Arctic Zero & Fluffy Pancakes

Hello, lovebugs!

I'm excited to say this is my first ever review post! But, it's not only a review...

It's a review AND a new favorite recipe of mine! *Yayyyyy!!* 

This review is dedicated to one of my absolute favorite companies to date -- Arctic Zero. I've heard loads of amazing reviews raving about them for about two years now, but I never had the chance to buy them because they're not sold anywhere near me! (I would've bought them online, but I didn't want to buy in bulk until I knew I liked them. And trust me, now I know...)

Arctic Zero has amazing workers, some of the sweetest people ever. They were kind enough to send me some of their products for a review in return, and it's the LEAST I could do!

I've been having SO MUCH FUN with all of these pints... Adding them to pancakes, smoothies, desserts... Even oatmeal! (If you own AZ and never put a big scoop on a bowl of warm oats... Do it and thank me later!)

Chocolate Peanut Butter with my nightly mug cake & Strawberry with peanut butter protein pancakes!

Cookies and Cream with my nightly mug cake & homemade "Shamrock Shake" using Mint Chocolate Cookie!

Vanilla Maple with my nightly mug cake & again with a big ol' bowl of fluffy apple pie oats!

Chocolate Peanut Butter with my delicious OIAJ & Cookies and Cream with a delicious dessert bowl!

Vanilla Maple in a bowl of coconut protein oats & Strawberry and Chocolate Peanut Butter with my nightly mug cake!

Coffee with my nightly mug cake & Chocolate Peanut Butter in a fluffy bowl of chocolate pr-oats!

Chocolate with my nightly mug cake & the new recipe...

Coconut "Cream Pie" Protein Pancakes!

Ingredients:

1/4 cup oats, ground into flour
1 tbsp protein powder (I used cookies and cream)
1 tbsp shredded coconut
1 tsp coconut extract
1 egg
1 egg white
1/4 cup almond (or coconut) milk
1 packet of Stevia
pinch of salt
1/3 banana, microwaved to soften if not ripe enough
1 tbsp flaxseed
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder

Directions:

Blend oats until flour consistency.

Mix all dry ingredients. Mash/stir in wet.

Cook on medium-high heat. For a "cream" filling, sweetened Greek yogurt or cottage cheese will suffice.

(Optional, but 110% recommended) Plop a big ol' scoop of vanilla maple Arctic Zero on the warm pancakes... And DEVOUR!

Okay, so in conclusion... I LOVE ARCTIC ZERO! I will definitely be spending my own money on some more products asap. All of these pints are true to their name, and none have a gross after-taste like you'd expect from a "healthy ice cream" alternative. The nutrition facts are outstanding, and I have nothing bad to say about these products. I definitely recommend adding a scoop to your favorite warm breakfast or dessert, and again, thank me later! 

I would like to end this with a HUGE thank you to Arctic Zero for being kind and amazing enough to send me all of these products for free. My family and I are extremely appreciative of it, and I will definitely be coming back for more with my own money! Thank you thank you THANK YOU!! 

Arctic Zero

Arctic Zero Twitter

Arctic Zero | Facebook

Q: Have YOU ever tried any Arctic Zero products? If so, what's your favorite?!

My favorite is probably vanilla maple... Just ran out this morning!

Decadently... Healthy?!

Yes, you read that title right!

I've created (initially based off of and inspired by Jamie Eason) two new desserts/snacks so decadent that you wouldn't even THINK they were healthy if you didn't create them yourself! I mean, I don't wanna toot my own horn, but I PROMISE my family will back me up on this!  Today was my second batch of s'mores protein cake since Sunday... and it's only Wednesday!

I immediately got inspired for something s'mores-related when I found these at Target:

I would've bought these even if they were $400 because they're just that cute! 

Okay, okay, without any further procrastination...

S'mores Protein Bars (... or Cake!)

