Pancakes on Pancakes on PANCAKES!

Can you guess, even without looking at the title, what this post is gonna be dedicated to?
Probably.

Protein pancakes on protein pancakes on protein pancakes.

Yes. This post is gonna be 4 protein pancake recipes in one. This is really happening.

First up:

Peppermint Brownie Batter Protein Pancakes

Ingredients:

2 tbsp whole wheat flour

3 egg whites
1/4 cup unsweetened almond milk

1 tbsp plain Greek yogurt

1 tbsp pumpkin puree

1/4 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp vanilla extract
pinch of salt
dash of cinnamon
2 packets of Stevia/sweetener

1 tbsp chocolate protein powder

1 tbsp unsweetened unsweetened cocoa powder

optional: 1/2 tsp peppermint extract or 1 mini candy cane, crushed and stirred in

Filling:
banana slices
1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt (or cottage cheese)
1 tbsp milk chocolate protein powder

1/4 banana, mashed in

Topping:
clean chocolate sauce (1 tbsp cocoa powder + 1-2 tbsp water)
1 mini candy cane, crushed and crumbled
a sprinkle of healthy cereal

Directions:

Mix all pancake ingredients in a bowl.

Cook on medium, flipping each pancake halfway through.

Mix your filling ingredients. When pancakes are done, layer in the filling.

Top with desired toppings and enjoy your chocolate Heaven!

Apple Pie Protein Pancakes

Ingredients:

3 tbsp whole wheat flour

3 egg whites

2 tbsp pumpkin puree

1/4 cup unsweetened almond milk

1/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
pinch of salt
dash of cinnamon
small dash of nutmeg
1 tsp packed brown sugar
1 packet of Stevia/sweetener
1/3 large apple, chopped finely then warmed up to soften

Filling:

1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
1 tbsp cinnamon roll protein powder (you can opt for just cinnamon or sweetener)

warmed cinnamon apple slices

granola

Directions:

Mix all pancake ingredients in a bowl.

Cook on medium, flipping each pancake halfway through.

Mix your filling ingredients. When pancakes are done, layer in the filling.

Top with desired toppings and devour!

Pumpkin Cheesecake Protein Pancakes

Ingredients:

3 tbsp whole wheat flour

1 tbsp ground flaxseed
3 egg whites
1/4 cup almond milk
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
pinch of salt
dash of cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, nutmeg
1/2 tsp brown sugar
1 packet of sweetener
2 generous tbsp pumpkin puree

Cheesecake Filling:

1/8 cup prepared sugar-free/fat-free cheesecake pudding (I used Jell-O brand mixed with unsweetened almond milk)

1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt

Directions:

Mix all pancake ingredients in a bowl.

Cook on medium, flipping each pancake halfway through. (Make SURE they're ready to flip, though! Pumpkin pancakes can be tricky!)

Mix your filling ingredients. When pancakes are done, layer in the filling.

Top with desired toppings and devour!

Reese's Protein Pancakes

(Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Protein Pancakes)

Ingredients:

1 tbsp whole wheat flour

2 tbsp plain PB2
1 tbsp ground flaxseed
3 egg whites
1/4 cup unsweetened almond milk
1/4 tsp baking powder
pinch of salt
dash of cinnamon
1 packet of sweetener
1 tbsp pumpkin puree
1 tsp (or more) chocolate chips
1/4 banana, mashed in

Filling:

1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt mixed with 1 tbsp chocolate protein powder & 1/2 tbsp chocolate PB2

Topping:
clean peanut butter 'fudge' (ripened banana slices + 1 tbsp PB22 + almond milk, all mashed together)
clean chocolate 'fudge' (banana slices + 1 tbsp cocoa powder + almond milk, all mashed together)

Directions:

Mix all pancake ingredients in a bowl.

Cook on medium, flipping each pancake halfway through.

Mix your filling ingredients. When pancakes are done, layer in the filling.

Top with desired toppings and devour! Add some regular peanut butter if you're like me and like peanut butter with a side of whatever you're having. 

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Notes:

*You can sub the whole wheat flour for whatever flour you want!

*Make sure to ALWAYS spray/grease your pan before cooking.

