams of protein. This way, I can have my carbs and eat them too!

As always, I would really appreciate it if you could help share these on Pinterest! (Just hover over any of the pictures to pin!) Thank YOU! :)

No-Bake White Chocolate Cranberry Protein Bars. Taste like a candy bar! They’re absolutely perfect with a warm cup of coffee or tea and genuinely taste good. And not in a “LOL OMGZ this is sooo good for healthier food” way, but in a “I want to eat this for dessert” way. In fact, I’m nibbling on one right now and just got a piece with a big glob of chocolate on it. Sugar euphoria! 

But in all seriousness, this recipe is delicious! I highly recommend it if you’re tired of eating protein bars with ingredients you can’t pronounce, or if you’re just looking for a genuinely tasty snack. 

No-Bake White Chocolate Cranberry Protein Bars. Taste like a candy bar!

Also, shoutout to Amanda for inspiring me with her Almond Fudge Protein Bars! If the white chocolate and cranberry combo ain’t your thangg, you can’t go wrong with her recipe! 

 

I’m haring these with WIAW! Thanks, Jenn for hosting! :)

Meals on Repeat

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When it comes to the meals Kyle and I usually make, things get pretty repetitive. You wouldn’t think so since I do so much cooking for the blog, but when I’m not creating or testing a new recipe, I just want to relax and eat a fast and easy meal.

Anyways, Kyle and I went on a big grocery store haul today, which prompted me to think about what meals are regulars in our apartments. Here’s a quick roundup of our favorites!

Our Favorite Meals!

Panko Crusted Salmon via The Barefoot Contessa

(Recipe)

panko-crusted-salmon

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Kyle is a huge salmon fan, so we get a big fillet or two every week. This recipe is delicious, fast, and bursting with flavor! We usually serve it with brown rice and roasted veggies.

Chicken, Veggie, and Sweet Potato Bake

chicken veggie and sweet potato bake

We’ve already had this twice this week! Ridiculously easy, healthy, and gives you the perfect post-full feeling. To make it, we just cut up and season a butt-ton (it’s a measurement, okay?) of onions, carrots, sweet potatoes, and whatever else strikes our fancy, then layer an ass-haul (let’s keep the glute references going) of chicken breast (hahah..breasts… Yes, I’m 5 years old) and bake for 35-40 minutes at 400 degrees. Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ Sauce on the side for dipping!

Garlic Lemon Shrimp Orzo

(Recipe) 

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Fresh, light, and addicting. One of those dinners where you just can’t wait to eat the leftovers!

Garlic Balsamic Brussels Sprouts

(Recipe) 

Garlic Balsamic Roasted Brussels Sprouts

These are so addicting and I pop them in my mouth like candy. In Kyle’s words, “I could eat these all day”. I promise, they’ll turn you into a ‘sprout lover!

Grandma Ople’s Apple Pie

(Recipe) 

apple-pie{Source}

By far the best apple pie I’ve ever made and, I kid you not, I’ve made this pie at least 30 times. Seriously. It’s the top rated dessert on Allrecipes.com and is just outrageously delicious.The only adjustment I add is putting in some sea salt to make a salted caramel pie. Are you drooling yet?

Brown Sugar Banana Oats

brown sugar banana oats

I eat this at least once a day. I’ve realized that part of their tastiness comes from the oats I use for them. At Costco, they sell GIANT containers of Quaker Oats that are somewhere between quick cooking and steel cut and that have the best texture. I tried making the same banana brown sugar oats with the quick cooking version, and they was only a quarter as good. So go spend the $10 bucks at Costco to get a year’s supply of those oats! You won’t be sorry!

So there you have it! A super quick list of some meals on repeat for us. 

Question of the Day: What’s a go-to meal for you?

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Fudgy Dark Chocolate Avocado Cookies

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Super fudgy Dark Chocolate Avocado cookies!

I know, I know. 

Avocados and chocolate? What the heck? I’ll I can say is, don’t judge it till you try it. 

I first became a big fan of the combination when I tried my Dark Chocolate Avocado Truffles back in August. They became one of my most popular recipes and have gotten rave reviews from readers who have tried them! They were featured on Greatist, as well as adapted by The Detoxinista, where a huge number of people have reported that they tried them and were amazed at how rich and delicious they taste :). If you need any convincing, just go check out some of the comments on my truffles or on the Detoxinista’s page!

Fudgy Dark Chocolate Avocado Cookies!