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups oat flour (plain oats ground into a flour texture)
2 scoops chocolate protein powder
1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 cup Stevia/Splenda/sugar
1/2 tsp salt
2 egg whites
1 cup unsweetened almond milk
4 (individually-added) tbsp apple sauce
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
handful of flaxseed (optional... I used 2-4 tbsp)
1/2 cup teeny tiny marshmallows (or mini marshmallows, halved)
1 tbsp baking powder

Directions:

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
Blend oats with protein powder, sweetener, baking powder and salt. Blend until oats are completely ground and everything's mixed. When done, pour into a large bowl.
In a medium bowl, whisk together egg whites with almond milk, apple and vanilla extract. Add into large bowl.
Mix, then pour in marshmallows and flaxseed. Mix until fully combined.
Pour into two 8x8 trays (or whatever size you want).
Bake for 21 minutes. (That's the time that seemed perfect both times I made these... I know, odd, but make sure you don't over-bake! They will come out dry if you do. Otherwise, they're moist for DAYS!)

Apple & Almond Protein Bars (or, again, CAKE!)

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups oat flour
2 scoops cinnamon roll or vanilla protein
approx. 2/3 cup apple, diced (I used Golden Delicious... My favorite!)
1/2 cup sweetener
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
pinch of nutmeg
2 egg whites
1 cup unsweetened almond milk
4 (individually-added) tbsp apple sauce
1 tsp almond extract
handful of slivered almonds
handful of flaxseed (optional)
1 tbsp baking powder

Directions:

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
Blend oats with protein powder, sweetener, baking powder and salt. Blend until oats are completely ground and everything's mixed. When done, pour into a large bowl.
In a medium bowl, whisk together egg whites with almond milk, apple and almond extract. Add into large bowl.
Mix, then pour in diced apple, slivered almonds and flaxseed. Mix until fully combined.
Pour into two 8x8 trays (or whatever size you want).
(Optional but recommended >>) Mix together 1/2 tsp cinnamon, 1/3 cup sweetener and a pinch of nutmeg. Sift on top.
Bake for 21 minutes. (Again, that's the time that seemed perfect for these! Haha.)

I hope you guys enjoy and make these for yourself! If you had to choose one to make, I'd 100% recommend the s'mores first. They came out incredible both times, and my family is obsessed! Even got my little sister's approval! 

I'm Coo-Coo for Coconut!

So, recently, I became obsessed.

With COCONUT!

I know I'm kind of late on this train, but coconut is just SO. FLIPPIN. GOOD! And the smell... ooooooh the smell! Don't even get me STARTED on that!


Since my recent coconut addiction has risen, I began baking and experimenting with it all that I could. One of my favorite things yet, was my spin on Jamie Eason's cinnamon swirl protein bread!

Those things are delicious on their own, but with coconut? Words. Can't. Even. Explain.

It's kind of hard to believe how nutritious these babies are...

Ingredients:
1/3 + 1/2 cup sweetener
1 tsp cinnamon
1 1/2 cups oat flour
2 scoops cinnamon roll protein powder (can use vanilla)
1/2 tsp salt
2 egg whites
1 cup unsweetened almond milk
2-3 heaping tbsp apple sauce (can use mashed banana)
1/4 cup shredded coconut (I used sweetened)
1 tsp coconut extract
2 tbsp ground flaxseed (optional)
1 tbsp baking powder


Directions:
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

In small bowl combine/mix together 1/3 cup sweetener + 1 tsp cinnamon + a generous handful of shredded coconut. This is for the topping.

Now in a large bowl combine, combine 1 1/2 cups oat flour (just plain oats, ground in a blender until flour-y texture) + 2 scoops protein powder + 1 tbsp baking powder + salt + 1/2 cup sweetener + 1/4 cup shredded coconut.

In another small bowl combine the 2 egg whites + 1 cup unsweetened almond milk + apple sauce + coconut extract. Add to larger bowl.

When done mixing everything, pour into a sprayed 8x8 pan. Sprinkle on the cinnamon-sugar-coconut topping.

Bake for 24 minutes.

I hope you guys try this and don't kill me because of how addictive they are! 

Enjoy!

Currently... 01/13

Hello, hello! Happy Thursday! 

So, despite my WIAW absence this week, I totally feel like blogging today! It was convenient that I just so happen to see this survey-type-thing on Heather's blog, and felt like it was a current must-do! 

Current book: we're reading The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom in English IV, and I love it so far. I'm not much of a reader (unless it's a blog... or about food...), but this book is genuinely interesting and thought-inducing! Totally a recommended must-read.

Current Music: Ho Hey by The Lumineers.

... and maybe some Beauty and A Beat by Justin Bieber.