I hope you guys make some of these and enjoy every bite! Food is meant to be 

What I Ate Wednesday #32

HAPPY FIRST-WIAW-OF-2013! 

In today's WIAW, I'm gonna share some recent eats from the past week! Most of these were out-of-this-world fabulous. I love having time off from school so I can cook/bake. So sad to go back! 

12/26/12 - Breakfast: post-workout OIAJ... What's better?!

Chocolate 'brownie batter' protein egg white oatmeal with some healthy cereal + banana slices + sweet cinnamon roll protein cream + White Chocolate Wonderful + snowflake sprinkles, all inside a nearly-empty banana granola nut peanut butter jar! Mixing Coach's Oats with some regular oats makes for the thickest oatmeal! Love it!! ...All of it didn’t even fit in the jar… So I ate it on the side.

12/27/12 - Breakfast: whoever said you can't have dessert for breakfast never had dessert for breakfast!  Apple pie protein egg white oatmeal topped with homemade cinnamon roll protein almond milk "ice cream" & sugar/fat-free butterscotch protein pudding + a bit of White Chocolate Wonderful!

12/27/12 - Snack: homemade mini chocolate protein donuts with peanut butter 'fudge'.

12/27/12 - Snack (at work): I was going to be one of those people who try and “avoid” not-so-healthy choices after holiday indulgences for awhile... Then life came along and offered me a homemade chocolate coconut bar. 

12/28/12 - Breakfast: National Chocolate Day + a rest day calls for a stack of  brownie batter protein pancakes stuffed with clean chocolate fudge mixed with Dark Chocolate Dreams + banana slices + a small sprinkle of healthy cereal, all topped with MORE chocolate fudge + a crushed mini candy cane + the smallest drizzle of maple syrup! Chocolate overload... Heaven!! 

12/28/12 - Snack: homemade mini cinnamon sugar pumpkin pie donuts.

12/28/12 - Dinner: a Vitacost (I think that’s the brand name... Same brand as VitaTops!) mini pizza (15g protein, 190 calories and not too bad on ingredients! Wish they weren’t so expensive though.), a chickpea + rotisserie chicken + turkey + vegetable “salad” mixed with plain Chobani and salsa, and a pickle!

This pizza was actually incredibly good... Quite surprising!

12/29/12 - Breakfast: stack of apple pie protein pancakes stuffed with sweet cinnamon roll protein cream & healthy crumble cereal, topped with some more apple slices + a bit of White Chocolate Wonderful + a drizzle of maple syrup + a sprinkle of cinnamon!

{Recipe is coming soon!}

12/29/12 - HAPPINESS!: I ordered PB2 the previous day, and it was here the next day.... Even though I didn’t order fast shipping! So weird, but I instantly fell in love with it. (Hashtag peanut butter addict)

12/30/12 - Breakfast: post-workout PERFECTION.

Fluffy gingerbread egg white oatmeal with a few fresh strawberries & apple slices + a sprinkling of healthy cereal + sweet protein “cream”, all topped with a few bits of one of my mini pumpkin protein donuts + PB2 peanut butter 'fudge' + a vanilla fox Snackimal, all inside a nearly-empty White Chocolate Wonderful jar.

12/30/12 - Snack: I've been so into baking lately, and these were both unbelievable.

I had just gotten ground flaxseed for the first time, and I really wanted to use it... So, I did!

Chocolate Covered Katie’s cream cheese filled cinnamon sugar “pillow” cookies (SO good, but the size is incredibly disappointing, haha), and some SUPER fudgy peanut butter protein and healthy fat filled BLACK BEAN brownies! Those brownies are the fudgiest brownies I've ever eaten. (And yes, "fudgiest" is now a word.)

12/30/12 - Dessert/Snack: who missed seeing my microwaved desserts?! *Raises hand*

PB2, flaxseed and strawberry microwave cake (that didn’t rise at all… Oopsies!) on top of some diced apple & sliced banana + some homemade protein almond milk "ice cream" with a sprinkling of healthy crumble cereal & a topping of clean chocolate peanut butter fudge & melted Biscoff spread… Inside a nearly-empty COOL WHIP CONTAINER! Hehe.