Anyways, these Fudgy Dark Chocolate Avocado Cookies are just as good and oozing chocolate flavor and decadence. I mean, just check out that chocolate gooey-ness! The avocado completely replaces all the butter that normal cookies are made with and add a wonderful richness without adding any avocado flavor.

It’s a cookie miracle! 

Fudgy Dark Chocolate Avocado Cookies. Beyond delicious!

I can’t stress enough how tasty these are. And not in your “this is pretty good for being healthier”, but genuinely mouthwatering. If you dished these fudgy cookies up to a bunch of kids or brought them to a potluck, no one would be able to tell that avocados make up the primary fat source! 

 

Enjoy!

Fudgy Dark Chocolate Avocado CookiesI’m linking up to WIAW to share these tasty treats! Thanks, Jenn, for hosting!

 


Healthier Glazed Chocolate Muffins

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Healthier Glazed Chocolate Mini Muffins! Made with greek yogurt, no butter, and whole wheat flour!

On a rainy day, there isn’t anything more comforting to me than a morning spent with a hot cup of coffee, a sweet treat, and a good book. There’s a sort of magic to it. I sit at the kitchen table by a closed window, watching droplets race down the glass, and sip on a strong brew punctuated with bites of its soulmate, chocolate. It’s the kind of peace that makes your heart sing and overflow with a simple and quiet sort of happiness. I’m perfectly content and want nothing more than to hold on to that feeling of a seemingly slowed-down world, where nothing matters but the dripping of both the rain outside and the coffee brewing in its pot. 

And that’s where these Healthier Glazed Chocolate Muffins come into play:

Healthier Glazed Chocolate Mini Muffins! Made with greek yogurt, no butter, and whole wheat flour!

I love them because they let me savor those types of mornings and play the important role of balancing that bitter sip of caffeine with a perfectly sweet bite of chocolate-glazed deliciousness. They have a fluffy inside that Kyle raves about and they give you a satisfying chocolate-y kick without leaving you with an aching sweet tooth.

Not to mention they’re made with whole wheat flour, no butter, and greek yogurt! Delicious and healthier for you than a giant grocery store muffin. Yum. 

 

Healthier Glazed Chocolate Mini Muffins! Made with greek yogurt, no butter, and whole wheat flour!


Healthy Edamame Sweet Potato Hash

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Healthy Edamame Sweet Potato Hash. Packed with 22g of protein and 9g of fiber!

“Pin me, I’m tasty!”- Hash

Most mornings, I’m lazy when it comes to breakfast. My go-to meal to start my day lately has been microwavable brown sugar banana oatmeal, which takes all of 30 seconds to throw together and another two minutes in the microwave. While it’s delicious, easy, and fast, there are days (especially the day after lifting weights) where I find myself hungry an hour later and know that I need more in the protein department of things. 

Enter: Healthy Edamame Sweet Potato Hash! 

Healthy Edamame and Sweet Potato Hash. Protein-packed and one of my favorite breakfasts! (22g protein and 9g fiber)

Not only is it absolutely delicious and bursting with all the good things in life (read: bacon), it packs in a ton of different nutrients, flavors, textures, and, of course, protein!  

Let’s break down the cast of characters:

Sweet Potato: the sweet potato brings in that mouthwatering sweet and salty combination, as well as the vitamins B6, C, and D, which help in preventing heart attacks, warding off the cold and flu, and maintaining energy levels, moods, and building healthy bones. Not only that, but they also contain fiber, which helps to keep you full and your poop happy! (Did I really just type that…)

 (Source)

Edamame: not only does it have a vibrant coloring (I want my next Kitchenaid Mixer to come in the shade “edamame”), but it’s also rich in protein, vitamin C, manganese, and copper! Manganese helps your metabolism, regulates your blood sugar levels, and helps keep your nervous system alive and kickin’. Hooray, manganese! Copper plays an important role in managing energy, boosting your immune system, and strengthening your bones. You go, Glen Copper!  

(Source)

 Bacon: well, it’s delicious and makes everything better.

A Healthy Edamame Sweet Potato Hash with 22g protein and 9g fiber. So yummy! Make a big batch and have a tasty and filling breakfast for the rest of the week! 

 

Healthy Edamame Sweet Potato Hash. Packed with 22g protein and 9g fiber. Delicious! I’m linking up to WIAW to help share this tasty dish! Thanks, Jenn for hosting!