(Sorry, I love me some Biebs! Not so much Nicki Minaj, though...)

Current Guilty Pleasure: Arizona Heat spicy mustard! Holy guacamole is it good!

Also, the combination of cinnamon sugar anything with cream cheese... Which calls for one of my newest creations... (Inspired by these babies!)

Cream Cheese Stuffed Cinnamon Sugar Protein Banana Bread

Ingredients:

1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1 scoop (28g) cinnamon roll (or vanilla) protein powder

1/4 c (26g) ground flax

2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
2 tsp cinnamon

1-2 tbsp sweetener

1/2c (113g) plain Greek yogurt
1/2c liquid egg whites

1 tsp pure vanilla extract

1 large ripened banana (or just microwave it without the peel for about :30 to soften if it doesn't seem ripe enough)

Cream Cheese Filling:
1/4 cup cream cheese
1 tbsp powdered (confectioner) sugar

1-2 tbsp milk of choice (I used almond)

Directions:

Pre-heat your oven to 350 degrees and spray a loaf pan with non-stick baking spray.

In a bowl, mix all dry ingredients aside from your sweetener.

Now blend yogurt, sweetener, egg whites, vanilla extract, and banana until smooth or desired consistency.

Stir the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Combine ingredients for filling.

Pour about 3/4 of the batter into your loaf pan, then spread your filling through the middle. Use a spoon or spatula to evenly distribute, then pour the rest of the batter on top. Distribute the rest of the batter the best you can, then sprinkle extra cinnamon and sugar on top.

Bake for 20-25 minutes.

(Inspiration and adapted recipe/directions from here.)

Current Nail Color: Simple glitter nails!

Strobe Light by Sally Hansen

Current Drink: Sugar Cookie Tea

Saying I'm obsessed is putting it lightly! I've gone through over 5 packs of these since October... 

Current Food: smoothie bowls, inspired by Heather herself...

Oh, and Cascadian Farms' organic Cinnamon Toast Crunch!

Holy WOW is this stuff so delicious! CTC is my favorite, and this tastes almost identical! It's so nice to have the flavor and deliciousness minus the sugar and continuous processing.

Current Favorite Show: Full House or Zoey 101!

Current Wish List: Zuzana Light's new DVD, and maybe some new nail art "stickers"...

I LOVE these things!

They work and stay on AWESOME! And the best part is, you don't have to wait for them to dry!

Current Needs: more time... and to do better in pre-calculus... a 40% is not a good way to end math in high school! 

Current Triumphs: I... I don't know! I've been quite confident lately, and I've been feeling so much stronger... Do those qualify as "triumphs"?? 

Current Bane of My Existence: math!!!!! Math, math, MATH!! Ahhhh!

Current Celebrity Crush: ironically enough, me and my friend were talking about this in class today!

I guess I can say Louis Tomlinson...

*Drools* 

Current Indulgence: does cereal count?!

This stuff is the equivalent to crack.

I mentioned how Cinnamon Toast Crunch was a love of mine, but this stuff tops that by a long-run! I used to eat Blueberry Muffin Top cereal, but then they stopped existing out of the blue and I have been craving them ever since! This 'Blueberry Crunch' from Target is just as amazing.

If not, then definitely PB2. Not much of an 'indulgence', but I add it to nearly EVERYTHING!

I just got two new jars, less than a month after purchasing the first two!

Current Blessing: Heather said it perfectly! My health, life, family, friends...

Current Slang: "is this real life?" "Did that really just happen??"

(Hahahaha... It's okay to laugh at me. I can't help but laugh at myself!)

Current Outfit: I started off wearing this while typing the beginning of this post...

(+ shorts and neon sneakz)

and am ending it wearing THIS:

Current Excitement: to finally hangout with a close friend this Saturday! We're going to Applebees' "half-price apps" to get some half-priced appetizers for some ultimate snackage on Saturday night with her friend that she wants me to meet so we can all be the three best friends that ANYONEEEEEE can have! (High fives and kudos to you if you know where that's from! ) I also get to conquer some "fear foods" that night and I am READY!

Current Mood: happy, but quite hungry... Putting a whole new meaning to HANGRY!

 Current Link: uhhhhm... hmm... What about my current favorite boy & girl YouTubers!?

Rachel & Byron Talbott and Nikki & Dan Phillippi!