(...Theres also some crumbs from one of my EXTREMELY delicious clean peanut butter brownies in there...)

12/31/12 - Breakfast: literally some of the best oatmeal.

Thick, fluffy chocolate & PB2 egg white flaxseed oatmeal with a sprinkle of healthy cereal + fresh chopped strawberries + plain Greek yogurt (+ some of my mommy’s sugar/fat-free cheesecake pudding… just a baby spoonful!), all topped with some crumbles of one my literally orgasmic peanut butter fudge black bean brownies + clean chocolate & clean peanut butter fudge + a bit of Biscoff spread + some natural peppermint whipped cream.

12/31/12 - Dinner: chicken, tomato, lettuce & spinach sandwich with super spicy mustard & ranch Greek yogurt, with a chickpea and vegetable side “salad” and some extra chicken. I love chicken. 

12/31/12 - ... Snack?: this was my New Years Eve. With my mom and dad. (And my little sister, but she doesn't drink, obviously...) I tried Mike's Hard Lemonade for the first time, and I loved it... aside from the fizziness! My throat cannot handle anything fizzy.

1/01/13 - Breakfast: first meal of the new year was a stack of some of the fluffiest and greatest pancakes ever. Seriously... these tasted like they were pure buttermilk pancakes, and I don't even know why! I'm just glad they did.

Pumpkin cheesecake protein pancakes stuffed with protein cheesecake sweet “cream” (cheesecake flavor came from sugar/fat-free pudding mix) with a swirl of chocolate PB2 brownie “cream” with a mini slather of light cream cheese on each pancake. Holy GOODNESS.

{Recipe is coming soon!}

1/01/13 - Snack: round 2/remakes of my baking a few days prior...

Chocolate Covered Katie's cream cheese filled cinnamon sugar “pillow” cookies & my peanut butter fudge black bean brownies… Except this time, I did the cookies by my own recipe (inspired by a Skinny Taste one!), and they came out MUCH larger, SUPER fluffy, and just as yummy!

My mom LOVED them and asked me to make them again, so I did... But I thought the original size (recipe by Chocolate Covered Katie) was incredibly disappointing even for the nutrition information. (They were smaller than most cookies, healthy or unhealthy. TOO tiny! Haha.) Mine are about 65 calories with fiber and all clean ingredients. Recipe for them is on its way! 

1/01/13 - Dinner: I can't even put into words how amazing this salad was... And I eat 1-2 salads every day! Steak, mozzarella cheese, bacon, tons of fresh vegetables, chickpeas, and vinegar. I added some salsa and some more lettuce and tomato post-picture... and I want it all over again.

So many good meals to start the year off!! 

1/02/13 - Breakfast: peanut butter cookie flaxseed egg white oatmeal to start off my first day back to school in over a week! With banana slices + plain Greek yogurt + organic peanut butter puffs cereal + Cinnamon Raisin Swirl peanut butter, then topped with some chocolate peanut butter fudge & clean peanut butter fudge black bean brownie pieces! Then a bit of Cool Whip & extra unsweetened almond milk after the picture, haha. Pretty much just peanut butter with a side of oats. Just the way I like it.

Workout {pictures} of the Week:

I recently got a punching bag and sandbag for Christmas, and fell deeply in love with both of them.

Take 2 Fudgy Peanut Butter Black Bean Brownies

So, who actually remembers a month ago when I posted a recipe for one of my weirdest recipes yet; fudgy black bean brownies?

Well, today, I went on a baking kick, and I decided to remake those brownies... But with some adjustments!

Last time I made these, they weren't as sweet as I expected them to be because I had to use less sugar substitute. (My recipe says 1 cup, but I only used 1/2-3/4 cup.) This time... I added PB2! What is PB2, you ask? PB2 is peanut butter, but in powdered form, with 85% less calories and fat. It's almost like a flour, and you can add it to whatever you want! It's quite awesome.

I actually just recently ordered it on Friday from Amazon... and I received it on Saturday!! How? I have no idea... The company isn't located in my town or state, and I didn't even pay for fast shipping! So weird, but I ain't arguing it! 

But, anyways, the peanut butter fudge black bean brownies I made today are out-of-this-world awesome. Honestly some of the best brownies I've EVER had!

Ingredients:

2 cups (1 can/1.75 cups) cooked black beans, drained

2 whole eggs
2 flax eggs (2 tbsp ground flaxseed + 6 tbsp water -- let sit for 5 minutes... or just 2 more whole eggs)
1 tbsp canola (or vegetable, coconut or olive) oil
1 tbsp vanilla extract
1 cup sugar substitute
1/2 medium-sized banana
2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 tbsp chocolate PB2
1/2 tbsp plain PB2 (or just 1 full tbsp of either one)
optional: 1 tbsp Dark Chocolate Dreams (or any other kind; adds sweetness and more peanut butter flavor!)
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tbsp baking powder
dash of cinnamon
a few mini chocolate chips! (optional but totally recommended! You can also use carob or cacao)

1.5 tbsp chocolate PB2 + 1-2 tbsp water swirled on top

Directions:
Blend all ingredients, aside from the last 1.5 tbsp of PB2, in a blender until COMPLETELY smooth.

When smooth enough, pour into a sprayed/greased 8 x 8 (or 13 x 9/etc.) baking pan.

Swirl prepared 1.5-2 tbsp chocolate PB2 on top. Also, add in some nuts, shredded coconut, or chocolate chips for extra goodness.

Bake for 27-30 minutes at 350 degrees.

This makes a big batch of about 16-20 brownies, and they're all decently-sized and 100% delicious.

PB2 is my newfound love.

P.S. I also made Chocolate Covered Katie's cream cheese stuffed cinnamon sugar "pillow" cookies... and WOW are they delicious! Too bad they come out to be so tiny! I definitely will double (or triple) the ingredients next time!

What I Ate Wednesday #28

Can you believe TOMORROW is THANKSGIVING already?! I CAN'T! Christmas is being seen everywhere... and I love it!

Then again, I see a little bit of Christmas everyday!

My grandma always believed you should leave a little bit of Christmas out throughout the entire year. I thoroughly agree, and that's exactly what I do! I leave my little tree up and my Rudolphs out all year long. To me, Christmas is the equivalent to happiness. I cannot WAIT to decorate on Friday!!!! 

Speaking of seeing Christmas, me and my mom recently went to Target...

... And it's safe to say we should not be allowed in Target, with money, around any type of holiday. Especially their $1 section. 

Oh, and one more thing before I get into this week's eats!

Say hello to my family's new/first adopted kitten, Landon! I'm in love with him. He's the sweetest cat ever and I'm so happy and grateful to have him now. Him and my pup are literally the most perfect pets!

Okay, okay, enough rambling! Onto some recent food adventures...

As always, thank you to Jenn for hosting WIAW! As a young foodie, I thoroughly love and appreciate it (and you, Jenn)! 

11/14/12 - Snack: fudgy black bean brownies with peanut butter. Sound disgusting, taste incredible!

I’m pretty sure these should be called ‘magic brownies’ because of their macros. We were given a few cans of black beans for free, and none of us really eat them and I wanted to put them to use. I’ve heard of using them in baking, but haven’t been courageous enough to try it... until this day! (And I'm so glad I did!)

I found a recipe and modified it a bit, to make some of the moistest and healthiest/cleanest brownies EVER. You would NEVER even consider the fact this was made FLOUR-LESS from BEANS! Without my added powdered sugar (hehe... I didn’t add quite enough sweetener and my momma LOVES powdered sugar), and with a bit of 100% natural peanut butter inside, they’re 57 calories with 3.25g protein & 2.25g completely healthy fats! Unbelievable. (Without PB, they’re 49 calories.) This batch made a bunch, too! Around 16-20 generously sized brownies.

11/14/12 - Snack: popcorn out of my new hot air popper! LOVE IT!!

11/15/12 - Breakfast: OIAJ never fail to make my day!

Pumpkin egg white oatmeal with chocolate granola + some cereal + banana slices + plain Greek yogurt + cinnamon + some of a leftover black bean brownie + an extra splash of unsweetened Almond Milk, all inside a nearly-empty 100% natural peanut butter jar!

11/15/12 - Dessert/Snack: banana nut mug cake/muffin on top of a big sliced apple (plus a few banana slices) + chocolate granola + Kix cereal + a bit of a broken up black bean brownie and homemade almond milk cinnamon roll protein ice cream (with some sprinkles!), then all topped with peanut butter, cinnamon roll protein cream, and healthy chocolate sauce.

11/16/12 - Breakfast: can you say best healthy breakfast evahhhh?!

SUPER thick and fluffy banana cream pie egg white (+ some cinnamon roll protein) oatmeal with a “crust” made of 100% whole grain cereals + natural granolas + banana slices + plain Greek yogurt + some crumbs and broken up black bean brownie pieces, topped with peanut butters + banana slices + prepared vanilla pudding + a mini dollop of plain Greek yogurt + cinnamon + a sprinkle of shredded coconut! Oh, and an extra splash of unsweetened Almond Breeze, as always!

Adding two egg whites to your #oats makes them magically 10x bigger and fluffier.

11/17/12 - Breakfast: I really love pancake Saturday.

Gingerbread (tea-infused) cheesecake protein pancakes layered with Biscoff + prepared cheesecake pudding mix + warm cinnamon apple slices + a bit of chocolate granola & cereal, topped with light maple syrup & 100% clean and healthy protein chocolate sauce.

11/17/12 - Dessert/Snack: microwave chocolate (with some peanut butter...) cake topped with peanut butters, cinnamon roll protein cream, and gingerbread sauce on top of a chopped apple + pumpkin flax granola +some cereal + hot chocolate flavored Goldfish (only a few... TOO ADDICTIVE!) + homemade vanilla coconut almond milk ice cream.

11/18/12 - Breakfast: SUPER fluffy and thick gingerbread “cream” egg white/protein oatmeal/OIAJ with granola + cereal + banana slices + plain Greek yogurt + prepared vanilla pudding, all inside a nearly-empty Biscoff jar!

God, I love Biscoff spread so much.

11/19/12 - Breakfast: fluffy pumpkin egg white/protein oatmeal with 100% whole grains cereals + a bit of chocolate granola + banana slices + plain Greek yogurt + Dark Chocolate Dreams & White Chocolate Wonderful + clean chocolate sauce + a splash of unsweetened Almond Breeze, all inside a nearly-empty Marshmallow Fluff jar!

Oats in a Marshmallow Fluff jar are equally as delicious as in a peanut butter jar. I promise you now.

11/19/12 - Dessert/Snack: microwave cinnamon apple protein mug cake topped with lots of peanut butter + peppermint protein frosting (WAY too strong of a minty flavor... I’ll add less flavoring next time for sure), on top of sliced apples (+ few banana slices) + some cereals + homemade vanilla coconut almond milk ice  cream, alllll topped with clean chocolate sauce + shredded coconut.

11/20/12 - Breakfast: gingerbread cheesecake protein egg white oatmeal with a bit of chocolate granola + cereals + plain Greek yogurt + cinnamon + a few slivered almonds + prepared fat-free/sugar-free cheesecake pudding (that came a bit too liquid-y... Oopsies!) + an extra dash of unsweetened Almond Breeze + White Chocolate Wonderful & Biscoff spread (more added after the picture!)

11/21/12 - Breakfast: delicious sweet potato pie protein egg white oatmeal with a mashed mini sweet potato + pumpkin flax granola + whole grain cereal + some Krave cereal for fun + banana slices + plain Greek yogurt + cinnamon + #clean #chocolate sauce + shredded coconut + slivered almonds + White Chocolate Wonderful + a few mini marshmallows + an extra dash of unsweetened almond milk!

This was SO good! Let me know if you want the recipe!

Workouts of the Week:

all of my workouts can, as always, be found here or on my Instagram!

Here's two recent WODs:

The first one is featuring the ugliest and cheesiest smile because I had a good day that day. No shame.

The second one is featuring my new compression shorts I found in the little girl's clearance section at Target. They remind me of lemonade and I love them.